As President Barack Obama is inaugurated a second time, I am republishing my astrological prediction of November 2 2012 of his re-election:

Elections, astrologically, are a nightmare challenge to call and the imminent US Election is particularly complex (actually, not just astrologically). The wise stargazers sit on the fence - the Mail's Jonathan Cainer has declared that the result will be unambiguous - but declines to say which candidate will win. Marjorie Orr (though seeming to back Romney) announces that election forecasting is too tricky.

Both are probably right - to watch their backs. I, however, put caution to the wind.

Barack Obama is a Leo, born August 4, 1961, 7.24pm, in Honolulu. Mitt Romney is a Pisces, born March 12, 1947, 9.51am, in Detroit, Michigan.

Having examined the birth charts of Obama and Romney, and the transits for election day November 6, 2012, and for Inauguration Day January 20, 2013, I have reached the conclusion that Obama will be re-elected. Those who prefer Romney may take comfort that both charts are pretty dire and that there's little to indicate a decisive victory, astrologically. I have based my forecast decision on just a handful of aspects as clinchers.

Non-astrologers may have already read enough. Those interested in astrology may want to read on....

For election day itself, the transits of both men's charts lack an obvious winner. But on November 6, Obama's tr Moon is in Leo conjunct his ruler Sun and Mercury (in the 6th) - a good omen for group efforts and the support of women in particular. Obama's progressions look favourable on this day, with P Mercury sextile North Node, P Venus sextile Venus and P Pluto sextile Neptune, among others.

There are plenty of negative aspects to spoil the day, however; not least Mercury stationing retrograde which at the very least could suggest a slim victory or even controversy over the result. I shouldn't be surprised if there are technical hitches or legal tussles.

Romney's transits for November 6 are especially grim in my view: his ruler tr Neptune, though at the top of his chart, squares his natal ascendant, an ego-denying aspect and not the sort of thing you expect to see in a winning chart. Nor do I like tr Moon conjunct natal Saturn in his 3rd house of communications: a sign of possible depression or isolation.

I have also looked at the transits for Inauguration Day, January 20, 2013. This perhaps offers a clearer picture. In Obama's chart, tr Sun (conjunct tr Mercury) is conjunct natal Jupiter in the 12th: a sign of optimism, positivity and expansion. This to me is the clincher (famous last words?). But it's not all bad news for Romney on this day. His tr Jupiter is trine Midheaven, a plus indicator for career and status, but an aspect inferior to Obama's Sun-Jupiter conjunction. And Romney's ruler Neptune is still square ascendant.

So, there we have it. Republicans should take heart that a fair number of reputable astrologers think Romney's got it in the bag. You'll have to Google them.

Aries

March 21-April 20

If people are already paying more attention when you speak/write, welcome to 2013. You’re communicating more effectively: progress results in the first half of the year. From 26 June onwards, Jupiter improves a domestic situation and builds personal confidence. But cash self-discipline remains vital. Tone down emotions around 18 October’s Aries lunar eclipse. Your most successful phase: March-April.

Taurus

April 21-May 21

The focus is on ‘loadsamoney’ – the cash outlook looks promising up to 26 June. Close relationships also dominate 2013 – a transformation in one can be expected May to August. Something begun around 10 May’s Taurus solar eclipse bears fruit or gains in significance by November. Love, sex and shared money/experiences improve from October to year’s end – book a late romantic foreign holiday.

Gemini

May 22-June 21

You can stop dreaming! Now is the year to take practical steps to realise a work ambition – and tackle health and fitness, under Saturn. After a longish period of frugality, income picks up from 26 June (and July’s a positive career month). Home/family problems find practical solutions August-September. A new work responsibility comes with November’s solar eclipse, gaining in importance by May 2014.

Cancer

June 22-July 22

July is your 2013 high point under a lovely Grand Trine – the best phase to push a big idea that can place you centre-stage. Since mid-2012 you’ve had to put others’ interests before your own. But from 26 June, 2013, a long Jupiter phase of personal expansion commences via new contacts and work. And the 3 November solar eclipse marks the start of a new chapter in a self-expressive or romantic ‘project’.

Leo

July 23-August 23

Since mid-2012, life outside the home has felt more fun – friendships and the pursuit of a dream are definitely on the up. But this is also a year when any home or family challenge can be addressed successfully, from 7 July onwards in particular. Look forward to promotion or a new career start around 10 May with the solar eclipse. If you’ve had problems getting a message across, December is the time to hammer it home.

Virgo

August 24-September 23

The big plus area remains career or public status – especially if you communicate/teach/sell for a living. Generally, 2013 should see much progress in your place in society, with many new friends and allies from 26 June onwards, for about a year. But success requires Saturn’s iron self-discipline over what you say – this is especially the case from late September to early December. When in doubt, zip it.

Libra

September 24-October 23

Foreign travel, or anything that lifts the mind out of the familiar and humdrum, is a feature of the first half of 2013. Your quest is joie de vivre; death to dullness. Failure is not an option. From 26 June onwards, you seek greater fulfilment from your role in society – a new career start or promotion may figure. November-December is a peaceful time at home – you may be found wielding a paint brush (shock horror).

Scorpio

October 24-November 22

A new, improved, practical you is in development – and 1st house Saturn helps to eject time-wasters from your life. Look to July for a great opportunity – which may involve travel, education or persons in foreign places. The 25 April lunar eclipse urges compromise in a partnership tussle. And in November, there’s a sense of a starting something new and responsible under the Scorpio solar eclipse. Take a deep breath, now….

Sagittarius

November 23-December 21

Partnerships and close bonds continue to improve in 2013 – ruler Jupiter and surly Saturn are working nicely together to help you ditch negative thinking. A sign of even better things to come arises late June – a boost to domestic income is likely. A bolder mood takes hold with Uranus retrograde July-December – rules can be bent to get a personal project moving. Conformist dullards will be swept aside.

Capricorn

December 22-January 20

Work and health look decidedly favourable till late June before Jupiter enters your house of partnerships and starts to work its magic on your close bonds. In July, your place in an idealistic or spiritual cause is boosted, thanks in part to much-improved relationships. October’s lunar eclipse draws attention to household repairs or a need for more space. Greater involvement in a charity could occur from November.

Aquarius

January 21-February 19

The creative theme of 2012 follows you deep into 2013 – personal artistry (and/or love life) grows apace, with ruler Uranus edging it all with unconventionality. Significant progress is likely from July onwards. September is an especially dynamic time under a Mars-Uranus link. And by 3 November’s solar eclipse, you’ll be feeling intense pressure to advance goals. No one around you is getting much sleep in 2013.

Pisces

February 20-March 20

Stop exaggerating: your home looks nothing like the jail in Prisoner: Cell Block H – but that won’t stop you building a home extension or finding a larger house before July. Thereafter, creative energy soars: what you want to achieve in your own name stands a greater chance of success – stay open-minded, especially around November, when distant travel may be necessary. A year when a dream can become a reality.

My first forecast e-book will be for 2014, out in July 2013. More details to follow in the next few weeks and months. Forecasts will be for the signs, nations, celebs, corporations and certain periodical publications.

It will be priced at under £2 and easily downloadable onto your Kindle, other device or pc.

I was interested to see what a natal chart reading of today's Autumn Statement would look like - and observe if key planets are where they might be expected given the problems the UK faces and the solutions the chancellor proposes.

George Osborne rose at 12.35pm in the Commons (Westminster, UK). With Pisces rising and ruler Neptune rising from the 12th, I would expect the statement to be not quite as horrendous as advertised - but possibly confused and even misleading. Its tone is more focused on welfare benefits (12th) but also on attempts at emollience.

Saturn - planet of rigour and consequences - is located very appropriately in the 8th in Scorpio: this is one of the financial houses (banks, financial/international institutions): Saturn trine Neptune describes the greater restriction on benefits. With 8th house Saturn we would expect to see much attention on imposing more laws on investments, savings, corporate taxes, especially with foreign provenance.

Sun in the 9th (education, among other things) denotes greater investment in schools and possibly science. A number of squares, such as to Neptune, suggest that these announcements may not be quite as billed.

Sun also represents leaders/government, so I would expect resentment from employers and other high-earners.

Sun opposite Jupiter (in 3rd) can mean excess of some sort: claims may over-state the good of the chancellor's ideas or promises - certainly a perception grows that there is a disconnect between what is said and what happens.

Moon, just in Virgo today in the 6th of public health, workers/employees and the forces: opposite Neptune, we can expect measures which hit the poorer hard, and not with the results expected. I would expect public opinion to turn out hostile to this 'budget'.

The financial proactivity (or heavy-handedness) of this government is also indicated: with Aries on the 2nd house cusp (exchequer, taxes), Mars conjunct Pluto is in the 10th (house of government). No matter how unpopular this Statement, the chart suggests that the government is on more promising ground with policies that encourage investment and fiscal rigour towards financial and foreign companies eg Mars/Pluto sextile Saturn/Neptune).

This is the chart for the Autumn Statement: