Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18, 1918, and died December 5, 2014. He was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who was imprisoned and then became a politician serving as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. While in prison Mandela began studying the teachings of Gandhi and others who re-shaped his political views toward violence, and by the time he left prison he knew all the people of S. Africa must come together or be destroyed by hate and violence.

He was the first black South African elected to the office. He and his government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling and overcoming institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation.

He was born to the Thembu royal family, studied law, and became involved in anti-colonial politics. He rose to prominence in 1952. In 1962 he was arrested, convicted of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government, and sentenced to life imprisonment and served 27 years before becoming President until 1999. He died a beloved man who held the esteem of leaders and people worldwide, and Americans loved him.

 In retirement he continued to do all he could to promote his causes that included AIDS-HIV prevention and detection and will be forever known and loved because of his charismatic, peaceful approach and has been compared to Gandhi.

Mandela was born a 25 degree Cancer, the most sensitive of signs, with his Sun in the 8th house of transformation. He transformed himself many times over, and 8th house Sun individuals can have an interest in the mysteries of life and their works-life are often known posthumously.  Some of his many transformations began when he attended law college, leaving his early life, where his Father was a reigning nobleman from a clan of Kings. He became a revolutionary, prison inmate and South African President, Nobel peace prize winner, Author, in his lifetime. While a Cancer, the 8th house is ruled by Scorpio, giving him an intense and magnetic quality while projecting Cancer's sensitivity.

27 years in prison is shown by Mercury conjunct Saturn in his 9th house of legal matters and world view, square his moon at 20 degrees of Scorpio in his 12th house. (prison)

Mercury-Saturn at 16-15 degrees of Leo in the 9th also shows a a lung infection/tuberculosis he contracted in prison  leaving his lungs damaged and a source of illness he suffered for the rest of his life. This transit gave him a serious and deep manner of thinking he projected in his writings and speeches along with a determination and will that could never be broken or changed .

Neptune lies in Leo at 6 degrees making a stellium of 3 Leo planets in his 9th-8th houses and gave him the ability to dream big (Neptune-Mercury) and give his dreams concrete form.(Saturn). He may have had a intuitive rapport with others or recognition of future events before they happened with Neptune in the 8th.

His ascendant falls at 23 degrees of Sagittarius, the truth-seeker, teacher and philosopher ruled by Jupiter. His Jupiter is considered exalted falling in Cancer in his 7th house of enemies, he was known for his demeanor and lack of bitterness he portrayed toward his captors and enemies, even while serving 27 years behind bars. Cancer rules the 4th house home and family and he left many grandchildren and always had a deep love of family.

 Pluto and Jupiter are conjunct at 5-1 degrees of Cancer in his 7th house showing powerful enemies (Pluto) and (Jupiter) his ability to overcome his them.

Mars lies at 12 degrees of Libra, the sign of justice, peace and balance in his 11th house, giving his work a worldwide approach and appeal everywhere. Mars in Libra is the peacemaker, the seeker of truth and justice.

With his Scorpio moon square Uranus at 26 degrees of Aquarius , his emotional life was not always smooth, being married three times and denied time raising his children, especially while in prison. In one interview he spoke of the saddest time in his prison life being when he saw his Mother for the last time (Moon) and knew at the time he would not see her alive again.

Uranus in his third house lies in its own sign Aquarius, where it is at its most powerful at 26 degrees. Aquarius rules freedom, brotherly love and harmony, and with this planet in the house ruling his mind, his ideas would take on worldwide recognition (11th house) and he stated that once he discovered prison was aimed at taking away all human dignity, he knew no one would stop him or hold him down. Freedom would ultimately be his destiny and his calling in life no matter whether imprisoned or not.

His Venus in Gemini in the 6th house (work) sextiled his Mercury-Saturn, and trined his Uranus (popularity-success) gave his the charm, charisma and the ability to speak and inspire others around the world.

Long Walk to Freedom, a movie based on his book is a box office smash in South Africa and around the world, December 2013. “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
― Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela

RIP Nelson Mandela