Astrological insights into financial and political events

2026 The Turning Point Part II - 2032 and Beyond

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 16:12:50 GMT

The astrology of 2032 and beyond in the world and financial markets

In Part I we took a look at the outer planetary configurations for 2026-7 and talked about the end of the 80 year Pluto Neptune sextile in 2032

In this part we will take a broad look at the decades after 2032. We will be looking to see whether there are any factors which will compensate us for the loss of the ease of the Pluto-Neptune sextile.

We know that, in addition to that Pluto -Neptune aspect we now have a trine between Pluto and Uranus and a sextile between Neptune and Uranus and we know these will separate by the end of this decade.

That does seem like an excess of easy aspects all at once. Though of course ease isn’t always good – it depends on the intention of the individual – no-one wants a criminal to be finding things easy. But for the most part – and the world as a whole and specifically the major markets, ease is at least superficially positive.

With that in mind, we have to look at what follows so many “easy” aspects.

Pluto-Neptune

After a waxing sextile such as between Pluto and Neptune, the next aspect is a Square. But this Square will not happen until 2060-65. There is plenty of time for the energy to develop slowly over the coming three decades. However we can expect changes to begin imperceptibly from 2032 and even after this year’s configuration.

It is worth noting here, what that entails. It will be the second major hard aspect of the cycle that began in 1892. The first and one could argue milder hard aspect occurred in 1930-32 and as we know that didn’t go so well financially for Western economies. The evolving square will entail changes to our oil based, consumption dependent economy, and particularly in a financial content to the development of credit. Currencies will be particular impacted as will government and other debt markets.

Neptune-Uranus

We also know that Neptune and Uranus are also in a waxing sextile, so their next aspect is also a Square. That will happen rather earlier, in 2039-41. We can expect to see changes in areas related to those two planets developing very quickly after 2026-2027.

This particular cycle of Neptune and Uranus began around 1993. It is the defining aspect of the internet and all associated with it. As the two planets approach their square we will see challenges to the things we take for granted relating to the internet. The semi-square occurred around 2017-2019 – its impact was lost in the focus on the subsequent Pluto-Saturn conjunction, but we can look back to that time for some hints

The square will likely bring the loss of some of the well know internet names, particularly those that fail to adapt to changing tastes and priorities.

It Is also likely to bring challenges to our network type organisations. But inventions are likely too as they are disruptive to the status quo. This is an opportunity we can be alert to.

Pluto-Uranus

Finally, we know that Pluto and Uranus are in a waxing trine relationship. The next aspects are a sesquiquadrate and a quincunx which will happen between 2031 and 2039. These aren’t as hard as the squares but can nevertheless be tricky.

Pluto and Uranus relate to hard technology – to hardware rather than software- and engineering.

The current cycle of these two planets commenced in the mid 60s. And we have already seen a sextile ( in the early 1990s) and a square (in 2010-2012) as well as the current approaching trine.

It gives us plenty to work on in terms of areas for change and transformation. Clearly we will be questioning some of the investments made in the sextile and trine and looking for hints in the 2010-2012 square.

The quincunx is followed by the opposition. And the opposition between Pluto and Uranus is in 2046-48

This is likely to be a very significant time. It will have all the economic challenges of the 2010 era but without the moderating influence of the Neptune sextile to mitigate them. We can expect some economies to undergo significant economic hardship and even collapse then, which will obviously be accompanied by political upheaval.

For the exact countries and markets affected I shall be looking at their individual charts over the coming years.

Summary

So between 2031 and 2048 there are only moderately difficult to very difficult aspects between the three outers. This is likely to prove challenging for those of us born under the cushy indulgence of the Pluto-Neptune sextile ( which is everyone under 75 today).

There is some respite in the early 2050s though as Neptune reaches a waxing trine with Uranus.

After that it is back to some tricky sesquiquadrates and quincunxes in the lead up to the Pluto Neptune square.

The mitigating Pluto-Uranus trine which happens at the same time is unfortunately offset by the Neptune-Uranus quincunx.

After that it is better not to even look as from 2073-2081 we have a Pluto -Uranus waning square closely followed by a Neptune Uranus opposition.

2026- the turning point, Part I

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 17:10:45 GMT

The astrology of 2026 and the markets - Part I

Rather than specific countries or markets this week, I thought, with so much shifting in 2026, that a more general discussion was in order.

Below, is the chart for the full moon on 29 ^th June 2026, in London. This is just before Jupiter ingresses into Leo but I’ve chosen it as the luminaries are both in orb of the outer planets and on the angles.

For much of 2026 there is a sextile between Neptune and Uranus, Pluto is trine Uranus and continues its long 70 year sextile with Neptune. All three will remain in orb until 2028-29 though by 2029 Uranus will be separating.

For the earlier part of the year those aspects also include Saturn during its conjunction with Neptune.

Saturn will move out of orb by early 2027. It moves into Taurus in April 2028.

And in early July when Jupiter reaches Leo, it will be oppositive Pluto, Trine Neptune (and subsequently Saturn) and Sextile Uranus.

Jupiter will move out of orb by September 2026 and leaves Leo in late July 2027.

Before we move forward, there is a proviso. This post deals only with the outer planets and wide timescales. To find the exact times we would need the inner planets too. Broadly:

· Outer planets – years

· Mars, Sun (and Venus and Mercury and eclipses) - months

· Moon – days

· Ascendant /MC – hour/minute

Furthermore to find the exact times for each market we would need to also consider individual charts or ingresses or astro-cartography for example.

The relationships between the outer planets during this rare configuration can be seen more clearly here:

That is a lot. If most configurations are a quick snack and the more significant ones a three course meal, this is an all day, all you can eat buffet. It will take a long time to recover from the impact of the changes it brings.

We can already see the political effects of this combination manifesting, but of course , here, we are interested in the financial effects as well.

I am obviously not going to pinpoint every date and every market here – my discussion will be very general but I hope it gives a taste of what to expect or rather where not to continue to extrapolate.

First the good news. The ongoing Pluto-Neptune sextile that has been in place since the 1950s, isn’t over yet. It will intensify in the coming few years until its final exact connection in 2032. So we can relax a little in the expectation that all we have come to know and love (or not!) about the 20 ^th and 21 ^st centuries isn’t going to completely change until 2032.

After 2032, we might need a completely new road map but not quite yet.

However, given we have all the outer planets changing signs in 2025-26, expecting nothing to change would be wishful thinking of the highest order.

Of course we have had a taster of it all, as in 2025 each of the players dipped its exploratory toes into the next sign. We can already see where things are going, certainly politically.

Financially. things have looked glorious for those with stock market investments in the major economies or have been wise or fortunate enough to have a holding in precious metals: investors in AI have especially been smiling, as have the average billionaire as more and more wealth is consolidated.

However for most western governments, as their accumulated debts soar and their ability to act becomes increasingly limited by those financial constraints, things are far less rosy.

The same can be said for many traditional businesses on the street, the life blood of economies and homes and families, for them too, things have been far less golden.

Even without reference to political allegiance, (and we definitely won’t go there today), there are a number of increasing divides:

· General wealth inequalities – more billionaires vs more homeless

· Generational wealth inequalities

· Regional and skills divides– tech vs old industrial areas

· Those on fixed incomes vs those with stock market and other successful investments

· Educational and health divides increasing as systems fail to cope with the consequences of the other divides

It is not that these divides never existed- they always have, it is that they have become more pronounced than they have been in almost a century and the numbers who feel they are excluded from opportunities have become much greater. That is not a recipe for stable nations.

We don’t need astrology to tell us where we are, though. What the astrology does is tell us that the music is playing again and things are shifting – dance but don’t confine yourself to the region of a single chair, it might not be there tomorrow. Be flexible.

At the most extreme this configuration would lead to:

Removal of the super-rich,
Equalisation of generational wealth, skills and regions.

This would require a significant “repricing” of assets- homes, stocks and jobs. But that won’t happen overnight and it isn’t likely to happen on a permanent basis until we are well past the Pluto-Neptune sextile. It isn’t likely to be universal either – only concentrated in the most extreme cases. However we can expect the seeds to be sown with the astrological changes to come.

Let us now turn to the effects of the individual planets:

Uranus

Uranus in Gemini is particularly important as the Pluto -Neptune conjunction of 1892 was in Gemini. We have lived with the characteristics of that cycle since then but Uranus shakes up anything it touches. It is rather neat that by the time Uranus leaves Gemini we will be in 2032 and the end of Pluto – Neptune sextile too – this Uranus transit is the catalyst for the developments of the next few decades.

Of further interest is the fact that Uranus was in Gemini during WW2 but reached the degree of the Pluto Uranus conjunction nearer the end of the war. As such it became the harbinger of the Pluot-Neptune sextile on which so much of our current consumer economy depends. We can deduce from that things are likely to change in a big-big way when it hots those degrees again in 2028-29.

(Gemini is also important as it is the natal sign of the USA Uranus – but we’ve addressed that little hornet’s nest elsewhere, so we will skip it here.)

Uranus will bring shocks and surprises – though these may be tempered by the trines and sextiles to the other outer planets. In Gemini, sign of trade and communications, we can expect it to disrupt both. There are likely to be technological glitches, if not total blackouts and trade agreements broken off. Major corporations will have increasing difficulty with intercompany connections and distribution/logistics chains.

Of course this will all be accompanied by positive disruption and inventions in these areas, but those who have put their faith in previous inventions will be disappointed as they are usurped by the new ones. Uranus likes to say “that was great, now, think again.”

Pluto

Pluto in Aquarius, as well as its technological influences, is shaking up power dynamics. This is because it opposes Leo – sign of kings and king-like leaders, but also because Pluto’s transit will radically change those groups in opposition to the leaders. There will be a reshuffle of allegiances we take for granted. It is not just a case of taking from the rich, one must also be just and kind when rewarding the poor else the hand of Pluto will find and destroy the false prophets as easily as it does the golden idol – the French revolution is a text book example.

Overall though, financially, we can expect this placement to impact on those concentrations of wealth and especially those associated with power bases. There is already a “tax the billionaires” movement and there is also a cancel the debt ( the other face of wealth) faction. And when Jupiter is in early Leo it will oppose Pluto- this configuration suggests a turning point in debt and all major financial wealth. But with Pluto being a thorough eliminator, this will not necessarily happen overnight but nor will it bounce back- this is a once in, at least, a lifetime house cleanse. Pluto is moving slower now and Jupiter will conjoin it in Aquarius in 2033 ( just after the final Neptune sextile) and will make another opposition in 2039 when we can expect some pretty hard financial consequences.

However, although these configurations and the most extreme consequences come much later, it certainly looks as if summer 2026 is peak expansion of the monetary system, with both debt and stocks could be at their apex.

Neptune

Neptune is a more subtle planet. Whereas Pluto creeps up slowly and insidiously, and Uranus jumps out of the box suddenly, Neptune spreads imperceptibly, by osmosis. As such it is the planet of the masses. Its new home for the next 14 years is Aries – sign ruled by the militaristic Mars. We can already see where that is taking us politically,

Aries is inimical to Neptune. Aries deprives the sea-loving planet of moisture and the masses of compassion. Neptune dilutes the entrepreneurial Aries spirit though there can be progress in fields where Neptune is strong – photography ( expect 3-D printers to be commonplace), pharmaceuticals – perhaps some break-throughs are possible and maybe work with the unconscious. Though while Saturn is also in Aries very little advances are likely to be announced even if they are being methodically explored behind the scenes.

Financially, Neptune is the significator of bubbles, when accompanied by Jupiter and economic inertia when coupled with Saturn. In 2026 we will see both in action. Saturn will conjoin Neptune at 0 degrees Aries in February, this is unlikely to be a positive time for economic statistics. Saturn will remain in Aries for 2 years, damping down enthusiasm and creating hesitation in all matters.

However, Jupiter moving into Leo will likely see peaks in the main stock markets ( the exact timing depends on the foundation charts of each one). Peaks are great; post peaks, not so much. Once Jupiter is out of its Neptune orb, there will be little to maintain the illusions.

Neptune is also the significator of global currencies ( not the coins in your pocket but the almost infinite digits on your screen). With Saturn conjoining it, currencies may take on a new structure. Although Bitcoin has been a forerunner in this ( and by far the most sensible of the crazy crypto era, it is unlikely to be the final answer – that final answer is still a twinkle in a digital brainstorm somewhere.

A little about Saturn and Jupiter

Saturn

Much has already been said elsewhere about Saturn’s conjunction with Neptune and I won’t repeat it here. However it is worth re-iterating the effect of the combination on economies here.

First Saturn -Neptune has a particular resonance with communism ( and with the old USSR). More generally it indicates periods of inertia when it is difficult to make concrete progress in growth and “success”

Things that benefit from Saturn -Neptune are redistribution programmes and policies that benefit the masses or poor.

The combination also helps burst bubbles by creating disillusionment with the most optimistic scenarios.

This is all something that we’ve had a taste of in 2025 as the two planets were in orb but will be much more in evidence in early 2026 as they actually conjoin.

However by the middle of the year Saturn will move out of orb and the closer the two will be again is in December when they are 7 degrees apart. So the biggest effects won’t last into 2027. They will certainly be over by mid 2028 with Saturn in much more complementary ,Taurus.

What we will see in 2026 is Saturn sewing the seeds of something different which Neptune will have over a decade to explore more thoroughly.

Jupiter

Jupiter spends less than a year in any sign and far less in close aspect with any other planet.

We are not seeing its greatest contribution yet as it dallies in Cancer. By July its move into Leo will activate the other players though and this is likely to be the key time when turning points in all markets are noted.

Jupiter magnifies and expands all it touches, for good or evil. It will be busy magnifying debt now – and this in particular is a turning point I expect as it opposes Pluto.

Its more benign aspects to Neptune and Uranus are less critical but as it moves away from them and begins its journey to square Uranus and oppose Neptune ( in 2027 and 2028 respectively) the party will definitely be closing.

This post concentrates on the coming year or two and more generally the pre-2032 period. In a future one I will talk about the longer term 2030s to 2060s

Iran in January 2026

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:17:48 GMT

The astrology of Iran 2025 and 2026

I couldn’t look at Venezuela without a glance at Iran.

I did some forecasts for Iran early last year (2 February to be exact) so it serves as an opportunity to see how well I assessed the situation.

The answer is very well indeed.

For the year as a whole I stated “Although some of the indicators are weakening they are still in force all year and attacks by or against the country cannot be ruled out. They will definitely be on the defensive and any actions in the coming years are likely to escalate significantly”

This was my analysis based on the progressions with Mars activated by the e progressed Sun and Ascendant as well as the progressed MC ( suggesting it would make the international news) and progressed Mars in q square with progressed Jupiter – making any action bigger and bolder.

I noted that the summer period – from April to July was challenging both in terms of the leadership and economic situation and later related to the military. Indeed for June I said

“ However it is a time when the country is likely to be in focus and if rhetoric was tuned down before it is likely to be much more vocal now.”

This was a particularly noteworthy time because Uranus was conjoining the progressed Sun ( leadership) but Pluto was in hard aspect to the Jupiter-progressed Mars configuration mentioned above.

Interestingly the picture was for better support internally from the people- no doubt having a common external enemy is uniting.

Where the main threat was coming from was clear from the Israel chart which indicated

“T hings heat up in May to August, there is a risk of random attacks and escalation of war again. Look especially at early June for events to take place. Things can really get out of hand now especially in relation to other nations” A reflection of the Uranus square to Mars as well as Jupiter opposing natal Uranus in particular in the Israel chart.

I then looked at what I had said for January 2026 ( the chart above is for the beginnings of the protests in December)

My forecast said:

“ January and February 2026 are however significantly more unsettled. Sudden changes in leadership cannot be ruled out again and nor can increased rhetoric and threats. This may be a time of internal struggles against the things that underpin the foundation of the country but equally it could relate to external partners or enemies”

This was basically because once again Pluto reactivated the Jupiter-progressed Mars square and Uranus transiting the progressed Sun. The people were more motivated than in 2025 with the Moon opposing the progressed Ascendant trine Pluto and square Uranus.

This of course begs the question “what happens next?”

Well there is a bit of a lull, though the people are still most unsettled but by May ( probably a bit before as the aspect comes into orb)

“ In May through August we return to the more deep seated issues experienced in 2025. But there is still hope to ease the way.

The leadership,….. are finding it difficult now even though there is much talk about opportunities and the way forward in June. Later on in the period things seems generally positive though things might be changing too fast and causing disruption”

This is shown by the continued transit of Pluto to progressed Jupiter ( which lasts until the end of the year) but now with Saturn conjoining the Sun rather than Uranus ( to the progressed Sun). There is far less emphasis on the people being unsettled by then. It may be that the leadership decide to implement more reforms and freedoms, including for women, which won’t go down well with traditionalists.

Either way it looks as if the country will continue to be much in the spotlight for the rest of 2026. The last few months look to be particularly disruptive-I could go on and discuss my forecast for 2027-28 but I think we need to let the dust settle for 2026 first.

Venezuela January 2026

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:31:48 GMT

The astrology of Venezuela January 2026

It has been a while since I had to chance to explore a topic just for interest. But in this case I was working on Venezuela only a few days before the events of January 3 ^rd . So, it seemed like a great opportunity to look at little deeper at the chart of the moment.

I use the original Captaincy chart from 1877 relocated from Spanish time. ( I do like to use the earliest chart I can in every case). Unlike the later 1811 chart it does not have the Sun conjoining the US ( Sibley chart) Sun. However, instead it has its Midheaven at 13 Cancer, which as we will see is a key factor in events.

Let us first consider why that degree is important. The answer is clear from the transit chart above- the full moon ( with the Sun conjunct Mars) was almost exact across the MC/IC axis. And, thus, obviously, has the US Sibley Sun conjoining the Moon itself.

But of course the story does not start with this event. It starts in 1776 and 1777, the births of the two nations.

We know that the US has recently undergone its Pluto return at 27 ( natal) -29 (progressed) Capricorn. This return signifies a re-evaluation of the foundations on which the country was built.

We can see from the above chart that Venezuela’s natal Pluto is also at 27 degrees but its progressed Pluto is at 1 degree. It has had a much longer Pluto effect than the US, lasting from 2022 until now. Indeed we have seen the political and economic issues that have dogged the country over the last few years ( Pluto has also been square the natal Saturn making the hardships much worse). Pluto has, in fact, only recently encountered its last exact transit to the progressed Pluto point. This may indicate the story of the developments which led to the opposition cooperating under the leadership of Machado.

Previous opposition leaders and attempts to undermine Maduro have failed but it seems Pluto has shifted that balance. We can further note that the Sun at full Moon is not only accompanied by Mars but by Venus, an enabler in the events.

We also notice that while the transit of Pluto to Pluto ended the progressed Ascendant is still making a quincunx with the natal Pluto, suggesting that the challenges are not over.

We can also see in the chart that the progressed Sun at 23 Taurus has only recently opposed the natal Mars at 23 Scorpio-another indicator of the ongoing pressures on the leadership.

That things were shifting is also indicated by the progression of the Moon into Capricorn in the last month.

However it is the impact of progressed Mercury that is most interesting as it approaches conjunction with natal Uranus, a sextile to natal Jupiter and a square to the natal Sun as well as making a trine to the natal Ascendant/Descendant axis. This is perfect symbolism for major (Jupiter) sudden shocks ( Uranus) that challenge the leader ( sun) and have connection to other nations (Asc/Des) especially when we see how it pulls in the transiting Mars that is at the IC at the time of the Full Moon.

So that broadly explains the explosive news after many years of pressures for Venezuela. But where do we go from here. At this point Maduro is still claiming to be the rightful president and his team are still leading the country. How the US plan to “run” Venezuela, and how Venezuelans will accept it in the longer term, is not yet clear.

We know that the US, having dealt with its Pluto is now going full steam ahead towards a Uranus one and the same is the case for Venezuela, although it will happen a little later than in the US.

Both transiting Neptune and Uranus will aspect the progressed Pluto, natal Saturn and Venus in the coming months. And we further note how progressed Mars will move into Taurus In early 2027 after over 50 years in Aries, and then it will quincunx the natal Saturn which is not a pleasant combination. And with Mercury trundling over that Uranus/Jupiter/Sun/Ascendant configuration for the next few years there is no indication that things will settle down any time soon.

Palantir June 2025

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:33:27 GMT

The astrology of Palantir in June 2025

It has been a while since I looked at a different company altogether but until now, nothing particularly caught my eye.

However, with the announcement that the Trump administration has reportedly been discretely working with Palantir to gather personal data of American citizens from various federal agencies, sparking concerns over privacy and potential misuse of personal data, it seems a good time to turn our attention to that Corporation.

It has certainly become popular in the last year and notably since Trump was elected ( far more so than the market as a whole which some might say could indicate insider dealing) so it will definitely be interesting to explore whether this is sustainable.

We don’t know the exact foundation data for the business in Denver around 2003-4, indeed it was probably a process, but we do have the Incorporation date in Delaware of 6 May 2003. That will have to suffice. Using noon as convention for US incorporation charts.

We also have the IPO date and time : 30 September 2020 with shares trading from 1.30 pm ET. That is excellent. This is paragraph text. Click it or hit the Manage Text button to change the font, colour, size, format and more. To set up site-wide paragraph and title styles, go to Site Theme.

The Incorporation chart is a strange one. We are immediately drawn to the Jupiter -Neptune/Mars conjunction across the Ascendant/Descendant access. This suggests huge expectations, but it is also indicative of the company’s activities, especially as there is a square connecting it with the Sun-Mercury conjunction. People tend to associate Uranus with computer/software companies, but this one isn’t about computation, it’s about data gathering and on a massive scale- Jupiter-Neptune with Mercury describes it perfectly.

It is noteworthy that Mercury is retrograde- suggesting that some elements of the activity may have taken a few years to get off the ground.

There is of course a sextile to Pluto from Neptune, though it is not close in 2003, the evolution of that sextile will be important as it is for so many things in the 21 ^st century.

Other than that the most notable factor in the chart is the conjunction of Saturn and the Moon trine Uranus. I think that Saturn-Mon conjunction represents the fact that the customers are mostly governments or big institutions. The Uranus trine is indicative of the more obvious tech connections – here is where those institutions go for what they see as a tech service. With the sextiles to the MC it is definitely what the company is seen to be.

Note too that the Moon rules the 12 ^th house here, another oddity. It certainly seems like the fear (12 ^th house)that the company may be use to control( Saturn) the people ( Moon) is not unfounded.

We can see that now ( beginning of June 2025) Progressed Mercury and Venus have reached the natal sun square Neptune, drawing attention to the company over the last few months.

We can also see that Neptune and now Saturn have formed a square with the natal Moon , activating the fears of mass control. Jupiter is coming up to the conjunction with Saturn and the Moon, all within the coming week- until it is past the media are unlikely to lose interest.

Interestingly we also see that Uranus will soon form a square to the natal Uranus – this may perhaps lead to some technology questions, or even glitches or hacks. Of course this is the Incorporation chart not the IPO so it is possible that they won’t be well publicised, but I think this is doubtful as the progressed Moon is now hitting the MC and the company won’t be out of the new while that happens.

With Jupiter in the mix, it will be another month before things settle down a bit.

Longer term actually looks moderately quiet for 2026-2027. Other than the Neptune Saturn conjunction square the Moon in 2026, and the continuation of the Uranus Square Uranus, there is little new.

From 2027 and especially 2028 that changes. But there is plenty of time for us to return to the subject before then.

It may be more interesting to consider the IPO chart.

Conducting an IPO in 2020 must have been interesting with all the lockdowns. It certainly gives us quite a chart to look at. Remember this is the chart of the share trading not the company internal activities. Often the two will link but sometimes they are quite different.

With the Jupiter Pluto Saturn conjunction prominent, it is a powerful chart for good or bad. Mars is square Saturn which suggests difficulties with trading – Mars is however trine the Ascendant, - we can see how the Mars-Saturn manifested on the IPO day with delay to the start of trade till 1.30, when Mars perfected that trine. The Moon is square the Ascendant, it wasn’t a good first day. Note also how Mars sits at the bottom of the chart undermining itself.

More pertinent, though, is where we are now.

The shares really started to take off in the second half of 2024, and started to soar from November.

At this time transiting Uranus was going retrograde trine the natal Pluto-Jupiter Saturn conjunction and sextile the natal Moon, suddenly releasing the power in the chart. However now in June that transit has finished. But it is replaced with a trine by the progressed Moon – recently trine the natal Jupiter which will take six months to complete its full journey in relation to the configuration. And we also see that transiting Jupiter started opposing the Ascendant and forming a quincunx with the conjunction in April. Jupiter has just this last couple of weeks crossed the Descendant ( a perfect time for partners and for everyone to sit up and take notice).

Jupiter’s journey through the 7 ^th house will take many months but its immediate aspects are now over. It is possible that some of the froth will blow off the stock as a result.

Pluto is making few aspects – just a square to the IPO Mercury- media questions, and Neptune and Saturn are only making a square to the progressed Ascendant – though this must not be underestimated as it can create a real sense of inertia and pull anything into a quagmire.

Indeed with only Venus and Mercury in the early degrees of a sign, this is not a chart with much happening in the next couple of years. Mid 2026 has a brief flash of excitement as Uranus lines up with the progressed Moon in aspect to natal Mercury and progressed Venus but it is not till 2028 and beyond that we see any sustained activity.

This rather mirrors the natal chart and I must say I am a little disappointed, I was hoping for drama and although there are is some interesting period over the coming months and some short term surprises in mid 2026 we will have to wait for the stock to really have a shake up.

Nikkei April 2025

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 19:04:55 GMT

The astrology of the Nikkei April 2025

To say the last few weeks have been interesting for the financial markets would be a major understatement.

While I admit to thriving on economic disruption, we must not forget those who are less fortunate and who suffer greatly from financial instability and the misinformation that accompanies it. Unfortunately such events rarely help balance inequalities and only accentuate them

However, drawing attention to injustice and information asymmetry is not my primary role; my duty is to report what I expect to occur with as little bias as possible.

With that in mind, we’ll turn to the charts.

Much of what we have seen in early April was triggered by Uranus crossing over 23 degrees of Taurus. As we have seen in previous years 23 degrees is a degree picked up in numerous financial and political charts, and was active in both the Neptune Jupiter conjunction of 2022 and Uranus Jupiter conjunction of 2024.Coincidentally, I was working on some long term forecasting a week ago and this included Japan. The Nikkei chart was such a perfect example of the theme that I thought I would present it here.he body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

At we can see Uranus was exactly conjunct the Nikkei Sun on Sunday 6 ^th . Much of the impact on the market was between close of play on Friday and opening on Monday. Uranus per se does not represent market falls- merely significant shocks and thus volatility.

We can see from the Nikkei market chart of the last 3 month how that played out. The greatest drop was the morning of the 7 ^th but the whole of the first 10 days of April were affected by the instability.

Of course we know it takes more than one swallow to make a summer and we can see that Uranus has some help. The Nikkei progressed Jupiter is trine the Sun at 25 Capricorn. This is a longer term influence and the reason that the Nikkei has recovered to its all time highs of 1989 in the last year or so. It accentuates anything so when combine with a sudden Uranus affect makes for a bigger fluctuation than would otherwise be the case.

We can also see the progressed Ascendant completing a grand trine with the Sun and progressed Jupiter this year -making it exceptional in many ways. Transiting Saturn, often a restraint on values in early April was at 25 Pisces and activated by retrograde transiting Venus significator of value- creating downward pressure- this was a global effect and indeed played out almost everywhere, with the impact on increased hectic trading signified by Mars also at 25 degrees trine Saturn/Venus . Note that even transiting Mercury and the North node are all within the 25-26 degree as well. Here, though, it tapped into the Nikkei natal configuration and created the perfect storm.

There are inevitably other elements in play too, and I will briefly describe them below, but that week they were dwarfed by the impact of Uranus supported by that Saturn ,Venus and Mars.

We can see other influences in the chart. Pluto is close to conjunction with natal Jupiter a contributor both to the Nikkei high but also its end. Note the repeated themes as it activities progressed Uranus and the configuration pulls in the natal Venus.

There is almost a double whammy too, as transiting Jupiter has just passed a sextile with natal Pluto and activating both the Natal and progressed Mercury- another sign that perhaps a high had come and gone.

We can’t forget progressed Venus either just coming to conjoin progressed Saturn creating longer term downward pressures which have meant that the market has only partially recovered.

Uranus has now moved on to 25-26 degrees, and will shortly be entering Gemini for the first time since the 1930s and 40s. That will bring different challenges over the coming years but for now our main focus must be on the approaching Saturn Neptune conjunction at 0-1degrees Aries which is heralding a completely new environment across the globe.

Of course this was a textbook case and prediction is usually much more difficult as the planets don’t always line up as neatly as this – but on the other hand we’d struggle to cope with the pressure if they did!

Tesla February 2025

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:40:52 GMT

The astrology of Tesla stock price in February 2025

With Musk spending all his time “auditing” or DOGE ( I use the term widely as it doesn’t sound like any auditing I’ve even seen), he’s neglecting his other babies a little. Although that might be a good thing as his association with Tesla doesn’t seem to be enhancing its prospects.

The stock has fallen from a high on December 17 ^th and continued to fall until last week, its dire sales in Europe haven’t helped.

What is happening in the chart?

We can see there are some contrary factors. Pluto sextile Uranus and Jupiter is probably responsible for the longer term growth – the Uranus aspect was almost exact around 17 ^th December. Pluto is also trine the progressed MC, which can bring major gains but also when combined with other factors significant reversals too. That is particularly the case since the progressed MC is quincunx natal Pluto and applying. Challenges are to come.

Neptune opposing Saturn is the next aspect for our consideration. It is usually negative, creating inertia, caution and delays. It has been in place for the last couple of months and is probably a big contender for the ongoing downturn in stock price.

Neptune will now go on to conjoin Uranus and Jupiter- which given it will also square natal Pluto is liable to pull things down into the mud further – though with more volatility than we have seen recently. Note big price movements are baked into this IPO chart.

Transiting Uranus is square the Ascendant axis, Uranus brings shocks and disruption, the fact that the progressed Moon is now close to the Ascendant doesn’t help- it makes shocks and drama all the more visible. Expect more in the coming weeks.

Saturn opposite the progressed Mars is also impacting trading levels, though somewhat mitigated by the progressed Sun in a trine position. This, ay last should reduce in affect, Though the coming conjunction between Neptune and Saturn suggests any such respite might be temporary.

Is this the worst chart I’ve seen? Not by a long shot, we are after all not that far from the high of December and still above the October 2024 levels- for the moment there is plenty to keep it from falling back to early 2024 levels leave alone pre 2021, for the immediate future but that doesn’t mean we'd want to be buying it either.

NVIDIA stock and the Deepseek shock

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 20:49:25 GMT

The astrology of NVIDIA stock after Deepseek

Amongst all the drama, tragic and otherwise, of the last week, we could quite easily forget to consider one of the biggest financial events – the impact of Deepseek on US AI stocks.

We will focus on NVIDIA which is one of the most well known

This chart is set for 9.30, opening of trading on Monday 27 ^th when the fall was registered by the market.

What we are mainly looking for is not necessarily trend indicators ( there may be some) but short term shock indicators. But we will use the usual approach of starting with the long term influences and move towards the days and minutes.

The biggest long term player here is Pluto. We all know by now that Pluto has left Capricorn for good ( or at least the next 200+ years) and is now making itself fully at home in Aquarius.

In NVIDIA’s case that means Pluto is conjoining its Neptune-Sun conjunction – this is indeed long term dangerous. Neptune blows bubbles, Pluto destroys everything in its path. Pluto also has another long term influence at work – in the progressed Mercury’s square to NVIDIA’s natal Pluto. That is in effect for a while yet and doesn’t bode well for positive news.

It takes more than one swallow to make a summer, and while it is possible we may have seen the best of the stock for a while, there are also indicators coming soon that suggest that we aren’t out of bubbles yet.

But back to the day in question. Note how at 9.30 that morning the Ascendant of the transiting chart is sextile Pluto – highlighting its effects, and magnifying them, as it is conjoining the progressed Jupiter too.

The stock has been also benefiting from a long term trine/sextile of the progressed Sun to the natal Mar-Saturn opposition. Mars- Saturn is hard work but with the Sun like that it can be harnessed positively. With this ending over the coming year, it is another sign that perhaps the top has been and gone.

We also note that the progressed Ascendant is separating from an opposition to progressed Mars, representing trading levels. which has been a high for a couple of years while the aspect was exact will now fall back gradually to more normal levels. Note how on the 27 ^th , the transiting Sun was square this axis- definitely a negative indicator.

Back to the outer planets, Neptune is having less of an impact so far – being quincunx Mars ( though it is on the midpoint of the progressed Sun and Saturn but that is of minor interest to us in this case) -indicating that trading can be confused and positions need adjusting. All much as we would expect to see given the circumstances.

Uranus is usually at least partly involved when something sudden happens and we can see that it is heavily highlighted, As well as transiting Uranus at 23 Taurus being trine the NVIDIA Mercury ( news and communications) it is separating from a square to Venus and a sextile to progressed Venus ( significator of value). That’s not all bad but we can see how it got highlighted on the day as transiting Venus reached 23 Pisces, close to the Ascendant and Jupiter – not surprising ( Uranus) that everyone was looking at ( Ascendant) the major ( Jupiter) change in the value ( Venus) of the company.

What has given Uranus the force on the day is transiting Mars- it is within orb of a sextile to Uranus but more importantly it aspects by trine the natal Ascendant and by opposition the progressed Midheaven conjunct natal Mercury. That pulls everything together in a way that can’t be ignored as Uranus, suddenly activates Mars undermining the public image of the stock

We can also see that Saturn has recently conjoined the NVIDIA progressed Moon - I would have expected it to have had an impact over the previous month but it’s in the 12 ^th house, we haven’t seen the threat until Venus, having conjoined Saturn reached the Ascendant. [ We don’t often talk here about the planetary journeys and how they pick up influences as they interact with other planets but this is a good example]. But to be honest this is far less of a player than the short term Uranus and Mars and longer term Pluto configuration.

Things may take a while to fully recover as Saturn trundles on reaches the Ascendant in early March. But the real fun comes when Uranus and Neptune and Saturn change signs

Bitcoin- an update for 2025

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:21:46 GMT

The astrology of Bitcoin in January 2025

It is a while since I looked at bitcoin and in that time a number of very interesting things have occurred, :

Bitcoin has become more institutionalised but, at the same time
there is less widespread interest, outside a certain sector of the US electorate
Bitcoin has reached an all-time high but this does not reflect its value but rather the political conditions surrounding it

We have also had recent fun with a few new coins, which have I guess stripped out another layer of readies that might have gone to bitcoin.

It is absolutely ripe for another look

I always forget what an extraordinarily concentrated chart this is with the vast majority of activity in one quadrant – starting with Pluto and ending with Uranus. What that means is that it can take a while for challenging events to manifest because the planets take a long time to form any meaningful transiting hard aspects to the original chart.

But before we look at the implications of that, let us take a peak at the chart for December 17 ^th 2024 when Bitcoin reached its high to date in 2024 (Jan 20 ^th it reached slightly higher).

Although Bitcoin had more than doubled from its 2022 low by early 2024 and had reached a high by April 2024, it is the last 2 months that the major breakout has occurred since Uranus returned to 24 Taurus. Uranus isn’t the only player though.

First of all we have an ongoing conjunction between progressed Mercury and the natal Sun- this is a multi-year influence but it draws focus towards the Bitcoin identity for a long time.

The broader conditions were created by Uranus, planet of surprises and sudden drama square the chart’s Ascendant, Neptune and sextile its progressed Venus ( significator of value) and trine the progressed Mars, significator of trading activity.

The week of the high we had Mars, retrograde, stationed on the Bitcoin Moon and opposite its progressed Jupiter. Transiting Mercury was trine Mars.

The transiting Sun was square Neptune that day and the Moon trine it, and the progressed Moon at the same degree all creating the conditions for focus on the top of a bubble

Uranus doesn’t really move out of orb for another couple of months year so the excitement won’t die down for a bit at least ( as evidence by the 20 ^th Jan high after my first draft of this)

Going back to the core chart and its cluster in one area the main exception to the time taken to make hard aspects is Pluto which has slowly moved to reach the other planets and will continue to do so over the coming few years.

Pluto is currently about to conjoin Jupiter, indicating that activity and valuation is mainly confined to big money and bankers. Note it did this last May when the rise since 2022 halted and it was reduced in effect by the last quarter. Although Pluto can release value when in combination with Jupiter, it seems its effect here is to reduce it. It will be in play all 2025 and early 2026.

Then it will, within the next few years, go on to conjoin the progressed Jupiter, repeating the theme. But then it will oppose the natal Moon. That does not suggest to me a coin that will be widely on release to the general public – indeed it suggests a challenging relationship between them as early as 2027.

The position of Neptune is even more fascinating. Although towards the back end of the stellium in the chart, the natal Neptune is only one degree away from a conjunction with the Descendent. Since the chart I use is for the receipt of the first transaction ( the only absolutely certain location we have) the whole history and mystery is encompassed in this position- we don’t know who Satoshi was and we don’t really know what the purpose was ( we have a paper which purports to explain it but we cannot tell if it reflects the true objectives) and we don’t know what if any the intrinsic value was/is. Neptune is absolutely the key influence in this chart.

Neptune will continue to progress towards that Descendent, finally reaching it at the end of 2028. That will mark a key period in the currency’s history – when that Neptune has to confront the real world.

Neptune by transit, on the other hand, is going to start its work much sooner. Once it ingresses into Aries, it will square the Bitcoin natal Pluto. That should manifest by May this year, pretty much when Uranus referred to above reduces in effect.

Neptune tends to undermine foundations and structures, Pluto represents the deepest structures- it isn’t a good combination, especially as Neptune will be accompanied by Saturn, together they almost always represent inertia and weakness. This does not bode well.

However Neptune will simultaneously make a sextile with the natal Jupiter and as we know this is the combination that bubbles are made of. Saturn may be overcome by the combination and not be able to pull things back to earth. Either way this configuration will dominate 2025 and early 2026.

Uranus is faster moving – taking just 7 years to complete a sign. It has already made some interesting aspects to the natal chart, including sextiles and squares to almost all the players.

As mentioned, it is currently square the Neptune and Ascendant, and sextile the progressed Venus, explaining the crazy behaviour of the price of late.

Now it has started to move on and will eventually make a tricky aspect to Pluto but a positive aspect to natal Jupiter. But once again it is in 2027 when we see a return to Uranian drama.

Saturn provides a more short term influence- it has already completed over half a cycle since the coin was created. Bitcoin has survived its toughest transits in 2020-2022. It now gets some let up while others take its place. Saturn will however start to create new tough conditions ( see re Neptune above) soon enough though.

Jupiter moves more rapidly still. It has already completed a whole cycle since 2009 and is well on the way to another. It magnifies and can be massive when in conjunction with the outer planets but can’t always compete with the power of those outer planets when in competition with them. Although its position in early November contributed to the start of the recent price rise it isn’t currently doing much more than increase overall trade.

Overall although there is no immediate sign of collapse, there doesn’t seem to be a significant upside for a while either. There are a couple of points which could go either way and are worth watching for but for the moment I’m out.

USA - The astrology of 2025 and beyond

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:00:28 GMT

Astrology of the USA 2025 and beyond

I’ve bought my popcorn, have you?

It has been a while since I posted here, with the exception of a quickly cobbled together, and ultimately incorrect US election forecast. That was not a big deal, my forecasting was mainly about the themes to be expected rather than the actual winner- readers will know I am rarely interested in the details of personal charts.

Anyway enough of that. It has been a very busy year and the business’s activities have had to take a back seat for large parts of it. But that is all done now and it’s hopefully full steam ahead for the next few years.

I thought I’d start by looking at the USA again. There are no secrets here, there are a multitude of astrologers both in the US itself and elsewhere who have the US charts at their fingertips and are able to forecast how the next few years will play out.

None of them are gasping in amazement after the last week of Trump antics. This is who he is, yes, everyone knows that, but astrologers know that the US, too, is manifesting exactly what we would expect it to, the actions of the new president are, in a way, incidental to the bigger picture.

I have referred to the outlook, both in the introduction to the election forecast and also briefly back in early 2023- the US is certainly living in interesting times.

There may be a sigh of relief as Pluto has finally moved into Aquarius, where it will spend the next 20 years. But it isn’t Pluto we are primarily interested in anymore.

That honour goes to Uranus. Having “enjoyed” its first Pluto return since 1776, the US now gets to have another shot at the Uranus return.

It doesn’t have a good record. Uranus was obviously in Gemini from 1774-1781 and at 8 degrees at the time of the declaration of independence in 1776, starting war with the UK.

It returned in 1859-1866 just in time for the civil war reaching 8 degrees in 1861

Back it came in 1941-1948, and yes, we know, war again, this time ringing the changes, on an international scale.

These aren’t the US’s only wars but, aside from the aftermath of 2001, they are some of the most notable.

So no prizes for guessing where Uranus will be 2025-2032; Gemini again

That does not necessarily mean the US is going to war again in the traditional sense though.

This time we note that the progressed MC is already conjoining the natal Uranus and has been transiting the progressed Uranus all last year. We already have a taste of what is to come and. that what, is Trump. With his own Sun conjunct Uranus in Gemini-his time has come and untrammelled by the establishment appointments of his first term, now he has accumulated a band of merry marauders who together with their boss are the instruments of chaos that can only be the personification of Uranus.

Now let’s not condemn Uranus- it is the creative spark that takes the human race to the next level of the game. It is new and exciting technologies ( though bear in mind that what was new last year isn’t new this year- Uranus is no longer interested in PCs nor the internet – it has moved in to the latest fad or folly). So we might just get some breakthroughs in the next few years.

But before we cheer the new leadership on to some Uranian utopia we must remember 2 things:

People don’t like chaos for very long and will push back
Uranus doesn’t like going backwards. So a return to the modes of the 1970s or 1950s or even 1850s is not going to work. Cancelling laws that Uranus, a lover of all the diversity in the universe, would completely embrace isn’t going to play well with that planet. It will have its own brand of karma waiting in the wings.

And that might well take the form of conflict…..

Especially since after encountering its own foundation position transiting Uranus will cross into the astrological house of partnerships and open enemies by late 2028.

While Uranus is the main, or at least most excitable, player we also need to look at what else is happening. Pluto may not be taking centre stage but it still causes problem, most notable in 2025-26 when it is square the US progressed Saturn. Pluto – Saturn is fear and loathing, brutality and fundamental re-evaluation. It is already happening. After the initial period Pluto goes on to quincunx the US foundation Venus-Jupiter when we can expect major financial changes. It completes the 4 year period given extra force to Uranus – something that is not a little concerning.

Our last major guest that we need to examine is Neptune. It has still to leave its sextile with the US Pluto, perhaps the only moderating influence there is. After that by 2026 it is starting to activate the square to the Jupiter-Venus conjunction – this is bad for financial matters, even more so when we consider that Saturn joins it in early 2026- economic inertia is not what people are wanting or expecting, at that time it is likely to be what they get. Of course by 2028 Neptune is sextile both Pluto and Uranus – this could moderate effects but I am inclined to think that it will only obscure their severity – chaos still reigns but under an cloak of disinformation

There is plenty more we could say, but I think that is enough for now. We need to see how these early months play out to have an idea of exactly where the pinch points will be, as we assess to what extent the new President’s plans and plentiful executive orders become reality once Congress and real people get involved.

US Election 2024

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 16:58:12 GMT

Astrological analysis of the US 2024 Election

Introduction

Good day everyone. I haven’t posted here for a long time due to many commitments this year. I hope to be able to do more over this winter.

I may be the only astrologer on the planet that hasn’t, so far, had a go at analysing the potential of the US election candidates so I am going to remedy that omission. However, don’t expect consideration of every possible chart.

Last time (in 2020) I spent a great deal of time looking at the post-election chart for both candidates as well as the main parties. None of it was very convincing and in the end my best prediction was based on the inauguration chart.

So this time there will be no messing around – I’m going straight for the Inauguration!

Oh, ok then, perhaps a teeny bit of messing around, but not with the candidates charts- I am, however, going to look at the US chart for 4 dates, 6 ^th November, 6 ^th December, 6 ^th January and 20 ^th January, because this shows how things are being set up for the coming 4 years or more.

Post Election – 6 ^th November 2024

As everyone and his dog has remarked, this chart shows Pluto in its final degrees of Capricorn and having passed for the last time the US natal Pluto. Surely this is a good sign? Well maybe, We’ll return to that question presently.

We can definitely note that transiting Mars has moved into a new sign and appears to be moving away from an opposition to Pluto (though it is approaching a square to the US progressed Saturn). That’s generally a good sign perhaps indicating some reduction in tensions.

However that is somewhat negated by a conjunction of transiting Jupiter with the US natal Mars. Now Jupiter is transiting the US 7 ^th house, so this may reflect external dramas, particularly in the Middle East. But it may also say something about conflict between the main parties in the US. We will be looking to see how its journey unfold over the next few months.

Another factor to note is the conjunction of the Progressed MC with the US Progressed Uranus. This was exact a few months ago but we can see from the chart that in the coming year it will conjoin the Natal Uranus, reawakening some of the same issues and generally providing some drama in the news about the country. Anyone who believes the inauguration will be the end of the matter is probably misguided.

Finally I want to draw attention to the Progressed Ascendant. At almost 11 degrees Virgo it is approaching a square with the Ascendant/Descendant axis- this will perfect in the coming 18 months and may be an indicator of further division and problems. In November stationary Saturn also squares the axis so the chance that the election will be straightforward and uncontested is frankly very small.

So let’s assume that by the day after the election we either don’t have a clear winner or that the winner is being challenged through courts etc for the coming month at least.

6 ^th December 2024

The date is chosen purely because it is exactly one month later. There are dates in December that are more active politically such as 17th.

Everything said for November still applies to some extent but there are some moderations.

First Pluto has changed signs. Yay.

But a) so has the Progressed Moon which is now approaching the US natal IC. We need to think about what that means – the Progressed Moon passed over this point every 29 years but how often is it in such tight aspect with Pluto? Change is definitely afoot. The presence of the North node here reinforces the importance of the coming weeks.

And b) Pluto maty have moved on but transiting Venus is very much reactivating the US Pluto. If we thought the story was over, we are mistaken, it still has some juice in it.

We also note that transiting Jupiter has retrograded away from the natal Mars and is now trine, you’ve guessed it, progressed Mars. So there may be easier resolution of the challenges ( either internal or external) , but equally they may be able to play out with less encumbrance.

Finally, we note that the Sun and Mercury are transiting close to the Ascendant so in this week are activating the square between the progressed Ascendant and the natal axis. Saturn remains in orb and al the transiting planets are close enough to Jupiter to pull in it configuration too. I expect challenges right, left and centre

January 6 ^th 2025- Certification day

As well as being the anniversary of 6 ^th January 2021 ( so long ago?), it is Certification Day for this election too.

It has already been designated a high security day by US security organisations, So it can be no surprise to see that the astrology is highlighting such concerns.

Pluto is, as mentioned, safety over the line into Aquarius, but the sextile with the Moon and North Node intensifies and the Moon has now passed the IC. This suggests that most of the problems will be obvious at least by then.

Transiting Mars on the other hand is opposite the US progressed Pluto, this is of course not a good sign of peaceful acceptance at all. Expect problems either on the day or its lead up.

If that wasn’t enough we see that Jupiter has now retrograded back to the Descendant, fully pulling together the square of the Ascendant/Descendant axis with the Progressed Ascendant and (still) Saturn. This either means internal conflict or external events that put the US in a holding pattern, maybe even both.

Given the picture on January 6 ^th , I can’t fully rule out a delayed inauguration, but we’ll have to work with that chart in the absence of an alternative.

Inauguration day- 20 Jan 2025 12 noon

I’ve switched the charts round this time ( so the Inauguration chart is the inner wheel), but otherwise the story continues.

Of course the US Pluto is conjunct the MC every inauguration as is the transiting Sun ( at Noon). The only difference in 2025 ( as in 2021) is that transiting Pluto accompanies them. And as mentioned this is picking up the progressed Moon opposite the Natal MC and the Node. So the story continues until this day at least. Mars remains close to the MC/IC axis in conjunction with the US Mercury.

Jupiter remains on the Descendant, and as mentioned activates the important t-square, though by 20 ^th January Saturn has moved away from 12 degrees and no longer completes such a tight cross.

The good news is that there is no obvious new challenge at this point, though we will not have fully resolved the existing ones and there are more to come ( with the Uranus MC) in the next year. Whoever wins, things won’t be calm and uncomplicated for at least a couple of years given the transits to come.

Who will be in the spotlight on inauguration day?

I feel then that looking at the candidates synastry with this chart should give an answer about who is inaugurated even if it is under some fluid conditions.

First though I should note that the amount of active synastry between the charts is amazing.

Their Mars are almost conjunct
Harris’s progressed Sun is trine Trump’s Ascendant and her Ascendant/node is sextile his Mars
Trump’s Jupiter is square Harris’s progressed Moon.
Harris’s Jupiter is conjunct Trump’s MC
Trumps’ Pluto is conjunct Harris’s progressed Ascendant.
Untangling which is stronger is likely to be extremely difficult.

Trump vs inauguration date 2025

Once again we show the Inauguration moment on the inner wheel and Trumps’ natal and progressed charts around it.

We must remember that there are elements of this chart ( the angles, Sun etc) that have already worked for him– Trump has been president- in 2017, even if he did not achieve it in 2021.

Trump does have planets that make aspects with the MC and Sun/Pluto, but they are not obvious ones. His Saturn – Venus conjunction conjoins the Inauguration Mars at the IC of the chart and his Mars- Ascendant and progressed Mercury form a quincunx with the MC. Similarly his progressed Jupiter Venus squares the MC . This is a pretty mixed bunch- we know he is a lucky guy generally- it is not wholly difficult but lacking in an obvious configuration to clinch the deal.

His natal MC does trine the Inauguration MC but it also conjoins the transiting Uranus- suggesting some surprises but not necessarily success. With that square his natal Mars and progressed Mercury it is more likely to suggest sudden outbursts. If he ends up being elected it will be more years of random shouting rather than any coherent and calm leadership.

The Inauguration Ascendant is at 14 degrees Taurus and other than a quincunx to his progressed Mars does not make many aspects to his chart. It is in wide square with his Pluto and progressed MC – this might suggest he struggles with gaining power. His Progressed Moon is however close to the Descendant but this makes it square his Pluto – he may experience loss and feel vengeful.

One possible useful connection is that the Mercury in the inauguration chart ( which itself is sextile a Saturn- Venus conjunction ) is square the Moon and that Moon is conjunct Trump’s Jupiter. That Jupiter is also trine his natal Uranus and progressed Node. It gives some support to him but more as an unexpected speaker rather than a planned one. Indeed the Inauguration configuration itself has a suggestion of a female influence.

I can’t fully rule Trump out on the basis of this chart but it is also difficult to rule him in easily.

Harris vs inauguration date 2025

Starting again with the Inauguration MC- Sun-Pluto, it is a mixed blessing to see that the MC is square Harris’ Moon and Sun-Mercury conjunction. But we know this is not a deal killer as she has already been vice president with a similar Inauguration chart in 2021.

Also the involvement of her natal Mercury with the inauguration Pluto does suggest she may get to speak – as seen last time this is a pre-requisite for success, even though it is a hard rather than easy aspect.

She does have the benefit of her natal Jupiter being conjunct the Inauguration Uranus and thus trine the MC, but she also has a quincunx with her progressed Ascendant and Node which makes things tricky. She certainly has a lot of elements at these crucial degrees but as in Trump’s case they seem to cancel each other out for the most part.

Nevertheless she certainly has her share of aspects to the chart!

What Harris does have is progressed Jupiter rising on the Inauguration Ascendant- this is very positive. However it is opposite her Neptune so it is quite possible that this represents a fantasy rather than a reality. The trine to her natal Pluto-Uranus ( and progressed Venus) conjunction though perhaps strengthens the fundamentals of the aspect and enables it to manifest fully rather than as just a vain hope – it certainly carried things through in 2021.

We can also note that her Pluto -Uranus progressed Venus conjunction is in opposition to the Inauguration Saturn-Venus.

Finally turning to Inauguration Mercury ( square Moon) again, It does pull in her Pluto -Uranus Venus conjunction widely and even her progressed Mars. Finally there is her progressed Moon at 17 Cancer – it opposes the Inauguration Mercury and squares its Moon but it does make aspects and it is supported by the Jupiter-Neptune opposition.

Summary

Based on this I would say that Harris is just slightly ahead in terms of profile on the day. Both have aspects to the MC and to the chart Mercury and Moon. Trump has generally positive aspects to the Moon but negative ones to Mercury. Harris has the reverse.

Overall Harris has slightly better progressions than Trump.

It certainly isn’t a clear cut picture- I can’t help feel that not everything will be fully resolved by this day but if Harris has just marginally the edge when it comes to standing up and speaking on the day.

The Astrology of the Post Office January 2024

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 21:56:08 GMT

The astrology of the UK Post office scandal January 2024

Although there is a great deal of unrest in the wider World at the moment, I have chosen to look at something closer to home. The Post Office Scandal.

We are fortunate, as astrologers, that the history of the GB Post Office is well documented.

Founded on 31 July 1635 (os), it was then subject to an Acts with the re-establishment of the Monarchy in 1660. It was one of many that were given Royal Assent on 29 December 1660(os)

Although this Act was repealed as part of updating Acts in the 19 ^th century that was an administrative change rather than a substantive one so for astrology purposes the original can still stand.

More recently, the GPO became the Post Office on 1 October 1969.

A company, initially named Post Office counters, was created on 13 August 1987

The Post Office Act of 2000 led to the Company becoming Post Office Limited on 1 October 2001 with the original Post Office then being Royal Mail.

The Royal Mail Group ( ready for privatization) was formed after a 2011 Act on 1 April 2012 ( Even an amateur will note the Sun opposition signifying the separation of the two between 1 October and 1 April).

Then of course we have the history of the Horizon software itself. First tendered for in 1994 it was eventually implemented in 1998-9.

Troubles started from 2000 onwards but escalated as it was rolled out and the sad and shocking tale of what happened is all over the news.

We don’t have the time to look at all these charts here, so I’ve just picked a few dates for consideration. The story merits a much longer consideration at some point so this is just a taster.

I am using the 1660 chart, the 1969 chart and the 2001 one.

Starting with the 1660 chart we can see where we are today almost 365 years ( one progressed Sun Cycle) from the start.

The thing that stands out the most though is the conjunction of Pluto with the chart Uranus. There is no better description of the dirt about technology being pulled to the surface. But Uranus is also about wilful disregard for the worth of others in pursuit of one’s own group goals and Pluto will get his man (or men or women) in the end.

Even though the chart was set for midday, we still see it playing out with Jupiter as the media bringing things to light via the progressed Ascendant while progressed Jupiter hovers around the natal descendant in the traditional astrological double whammy.

It is a week since the ITV drama shone its light on the scandal and we see that Mars was conjunct the natal Mars as the media outrage escalated given the situation the trigger it needed to unravel.

With the Uranus Jupiter conjunction opposite the natal Saturn soon, I suspect the Post Office will cease to exist in the form we know it.

Although it is interesting to see how a 360+ year old chart can still play out accurately, I am a little more interested in the October 1 ^ST Ones – because there is a hint of a story with that.

That means starting in 1969. I’m choosing a midnight chart for that as that’s when the legal change would have occurred.

The comparison transit chart is for the broadcast of the ITV drama at 9pm on 1 Jan 2024.

The fact that the natal chart contains a conjunction of Uranus and retrograde Mercury did not bode well for it really and we can see how by 2024 the progressed Uranus has reached the natal Sun, showing how the promise of tech issues in the chart has very slowly and inexorably led to the humiliation of the organisation and all its leadership.

Transiting Pluto doesn’t seem so prominent here ( though there is a trine between it and the Public showing (MC) of the programme. There is an inconjunct with the progressed Ascendant but it is the Pluto Neptune story that shines here.

Transiting Pluto is sextile the chart’s Neptune and trine its Pluto but Neptune is opposing the natal Pluto. With Mars at 27 degrees creating the trigger we see how the problems of deception and delusion have finally being uncovered.

Jupiter ( sextile transiting Saturn) conjunct the natal Saturn and sextile the progressed Moon and trine the Programme Ascendant brings justice to the little people and the attention of the public both partially signified by the Moon.

It is also interesting to go back to the story of the Horizon project and see if it plays out in this chart.

In 1994 Pluto was exactly conjunct the natal Neptune. See how right at the start, before any software is written the interplay of Pluto and Neptune are important. Here it suggests the political pressures that led to a poor tendering process which set the whole messy business in motion. Uranus is conjunct the Descendant indicating the technology partner (sometimes astrology astounds me) but it is also conjunct Neptune and the progressed Mars. Suggesting weak processes, lack of competitive tendering and general hopelessness all round.

We don’t know when the process started but that year the Moon was conjunct the natal Saturn – not a good omen for the employees or the general public.

The next date I thought I’d consider was October 1 2001. We’ll come back to that chart later, here we are using it as a transit to the 1969 chart.

Here we can see the problem starting to manifest more clearly. The transiting Sun conjunct the 1969 Sun is closer to Uranus and square the natal Mars, as well as quincunx natal Saturn. The sheer stubborn wilfulness of management is more embedded. But it is Neptune we are following, and we see it has reached 6 Aquarius where it is enabling the management to avoid responsibility or keep their heads in the sand.

We note the quincunx between the progressed Sun and natal Moon, the two won’t be able to see each other’s point of view.

The progressed Moon as reached 5 Leo as is now square the natal Saturn and opposite transiting Neptune suggesting the first problems created in 1994 are emerging for the local post masters ( and in the long run all of us taxpayers). The new environment is further indicated by progressed Mercury moving into Scorpio emphasising the financial issues).

Neptune continues to play its part as the progressed MC quincunxes the natal Neptune and Pluto. It isn’t pretty.

The progressed Moon then spent the decade moving over the natal Pluto the Uranus conjunction and finally Neptune. None of which we know brought good outcomes for the post-masters. We won’t dwell on the tragedies.

So our next insight is at 1 April 2012.

Obviously we know that the Sun is opposing the natal Sun, that isn’t the story, we are looking for other players.

Retrograde Mercury is on the chart MC opposing the natal Pluto and square the progressed Moon and opposing the transiting MC.

Uranus is opposite natal Uranus and natal retrograde Mercury . This both indicates the split of the companies but also the challenges of the technology reaching a peak. Progressed Mars, which keeps popping up in these charts is sextile the Uranus position but square the natal Saturn and progressed MC. Transiting Mars is at 4 degrees Virgo also activating the Uranus, Mercury, Mars, Saturn configuration. Definitely not a happy combination

The emphasis on MC positions in this chart shows that the problems are no longer internal but are now the matter of public interest.

Perhaps the biggest clue of all though is that the transiting Ascendant is conjunct the natal/progressed Neptune. The unravelling is beginning.

So what about the 2001 chart compared to 2024. That is the last one we are looking at today.

Because the 2001 chart was created at midnight on Oct 1 just like the 1969 one, the angles are the same. Neptune is conjunct the MC.

But this time we also have natal Neptune conjunct the progressed Descendant and activated by the square by transiting Jupiter.

There are also a number of challenging aspects in the 2001 chart itself. Pluto is opposite Saturn ( we all recall the events of autumn 2001 that were characterised by that configuration). In this chart it is also square Venus and quincunx Jupiter and Mars. Frankly I would have picked any other day….

Uranus is not prominent in this natal chart ( though it is quincunx the Ascendant), by then the damage of the technology was in place, it is the story of the organisational internal processes and decisions that is shown in the difficult aspects of this chart.

Returning to 2024 though we can see that the technology once again has prominence. Transiting Uranus at 19 Taurus is square the natal Uranus and quincunx transiting retrograde Mercury. Uranus us trine the progressed Moon. By the time that Moon reaches the Descendant, Uranus will be joined By Jupiter.

Another telling aspect is the square between Pluto and the progressed Sun. In this case Pluto is relevant – the management and others represented by that Sun are about to face the consequences of their actions. The fact that the progressed Sun will move from Libra into Scorpio along with Pluto moving into Aquarius shows that by the summer the situation will look very different. An eclipse close to the progressed MC in the same month as the Uranus-Jupiter conjunction seems to confirm that the Post Office is set for a very big change because of what has happened.

Japan and the Yen November 2023

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 20:10:29 GMT

The astrology of Japan and its currency November 2023

It is yet another miserable day here, but that’s a positive; I have time to look at another country. This time Japan and the Yen.

I last took at peak at them in June 2022, but this was only related to the death of the ex-leader so a proper analysis is overdue. especially given all the drama elsewhere in the world. It isn’t a key focus of that drama but it pays to keep an eye on everywhere we can. Japan’s economy has not been doing well in the last year- and contracted more than expected in quarter 3. It has also been reported that the country’s long time Buddhist leader has died.

Here is my prediction for the period made in 2020

September to December [2023]sees these themes continue. It may be more tricky for the leadership. Indeed there is a possibility of a sudden change of leader either now or in the coming year. The lack of drive that has characterised the last year or so recurs. Information may be supressed or is negative but there is still persistence. Not a great time for noticeable progress though

Here is the Japan chart I use with transits set for the new moon this week.

The death of a leader ( albeit not a political one- though he had forged strong links with the government) is not surprising, given that the New Moon opposite Uranus is square the Japan natal Sun. Especially with the transiting Ascendant trine the Sun at the moment of the new moon. That the emphasis is a spiritual leader may be indicated by the conjunction Neptune with the natal Mars, ( and square progressed Mercury) although this will also indicate the weak trading results. Saturn is also conjunct Mercury, further confirming this as well as other communication or data challenges for the country. The progressed Moon conjoining the progressed Pluto suggests mourning.

Because of the economic situation, the government are facing some challenges at the moment and a change of political leadership cannot be ruled out in the months ahead, especially when Jupiter and Uranus conjoin in April.

We can also see that Pluto will, in early 2024 return to the Japan Midheaven at 0 Aquarius. This suggests the economic difficulties may get worse before they get better. Seismic activity that is significant enough to make the news cannot be ruled out then either.

Other than that the most noticeable aspect going forward is the square of Neptune with the natal Moon. This suggests a real lack of direction for the people and certainly no quick pick up in th economic conditions. However I feel that the fact that Pluto is tine the country’s Pluto Neptune natal conjunction may indicate that in the background there is much transformation that will bear fruit in the longer term.

Next, we turn to the Yen. It has not had the best of times in the last couple of years. Though some of this is down to the (unbelievable) strength of the dollar. Indeed it has lost half its value between 2021 and 2023.

Here is some of what I predicted in 2020 for 2022 and below is the outcome:

May to August sees some dramatic shifts. Huge flows of money are the order of the day now. Investors are turned upside down by changes. No one has a sense of what true values are ….. Trading is all over the place especially around May though things calm down a bit in later months.

September to December is equally interesting. Generally long term influences are good now and there is less uncertainty about values so things are more solid. … Although things continue to be dramatic I feel that the currency has support and the environment not as unstable as May time.

2023 Looks like being a year when the currency may struggle of course this doesn’t mean it can’t increase in value at all…

Not a bad assessment I think. Here is what I said for this period.

September to December [2023] sees difficult conflict between investors and financial policy. We see a long term shift in rates – maybe suddenly at first. We are now looking at long term structural issues within the economy- debt and rates, values and investment. There is some irrational belief that things will get better quickly but this is unlikely to be the case. Another difficult period when investors have to adjust their expectations downwards.

But the point of this blog is to educate and inform rather than ju st predict, so we need to see what is creating this environment.

Over the last couple of years Uranus has been transiting the Yen Pluto and Sun, creating the conditions for major shifts in monetary values. This was aided and abetted by transiting Pluto itself opposing the Yen progressed Jupiter not to mention the current conjunction of the progressed Ascendant and Saturn.

The progressed Ascendant remains conjunct Saturn well into 2024 so we are not looking at a miracle yet. And Uranus will station on the Sun Pluto conjunction in January 2024 and that is not positive.

However that marks the end of Uranus’s transit over this conjunction so things will start to shift in 2024. Indeed the fact that the Uranus Jupiter conjunction of April 2024 is sextile the Yen, suggests a bit of a turnaround if other factors support it. By October Uranus is conjunct the Yen Midheaven ( and mercury and trine Venus and almost Sextile Jupiter). There is a small fly in the ointment as the conjunction is quincunx the Yen Neptune but I suspect this is more a reflection of investor confusion than suppressed values in this case. Honestly I would rather hold Yen than most other assets at that time. Especially in May when transiting Jupiter reaches the Midheaven sextile progressed Jupiter What is going to happen to the dollar I wonder?

Pluto on the other hand is going to move back into Aquarius where it will conjoin the Yen Moon an oppose the natal Uranus again. This is less positive so combined with the above scenario I would expect some major dramatic shifts in both directions before a stable value is identified.

We should also be aware of the moderating influences on this aspect. Progressed Mercury will be trine the transiting Pluto all year and Neptune is now close enough in sextile to Pluto to muddy the waters.

So, no consistent trend then and be aware that shocks may result in moves in any direction but all in all, 2024 looks to be a fun year for the Yen. I love currencies.

Iceland November 2023

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 14:38:46 GMT

The astrology of Iceland in November 2023

When I visited Iceland in the early summer, and they discovered I was an astrologer, I was asked what was in store for the country. I admitted it was not something I had looked at recently but wondered if the Uranus Jupiter conjunction of April 2024 may hit the chart leading to a notable volcanic event.

One thing and another has kept me from looking at it till now, when the news is reporting a potential eruption near Grindavik. Since today’s new Moon is exactly at the degree of the April 2024 conjunction, it seems as if there may be a connection.

So, let’s remedy the omission and look at the chart.

We can immediately see that the new moon and Uranus are square to the Icelandic natal Jupiter at 22 Leo. [1]

I think we can conclude that the connection is strong. We might have escaped a full eruption now but, if so, then April-May of next year is the time to watch for. Especially since the new Moon in April will be conjunct the Icelandic progressed Moon and the new Moon in May conjoins the natal Moon.

We can also note that the impact of the New Moon has been reinforced by the conjunction of the transiting angles ( Ascendant and MC) with the progressed Iceland ones. The transiting Ascendant for the time of the new Moon is also opposite the Icelandic natal Moon, again emphasising the importance of the event, and square the natal Mars- our favourite trigger.

It is worth noting that during 2024 the square between the progressed Uranus and progressed Sun will be exact, this is often a sign of big changes – usually in leadership but in this case it could literally be the country itself that is affected. We can’t ignore the approaching square between transiting Neptune and the Iceland Sun either.

Another interesting factor in the chart is the approaching conjunction of progressed Venus with the Icelandic natal Neptune and then Ascendant. I don’t think this is a major factor in the volcanic activity, although obviously every little aspect helps, but

I do think it is interesting from the point of view of the image of the country over the coming couple of years. I imagine it will be reflected in partnerships and later (as it conjoins progressed Mars) in trading blocks etc. Worth following even if not directly volcanic related.

[1] Incidentally that Jupiter is close to the UK Saturn, something that played out in 2008 when the Icelandic banks caused problems for the UK financial system

China October 2023

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:26:51 GMT

The astrology of China and the Renminbi in October 2023

With everything that is happening in the world at the moment, it Is a relief to turn to something that has been on my to do list for a while: China.

The last time I touched on China was in my coverage of Evergrande in late 2021. I concluded that although Evergrande had deep irreversible problems, the Chinese economy was not in any immediate danger of a domino effect. I did however use the proviso “yet”.

We are now nearly 2 years on. Evergrande is facing its winding up hearings in Hong Kong and China has been struggling with the impact of other property company difficulties and defaults ( c.f. Country Garden).

The impact has flowed through into the stock market, despite the growth stats not being as bad as expected for the last quarter.

The Guardian on Weds 18 ^th said:

Beijing has in recent weeks launched a raft of measures, but its ability to spur growth has been hamstrung by fears over debt risks and a fragile yuan, which has been hit hard this year due to widening yield differentials as global interest rates remain elevated, led by the US Federal Reserve’s tightening campaign.

But we want to know what the astrology says.

Here is the China chart with transits set for yesterday’s eclipsed full moon.

We can see that transiting Pluto is ( and has been for a couple of years) quincunx natal Pluto, not a major aspect but on that indicates that a shift in the long term sentiment is happening slowly. Pluto is also conjunct Uranus which makes this a much more dramatic change, further confirmed by a square to the Nodes.

Clearly, whatever the Q3 stats might say, China is not returning to the conditions of the last few decades.

To some extent, so far this has been moderated by the effect of Neptune. Neptune is sextile the China Uranus and has till recently been trine the country’s natal Neptune and sextile its Mars. This not only moderates the impact but also obscures the reality somewhat ( the current square of Neptune to the China natal Mercury) suggests that at least some obscuring is going on, if not a lot!

However Neptune will in the coming year, square the Chinese natal Pluto, then I believe the extent of the economic damage is more likely to become apparent, along with greater efforts to hide it.

After transiting Uranus, Pluto will also return to Aquarius in early 2024. It will then go to square the progressed Sun and Midheaven. That suggests deep seated issues with and undermining of the leadership. By 2025 Pluto will reach the progressed Uranus, as indeed will the progressed Sun square. I expect a change of leader then, possible quite suddenly – though perhaps after lengthy challenges. The change could be as later as January 2026 but chances are it ill be earlier. I don’t think Neptune which will change signs, and then sextile the progressed Sun, around then will be enough to dilute the effects of Pluto.

I note also that progressed Mars is approaching an opposition with the China Sun, this would seem to confirm challenge to the leadership and may even suggest actual fighting. The progressed Moon will reach this point ( 11 Cancer/Capricorn) in May/June 2024. We must keep out eyes open for hints. The fact that this is also the MC/IC axis suggests a questioning of the economic model on which the country is based may occur.

Turning to our old friend Uranus, which as we know is planning a bumper spring festival with buddy Jupiter in 2024 we can see that the Chinese are likely living in “interesting times”

Transiting Uranus is currently at 21 Taurus which is conjunct the Chinese Moon, representing the people. That is very interesting indeed. Whatever we might see in the outside world, and however many distractions other wars and disruptions might bring, the chances are that there is a feeling of dissatisfaction and unrest amongst the bulk of the people. To what extent they act on this is, however, limited because the Chinese progressed Saturn is for many decades close to a conjunction with the Moon ( it is currently at 20 Taurus). This severely restricts the people’s ability to act.

However the natal Moon is close to Mars, so when they act they really act. The three planets together is a good combination for mass work and military strength. But when combined with Uranus that suggests not all in the garden Is rosy. Ok, on balance perhaps Uranus alone is not going to be enough to shake the boat. But with Jupiter at the same degree in April I think there will be some sort of national strike or protest at best ( unless the aspect manifests as a natural disaster which is also a possibility). I think we might see hints of what is to come in November when Mars, Mercury and the New Moon all fall in this area of the chart.

But having said all that we turn finally to Saturn, currently retrograde in early Pisces and keeping a gentle lid on any tensions. Over the coming year it will move through the sign until it reaches 19 degrees in June 2024. It makes few hard aspects in this time and may in fact encourage adherence to the status quo throughout 2024 despite the other challenges. When it reaches 27 degrees in April 2025 and is square the natal Pluto things could become very tough indeed.

It is also worth a quick peek at the Renminbi chart although we won’t do such an extensive analysis of this.

The most immediate indication that jumps out is transiting Saturn stationed close to the progressed Mars and near opposition with natal Saturn. No wonder the Renminbi is currently subject to pressures, albeit mostly theoretical ones.

The Pluto quincunx we found in the China chart is present here, but this time it is the Renminbi Uranus that is impacted ( being at the degree of the Chinese natal Pluto). At present that quincunx is emphasised by the progressed Moon. However we know that the Renminbi is held in range against the dollar so we wouldn’t expect there to be much more than a feeling of uncertainty yet. This will increase in the coming years as Neptune reaches its square with natal Uranus. I think this is an interesting hint that the conditions are slowly changing but does not, in of itself, suggest a major shift.

We must also again, of course consider the Uranus -Jupiter conjunction in April 2024. But, other than the progressed Sun opposite MC at 24 degrees which will be square the conjunction, there is not too much to report on. I expect April to see some currency re-evaluation but it is unlikely to create any dramatic long term change in value.

However, Pluto in 2024-5 and Neptune a couple of years later are due to change signs so it merits a look at what planets the Renminbi has in early degrees and the answer is quite a lot.

Pluto will mainly make sextiles ( Mercury) or semi-sextiles ( Mars Jupiter, progressed Mars) to the natal planets. But it will by 2025-26 be making a quincunx with the progressed and then natal Saturn, and square the Renminbi Venus though . That is perhaps the time to start worrying about the currency’s value. Pluto reaches a conjunction with the progressed Mercury quincunx Saturn in 2027, then things could be tough.

Neptune trailing Pluto a little, and accompanied by Saturn in 2025, will square the natal Mars Jupiter- this suggests major speculative trading, though does not indicate the direction. In 2025 it will also trine the natal Mercury further indication of at lot of activity and maybe interest rate and managed exchange rate activity.

However by 2027 it will also eventually sextile the progressed Mercury (and quincunx Saturn and Venus) when Pluto is in play. I expect this will be a time of general currency uncertainty and I see pegs breaking.

I love a good financial crisis me. Maybe there will be one then, but not yet and we’ll have to look at other charts to see the whole picture.

Israel October 2023

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:52:53 GMT

The astrology of the attacks in Israel in October 2023

I don’t wish to spend too much time on the situation in Israel. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

But I looked at the chart only 6 months ago, when discussing the Israel government situation.

Then I concluded by saying “ my forecast made in 2020 does not see resolution during 2023. Multiple changes of leader could be possible, as could actual fighting between factions. Bear in mind that the April 2024 Jupiter Uranus conjunction is close to the Israeli Sun. That is the antithesis of stable government.”

My focus then was on the government but the conditions apply to any conflict situation. My 2023 forecast was in fact broader and included reference to the Palestinian situation both in late 2023 and in 2024.

However, for the sake of our astrological understanding, it is still worth a quick look at exactly what the position was this weekend.

The beginnings of the Hamas attack are variously reported as 6.30 or 6.35 am. I am sing the latter

Even without reference to the Israel foundation chart we see transiting Pluto is opposite the transiting Midheaven at the start of the attack. It forms a square with transiting Mars and the Nodes. A more apt summary of the situation could not be expected. Transiting Venus is sextile the Mars.

Turning to the Israel chart itself, Mars is in fact only 3 degrees away from the Israeli Ascendant. This means that the major square described picks up that Ascendant.

But not just the Ascendant. In the Israel chart, its natal Mars is at 28 Leo, the progressed Venus Uranus conjunction at 27-28 Gemini and the conjunction of the Israeli Jupiter with the progressed Ascendant at 27-28 Sagittarius.

That represents a huge chunk of the chart being pulled into this event.

It is also worth mentioning that the Venus with Uranus here has associations with Islamic terrorism generally. The fact that it now appears on the progressed Descendant is definitely indicative of direct conflict.

It was the activation of the Uranus, together with the simultaneous conjunction of transiting Uranus with the Israel Sun and square its progressed Saturn that led me to expect instability.

One further point to note is that the progressed Moon is in the 7 ^th house of open enemies and is currently square the MC/IC axis. Unfortunately the ruler of the 7 ^th is Mars and the progressed Mars will spend many years in the 12 ^th house of hidden enemies. Not a good combination for unexpected attacks.

We also see that Jupiter is square the Israel Pluto and nodes- a square that is mirrored by the transiting one. This has a very fated quality to it.

As I mentioned in my earlier 2023 post, 2023 situations are unlikely to resolve themselves quickly and Uranus Jupiter conjunct the Israel Sun square Saturn now looks not just like serious instability but very ominous. Particularly when we realise that Pluto will soon move forward almost to the Israel MC/IC axis by next May. That that is only a hint that Pluto will cross this axis more than once in the coming few years should make us aware that continued challenges are on the cards.

Metro Bank 2023

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 20:12:29 GMT

The astrology of Metro Bank plc in October 2023

I haven’t been able to provide many insights lately, due to other commitment, but there are a couple of topical issues I’d like to address before I get back to the longer term ones.

The first of these is Metro Bank.

Metro Bank is interesting. It’s proposition was to focus on branches while other challenger banks were focusing on on-line offerings and the traditional banks were closing their branches.

It has also been the subject of some controversy with contracts offered to the founders wife etc.

The only surprise is that I’ve never looked at it before!

Metro was founded on 29 July 2010. It’s somewhat garish logo in keeping with its Leo Sun and the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Aries. The conjunction is in a T square with Pluto and Saturn, indicating its intension to go against the tide. Of course, as we know the next Uranus Jupiter conjunction is not far away, no surprises that the company is already resonating to it. Uranus is close to the degree of the conjunction at the moment- indicating the themes that will play out on a bigger scale next April.

The bank’s problems have been bubbling away for some time and peaked early last week. But new funding was announced on Sunday and it appears Metro lives to fight again.

I’ve set the transits for Noon BST on Sunday- angles are therefore not terribly relevant.

It is notable that although we don’t know the exact time of the agreement the transiting Moon on Sunday was conjunct the Metro Sun, a monthly event yes, but in this case a critical point.

We can immediately see that retrograde Jupiter is close to the Ascendant, indicating the size of the problems but also the last ditch funding.

The progressed Moon is at 2 Virgo and has been conjunct the Metro Mercury and quincunx the Metro Uranus Jupiter conjunction for the last couple of months. No wonder everything has come to a head. It will go on to square the progressed Ascendant and oppose the Metro Moon over the coming 5-6 months taking us to that fateful April 2024 time.

We can see that Pluto ( signifier of debt) has been transiting the company’s 10 ^th house for a while ( since 2020). It is currently trine the Metro Mars and activated by the transiting Mars. It also put transiting Mars trine the Metro Neptune, another significator of both the problems and bondholders stepping in to help.

However it doesn’t take a genius to notice that Pluto currently retrograde in Capricorn will in 2024 return to Aquarius where it will sextile the company’s Jupiter Uranus conjunction, trine its Saturn and quincunx its Mercury and more importantly conjoining its progressed MC.

It seems we might have escaped the recent monster but we are by no means out of the woods and other scary challenges.

The IPO was in March 2016. Conditional trading started on the 7 ^th but full unrestricted trading commenced on the 10 ^th and that is the date I am using. For the current chart I use opening of trade on 9 ^th October.

The shares reached their low on Friday 6 ^th October but recovered somewhat after the weekend announcement ( peaking at 9am on 9 ^th ) but are still close to the low for the year. What does the astrology say about the shares?

The IPO Pluto is conjunct its MC, not the most attractive offering, though it is fortunately trine Jupiter, giving it more initial optimism than might be merited. This also hints at the debt but also the enthusiasm for the shares at IPO time despite it.

However, that aside, the IPO chart angles are not so different from the Foundation one, we can expect them to activate at similar times. To some extent this indicates that what we see is what we get. I think that is true, as Metro’s founders have always been prominent and activities well reported. There may be hidden things but basically what happens in the company is likely to be mostly reflected in the shares. This is not always the case in other companies.

We currently see that the progressed Moon is opposing the progressed Mc indicating a significant turning point un in the shares ( not necessarily either good or bad) The fact that the progressed Moon will now go on to oppos Pluto in about 5-6 months should turn our attention to next April again.

That leads us to transiting Uranus at 22 Taurus. It is close to conjunction with the progressed Ascendant ( and close to a trine with the progressed MC) . Clearly there will be big changes in the shares next spring. Could a takeover be in the offing? Or some other sort of shift? It could even be very positive but I would exercise caution unless you have money to gamble. Before Jupiter reaches Uranus it will form a grand trine with the natal Pluto and Jupiter and a sextile with the Sun ( though there is a corresponding quincunx with Saturn), this does suggest the chance to seize the moment finance wise.

It does culminate in the conjunction. If you invest, don’t take your eyes off the ball in March and April 2024.

Finally, Pluto is also currently in sextile with the progressed Sun, giving a sense of the new finance structure which might improve matters. It is contrasted with the Saturn square Mars which has restricted trading over the last few weeks. Though now it is increasing again, Saturn will move over much of the IPO planets in the coming months ( Mercury, Neptune and the Sun) suggesting that things will continue to be tight for a while. Look closely at the fundamentals and the management actions over the remainder of 2023.

NVIDIA

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:49:07 GMT

The astrology of NVIDIA shares in August 2023

The astrology has been difficult for me lately, but I am hoping to post a little more from now on.

One of the companies I’ve been following this year is NVIDIA, which is having a spectacular period. It is good to be looking at successes rather than failures. But, of course, what we want to know is can the trend continue?

Share price chart ( c. yahoo finance)

NVIDIA was founded in Sunnyvale, San Jose on 5 April 1993. And as such is a child of the Uranus-Neptune conjunction of the early 1990s. Transiting Uranus is trine this conjunction at the moment and will be joined by Jupiter next year. It is clearly a good time.

But we are more interested in the share price at the moment. The IPO happened on 22 January 1999 and we’ll set the chart for opening of the market at 9.30am EST.

One thing that stands out in his chart is the approaching progressed New Moon ( at 27 Aquarius) which will be exact in the coming month. It suggests the conclusion of a cycle and the beginning of a new one- though it says little about whether the future will be a success or not.

Looking at the big transits, We see that Neptune has been transiting the IPO Jupiter in the NAVIDIA first house. We know that Jupiter together with Neptune is indicative of bubbles and detachment from reality. Caution is therefore suggested. However perhaps we don’t have to worry just yet as over the coming couple of years Neptune will move from its conjunction with the natal Jupiter to one with the progressed Jupiter. Perhaps then the delusion can continue for a while yet.

Pluto is supporting the Neptune aspect by sextile. Reinforcing its power. However the progressed New Moon is on the transiting Pluto Neptune midpoint. So we should be aware that this might be a peak or turning point.

Pluto is also square the natal Mars and Saturn opposition. This is a curious one. On its own it can suggest difficulties and underlying challenges. It could imply that a transformation is taking place in the fundamental engineering of the organisation which will change its nature going forward, nevertheless, here we are talking about the shares not “reality” and therefore is more likely to suggest powerful forces are affecting trading and that again for me urges some caution.

Pluto will not return to this position again though so we can assume that most of its work has been done over the past few months.

Pluto will however move back into Aquarius in early 2024 and this is of much more significant. Because here it will conjoin the IPO natal Sun, Neptune conjunction which is incidentally sextile both the natal Moon and the progressed Jupiter. It is likely that the shares will undergo continued huges changes over the next couple of years. On balance that is likely to be positive due to the influence of Jupiter but Pluto conjunct Neptune might puncture any bubbles. It might also imply change of leadership or identity for the company. I would consider this a big risk in a organisation that was not doing as well, here I would anticipate mergers or acquisitions- or big share splits.

Another upside has been the sextile between transiting Uranus and the natal Ascendant and Venus ( and a trien between Uranus and the natal Mercury) . This will continue for the coming year and culminates with the Uranus – Jupiter transiting conjunction in April 2024. Uranus is surprises and Venus relates to value so it is difficult to see the potential for much downside between now and then. The last couple of weeks have seen a double whammy as transiting retrograde Venus opposes the natal Uranus too.

I do feel that the approaching Full Moon tomorrow and the progressed New Moon in September together with the retrograding of transiting Mercury over the descendant might suggest a bit of a pull back in the coming weeks. Further emphasized by transiting Venus ending its opposition with the natal Uranus as it starts to move forward again.

So don’t buy now, but consider it in late 2023 early 2024 before the big conjunction.

However, that conjunction could mean all bets are off financially so perhaps be prepared for big swings by April 2024 and maybe take profits before things deteriorate.

And although there are still a lot of positives for NVIDIA shares into 2025, we should also note that by March 2025 Saturn will cross the NVIDIA ascendant as well as the Jupiter and progressed Venus (and square the Midheaven). That has the potential to end the party.

That’s enough for now, but perhaps a look at the 1993 fundamentals chart is in order before 2024

Barbenheimer

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 20:34:20 GMT

The astrology of the joint effect of Barbie and Oppenheimer

This blog is designated an area for topical matters, and it doesn’t get more topical than the joint successful movie promotion of Barbie and Oppenheimer.

But sometimes when we astrologers look at a chart or planetary symbol, we invoke the energies of that chart or symbol. The delay in my posting of this analysis is due to exactly that. I won’t go into the details but suffice to say, the last 10 days has been as extraordinarily difficult for me as it has been successful for the movie combination.

So, with that in mind, let’s get back to the basics.

Here is the chart for Barbie’s official birthday (her launch at a toy show on 9 March 1959). Data from Astro.com

And here is the birthchart for Oppenheimer 22 April 1904 at 8.15a.m., also from Astro.com

I don’t propose to analyse the birth charts themselves. That has been done elsewhere. I am more interested in the phenomenon that has been created this month. I will therefore look at the transits to both charts, at the launches and on the release date as well as taking a peak at the composite chart on that release date.

Barbie launch took place in LA on 9 ^th July from 5pm PDT. I’ve used NY at 7pm EST in line with the birth location

We can see the focus on the Barbie birthchart with the transiting Sun conjoining both the progressed Mars ( Mars rises in the birthchart) and the progressed Moon as well as trining the natal Sun. I’ve said it before many times and I’ll say it again, where there is Mars there is lots and lots of activity. Usually in my charts that refers to trading, but here it is directed to social media and general interest.

The conjunction is further emphasised by the conjunction of the transiting Moon and natal Venus as well as the progressed MC of the Barbie chart which is square the progressed Mars conjunction.

We also note that transiting Mars itself is approaching a conjunction with the Barbie Pluto, suggesting we are on the brink of releasing a big force when Mars changes signs, further confirmed by a quincunx to the transiting Pluto. And as if that weren’t enough progressed Venus is sextile the Barbie Pluto- this is girl power personified.

I should note here, that although transiting Venus is approaching Mars too, it will not perfect as it is about to turn retrograde.

Another factors that should make us sit up and take notice is the conjunction of transiting Uranus with the progressed Barbie Sun, it is perhaps a little late ( at 22 rather than 21 degrees) but certainly can’t be ignored.

Stability and integrity is assured by the Saturn sextile Saturn though this is no-where near the most important factor in the chart. More important is the trine of Saturn to Neptune. A Neptune which is on the transiting MC at the time of the launch.

That alone indicates a movie phenomenon that may disproportionately take off, but when we couple it with the fact that transiting Neptune is trine the progressed Jupiter we have the stuff that dreams are made of. That they form a grand trine with transiting Mercury just shows how the social media campaign is going to take off. The fact that progressed Mercury is trine the natal Pluto and quincunx its Jupiter is the final sign that something dramatic is happening.

The preview of Oppenheimer took place in Paris on 11 July ( in the evening). I have assumed it started at 5pm as for Barbie and again relocated the transits to NY at 10 EST but we should treat this time with more caution.

Obviously as the premier of Oppenheimer took place just 2 days later, most of the planets have moved very little. We have a different Moon and, of course, different angles. But 1904 is quite a different animal to 1959 so we could in theory expect a completely different outcome.

But naturally astrology will have something to say about that!

We’ll start with Mars. Transiting Mars, now at 0 degrees Virgo is once again a busy little bee. It is trine Oppenheimer’s Sun and progressed Jupiter (along with the transiting Node). It seems that there is going to be quite a bit of fuss about Mr Oppenheimer’s story. That this is likely to make it again to social media in a massive wave is indicated by the square to the natal Sun from the progressed Mars and transiting Mercury opposite transiting Pluto.

This is particularly interesting, because it is a square. Normally a square might mean that a competing film would bury a movie with this configuration but in this case they harnessed the square and made the competition part of the campaign – it is genius, although probably accidental genius as I doubt they expected quite such success.

But in any case, if we had any doubt that this was going to be all the rage, transiting Jupiter is conjoining Oppenheimer’s Mars.

We also see that this time Uranus is conjunct the Oppenheimer natal Mercury, ( and sextile its Moon) further confirmation, if we needed it that a media storm is brewing. ( We can note that the Oppenheimer Mercury is exactly conjunct the Barbie progressed Sun throughout 2023, tying them together in the Uranus transit). Since Uranus will be conjoined by Jupiter at the same degree in early 2024, awards season looks like it will be fun and rewarding.

But what about Neptune? Surely if astrology is consistent it will show up in this movie premier too?

It does. Transiting Neptune is opposite Oppenheimer’s progressed Ascendant and square his progressed MC and square his progressed Uranus. If the time is exact then it is also square the Ascendant of the premier itself. That is pretty damn convincing.

Finally we see that transiting Venus is conjunct Oppenheimer’s progressed Sun ( itself trine his own Uranus). He is literally about to be highlighted by a female “goddess.”

This is why I love astrology. We start with a completely different chart to Barbie but so many themes repeat.

Nevertheless, what we really want to look at is the combined effect. And for that I have chosen the general release day of 21 July 2023. I don’t have a time but have used midnight in New York ( we won’t put too much emphasis on the transiting angles because of this uncertainty).

This is as expected a fascinating chart.

When commenting on the phenomenon in non- astrological circles I have suggested that Oppenheimer gives an insight into the first half of the 20 ^th century and Barbie into the subsequent decades. If this is true we would expect to see clear strong emphasis on the outer planetary cycles.

Let’s look at the basic composite chart and the progressions first. The Sun is conjunct Venus and sextile Jupiter. That is positive but not ground-breaking. It is also square the progressed Sun and Mercury conjunction.

The Moon, however, is conjunct Mars and sextile Pluto as well as the progressed MC (the point of public image and external focus). And this conjunction is sextile the progressed Mars and Pluto. This Mars Pluto connection is extraordinarily powerful. Coupled with the Moon and MC it is exceptional.

Note how the male and female elements combine in both conjunctions and note how the first conjunction says something about the nature of Barbie and the second about Oppenheimer.

We see also that the composite Pluto is opposite the composite Saturn and square the composite Mercury. This is a very dark aspect – reflecting the Oppenheimer association with death and destruction. It is unfortunately the aspect I managed to harness when I sat down to do my analysis. (RIP my beloved little ginger boy; I did not intend to become a destroyer of your world)

So next we turn to the transits on the day of the release. Uranus is conjunct the progressed MC – suggesting a dramatic effect. It is also given further impetus by its quincunx to the composite Uranus. Although, of course, this aspect is a longer term one of weeks or months so we must look for a daily aspect to trigger it.

Transiting Pluto is close to conjunction with the composite Saturn and this opposes its natal position. This is particularly interesting for me as it confirms my view that we are looking at a reflection of the evolution of 20 ^th Century history.

Transiting Neptune is also tapping into this configuration. At 27 degrees it is sextile the composite Saturn, trine its Pluto and sextile that all important Mars. Indeed that Neptune sextile to the composite Mars says everything we need to know about the hype that is to characterize the release of this pair of films. But Neptune like Uranus is slow moving, we can’t credit it alone with the feel of 21st July.

The key though is the transiting Sun, sextile the Composite Mars, conjunct its Pluto and opposing its Saturn and trine the transiting Neptune.

That is really all we need but the Universe is ever generous and gives us more. A transiting conjunction of Mars and the Moon (opposite transiting Saturn) which is conjunct the composite Neptune. You will have grasped that Mars is going to pump up the volume of excitement and that the Moon can be attributed to the public mood and that Neptune is the embodiment of movies and hype. Saturn perhaps could dampen the ardor but because the 2 films are set as a tongue in cheek battle, and we already have one configuration giving us the right mix, it just contributes a more concrete result to the impact.

Jackpot. As i am sure the producers are saying

Bank of America 2023 and beyond

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 13:13:35 GMT

The astrology of Bank of America in 2023 and beyond

Prompted by the following report, that accompanied the results of the FED stress tests on June 28th, I thought my next analysis should be of Bank of America Corporation ( BAC)

Bank of America is bearing the cost of decisions made three years ago to pump the majority of $670bn in pandemic-era deposit inflows into debt markets at a time when bonds traded at historically high prices and low yields. The moves left BofA, the second-largest US bank by assets, with more than $100bn in paper losses at the end of the first quarter, according to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The sum far exceeds unrealised bond market losses reported by its largest peers.

However, there is a problem. The usual problem ; what chart to use, but this time magnified.

Oh, there is some great historical data: The early Bank of America called then Bank of Italy has a foundation date : 17 Oct 1904 in SF

There is even a date for the Federal charter 1 March 1927

The problem is that the original BAC does not exist. It ceased to do so on 1 Oct 1998(*) when it merged into Nations Bank, which itself had merged into NCNB in 1991. The final entity merely took the BOA name

All these banks had had multiple smaller mergers as well.

NCNB started life as First National Bank of Eastern North Carolina on 10 April 1952

The problem is that I can’t find a definitive first trade for the merger predecessors. Yahoo show data back to 21 Feb 1973, but elsewhere a date of 28 June 1976 is mentioned.

That’s frustrating. The data is out there but not easily available without physical library access.

Even this is confusing as BAC website state the merger was 27 July 1999, even though it was reported in the press in 1998 and even in the BAC 1998 annual report.

Worse the SEC filing states : On September 25, 1998, BankAmerica Corporation (the Corporation) reincorporated in Delaware and on September 30, 1998, NationsBank Corporation (NationsBank) completed its merger with the former BankAmerica Corporation (BankAmerica) and changed its name to "BankAmerica Corporation".

This seems to reconcile those dates and is the best we can get:

The Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 25, 1998 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28, 1998 is amended to provide that the Registrant's Common Stock will begin trading on October 1, 1998 under the symbol "BAC."

So technically the new company was probably formed at the end of the day of 30 September and NYSE trading under the new banner was the following day.

It is a pity that earlier charts are so confused, but we’ll stick with the 1998 ones.

Here is the chart for the full moon on Monday 3 ^rd July.

Obviously the first thing we see is Pluto conjunct the BAC Neptune )which is sextile the progressed Ascendant) and square the progressed BAC Saturn. No surprises with this combination that we are dealing with significant losses from financial instruments. We can also see Jupiter on the Descendant as the FED bringing the size of these losses to light.

Although the response for BAC is to say that the losses are unrealised, they are well capitalised and investors don’t need to worry, I would say they are not out of the woods yet. Neptune in sextile and trine to these positions is skimming over some of the reality.

Pluto will continue to transit this point for another year or two and also to square the natal Saturn. Not till 2026 is this something that can be ignored. And by then Uranus is opposing the BAC Pluto so upheaval is extremely likely – maybe they are forced to split or sell off certain activity.

Because, unfortunately, just as Pluto moves away from Saturn etc , It will Square the BAC progressed Sun – Venus conjunction and be sextile its own natal position – doubling its impact. That is liable to lead to leadership departures, operational deficits and all in all a poor picture.

Neptune will also eventually ( early 2026) move into Aries ( conjoining Saturn as it does so). It will then be opposite the BAC Venus, indicator of core values and is therefore likely to lead to a lack of connection between the company value and that of the underlying business.

By the time Pluto is at 8 degrees in early 2028 and given that this is square the Ascendant, I seriously doubt that BAC will be recognisable in its current form. A whole new ball game is started by January 2029.

What about next year’s Uranus-Jupiter conjunction, though?

Actually BAC is not so significantly impacted by that conjunction. It is opposite the BAC progressed Mercury but it is also sextile the natal Jupiter. For BAC, spring 2024 may be a time of opportunity and significant trade.

This is further confirmed by the conjunction of progressed Mars and the progressed MC at the same time. Mars is always concerned with trade. We can expect one of two things- either BAC will get a change to make some significant trades itself or someone may be make an offer for its activities. Possibly both will happen.

However, either way I see the company being mired in more financial difficulties in the 2-4 years that follow.

I should add that although this is rather negative we aren't in a BBBY or Evergrande situation here.

The Euro 2023 and beyond

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 23:22:17 GMT

The astrology of the Euro in 2023 and through to 2040

I’ve been meaning to take another look at the Euro for a few months since I looked at the Uk and US/dollar.

There are the usual provisos. Under normal conditions, one can’t really consider a currency in isolation; only currency pairs. The only time single currency charts are when it is in complete meltdown ( See Bolivar/ Argentinean Peso etc). I don’t anticipate this happening to the Euro anytime soon. That doesn’t mean I don’t anticipate meltdown in the currency markets as a whole though; that is a different question….!

I did a 4 year forecast back in 2020 and my expectation for 2023 was basically, a lot of currency uncertainty and changes in interest rates. So we are on course but what comes next?

Let us remind ourselves what the chart looks like. Here it is with transits set at the date of the last new Moon

The first thing to look at in this chart is Pluto. It is currently, conjoining the Euro progressed Mercury, opposing the Euro progressed MC and is square to the progressed Mars. This is challenging and has resulted in rate hikes. Rates have risen from 0% in July 2022 to 3.5% now. Pluto is retrograde at the moment and is likely to trigger more rate changes before it is finished.

However, for the moment Pluto has returned to Capricorn after its initial Aquarius ingress. So far it has only reached 0 Aquarius, but it will in 2024 move as far as 2 degrees and thus it will conjoin the Euro Neptune. That is a bigger event than you might at first assume. The Euro system is practically a Neptune symbol on its side and Neptune is a significator of broad ( non-physical) currency everywhere. Pluto implies deep seated change – I expect changes to the form, the Euro logo and the extent of the Euro zone by 2026 when Pluto has fully passed Neptune. I expect those changes to start next year. They may well accompany upheaval in the currency markets generally.

Turning to transiting Neptune, which is currently at 27 Aries, we see further confirmation of the potential changes in the pipeline.

Neptune is moving away from its conjunction with the Euro Jupiter, the days of easy money but also bubbles and currency overvaluation are ending though we won’t see that play out fully until later 2024. But it is 2025 before we really see the complete picture.

Then, we not only have a conjunction of Neptune and Saturn on the Descendant of the Euro chart, but that conjunction will also be trine the progressed MC, sextile its progressed Mercury and quincunx its progressed Mars ( i.e the same mix as is generating rate rises with Pluto). Mars and Mercury will both change signs indicating a big shift in the nature of the currency – some sort of digital token perhaps, or a new peg/basket?

Maybe the peg, because it is the conjunction with the Descendant that is the key here. This isn’t just about the Euro, this is about its major partners too. It suggests co-operation and –or conflict- the need to actively manage the currency markets ( not easy for big players such as Y€$).

The likelihood is that there will need to be a reset of some sort.

But why? Are there any clues to the road that that point?

Perhaps the conjunction of Jupiter with Uranus next April will create the conditions. In the Euro chart it makes a couple of aspects. It is sextile Jupiter- that is broadly positive- though it may also imply more liquidity or just that events are magnified which is not necessarily positive at all. But it is also quincunx the progressed Ascendant and natal Mercury. At a guess, the ECB will be forced to make sudden rate changes at this point. Something somewhere in the system is going to give and central banks will be running around like headless chickens for a few weeks, probably!

It isn’t good but I don’t think the Euro itself is in crisis as a result, it is merely reacting to other events. But I think those events set up the situation that takes until 2026 to play out.

Another indication that 2026 brings a change is the movement of progressed Venus into Pisces in September 2026, suggesting a shift in the Euro's value and credibility.

We have touched on transiting Saturn ( in its relationship with Neptune), but before that it is playing a quite low key role. I am not too worried about its impact in the next year or so. Not till it reaches the Descendant in 2025 will its restrictions be felt.

On the other hand, the Euro progressed Venus which has been very closely correlated with its value so far is in a square with the natal Saturn for the next few years. This will tend to depress its value generally – though not undermine it in the way Pluto does. So it isn’t going to soar in value what ever happens elsewhere but the other factors ( Pluto and Neptune) are likely to dominate anyway.

While we are here though, it is worth looking even further into the future.

2027-2040s

Although Pluto will separate from its square to progressed Mars by the end of 2026 it continues to conjoin the Euro progressed mercury for the best part of two decades, which is rather extraordinary. So far Pluto to Mercury transits have indicated rate changes. Since it is unlikely we will have 20 years of these, we have to assume some other form of tinkering will be taking place. It is another suggestion that we might be dealing with a new (digital or pegged) form of the currency.

By the 2030s Pluto will be transiting both the progressed Sun and Mercury, that’s likely to mean changes to the ECB too and perhaps to the definition of the Eurozone.

Neptune will continue its journey through the Euro 7 ^th house until it conjoins the Euro Saturn in 2036-7. That may well be a time of extreme weakness for the currency, one it might not survive in its known form. Or it may merge to form a larger currency basket. Since betting on that far ahead just isn’t feasible now, we merely need to keep our eyes and ears peeled to pick up on the direction well before it happens.

Otherwise, after progressed Venus shifts to Pisces in 2026 there are no changes of sign for any progressed planets ( bar the Moon of course) until 2040.

And in 2040 progressed Mercury reaches Pisces but more importantly progressed Jupiter moves into Aries.

That is such a huge shift that at this stage I have nothing to say about it as it is such a big change I can’t conceive it just yet.....

The astrology of Thames Water June 2023

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 18:40:44 GMT

The astrology of Thames Water in June 2023

I was intending to look at the Euro in this post, but that can keep till later. Something much more interesting has captured my attention: Thames Water.

I wouldn’t usually be too concerned with private companies, their success and failures and the gains and losses of individual business people, are a feature of capitalism that usually just happens in the background; but this one is massive, relates to a monopoly product we can’t live without and is now claiming it may need support (a need to bail out the water perhaps?) from the government: that affects us all.

Thames Water is on the brink of going into administration and it certainly looks as if the shareholders will be wiped out ( though it is not that simple given some of the organisations that hold the shares) Who knows what will happen to the bondholders, knowing this government we poor taxpayers will have to help them buy more yachts….

Anyway, enough whingeing, let’s look at the data:

It is complicated as all the UK water companies, in their current form, were created at the same time. Nevertheless Thames Water was the largest and thus the flagship (oh dear, does not bode well for the rest of the fleet).

The companies were formed (by reorganisation of the various elements) on 1 April 1974

They were incorporated on 1 April 1989

The Water Act was given royal assent on 6 July 1989

The Offer for Sale was dated 22 November 1989

And finally the Flotation (pun intended) happened on 12 December 1989.

Now it won’t take a genius to remember that 1989 was the year of the collapse of the Berlin Wall. What has that got to do with water companies in the UK, you ask? Well obviously nothing, directly.

However astrology does link them, via Saturn and Neptune, which were in conjunction in 1989.

We have already looked briefly at the characteristics of Saturn in Pisces and its coming conjunction with Neptune and inevitably one of the themes in its widest sense, is water challenges. Ah….. We have already seen some of the potential consequences of this mix in the Ukraine dam attack and the loss of the Titan submersible. We should not be surprised to see water company issues as well.

I am casting charts for 1 April 1989 (midnight) and for 22 December 1989 but we will also look at the chart of the Thames Water parent, Kemble Water Holdings Ltd as this will tell us about the company on its own and not all the other UK water companies.

The Neptune Saturn conjunction is prominent as expected. The Moon applying to a trine to Jupiter indicates the proposed issue to the public.

I think the floatation chart is more useful though

Once again we see the Neptune-Saturn conjunction. This time Jupiter is opposed to Mercury as the privatization becomes real. The winners are the government and the management indicated by the Sun rising, the losers are likely to be the people signified by the Moon in opposition to the Sun and making no real good aspects. Still, a lot can happen in 30 plus years and clearly has.

Finally, we look at the Kemble chart. Obviously Saturn and Neptune are not in conjunction (that happens only every 36 years) but we can see that Saturn is approaching an opposition with Neptune- hardly a good sign. We also see Jupiter in Scorpio on the MC , suggesting financial services rather than customer services are likely to be the goals!

But while these charts are interesting and we could spend lots of time looking at the potential in them, we don’t have to because we can instead look at the progressions and transits that describe where we are today.

First let’s look at the original incorporation chart compared to today, I’ve set it for Noon BST. This won’t tell us the specifics of Thames but it will give us an indication of the wider water company environment.

One of the most interesting elements in this chart is the progressed Sun. It may have started looking bright but now it is forming an opposition with the natal Pluto- a perfect representation of the chickens coming home to roost for both government and management. In 1989 Pluto sextile Neptune-Saturn was releasing value, now we must pay the piper (sorry, the puns just write themselves). In 4 months the Moon will conjoin that Sun bringing a cycle to a close.

Of course it is the conjunction of Saturn with Neptune in 2025 at 0 Aries in May 2025 which will really close the wider cycle so there is still plenty to play out before that happens.

Nevertheless we can see elements of the story already. The sudden resignation of Thames’ CEO is shown by the transiting Sun ( leadership)opposing the Incorporation Uranus ( shocks and separations). Transiting Uranus conjunct the progressed Venus and triggered by the square to Mars, indicates the whole issue of solvency being thrown into the media this week, Mercury transiting progressed Mars reinforces this.

We note that Uranus is currently at the degree where it will form its conjunction with Jupiter next April. I feel that wider financial issues will hit all similar companies then

It is worrying for the UK taxpayer too, as we see the natal Moon, the public, is being squared by the transiting Node and by todays’ transiting Moon. That the natal Moon will continue to be transiting by Pluto for the next 2 years is further confirmation that the bigger picture has yet to play out.

But we need to look at Kemble’s chart for the Thames specifics.

The transiting Sun (CEO) is again a key factor as it appears on the Descendant; both an indication of the separation form the company but also as it moves from the 6 ^th to the 7 ^th house and indication of things coming to light. the Sun on the descendant is also indicative of the need for help from partners/government

Note also transiting Pluto opposing the progressed Mars; this is not new and has been the theme of the last few years, with fines for failure to keep within the regulations and the horrendous tales of sewerage in rivers and seas. The fact that the progressed MC at 28 Scorpio, and that progressed Mercury is opposite natal Pluto and squared by transiting Neptune too, is now tapping ( oh, no, I can’t stop these puns) into this opposition has meant that it is even more public than before. Given this combination, I suspect management and shareholders are also at loggerheads and trying to undermine each other.

It looks like we may have some big changes/decisions in the next few weeks as Jupiter reaches the IC and opposes the incorporation Jupiter.

It is also interesting to look at Saturn and Neptune. The progressed Saturn is quincunx natal Saturn, potentially an indication of the infrastructure weaknesses. Neptune is less problematic- - although opposed at the moment by Venus and recently squared by Uranus, the water itself is less of an issue at the moment. However, it is also interesting to note that the Neptune-Saturn conjunction of 2025 will be exactly on the Node of this chart. A reminder how charts lock in their destiny long before it manifests in practice.

Also worth looking at is the 2024 Uranus –Jupiter conjunction at 21-22 Taurus. It conjoins natal Venus in the chart but not much else ( though it is only 2 degrees past the square to natal Neptune) Probably this company will no longer be in existence by then. But it is not easy from this chart alone to see who will own Thames Water in future.

Turkey elections 2023

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 18:47:59 GMT

The astrology of the Turkish elections in May 2023

Turkey is due to hold a general election and a presidential election on 14 May 2023. However we won’t know the result of this round until 19 ^th May and if a second round is necessary we won’t know that result until 1 June.

Here is an extract from the forecast I wrote in January 2021 about Turkey in 2023- I had not noticed then that 2023 was a possible election year.

The focus stays on the people as we move into March and April. As we know the mood generally changes now and this shift may see a last attempt to unseat leadership . ……..

..Following the shift in emphasis in the first 4 months we see a different picture emerging in May to August. There is change but this may be limited by inertia. There is also possibly new and harder leadership that means the world is focused on the Turkish people. However there are opportunities for them too at least initially. But the risk of leaders over-reacting still remains.

So it does look as if my initial analysis then suggested shifts towards more hard-line leadership whether party or presidential.

With more than one date to consider I think the best choice is 19 ^th May which, even if not providing the final outcome, will give an indication of the direction.

I’ve set the chart for noon

It is extremely hard to identify in the chart the different political factions- this is because both the incumbent party and opposition are comprised a mix bag of different interests. The best we can do is try to determine the mood of the people and the style of the leadership after the result.

We can immediately see that 19 May is a new Moon. This can have two meanings, both of which may be true in this case – showing the alignment of the people and the announced leadership and indicating the start of a new cycle in the country.

I would suggest that this also means the outcome is likely to be final on 19 ^th May. The 1 ^st June is a much less significant day.

Before we go further, we should note some things about Uranus- bringer of sudden events and changes. It has passed, for the final time, a square to the progressed Sun and a sextile to the progressed Uranus and even its opposition with the natal Venus. Its next aspects are a trine to the progressed Mercury and Ascendant and a sextile to the progressed Venus. That suggests to me that any change, if it happens, will be relatively smooth, certainly at first. Indeed this is close to the degree of next year’s Jupiter-Uranus conjunction again suggesting any result is relatively unopposed until then.

However by May 2024 Jupiter and then Uranus will oppose Jupiter and quincunx the Mercury – Saturn conjunction- my guess would be that world economic events has a knock on effect on Turkey then leading to a more problematic economic ( and thus political) situation.

Returning to May 2023, we also see that Saturn is conjunct the Turkey Midheaven that week and trine its Sun. This was probably part of my original estimation that there would be a more hard-line approach. But it doesn’t by itself tell us who wins of course. And Saturn trine the Sun it could be an indicator that the existing Leader stays in place. Indeed the lack of dramatic change suggested and the themes discussed below would suggest that too.

It is somewhat concerning that transiting Pluto and Jupiter are square on this day and that Mars is approaching an opposition with Pluto, all of which are activated by the new Moon. Since Pluto and Jupiter can refer to debt, I suspect there will be a lot of action in the Turkey currency and bond market that day.

I am also inclined to think that there is a further move away from secular to more hardline Islamic leadership because Venus is conjoining the Turkey Ascendant and Pluto- this favours Erdogan’s alliance as that includes such parties, they may hold the balance of power and consequently more sway going forward.

But on the other hand, I think the people will generally be satisfied with the election outcome, as Jupiter is sextile both the Turkey Moon and the progressed Moon. However that doesn’t mean that the real outcome will be good for them, it only captures their immediate mood. The sextile between the New Moon and Neptune is likely to rose tint things too.

I am certainly not getting the feel of a complete shift of both ruling party and president – it is possible one will change and not the other. The polls at present favour the ruling party and are too close to call on the presidency. I must admit that without looking at all the personal charts I can’t conclusively call this though the balance seems to be tipping to maintenance of the current leadership.

Bitcoin in 2023 and beyond

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:52:14 GMT

The astrology of Bitcoin in 2023 and beyond

Bitcoin has been making a gradual recovery since its low in November 2022, and on 13/14 April reached a peak of 31000. ( 6.50am BST)

But what we all want to know is whether that is likely to be sustained?

Here is the chart.

We can see that progressed Mars conjoining the natal Sun has made it a busy trading year. But this was exact a year ago and is separating. It is not the story we are looking for.

Instead we can look at the mirror between the transiting Sun and Jupiter ( 2 degrees of separation) and the progressed Sun and Jupiter ( also 2 degrees separating) activated by the Moon. That’s a very positive but declining connection. The progressed Sun opposes the natal Moon and the progressed Moon separates from a conjunction with the progressed Sun. Jupiter is square the natal Sun and progressed Mars.

So many turning points; so many endings.

But why 13/14 April?- See the transiting Venus conjunct the progressed MC. Another indicator of a short term turning point in public values.

But why 21.50pst? Note also the transiting MC conjunct the Saturn (and opposite Uranus) of Bitcoin. Ending the good run up. Of course the transiting MC reaches this degree every day but not with the other conditions around.

We are probably in for an interesting few weeks as Saturn opposes the progressed Ascendant and more dramatically Uranus reaches the Midheaven again ( repeating its action of August and September 2022).

Where do we go from here then?

Transiting Neptune is keeping out of the mix for a couple of years, that suggests fewer pie in the sky peaks than we have seen in 2020-22.

Saturn journeys through Pisces in 2023-4 and makes only minor negative aspects. It probably won’t upset any apple carts but it isn’t going to help much with price growth either.

Pluto at 0 Aquarius won’t quite reach Jupiter in 2023 but it will do so 3 times in 2024 and early2025, that certainly looks like potential for some sort of action. Will Jupiter planet of expansion and opportunity lead to transformation by Pluto and the optimists view of Bitcoin success. Or will Pluto conjoining Jupiter mean the golden goose will be killed to make way for a new ideal?

Where we find the most interesting answers is in the journey of Uranus. After crossing the MC it will sextile its natal position and then that of progressed Venus. But it will also square the natal Neptune and Ascendant as well as trine the natal Saturn and the progressed Mars, Mercury and natal Sun. Of course all this comes to a peak next April ( 2024) when Jupiter conjoins Uranus.

The fact that at the same time the progressed Moon reaches those same critical degrees ( 18-23),confirms that this will be the moment when BItcoins’s future is determined one way or another.

I think we can safely say there will be a great deal of Bitcoin trading then. I am expecting a lot of action in the markets generally so that is not a surprise.

The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in April 2024 is preceded by and followed by the aforementioned Pluto conjunct natal Jupiter.

Time for a flutter, methinks. Though I would stick to short term trading.

And what do I think about the outcome for Bitcoin? I still think the best is over ( when that progressed Sun was conjunct progressed Jupiter). I would guess ( without looking at a lot of other charts) that we have a bit of a market crisis which leads to unwinding of Bitcoin positions and as a result it loses its long term luster.

An alternative reading is that Bitcoin (or the exchanges) is hacked or attacked in some way leading to a rush to exit.

I will be watching Uranus’s progress over the coming months to look for further clues.

Tesla in 2023

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:54:20 GMT

Astrology of Tesla in 2023

The last time we took a peak at Tesla was December 2021. Although Tesla itself has not directly been much in the news, Musk obviously has. That however leaves us wondering whether he has lost focus and what impact that will have on Tesla and its stock price.

When I last analysed the company the shares had peaked and I said that the conditions that led to the peak were over and the only unknown that might create a new high was the Jupiter Neptune conjunction of March-April 2022.

In fact a peak did occur in late March 2022 but didn’t match the November 2021 one. So far, so good. The shares hit a 2 year low at the start of 2023 though they have made some recovery ( in line with the overall market) since. They remain above pre-pandemic levels. Let’s look at whether that is sustainable.

We don’t have a particular peak or trough in mind, so let’s trust the universe and use the chart of now.

Ha!

See what happens if you trust the Universe. The Ascendant of now in NY is the Ascendant of the IPO chart. A nod of gratitude is in order. We are good to go.

As we are looking for the big picture this time, we’ll start with Pluto and work inwards. Though I know you want me to comment on that Uranus already……

Pluto, in its new Aquarian home is trine the progressed Midheaven. ( yes, that is literally the same story as for the Nasdaq composite – this is the Universe on steroids). Transiting Venus in conjunct today. Pluto is also sextile the IPO Uranus/Jupiter conjunction. That is powerful and dramatic but could be good or bad. It is also very long term remaining in place for the next 3-4 years.

Neptune has been more or less behaving itself. It has made a quincunx with the Ascendant and a recent trine with the progressed Moon. This might have kept the stock price aloft but it is now receding. Things in Neptune land are quiet this year but building up to something in 2024 when it opposes the IPO Saturn. That will inject a bit of reality into things for sure. The fact that it occurs in April 2024, at the time of the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction should make us sit up and take notice. But for 2023 we are just moseying along in that park.

Now that Uranus. Close, oh, so close, to the MC. In fact it will be exact on May 1 ^st . So sometime in the next 2-3 weeks we can expect a bit of drama and probably some wild swings in the share price. The sextile to the progressed Sun implies that Musk will be part of the picture, the trine to progressed Mars emphasises the likelihood of dramatic trading moves and also dramatic action by “the great leader” . Yippee, I have started to miss the popcorn.

I suspect this will be a knock-on effect from Twitter events but it could of course have to do with Tesla’s underlying supply chain or technology. Or all three.

It is important to note though that this is Uranus’s last transit of the Midheaven point ( although it returns to within a degree later in the year) though not of the progressed Sun and Mars. And of course next year’s conjunction is within a degree of the Mars and Sun. I think there is more drama to come but perhaps it will be less shocking, although I can’t vouch for Jupiter crossing the MC next April without a big announcement.

Finally we’ll look at Saturn. Currently opposing the progressed Venus-Ascendant conjunction it is probably supressing the price somewhat and will continue to do so throughout 2023. With little going on with Pluto, Neptune and Saturn as it is , I don’t see much in the way of upside, especially not in trend. And the Uranus shocks could pull the rug.

We’ve already discussed most of the progressed planets, and other than what has been mentioned it is a quiet year for them. I think that suggests underlying business as usual without any radical changes of direction. More confirmation that it is Musk’s other activities that influence the stock trading here.

So I’m not going to look at the underlying company chart yet, I’ll leave that for later in the year.

In the meantime. sit back and enjoy the ride

Nasdaq -March 2023

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 14:36:48 GMT

The astrology of the Nasdaq March 2023

Time for a re-look at the Nasdaq

After some difficult months in late 2022 the Nasdaq recovered somewhat in quarter 1 of 2023.

But we have a dilemma. The closing high was on 31 March but there was a intra-day high on 2 Feb which was greater.

I’m going to set the chart for close in March (easier to be accurate about the moment), but we’ll look at the February position briefly too.

Even a lay person would be hard pressed to miss the key feature of this chart. The transiting Sun is conjunct the Nasdaq MC ( and is thus opposing the natal Uranus). And even the progressed Sun is only a degree away. The Moon is trine the Midheaven too. I’m guessing its exact trine would have been the daily high. But the transiting Sun hits this point every year- even combined with the progressed Sun this does not tell us the whole picture.

However, I do think we need to note that over the next 12 months the progressed Sun will conjoin the natal Midheaven and this could mean that whatever peak we reach then will be a top for a long time to come. I would especially look at March April 2024 for the change of mood.

That said, what else is going on?

Well first there is the progressed Mars at 10 Capricorn. That is square the Midheaven ( and the transiting Sun). That narrows down the focus to this year and a couple either side.

Another factor that is playing a part is Mercury. We see that the progressed Mercury is square the natal Mercury. This does not tell us whether the effect is good or bad- merely that it is notable. Transiting Mercury is only 2 degrees away on 31 March, making this an even more important date.

But more important is the position of Jupiter. Mercury has recently conjoined Jupiter and the sun will do so in 10 days ( that’s now, of course- I wouldn’t be here writing this if the heavens did not decree it). That’s as good as it gets. So I am not expecting much better highs after this.

Nevertheless, we must also look at the bigger picture and the outer planets as they tell us the longer term trends.

Pluto, our friendly annihilator, is doing little other than a trine to the progressed MC. And, although it will retrograde later to Capricorn, it has completed its conjunction with the Descendant for 350years or so. A relief. ( Other unpleasant aspects are available within that timescale). Plutos’s journey is going to get more interesting as it sextiles the very important Jupiter- Neptune conjunction but that won’t perfect for another year either.

Neptune, our fantasy merchant and enabler of bubbles, is making aspects though. It is sextile the aforementioned Mercury, trine the natal Ascendant, and square the natal Moon. This is clearly a contributor to the better conditions of the last few months. Neptune hangs round this point until early 2024, giving some protection from downward shocks until then. It will oppose the natal Pluto in mid 2024 when all bets will be off.

Our drama queen Uranus is of more immediate interest. At 16 Taurus it was square the natal Sun on 31 March. Nothing like a Uranus to change the trend. That’s what distinguishes this 31 March from every other.

Uranus will go on to conjoin the progressed Saturn in May. Expect some disruption then and some clues to April 2024 when it will be joined by Jupiter close to the same degree-square the natal nodes too. We will definitely be looking at interesting times for the market then.

Finally I should mention that progressed Venus is now in Pisces. After nearly 25 years in Aquarius. That’s a real change of emphasis for the Index= expect big changes in the mix of dominant companies in the coming years. We won’t see it quite yet as Saturn is currently conjoining Venus, depressing values. We must keep our eyes open for new trends. The sudden obsession with so called AI is just one of these.

So that’s the 31 ^st March chart. What made February the 2 ^nd similar but different?

Well, Jupiter that week was close to the progressed Sun and Midheaven. On 2 ^nd it was at 6 degrees though, making it trine the progressed Jupiter. Indeed there was second peak on 7 ^th as Jupiter reached the progressed Sun and the positive period extended to 15 ^th when Jupiter was separating from the progressed Sun. A conjunction of the transiting Sun with the natal Sun accompanied the high. It conjoined Saturn when the trend dropped out. Note how the presence of Jupiter kept the top broadly in place for a couple of weeks but Uranus in March created a short sharp peak.

There were other factors ( Mars etc) at play but we can see the impact of both the Sun and Jupiter on the picture and we have a clear indicator of what the special triggers are once again.

Twitter in 2023

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 15:46:07 GMT

The astrology of Twitter in 2023

Many Moons ago I promised that if Elon Musk actually did complete his deal to buy twitter I would look at the twitter foundation chart rather than the more deal focussed IPO chart.

I am here to fulfil that promise. And what better day to do that than the one where the transiting Sun is reaching the Twitter Midheaven

The chart in use for Twitter is the first tweet made by Jack Dorsey on 21 March 2006, 12.50pm PST. I’ve set the 2023 chart for the new moon following the Aries ingress which, of course falls on the Twitter Sun. Hmmmm. Already things are looking interesting.

Indeed there is a lot going on in this new moon chart even at first glance. We see the transiting MC is conjunct the Twitter Venus and opposing the progressed Moon. Transiting Jupiter is close to conjunction with the progressed Sun and transiting Mars has recently completed a conjunction with the progressed Mars.

Clearly all these things relate to the actions and changes made by Musk since he took over, both internally and to the visual experience of the users. Clearly we are in a critical period but everyone knows all that.

Here, we are more interested here in the survival of the App itself in the medium term. So we can turn to the outer planets.

Pluto is obviously just entering Aquarius. It is close to a sextile with the Twitter Sun, but this will not perfect until the Spring of 2024. Yes, that spring when Jupiter and Uranus are conjunct.

Saturn is currently conjoining the Twitter progressed Venus, this will depress the image and also the resources. Again no real surprises. Saturn will go on to quincunx the Twitter Saturn and progressed Ascendant in the next couple of months. Not a huge game changer but suggesting continued tricky conditions.

Neither Saturn nor Pluto make many other aspects in the next year except one notable one.

The Twitter MC is currently trine its natal Pluto – indicating the fundamental changes. This is slowly separating (getting weaker) . But as Pluto retrogrades into Capricorn it will form a square with that progressed MC in September and October 2023 as it did in mid 2022. This is much more significant and suggests much bigger changes will occur again later this year. The fact that progressed Mars at 26 Gemini remains in opposition to the natal Pluto (26 Sag) all this year only adds to the pressures.

But there is more. Neptune is at 25 Pisces now and will reach 26 degrees in late April. Neptune is a lot of things but clear and decisive it is most definitely not. Mars and Neptune are pretty much inimical. I honestly can’t see the next few months as being anything other than directionless at best and at worst there could be complete loss of control.

But what about Uranus? Are we in for sudden socks as well? It is currently at 16 Taurus and making only some semi-sextiles . No worries. Yet.

In April and May, though, it will reach an opposition to the Twitter Jupiter and a square to its Neptune not to mention a quincunx to the natal Moon. Yikes.

The combination of the Neptune/Mars/Pluto with the Uranus/Jupiter/Moon means we are in for a roller-coaster ride until July. Some news then will calm things down briefly until the Pluto retrograde in September.

I honestly can’t see this as anything other than a sign that things inside Twitter will get worse and possibly that it may be sold again ( at a much lower price I imagine) later on in the year.

Either way we will booking at changes to the leadership and vision in early spring 2024. Though interestingly the Jupiter Uranus conjunction in April 2024 does not make any hard aspects to the chart. The shocks then will be elsewhere and Twitter may slowly be able to evolve a new model – though whether by then that is as an independent company or as part of another group is questionable.

Israel March 2023

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:53:06 GMT

The astrology of the Israel protests March 2023

I wasn’t intending to look at Israel this month ( I wanted to focus further on financial matters) but the events of the last weeks have made me look back to my forecasts for the country, made in 2020.

Of course I know astrology is amazing but even so, it still surprises me how accurate forecasts can be even when they seem crazy at the time

For March and April 2023 I had said:

“….. there is a major shift in March and April 2023. Although there are still the issues of the long term foundations of the country under the spotlight it seems that other issues are receding. What is interesting is that the possible signifier of the…..Palestinians becomes much less defined now and [briefly] very curiously aligned with the Israeli people. That would certainly be a shift.”

As my words state it seemed unlikely that the Palestinian issue would recede into the background and it would be the Israeli people that would be most prominently against the country’s administration and yet here we are.

So for completeness, let’s have a quick look here at the chart and what factors are at play:

It is difficult to pick a single time, should we choose Netanyahu’s return to power or the announcement of the judicial reforms ( Jan 4 ^th ),when the protests escalated or when other nations started to show concern?

I’ve gone for the announcement last night by Netanyahu that the reforms would be suspended as a key moment though it won’t encapsulate everything.

Interestingly, the announcement angles align with the country chart. We can also see that the transiting Moon then was on the progressed Descendant as he was addressing the people.

It is the progressed Moon on the Descendant over the last couple of months that has really contributed to the mood and it is interesting to see it mirrored at this important time.

The progressed Moon is now sextile the country’s Uranus, progressed Venus conjunction and it is not surprising that disruptive old Uranus has been called into play.

We can also see that one of the key factors at play at the moment ( an approximately 2 year aspect) is the conjunction of progressed Mars and the progressed Midheaven (and trine the natal Mercury). The world sees conflict. We also note that although Mars has now moved into Cancer it has spent the last few weeks in conjunction with the Israel Uranus, indicating the ongoing unrest. This has been further exacerbated by the square between transiting Neptune and the Israel Uranus – suggesting things are murky as well as unstable.

Note how on the day in question the Sun ( indicator of leaders) is exactly opposite that progressed Mars-MC too. As always astrology times things to perfection!!!

Another suggestion of instability is transiting Uranus square the Israel Saturn ( indicator of the status quo and “the way things were”).

The announcement of the suspension (but not cancellation) of the reform was obviously a peak moment in this story.

However, I don’t think this is over yet as Jupiter will soon reach the Descendant and next week there will be a full moon at 16 Aries when Mars is square the progressed Mars-MC point. Indeed my forecast made in 2020 does not see resolution during 2023. Multiple changes of leader could be possible, as could actual fighting between factions.

Bear in mind that the April 2024 Jupiter Uranus conjunction is close to the Israeli Sun. That is the antithesis of stable government.

Silicon Valley Bank March 2023

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 19:51:12 GMT

The Astrology of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse March 2023

As readers will know I do have a weakness for a bit of financial drama, and this week the Universe has seen fit to indulge my addiction with the Silicon Valley Bank saga.

All I can find on the foundation of this bank is that it was the result of a poker game in 1982/3. It is a chart likely sensitive to Pluto Saturn and to Uranus Jupiter. The fact that the details are obscured also suggests the working of Neptune. That’s a pretty full house ( pun intended) of outer planets, but with so little to go on we have to accept that we need to find another chart.

The IPO is dated as 17 December 1987 (you picked a fine year to list-y, SV), and we’ve set the chart for opening of normal trading at 9.30. Obviously this is the chart of the shares rather than the company but it should tell us the most relevant parts of the story.

The SVB stock was suspended before normal trading on Friday 10 March 2023, but as I am not sure again of the exact time I’ve set this chart for 9.30 too.

We can immediately see Pluto at 29 degrees just past the 28degree Ascendant. Obviously this has been building for some weeks. The Aquarian new Moon was at 0 degree Aquarius which is conjunct the SVB progressed Sun. Pluto will very shortly move into Aquarius and conjoin that Sun. End of the line for the current incarnation and the leadership.

It is interesting to see how these aspects are still unfolding. There are rumours that the board members cashed in their chips (sorry, it is just too tempting)in the weeks before the event. I would suggest that this will come back to roost for them as Pluto reaches the progressed Sun.

At the time of suspension Mars, usually a significator of rapid trading, is in opposition to the natal Saturn – an indicator of restriction. However at the same time Uranus, planet of shocks and drama is opposite the SVP IPO Mars. Prior to the suspension ( and subsequent intervention by the regulators) the stock had fallen rapidly and dramatically- exactly as Uranus opposite Mars would suggest.

We can also note that there is a lot happening elsewhere in the chart too. Transiting Neptune is approaching the conjunction of the North Node and the progressed Ascendant. But it is also square the natal Saturn Sun Uranus conjunction. Add to this a conjunction of the progressed Midheaven with Saturn ( owch) and we have pretty much the same story as the Pluto position.

It is also applying so the story is not yet complete. We can expect more developments today as the transiting Sun square’s Mercury, and in the coming week as it moves over the whole stellium and reaches transiting Neptune Wednesday-Thursday.

Note how at the time of suspension the Moon is at 24 Libra picking up all these planets. In addition it is square the SVB 12 ^th house Venus. We see that the progressed Moon has conjoined progressed Venus ( sextile Neptune) – indicative that the value has been realised by many shareholders and those who participated in the bank run, no doubt at the expense of the other depositors. This too is further confirmed by the conjunction of transiting Venus with progressed Jupiter- though this probably also reflects the Regulatory involvement. Very soon over the coming couple of weeks the progressed Moon will square progressed Mars- suggesting quick resolution for the fate of the money at least.

It will be fascinating to follow how it unfolds as the planets continue their journeys.

France - 2023 and beyond

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:52:20 GMT

The astrology of France in 2023 and beyond

After looking at Pluto in Aquarius, it seems only fitting to turn to France, a republic created with Pluto in Aquarius in 1792.

Of course it will be 2037 before France actually experiences its exact Pluto return and as we have seen in my previous analyses there is a lot that will have happened globally by then.

However, the revolution was a long time building – Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were King and Queen from 1774 ( before Pluto changed signs) all the way through until 1790. So there is something symbolic for the country in Pluto returning to Aquarius, so we will look at the likely trends of the next few years.

I’ve once more set the chart for the New Moon following the Aries ingress which is technically a few days before Pluto changes signs but we’ll be looking at the transits to come too so we don’t have to get to hang up on this one moment.

We can see though that the moment is interesting. The New Moon is conjunct the French midheaven and Pluto is trine the French Sun. This is a picture of transition both in the original chart and in the 2023 one.

For those interested in why I use this particular time- I picked it after extensive analysis in 2008 which is summarised on my old blog here:

Will the real French lady please stand up? (fortuna2020.blogspot.com)

For obvious reasons, we’ll deal with the transit of Pluto through the chart first. Pluto is transiting through the 7 ^th house of the French chart- that of its partners (and enemies). It is so interesting to see this as it reflects so many elements in the world today. France’s original friend in Liberty was the US who have themselves being undergoing a Pluto return since Pluto reached the French 7 ^th cusp . Then there is the UK with its long history as both an ally and enemy of France and the consequences of its break up with the EU and re0-creation of a border with France. Then there is the EU itself of course, of which more another time. And finally there is Russia, a country with which France has a long and complex relationship and which is currently acting out Pluto’s role on the borders of Europe.

In some ways this may all be good for France- it doesn’t have to integrate Pluto as it is being acted out by other nations. I doubt though that it escapes unscathed.

Pluto has already been Square the French Neptune and when Pluto ingresses into Aquarius it will square the progressed Neptune. And as I have mentioned before, France is one of the country’s that have a Neptune Jupiter opposite Saturn configuration. That this is being highlighted by progressed Mercury at the moment makes it all the more important. Progressed Mercury is almost stationary having only turned direct in 2021, and Pluto will pass back and fro over this point for the next 2 years.

This is going to raise significant questions about the French economic model and by extension the EU and Euro. I can see economic relationships with other nations breaking down because France is questioning its own philosophy.

As if that wasn’t enough, the French Republic was born with a Pluto Uranus opposition. Dramatic as we know. But we don’t have to wait for 20 years of Pluto in Aquarius, or even the next few years, to see changes because Uranus is about to throw everything in the air and see where it lands. Why? Because by July 2023 it reaches the French progressed Sun (leadership) which is conjunct the progressed Mars in Taurus – bloody-minded. The progressed MC is also pulled into this configuration. Meaning it will be a very visible thing.

But that configuration is also square the French Uranus – Pluto opposition. So not only is Pluto hitting the planets underpinning the key philosophy of France, but Uranus is going to shake up its leadership in some big way over the coming year. This is likely to culminate in fireworks in April 2024 when Jupiter conjoins Uranus at 21 Taurus and the whole thing is exact. The fact that Uranus was conjunct the French Pluto during WW1 and square it in WW2 should indicate that we take it seriously. The Uranus return around 1960 created the Fifth republic and the new European relationships.

Note though that the progressed Sun and Mars will remain in conjunction for a few more years so whatever happens we can expect strong leadership there.

I feel like we have a number of years of challenges to look forward to until at least 2028 when Pluto square’s the progressed Saturn and the progressed Moon, Ascendant and progressed Ascendant all line up in aspect with the progressed MC and Jupiter. But we will return to the country before then to look forward further.

While we now turn to see what Neptune might be doing ( obscuring, misleading etc.) Neptune at 25 Pisces is currently trine the France Ascendant. It probably means things look better than they are. It is however about to square the French Mars and progressed Jupiter. France needs to avoid getting dragged into disputes with this configuration as they won’t get easily resolved. The combination also suggests false optimism and silly risks. Still the planets are in the 5 ^th house so maybe these will be restricted to arts and entertainment rather than more critical infrastructure. The combination does suggest a gamble could be taken and with Saturn joining Neptune in Pisces, all the areas that we discussed in relation to that mix can be involved ( water, gas, networks, religion/beliefs). I would recommend they tread carefully but they almost certainly won’t.

That’s enough for now, we’ll likely have enough reason to take another look in due course.

All Change: Pluto in Aquarius and Saturn in Pisces

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 20:53:42 GMT

The Astrology of Pluto in Aquarius 2023-2044 and Saturn in Pisces

In the next few weeks both Pluto and Saturn will change signs. Saturn does this every 2 and half years and I don’t usually spend much time on the symbolism of planets in signs as I tend to focus on the planetary aspects. However Pluto will be in Aquarius for 20 years and that is definitely worth some analysis so I might as well include a brief look at Saturn to complete the set!

Now, apologies for a long introduction but first we need some provisos.

1) Pluto, as we will see shortly, cuts out the deadweight so we must try to do exactly that. We need to try to isolate the meanings of each planet and sign involved.

For example: It isn’t easy to separate out the impact of Pluto from the other outer planets, and especially Neptune, with which it has been in a sextile almost since Pluto’s discovery. But we must try as Pluto and Neptune will start to leave that sextile in the 2030s and things we have taken for granted will no longer apply.

Of course, the same applies to Saturn in Pisces, though in that case we have far more numerous and more recent examples of Saturn in Pisces to assemble our database so the risk of error is reduced

2) On the other hand, planets don’t operate in isolation; outer planets rarely enter new signs unheralded. The process takes weeks and in some cases years as cycles of planetary pairs wax and wane - they work together to tell us the story. Neptune has been two signs ahead of Pluto for over 70 years and Uranus has been in waxing relationship with Pluto since the mid 60s. Neptune has been breaking down border and barriers and dissolving concrete realities, Uranus has been throwing new ideas and inventions into the mix as well as fighting for its rights. Uranus was in Aquarius from 1995 to 2003, Neptune from 1998 to 2011, they have been planting and watering the seeds ready for Pluto to arrive.

And Saturn and Jupiter have only recently been in a triple conjunction with Pluto. As first Jupiter in 2020-21 and Saturn in 2021-23 have moved into Aquarius they have already set in motion the processes that will unfold over the next two decades.

They have all, to a greater or lesser extent, been preparing the ground, what happens as Pluto moves into Aquarius won’t be something out of the blue. So we don’t have to come up with completely new, we just need to understand how Pluto manifests.

3) We need to be sure we fully understand the nature of the relevant sign. Again this means we should not attribute to Aquarius characteristics that are actually those of another planet or of a House. It is sloppy to equate Aquarius with the 11 ^th house, although we all do it from time to time, and it is misguided to equate it with Uranus and the matters it manifests. But if we go back to first principles we can establish exactly what is Aquarian and what is not. Only then can we accurately derive our likely experience of the experience of Pluto in that sign.

4) We must try to eliminate our bias of good and bad. This is the hardest of all, as we can’t just look it up in a book. There may be a temptation to assume that Saturn will punish or Pluto will eliminate all that we do not like about the world, when it may be that it will do the opposite….

With all that in mind, let’s start with th e “easy” one:

Saturn in Pisces: 2023-25

Saturn will ingress Pisces on 7 ^th March and, although it will retrograde later in the year, will still remain in Pisces until May 2025 when it will accompany Neptune into Aries. Neptune will therefore be in Pisces the whole time Saturn is there and, in this case, we can talk about Pisces and Neptune more or less interchangeably ( rules are made to be broken- or, having created our guru we must immediately kill him).

Saturn is all about restriction, contraction and limitation. It has also been traditionally associated with death (although in a more matter of fact, day to day, way than Pluto described below). It isn’t all bad though, its nature keeps things together and builds systems and structures. Indeed, it is really quite at home in our Western job and acquisition orientated culture.

Pisces is just a bit more nebulous. Obviously it has associations with water and fishes, but all liquids are implicated and all hopes, dreams and fantasies. It is spiritualism involving meditation and disassociation with everyday life. Boundaries are broken down with Pisces and with Neptune -and multiple ( infinite in Neptune’s case) connections made- it is therefore associated with big networks and especially wireless ones.

The conjunction of Saturn and Neptune in 2025 will end the cycle started in Capricorn in 1989 and that was (with Uranus) a major contributor to the birth of the internet. Expect endings and new beginnings in that field.

More obviously, Saturn with Pisces and Neptune is likely to lead to water shortages or the opposite, water deaths or those related to liquids and gas generally.

In addition, Saturn and Neptune together are generally accepted to have an association with communism and specifically with Russia (see my previous blog post) and once again we are dealing with a cycle that started in 1989. We should expect major developments in this area over the coming 2 years.

There are also currency implications arising from this planetary pair. In the same way as the Russian chart, the US dollar has Jupiter Neptune opposite Saturn . France also has this configuration as indeed do a number of other countries. We’ll be looking at France in a week or so. Here we just want to make the connection with currency and banking systems.

That’s enough to give a flavour to the main signatures. If readers are interested in more details about previous transits of Saturn in Pisces I recommend the following articles by Jessica Davidson. She has taken the trouble to go through the events of previous years and summarise them for you ( I know because I did the same with exactly the same results but she got there first so she gets the credit).

Saturn in Pisces: Archetypes and History – Jessica Davidson

Saturn in Pisces: Recent History – Jessica Davidson

So, with that, on we go:

Pluto in Aquarius -Pitchforks at midnight or co-operative transformation?

In approximately three weeks from now Pluto will take its first baby steps into Aquarius. There is already much written by other astrologers about what this means. I don’t intend to reinvent that wheel. But I do want to have a quick look at some of the more fundamental themes.

I also don’t intend to talk about what this means for people born with Pluto in Aquarius, although we can deduce they will be left with the imprint of what the planet in that sign means for the wider society into which they are born. The signs don’t stand in isolation , we and the planets are all unfolding on our own evolutionary journeys.

Pluto

Despite only being identified in 1930, I feel that Pluto is easier to get a handle on than Aquarius.

Pluto isn’t just death in the Saturnian sense, it is far more all-encompassing than that.

Keywords use to describe its influence and associations include:

· Destruction and annihilation. With Pluto there is not even a body left, just dust.

· Fear of such loss or actual death

· Transformation, rebirth and evolution. We are not talking an easy process here. For the phoenix being reborn, everything must have been stripped away and left behind. In evolution only a fraction with the right adaptation can survive, the rest of the species must die for it to evolve and survive

· Relentlessness

· The underworld and underground and what comes from it (partially ruling oil and other extraction). Remember oil was once living beings

· Pluto also has a clear semantic connection with Plutocracy’s massive wealth accumulation and debt. We think of wealth accumulation as being good but excessive accumulation is often driven by monopoly exploitation at best and organised crime at worst and it sucks the life out of the rest of the population like a black hole in a galaxy sucks the light.

We can see that Pluto does not do things by halves. Its journey through a sign must destroy the old and make way for the new.

It doesn’t usually do this overnight, there is time to adapt for those that can, but it will be relentless and it will do the job. There is no going back to the old ways no matter how hard you cling.

After Pluto there may be a sense of spring but that is only for those that make it!

It is worth taking a few steps back to look at the themes of the last century. As mentioned, the ongoing sextile with Neptune makes it difficult to separate the effects of the two planets and mitigates some of Pluto’s worst influences. We must be careful not to attribute Neptunian effects ( on music, fashion etc) to our Pluto ruled periods.

I will therefore try to stick to the core sign meanings in what follows.

As mentioned above, I also feel that Pluto in the signs starts to show its influence a couple of years beforehand as a result of aspects with other planets that then activate the new sign earlier and that this should be taken into account when considering the exact Pluto dates below.

Pluto in Leo 1937-1956

The time of WW2 and the years that followed. The Sun as the ruler of Leo and as the King or leader is relevant here. The rise of Hitler and the war created the fear both of death and of being ruled by a ruthless dictator as well as destroying the borders between nation states and overturning their leadership.

Understanding Pluto’s association with fear is easy here as there is a clear focus. In other periods it is often more subtly felt.

Similarly the period from 1947 gave rise to the cold war. Once again an obsession with leadership and its threat to the status quo. The post war attempts to prevent re-occurrence also finally led to the EEC ( 1957)

The other less obvious impact was the shift towards women in work and the start of a move away from male dominance (perhaps, little kings?) in western society.

Pluto in Virgo 1956-1971

Virgo is about the small stuff and there is no one big Pluto focus to point to. But its influence was there all the same. Its perfectionist nature likes efficiency and simplicity at the expense of everything else.

Mercury ruled Virgo is associated with routine support work and general environment as well as having a connection with health and well-being.

Following on from the 1950s as Pluto transits Virgo we see changes in day to day life. Changes in architecture (brutalism) etc. focus on the functional rather than the aesthetic, and so workplaces start to be different. The impact of women in the workplace on a day to day basis is felt more keenly-a change many would fear and fight against ( and in some cases still do).

Other transformations came with Pluto’s impact on mass data processing allowing transaction volumes to soar- again with huge long term consequences for working life.

Healthcare shifts were also key and there was a creeping change in the function of small animals in the home as they began their road to became pampered dependents rather than working creatures.

The other noticeable trend was that concern about environmental issues escalated and preservation measures were taken. Now this seems to be contrary to Pluto- it is not a fan of preservation of the status quo. But I think that really it reflects the acknowledgment of the Plutonian destruction of that environment – it isn’t saved, but some “museum pieces” are created.

Pluto in Libra 1971-1983

Venus ruled Libra is all about balance, justice, and compromise. Of course that is the antithesis of Pluto which takes things to extremes. So we can expect it to be a time of agreements ending, especially since it is opposite Aries. Venus likes things to be fair, in all senses of the word. With Pluto there it is going to give up on compromise and walk away from any agreement which is not built on those principles.

In finance 1971 was the end of Bretton Woods leading to a free floating dollar not pegged to gold and thus the other main currencies.

The 1970s were also the time of the oil crisis when OPEC ( following a short embargo in 1973-74) started to use its production leverage to raise prices. This then incidentally precipitated the first shift to towards non fossil fuels (though that in itself is not a Libran type event).

And of course there were the groups who wanted balance. Women’s rights were a core fight of the 1970s and divorce soared as women tried to re-negotiate the balance in their marriages and eventually walked away, once again changing the norms of Western society for ever.

Also key to this period I think is the publication of Michael E Porter’s competitive strategy ( 1979-80) which is typical of the focus on strategic marketing that began to dominate corporate thinking and focus; just selling was no longer enough.

Pluto in Scorpio 1983-1995

Mars ruled fixed Scorpio is in essence about oblique attacks and behind the scenes manipulation. Scorpio is also opposite Taurus, sign of sensuality, the earth and of accumulation and resources. So it is the sign of sex for the sake of it, plunder and exploitation and of Investment banking in contrast with Retail Banking.

Indeed one can see why Pluto has been assigned to Scorpio as a ruler in modern astrology. There are some parallels even if they are not identical…..

Of course in its most simplistic sense the 1980s was the decade of the discovery of AIDS where sex itself came with a real risk.

But it was also the decade of take-overs and mergers and the start of the LBO boom. No longer were business boards interested in the money made from their underlying operations (Taurus), they were interested in what they could make buying and selling the whole business and no care for the destruction that that might leave in its wake.

Furthermore, while the 1980s started with a recession, financial policy quickly “fixed” this and led to the credit boom ( Neptune with Pluto) of the following decades. In the UK the “Big Bang” in financial services created similar conditions. The cycle continued with the early 1990s recession and subsequent “irrationally exuberant” boom. Property became more than a place to live but an income source. Until Pluto went through Scorpio business was about making money doing things and investing in things. Now it was about making money from money and to hell with the consequences.

However office life itself hadn’t changed much since the Pluto in Virgo 1960s. Yet

Pluto in Sagittarius 1995-2008

Jupiter ruled Sagittarius is all about the big picture- in religion, travel, education and all manner of communication activities. It values freedom ( yet can also be dogmatic).

The internet ( Neptune and Uranus conjunction) predated 1995 by a few years but its effects were all Pluto in Sag. Starting with Publishing, Pluto decided it was time to overhaul working practices and activities in a way that had not happened for 500 years. In 1994 Amazon had already been founded. It was to revolutionise selling transactions too, eventually sending the high street into crisis.

Pluto didn’t stop there. It was back in the office creating the hot desking scenario and tentatively putting a toe in the work from home market so far as technology allowed it. Micro managers not welcome. The World was “Flat” as global business changed dramatically.

It was also breaking down other borders and creating a cross border currency in the Euro. And ( with Neptune) creating more and more esoteric financial instruments that would permanently change the financial system; not in a good way.

Finally, all that breaking down borders was also cultivating religious fundamentalism as others clung to the status quo. It is worth noticing that Pluto as an agent of fear of change in this case manifested as a fear in the opposite group too following terrorism attacks.

Pluto in Capricorn 2008-2022

Although Pluto in Sagittarius looks like it was a clear cut time it is Pluto in earth signs that has more concrete effects. And I think, as they are so recent, we are all familiar with them.

Saturn ruled Capricorn is driven to create and manage structures. Capricorns are born to establish themselves. It is therefore descriptive of the institutions and organisations that people take for granted. Indeed Capricorns are often taken for granted and underappreciated except in the longer term (Saturn).

So the primary effect of Pluto in this sign is on the whole way our society and more specifically, governments and businesses work. First there is the loss of trust in the government institutions and failure to conduct the activities that have been taken for granted for so long. The US and UK are prime examples but not the only examples of this. Government needs to modernise and so far it has not been prepared to fully do so.

But it is in business that arguably we have seen the biggest effects. The changes that started with Pluto in Sagittarius have now become more entrenched. Following the pandemic ( with the conjunction of Pluto/Saturn and Jupiter) remote working is now the norm for many despite the objections of the traditionalist managers, (often, ironically, the very ones who are technological change promoters). Commercial property owners, for example, have lobbied hard for a return to normal. But Pluto says, “no, you must adapt to the new normal”

The other side of the coin is the adoption of the home as part of the work environment and the challenges that that means for some. And Equality is already emphasised, this time of everyone, much to the chagrin of the male, pale and stale who thought that organisations were their safe spaces.

Of course the pandemic brought Plutonic fear too. But we must be careful to separate out the fears of dying, the fears of loss of jobs and income or of economic power – all Saturn characterised matters, from the fears of having to relinquish one’s own freedom for the common good- something that is I believe a hint of the Aquarian Pluto to come.

But before that, a little diversion into what the sign of Aquarius really means

Aquarius

First a quick quiz.

What Sun sign are the following individualistic, well known, people?

Abraham Lincoln, Mozart, Jackson Pollack, Lewis Caroll and Jules Verne, Alex Jones, Bob Marley and Robbie Williams, Payne Stewart, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Bloomberg, Thomas Edison, Buzz Aldrin, Colette

Answer: Of course they are Aquarians

Compare them with the following, obviously still famous, but more conventional:

Ronald Regan, Mendelssohn, Manet, John Grisham, Ashton Kutcher, Sheryl Crow and Neil Diamond, Greg Norman, Xavi, Paul Allen, Dick Cheney, John Deere, Jennifer Aniston.

Answer: Oh, but wait, they are Aquarians too.

What about the following more original group, then?

George Washington, Wagner, Andy Warhol, JRR Tolkein and Douglas Adams, Donald Trump, Ozzie Osbourne, Lady Gaga and Prince, John Daly, Lionel Messi , Steve Jobs , Bill Gates, Neil Armstrong, Emmeline Pankhurst

Answer: Well, as you have probably guessed, they are not Aquarians

This teaches us that it is important to remember that zodiac sign descriptions are generalisations, people and things with planets in Aquarius can have other mitigating or even over-riding elements in their charts and people from other Sun signs can have more individualistic placings. On a more generational level, we’ve already mentioned the impact of the Neptune sextile and other planetary cycles on Pluto’s manifestation.

However, broad generalisations and themes can be relevant when looking at the big picture, so here we go:

Some of the most important qualities of Aquarius come from its nature as a Saturn ruled, fixed, air sign and its position opposite Sun ruled Leo. They are cool, detached and individualistic but at the same time sociable and for the most part tolerant.

But Aquarius is against the status quo, in terms of the leadership, the rulers and the organisation, especially hierarchical ones; so they believe in individual freedoms. That’s why they are often quirky, they don’t worry so much about conformity.

True Aquarians don’t need to tell everyone how to live, they just don’t want others telling them either. Live and let live is very much their approach. Saturn ruled Capricorn keeps things operating one way, Saturn ruled Aquarius keeps its own thing operating simultaneously and they are all equally important.

It is also a mistake to assume that Aquarius is automatically somehow humanitarian and community minded. It isn’t, per se. Indeed empathy for others and the collective is rather more a Pisces trait. But Aquarius is social and may become community minded when the goals of humanitarianism oppose those of the status quo. And, unfortunately, they often do.

It is the 11 ^th house that is truly the group orientated category and this is not the same as Aquarius the sign. However Aquarian nature is to fight for the rights of individuals so there is an overlap and they are interested in others so co-operation comes naturally when there is a common cause.

So Aquarians aren’t automatically going to create a revolution, unless that is otherwise indicated in the chart but they will sign up for it if they see rights being infringed too much.

Similarly new technology is associated with Uranus but not specifically with Aquarius. But Aquarians aren’t so hung up on the status quo, so tend to be interested in new stuff, or at least relaxed about trying it – once again creating an overlap.

Now we understand what the sign is all about we can pop Pluto in the mix and see what we get.

Pluto in Aquarius 2023-44

20 years is a long time. The last time Pluto was anywhere near as long in a sign was in Leo ( 1939-57). It will have a lot of time to do a lot of work and we’ve already had some sneak peaks of what it will work on.

Primary goals of Pluto in Aquarius will be individual freedoms; out with the old fashioned approach to life- get a job, get married, have children, - “you do you” and anyone who tells you, “you can’t”, is toast.

We can already see how this is going. Those who ascribe to the “you do you” are being opposed by the traditionalists. But it is complicated as individual freedoms aren’t independent of each other. John Stuart Mill’s discussion “on Liberty” is essential reading for everyone in preparation.

Concessions will have to be made by both sides, else it is pitchforks all round. The question is, will Pluto’s job be to ensure that individuals get to be more individual or will it push the other way destroying those individual freedoms. Probably a mixture of both depending on the field.

Unfortunately there are likely to be splits in groups and countries and collectives too. Some National and International bodies will be challenged or broken up. Pluto won’t tolerate those groups which are clinging together based on past objectives. They must make sense in the current climate too. A number of the old political parties will fail (UK and USA are prime cases where the seeds of this have already been sewn).

Other similar co-operative organisations may be torn apart. It will affect those that lobby more than those that deal with the grass roots suffering (which are more Pisces related). That may include some bodies responsible for oversight ( though nor regulation which is more a Capricorn matter). And following from this, Climate matters will, of course, be one of the areas when there is dissent and disruption.

This is where we must be aware that things might not always move in the direction we would like. Co-operative cross border organisations that grew out of the horrors of Pluto in Leo may be threatened by the transit of Pluto through Aquarius. It depends whether they are truly fulfilling their roles or are becoming the opposite of what they were created for. Look closely- the truth is in there, somewhere.

DNA matters are going to assume the limelight ( being about individual identity) and it stands to reason that astrology itself will get caught up in survival battles too for the same reason.

Although Aquarius is not about technology per se, there will be technological impacts – this will especially be the case when Uranus moves into Gemini and Neptune into Aries. The whole economic system of everyone working and earning will be thrown into doubt by increasing technological capability (robotics, AI ). We’ll see “luddite” type actions become the norm. ( the luddites were a symptom of the last Pluto in Aquarius transit). This will throw economic models into chaos and some countries’ systems will collapse.

Capitalism will be questioned but there is a definite risk of some countries returning to a quasi- feudal structure as socialism is feared and rejected in some quarters. Some will test UBI ( Universal basic income). More people will try to go off grid and be self-sufficient – but many governments won’t allow citizens to detach from tax systems and markets- it will also be prone to failure in reality, without insurance, healthcare etc. but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be battles before Pluto births the new, new normal.

In summary, we will live in interesting times.

UK and Sterling 2023

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 19:29:46 GMT

Astrology of UK and Sterling in 2023 and beyond

After looking at the US, and with the Coronation of our new king coming up it is only right and proper that we turn our attention to the UK.

As for the US, I’ve set the chart for the new moon directly following the Aries ingress later this month. The fact that it is opposing the UK Uranus suggests we could be in for a a year of potential disruption.

2021 and 2022 were dominated by the journey of the progressed Moon through the Leo stellium opposed by transiting Saturn. Everything leadership related was under extreme stress. Pluto and Neptune also made quincunx aspects to the UK Saturn. The progressed Moon has now moved on into Virgo and Saturn is about to change signs too, perhaps we can, at least briefly, breathe a relieved sigh?

Or perhaps not. The progressed Moon is currently opposite progressed Pluto ( exact 25 ^th February) so there are still some undercurrents and these will potentially only get more challenging as Saturn opposes the UK Jupiter then conjoins first the natal and then the progressed Pluto in March and April. It is an aspect that then remains in place for the rest of the year. It suggests difficulties, security matters, debt problems or financial hardships. The last time this configuration was in place was 1994- and is corresponded with poll lows for the Conservatives, IRA matters and the uncovering of the bodies of Fred West’s victims. Since we currently have Conservative poll lows and negotiations in NI we must hope that no unpleasant parallels to the West case arise.

However, the biggest ongoing theme of the next couple of years looks to be the product of transiting Pluto opposite the UK Jupiter. As Jupiter is natally in Leo this will almost certainly have some ramifications for the Royal Family. Changes are already afoot following the Queen’s death in 2022, expect more of those. Pluto opposite Jupiter will also have implications for the country’s finances- specifically its debt. I think there could be difficulties raising debt ( unless interest rates rise and that has other implications. There has also been evidence that house prices are falling. This potentially could be another manifestation of the transit as so much of people’s perceived wealth is tied up in them. An interesting few years ( until 2026) will likely ensue.

Despite the above rather challenging aspects appearing significant in the medium term, it is transiting Uranus that is the most interesting immediate actor. At 15 Taurus it will soon oppose the UK Neptune . Neptune plays a number of roles in the UK chart not least impacting the country’s finances and currency. It was in these same degrees back in September to November 2022 and we all know what happened then. I suspect there will be similar fluctuations in the next month or so. Matters which accompanied those times ( energy,NHS etc) will raise their head again ( drat, just when I need to order some more oil!!). It isn’t just Neptune but also the quincunx with Mercury at 17 Sagittarius, the country’s Venus at 16 Aquarius, its progressed MC at 17 Aquarius and its progressed Jupiter and Sun conjunction at 16-17 Leo. Oh no, here we go. It looks like the whole period from mid March to the Coronation will be disruptive.

It is good to see that by June Uranus reaches 19 Taurus and is sextile the UK Moon. This is an exciting time for the people but not necessarily unpleasant.

But by September Uranus briefly reaches 23degrees square the UK Saturn. This will mean the beginnings of a shake up of leadership, of sterling probably and possibly even the Union itself. But the real effects will be felt when Jupiter and Uranus meet in April 2024. I honestly see big changes all round then and possible disruption.

That’s enough for now, but it is also worth looking at Sterling to see if the themes above are mirrored in the currency.

There is cer tainly enough going on . I don’t have a confirmed timed chart for the Bank of England but we don’t need one to see that this year is going to be significant. The New Moon on 21 March is opposite the BOE Mars and square its Venus, this suggests trading issues for the Pound. Obviously next week Saturn will move into Pisces and quincunx the natal Mars ( an aspect it will re-make at the end of the year). It will also in between square the progressed Mars drawing out the conditions across the whole year.

I would also highlight that should the time of the chart set be accurate progressed Mars will now square the progressed Ascendant which will correspond to the US Dollar ascendant and also tap into the Renminbi. Potentially very exciting times indeed.

But returning to what we know for sure, Pluto changing signs later in the month will trine Mars but quincunx the Venus and more significantly it will approach an opposition to the UK Pluto. Seeds are being set for big changes over the next 3-4 years and beyond ( as Pluto begins to oppose the BOE Jupiter).

We can also see that Neptune is making its return ( its second to the natal position since foundation. Neptune is a key player in currency charts so this is more reinforcement that we are entering a one time period of change in the currency. Neptune obscures exactitude so we won’t get a handle on the true value of Sterling for a couple of years.

And of course finally we should consider Uranus- which is playing a pretty dramatic role over the next 12 months in the UK chart. In fact Uranus has completed most of its more immediate action. It will be relatively quiet most of this year. Whatever ensues currency wise will likely be gradual and evolving rather than the drama of last autumn.

However in April 2024 we are likely to see something much more dramatic again as Jupiter conjoins Uranus at 22 degrees close to a square with the BOE progressed Jupiter( and maybe conjunct the progressed MC). Anything could happen then; the fact that the conjunction is effective in most of the charts I look at suggests it almost certainly will.

Ukraine and Russia 2023 and beyond

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 19:28:56 GMT

The astrology of Russia's invasion of Ukraine 2023 and beyond

This week I’ve turned, rather reluctantly, to the situation in Ukraine as I feel it would be wrong to ignore it a whole year on. I will, however, still be cautious about publically posting very detailed information about that country. Russia itself is fair game, though, it having been the one to conduct the “special military operation”. In any case it is always best in a public forum to try to see the potential positive in any changes even if the current situation does not seem to be directed that way.

The fact, that in the next month both Pluto and Saturn change signs suggests a shift in the intensity and focus even without looking at the individual charts. But those charts will give us more information.

I’ve set the charts for the solar return of the beginning of the war but will be looking at the whole year and even thereafter in my analysis

We’ll start with Ukraine:

It is interesting to see that progressed Ascendant for the whole period is conjoining the Ukraine Moon- there is no doubt the focus has been and continues to be on the suffering of its population. It will start to move away over the next year though and to aspects progressed Venus and then the Ukrainian Jupiter that is likely to involved partner nations.

But things are a bit locked in at the moment because Neptune is opposing the Ukraine Mars and progressed Mercury- there is a lot of talk from both sides and no real achievements. As I have said before hard aspects between Mars and Neptune are not good for resolving military situations, (unless one is playing the role of external saviour).

In the more immediate term Saturn will oppose the Ukraine Sun and progressed Jupiter in late March which suggests new challenges.

Furthermore, we see that Pluto will shortly change signs and conjoin the Ukraine Saturn, and quincunx its natal Sun – this is tough and will last a couple of years. But, of course continued difficulties does not necessarily imply continued war- even if the war ended there will still need to be massive reconstruction and issues with border relationships for some time, all characteristics of Pluto. Ukraine will not easily forget. It is positive to see that Pluto will continue to trine the Ukraine progressed Sun over the same period suggesting increasingly strong leadership regardless.

There is some good news in that Uranus has finished its transit of the IC of the country. The initial stage is most definitely done. However it will now go on to oppose the country’s Pluto and quincunx its progressed Mars in the next couple of months, which does not suggest any quick resolution at all, (it has already made this aspect once in mid 2022 so there is nothing particularly new about it). After this (July-August) it will square the country’s progressed Ascendant and Moon suggesting big changes. The fact that it pulls in the natal Venus on the progressed Descendant suggests partners are involved. This echoes the theme I already mentioned. And I expect more big shifts in April 2024 when Jupiter conjoins Uranus at the same degree. Trines to Mars, progressed Mercury and the sextile with transiting Neptune may moderate matters. We will be in a very different place by then I think.

Moving on to Russia

Pluto continues to transit the Russian Moon- since this is how the people are feeling it suggests that whatever they may say on camera they feel and are oppressed at present. The fact that Pluto has been square the progressed Sun as well suggests that even the leadership is very unhappy. This square to the Sun continues for another year at least so no quick happy resolution for Putin. Not surprising, at this stage he has lost whatever the on-the-ground outcome is.

Perhaps the biggest and longest term theme in both charts is that Pluto is moving inexorably towards a square with the Russian natal Pluto. It won’t reach that point exactly till early 2026 but its effects will be felt from now on. The fact that the progressed Sun will then conjoin the same point by the end of the decade suggests the country is in for some very big changes indeed. Note that the progressed Sun changes signs at the end of 2025- a new leader or new leadership style is inevitable then.

Turning to Uranus – we see that it is completing its square to the Russia progressed Ascendant and natal Mercury- hopefully ending the crazy speeches about nuclear matters etc. However Uranus will now move on to sextile the Russian Saturn and progressed Mars suggesting they may try new strategy in the coming months. It remains a concern, though, that the Russian progressed Mars is square its natal Uranus and opposite its natal Jupiter, an aspect that will perfect in 2025. It suggests a capacity for irrational self- destruction in that period. Hopefully the presence of Saturn at the same degree at the same time will keep a lid on matters- or turn it into the internal economic restrictions I discuss below.

As mentioned in April 2022 transiting Jupiter will conjoin Uranus at about 22 Taurus which is sextile the progressed Mars and trine the country’s Jupiter. We can hope that this results in a big positive change but it certainly suggests a dramatic shift, mirroring that in Ukraine.

Neptune has now moved on from the conjunction with progressed Mars and square to Uranus, it will however oppose the Russian Neptune for the next two years – implying the country will have difficulty finding any concrete direction in that time. It is possible that the country could get bogged down in currency matters or at least economic inertia in this period. The presence of Saturn in Pisces from now on until they both enter Aries in early 2025 adds to this risk. Russia has traditionally resonated to Saturn Neptune ( it had Saturn in Pisces in its foundation and by progression until the 1970s and in opposition to Neptune by progression for most of the 20 ^th century) so we can safely assume that this configuration will play out in a very obvious way in the next couple of years.

Saturn conjoins the Russian MC and Sun in March 2024 just before the Uranus Jupiter conjunction. This is the time to watch – we will certainly see where the country and its leadership is heading by then. It is certainly going to look a lot different.

USA and the dollar 2023-4

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:26:38 GMT

The astrology of the US and dollar in 2023 and beyond

Inevitably we have to turn to the USA from time to time, as the country is too important to ignore. I don’t usually do forecasts here but I think in this case I will make an exception. For more details of likely rate change months and more detailed information on debt issuance etc. order a report.

So I thought I’d look at the conditions in 2023-4 as well as taking a quick peak at what is happening with the dollar.

I’ve set the USA chart for the day of the Aries ingress but rather than set it at the moment of the ingress I’ve used the New Moon which follows soon after. The fact that this moon happens on the US IC ( base of the natal chart) is likely to mean we have a significant year ahead. That the Sun is on the transiting MC at the time further emphasizes that.

The ingress happens after Saturn has moved into Pisces but before Pluto moves into Aquarius. Pluto is still at 29 Capricorn conjunct the US progressed Pluto (exact 1 ^st March). The fact that the new moon is sextile this suggests matters highlighting some of the unrest of the past few years may be in focus then. As Pluto fluctuates between perfecting the trine with the MC and returning to 29 degrees in the next couple of years, this looks to still be something that requires ongoing effort to stabilize.

As well as the Pluto correspondence, Neptune continues to oppose its progressed position which suggests ongoing uncertainty and illusions – as well as politically this will reflect uncertainty regarding economic position. The reality won’t fully crystallize until Saturn reaches 20-25 Pisces in 2024-5.

Indeed there is some current positive potential in the chart as the progressed Moon is sextile progressed Venus and trine the US Venus and Jupiter- this may keep the economic wolves at bay at least for a few months ( the Moon) or even a couple of years ( the Venus), although this is in contrast to the Pluto position which refers to challenges to the current debt and inequality as it mirrors the astrological conditions of the country’s independence.

One of the most interesting factors in the chart, however, is Uranus. Or rather the approaching conjunction of the US progressed MC with the country’s progressed and then natal Uranus at 8 degrees. This suggests big, big shake ups in the next 2 years. The fact that 6 years down the line the progressed MC will reach the Descendant too should not be ignored.

Transiting Uranus, on the other hand is quincunx the progressed Mars, (and sextile progressed Jupiter). It has already formed this aspect in 2022 and I would expect the same contrary issues that were in existence in spring/summer 2022 to flare up again, especially as Mars continues to journey slowly through the US 7 ^th house of partners and enemies.

As well as the country chart it is worth considering the dollar chart too. (We could also look at the FED chart but I’ll stick to just the dollar today for simplicity).

This charts screams “state of flux”. Pluto at 29 Capricorn is trine the MC but it remains in its square to the Dollar’s Neptune- Jupiter conjunction and the progressed Jupiter for the next couple of years. The progressed Sun is also coming up to conjoin the IC in a year or so. The fact that the new Moon at 0 Aries is in aspect with these points does nothing to dispel the feeling of an imminent shift.

Add to this the fact that Saturn will cross the Descendant in Pisces very soon and we have a situation which has reached a major turning point.

Of course, as I mentioned under the USA analysis above, no-one is quite sure about the true economic conditions and the dollar reflects this with transiting Neptune ( planet of illusion and inflation) in square to the Dollar Venus ( planet of value). And that uncertainty is not going to go away until Neptune moves away in 2025.

There is more: of course there is. Uranus is currently square the dollar natal Uranus and opposite the progressed Jupiter but it will soon (May) square the currency’s Moon and then (August) square its Pluto and progressed Uranus and with a trine to Mars in play as well suggest trading may go haywire. Watch for it this year and take notes, it will repeat in April 2024 with bells on as Jupiter conjoins Uranus around the same degrees then. And as the progressed Moon reaches the dollar Pluto then I would be worried.

The final thing to be aware of is the upcoming conjunction of the progressed Ascendant with the progressed Saturn. When it conjoined the natal Saturn in early 2020 we all know what happened in market-land. The fact that in another two years that Ascendant will also oppose the Jupiter- Neptune conjunction means we are talking about the problem of the monetary expansion and perhaps fully facing the consequences in this time-frame.

Now place your bets.

Turkey earthquake February 2023

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:24:29 GMT

Astrology of Turkey's 6 February 2023 earthquake

A much more serious topic this week (*). It doesn’t give me pleasure to write about tragedies but sometimes it is necessary to demonstrate the efficacy of the astrology.

I am not going to analyse the earthquake chart itself, I am interested in what it means for the country, so I’m using the Turkish chart plus the transits etc at the time of the quake.

I’ve set the chart for the time of the first main quake, although there was another large one 9 hours later, as I feel this best encapsulates the theme of the moment.

Given there is clearly a lot going on, I was interested to see what I had said about Turkey in my forecasts for 2021-4 written in December 2021.

I did not forecast an earthquake, although my whole 2022-23 period talks of unrest and instability I had attributed that to internal conditions and not extrapolated to the seismic nature of the region this time.

For January and February 2023 I had said :

There is still instability surrounding the leadership. This may lead to some dramatic actions by that leadership especially later in February.

But the focus now turns to the people and the extent to which they feel constrained …. There is certainly indication………. of economic hardships.

All of which is correct it just ignores the trigger. I also forecast:

The focus stays on the people as we move into March and April. As we know the mood generally changes now and this shift may see a …. attempt to unseat leadership

We will see.

Anyway, now back the chart, why I said what I did and what shows the nature of the issue.

We can see that Turkey has some tough issues baked in with Pluto on the Ascendant and square Mars.

All of the outer planets, from Jupiter on, can contribute to earthquakes if the location is susceptible. In this case Jupiter is definitely one of the wider contributors. At 7 degrees Aries it was exactly opposite the Mars on 6 ^th - enough alone to trigger some event by activating the square. The fact that progressed Mars and Jupiter at 11-14 Sagittarius are also picked up can’t be ignored either.

We can see that at the time of the quake the transiting MC is square the Turkish Ascendant and Pluto and the transiting Ascendant is at 8 degrees trine the transiting Jupiter. Although trines are usually deemed easy aspects – you don’t want earthquakes to happen easily and this is what has happened.

And still staying with this configuration we also see that on the 6 ^th transiting Mars is in opposition to the progressed Mars. Altogether, it is pretty much full house of interconnections.

Nevertheless, it was the square of Uranus to the Turkey progressed Sun which was at the heart of my original forecast. I took that to mean leadership issues, (which is obviously does) but it seems it also pertains to the country itself in this case. Not only was Uranus square that Sun but also quincunx the progressed Jupiter. Although it is separating from that Jupiter aspect, Uranus is also sextile the Turkey progressed Uranus at degrees. But it is the positioning of the progressed MC at 15 Gemini that really completes the set and narrows the risks down to the current year. All it then took was for the whole configuration to be activated on the 6 ^th by the transiting Sun at 15-16 Aquarius.

Finally we turn to what I originally said about the “people” of Turkey. This was based on two factors; Pluto in quincunx with the natal Moon and Saturn conjoining the progressed Moon. Both are applying and continue over a number of weeks, indicating that the pressures on the people are ongoing and not confined to the moment of the quake.

There are other things we could talk about in the chart such as the node and the significance of the MC at 5 degrees at 45 degrees semisquares etc. to 20 degrees but I think we have a cler pictue without them. Suffice to finish with a comment about the transiting Moon at the time of the quake being at 20 degrees conjunct the country’s Neptune. If you have ever felt an earthquake you will know that it feels as if everything solid is momentarily liquid and of course is accompanied by confusion- exactly the characteristics of Moon with Neptune.

All in all a pretty conclusive picture, sadly.

Data: Earthquake sequence in Turkey, February 6th 2023 (emsc-csem.org)

(*) of course share prices can be serious if someone has all their wealth tied up in them, but for the casual onlooker ( or the cautious astrological investor) they are generally fun

Google AI -Feb 2023

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 17:36:29 GMT

The astrology of Google's AI announcement February 2023

There was a second bit of drama this week and it related to one of the market favourites, Alphabet (Google).

About 10 percent of Alphabet's market value – some $120 billion – was wiped out this week after Google proudly presented Bard, its answer to Microsoft's next-gen AI offerings and chatGPT, and the system bungled a simple question. The system appears to have claimed that Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope took the first image of an exoplanet – but the first such image was actually taken in 2003, by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope.

The market was disappointed. Indeed it remains so as the shares have not recovered yet.

We’ll be looking more at AI as we consider Pluto in Aquarius, Neptune in Aries and Uranus in Gemini but for now we’ll stick to the comedy at hand.

The first announcement was on 7 ^th but the presentation was at 8.30am EST on February 8 ^th . And at 9.30 opening the above happened.

Here is the chart for the announcement.

We see that transiting Neptune is conjunct the transiting Ascendant and opposite the Google IPO Jupiter. Big error has consequences for share value. A sextile to the Google Saturn did not help either.

An hour later that Ascendant has moved to 20 degrees of Aries where is activated the progressed Moon opposite Pluto and the transiting Moon at 20 Virgo. Even the transiting Sun is at 19 degrees. The Ascendant is also square the chart Chiron. I don’t mention it often in financial matters but it almost certainly does have something to do with artificial life/intelligence.

At the same time, the transiting MC was opposite the Google Venus and square its Moon highlighting investors view of stock value.

While we don’t see quite the price drama we did with BBBY, we note that Uranus has been sextile the progressed Sun and will move to trine progressed Mars and oppose the progressed Ascendant. This suggests to me more uncertainty and volatility over the issue is coming. Note that the IPO chart already ties the two planets together in an opposition so it can integrate them but it will also be sensitive to the transits.

There are broader elements at play anyway. Saturn is opposite the Chart’s Sun and progressed Mercury. Pluto is quincunx the progressed MC and this week Mercury has been activating this configuration. I suspect that the AI challenge is going to be an ongoing issue.

Pluto will shortly change signs and then oppose the Google IPO progressed Venus and that is not positive for values. Either this issue or another one will create future pressures.

Bed Bath and Beyond - February 2023

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 15:52:04 GMT

The astrology of Bed bath and Beyond(BBBY) in February 2023

It is nice to be back. I am not sure whether the Mars retrograde was responsible for keeping me from posting or whether I was just having too much fun. Either way, now we’re back, there is plenty to talk about.

Readers will know that I love a bit of financial drama and that has been found in spades recently with Bed Bath and Beyond. The company has been struggling with the shift away from stores to online for some time and the pandemic really didn’t help. It needs funding to move forward, otherwise it will have to declare bankruptcy.

However the crazy retail meme crowd don’t worry about such useful things as fundamentals or cashflow, they are conducting a war with imaginary antagonists, and are determined to win by betting against them. This has led to some ludicrous stock price movements in the last week.

The activity took place on 6 February and reached a peak at around 3.20pm EST. By 9.40 am the next morning the stock was back to its previous day’s opening level. There certainly should be something to see.

So, let’s take a look at the astrology.

I’ve struggled to find a confirmed foundation chart for the company’s formation in New Jersey. It was definitely founded in 1971. However 5 October is in use by another astrologer so we will use this. The chart is set for 12 noon as is convention.

It was almost as hard to find a first trade chart for the IPO in 1992 ( essential if we are looking at speculative buying) but I’ve tracked it down to 5 June. The chart is set for 9.30, the start of exchange trading in the absence of other information.

Looking at the latter chart, first, we can immediately see the two factors at play. The transiting Sun is conjunct the IPO Saturn and is exact on 6 ^th February, highlighting difficulties, but Uranus is conjunct the progressed Mars. Uranus conjunct Mars always leads to dramatic not necessarily rational price or volume movements.

We can also see that transiting Mars is conjunct Venus that day. The excitement feeds into the price.

Now look at the exact time of the peak. The Moon has reached the progressed Ascendant but the final piece of the jigsaw is that transiting Neptune is on the MC at the time of the peak. Neptune doing its job as promoted of bubbles and delusion and ignorer of fundamentals in favour of fantasy.

We could look more at the wider picture in this chart but I am going to turn to the ( alleged) foundation chart instead.

Even in this chart we can see something was happening . Transiting Mars was conjunct the Descendant on the day of the activity and also square the progressed Mars. But we are more interested in the bigger picture this time and what the chart says about the fundamentals.

Though we can also note that Mars here may indicate ongoing negotiations with buyers or funders.

We can see that Pluto has recently crossed the progressed Ascendant, that is certainly contributing to the negative sentiment. Things quite literally look terminal. I’d guess that we’ll know soon as Mercury crossed the Ascendant yesterday and will move into Aquarius. Pluto is also square the chart Moon suggesting very deep seated problems with the customer base. Pluto isn’t done with this degree either until the year is out so even survival now does not guarantee it long term.

We also note that the progressed Sun at 3 Sagittarius is conjunct the natal Jupiter – but is also opposite the progressed Saturn. Jupiter might be positive but Saturn most definitely suggests challenges.

It is also worth noting that Neptune will conjoin the IC in the coming 2 years, that does not suggest financial stability. It may be that some parts of the company remain though – bought out and no longer listed.

Although this is not as bad a Evergrande ( I’ve never seen such a depressing outlook as that one) it does look challenging.

FIFA World Cup 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 13:51:36 GMT

Astrology of the FIFA world cup 2022

After weeks of birthday celebrations I thought I’d come back with a little light diversion into the FIFA World cup in the run up to Christmas, before moving on to more serious matters in 2023.

The celebrations meant I missed out on the group stages, but I’ll be keeping abreast of developments throughout the knockouts until the final.

My technique here is to use national charts and I like to look primarily at the assumed closing chart for the matches. This has some weaknesses; countries where “ soccer” is less important such as the US are hard to read under this method, but it works for most.

The other weakness is that in knockout stages games can go to extra time and even penalties, which is an argument for using the opening chart instead. But when closing charts work they are very effective. But I don’t have the time to look at multiple times for these stages though I will for the final.

The other reservation I have is that I will have to look at countries that I rarely if ever follow, my ability to read their charts in a short time frame is obviously limited.

I look for good aspects to the closing angles. Good Jupiter aspects, especially to the national Moon ( the people of the nation), a well aspected Mars and an absence of disappointments ( Saturn , Pluto nasty Neptune squares etc.). I don’t propose to show all the charts only the one for the Final and the one that follows here.

This is the opening chart for the final group E games. It was an exciting night of football and resulted in the exit of Germany ( despite them winning their final match) and Spain losing to Japan . I show it here so that readers can appreciate the importance of the relatively wide Jupiter Neptune conjunction when activated by other planets- here the Moon.

The closing chart has Pluto almost on the Descendant and the middle of Aries on the MC. Mars is retrograde in Gemini so not especially well placed.

With all that in mind, remember this is for fun and practise only. I haven’t been doing much sports’ forecasting for over a decade so please don’t bet on the basis of these forecasts alone.

So here goes:

Final:

Argentina vs France 18 Dec 18.00

Well here we are already. I've had a cold this week and so have struggled to keep this up but I'm not going to miss this final match.

It has all been a useful exercise, reminding me of the opportunities and pitfalls of using astrology in sport. there are many techniques used but Saturn only rewards putting the work in for me so I have to do the hard slog. The difference between my forecasting results in the round of 32 vs the later stages shows this. I've also been forced to recall my lessons from horse racing -(sometimes being in the limelight can mean you died), which are particularly important for anticipating the results when countries go further than expected.

Anyway, above is the chart for the final. I've included both the opening chart and the one for the approximate end of normal time.

The opening chart has the Venus Mercury conjunction on the Descendant

During the first half there is little activity on the angles other than Pluto on the Descendant.

Indeed the most interesting aspect is the Uranus conjunct MC in extra time and Saturn on the Descendant by penalty time,

Argentina have their progressed Ascendant culminating at the beginning of the game which may suggest they are due for success.

They don’t have much going on the first half. About 10 mins into the second half Argentina’s progressed Mars hits the IC and Game Moon. This may be a critical time. Then there is not much more in normal time.

In extra time the Argentine not much happens until approx. penalty time when their Jupiter conjunct the transiting Uranus crosses the MC.

I am not sure how symbolic the opening position is but the match starts with the French MC just past the MC and the French Sun opposite Jupiter just past the IC. Does this mean their best is over?

About 20-25 mins into the first half France Venus reaches the IC. The next notable event is around half time when their Ascendant reaches the game Ascendant.

Around 30 mins into the second half the French Saturn and progressed Mercury reach the MCand by the end of the match their Neptune-Jupiter us on the IC.

In extra time the French progressed Saturn crosses the mc.

At approx. penalty time the French Uranus (opp Pluto) is approaching the Ascendant.

So what does this all mean?

There certainly doesn’t seem to be much happening in Argentina’s chart in the first half ( unless in the first few minutes). France have only some action after 30 minutes.

It looks like a tight and tough game. There maybe a goal scored by Argentina at the beginning and one by France after 30 mins but these may just be action points and nil-nil at end of first half.

The most exciting time is around 10 mins into second half when I think Argentina could score. And then the action is around France after about another 20 mins, though whether this is a goal or not is more difficult to say.

I think the picture is marginally with Argentina in normal time but it is a close run thing.

If the game goes to extra time I suspect nothing happens until later in that period or even penalties. All the drama could therefore be at the end.

My best bet would be a last minute goal in extra time by Argentina but either way (ending after extra time or penalties) I think they just have the edge. But this is another difficult one so I may be wrong.

Outcome: Argentina 3 France 3 ( Argentina win 4-2 on penalties)

Pleased with this prediction. It was a tough one and we can now see why. The start of game chart was enlightening ( some astrologers are able to use those charts alone - I have to work harder). I should also qualify my success by saying that my timings often weren't right and that normal time ended 12 minutes after my estimate which affects the interpretation somewhat.

However, overall, I am happy as this was a refresher exercise for me and has now encouraged me to do more. Next post will be a sneak peak at Messi's chart

Semi finals

I should first note that at the beginning of the competition my non- astrological money was on France vs Argentina for the final. So I might have some underlying bias in the following analysis. Only our old friend time will tell.

Argentina Croatia Dec 13 ^th 22.00

The Sun has now reached 21 Sagittarius and is square Neptune. This might indicate things slipping away from the favourites or early leaders.

The Moon is now in Leo ( it was in Cancer for their last matches) so we can expect some change in the mood. We also see that now Mercury and venus are back in the same sign again (Capricorn). Since Argentina have a conjunction of these two planets in both their natal and progressed chart they are likely to resonate more to the moment.

Another thing to note is that, unlike Argentina, Croatia have not yet played a game at 22.00 in this competition. These aspects are new for the team.

The match starts with the Argentine Sun on the MC and Moon on Descendant.

Around 30 mins in the Argentine Mars reaches the MC though it is opposite Neptune. A chance maybe.

At the end of the first half the transiting Mars crosses the MC ( this has happened in many of the 22.00 games) and is opposite Argentina’s Saturn. Around 15 mins into 2 ^nd half the progressed Saturn is on the ,MC. Ideally that isn’t a time for goal scoring but for defending.. But about 23.30 the Argentine Venus and Mercury are conjunct the MC though are square Neptune and opposite the Sun.

At the end of normal time Jupiter is conjunct the Descendant.

Extra time looks quiet for Argentina and so if the game is not won in normal time we can assume it goes to penalties like it did with the NL.

Croatia start the match with their progressed Mercury rising. In Argentina’s case they are probably talking about Messi, in Croatia’s about penalties.

Between 15 and 25 mins the Croatian progressed Venus Mars conjunction rises. That looks positive.

The next apparent key time for them is 10-20 mins into the 2 ^nd half when the Progressed Moon and Ascendant which are conjunct the transiting Sun and square Neptune reach the IC. After that it is pretty quiet in normal time.

In extra time the Croatian Sun reaches the MC and its Uranus comes into play with penalties indicating some drama.

My feeling is that both sides can score. Croatia perhaps first, then Argentina.

But I feel that Argentina will have the upper hand towards the end of normal time and will win.

And although at this point few would bet against Croatia in a penalty shoot out if it does get to penalties I actually think Argentina might just win this anyway.

Outcome: Argentina won 3:0 in normal time. Am pleased with this one. I identified the opportunity for Argentina after 30 mins ( Messi penalty then a goal). Then I noted the 23.30 time appox when the final goal was scored. I did think Croatia might ahve scored first which didn't happen though they were on form and highlighted at that time. All in all a good result.

France – Morocco Dec 14 22.00

Pretty much the same chart as the previous semi final but now the Moon is in Virgo ( and rising at the beginning of the match) which is more in line with the games on 9 ^th and 10 ^th than the other semi final. The Sun Neptune square is also close to exact which may lead to some loss of momentum.

Not much is actually highlighted in the French chart in the first half- there is a conjunction of the French Moon and IC after 30 mins until right at the end when France’s progressed Venus culminates at the Midheaven conjunct the transiting Mars. Possibly a goal for them right at the end of that half.

About 15-20 mins into second half France’s Mercury rises but is opposite the transiting Neptune. At the end of normal time France’s Sun opposing transiting Jupiter is rising- we’ve seen this before as a strength for France vs England. Could it be again?

After that there isn’t much action in the French chart in the following hour.

Morocco have it all going on at the beginning of the match with its progressed Jupiter rising conjunct the Game Moon. Their Mercury is also conjunct the MC. Not really surprising given their progress so far. This is all in play for the first 10 minutes or so when the Morocco Sun conjoins the MC as well.

But then things quieten down until about 15 minutes into the second half when the progressed Moon is on the MC opposite the transiting Sun and Square Neptune and the Morrocan progressed Mars. This might be the moment that determines the match outcome.

At the end of normal time Morocco’s progressed Venus us conjunct the MC and square the transiting Jupiter ( mentioned above as opposing the France Moon).

There is little more then highlighted until their Venus crosses the MC around penalty time.

So what does it mean? We are once more forced to choose between favourable aspects to Jupiter.

Probably there will be no goals until France score at the end of the first half. Then there is likely to be another goal about 15-20 minutes in to second half.

My feeling is that France will score again and then it will be all over but there is a chance it could be 2 goals from Morocco.

Either way it looks like both teams acquit themselves well and are commended at the end of the match. I don’t see it going to extra time. If it does not much will happen until penalties and then they slightly favour Morocco ( another reason I doubt this will happen as I suspect France’s experience would dominate in such as case).

Outcome: France won 2:0 in normal time. Again I am pleased though not as pleased as with the Argentine game. i didn't spot the early goal by France, though the Moroccan chart showed activity then. I think perhaps the focus was on Morocco until France scored and then it was all to play for by both teams until that second goal which was later than I expected. But overall I was right in the result.

Quarter finals

Croatia vs Brazil 9/12 18.00

A little more information this time. We’ll look at the whole match.

At the start transiting Jupiter is on the MC. It’s those big expectations again, but by itself this tells us nothing about what will happen.

After 30 mins though, Brazil’s progressed Sun and Mars reach the MC. That looks like goals to me. At about the same time Croatia’s mercury opposite Neptune reaches the Ascendant.

In the second half Croatia start with their prog Ascendant on the Descendant- perhaps indicative their hopes are fading.

When the match ends ( assuming normal time) Brazil’s progressed Venus conjoins the MC and then Croatia’s prog sun opposite Saturn is on the Asc.

I would say that this indicates Brazil will win in normal time ( mainly based on first half). Only if the game goes to penalties does Croatia seem to have a chance.

Outcome: Croatia won on penalties. I didn't get the result in normal time correct but I did get the timing of the most action right in the first half. On balance I am relatively happy with how I did on this one.

NL vs Argentina 9/12 22.00

I love both these teams, so find it hard to decide who I want to win.

The game starts with Leo rising but no planets on the angles. But at the start of the second half Mars will cross the MC and normal time ends with the Neptune Jupiter conjunction on the Descendant as we have seen before.

There is not much going on the NL chart at the beginning. It’s Moon reaches the Descendant after 15 minute though which could indicate a change of mood.

Argentina on the other hand have their Ascendant close to the game ascendant. So likely to be favourites.

Once again it is around 30 mins that things pick up. NL have their Jupiter on the Ascendant opposite Mars. Argentina have first the Sun, then their MC on the MC, then the Moon on the Descendant and then Mars on the MC. There are positive in both teams’ configurations but Argentina’s host of aspects clinches it in the first half.

The NL have their Ascendant conjunct the MC at the beginning of the second half suggesting focus on them . Both countries then have their Pluto crossing the descendant so I guess these cancel each other out.

At the end of the match normal time Argentina have Venus and Mercury conjunct the MC. The NL have very little. Looks like Argentina will win in normal time.

However if they do not they should beware as NL have the prog Sun conjunct the Moon on the MC by the time penalties come along. That would favour the NL

Outcome: Argentina won 4.3 on penalties ( NL 2 Argentina 2 after normal time)

Only half right again. Once again there was action around 30 mins in when Argentina scored the first goal and indeed if it wasn't for the excess injury time Argentina would have won in normal time ( NL scored final goal after 111 mins - later than I looked at). But I got the penalties wrong. It is good to see the timing working out though even if I need to refine the interpretations.

Morocco – Portugal 10 Dec 18.00

Obviously the charts are not significantly different from those on the 9th ( other than the Moon and even that is still in the same sign).

As the game starts Morocco’s Venus is rising and its Mars has just past the MC.

There is little of note on the angles in the first half though it ends with the Moroccan Moon in the Descendant and Sun sextile the MC. Not exciting but not terrible. At the start of second half Morocco’s progressed Mc is rising and right at the end of normal time its Uranus rises.

This suggests not much action in the first half, expectation at the beginning of the second and a surprise at the end of the game.

Portugal’s chart somewhat mirrors that at the start of the game with its Sun just past the MC. 15 Mins in Portugal’s Ascendant aligns with the transiting Ascendant and its Saturn is on the MC trine its Mars. This is more likely to indicate defensive action rather than goals though it is strong.

The second half starts with Portugal’s Mercury on the MC – this might relates to an individual player. But by the end of normal time Portugal have their progressed Jupiter conjunct the MC, their natal Jupiter on the Descendant trine their Moon and Uranus and their Mars on the Ascendant. That frankly looks unassailable even if there are surprises at the end.

Outcome: Morocco won 1:0 in normal time. If I had just looked at Morocco I might have called this correctly ( based on the MC at the start of second half and Uranus at end of normal time - Morocco winning and getting a red card. However I completely blew it with my interpretation of Portugal's end of normal time aspects. Back to drawing board!

However I am so pleased for Morocco. It is a fairy tale.

England –France 10 Dec 22.00

France have some pretty interesting aspects going on generally. Their progressed Venus is conjunct the current Mars and their Sun is opposite Jupiter at the moment. Both are relatively good signs.

However there is very little activity from the French chart to the angles in the first half other than a Moon opposite the MC at the end.

The second half looks a little more eventful for them with the Venus to Mars configuration hitting the MC about 10 mins in. After 30 mins they also have Mercury rising, but their Sun does not reach the Ascendant until extra time.

England start the match with their progressed Neptune on the MC ( of course they do it’s the hope that kills them). Then after about 35 mins England’s Jupiter rises trine Sun which even though Pluto is on the Descendant is likely to be a positive,

At the beginning of the second half ( a similar time to France’s aspects) England’s Saturn and progressed Mercury rises opposite its progressed Moon.

Rather like France their best aspect is after normal time with their Moon conjunct the transiting Jupiter on the Descendant.

The parallels make this hard to judge. It could be no scores and then extra time or that England score in first half and France equalise after about 10 mins of second and then it goes to extra time. Even then its is hard to call which wins out of the Sun opposite Jupiter or the Moon conjunct it. It if goes to penalties England’s Uranus comes into play with a shock.

I honestly can’t call this so, since France are marginally favourites I’ll have to go along with that. But it is going to be interesting……

Outcome: France win 2:1. It was a close match though I didn't get the details right I get some points for that though I can't really take many for the result as I could barely judge it on the astrology alone

On y va

Round of 32

US/NL 3 Dec “closing” 19.50

Obviously some of the US current issues ( e.g the Pluto conjunct Pluto) show up. In this case on the chart Descendant. However Pluto is also conjunct the NL progressed Saturn. I would tend towards saying this goes to extra time

Neither country has conclusive Moon aspects, but there is also a trine between the Jupiter Neptune in the closing Chart and the NL Mercury Mars rising at the closing moments. A last minute goal likely to take NL through or at least take them into extra time then.

Result NL won 3-1 outcome was pretty much assured after a goal in 81st min

Arg/Aus 3 Dec closing 23.50

I am concerned that the Argentina Pluto is on the Descendant at the end of the match. However they have a Mercury Venus conjunction on the MC and sextile the Moon. But it is also square that Neptune/Jupiter and opposes the chart Mercury/Venus – suggesting too much expectation.

Australia, on the other hand, have their Pluto – Uranus opposition on the closing MC/IC conjunct the chart Mars. So this one looks set for some sort of upset. With a Jupiter square here as well there is also a lot of expectation in this chart too. There is a progressed Sun Venus conjunction close to their Moon and trine the Aussie Mars. They certainly have momentum. It is a hard call and another match where there could be a last minute shift. I think Australia might just win this.

Argentina won 2-1

France/Poland 4 Dec closing 19.50

Obviously the charts for these dates don’t change much ( other than the moon), so we can learn as we go along. The 19.50 charts are much less dramatic than the 23.50 ones although they do have that Pluto on the Descendant. I’ll be watching tonight ( 1 ^st Dec) to see how the picture plays out generally but every country has a different synastry with the moment so we must be careful.

Because the quarter and semi finals are at 22.00 and the final at 18.00 these charts also tell us something about performance in those later matches too.

Poland’s progressed Moon is on the closing Descendant conjunct Pluto. Although this also makes the Moon sextile Jupiter , that alone is a tough call. However the Moon at the time of the match is also conjunct Poland’s Jupiter- that is a rather good testimony. The Chart MC will move towards that point in the half hour following. A very good sign for Poland if the match goes to extra time.

However the Poland Moon itself is square the chart Mars and approaching Neptune. Whatever happens on 4 ^th I don’t see Poland winning the Cup!

The Ascendant for the potential match close is almost exactly aligned with that of the French chart I use. It is therefore opposite Pluto. However on the positive side the natal Mars and progressed Jupiter of France are trine the Neptune/Jupiter conjunction in the chart . France also have just had a progressed New Moon and that Moon will now conjunct progressed Mars. Those are some pretty powerful upsides ) though the fact that Jupiter is opposing the French Sun is a little worrying. We must not forget it lost to Tunisia with a similar chart.

On balance although Poland should acquit themselves well this will be no walk over, I think France have further to go in this tournament.

Result: France 3 Poland 1

England/Senegal Dec 4 closing 23.50

Back to the tricky 23.50 charts. Let’s look at Senegal first. There is a trine between the chart Jupiter and Senegal’s Moon, but they are in different signs. However the Senegal Ascendant is slap bang on the MC and Mars of the chart. That is pretty dramatic. However Senegal’s Jupiter is square the Jupiter Neptune conjunction once more a sign of over optimism.

"Engerland" has its Saturn and progressed Mercury close to the Ascendant of the chart. However it also has its Moon conjunct the Chart Jupiter. Obviously this represents the usual high expectations but with the natal Venus in sextile and the England progressed Sun/MC sextile the chart MC the balance is somewhat in England’s favour. However the fact that the chart’s Saturn is opposite the UK MC is not.

On balance I expect England to win but not without some concern and certainly not without questioning how much further they can progress.

Result: England 3 Senegal 0. Better than I expected

Japan croatia 5 Dec 18.00- closing 1.50

This is another Pluto on the Des chart of course.

It is interesting to see Japan’s chart with what we know so far in the competition. The Japan Mars is at 25 Pisces conjunct the current Neptune-Jupiter. But that is a mixed blessing as it is thus quincunx the Venus-Mercury one. At the moment the Japan progressed Moon is at 25 Taurus accentuating this – both expectation and successes. Pluto actually strengthens this. The risk is the square from the natal Moon at 27 Gemini opposing the current Venus-Mercury. The Japan Mc is close to Pluto but in another sign. They have strength but perhaps too much expectation.

Croatia’s chart is very different. It has its progressed Asc square to the Jupiter conjunction and the only item on the angles is a wide conjunction between that Pluto and the progressed Asc. There is however a lovely trine between the Croatian Mars/Venus conjunction its progressed Jupiter and the closing chart MC. On that basis I am inclined and surprised to give this one to Croatia.

Result: Went to extra time ( 1.1 in normal time) and Croatia finally won on penalties 3.1

Brazil-Korea 5 Dec closing 23.50

With the shift to a later hour the expectation conjunction of Jupiter-Neptune moves to close to the Descendant with the square to Venus and Mercury on the IC. I wouldn’t want to play at this time .

Brazil has its Mercury in tight aspect to this and rising at close of play. It has a host of aspects in fact. Its progressed MC is conjunct the chart MC and Mars and sextile its Venus. It does have a current progressed Mars-Sun conjunction sextile its Jupiter and Moon. A good sign generally.

Normally I would say this altogether would be enough but Mars is retrograde so might favour the underdog.

Korea have their progressed Sun-Mercury on the MC at the end of normal playing time and trine their Moon. I like that a lot. Mars conjunct the Expectation conjunction is another matter though. That conjunction is making these charts hard to read. Korea have an MC that is conjunct the current Jupiter and that ought to be enough alone for them to remain in the competition.

But as Brazil must be favourites at the moment I am struggling to see how they can be knocked out. So I am going to let logic prevail and say Brazil will win but, boy, it isn’t clear cut.

Result: Brazil 4: Korea 1- this understates how strong Brazil were as they scored everything in the first half and then cruised it. I underestimated their astrology but I have a history of Brazil forecasting failures so am quite pleased on balance

Morocco Spain 6 ^th Dec closing 19.50

By the 6 ^th . The Moon has moved to 27 Taurus and is providing some stability to that Jupiter conjunction.

Morocco have their Uranus on the closing Ascendant suggesting possible last minute shocks in the match. Their progressed Mars conjoins the game’s Neptune and is square their progressed Moon. Although there are mitigating factors this is the least positive chart I have seen so far.

Spain – a chart I know to work well for World Cups, has their progressed MC rising at the presumed close of the game with the Sun just a couple of degrees away. Of course the downside is that the progressed MC is opposite Pluto but that is mitigated by the Ascendant conjunct the game Moon.

I think Spain have this.

Result: Morocco 0 Spain 0. Morocco win 3-0 on penalties . Lousy forecast from me, although at least it all took place well after normal time and I hadn't looked at those charts.

Portugal- Switzerland Dec 6 ^th closing 23.50

This one looks interesting. As mentioned above the Moons starts in Taurus and sextiles Jupiter but just at the end of the game the Moon moves into Gemini. Definitely a suggestion that the game might change right at the end..

Both countries have planets on the chart Descendant. In the case of Portugal that is the MC and Sun conjunct the closing Neptune. But these are supported by the country’s Pluto. The progressed Sun also makes a nice sextile to the Game Mars – yet I remain concerned about the retrograde.

It doesn’t look bad but there is nothing really convincing about it either.

Switzerland, on the other hand have their Sun NN conjunction on the closing Ascendant, yet these are opposite Saturn. Their defence will be good. The other interesting thing is that their Mars/Venus conjunction is trine that Moon in Gemini.. In fact I’m going to say that this one may end up goalless and does go to extra time with Switzerland winning after that…..

Result: well it isn't over yet as it is only 75 mins but it is already Portugal 5 Switzerland 1 so even a last minute surprise is unlikely to change the outcome. Another particularly lousy prediction.

The good news is that it is all coming back to me as I do theseeeee and so hopefully will benefit future sports predictions and I note that the Mars retrograde does not seem to pose the problems I thought it might. Mars seems to be Mars regardless

The UK NHS - an astrological review

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 19:13:26 GMT

A look at the astrology of the NHS, past present and future

At the moment it is difficult to not keep returning to the UK situation. The opposition of Uranus to the UK Neptune in the second house is really unravelling a lot of what we value.

And one of the things we have traditionally valued most is the NHS. There seems to be an increasing fear that the current UK government is trying to break up the NHS and sell it off to private concerns or convert it to a private insurance model. This is concerning for the country, not just because of the perceived love of the NHS but because the government seem to be particularly close to US medical companies and US healthcare currently costs over 3 times per head what UK healthcare does. If we can’t afford the UK model there is no way on earth we can afford the US one. That is very, very, bad whether you believe in the social function of the NHS or you believe in the importance of a stable robust economy. Oh dear.

So it is only right that we take a look at what is happening astrologically with the NHS and where we may be going.

And, for once, as luck would have it, we actually have a timed chart for its commencement; at midnight on 5 July 1948.

It is of no surprise whatsoever to me to find Neptune involved here; transiting slap bang on the Ascendant. First the NHS is in disarray and secondly we are probably not being told the whole story about the plans for it. Neptune is opposite not only the NHS Mars, compounding the sense of disarray, but also its progressed Sun. The leadership is lacking direction and/or lying. Note also that the progressed Ascendant is almost conjunct the NHS Sun square Neptune. This is a double whammy of a rather impractical nature at best, complete dissolution at worst.

I would add, also, how today when I am writing this, 5 October 2022, the Sun is conjunct the NHS Neptune creating a triple whammy as the Prime Minister stands up to talk about growing her pie (especially given her penchant for pork markets and the rhyming slang for pork pies). This is really not a good omen on so many levels of symbolism.

It is nice to see that Mercury appears on the Descendant as this news becomes increasingly clear and I would like to think I am part of that service.

But before we look at the likely future, it is first worth back-tracking and looking at the basic chart.

The inherent characteristics

The NHS is a product of the Neptune-Pluto sextile. Its greatest challenge, though subtle, is the end of that sextile. So post 2030. We aren’t quite there yet.

The NHS was also born in that period after the war when Saturn was conjunct Pluto in Leo. Pluto’s position is not surprising, it is a health organisation and by its very nature it also has a great deal to do with end of life matters too. However, resonating to this combination means that there are wider implications.

As we know, in 2020 and 2021 Saturn was again conjunct Pluto (for only the second time since the NHS was born) this time in Capricorn. And although it was not at the degree of Pluto in the chart it was in aspect to the Saturn. We know how difficult that period was due to the pandemic.

We can also note the impact of the last Pluto Saturn opposition in 2001. Although this was trine the NHS Pluto-Saturn conjunction it did lead to the creation of a new direction in the Foundation Trusts, which have some benefits but set the Trusts financially against the rest of the system which has led to poor decisions. It was also the commencement of the disastrous IT project, which should have led to integration and efficiency but was so badly planned it only led to wasted money.

Even post 2021, Pluto has continued to make life difficult for those working within the organisation as it remains in quincunx to the Venus, Mercury, Uranus conjunction which forms much of the foundation of the day to day activities.

But that is not all. One of the problems of the NHS chart is the square between Neptune and the Sun. Leadership is always going to be a problem. With this signature only co-operation, sacrifice and unlimited support will satisfy it. That’s great for “health” and “care” but also has broader implications; inefficiency, waste and loss of direction are inevitable. Successive governments have tried to impose targets, which is absolutely the wrong approach with this chart. It is also why the organisation is idolised by many, perhaps beyond its real capabilities.

Mars conjunct the Descendant also means that the organisation will always have detractors and that it has issues with competition. Interestingly, this aspect is probably also why the most successful and visible part of the NHS is emergency services and surgery.

Mars is also square the conjunction of Mercury, Venus and Uranus in Gemini. And also pulls the Moon (the public) into that conjunction. I find this also fascinating. What we see, with Mars on the Descendant is saving lives, what we imagine, with Sun square Neptune, ( as well as Jupiter close to the MC) is a service devoted to sacrifice for others. The reality is lots of little people, often female (Venus), running around doing lots of busy little tasks both to care for people and in administration (Mercury). There is also all the supporting technology (Uranus) as well as the huge dependence on foreign labour. That’s the foundation of the activities which we tend to take for granted.

We could go on for ever about the details and evolution of the NHS chart, but the only other factor I want to mention is the 2005 move of progressed Uranus from Gemini to Cancer as this perhaps was the beginning of a change in attitudes to the organisation and the move towards the argument that it should be everyone for themselves?

Where we are going

Things aren’t suddenly going to change over night- that is not an astrological observation, just a political one. However things will change, because they can’t continue as they are and because the surrounding environment will become more difficult over time.

At the moment we are right in the middle of the final part of the Uranus Saturn square. Its impact on the NHS isn’t great for sure- it is within orb of square/opposition to the NHS Saturn, and picks up the progressed Mercury and the Moon as well as the Jupiter. It also opposes Chiron in the chart – I don’t often consider Chiron in my work but in medical matters it counts and the opposition isn’t good. However, despite this these aren’t the main players here, yet.

We’ve already mentioned Neptune as a key factor in the plans for change. And as the progressed Sun crosses the Descendant axis properly we can expect the challengers to fully come out of the woodwork.

Neptune will then move on in the next couple of years to square the conjunction at the base of the chart which as we have discussed is all about the day to day activity. If you think things are in disarray now, you “ain’t seen nothing yet”. It will also square the MC/IC axis itself in 2024-5. This will almost certainly change the whole foundation of the service. By 2026 the progressed Sun will square that conjunction too indicating direct challenges for the workers throughout the organisation but at least the picture will be clearer I think.

But even before that, the Pluto quincunx has still to fully make its way through the Gemini conjunction-more resignations and more internal resistance and probably, I am afraid, more unnecessary deaths are likely before it gets straightened out

By mid 2023 Pluto will be quincunx that progressed Uranus as well as progressed Saturn. Expect talk of investment in change to be key- but likely that will be from interested profit seeking “partners.”

But by 2024 Uranus will have reached 23-24 degrees and will be joined by Jupiter in the second house of resources. Expect major changes in how we view our healthcare and how it is delivered and funded then. It may be disruptive but it could be more positive.

But perhaps the most significant shift will be around 2025 when progressed Saturn changes signs to Virgo. This will inevitably change the whole premise of the health service and with a move from Leo it is likely to no longer be the pride of Britain but Saturn in Virgo suggests a whole new level of commitment. One of the reasons I think this is important is that the NHS was born with Saturn close to the UK Saturn – a change of sign takes it away from being core to the UK psyche.

The NHS is definitely a subject that I will revisit in a year or so.

Twitter and Musk- Episode 3

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 21:38:49 GMT

The astrology of the next chapter of the Musk-Twitter saga

Yay, we’re back. The deal is on. Probably. Possibly. Twitter shares were suspended just after midday EDT (11am EST). Above is the trading chart. Below is the latest astrology chart.

Remember earlier in the year when we looked at the story of Musk’s offer, we saw how progressed Venus crossed the Ascendant, conjoined Pluto and was activated by other transiting planets.

Well, that Venus is being activated again. The Sun at 11 Libra is square the Twitter progressed Venus, transiting Venus is approaching it. My guess would be that the letter was drafted when the Sun was at 10 degrees yesterday (3 ^rd ). However progressed Venus will not make an exact conjunction with the natal Moon until next June, so unless there are lots more activating transits the story may not yet be complete.

At the time of today’s announcement (it was around 12pm when the shares started to rise) the transiting MC shifted from Virgo into Libra and approached an opposition with Jupiter and square with the natal Venus as well as a semi sextile to the Twitter natal MC. It’s a big deal at a big price (inflated even – natal Neptune is quincunx).

Transiting Venus opposes the natal Uranus and will be exact on 5 ^th . More fun to be had.

Looking further at the chart, we note that Neptune opposing Mercury (which went direct this week- prompting re-evaluation of the situation) is trine the progressed Sun. That’s quite positive for the owners and managers of Twitter I would say.

Pluto is not making any aspects closer than 2 degrees, but unsurprisingly for the sudden announcement Uranus is. It is trine the progressed Mars, indicating rapid trade but it is also trine the progressed Ascendant. It is only 2 degrees from the natal Jupiter too. Although this change of tack has come out of the blue it seems to be in the best interest of the stockholders at least. (we still haven’t looked at the company internally though).

Of course, wherever Uranus is at the moment, Saturn is hanging around in square aspect. It therefore makes a quincunx to the Mars and, bingo, the shares were suspended.

So where next?

Well obviously we need to keep an eye on Uranus and Saturn. Saturn will exactly quincunx the Twitter Jupiter by December but before that we have the eclipse on 8 ^th November.

That actually takes place at 16 degrees and brings into play another element of the chart. Namely the natal Sun and progressed Saturn at 15 degrees which will be further highlighted as the progressed Moon moves to oppose them by the year end. That suggests something significant will happen in November-December. Either the deal completes or there is another stand-off.

I better not have any more popcorn though, I’m getting as podgy as Musk himself.

The astrology of the DOW low in September 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 17:08:47 GMT

The astrology of the DOW low on 30 September 2022

Unlike the Nasdaq, The Dow did make its 2022 low on 30 September. We can therefore expect that the chart will show more threats and less opportunities than the Nasdaq one.

One of the most striking elements is actually not the background picture but the trigger. The Sun on the 30 September was conjunct the progressed Sun in the Dow chart. Not surprising then we found ourselves with a key turning point.

But it isn’t the Sun that indicates lows ( it merely indicates where our attention will focus), for that we need to look at the usual suspects.

Let’s start with Pluto. Whereas for the Nasdaq it was the natal Descendant that was activated, here it is the progressed Ascendant. We can’t be surprised that the market is depressed or that this is acting in parallel to the Nasdaq. Pluto will continue to make this aspect until the end of 2025, we are most definitely not out of the woods with this one.

We can turn to Neptune next but the picture here is more muted. On the day Neptune was in opposition to transiting Mercury and square the Dow natal Mercury as well as quincunx the progressed Mercury. This is not good- news will be confusing, as will trade. But there is a lot going on around the 23 ^rd degree that mitigates this. Neptune is sextile the natal Venus and has only recently been the natal Uranus. Indeed it has been playing a supportive role to values since early 2020. However, on the downside, Neptune is still square the progressed Mars and this is still pulling in the progressed Neptune. There is still uncertainty about fundamental values, especially in some sectors. Transiting Mars at 20 Gemini is accentuating this as it conjoins the natal Neptune. Vigorous trade is likely with that combination- but without any real feel for true value.

We can’t consider Neptune at the moment, without also addressing the Jupiter retrograde. Jupiter was conjunct the Dow Mars on 30 September. It says little about values, more about volume of trade which was certainly hectic towards close of market on 30 ^th . The Dow Mars is well placed in the natal chart, trine Jupiter and trine the Moon. But it would be easy to miss the semi-sextile with Uranus and Saturn which are definitely contributing to the low on that day.

Knowing that, we turn to Uranus. With the chart angles at 16 and 19 degrees it is obvious going to be important. And we find a bit of a mixed bag again. Uranus is opposite the progressed MC but it hasn’t reached it or the chart Uranus yet. Saturn square the progressed MC is partly bridging that gap but it is probably only the transiting Mars that is really pulling it all together. That Saturn us quincunx the Dow MC will also have a chilling effect though not enough to get the credit for a real low. Of course the November eclipse will shake this up again in 4 weeks. The eclipse is at 16 degrees and is likely to really shake the fundamentals for a short while.

All this suggests it was a low but it is not a trend.

However Uranus will move to 20-22 degrees in 2023 and that is likely to create even more disruption. Progressed Venus will also change sign and the transiting Pluto square will catch it by May 2023. Combined with a quincunx to progressed Jupiter I would expect changes in constituents by then.

But it definitely isn’t the worst I’ve seen by a long stretch.

The astrology of the Nasdaq low on 30 September 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 17:02:32 GMT

The astrology of the Nasdaq September lows

Although 30 September didn’t see the absolute low of the year, it came close, so time for a little update to our analyses.

Well, sometimes I bang on about Pluto and Uranus and Neptune and I am sure people get a little fed up of them. But the fact is, they always pop up in times of difficulty or crises. And here they are again.

Pluto is slap bang on the Descendant. Any Pluto conjunction with an angle is challenging and although Pluto on the Descendant can mean challenges for others – when those others are probably share owners that isn’t much of an advantage. As if that wasn’t enough Pluto is also square the progressed Neptune, challenging the established narrative that tech is always good. It will continue to be square that Mercury until next October and will conjoin the natal Neptune to boot. More fun is likely to ensure. The fact that in 2023 Pluto will be trine the natal Pluto doesn’t help. It isn’t a square but it isn’t a bowl of cherries either.

But we know that the Nasdaq is a child of a Neptune Jupiter conjunction so they are likely to be even more important. In fact Neptune is having a relatively quiet moment. It will soon ( April 2023) square the Nasdaq Moon however and then all bets will be off.

But in case anyone in inclined to think that this is a particularly tough time, I draw their attention to Jupiter. Transiting Jupiter is trine the natal Neptune, Jupiter Mars conjunction and that is extremely positive. Indeed the progressed Sun remains trine the natal Mars and i=until that moves on we are still in bubble territory. Sorry folks, this is not a really bad picture at all.

Turning to Uranus though we can see the other factor causing our current shocking downturn. Transiting Uranus is close to conjunction with the Nasdaq progressed Saturn and of course, as we know, transiting Saturn is square this.. In addition, the progressed Moon is conjunct natal Saturn and square the natal Sun. This is all rather heavy stuff and has been more than offsetting the boost from Jupiter described above.

Both configurations will remain broadly in place until March next year so I don’t expect either big falls or big rises before then- rather we should expect more of what we have seen over the last few months. The worst is likely to be around the time of the November eclipse.

But by April 2023 we will see some new trends emerging.

Deutsche Bank October 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:22:51 GMT

The astrology of Deutsche Bank October 2022

Good day to you again.

Having looked at Credit Suisse yesterday, I now have a request to do the same for Deutsche Bank.

It has been somewhat easier to find the data for this, although there are therefore multiple possible charts. I am going to use 2- the initial foundation and the US listing.

Charts are set for the same time as Credit Suisse on NYSE

We’ll look at the foundation chart first.

Despite the fact that these two banks are being questioned in the same way at the moment, they are very different animals indeed.

And whereas with CS Neptune is causing big questions over the size and value of its portfolio, so the threat may be overdone at the moment, in DB the emphasis is elsewhere.

For a start its foundation includes a conjunction between Jupiter and Pluto and it is that that is highlighted now rather than the relationship between Jupiter and Neptune. This means that DB is fundamentally more about wealth management than credit. That doesn’t mean to say that both banks don’t do both, it merely means that they resonate to somewhat different conditions.

Transiting Neptune isn’t totally out of the picture here. It is making a square to the natal Saturn. This will certainly depress values and reflects a situation of inertia and lack of direction. The fact that transiting Mars will go on square this in the next few weeks and remain there for some time needs to be borne in mind.

But, far more dramatic is our old friend Uranus. It is conjunct the DB progressed Pluto. And, of course, Saturn is square that position. This is very challenging but Saturn will move away from this position in the next 2 months and although it won’t clear its square to progressed Venus until 2023, I don’t see this as being crunch time. Uranus is actually sextile the DB natal Uranus. So, the bank has a Pluto Uranus positive aspect built in which may enable it to weather this storm.

In addition, transiting Jupiter is making aspects to both the Sun and progressed Sun at the moment. Some focus on the leadership is inevitable. But there is enough support to save them

However, we have the eclipse to come in November and Uranus will not make its final pass to this point until May 2023, and even then we can’t be sure it won’t impact the company until it finishes its conjunction with Jupiter on the progressed Venus in April 2024. Especially as that will be quincunx the natal Saturn.

Furthermore, we have something else to look out for. Pluto will transit the DB incorporation midheaven in 2023-24. But not just that, it will trine the progressed Ascendant and quincunx the progressed MC at the same time. By 2026 it conjoins the DB Sun for the first time ever.

In conclusion then, I am not convinced that now is the time of crisis for this bank, although some difficulties will continue for at least 6 months. I would be more worried about the longer term.

With that in mind we will turn to the stock market chart to see if it confirms our expectation.

Being listed in October 2001, of course gives this chart a Pluto Saturn opposition. It will always resonate to that cycle even when those planets are at other degrees. It will have had a tough time in 2020-21. But that should be less critical now.

Our gaze is directed elsewhere. Back to Uranus once more. And here we have all the conditions for some drama. DB’s listing on NYSE has Uranus at the IC. That is probably never going to be an easy ride, unless you are a disruptive tech company. For a bank it is a little bit concerning. At the moment that concern is heightened by a square to the MC/IC axis from transiting Uranus and a conjunction with Saturn. Only a trine from Mars turns it around. No wonder they have been in the news.

However there is some saving grace in the fact that the natal Moon is sextile Uranus in the flotation chart- the shares have support from the public.

Although as we have said before Uranus will take some time to complete its square, I have seen worse than this and feel that the next few months may be difficult with possibly even a new low coinciding with the time around the eclipse in early November, but that we aren’t looking at a complete meltdown. Some of the current weakness may be down to the conjunction this month between the progressed Moon and Neptune. Indeed it was close to an opposition with the transiting MC at 9.30EST on 3 ^rd when we were close to the low. But that will pass and it will be 12 months before it reaches the IC.

There are other factors to consider though. Pluto is currently only a degree away from the progressed Mars and will be in conjunction with it throughout 2023-24. That definitely suggests a threat from short sellers or similar especially when Pluto is square the natal Mercury. By 2025-6 Pluto will square the progressed Sun. Note how that mirrors the incorporation chart picture.

So unfortunately I do expect to be returning to DB in the future.

Data-Deutsche Bank:

Founded in Berlin 22 Jan 1870

Bank license issued 10 March 1870

Listed on Berlin SE ( now on Frankfurt SE) 30 May 1870

Listed on NYSE 3 Oct 2001

Credit Suisse October 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:12:47 GMT

Astrology of Credit Suisse Bank October 2022

I originally planned that my next analysis would be of some broader markets, probably the US ones.

However one company has stood out in the last few days and given its symbolic importance within the financial system I thought it would be wise to turn to it first. Credit Suisse.

Finding an incorporation date was easy. Though I’ve had to assume noon as a start time in the absence of other information. Finding a stock market listing date was a whole other matter. After a few hours I had eliminated all possible sources and so we’ll have to stick with just the incorporation for now. This is a pity as they have been quoted as saying that the weak stock market activity does not reflect the underlying state of the company. It would have been interesting to see if they were telling the truth!

Anyway, here is the chart and here goes:

I set the chart for 9.30am in the Swiss market today when it was at a major low.

And the chart seems to be telling us it is sufficiently valid, with the Sun close to the natal Ascendant. But that is not where I want to start. I don’t even want to start with Uranus, despite its obvious relevance at the moment.

No. My choice for the starring role here goes to Neptune.

You will perhaps recall that when we considered the Neptune Jupiter conjunction earlier in the year, we noted how Neptune had a cycle of 165 years and that it conjoins Jupiter every 13 years.

We can see that Credit Suisse was born just after the last time Neptune and Jupiter were together in Pisces in 1856. Neptune is at 20 Pisces, but its Jupiter is in early Aries at 8 degrees. Why, you ask, are we interested in a Neptune at 20 Pisces? After all it finished transiting that point in late 2021. Correct, but note where Jupiter is now. After moving forward to exactly that 8 degrees Aries in August it is now retrograde and heading back into Pisces. It won’t catch Neptune again but it will continue to activate these 2 planets in the Credit Suisse chart for a few months more. Indeed, it is rapidly heading for the CS progressed Jupiter at 0 degrees as we speak and activating the progressed Mercury by square as it does so.

But that isn’t all. Looking at the chart we can see that the progressed Ascendant is at 23 Pisces too. The exact degree of transiting Neptune.

And in case we thought we were overstating the case, the Progressed Moon has snuck up to 20 Virgo opposite the natal Neptune. Incidentally, the natal Moon is also at 20 degrees (of Leo).

In layman’s terms this pretty much covers the situation. We have a bank, it even has “credit” in the name, which is completely aligned with the cycle of credit and asset bubbles and is acting as the living breathing personification of all that is wrong with the wider cycles we have discussed many times. Nice for astrologers, less pleasant for shareholders or indeed the wider financial system.

We could take some consolation in that the Sun and Venus have already passed the opposition and Mercury was activating it in the last few days as it stationed at 24 Virgo. Mercury will now move forward and it will be interesting to see what comes to light when it reaches the ascendant in 2 weeks.

But I am more concerned about Mars, which is at 20 degrees now square the natal Neptune and progressed Moon but will move forward to 23 degrees over the next 10 days. And then it will station at 25 Gemini before coming back and doing it all again. This is by no means over I am afraid.

What about Uranus? After all this has been quite a disruptive shock. We’d expect it to be playing a part.

In fact although Uranus at 18 Taurus was exactly square the transiting MC at 18 Leo at the point of the low this morning, with, of course Saturn opposing the MC at 18 Aquarius, it isn’t by itself dealing the killer blow. What does is the combination of Uranus at 18 sextile progressed Neptune, plus progressed Uranus at 21 sextile Natal Neptune, plus Neptune at 23 sextile the natal Uranus. That all three should line up like that means that in this chart Neptune and Uranus are pretty much acting in tandem. It is all hard wired into this chart.

There are other things we could look at. Pluto is quincunx the natal Mercury, bringing things to the surface that have been hidden. And we could note that progressed Venus is square the natal Pluto, an absolutely terrible sign for fundamental value, but the crux of the matter is what we have already discussed.

That only leaves a short look at what comes next. We have already mentioned the rest of October and the Mars and Jupiter retrogrades. Neptune and Uranus retrograde too. We don’t really escape from the configuration until March 2023 and even then Uranus has not returned to its current position. Indeed Uranus and Neptune continue to dance around the pertinent degrees until April 2024 when Jupiter and Uranus conjoin.

And by then we have a Pluto square and Pluto quincunx Saturn.

This is not as immediately bad as the Evergrande chart I looked at last year, but there is much more delusion and I don’t see any quick resolution of the confusion, rumours and overexposures. And I am afraid that time will also see more and more chickens coming home to roost.

The UK in September 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 22:09:04 GMT

The UK in September 2022: The Queen and Sterling

And we’re home. Back in the UK for the last of our September2022 analyses.

And what a month it has been!

Of course we visited the UK in August and a lot of what we said then still applies, but there were some things we could not say and so a revisit to sum it all up is required.

As a bonus you get two charts. One for the death of Queen Elizabeth and one for the impact of the mini-budget.

Her Majesty’s death certificate was issued yesterday so we now know the exact time 15.10 BST (14.10 UT) - although there is an argument for using the public announcement time when discussing the UK chart. I will touch on both.

Of course, the key player is Uranus opposite the UK Neptune and square the progressed Sun. This indicates changes in leadership at both monarchy and prime minister level.

I must admit that, when I was writing in August, I struggled mightily with talking about the change of leadership because I couldn’t separate the Royal family from the government in the chart. Now we know why. I suspected, but it would have been wholly inappropriate of me to comment at that point.

Look too at 16 degrees of the same signs. In this case Neptune is square the progressed MC and natal Venus as well as the progressed Sun already mentioned. An indicator of the awe in which the Queen was held everywhere among other things.

But we also see in the chart that on the 8th of September Jupiter is opposite transiting Mercury conjunct the Ascendant/Descendant axis. The country was announcing (Mercury on the Ascendant) the end of a Royal reign (Jupiter on the Descendant.

At the time of her death the Moon is conjunct Saturn and trine the transiting MC and trine the progressed Ascendant. I can’t emphasise enough how important such a mix (pulling in natal, progressed and transits to angles) is in astrology but we don’t often have such accurate times. (This incidentally also tapped into the Queen’s own chart but many others have written about that so I won’t dwell on it here).

We can also note that the transiting Ascendant in the chart is at 18 degrees and trine the Progressed Sun. An interesting indicator of the rise of the new King. The Ascendant is also conjunct the country’s Mercury, both signifying the news but also the heirs. Furthermore, we see the transiting Sun is at 15 degrees semi-sextile the progressed Jupiter and just about to sextile Neptune and quincunx the UK Venus.

There is frankly so much going on between 15 and 19 degrees in this chart that it is still difficult to separate out all the elements (royalty, government, economy, currency etc.)

It is interesting to note that at the time of the announcement (18.30 BST) the transiting Ascendant had reached the Progressed MC at 17 Aquarius.

Then we could also consider the position of Mars at 10 Gemini. It is square the progressed Mars, semi-sextile the natal Mars, sextile the progressed Mercury and quincunx the natal Sun. Quite extraordinary really. By the time of the announcement the transiting MC at reached 11 Sagittarius opposite Mars. The astrology just goes on and on.

And I suppose I should also mention the progressed Moon. At 29 Leo it is potentially another indicator of the end of a royal reign.

I think that is enough though. Suffice to say the chart is working fine!

But what about 3 weeks later and the economic implosion?

Following the mini-budget, by the new PM and Chancellor on Friday 23 ^rd things, which were already precarious economically started to unravel rather rapidly. Sterling had already had a bad week but by Wednesday 28th the financial system had a more pressing problem. Gilts were falling rapidly ( yields rising) and many pension funds were in trouble. The Bank of England was forced to take action.

The yields were up from market opening but it was 11 am BST when crisis action had to be taken and that’s when this chart is set for.

Well, what a surprise. The transiting Ascendant is at 17 Scorpio, conjunct Neptune ( indicator of Sterling and general financial matters in the Uk’s second house of finances and resources) and opposite what is now our best buddy Uranus. Saturn remains in square to Uranus- making Uranian borne surprises rather less than joyful.

The transiting MC is opposite Pluto. Nice. Or rather not at all nice. Pluto; Significator of financial crashes and mega wealth

Of course we must reiterate that these angles occur once every day, so they aren’t the whole picture. We have our background factors and we have our hour/minute trigger but we once again need to find our date pointer.

That means looking at a combination of the Sun, Mars, Mercury , Venus in broadly that order.

The Sun is close to the UK ascendant but it doesn’t reach exact until 30 September. It is however quincunx that progressed Pluto ( and is semi-sextile the transiting MC). Definitely a contributor.

But Mars is also in play. At 19 degree, trine Saturn, it is obviously activating all that 17/19 degree stuff. And it must be considered extra effective due to the eclipse importance of these degrees.

Mercury’s impact is moderate (at 25 degrees it is perhaps aiding transiting Pluto in its longer term bashing of the UK’s progressed Saturn).

But Venus is doing more at 28 Virgo approaching conjunction with Uranus. It seems that it is the combination of Mercury Venus and the Sun that has told the story of the week’s events.

On 2,3 ^rd mini – budget day, Venus was opposite Neptune (which is quincunx the UK Saturn a classic economic weakness sign). Mercury was at 29 degrees conjunct the UK progressed Uranus. Eeek, not a day for gentle announcements. The Sun was at 0 Libra.

The Sun then conjoined the UK natal Uranus square the progressed Venus and at a new Moon. No Blue Peter badges should be issued to whoever thought this would turn out well.

By the 26 ^th transiting Venus and Mercury were conjunct and trine Pluto. Yes, that Pluto that is quincunx the UK progressed Saturn. ****.

Added to which the progressed Moon changed signs into Virgo subtly shifting the mood.

Honestly what a mess.

Hey, ho! Things can only get better, right?

Well, we just have Saturn and Uranus to complete their work slowly, and that eclipse to go in November. And the progressed Moon in opposition natal Pluto at the same time. Then Neptune has to continue work on the UK Saturn, and Mars goes retrograde over everything again.

Happy days, UK.

Finally, I can’t sign off without a quick look at the Bank of England chart that I use as a proxy for Sterling. Here is my forecast written in November 2020

[ By June] I expect partners to be trading the currency frantically ( probably with selling dominating.)July to September are much the same – but perhaps with less emphasis on the frantic trading. October to December still continues the theme and there is a return to the urgency and exaggerated trading of May and June.

Although I mention September as less active – these are broad forecasts- the fact that I say October and it started in late September is spot on in this context.

I feel like posting a row of laughing emojis now.

The Bank has a Neptune return – oh no, oh no, oh no no no no no no, as they say. And it hasn’t even dragged Jupiter into the picture yet.

Pluto is opposite its progressed Mercury- rates are gonna change.

Mars was conjunct the BOE progressed Uranus on Wednesday. Of course it was. Saturn is trine it.

Look how the (speculative) progressed Ascendant is activated by progressed Mars and the transiting MC at 11am and by the quincunx with transiting Jupiter.

Only the Sun seems to be uncoupled from the picture. Likely because the head of the bank was not in control here.

I won’t even comment further on what is in store for Sterling in the coming months, we can probably hazard a guess.

Bitcoin update September 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 16:30:44 GMT

The astrology of bitcoin in September 2022

Our next destination on our whistle stop tour of the world in September is not a country at all, it is digital. Yes Ladies and Gents and all those in between, we’re back to Bitcoin.

Bitcoin hit a low of around $18370 on 21 ^st September so we’ll set our chart for that date. I’ve used 11pm BST as this is the closes to the low I can find in retrospect.

Well, what do you know? It’s our old friend Uranus again. Slap bang on the MC. Not of course for just this date but for much of the last few months. The fact that the transiting Mc is opposite it is no surprise but that happens once each day, we have to look for triggers for the date too.

We find it in the form of Venus. Transiting Venus on 21 September was at 20 Virgo conjunct the Bitcoin Saturn, opposite its Uranus, quincunx chiron, and approaching an quincunx to its Neptune and a trine to the Sun and progressed Mars ( the latter indicating that the price was going to pick up again over the next couple of days). Boom.

We could probably leave it at that. But let’s take a look at the bigger picture too.

The Uranus Saturn square will remain in place for a few more months and both will return to 18 degrees, Saturn in November and Uranus next May. It’s not over ( whatever you believe about the fundamentals ) until then. Saturn will transit Neptune and the Descendant in January 2022, which is unlikely to see much going on on the upside.

Transiting Neptune is currently near to a conjunction with progressed Venus, blinding us to the truth about value. It won’t move on until early 2023 either.

Pluto isn’t very busy in this chart at the moment though it will become very significant in the coming years.

One of the most important, though subtle, indicators is in the progressions though. An ongoing progressed Sun Jupiter conjunction which really started in 2017 and peaked in 2020-1 is waning. It gets a temporary boost (sextile from transiting Jupiter to Jupiter and conjunction between progressed Moon and natal Jupiter) in October and conjunction of progressed Moon around February but after that it is downhill all the way. I really don’t think the best is yet to come.

However Neptune will eventually, ( post 2026) make some useful aspects so who knows- it could have another flight of fancy then.

From a purely pragmatic perspective, Bitcoin is unlikely to become a global currency because its holdings are just is not decentralised enough ( of the irony!). Then one if left with whether its characteristics have value as an asset and that is a purely a faith based estimate. Over to you. I’ll stick with my portfolio of other assets.

Italy election September 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 15:41:13 GMT

The astrology of the Italian election September 2022

And so we move on. We’ve not been in Italy for a year and at that time things were looking surprisingly rosy. But the planets move on and nothing is for ever.

In my forecast elsewhere I wrote:

S eptember to December [2022] is another time of shifts – This one is even more interesting as it affects the image of the country back to 1993 [As the Ascendant progresses into a new sign]- the time of the bribe scandals. Perhaps issues relating to this have an impact on the country’s finances now. It certainly unsettles the people and must be looked at in the light of that conflict indicator. There is also the continued theme regarding something weakening or undermining the country ( note that [the latter] is a 12 year cycle so not by itself huge)

Given Ms Meloni is described as the most right wing since Mussolini, perhaps I should have referenced 1939 not 93! You might say that, I couldn’t possibly comment. What I can do is tell you what the astrology is saying.

The end of election day coincided with the New Moon, itself a sign of endings and new beginnings. So no surprises that it brought with it some changes. That these would be magnified is indicated by the opposition of the New Moon to Jupiter. All that and we haven’t even mentioned the Italian chart itself.

Of course the configuration has to be prominent and it is, just past the Midheaven and conjunct the progressed Venus opposition Neptune. It is square the progressed Ascendant mentioned above.

Progressed Venus has only been in Libra for a few months- another major shift. With Venus opposite Neptune I would expect some financial shenanigans to occur though whether these will be visible depends on other factors.

As Meloni’s win was not expected until relatively near election day, we should expect to find a Uranus transit somewhere or other. And of course we do. Uranus is conjunct the Italian Mars, and square its Jupiter but we also see an almost double whammy with Mars close to the progressed Venus. Not surprising then to see surprise wins of a somewhat militant party (brothers is literally in the name).

Of course, alongside the Uranus 18 degrees Taurus position is the square to Saturn at 19 Aquarius. And don’t forget that this is the degree of the upcoming eclipse. I doubt things will settle down easily with the new government. But they hardly ever do in Italy do they?

This uncertainty is also suggested by the Mercury retrograde. We’ve seen what this can do to elections in the US. I am not convinced we are seeing the final picture in Italy yet.

Another related thing to note in the chart, that resonates to a similar theme of “brothers” is the conjunction of the progressed Sun and Mars also at 2 degrees ( of Virgo in this case). Remember how this combined with Jupiter in early Pisces was so positive, Jupiter has moved on and is now opposite that new Moon blessing the new leader. But that is a temporary thing too and it will regress back to late Pisces soon with some of the glamour rapidly wearing off this new government.

Yet another indicator of major change is the Pluto sextile to the Sun and trine the Moon. Although we see a big shift in the mood, this has happened relatively peacefully unlike it would if this was a square aspect. Hopefully it will stay that way.

Neptune will shortly cross the Italian Sun in 2023-24 so I suspect the situation will remain fluid for some while or there will be major deception afoot. On the other hand sometimes Neptune relates to unsubstantiated glory so perhaps we will see a couple of years of leader worship before the specs come off. A more detailed look at the upcoming few years charts would tell us, but that’s not the purpose of this analysis…….

Iran protests September 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 19:58:19 GMT

The astrology of protests in Iran in September 2022

Our next September journey is to Iran. For the first time since I started this new blog.

The country has been hit by protests following the death of a young woman (Mahsa “Jina” Amini) killed in custody after failing to comply with the requirements of wearing a headscarf.

Sounds crazy when one writes it in black and white like that. But that is where we are.

Our thoughts go out to her family and those of other affected families and to all the women of Iran and any other country where women’s rights are threatened.

However, our job here is to be objective and just to consider the astrological correlations.

And once again astrology does not fail us.

Remember Pakistan and that Uranus at 18 Taurus on the 17 degree Ascendant. Here it is square the Ascendant and opposite its progressed position and well as Quincunx natal Pluto unfortunately. This is a critical time for the expression of freedom and opposition in Iran and the leaders would do well to accept that else the situation will become more disruptive. Another country to watch around the time of the eclipse in November.

Saturn, planet on restriction and crackdowns, is sitting on the Descendant. Not only is freedom of expression threatened in sudden shocking events but it is being challenged by the outside world.

How important the events of 16 ^th September would be, is indicated by the Sun at midday on the progressed Ascendant of the country and trine the progressed Sun. Neptune opposes the Ascendant point, indicating confusions and as it approaches the natal Mars, new and cleverer ways to reject oppression. This is all about the leadership learning to let go a little. Or else.

Other relevant factors in the chart include the square between Pluto and progressed Venus. This has been ongoing and will remain in place until 2024. Both will change signs after that leading to a new environment. By 2027-8 progressed Venus conjoins progressed Mars, but that is a while away so I shall say no more now.

Going back to the medium term future, we can’t help but note that the progressed MC is going to oppose Mars in the next two years, That suggests more conflict unless there is a more pragmatic approach.

Another interesting factor in the chart is the position of the progressed Moon, significator of women as well as the people in general, at 29 degrees of Sagittarius trine progressed Mars in Aries and quincunx the natal Jupiter. At 29 degrees we are looking at last attempts at this approach. A move into the earth signs will mean more compliance on the one hand but more obstinacy on the other. Given what I have already said about the upcoming focus on Mars, I’d recommend a more moderate approach sooner rather than later. Indeed progressed Mars will remain in a square with progressed Jupiter for the next few years. Caution , caution, caution, please.

Finally note how the trine between the natal Saturn and progressed Mercury ( semi-square progressed MC) is activated by a retrograde transiting Mercury, leading to communication restrictions on the population ( both natal and transiting Moon at 6 Gemini in the chart).

Sometimes there is just too much astrology “going on”!

Pakistan Floods 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:08:33 GMT

The astrology of Pakistan's floods in 2022

So summer is over and we are back to our regular slot

No I know you must be all waiting eagerly for more on the UK! But I’m going to keep you in suspense a little longer with a recap of some of the other events of September.

Let us start with the Pakistan floods

The floods started in June and got steadily worse. I’ve set the chart for 25 August the date that the government declared a state of emergency.

This is our second visit to Pakistan this year. We looked at the change of leadership earlier when I pointed out that

the background conditions for the people aren’t great with Pluto opposing the country’s Moon.

That aspect remains in place all year.

I also noticed that by April Saturn reaches its opposition to the conjunction of progressed Saturn and the natal Sun.

This has once again been activated over the summer as a retrograde Saturn moves slowly back over this position.

My forecast for the period to August was not therefore positive and this is not surprising when we look at the chart above.

The first thing we note is that Uranus is close to the Ascendant. Not surprising then that Pakistan would be in the news with shocking events. We can also add that in early August this point saw the conjunction of the North Node,( the point of this year’s eclipses), Mars and Uranus. A very challenging picture indeed.

This is not the whole picture though. Uranus also opposes the natal Jupiter and the progressed Venus on the Descendant – so the country needed overseas aid more than ever.

But it is transiting Jupiter opposing Neptune that indicates the nature of the problem. Pakistan’s Neptune is on the cusp of its 6 ^th house, water is a problem built into the general environment. With Jupiter in opposition that problem will inevitably escalate.

The fact that transiting Neptune is approaching a square to the country’s Uranus ties all these aspects together.

The fact that earlier this year the progressed Mars and Jupiter quincunx was exact and activated by both Jupiter as it transits between Pisces and Aries and Mars as it moved into Gemini on 20 ^th August really only goes to reinforce the wider picture.

All this together with the promise of ongoing challenges for the leadership with the progressed Sun square the MC.

So it comes as no surprise to finally note that in August the progressed Moon has reached 21 degrees of Aries and that on the day that the state of emergency was declared the transiting Moon is opposing Saturn at 21 Leo/Aquarius.

It seems as if there is less confusion in the coming three months but that there may be more dissent amongst the people. Not entirely surprising given the tough conditions of this summer. Look out for the eclipse on 8 ^th November.

UK problems August 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:55:13 GMT

The astrology of the UK's problems August 2022

I thought I’d turn back to the UK chart for this post, there is certainly enough happening to merit another look. Here is the chart for today, though in this case we are looking at the bigger picture not the exact moment.

The first thing that stands out is the Jupiter transiting the Descendant. This is playing out in a number of ways including the leadership contest for PM (the opposition to the status quo of the ascendant), the actual PMs summer spent out of the country (other nations) and the increase in strikes etc (again, the opposition). I also think that this aspect is contributing to the ongoing drought situation ( though there are other planetary players in this too). The fact that the overseas situation in Europe due to the Ukraine invasion is partially contributing to the country’s problems is also indicated by this aspect.

But I don’t believe that it is that aspect which is directly dominating the news now. Far more important to the future of the country are the inflationary pressures, the energy costs and the water industry issues. And for that I think we need to turn first to Uranus stationed at 18 Taurus opposing the UK Neptune. We have already talked in the gas post last September about the importance of Neptune in UK gas charts and in June mentioned it has a relationship to the NHS too. It is obviously also important for finances, both directly in relation to currency issues and in its position in the 2md house of resources. Neptune also has naturally a relationship to our seas. The fact that Uranus remains in an ongoing square with transiting Saturn, which will also station ( in October November) at 18 degrees, is further confirmation that this is where our current problems are reflected.

The progressed Sun, indicative of our leadership is at 17 Leo and thus also approaching a square to the natal Neptune. Obviously, as we discussed in early July, we have a bit of a leadership issue at the present. This configuration does not suggest easy resolution. The fact that Uranus does not finally leave 18 degrees until April of next year ( and will return to 19 degrees at the end of 2023) is further confirmation that we are not looking at transitory problems. The specific issues of the moment may eventually subside, but we have a much longer issue approaching in the form of progressed Jupiter which will gradually perfect its square with Neptune over the coming years. That is not indicative of financial stability and is more likely an indication of much greater inflationary problems. Uranus may have brought the initial shocks but progressed Jupiter will be the one to pick up the themes for the decades.

While it is the UK Neptune which is reflecting the major issues at the moment, we also cannot ignore the less obvious but more insidious impact of Pluto quincunx Saturn (as ever ably supported by the ongoing Neptune sextile). With Pluto continuing in the 4 ^th house, the slow destruction of the institutions that underpin the country are highlighted. This will lead to big shake ups in the spring of 2024 in government and other structures and in 2025 and beyond as Pluto opposes the country’s Jupiter. The challenges reflected in the focus on the Neptune matters are symptoms, addressing the underlying issues is the story of the coming years.

Don't look up (or down)

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 21:52:44 GMT

An economic review of the 20th and 21st centuries

Introduction

I’ve been promising this analysis for a while; a look at the evolution of where we in the West are economically and where we seem to be going.

But it is not, generally, going to be an astrological analysis, although some of the underlying philosophy reflects astrology. It will occasionally, however, refer to the wider astrological cycles of the periods discussed.

It isn’t a technical economic analysis either, though it will touch on some fundamental economic assumptions.

If anything it is just an objective view on the inevitability of our direction.

Where we are

Reading the financial, and even non-financial, press at the moment isn’t very joyous. Even aside from the situation in Ukraine there are economic problems everywhere. The cost of living is soaring and interest rate rises are increasingly necessary due to inflation. Even many markets have suffered (frankly, much needed) pull backs in the first half of the year.

But the interesting thing about reading the media discussions is how little they seem to appreciate the bigger picture. The questions on the markets are always framed as “have we reached the bottom?”, talks of inflation still refer to whether it is “transitory” and cost of living problems are associated with whatever the current government policy is, as if a new government tomorrow could suddenly reverse course and change everything.

In my view this is all misguided. We are not at a point where we can recreate the good times prior to 2019 or even 2007 or indeed any other favorable moment that you may care to conjure up.

In 2002 and 2009 after the last 2 big market crises, people talked about a return to normal. They didn’t mean that though; of course they didn’t. What they meant was a return to the trajectories that predated 2000 and 2007. But those trajectories weren’t normal at all. They were fake, comprising overcapacity, overstatements, over-leverage and over-consumption.

No-one truly wishes to conceive of a return to the real normal, as that would acknowledge that all the growth, all the so called wealth, was borrowed. Borrowed from the future.

We are sometimes reminded that the future is the product of the decisions we make today and hereafter. This does indeed sound upbeat and full of opportunity. But the concept is also founded on the fact that where we are today is the product of all our yesterdays; decisions in the past have already closed down myriad options that were once available to us. Or in simple terms: if we want to get to X, we wouldn’t advise starting from here.

The future is already set

Even without Russia, Covid and the QE and low interest rates of the last decade we would have a problem. The wealth has already been borrowed. Or more accurately, stolen.

A capital perspective

Stolen from future generations, you say?

No. That’s the other simplistic misrepresentation. Inheritance secures the futures of the next generation. By and large, the wealth has been stolen from the futures of the already poor to give to the descendants of the already wealthy

That’s an exaggeration you say. How could that happen? Surely everyone is better off in our fairy dairy capitalist lands?

Is that my sarcasm? Surely I just? We all know that Capitalism is the one and only true god.

Certainly that seems to have been the religion on which the US and indeed much of the developed and developing work has based their whole society.

“ Communism doesn’t work” Or more specifically “ The human race is essentially greedy and needs to be incentivized, so communism will fail because some people will cheat and others will free load” is the mantra of the dedicated free market idealist.

You can’t argue with can you?

No, you can’t. And I don’t.

Except that extrapolating the latter statement to Capitalism doesn’t give a better picture at all. Indeed, one is minded of a mafia godfather. It is immediately apparent that, if the statement holds true, unregulated free market capitalism is going to be an unmitigated disaster too and will ultimately result in anarchy and/or a return to serfdom: either way the bodies will pile up.

Obviously if you are a beneficiary of unregulated capitalism ( because you or your ancestors have exploited, stolen and quite possibly killed) you aren’t going to put your hand up and point out this little snag in the logic. But the fact that western society as a whole doesn’t home in on this amazes me. The fact that in the USA both major parties buy into the free market is so great argument and in fact only argue about trivialities is a source of lifetime fascination for me. (Every cloud…)

Furthermore most people don’t actually understand the realities of a truly free market. If it really existed there would not be a great deal of capital accumulated. In reality capital accumulates because

· certain resources, land and networks are limited

· resources are owned or controlled by a limited number of people

· wealth can be passed down through generations and is not earned by the individual

· information is asymmetric and is not free (e.g. intellectual property rights exist)

· demographics are not constant

I’m not expressing a view over whether any of the above should or should not exist. Some of them are fixed in time and space and we are stuck with what we have. Furthermore zero capital is likely to lead to zero progress. But we should never pretend that any of them are compatible with pure free markets. Or that the capital accumulation we see is in any way fair or a reflection of hard work or that lack of it is due to lack of commitment.

So with that in mind, let’s return to our analysis and see where the Capitalism and free market is all great thinking has got us over the last 70 odd years

I will focus on UK and or US although much of what is written can be extrapolated to the whole developed world with some slight differences in timescales.

History Part I: 1950s to early 1970s

Readers will know that I consider much of the 20/21st ^th century until now to be, astrologically, a reflection of the Pluto Neptune sextile ( and thus embedded in the Pluto Neptune cycle that started in the 1890s).

The 1950s and 60s were the start of that sextile and for the most part things were booming.

However we must not forget that the reality then was that food formed a large part of most family budgets, many clothes were still being home-made. Eating out was a luxury, foreign holidays even more so, and the new technological items of the period (white goods such as fridges, TVs etc) were considered major outlays. Cars were only just becoming ubiquitous. Company directors were rewarded but not excessively and unions ensured that workers at least kept pace with growth. Debt was generally considered a bad thing personally and at country level. Life was broadly good and there was opportunity ( though today’s young would probably consider it all hardship!).

If you had extrapolated to 2020 you would not have imagined things as they are today.

Astrologically, though, there were big changes to come with the Pluto Uranus conjunction of the mid 60s and this was reflected particularly in technology with old industries starting to die or become more efficient but the full impact would not be felt for some time.

The mid to late 1970s were tougher due to the energy crisis and inflation but essentially they were just a continuation of the above. In fact, if anything this was a time when the overall gap between rich and poor narrowed, even though superficially it was a time of great difficulty for some groups of the working classes as they adjusted to changes ( for example, the coal industry in the UK)

However, the energy crisis accelerated changes that started in the 60s, with efficiencies and offshoring of industrial labour starting to take place and competition for the US and UK from places such as Japan becoming more important. This was considered “good” because it kept wages down and consumption up.

History Part II- 1980S and 90s

It wasn’t until the 1980s that things began to really shift with an increase in ease of transportation and speeds of data processing, other efficiencies created by the technological changes of the previous decades.

More importantly though, this was accompanied a move towards greater monetary expansion. After the Pluto Saturn Jupiter conjunction of 1981 credit began to increase at government, private and corporate levels.

As a result there was more funding available for the major changes and globalisation which started in the 1960s to became bigger but more importantly as it became more well organised it became cheaper. Consolidation accelerated with a glut of takeovers. In the UK the “big bang” in financial services enabled changes to speed up even further.

Yet in the US in the 1980s there was also the savings and loan crash. Though major at the time, it seems a distant memory now. However, it was responsible for setting some precedents- namely the bail outs of banks. Setting central banks on a liquidity road from which there would be no return.

There was a brief hiatus in some countries around 1988-9 when the Saturn conjunct Uranus and Neptune created the conditions for a recession and in the UK a house price crash that impacted the whole economy. In Japan it punctured the massive market bubble. There were also some notable financial scandals such as Polly Peck and GM-Distillers, BCCI and the Mirror Group/Maxwell.

However the impact of these was soon to fade into the background when confronted with the after effects of the Neptune-Uranus conjunction.

The latter coincided with a number of matters. First the internet, but also an acceleration in globalisation that was not just manufacturing but impacted logistics, administration and back office functions as well as opening new supply markets such as China. It also revolutionised media itself, something that would have serious consequences further down the line.

There were other more subtle factors at work too. At the same time compensation started to become disproportionate for CEOs and founders as large company sizes were alleged to justify it. An industry started to be set up around recruitment and compensation that would benefit from pushing up values. But even so at that point there was still some sort of moderation. However the environment was being set for the future.

So, after a sort of sticky start the 1990s, with the beginning of interest rate cuts, by the FED for example, became a boom decade. Yet these rate decisions were creating the seeds of an addiction. This was definitely not the free market at work. But people are precisely what the communism critics say they are, greedy and incentivized. When you are making money, even when it is on the back of a centrally manipulated illusion, you don’t turn the benefits down.

No-one can forget the 1996 reference of Greenspan to “ irrational exuberance” as we saw major sextiles between Pluto, Uranus and Saturn as well as Neptune and Saturn. He no doubt thought it was nearly all over. But with his earlier decisions laying the groundwork, it had only just begun.

The problem is that Neptune is the planet of delusion and after its conjunction with Uranus it was now blinding everyone not just to the realities of the internet and the markets but also to the insidious changes that were happening at grass roots level. Cheap clothes and technology good as well as ubiquitous communications and travel were becoming the norm but people could only see the upsides not the potential future problems.

Similarly as credit prices (interest rates) dropped, growth appeared to be improving, when in fact it was just being “borrowed”. Furthermore as all boats appeared to rise, the fact that there were shifts in favour of the bigger boats was less noticeable.

At the same time Private equity and “hedge funds” were growing in importance. The purpose of these was to maintain higher returns (as interest rates fell) for investors ( both individuals and institutional) who had become hooked. Or worse: institutions whose whole business model for pensions and insurance was predicated and marketed on the basis of unrealistic returns. The fee structures were extraordinary, pushing up salaries for the whole financial and professional ( banking/lawyers/board execs) sectors. Vast CEO and board salaries were seen as aspirational, rather than aberrational. Don’t forget that capitalism says you have to keep incentivising……

Nothing better reflects the illusion mixed with invention that characterised the financial services in those Neptune and Uranus conjunction years.

Unfortunately, it was like a long epilogue where the scene is being set but no-one has any idea of the story to follow.

History Part III – The 21 ^st Century , two decades of excess liquidity

Although the tech bubble burst of 2000, when Saturn was square Neptune and Uranus, and the events of 2001 when Pluto opposed Saturn, seemed to bring the euphoria to an end, that was just another temporary blip. Saturn, after all, is fast moving, it can bring medium term shocks but it doesn’t deeply impact trends.

Radical interest rate falls especially in the US in response to 9/11 just upped the game stakes in the longer term.

So, again, it seemed that all boats were rising with the tide. But this masked the reality. In the background low paid jobs, remained low paid; more jobs were outsourced or lost to global competition, in the name of economic efficiency. Of course losing out to global competition in the US is just deemed as failure, part of the natural result of the capitalism god’s capriciousness. “Tough shit, loser”. Maybe when you worshipped you didn’t pray hard enough.

Things were slightly different in the UK the public sector was taking up the slack as more debt was created but the effect was the same, still masking the real picture.

The extent of the delusions were extraordinary. I saw a graph in 2003 that showed total global derivatives. A line for assets and a line liabilities. Derivatives are contracts. In each the value of the asset equals the liability of the other party. Not in this graph they didn’t. The asset line was way higher than the liability one. The future was laid out there in that graph, I just needed to consult the astrology to see exactly when it would unravel.

Yet when the Global financial crisis of 2007-9 hit ( Saturn opposed Neptune then Uranus), it was a huge shock to the majority. Nevertheless denial still reigned.

And, too be fair, those deniers were right for we were about to see the biggest, most Neptunian creation of all. A positive leviathan in fact.

Rate drops and QE created a completely false economy in 2010-14 during the cardinal square as Pluto was square Uranus. This was the time when we really should have embraced recession but instead we tried to keep plates spinning and even add more plates.

But despite all that the illusion was beginning to slip by then. Subtly. And in misguided ways. But as a result we have seen the consequences in the change in politics over the last decade.

The rise of Trump (and Brexit in the UK) was a direct consequence of the progression we have discussed.

· People have noticed that their jobs have disappeared or are not being rewarded.

· They see the distribution of wealth shifting away from them and lack of opportunity for their children

· They have been disillusioned by a mainstream media that fails to analyse and parrots the corporate or government press releases

· They think that it is social policy and managed state that is causing the problems including the central bank

· Ironically, given that they believe in free markets and every one for themselves, they want someone to help them

They are right to question the status quo. But most do not understand the processes that have got us here. Many see free market capitalism as the answer when in fact it is the source of many of their problems. They aren’t wrong about central bank intervention but fail to understand that without it they would have had to face the music far earlier. Their justified cynicism about mainstream media makes them easy targets for those who wish to capitalise (pun intended) through alternative media where there are no controls at all and where they are prey to misdirection or even outright scams.

But worst of all is that it is probably too late.

Back in the Present

The contrast between lifestyles in the 1960s and those in the 2010s could not be greater. Food has been a small fraction of income spent and indeed if we were to ignore the shift to meals out/takeaways we would see how big an impact that is. Clothing and white goods are an even smaller chunk of income. Tech is mostly cheap if you accept lower priced options over brands and travel is almost an essential. Because of this, most low paid staff have survived the relative erosion of their income well until very recently.

Then came the 2020-21 pandemic as Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter conjoined in Capricorn, and while creating its own sense of doom in some ways it allowed our delusion to continue a little longer- it has certainly allowed governments to lay the blame for economic problems anywhere other than on their own shoulders or that of successive governments’ economic policies, for the time being.

But the truth is that the last 50 years have seen an unprecedented transfer and consolidation of wealth and opportunity for a few, while the rest have survived because of the “benefits” of globalisation, technology, easy credit and falling rates.

You would expect that we would have to pay the piper at some point.

And indeed, in 2022 we see those benefits flat-lining at best and starting to reverse in many cases, but not gradually either, dramatic price increases are blowing a hole in the economic fantasies that decades of governments have relied upon.

Sadly, I believe this is only the beginning. But more disturbing is the fact the 2022 is not a particularly bad year astrologically. Just wait till 2025 and beyond.

Where we are going

As I have mentioned many times before we are moving towards a scenario most of us will not have experienced in our lifetimes. Pluto not in sextile to Neptune after 2032. And eventually, by 2060, Pluto in square to Neptune.

All the foundations that the second half of the 20 ^th century and early 21 ^st century are built on are going to be challenged.

That’s debt (and thus financial assets), rising share prices and real estate rents/values, oil and gas power, rising GDP, increasing consumption, global trade. Social security systems will be threatened, making the poor even poorer. Even things we take for granted such as water and clean air.

What will remain? Technology changes won’t be reversed ( though income from the related businesses is likely to be). The shift in distribution of wealth towards more polarisation won’t reverse either although there may be effects across the spectrum. Risks that were born in the 20 ^th century will remain too; nuclear, bioterrorism, changes to weather patterns.

On a more positive note, I expect that the illusions will be laid bare. Illusions of monetary policy. Illusions of media morality and above all the illusion that unfettered capitalism trickles down to the masses.

But I am not optimistic. I see that the government and corporate response to the problems is at best, to cleave to the status quo or adopt ineffective short term solutions and, at worst, to evade action at all with a deluge of lies and a refuge in blame culture and to continue to feed the monster with more currency expansion.

I have already touched, elsewhere, on the astrology of the next decade, but I will briefly cover it here too for completeness.

The final sextile of Pluto and Neptune lasts from 2028-32 until then it is broadly applying. In 2028 the positives of the sextile are rather offset by a Saturn Pluto square and by 2032 Saturn is conjunct Uranus. In between we are likely to see the last of the good times.

But before 2028 we have the following positive or at least stabilising influences to look forward to.

2025 Saturn sextile Uranus ( a closing final sextile of the c1989 cycle)

2025-7 Neptune sextile Uranus ( the opening sextile of the cycle which started in the early 1990s)

It isn’t hard to imagine that issues linked to that time will likely be reactivated then : the internet, rates, the old USSR, etc etc. Although there are two sextiles and notably an opening sextile between Neptune and Uranus which is likely to involve opportunity, the whole thing is severely dampened by the 2026 Saturn conjunction with Neptune ( the end of a cycle starting in c1989) So not unalloyed delight but not collapse either- a shake out is likely.

2026 also sees a Saturn sextile Pluto ( the first sextile post 2020). Bearing in mind the Neptune Pluto sextile this is likely to be a moderating influence.

But in 2026 we also see beginning of a Uranus Pluto trine ( the outgoing trine of the 1966 conjunction which follows the 2012 square). This is the last chance saloon for monetary policy, some technologies and many of the trends we’ve talked about today. It should see us through the period to 2028 when the Saturn Pluto square kicks in.

But it is after 2032 that we need to be really concerned. There is very little positive throughout the 2030s and the period ends with a Uranus Neptune square. The repercussions from any mistakes in the early 1990s really hit the fan then. Expect internet problems to dominate and honestly a lot of waking up will be done.

The 2040s start as the 30s ended and continue without much in the way of positives again. 2046-8 is particularly ugly as Uranus opposes Pluto. The events that weren’t faced in 2010-14 will have to be confronted now. An we know that was peak QE everywhere.

The early 2050s do have a little speck of brightness as Uranus reaches its opening trine to Neptune though this will be somewhat dampened by another Saturn Pluto conjunction. It is all a bit relentless I am afraid. And by the late 50s we are closing in on that Neptune Pluto square. I’ll be dead or very old by then anyway but I hope the younger generations are building their resilience, as they are likely to need it. Your serfdom awaits. Sorry.

Musk and Twitter revisited

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 13:17:08 GMT

The astrology of Musk's bid for Twitter - revisited July 2022

Another short analysis, this time on the withdrawal of Musk from the Twitter deal.

I can’t find a time for his letter to the Twitter board so m going with when it hit the market.

The most significant aspects are the conjunction of transiting Jupiter with Uranus and its square to the Ascendant activated by Mercury at 7 Cancer, representing the news. The Moon has just passed a trine to Mercury and was no doubt part of the underlying story. Certainly at the time of the news reaching the market, the transiting Moon was opposite the progressed Moon

Remember how the stake was confirmed when transiting Mars reached Saturn. Now look at that Mars; it is slap bang on the IC – metaphorically pulling the rug from the whole situation. Saturn is moving slowly square the Twitter Sun (leadership and direction).

Bearing in mind that we don’t have an exact time for the letter we can’t pay too much attention to the transiting angles but we can look for other triggers for the day. As well as that Mars, we can see that the transiting Sun at 16 Cancer is exactly opposing the progressed Ascendant, as Musk literally opposes the deal and the Twitter brand.

What about transiting Uranus, surely, you say, that should be playing a part? It is trine the progressed Mars. At the time of the offer it was trine the natal Mars. While it is representative of sudden change, trines are not as shocking as hard aspects, pretty much everyone expected him to do this at some point.

I’m looking forward to the next chapter, presumably with lawyers, and am restocking the popcorn.

The assassination of Shinzo Abe

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 13:09:48 GMT

The astrology of the assassination of Shinzo Abe of Japan

Just a very quick look at something more serious; the assassination of Shinzo Abe the previous leader of Japan.

Unlike the UK charts we are not looking for an aspect to the Sun, as he was no longer the country leader. But we are looking for something dramatic.

But we can see immediately that it is Uranus at work again. This time it is conjunct the Ascendant and progressed Venus. Shining a sudden light on the country and someone mostly respected.

It is also interesting to note that Japan are reporting that there were flaws in Abe’s security, Venus being representative of security too.

Other things to note are the sextile between Mars and the progressed Mars, enabling violence and the conjunction between Neptune and the Japan natal Mars, indicating the underhand nature of the attack.

I looked back to see what my forecast was for Japan at this time and it did include a reference to this aspect though other than suggesting a sudden shock I did not explore it further.

Our thought are with Japan and with his family.

Approx Time from

Shinzo Abe attacked: World saddened and shocked by shooting of Japan's former PM (republicworld.com)

UK Conservative party July 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 21:35:51 GMT

The astrology of the Uk conservative party July 2022

Following on from my last post about the Boris crisis, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the Conservative party chart too.

Now the party has a long history, dating back to 1600s when the name Tory was an insult. In 1834 a more modern party was founded but we don’t have a date for this. We do have a date for the merger with the Unionists in 1912 and so that is the chart we will seek to analyse here. In the absence of a time for the meeting that agreed the merger, I am using noon.

Immediately we see that Uranus, a clear player in the UK chart’s picture, is also key here. It is exactly conjunct the Conservative ( leader) Sun. What a surprise! As I mentioned in that report there is no more reliable significator of the sudden change of leadership than a Uranus transit to the Sun.

The fact that the Progressed Moon will oppose the progressed Sun over the coming month makes for an exciting outlook. That the progressed Sun is in square to the progressed Saturn at 3 Gemini is confirmation that we have a major challenge going on. The fact that the foundation Uranus is also at 3 degrees Transiting Mars is activating that opposition at the moment ( as well as conjoining the foundation Venus, giving us a taster of what is to come) is quite incredible. One of the best examples of astrology in action I’ve seen for a while.

We could stop there, but let’s look what else has been going on and what is in the pipeline.

Starting again with transiting Pluto, we see that it is quincunx the Foundation Pluto. It will shortly quincunx the progressed Pluto and the Ascendant and then it will reach Uranus. Frankly given the current trends and situation I would not expect the party to exist in the same form after that transit which will take place in 2023-2026.

Neptune has been more moderating until now, in a trine with its natal position, but it is will go on to square that foundation Pluto in the next few years and t oppose the progressed Mars. That will not be so moderate!!!

Uranus, as well as conjoining the Sun is sextile the foundation Mars, trine the progressed Venus and square the Moon. That is pretty dramatic and indicative of the major divisions. Uranus will become exact in these other aspects as well as to the Noon chart Midheaven in the next month ( at the same time as the moon progression noted above). It appears the drama has only just begun. After the Midheaven Uranus will cross the foundation Saturn – a split is possible though the natal Neptune sextile may give some protection. However in 2024 Jupiter will conjoin Uranus on the natal Saturn that is going to be something to behold.

Saturn at 24 Aquarius is in opposition to the progressed Mercury and quincunx the progressed Neptune (as well as sextile the foundation mercury). Karma is confronting the lies and dissembling of the last few years. Saturn is also close to a square with its own position representing challenges in general.

A final word about the upcoming Full Moon at 21 Cancer/Capricorn. This is conjunct the foundation Neptune. No wonder all the deception and superficial slogans are under the spotlight. Am looking forward to the next full Moon in Leo square the Sun/Mc etc. This is great stuff and is worth following for the beauty of the astrology alone.

UK- Boris crisis July 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 19:17:33 GMT

The astrology of the Boris Johnson UK leadership crisis July 2022

After a few weeks break, we’re back with plenty of things to review in the light of what I’ve said here before and also new, emerging events.

But there is no competition for our first topic. The UK government situation at the moment is both horrifying and hilarious.

Others will be looking at Boris Johnson’s chart. I did so back in late 2021, and interested readers can look back at the picture formed then. But I am more interested in how this is playing out for the UK itself.

I set the chart for yesterday when the first two cabinet ministers announced their resignations. But anytime in the last couple of days would work. I won’t therefore spend time on the chart angles, though we will touch on the, fast moving, moon.

Immediately apparent is the Jupiter conjunct the Descendant. Now I confess if I was predicting in advance I would state that this had something to do with the country’s relations with others ( other countries that is). However in this case it appears to relate to the country’s relation with its own leader. Normally you would expect them to be broadly aligned but not now. Boris represented by Jupiter is par for the course given his personality.

Also notable is that the Sun has crossed the Midheaven in the last few days after opposing the natal Sun symbolising that it has been a critical time for the leadership.

But let’s take a step back and look at the wider picture in the chart.

Pluto has made a recent quincunx to the progressed Saturn ( currently activated by the progressed Moon) this indicates transformation at government level, and has perhaps played out though Brexit and the challenges of the current administration. Neptune at 25 degrees and approaching the same configuration suggests that there will still be wider issues for the country to resolve regardless of the outcome of this week. The fact that Pluto then Neptune will aspect the UK Uranus over the coming few years suggests that there is more excitement to come. The 1801 chart has not previously had Pluto at that point and has only once seen Neptune there, so it will undoubtedly be transformational and something we can look at again in the coming years.

Transiting Uranus at 17 Taurus is where the immediate action is at though. Uranus is disruptive change and so it is not surprising to see it is square the UK progressed Sun. The Leadership. If I were to pick one reliable indicator for nation astrology it is the presence of Uranus in hard aspect to the Sun as the sign of a dramatic leadership change. As the Sun will reach 17 Cancer by the weekend, I think the current immediate leadership situation will be resolved by Monday.

It is concerning that Uranus also opposes the UK natal Neptune, this is not a stable sign for the currency. It has been and will continue to be square the natal Venus and progressed MC, indicating economic and other disruption too for at least the rest of this year. Neptune here also has a connection with the NHS.

As an aside we see that Uranus is also in a quincunx to Mercury, a signification of recent transport disruptions and other media and education changes.

So Currency (treasury matters), Health, Education; all areas impacted by the resignations and changes. You know we love it when an astrology plan comes together.

Then we have transiting Saturn. It is opposite the natal Saturn ( within a degree). The difficulties for the government have been ongoing for some months and it isn’t over until Saturn leaves Aquarius early next year, Boris or no Boris.

Looking at the short term triggers. We’ve already seen the impact of the transiting Sun. But we also note that this week both Mars and Mercury were in aspect to the progressed Uranus, indicating the lies and the disputes that have been activated. Yesterday they both changed signs but are now aspecting the natal Uranus. Boom, it all blew up.

Finally we can take a quick look at the Moon. In my chart she is at 27 Virgo at on the transiting MC as well as progressed Uranus. Over the last 24 hours she has moved into Libra and crossed the Ascendant around midday – PM question time. It will now move on to reach 17 degrees by tomorrow morning. It seems like the inevitable is just unfolding now.

Fed up? Interest rates in May 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Fri, 13 May 2022 15:29:56 GMT

The astrology of the FED at the May 2022 interest rate rise

We don’t need to spend much time on the underlying chart, plenty has been said before by various astrologers but before we look at the May fourth 2022, let’s take a step back in time; to 2012.

Why 2012?

Well I am hoping that the cardinal cross of 2010-15 will show up and being crucial to how the story has evolved and why we are where we are. We could step back further to 2008 or even earlier but I think 2012 will be enough to set the scene.

Let’s find out.

It is no surprise at all to find that the cardinal cross hits the chart in a big way, picking up the progressed Sun, the Progressed MC and the progressed Ascendant all around 8 degrees of the cardinal signs.

The FED ultimate destiny is hardwired into the chart with that square between the Sun, Pluto and the MC/IC axis, but also the conjunction between Mars and Neptune.

We also see that around those years Neptune was also picking up the Sun, Pluto and MC In the chart provided we see how Jupiter accentuated it in 2012, but in its cycle it would have done so in the years preceding and following too. The scene was being set with too much money being released.

Perhaps the most interesting for our analysis today, is the opposition between Saturn and Mercury in the original natal chart. The Fed is hardwired to be cautious when it comes to interest rate rises. Note how that was picked up in 2012 by the progressed Mercury.

Rates were low then, although they were only part of the whole picture with the QE of Neptune also dominating matters.

Now, let’s move forward a decade to 2022 and where the 2012 period decisions have got us.

There is an enormous amount going on in the current chart.

In the decade since the cardinal cross, Pluto has moved over the Descendant, and Mars opposition and then over Jupiter and most recently it has reached Neptune, the story of how continued easy money in all its forms has led to what we can now see is a peak is clear from the story.

It will soon o on to quincunx its natal position and in 2023 to sextile the MC. Interesting times lie ahead for sure.

The Progressed Moon has recently passed its trine to Pluto and a quincunx to the MC and In the last month reached a sextile with the natal Sun and is therefore accentuating the natal cross. Things have changed a lot since 2021.

Progressed Mars has also crossed the Asc/Des axis and its natal position, and more importantly so has the progressed MC. That MC is now conjunct the natal Mars ( as well as quincunx Venus), and incidentally square the progressed Sun, as we hear the sound of the rush of wings as the chickens ( or raptors) come home to roost.

Over the next year the progressed MC will conjoin the progressed Mars, oppose natal Jupiter and in not too many more years it will reach Neptune. That does not bode well.

Talking of Neptune; we see that transiting Neptune ( recently conjunct Jupiter of massive magnification fame) is trine the progressed and natal Neptune and that conjunction was directly on the progressed Mercury as well as sextile the natal Jupiter. Now that’s a double whammy of mega proportions and sign of a major turning point in the easy money story. Rates could not stay as they were.

Jupiter will shortly cross the MC and this will be an interesting time, giving us a hint of where we will go as Neptune reaches that point in 2025 and beyond…..

All that and we haven’t even looked at either Uranus ( the other outer planet involved in the cardinal cross or what was actually happening on May 4 ^th .

This is some civilization changing stuff.

It was a Uranus dominated day generally. Uranus was conjunct the transiting Sun and sextile Mars . Uranus was opposite the FED natal Moon and at the degree of its progressed Saturn, only a degree away from a quincunx to natal Mercury. Uranus fighting the caution of Saturn but with action being the only option. (it is also square the progressed Uranu/Jupiter midpoint by hey-ho we don’t even need that to describe the drama)

At the time of the announcement the Moon was square Jupiter at 27 degrees Gemini and the transiting MC of the moment was at 27 Taurus sextile the natal Neptune. This is a clue that that Neptune is still the one to watch.

Finally we note that the transiting Ascendant is quincunx transiting Venus which sits slap bang to the MC

What a chart and I haven’t even looked at everything that is happening!

Anyway that’s the astrology of the FED’s position but I want to talk basic economics again. Yes I’ve looked at the potential for inflation alone but it is now time to understand the bigger economic picture of what this all could mean doing forward.

Watch this space.

It's growing strong- Sweet Caroline in Sport

Wed, 04 May 2022 18:52:44 GMT

An astrological analysis of Sweet Caroline's association with sports

Time for a little diversion, into the astrology of a song: Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline was released on 28 May 1969, but it is only in the last 10-20 years that it has become an increasingly ubiquitous sports anthem.

Its first use by the Red Sox is supposedly in 1997 but we don’t have an exact chart for that, or indeed for when it became an official song in 2002, though we can peak at the wider transits.

We do have a date for when it was picked up by an English sports manager. 20 April 2013

.. it was played, for Castleford, in full for the first time after full-back Luke Dorn scored a last-minute, match-winning try against Wigan on March 9, 2014 [i]

It made it to Wembley for the football Euros last year on 29 June 2021- ( interestingly in between the song was given an extra boost during the pandemic by memes on the wording- hands touching hands- aaaaaag, nooooooooooo!) The match commenced at 16.00UTC so would have finished around 17.45utc. This chart is set for then:

Although the time of the original song release is not verified- I have no idea of the process for song release in 1969 and whether it would have effectively been at midnight – and indeed if it was which time zone but I can’t help liking the fact that this chart has Neptune culminating. Neptune plays (no pun intended) a big part in the story of music and its artists. It looks like this one was built to last.

It is an extraordinary chart with the major conjunction of 3 outer planets , Pluto, Uranus and Jupiter-all opposing the Node and sextile Neptune of course 69 was a key year for pop with Woodstock etc., The Moon opposes Venus, perhaps descriptive of the sign – about a sweet woman. Mars, signifier of sports is in a fire sign but isn’t highly accentuated in the chart- its time will come, but not then.

For our sports analysis we are more interested in the progressions and transits of 1997 to 2022 and especially June 2021.

Starting in 1997, we note that Pluto was crossing the Caroline Mars. Sports were being activated.

By 2002 Neptune had crossed the Ascendant axis and was sextile natal Mars and progressed Mars was close to the natal Neptune. An idea had caught hold.

On 20 April 2013, Neptune was sextile the progressed MC and on that day we see there was an exact Mars Sun conjunction quincunx the Caroline Mars and its progressed Uranus. Someone quite literally sees the competitive advantage and takes it overseas…..

On 9 March 2014, the Neptune sextile remains in place but now Uranus is trine the Caroline Mars (and not far from the progressed Ascendant) as well. The progressed Moon is harnessing the Moon, Venus opposition and Pluto. It is really taking off.

We can see the impact of the pandemic as the Pluto conjunction in Capricorn picks up the big conjunction and Neptune as well as the Moon – Venus opposition in the Caroline natal chart. And the progressed Sun- Mercury also picks up these degrees. Astrology works on so many levels doesn’t it?!

Finally let us look at that June 29 2021 chart. We can look to transiting Neptune first and it’s on the North node. Destiny fulfilled, it seems.

Of course Pluto remains in orb of the natal conjunction and it’s sextile to its Neptune as does the progressed Sun.

Assuming a valid birth time, we can see Venus is on the Descendant on June 29. It is notable, with Venus on the Descendant, that when England fans sang Sweet Caroline on that day, German fans stayed and sang too. That’s Venus at her best.

The Moon is square the Caroline progressed Venus as well echoing the natal opposition and the transiting Moon is also sextile transiting Uranus – perfect for a sudden public moment. Indeed there is loads happening in this chart and we don’t need to list it all.

Because, best of all, Mars at 11 Leo is trine the Caroline Mars. Waiting for its moment, as I suggested, you see! That is quite extraordinary isn’t it? Indeed it is quite possible that 11 degrees Sag was rising rather than six when the singing happened. That would be lovely but perhaps too overwhelming…….

Finally note that over this summer the Caroline progressed Uranus Jupiter conjunction will perfect and be activated by the progressed Moon. In a year when the progressed Ascendant reaches Venus and Saturn stations sextile it (among other aspects). Look out for more news on our Sweet Caroline then….

Europe stock Flash crash 2 May 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Mon, 02 May 2022 23:16:09 GMT

Astrology of the Europe flash crash on May 2 2022

A quickie this time.

This is the chart of a flash crash in European Markets on Monday morning.

From Yahoo finance:

The selloff was triggered by a large erroneous transaction made by the U.S. bank’s London trading desk, …….A knee-jerk selloff in OMX Stockholm 30 Index in five minutes wreaked havoc in bourses stretching from Paris to Warsaw toppling the main European index by as much as 3% and wiping out 300 billion euros ($315 billion) at one point.

Here is the chart set for Stockholm:

Really this chart speaks for itself. Look at that Jupiter on the Midheaven.

Anyone who thinks that Jupiter is always positive for stocks should go back to the drawing board. Jupiter is big, but big isn’t always good. In this case it appears to have been a big error. Pluto is in sextile to Jupiter, often a sign of big money, and in this case the Moon is also sextile the Jupiter. Usually in a stock chart I would say the latter signified the investors but this is merely an event chart and I think in this case it is referring to the source of the error.

Actually though, despite the grand picture this paints, we can’t ignore the impact of Uranus here either. At 14 Taurus it is in semi-square to Venus. Although what we see is the drama of Jupiter, Pluto and the Moon, our trigger is really Uranus semi-square Venus ( surprise value shocks).

I initially thought that I’d also pull up a chart for London, as that was supposed to be the source of the error, but it wasn’t such a big event in London- especially as the markets were closed for the bank holiday. So the chart is not so useful. Would love a chart for the perpetrator including their astro-cartography though…..!

All dollared up and nowhere to go?

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Mon, 02 May 2022 15:40:58 GMT

A astrological analysis of the 20 year dollar index high

With the dollar index reaching 20 year highs, it is an opportunity for me to return to my all time favourite subject of currencies.

Here is my chart for the dollar. It is a rectified one and I no longer have the calculations I made. Buyer beware.-I never use others’ rectifications without the calculations and I don’t advise the reader to do so either.

Obviously the other proviso is that a single currency chart isn’t the whole picture. You need at least another to compare relative strength. But we must start somewhere so…

It is quite beautiful how astrology works so neatly. On Friday, the day the index it a high, Mercury crossed the dollar MC. But Mercury is just the messenger and in this case the trigger, the real guts of the issue can be found elsewhere.

Two things immediately strike me.

First, the transiting Pluto almost conjunct the progressed Moon and sextile the progressed Sun. Whereas the conjunction would usually mean a drop in value ( and let’s face it dollar “printing” for decades isn’t exactly a plus) the Sun sextile is highly supportive. But the absolute booster is the Jupiter Venus conjunction sextile the progressed Moon and trine the Progressed Sun and giving positive rather than negative vibes to that Pluto. It is also worth mentioning that Pluto has now passed its square to progressed Saturn, relieving some long term pressures that were in placeBut there is more, because the Jupiter Neptune conjunction is quincunx the dollar natal conjunction of the same planets. This is a mixed bag. On the one hand it is providing a shiny coating to the dollar making it look attractive, on the other it is contributing to the inherent weakness – or inflationary potential in built in the currency ( and indeed most currencies).

Furthermore, we see that transiting Saturn has recently passed the natal Pluto – another negative perhaps, unless we see that it is sextile the progressed Ascendant and progressed Saturn. This is an instance where Saturn can be positive, not because it is boosting the dollar but because it is securing it in relative terms. This is further emphasised by the position of progressed Venus at 24 Sagittarius trine the Progressed Ascendant and sextile transiting Saturn.

It is interesting to see the emphasis on Pluto and Saturn here given that much of the strength of the dollar at the moment derives from its position as a safe haven, given the war in Europe initiated by Russia.

Secondly, we can look at the progressed Midheaven(MC). Not only has Uranus just made a trine to the Midheaven but the Sun ( and the recent new Moon) is currently activating it. Indeed we can also see that transiting Mars is sextile the MC. That’s a whole load of upsides, even though the progressed MC is square the natal Sun all year. That suggests that the positives are transitory as Uranus will not return to 13/14 Taurus ( though it will station at 15 later in the year)

But we can also note that the progressed MC is moving slowly towards a sextile with progressed Jupiter. The progressed MC will reach the exact sextile to the Jupiter in 2024, when it will also be Sextile transiting Saturn. Those looking for the demise of the dollar won’t be rewarded before then I think despite the constant clickety, click of the printing machines. But after that all bets are off ,because it also coincides with the progressed MC being quincunx the natal Uranus.

There isn’t much more to add, as these two elements pull in almost all the chart. Perhaps time to do a comparison with another currency…..

Here is the composition of the index.

· Euro (EUR), 57.6% weight

· Japanese yen (JPY) 13.6% weight

· Pound sterling (GBP), 11.9% weight

· Canadian dollar (CAD), 9.1% weight

· Swedish krona (SEK), 4.2% weight

· Swiss franc (CHF) 3.6% weight

So I guess we start with the EURO!

One extraordinary thing we can note is that the Progressed Moon of the Euro is permanently square that of the dollar. It is therefore at 27 Aries and conjunct the Progressed Saturn, and Square the Progressed MC as well as square Progressed Mercury. That is not great. There is nothing close enough to give the support that the dollar received.

However, it isn’t all bad. The currency has had a long term sextile between the Progressed Jupiter and its natal Venus. This is very protective, something the currency badly needs just now. It is still within orb and will be for a couple more years yet. Notably, too, the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction was close to this point, and involved an acknowledgment that too much money had been printed.

On the other hand, although it isn’t specifically involved in the current situation, Pluto is definitely working overtime on this chart. Although the currency has come through the passage of Pluto over the natal Venus and progressed Mercury as well as the square to natal Saturn, it will shortly square the progressed Mars for a couple of years. Since the progressed MC will do the same this is not a good omen for 2022-24.

Swings and roundabouts, eh?

Back to the current chart. Where we can look at the action at 24 degrees, Saturn is now conjunct the Progressed Venus and the natal South Node. This time there is a mitigating trine to the natal Moon. In practical terms this says that despite the hardships of the Euro, the Euro countries populations are not too badly affected at this stage. And arguably the involvement of the node suggests a turning point. Things can improve.

Transiting Uranus is not highly activated in the Euro chart. It has passed its square to the progressed position doesn’t have much in the way of aspects to the chart for some time. Events may unfold but not sudden shocks, though the semi sextile to the Descendant should be watched for.

On balance this is a weaker chart than the dollar one, but we can see how finely balanced this can get. It is not a simple equation.

It also doesn’t totally explain the 20 year strength of the dollar index. Let’s look at the Yen.

First things first, see how the progressed Moon of the Yen chart is at 29 Cancer, only 2 degrees from the dollar and Euro Moons. Not quite but almost perfect. I love astrology.

Pluto is therefore applying to the Yen Moon rather than separating. Although the Moon has been in conjunction with progressed Jupiter it is now moving away. Pluto has also passed the trine to natal Mercury and progressed Mercury and Venus. All supports are slipping away.

Having said that, there may still be positive influences. The Neptune Jupiter conjunction is trine the Progressed Jupiter and opposite the progressed Mercury and Venus and sextile the natal Mercury. Unfortunately it is also square the natal Venus/Jupiter. The issue is here is clearly that the Yen’s current weakness is interest rate dominated. Indeed last week transiting Venus was involved in the square. Saturn at 24 degrees is even trine natal Venus, not suggesting real weakness ( though not contributing to increased values either).

It appears, Japan could very quickly reverse the trend if it raised rates or sold reserves. The picture appears very different to the other currencies we have considered. Given that Saturn will now square the MC this probably won’t happen though. Indeed as Neptune has to continue this square for the next few years, until 2025 at least, I don’t see a full reversal of the position for some time, though the extreme index value is probably temporary.

When we turn to Uranus in this case we see that it is quincunx the Yen Sun. The decision rests with the government and the overall country’s economic position.

What we should look out for though is the fact that Pluto will conjunct the natal Moon and oppose the progressed Uranus in 2023-4. Major changes in the economic position of the people cannot be ruled out with this combination. The fact that the progressed Ascendant will conjoin progressed Saturn is also going to create some difficulties. Only by looking at the Japan chart as well can we understand the whole picture but I expect it to be “interesting”.

On balance, then, the dollar index peak is probably temporary but the longer term picture has changed too and both the Yen and Euro have ongoing ( different) problems to contend with even though the dollar is going to have to confront its over-printing over the next couple of years.

For a currency addict, these are VERY interesting times.

Twitter - Musk saga April 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:48:28 GMT

The astrology of Musk's offer for Twitter April 2022

Well, no surprises what I want to look at today: Elon Musk has provided us with a welcome distraction from all the negative political and financial news and of course we want to look at the astrology of his latest exploits.

The foundation chart for Twitter is from 2006.

However, this chart may not relate so much to Musk, unless he intends to attempt to shake things up internally. He may do, if he does manage to take over the company but as he is now no longer intending to join the board, the timescale for any action could be longer. If matters progress the way he has announced then we’ll take a separate look at how his chart relates to this foundation one; but not today.

Far more relevant for the moment is the chart for the IPO. I’ve set our first chart for 14 March, the day that Musk reached the minimum shares needed for market disclosure.

The first thing we see is the activity on the Ascendant. Nataly, Twitter has Pluto and the Moon rising ( in a square with Uranus). Progressed Venus had already crossed the Ascendant but at the beginning of February, as Musk started to accumulate his stake, it conjoined Pluto. During that same period Uranus was stationed close to a trine with the progressed Moon suggesting some changes ( Uranus) for the users and shareholders( Moon). Transiting Venus was also stationed close to the natal Moon and went direct on 29 ^th January. Added to all this the progressed Moon had just crossed the IC and a trine to natal Venus. Something was in the air, or perhaps, as our IC is involved, it would be better to say “something was afoot”.

As we know from other posts Mars was approaching a conjunction with Venus and this seems to have coincided with Musk’s stake building. The Mars/Venus conjunction was exact very close to the Twitter progressed Ascendant in the middle of February. But as we know the stake accumulation continued for another month as all the while Venus and Mars were within orb.

Venus and Mars were still close together on 14 ^th March when they were square the Twitter North Node. The progressed Moon was no opposite the progressed Mercury indicating a communication was required even if it didn’t happen.

Musk appears to have reached the notifiable level just as the Sun trined the progressed Sun. The transiting Sun was in conjunction with Neptune and at midday on 14 ^th they were on the Midheaven. It is surprising that things did not come to light then but Neptune can confuse and obscure so perhaps it was doing just that.

Also at this point in March Saturn was in quincunx to the Twitter Jupiter, transiting Jupiter was about to oppose the progressed Mars ( very indicative of a threshold being reached).

Moving forward to the 4 ^th April, we can look at the conditions of the stake reveal.

Of course 4 ^th April is almost exactly the point of the Mars Saturn conjunction. Note that the stake was being accumulated when Mars was with Venus and is confirmed ( concrete)when Mars reaches Saturn.

As mentioned the progressed Sun is at 23 Scorpio, so on 4 ^th April, Mars and Saturn are square that Sun. And, you won’t have missed the fact that Neptune is at 23 Pisces and by 12 ^th April so will Jupiter be. Note that at midday on 24 ^th April the transiting Moon opposes the Twitter IPO progressed Sun as well. Even if at that point it seemed that Musk was only interested in a stake to interfere a bit, we can see clearly that there is big pressure on the CEO and board with this combination. If we were in any doubt the position of the transiting Sun quincunx the natal Saturn/Sun clinches it.

We also note that by this point Uranus is trine the Twitter Mars, and Mercury is square the progressed Ascendant. Now wonder the media was all over this sudden announcement and no wonder it led to some behind the scenes shenanigans.

It certainly wasn’t all over and on 14 ^th April ( 2 days after the Neptune/Jupiter conjunction at 24 Pisces and when the transiting Sun reaches 24 Aries) Musk announced a bid to buy the company outright. It is interesting to note that Venus, at that date, has reached 9 degrees Pisces reactivating the configuration that started it all.

Furthermore Mars at 29 Aquarius is a) at the degree Venus was on April 4 ^th and b)is about to change its focus as we move away from the conditions of stake building to that of major acquisition. Indeed as Mars reached the Twitter Neptune the board announced a “ poison pill”.

At present Saturn remains at 23 Aquarius square the progressed Twitter Sun, and today (18 ^{th April} ) the Sun squares Pluto so progress is not easy but it certainly is fun for us casual observers. With Uranus about to oppose the Twitter Sun-Saturn conjunction activated by Mercury and a Venus sextile, I’ve stocked up on popcorn.

Pakistan leadership April 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:37:35 GMT

The astrology of change of Pakistan leadership April 2022

Just a short post this time. But I thought it would be interesting to look at Pakistan, following the vote of no-confidence in the leader, Iran Khan last week ( at time of writing).

First it is helpful to see whether I managed to forecast this change.

The answer is not exactly, but…… In my 4 year Pakistan report which I produced in January 2021 I wrote the following for 2022.

The underlying themes of 2021 start to become more pronounced in January and February 2022 as the long term structural issues facing the people become more important. There is definitely unrest in the air and this can easily break out into to something more major. ………..

….The people are in the spotlight in March and April. And all the tensions are likely to be released. This is an extremely difficult time. Especially for the leadership who seem to have no options and are not being listened to.

Everything seems to accentuate rather than subdue the problems.

So, although I didn’t actually forecast the change of leadership I did identify the surrounding conditions for it.

What led me to those conclusions? Let’s look at the chart.

We can see that the background conditions for the people aren’t great with Pluto opposing the country’s Moon.

In January and February Saturn opposes the country’s heavy Pluto/Mars/Saturn conjunction – this can’t bode well at all. It also involves the t-square with the Ascendant and Jupiter. And the progressed Moon activates it by a trine.

This all comes to a head in April as the progressed Moon reaches the progressed Midheaven- certainly enough to get the country in the news. At the same time Saturn reaches its opposition to the conjunction of progressed Saturn and the natal Sun. This definitely indicated that the burdens of the leadership would become very heavy indeed and that it would literally face tough opposition. This literally happened the week before the no-confidence vote. It was also accentuated because Jupiter reached the same degree by quincunx.

Finally we see that by 9 ^th April Uranus had reached 13 Taurus and was in a square to the Pluto/Saturn/ conjunction. This is an indicator of disruption and sudden change. There are currently protests and rallies by Khan’s supporters.

I don’t want to delve too deeply into personal charts here, but it is worth commenting that Khan’s natal chart and progressed chart in April 2022 have a large amount of planets at 21-25degrees.

· Pluto- 22 Leo

· Neptune -21 Libra

· Progressed Neptune/Saturn 23-24 Libra

· Progressed Sun 21 Sagittarius

· Mars 25 Sagittarius

No great surprise then that the conjunctions of Mars/Saturn and Neptune/Jupiter had the impact they did.

All in all, both the country and Khan are a pretty textbook case of astrology aptly describing the picture.

So, it is also interesting to look at whether the changes at government level help solve the problems.

My forecast for May to August was:

Unsurprisingly the issues continue, indeed we are not looking at any resolution soon. However this is a brief period when the people are more aligned with the leadership. [ Of course I didn’t know that it would be a new leadership when I wrote this]

However in all other ways it is very difficult, including still for the leadership……– and the country’s whole identity is at stake. No one is clear of where things are heading only that the changes are very very upsetting.

So, it looks like a big NO to the new leadership being the solution.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine 2022- update

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 19:47:24 GMT

Astrology of Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022 update

It was the end of January when I first considered the Ukraine chart in the light of the Russian threat. At that point we were all crossing our fingers that the worst would not happen.

Unfortunately it has and so it seems appropriate to take a deeper more serious look at where we are.

I want to look at Russia first as they are the aggressors.

One of my remarks in my earlier post was that I was concerned that Jupiter crossing the Russian MC and conjoining the natal Sun on February 11 ^th could represent hubris. Indeed Russia actually invaded on the 24 ^th/25th while Jupiter was exactly conjunct the Russian Sun at 12 degrees. It certainly seems that Putin believed that he could just walk into Ukraine and it would be acceptable. He clearly trusted the wrong advisers, perhaps they deliberately misled him.

It is very interesting to see how this chart from 1613 still reflects events in Russia. Why you may ask? I think it is because, despite the major revolutions; first the shift to communism from 1917 and then the post 1989-91 embracing of capitalism, the fundamental nature of Russia as a country of relatively passive people dominated by a small group of autocratic leaders remains the same. Brief moments of enlightenment happen, with Lenin and with Gorbachev but things quickly regress to the status quo.

The chart’s square between Saturn and Mars conjunct Uranus and the opposition with Jupiter and Neptune hints at a tendency to the hubris (Jupiter Neptune) that I referenced earlier and instability (Uranus), often violent (Mars- Saturn). The trouble is that Mars square Neptune ( a characteristic of the USA which also has this configuration) does not make for easy conflict. IF Russia enters an existing conflict it can help but if it is starts its own then the chances of being mired down are extremely high. The fact that at the moment progressed Mars is activating the square only reinforces this.

The Sun conjunct Saturn also represents the dictatorial nature of many of the leaders, Stalin in particular, but its position in Pisces indicates something else- the ideology of that leadership. Of course the progressed Sun will mitigate this somewhat- it has been in Aries for 26 years, but the underlying structure remains. But while that ideology is coupled with strong man tactics the centre can never hold. Only with a leader who is able to remain a servant of the people (Pisces rather than a strong-arm dictator) and to co-operate rather than confront can the country thrive in the longer term whatever the economic model. ( Incidentally we only have 3-4 years more of the progressed Sun in Aries, Putin first became a leader (PM) in 1999 when the Sun which had progressed into Aries was in conjunction with the progressed Saturn so the last 26 years have been coloured by (t)his influence. It will be interesting to see what the shift to a Taurus leadership will bring).

In the more immediate term, given the importance of Jupiter’s position in the invasion chart tracking its journey will therefore be informative. By the time the transiting Sun ingresses into Aries Jupiter will conjoin the Russian natal Saturn and then its progressed Mars and will square its natal Mars when over-reach of military action is probable. This is likely to be a particularly dark time.

So too is the date I’ve set my chart, 5 ^th April, when Saturn and Mars meet at 22 Aquarius. The fact that this is followed a few days later by the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in Pisces, suggests that this may represent the most significant period in the invasion story. Indeed as it taps into the square I described above it is likely to be significant for the future of the country.

Moving to another theme, I was interested to note that my comment in the original post on the transiting Mars/Venus conjunction proved prescient. . “A further explanation is that this relates to economic ( Venus) sanctions ( Mars) imposed by the US/UN as a result of Russia’s actions. This is in some ways a better explanation as the conjunction is on the Descendant, so not necessarily within Russia’s control” I had no idea how extensive and radical those sanctions would turn out to be though. As of today (12 ^th March) Mars and Venus are square the Russian Pluto, this is peak asset freezing time among other things. It remains to be seen to what extent the average Russian experiences and understands the sanctions. They may just be used by Putin as part of the propaganda.

This leads me to perhaps the most interesting indicator in the chart. The progressed Moon will reach the Ascendant around 5 ^th April. This suggests that the people are about to become more important in the story. Indeed at present ( 2020-23 approx) the Russian progressed Sun ( leadership) is square the natal Moon ( people) suggesting a rather challenging relationship between the two. The fact that transiting Sun in early April will square the progressed Moon seems to suggest that this negative relationship will be most prominent then. By 2023 the Moon will reach its natal position, and be ripe for change at the end of one cycle and start of another.

Overall I feel there is a decided risk that the end result of this could be to gain Ukraine in the short term but ultimately to lose Russia.

Now I will turn with some trepidation to Ukraine.

To be honest I don’t really wish to publicaly predict how things will unfold for Ukraine as, at this point, that can help no-one. But it is reasonable to look at what has happened so far and some of the potential key dates in the next month or so.

In my initial analysis I said “…..within 12 months the progressed Ascendant will have reached the Ukraine Moon. This certainly suggests that the people are going to be caught up in whatever follows but also in determining how it plays out. With Moon in Aquarius they are not going to give up their independence lightly”.

I also noted that “transiting Mars, our trigger happy friend is right on the Ascendant of the Ukraine chart. Which is also very close to the chart Uranus too. This could indeed literally signify invasion, (though I would prefer the 7 ^th house for that) or a spirited defence.

This has certainly proved to be the case. Putin should have read my analysis.

The invasion started early on 24 ^th February. At that time the transiting Mars-Venus conjunction, at 22 Capricorn, had reached a trine with the progressed Mercury and was close to trine with natal Mars and quincunx progressed Venus plus Jupiter and Mercury. But the overarching player (as in the Russian chart) seems to have been Jupiter which had reached a square with the Ukraine progressed MC. Basically in astrologese the progressed MC of Ukraine has been square the Russian Sun for a year or so and thus Putin was triggered by that.

Much of what followed though can be attributed to Mars ( with Venus) and Saturn.

When Venus and Mars conjoined at 0 degrees Aquarius on 6 ^th March they were on the Ukraine Saturn. On that day a US official noted that about 95% of the Russian troops were inside the country. The situation was confusing and brutal (Saturn), ceasefires, (Venus), to evacuate people were bombed ,( Mars).

Things have reached a very serious point as of today (12 ^th March) with Saturn conjunct the Ukraine progressed Ascendant. This will continue for the rest of the month.

The transiting Sun has today reached Neptune sextile the degree of the invasion

Another notable element of the Ukraine chart is the approach of transiting Uranus to the Ukraine IC. It is well within orb already. Of course Uranus is upheaval and disruption but another facet may be the refugees. I’ve seen many individual charts where Uranus on the IC leads to them emigrating – even to a different hemisphere, or where their ancestry is from overseas. It seems likely that those who are leaving the country now are fulfilling the dynamic of that Uranus transit.

Going forward we can expect the following days to be significant:

· Around 21 ^st March when the Sun is at 0 Aries ( opposite the Ukraine progressed Sun)

· Around 27 March when Venus reaches Saturn and the progressed Ascendant at 21 Aquarius

· Early April especially 1 ^st when there is a new Moon trine the Ukraine progressed MC , Saturn is conjunct the Ukraine Moon, and 3 ^rd – 5 ^th April when Mars catches up with Saturn while Uranus crosses the Ukraine IC.

· Around 12 ^th April when Jupiter and Neptune meet

As the 22-23 degree point features in so many financial charts we should expect the consequences of this invasion to be pretty widespread by this point.

But I think I will leave it there for the time being.

Chelsea F.C. Asset freeze March 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 12 Mar 2022 13:16:37 GMT

The astrology of the asset freeze of Chelsea FC due to the Ukraine situation

Despite my brief diversion into tech matters, there is no getting away from the dreadful events of Ukraine.

However, before I return fully to the tragic events there, I thought I would have a look at one of the relatively less horrendous consequences; the freezing of Chelsea FC assets. Well, really Roman Abramovich’s assets but these include Chelsea.

Chelsea football club was apparently founded by agreement in a local pub on the evening of 10 March 1905. I have taken a time of 8pm as there doesn’t seem to be a recorded time. I like the Libra rising for a club that plays in blue. Sunset, (which has Virgo rising), might also work well. Later charts with a Scorpio rising won’t I think.

The announcement of the asset freeze was made by Nadine Dorries Uk Culture Sec at 9.11. on 10 ^th March 2022.

Yes, there is no typo, both dates are 10 ^th March. I love astrology, although it sadly sometimes takes the worst of circumstances for it to demonstrate its full capacity.

Unsurprisingly given the date, we see that the transiting Sun is conjunct the Sun in the Chelsea chart. More surprisingly (if you are not an astrologer) we see that the transiting Moon is square the Sun. Because the club was created with a Pluto Sun square, the Moon is therefore conjunct the natal Pluto too.

We can also find our ubiquitous double whammy in the sextile between the progressed Pluto and progressed Moon. Where Pluto is concerned even a sextile is sometimes not a good thing. Especially when we see that Saturn at 19 Aquarius is trine the transiting Moon so adding metaphorical weight and literal hardship to the picture.

At the time of the announcement we also see that transiting Mars is conjunct the transiting Midheaven as is Venus. In my earlier Russian analysis I speculated that Mars/Venus represented economic sanctions and here it is representing the parallel activity- asset freezes. That the configuration occurs at the square to the Chelsea club natal Venus is almost inevitable.

We could pretty much leave it there, we have the monthly conditions triggered by the annual solar return and on the day by the Moon ( though in this case the Moon represents making the decision available to the public -it had already been made and probably implemented earlier that day), and we have the announcement of the freeze made at exactly the right moment.

However, as we are here, we can take a look at what else is happening in the chart.

Transiting Uranus is in opposition to the Chelsea natal Mars and assuming a correct foundation time progressed MC. It certainly seems as if the time cannot be far off, for it gives us another double whammy with Uranus to the progressed angles. With Mars representing conflict we see the reflection both of the conflict between the country and the club owner and the more tragic conflict in Ukraine.

If the foundation time is correct we see that the progressed Ascendant has crossed the natal Uranus and is approaching an opposition to the natal Neptune. A good description of sudden upsets leading to confusion and lack of direction. To some extent this is mitigated though as the axis is trine/sextile the natal Venus/Jupiter and indeed a grand trine with the Node. It is interesting to note that due to retrograde motion of Venus the conjunction has been in effect by progression throughout almost all of the history of the club.

That conjunction of the benefics ( also conjunct the natal Moon) is fundamental to the success of Chelsea. However it poses an interesting question. When does too much good become bad? For without it, Chelsea might never have been sold to Abramovich in the first place…….

More concerning for the longer term is that Venus is now finally moving away from the progressed Jupiter. I wonder whether we will ever again see quite the glories and wealth of this club?

We could also talk about transiting Mercury sextile Jupiter and close to conjunction with progressed Saturn . We could mention the recent opposition between Pluto and the progressed Mercury and we could speculate about the trine between Neptune (soon to be joined by Jupiter) and the natal Mars but there is really no need. This is textbook astrology at work, even if it does send a chill down your neck and make you wonder just how much of the shocking events of the last few weeks could really ever have been avoided…..

British Airways - February 2022 glitch

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 13:25:37 GMT

The astrology of the British Airways tech issues on 25 February 2022

In these depressing times, it is nice to look at something a little lighter once in a while. And you know I love a technical glitch.

So what better topic for this week than the technical glitch that British Airways experienced over the weekend of 25 February.

First we have to decide what charts to consider. There are a multitude, as BA is considered to have started in 1919 but there have been numerous mergers etc. since then.

We’ll narrow it down to three. The first flight chart in 1919, the merger in 1974 and the float/privatisation in 1987.

This gives us an additional opportunity to consider how the different charts for a company work, whether in tandem or not.

Starting with the flight chart.

The website assures us that although there were three flights on 25 August 1919 it is the second one that they consider to be start of real activity. That was at 9.10am

I can’t seem to find an exact time for the start of the glitch on February 25 but it seems by 20.00 systems had been down for at least an hour.

So here we go.

It is not really surprising to see that the Pluto- Saturn conjunction of 2020-21 is square progressed Venus, as this indicates economic hardships. But the glitch, although having financial consequences is really about something else – the technology, though not the ability to fly itself.

We expect sudden glitches to involve Uranus, but in the case of an airline, Uranus also relates to flight itself. In the natal chart, Uranus opposes the Moon, and here this is a good thing representing people escaping the ground. We also note that the chart has a conjunction between Mars, Jupiter and Neptune, another indicator quite literally of flights of fancy.

At the time of the technology problems, Pluto has reached a quincunx with the Moon, it isn’t preventing flight but it is making it damn tricky to take off! However Pluto alone is not the cause of the problems it is just creating an environment for them. We could wonder if the approaching conjunction with Venus and Mars is partly responsible but I feel that isn’t close enough in this chart yet. However, although the time of the initial problems is not confirmed we may well be close to the mark as at 19.00 hours GMT transiting Mars is quincunx the Ascendant.

But far more likely to be the culprits are Uranus and Saturn. Transiting Saturn is opposite progressed Jupiter in the last week, that would certainly be enough to affect flying. It is accompanied by Mercury at 12 Aquarius which opposes the progressed Neptune, quincunxes the progressed Saturn and is aided and abetted as we expected by Uranus at 11 Taurus, which although trine the progressed Saturn is square the progressed Neptune, indicating that no-body would probably know what the heck was going on! The fact that the transiting Uranus Mercury square also picks up the progressed Sun rather seals the deal. Jupiter at 13 Pisces just makes it bigger and more noticeable.

Moving on to the Merger which created the company we recognise today, that of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and British European Airways (BEA), in 1974

Note this chart describes a very different purpose, the creation of a large company that just happens to fly passengers compared to the previous chart which was all about the flying activity itself. It is a more likely chart in which to see Corporate failings such as major technology problems.

This chart seems to suggest at time of 7pm for the start of the problems might be about right as the transiting Ascendant is conjunct the merger Mid-heaven. More importantly Neptune is hanging out down at the IC of the chart, undermining everything. Transiting Mars and Venus only serve to give it some extra impetus, especially as they are square the chart’s progressed Uranus, definitely an indicator of a trigger for a glitch. They are close enough to the natal Moon opposition for that to be relevant too.

We can also see again some of the difficulties of the last couple of years. The progressed Ascendant has been opposed to the natal Saturn, literally grounding everything and is now square to the natal Pluto; other problems are beginning to surface. The fact that transiting Pluto is about to quincunx the natal Saturn does not bode well for the next year either.

But the stand out transits here are once again involving Uranus, Mercury and Jupiter. We have transiting Jupiter conjoining the progressed Jupiter. Surely this would be a good thing, isn’t Jupiter the big old cuddly benefic? Sometimes. But more than not he’s just the big old expansive guy- who takes everything and blows it up to epic proportions. Here he sits right on one of our glitch-mongers Mercury AND square the progressed Mercury. Transiting Mercury is trine the progressed Mercury for good measure. Oh dear. Not a double whammy but a triple one. Transiting Mercury as we know has just made a square to transiting Uranus, presumably setting up the IT scene nicely.

Indeed the presence of the trickster Mercury here instead of the more dangerous Mars suggests that the Universe is being quite generous. Better this glitch than ones that involves Mars- BA needs to heed to warning and get its act together. The fact that Saturn is trine Mars seems to support this, clam down and do things properly it says. .

Finally, we can look at what the impact is on the floatation chart.

Now we are, once more, looking at another chart that describes something different. This is not about the activity, nor the inner workings of a large corporation; this one is about the performance of the shares. Obviously it will have elements that describe the nature of the activity but it won’t always follow the same trajectory as either of the previous two.

It is interesting to note that once again the time I chose seems to resonate with the chart. The Ascendant of the moment on 25 February coincides with the Descendant of the floatation chart. The MC of the moment opposes the progressed Saturn- suggesting things being depressed/slowed. Coincidence perhaps, but one of the coincidences that the Universe likes to send our way so often.

Anyway, the Floatation chart Ascendant at 25 Pisces is right in the middle of the action. But this time we see little of the glitch itself, rather we see the impact on the shares and reputation.

As well as having Jupiter rising and being square Uranus (I said it might still describe the business and this certainly does), we see that the progressed Sun is at 24 Pisces and transiting Neptune is at 22. The chart Moon is at 24 Cancer trine the Ascendant but square the natal Mars at 23 Aries. And, on the day of the glitch that Moon is opposed by transiting Mars and Venus and that Mars is square them. It’s not good if you are a shareholder. Note that the Pluto Saturn conjunction in 2020 was right on this point- it well describes the difficulties the shares suffered as a result of Covid. Events in February just resurrect the problems.

There are other less significant configurations that are ongoing too. The progressed Ascendant is quincunx the natal Neptune/Venus, another source of value uncertainty. But the latter is not related to the IT problems.

The problems of February 2022 are, though, further confirmed by transiting Saturn at the moment conjoining the progressed Venus, supressing values. All that and the shareholders have to worry about the impact of Russia on flying too.

Finally we can see how everything ties together with two triggers. The transiting Moon at 1 Capricorn is sextile both the progressed Moon and Mercury. Linking the year’s wider conditions (progressed Mercury) to the month’s (progressed Moon) and to the day/hour (transiting Moon). That’s how it works.

Interestingly some of the direct pressures on the shares seem to be waning for two or three years with Pluto giving us a break, but, there is a lot of uncertainty coming up as Neptune continues its journey first over the Ascendant Jupiter-Uranus configuration and then catching up with the progressed Sun. As in everything we look at, interesting days are ahead.

FAANGS- Apple

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 14:02:58 GMT

An astrological analysis of Apple at the earnings call January 2022

So, on to our final FAANG and back to the good news.

Apple issued its quarterly earnings data on January 27th, 2022. The iPhone maker reported $2.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.21. The company earned $123.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $118.53 billion. Apple shares were 3% higher at the next day’s open.

Although the results were good, they weren’t extraordinarily good- the positive impact on the stock price was a reflection of the fact that investors see Apple as a tech safe port of call rather than a source of super growth.

So how does this play out in the birth-chart?

Apple was founded in 1976, so it positively ancient in tech terms. No Neptune/Uranus conjunction here and certainly no cardinal cross. It has traditionally been also as much a hardware as a software company- very different from something like Google for example.

It is initially surprising to see a chart with Saturn so close to the Ascendant but then when you recall that the founder died it becomes clearer- the company couldn’t truly become the mega corporation it has until that happened. But we are not focussing on history here, we are interested in the present. There are a lot of positives in it too.

Apple’s chart for January is not as intuitive as the others. It has an Ascendant of 23 Cancer and transiting Pluto opposite is Saturn very close to this axis. Now this is not as odd as it may seem. Apple has experienced challenges throughout the pandemic in terms of supply limitations etc and its result were despite the more recent of those. Fortunately the progressed Sun is sextile its Saturn and the progressed MC at 23 degrees is sextile the Ascendant, both having a mitigating effect.

Some of the challenges are likely to continue as Pluto forms a quincunx with the progressed Ascendant while continuing to oppose the progressed Saturn.

On the other hand we can also see the positives. Neptune was conjunct the Foundation Venus and close enough to a sextile with progressed Venus and Moon to ensure that the faith investors had in the value of Apple was unaffected by the constraints and that other elements ( strong price positioning) compensated for them. When Neptune conjoins Jupiter in April that will be trine the Company’s Ascendant and sextile its progressed MC. Apple will continue to be a bellwether for the sector.

It is also worth noting that progressed Venus has spent the last decade in conjunction with progressed Jupiter a hugely beneficial combination. Before that both the progressed Sun and MC made the same connection with Jupiter- indicative of the long positive story . Since progressed Venus will now sextile natal Venus for a few years the story can continue a bit longer. I the earnings chart we see Saturn square the progressed Jupiter- Venus conjunction, here Saturn is only serving to dilute the good news rather than to bring bad news.

The fact that transiting Jupiter sextiles the Moon and trines natal Mars is another positive aspect. The negatives didn’t really have a chance.

Indeed the MC of the earnings call was sextile the natal Jupiter and the transiting Mars was trine that Jupiter. Great for good news and trading. The fact that transiting Jupiter is also trine natal Uranus means that we are seeing the best of the company on that day.Although the Ascendant of the call is 24 Gemini and in quincunx to Pluto, not ideal, the excess of Jupiter overcomes it. Notice how that contrasts with some of the other FAANG calls where Pluto or Saturn dominates.

So, what about the IPO chart? It was so long ago that the market was still only opening at 10am then!

I love how this chart has a Jupiter Saturn conjunction, a great sign of longevity. It also has a Sun Neptune conjunction at 20/22 Sagittarius. We’ll come back to that one later!!!

More specifically at present it has progressed Venus applying to a conjunction with the IPO Mars- no wonder Apple is seen as a value refuge for everyone no matter what happens. The fact that at that time in January ( and even today) this is reinforced by transiting Venus conjoining them is just the icing on the cake.

Once again we see that the 2020-21 Pluto- Saturn-Jupiter conjunction was in effect for this chart. ? The natal Pluto is at 23 Libra ( Square the Foundation chart) .And this time we have the call MC at 24 Aries – right opposite the natal Pluto. That looks bad doesn’t it?

However we again have mitigating factors – in the natal chart with the Sun-Neptune conjunction and also the natal Venus/Uranus conjunction in sextile to the transiting Pluto. During both 2020-21 and more recently these have provided support in a difficult environment. We also note that the IPO MC is at 24 Scorpio- so transiting Pluto has been in sextile to this which actually can have the opposite effect of making things massively strong, especially when combined with the Venus-Uranus.

There is something else that mirrors the Foundation chart at earnings call time too. The Ascendant of the earnings call is 7 Leo sextile the IPO Jupiter- Saturn. Not only that but, although the Sun is on the Descendant at the time of the call, there is a sextile/trine to the transiting Moon. The transiting Jupiter makes a quincunx to the Ascendant but that is turned into a benefit because it simultaneously sextile the progressed MC. All that is directed into positive trade by a transiting Mars trine the progressed Moon which is mirroring a progressed Mars-Mercury approaching the IPO Moon ( something that will complete over the next few years).

All in all, there are lots of positives, more than enough to offset the broader environmental negatives.

However we also note that Neptune at 21 Pisces is square the natal IPO Sun-Neptune. We must be aware that there is a large element of illusion involved in this. Part of that is in the brand value, so less likely to collapse overnight than is sometimes the case, but illusion it is nevertheless. With the Sun there it ties to the founder and current CEO too. In the short term not a problem, in the longer term something to be conscious of.

Furthermore that point is going to be emphasised by the April Jupiter-Neptune conjunction. However, it is not clear cut. While Neptune-Jupiter will square the Sun-Neptune, they will also trine the Venus-Uranus-MC point. That looks like the potential for a major top because it doesn’t get much more inflated than this. On the other hand we know that Masr- Saturn will make a similar conjunction in Aquarius a few days before. That will sextile the Sun-Neptune but square the Venus-Uranus-MC. The latter is a good deal more challenging. It will certainly mark an interesting point in the story but is rather difficult to call in this case due to the very mixed mitigating and supporting factors. I can’t wait.

FAANGS-The astrology of Netflix January 2022 earnings impact on stock price

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 19:35:10 GMT

Netflix -

the astrology of the January 2022 earnings impact on stock price

Back to a less successful FAANG this time, or a less rewarding earnings announcement at least

Netflix reported revenue of $7.71bn for fourth quarter of 2021, a 16pc increase in revenue over the same period in 2020 and added 8.28m net paid subscribers missing its own expectation of 8.5m subscribers

It said it is experiencing a slowdown in subscriber additions and gave a weak forecast for the first quarter of 2022 in its latest earnings report.

Netflix shares dropped 20pc after its earnings report was published

But we don’t care about that. We only care whether the astrology aligns. Which it will. Obviously.

Once more we have a foundation chart which seems pretty accepted, and where we use 12 noon as our time, and a valid IPO chart. And, as usual we’ll start with the foundation one from 1997, like a lifetime ago.

Netflix foundation was obviously not as a streaming service. That didn’t happen until 2007 and it wasn’t till 2013 that it produced its own content. Looking back we can see that in 2007 the natal retrograde progressed Mercury stationed and turned direct and soon after the Midheaven progressed into Virgo to join it. A Saturn-Neptune opposition across the MC/IC axis accompanied the change. By 2013-14 progressed Mercury and MC were conjunct. Venus progressed into Scorpio over this period too indicating the change in direction.

But we want to look at now, or rather 4 weeks ago.

The timing of the call has the call MC opposite the progressed MC, that’s not ideal though a sextile to transiting Venus helps.

First we see Saturn conjunct the Foundation Jupiter. That is a classic lowering of expectations sign. Though it is sextile Venus it is also quincunx progressed Mercury- the content is still being produced but the streaming demand is weaker. Don’t forget it isn’t terrible – Netflix still added subscribers, just not as many as it anticipated.

Transiting Uranus has opposed Mars, indicating the unexpected nature of the trading news, and is just about to cross the Descendant axis after which it will go on to oppose progressed Venus and square Jupiter, so expect changes in content scheduling etc. soon.

Transiting Pluto has been quincunx the progressed Moon, and in the days before the call Mars has opposed it, definitely an indicator of dwindling customer interest, though not a strong one. Pluto is sextile progressed Mars, subs are up after all, but there is negativity about the forecast with Pluto moving over the natal Neptune.

Other background changes in environment are shown by the Sun recently progressed into Libra. The trine between the transiting Sun and progressed One is favourable for the leadership, but again it’s opposite the natal Moon, so the shareholders response is not good.

Interestingly Netflix’s foundation chart lacks the 21-24 degree emphasis that is prominent across other tech. This is a different beast.

But things are likely to change vastly in the next couple of years as the progressed Sun trines the natal Uranus and sextiles its Pluto coupled with a shift of the progressed Ascendant into Sagittarius which will make the same aspects as the Sun. One to watch for takeovers etc.

Moving on to the IPO chart

Much more drama here, in keeping with the more extreme reaction by the shares to the earning announcement.

There is some difficulty built into the chart- with a Pluto Saturn opposition. Fortunately that is not particularly activated at the moment.

Our old friend Pluto is sitting slap bang on the IPO Descendant and is opposite the progressed Venus, significator of value. Things were going down in January. The quincunx to the IPO Mars points to share trading matters.

We also see that the progressed Ascendant is opposite the IPO natal Neptune at the moment. But that is a long term (approx. year) configuration.

Another ongoing, for a few months, aspect is the square between transiting Neptune and the progressed Sun, suggesting a somewhat unclear picture and leadership concern over strategy.

But this all describes the wider picture, not the hour or even day of the announcement.

Mars at 27 Sagittarius opposite the natal Mars is one of the triggers. Uranus reaching 10 Taurus square the Prog Ascendant – Neptune opposition is another. The fact that the Midheaven is at 10 Aries makes this configuration all the more potent, albeit diluting its impact somewhat as it is a sextile/trine. Progressed Mars, indicator of trading levels, is at 9 Cancer so immediately gets activated. It’s a trine with Uranus but that is not good as it means even more trade – in this case selling.

The IPO Jupiter is at 14 Cancer, so the same degree as in the Foundation chart, that means that transiting Saturn forms a quincunx with it (rather than the conjunction we saw earlier). But the killer blow is the transiting Ascendant at 13 Leo. Another company that needs an astrologer- it really isn’t a good idea to schedule your earnings call for when Saturn is slap bang on the Descendant in New York. Especially when that is close enough to the progressed Ascendant too. And making it quincunx transiting Venus does nothing for the value of your shares.

Having said that, there is a neat correlation between the IPO Sun conjunct Mercury and the transiting Sun Mercury which trines it. In that respect the timing came together. Day good- hour no so much.

It wasn’t all bad news of course and that is reflected in the chart. The Midheaven which is sextile transiting Jupiter and trine the Moon at the time of the call is sextile the IPO Venus- echoing the themes in the Foundation chart. That’s pretty good and echoes the increase in content and in subscribers even though this fell short of that hoped for.

We also note that the progressed Sun at 21 Gemini and Moon at 22 Libra will be picked up by the April configurations- so little effect on the underlying business but some on the Company particularly the leadership. And with Pluto moving forward to square the progressed ,Mc in the next year or two things for the shares look as interesting as for the underlying company.

FAANGS - Amazon

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 13:09:20 GMT

An astrological analysis of Amazon share price in January 2022

Moving swiftly on after the Meta drama, we come to Amazon.

Now this is another kettle of fish altogether. What makes Amazon different is that it started as a retail company using the internet as its (only) outlet rather than the other tech companies we have looked at where the product was the data/information itself.

Furthermore Amazon has not only grown massively but also diversified into cloud services and other investments. That again makes it rather different from other the other contenders and its recent results reflected that.

Amazon’s stock jumped on the basis of the results. Overall revenue grew 9% year over year to $137.4 billion near the high end of the company's guidance range. Net income increased by 99% to $14.3 billion. But, the latter was due to a pre-tax gain of $11.8 billion from the company's investment in Rivian

While advertising revenue accounted for 7.1% of total fourth-quarter revenue, it would be a higher percentage of total operating income. ( note however, although separate Ad revenue is interesting, it only exists due to the retail business). The Cloud services business – AWS, is the biggest winner, though, both in terms of growth and profitability.

Anyway, let’s get down to ( astrology) business.

As usual we have to take a midday chart for our foundation chart but at least we have a solid acknowledged date for it. We’ve set the chart for the start of the earnings call again -14.30 PST.

What is interesting about the chart is that transiting Pluto, now at 27 Capricorn, has in recent years made its triple conjunction with Saturn and Jupiter right on the Neptune/Uranus conjunction in the Amazon chart. Given that this Amazon chart carries the essence of that Neptune /Uranus conjunction in the 1990s which heralded the birth of the internet, it is interesting to see how the company has evolved and changed ( fortunately natal Pluto is sextile the Ascendant and sextile transiting Pluto) and even benefited from the Covid crisis.

But that is history (albeit recent history), let’s look at where we are now.

Staying with transiting Pluto we see that it is now trine the Amazon ascendant which is providing substantial power to the company, though it is about to oppose progressed Jupiter which might give some difficulties to a company focused on connections, but that is for the coming months not now.

The Company does have its progressed Midheaven opposite its natal Neptune/Uranus at the moment emphasising its successes though not necessarily being directly responsible for them.

The transiting Sun, Saturn conjunction that caused so many problems for Facebook, is less prominent here. The Ascendant of the call is quincunx it ( as well as the natal Sun) rather than in opposition

The transiting Moon is conjunct the transiting MC and Neptune and is square the progressed Mars. This is interesting- suggesting that the true trading picture may be obscured.

There are some real positives in the chart in terms of sentiment with transiting Jupiter square the Amazon Moon. Investors would be over- excited by the results. This is further emphasized by the Mars/Venus conjunction , Progressed Sun and Moon and transiting Uranus, all around 7-10 degrees.

The combined effect of having Moon and Mars in aspect twice – a double whammy- could theoretically re-confirm the reaction of the investors to the results. Though, in the case of the Foundation chart it is more likely to relate to the retail element signified by the natal Moon -Mars conjunction than the shareholders. The transiting Mars quincunx and Moon square are perhaps indicative of the challenge of balancing the retail sales with the advertising.

I am very interested to see what the next couple of months will bring. The Neptune Jupiter conjunction will oppose progressed Venus and trine the progressed MC and Sextile the Neptune/Uranus. Together that represents a key point in the valuation of the company. Although the Saturn Mars conjunction may mitigate the upside somewhat it is not the dominant pairing so it looks like April could see a peak in the activity.

But then Neptune goes on to cross the Descendant and that might see a turning point of sorts. We will see.

Moving on to the IPO chart.

It is interesting to compare this with Facebook. Although the ascendant for the call is at 18 Leo in New York – not far from opposition with the Saturn Sun conjunction which might by itself result in negative sentiment, the Descendant is also almost conjunct the Amazon IPO Jupiter which has the opposite effect. Combine that with the progressed Sun at 18 Gemini, a trine to the progressed Saturn at 18 Aries and a natal Ascendant sextile Mars at 20 Cancer, we can see how the overall position is far too strong for the transiting Saturn conjunction, especially when the Moon has reached Neptune.

As mentioned above that Moon- Neptune combination obscures the true picture with rose tinted glasses.

One of the interesting factors about the announcements was the way the earnings vastly exceeded expectations ( due to the Rivian gain) and that is clearly highlighted by the transiting conjunction of Uranus with the Midheaven at 9/10 Taurus close enough to a natal Uranus square to create some upset.

Rather like in the Foundation chart, the transiting Jupiter at 7 Pisces ( sextile transiting Mars) is active here, again with the Moon. There is a quincunx to the progressed Ascendant and Moon and an opposition to the IPO Moon but also in trine with the progressed Venus . The response of the audience to the Foundation chart is therefore mirrored here. That correlation is good news in the sense that we can assume that there is no significant disconnect between the underlying company and the shares. That is not always the case and is reassuring.

Other than an ongoing sextile between progressed Mercury and the IPO Midheaven – a real bonus in this type of business, there is little else to report.

We can see, again, that Pluto will go on to 29 degrees and in this case conjoin the IPO Neptune, that may be somewhat more problematic though there are not enough other planets involved to make it all about Amazon ; more likely to be background environment issues then.

We also note the planets that will be affected by the April conjunctions. The Saturn/Mars conjunction will be exactly conjunct the Amazon IPO Jupiter. That shouldn’t be too much of a worry, as the combination will really cancel each other out. The Neptune Jupiter conjunction is probably already in effect given the prominence of the Ascendant degree at 20 Cancer, but will really be activated by the IPO natal Sun at 24 Taurus and the progressed Mars at 25Virgo. That suggests major activity around mid April affecting stock trading and the Founder/Main corporate identity.

Sounds promising ( for astrologers at any rate).

So there we are. Watch this space.

FAANGS- Facebook

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 18:14:43 GMT

An astrological analysis of Facebook's February 2022 earnings call

You win some, you lose some and so it goes with the FAANGS. While Google shareholders prospered after it announced its results , Meta/Facebook share price floundered losing more than 25% of its value after announcing its quarter 4 earnings.

Surely that must show in the astrology charts? Shall we take a peek?

This is the second time in less than six months that I have looked at Facebook. The first was when it was suffering problems in late September/early October. However those were specific events, albeit perhaps symptomatic of wider issues but what we are looking for now is evidence of broader failings in the business strategy itself.

So it’s back to the foundation and First trade charts for us.

Well, straight in there with the most basic astrology, Facebook ain’t messing around. Saturn is conjunct the Facebook

foundation Sun/Neptune conjunction ( which is also quincunx the progressed Jupiter) all activated by the transiting Sun and a new moon around that degree the day before. They really blew it with the earnings call time – the Ascendant of the call is at 15 Leo opposite the Sun – owch – they need to get an astrologer!!

It is quite appropriate that not only did Facebook lose 25% of its value but Mark Zuckerberg the founder lost $20b too. It probably doesn’t help that progressed Mars at 12 degrees Taurus is nearly square the Sun and the progressed Ascendant at 12 Virgo also quincunx it too. The fact that they will be exact in a couple of years is not exactly encouraging.

There are some saving graces in the chart, with progressed Venus at 6 Aries Sextile the Sun and a nice trine this week between transiting Jupiter and the Founding Saturn. Both of these suggest value being preserved in the underlying business. Just imagine without those it could have been worse!!

Added to this nasty little number is transiting Pluto, still close to the Facebook Mercury, is also currently at 27 degrees quincunx the natal Ascendant.

Obviously Facebook is another one of the 22-24 Pisces fan club, though it is not in the all’s booming camp. With Pluto at 21 Sagittarius it is already activated by a Neptune square- Facebook finding that the tech environment has moved on since it was founded and finding itself not in the right place. There may be some upside in April though as Jupiter and Neptune will conjunct on the Facebook Venus

We can be hopeful that with Saturn no longer at 15 degrees, that very heavy depressive effect with abate somewhat but since it will move on to square the Midheaven I won’t hold my breath

Pluto will soon move into an exact opposition with the natal Moon. Not a happy time for shareholders and customers alike- but frankly it is probably activating now as they are getting that picture already.

Turning now to the IPO chart, oh yes, here we go again

Serendipitously or deliberately, we don’t know, but Facebook timed its first trade for when its founding Sun was on the Descendant of the IPO chart. That was fine in 2012, less great for the earnings call in February 2022…..

Because of course that means that Saturn was practically slap bang on the Descendant for the earnings announcement. Oops. Just for good measure the progressed MC for the year is at 16 Taurus, so square transiting Saturn. The IPO chart also has progressed Mars at 13 Virgo quincunx the transiting Saturn (another degree that was picked up by the foundation chart).

However, unlike the foundation chart, there are no mitigating trines. That is actually interesting – it does suggest that Facebook may well have been oversold following the announcement compared to the underlying value. Whether that is a long term position however remains to be seen.

And although normally Jupiter is a benefic, here in the February chart it is Jupiter square the IPO progressed Sun. Doing what Jupiter does best, making everything related to the company and its founder just a big bit bigger. When that is losses, it doesn’t feel so benefic, I am sure.

Another interesting factor is the transiting Neptune at 21 Pisces, square the foundation Venus. Now that is an indication of values diverged from reality- the only question is in which direction? We may begin to get a picture of that by April when Jupiter reaches Neptune. The fact that the natal Jupiter is at 24 Taurus and will be Sextile the conjunction also suggests the potential for unrealistic expectations, although these may be moderated by the square from Saturn/Mars the same month and the natal Saturn at 23 Libra which is stabilizing for Venus. The situation in April is further confused by the progressed Ascendant at 24 Leo.

Since the progressed Moon that month opposes the natal Neptune I would expect values to be all over the shop. And with Uranus moving first to quincunx progressed Mars then to square the Ascendant and then to cross the progressed MC Facebook will be living in interesting times for much of the year.

I’m sure it will make a great trade, but buy and hold- I don’t think so.

FAANGS - Google

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 16:01:16 GMT

An astrological analysis of Google at earnings time February 2022

So, bar any other global dramas in February, and because they’ve all recently issued their earnings figures, I thought I’d do a series on the Faangs.

Let’s start on a happy note with Google/Alphabet.

Quarterly revenue came in at $75.33 billion, up 32% on a year ago . For full-year 2021, Alphabet reported revenue of $257 billion, up 41% on a year ago. To accompany the resultant stock price rise they announced a 20-1 share split. So this should be an interesting chart or charts.

Google was apparently founded on 4 September 1998. As usual, we’ll use midday in the absence of exact time. I’ve set the charts for the time of the earnings call.

It will come as no shock to regular readers of Optimesia Insights, that Google has some planets at 21-24 Pisces, the degrees of the upcoming Neptune/Jupiter conjunction. Indeed, it is not messing about, it has Jupiter there, neatly covering all bases with the natal position at 24 Pisces and the progressed one at 21. Whatever the markets will be doing Google will be on it.

Not satisfied with just that, its Midheaven ( for the midday chart) is at 24 Leo with Mercury bang on that. But this year, when it appears unbeatable it has progressed Mars right slap bang on that Midheaven. Mars has been in a relatively tight orb of the position since 2018 and will remain so for the next couple of years. This indicates much trade in the stock and a prominent strategy. I particularly like the fact that the transiting Moon was close to the opposition with this point when a stock split was announced.

Of course the announcement had to happen at a time that would activate this point and we see that Mercury this week is stationed at 24 Capricorn.

Just to be absolutely sure that everything was looking good, Google also has the progressed Moon trine its natal Venus this month.

It will be interesting to see what April and the two conjunctions bring, there is potential for soaring stock with the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction but Saturn and Mars may bring some hard news for the consumers and perhaps employees.

Another interesting factor in the chart is the natal opposition between Mars and Uranus, it is perfect for ambitious tech company and beautifully describes the original search engine. It has recently had a transiting Uranus square to this but appears to have dealt with this by diversification and renaming. I do wonder what the square of Uranus to the natal Moon in 2023/4 will bring though.

Those familiar with the astrology will be also wondering about the possible negative that having the progressed Ascendant cross the natal Pluto might bring in the next two years. I am not too concerned about this as the progressed Sun and Mercury are sextile, Pluto thus probably manifesting as a strength. I think that this may play out as strength despite surrounding challenging conditions. This is further suggested by the fact that transiting Pluto will go on to conjunct natal Neptune over the next two years – things won’t be as clear in the broader environment.

Indeed the greatest problem appears to be that things are so well starred at the moment there is less room for upside.

And the one thing that does concern me is that by 2024, Pluto will square the Google Saturn. This might bring some direct challenges for the company. But consideration of that is for later.

The second chart we are considering is the first trade one.

The IPO was on 19 August 2004, and according to reports the first trade occurred just before noon at 11.55 local time in New York.

This one is a proper timed chart and shows the power of astrology with the Ascendant for the time of the Earnings announcement all right on the Midheaven of the IPO chart. I love it when a Universal plan comes together…

We also immediately see that transiting Uranus is square at natal Midheaven, the announcement brought surprises in terms of the Stock split but those relating to value ( Venus) were positive with Uranus sextile the IPO Venus. Indeed the picture was further enhanced by the transiting Venus at 11 Capricorn.

We would expect to see that 21-24 axis highlighted again and we are not disappointed. The natal Jupiter is at 22 Virgo ( i.e opposite the Google Foundation chart one). It is supported by a nice trine to the Google Saturn in Cancer. Certainly it appears to have been a good time to start the share trading back in 2004.

There are other interesting factors too. The transiting Sun on 1 February was at 13 Aquarius, the degree of the Google Neptune and also in quincunx to the progressed Sun. Obviously the transiting Sun is there each year and probably the earnings announcement is around the same time each year so it is not particularly noteworthy. However the position of the progressed Sun does suggest that perhaps we don’t have a complete picture of everything particularly at leadership level.

This is further suggested by a quincunx between transiting Pluto and the natal Sun/progressed Mercury. While to some extent being another indication of the stock split, it may also indicate some split over direction/strategy for the future.

The chart mirrors that of the Google foundation date with Uranus opposing Mars ( and Mercury), but the original business wasn’t the main focus of the announcement with little activating this point. And transiting Jupiter is moving away from this point too.

Going forward we note that Pluto will soon oppose the progressed Venus, so perhaps there will be a pull back in the share price over the next couple of years. This is in line with the suggestion of the foundation chart- the company will be doing well but the Stock Market environment perhaps less so, leading to some suppression of values but with Google still outperforming other companies.

Other factors to look out for over the coming years are progressed Mars forming a square with the Google IPO Pluto and the transiting Uranus crossing the progressed Descendant and progressed Mercury moving away from the IPO Sun. Once again we are left feeling that now might be as good as it gets.

Russia- the astrology of potential for conflict with Ukraine 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 20:54:00 GMT

Russia and the astrology of potential conflict with Ukraine 2022

It seems only fair that having looked at Ukraine last week, I now turn to Russia.

Unlike Ukraine, I am familiar with the Russian chart, and indeed have already done forecasts for the country up to 2025. I will therefore stick to the chart I know which is again from The Book of World Horoscopes by Nick Campion. In keeping with my policy of trying to use the first chart that covers the country concerned I use the 1613 chart. That does not mean others will not work.

I have set the transits for the same time as those for Ukraine. It is not a prediction, merely a suitable time to select.

I looked back at the forecast I had already prepared a year ago. One of the first things I pointed out was that the progressed Moon would cross the Ascendant in 2022 and eventually reach its natal position. My assumption was that this would resonate with the themes from the collapse of the USSR in 1989-91!!!

My forecast does not however specifically mention any attacks on neighbouring countries in the early part of the year. It does mention that in 2021-2 there will be difficulties which become more acute in January 2022 and these include the possibility of concerns that the leadership is weak and responses to that including confrontations. I did conclude that there was a militant mood in the country from May to August and this did not look like internal unrest but combined strength. But that seems too late for the current situation.

I also note that January 2022 may be a time when there would be a technology crackdown which is in line with the bans on crypto and related decisions.

However, my 4 year forecast was a broad outline so it definitely merits reconsidering in the light of the new information.

Looking at the chart we can first consider the broader picture. Pluto has been opposing the country’s moon and square its progressed Sun, this does not happy internal relations make even though it has also been trine its Neptune and progressed Venus which are somewhat mitigating. Pluto has now reached a quincunx with the progressed Uranus, so it is not surprising that problems are breaking out. Rather as in the case of Ukraine, if there were no external challenges there would almost certainly be some form of internal unrest.

We also see that transiting Neptune will make its upcoming conjunction with Jupiter opposite the country’s Jupiter and square its Uranus. It is also quincunx the progressed Jupiter. This is interesting, it suggests that the country may have unrealistic visions and may bite off more than it can chew. We’ll have a better idea of that when the conjunction is exact in early April. It is also worth noting that this is probably not a good aspect for the country’s currency either.

While we are on the subject we can also consider the Saturn Mars conjunction at 21 Aquarius that precedes the Neptune Jupiter one. This will at least make a more positive aspect to the country’s Uranus and progressed Jupiter suggesting that any conflict could be managed without getting out of hand. Though the quincunx with Jupiter suggests force could be disproportionate.

On balance I wouldn’t advise it!!!

Furthermore by 11 ^th February transiting Jupiter will cross the Russian Midheaven. Normally I would say that this would put it is the global spotlight but clearly it is a bit late for that! It could be a positive sign for the country suggesting success in its endeavours. However I remain concerned about the potential for hubris.

I have, as mentioned, set the chart for Feb 4 ^th . On that day the transiting Sun and Saturn are conjunct – that certainly gives strength to any leader. However it is conjunct the country’s Mercury so communications can be restricted or negative, even though Mercury itself goes direct that day. And the conjunction is happening on the country’s Descendant- which could mean rather than the Russian leadership being strong it comes up against an immovable object in the form of another country- the US perhaps? Furthermore transiting Uranus is almost stationed on the country’s progressed Mercury through this period, that means a tendency for unexpected glitches.

Another interesting factor to note, though, is the conjunction of transiting Mars and Venus. This lasts a few weeks but is exact when on the Russian Descendant. Indeed Mars first catches up with Venus and later Venus moves ahead. I have to admit I can’t be sure what this means but it could be positive as it could ultimately relate to treaties or agreements which would suggest some sort of resolution of the situation.

Mind you, these are inner planets so may only suggest temporary resolution. However, Mars is strong in its position in Capricorn and this could equally suggest it dominating a weaker party. A further explanation is that this relates to economic ( Venus) sanctions ( Mars) imposed by the US/UN as a result of Russia’s actions. This is in some ways a better explanation as the conjunction is on the Descendant, so not necessarily within Russia’s control. Still, on balance, it is probably better to see this configuration than not and certainly better to see Mars tempered by Venus than on its own or with Saturn which it will be a month or so later.

Looking forward over the coming years, it appears there are further issues to be addressed- relating to leadership, technology, propaganda. 2024 Looks particularly challenging. But that is part of other reports so we won’t delve into it here.

Ukraine and the astrology of the Russian troop build up

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:39:56 GMT

Ukraine and the astrology of the Russian threat January 2022

Well, no prizes for guessing my topic of this week. We are in Ukraine.

This is perhaps a hard one for me, as when I look at the summer 1991 chart I see so much of my life bound up in its threads. It is not just Ukraine who has seen glories and now wonders where things will go next and experiences a sense of loss for what could have been.

Perhaps in astrological terms this is inevitable we are after all just ending a Saturn return and moving into a new generation.

Anyway, enough sentimentality, let’s get down to the hard facts.

The chart, another new one for me, is again unchanged from N Campion’s Book of World Horoscopes.

You will notice that I have set the transits for 4 February. I read a non-astrological comment that sid that February 4 ^th was the most likely date for an invasion, as I knew this was the day Mercury went direct, I thought it seemed appropriate. So here we go.

Not only has Ukraine recently passed its Saturn return (indeed its importance was underlined by the Jupiter Conjunction on its natal Saturn a year ago), but it will now follow this with a square between transiting Saturn and its natal Pluto in the next few weeks. If that was not enough, over the coming year or so Uranus will first cross the IC (base) of the chart, quincunx the progressed Mars and then later in the year oppose that Pluto. Uranus is a very disruptive influence- indeed perhaps better to have it coming from outside than be internal.

After that Pluto will move into Aquarius and conjunct the natal Saturn as well as quincunx the natal Sun. Pluto represents long term hard evolution and can be very destructive. What can be sure is that the events of late January are likely to be only the beginning of some challenges.

However we must be careful not to be over sensitive. The country has already, between 2012 and 2018. seen transiting Pluto cross its Ascendant,Uranus and Neptune followed by Saturn and had its progressed Ascendant square its natal Pluto in 2020/21. It has survived that, it can survive more.

It is also noteworthy that within 12 months the progressed Ascendant will have reached the Ukraine Moon. This certainly suggests that the people are going to be caught up in whatever follows but also in determining how it plays out. With Moon in Aquarius they are not going to give up their independence lightly.

We also can see another interesting factor in the progressed Sun. At Independence the Sun was at 0 Virgo. Thirty years later it changes signs. This is not the same as the sort of radical change that accompanies coups but it does suggest that the nature of the leader’s style will change for the next 30 years. Fortunately it is not especially badly aspected, with a trine to Saturn for the next two years. That suggests responsibility but by itself it doesn’t suggest drama. Whatever happens, things will look different for the next decades though.

However, there are other challenges to be found in the chart. Neptune, we know is soon to be joined by Jupiter at 23 Pisces, at the same time as Saturn joins Mars at around 22 Aquarius. Given that the Ukraine chart has progressed Mercury at 22 Virgo opposite that Neptune conjunction ( and Mars at 25- more of this later) as well as progressed Venus at 23 Leo ( the start of a key stellium), the period from February to April looks to be very interesting to say the least.

On the day I’ve chosen to set the chart ( 4 ^th February) , we see that Mercury has gone direct at 24 Capricorn close to conjunction with Pluto. This is trine Mars, a positive for military might, but is also quincunx the chart Jupiter Mercury and Venus.

But we also note that transiting Mars, our trigger happy friend is right on the Ascendant of the Ukraine chart. Which is also very close to the chart Uranus too. This could indeed literally signify invasion, (though I would prefer the 7 ^th house for that) or a spirited defence. We will see. If we are correct then it will be very easy to track the evolution of the conflict.

What we can note is that as well as Uranus transits over the next years and the Pluto transits that follow, we also see that Neptune will come to oppose the natal Mars in 2023, just as the progressed Mercury conjoins that Mars. Mars with Neptune tends to mean protracted fights without resolution or fights that go underground. Mercury will only reinforce that.

To summarise we have the following to look forward to:

2022 Uranus opposite Midheaven then Pluto

Saturn /Mars conjunct prog Ascendant and Moon

Neptune/Jupiter opposite prog Mercury

2023 Neptune opposes Mars and prog Mercury and quincunx Jupiter/Mercury stellium

Uranus square progressed Ascendant and Moon

2024 Pluto conjunct Saturn quincunx Sun

Uranus/Jupiter square Jupiter/Mercury, square progressed Ascendant, trine Mars

2025 Pluto trine progressed Sun

Neptune sextile Saturn

Uranus/Jupiter square Jupiter/Mercury, square progressed Ascendant, trine Mars (cont)

Switzerland it is most definitely not!

Note: Long term readers will know how consistently dull I find the Swiss chart. Nice for the Swiss but a bit of a chore for me as there is almost nothing dramatic to forecast.

Inflation and the markets: a mainly non-astrological perspective

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 21:25:47 GMT

Inflation and the markets: a (mainly) non-astrological perspective

Introduction

I want to diverge from my primary focus this week, because I am interested in the potential outcome over the coming years of the expected increases in inflation, whether they be “transitory” or not.

We don’t need to call in an expert stock market analyst to know that over the last decade, and especially over most of the last 2 years, the markets have risen, well, quite literally exponentially.

Until very recently, nothing seems to dampen the animal spirits. When interest rates fall or quantitative easing increases the markets rise (despite the fact that this is indicating the FED’s concern for the economy) and when the FED says the taper will begin, the markets rise again. The bulls didn’t seem to be able to lose. Until the last few weeks, maybe.

There are plenty of punters that think that the dips are just that and that the market is on an ever upward trajectory. This is especially so of Tech stocks and, by extension, crypto assets. It is interesting to watch the twitter threads- people who have never invested before, believing the hype and not understanding, sometimes even their own investment, but more frequently and more importantly, the bigger picture.

It is logical if you only see part of the picture and conclude that both the asset inflation of the last decades and the general inflation of the coming ones will be leading to a devaluation of fiat, to then deduce that stocks must be a good bet and tech or growth stocks are the best place for your cash.

Similarly it makes sense if you only look at one major facet of fiat currency ( i.e. its infinite expansion towards zero value) to think that an alternative such bitcoin is a sensible option.

However the bigger picture is more nuanced. So I want to look at where we are in the cycles of rates and inflation from an astrological cycle perspective but also from a practical grass roots one.

The astrology

We are aware that with astrology everything runs in cycles. If follows that we need to be aware that we may just be starting a completely new one where the recent past is not a guide to the future, though of course the bigger astrological cycles will be.

I think anyone who knows even the smallest element of non-Sun sign astrology, also knows that 2020-21 was a significant time. With the combined conjunction of Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter in Capricorn we unsurprisingly have had a very “interesting” time. But the conjunctions are only part of the picture.

I’ve mentioned before about the fact that the Pluto/Saturn and Jupiter conjunction , represented the end of a cycle that began in 1981. The fact that this corresponds with the increase in credit/ debt over the last 40 years as well as the reduction in interest rates that accompanied that for around the last 30 of those years, is an indicator that the picture for the next cycles is highly likely to be a different one.

I have also mentioned, more recently in many of my posts, the upcoming Neptune/Jupiter conjunction in late Pisces and how this is likely to be a peak moment in many markets ( though as I have mentioned the exact timing of the peak may not coincide exactly- indeed it is possible that in some markets it has already happened).

Finally there is the third picture that I have referenced a few times now; that of the end of the waning sextiles and trines: the Neptune/Pluto sextile , the Pluto/Uranus trine and the Uranus Neptune Sextile. With these currently being accentuated by Pluto Saturn and Pluto Jupiter sextiles ( the latter ending around when Jupiter reaches Neptune), we have never had it so good. So the chances are “things” are going to catch up with us.

But what exactly are the problems that we have been naively building over the previous decades and what could wrong?

The background

This is not going to be a technical economic paper- I want it to be accessible, so it won’t deal with every permutation and theory and there won’t be any calculus. The purpose is to outline the broad themes and how they could play out if the portents of the coming astrological cycles are to be fulfilled as I expect.

I’ve already mentioned debt/credit and interest rates. But they are only part of the picture, after all it’s been ok so far hasn’t it? And even if things get worse countries such as the US are surely very well placed to survive; aren’t they?

Well yes, things have been mainly OK, but that is because some elements of the environment have been obscuring others. For a start, globalisation has been a huge factor in the consumption of the west over the last 40 years. I recall buying a skirt when I was about 13 and noting it was cheap for what it was. Yet, it would cost much the same today because production of such items have been outsourced to cheaper countries.

Everyone from the very poor to the very rich has benefited from this shift. People have been able to but more occasional items and luxuries because the basics have got cheaper.

But that is not the whole picture. Since 1981 there has also been a huge increases in personal credit. Not to mention government borrowings. Costs have been deferred to later and even the next generation.

And just when it looked like the chickens were coming home to roost on the size of the credit balances, Quantitative easing and other measures designed to prevent recession after 2008 and beyond including during the pandemic have contributed to an ongoing sense of ease for most people.

But it has also contributed to a polarisation of wealth. We know, that the last few years have exacerbated these trends, for example the top billionaires saw their wealth double in the last year or so, which hardly suggest that the trends of the last couple of decades are reversing or even stabilising.

I don’t have access to sufficient data to look at the details of the UK or even of the US in more recent years but we can get an idea by looking at some of the data from 2012-13 similar to that used by Piketty in his Capital in the 21 ^st Century.

First we can look at the income by quintile for the period 1965 to 2015. It is pretty clear from this that since the 1980s there has been a huge divergence in income growth between rich and poor

But income is only part of the picture. We need to give an indication of the trends in wealth too. While income can party be a proxy for that it is not the whole picture.

The data is less easy to come by but at least we can see the picture for the top 10 ^th and bottom 90 ^th . It is not reassuring.

Here is similar information put into absolute terms.

What is part icularly frightening about this is tthat for the bottom 60% there has been little increase in Nominal wealth over 40 years despite gradual income inflation and massive asset inflation.

Finally we have an even more interesting graph. This one is for a 100 years. While the graph title focusses on the possibility that we are about to repeat 1929 and the 1930s, I am more interested in how it parallels the astrology. The flat section from the 40s to the 1960s shows us the period when Pluto and Neptune were sextile before the Pluto Uranus conjunction. That triggers an even more equal position for a short while. But by the early 80s we are on an upwards trend that hardly stops for a breather other than in 2000-1 in its relentless transfer of wealth to the very rich.

But, while t hat all says a lot about the impact of easy money on the overall value of assets, and perhaps what happens when you lower interest rates over time ( though I am sure others would argue that with me), it doesn’t really say anything much about general inflation.

And, obviously, it is a summary of the past and says nothing about the future or as they say ( correctly in the sense they are using it though incorrectly if we are talking astrology) “ past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance”.

What it does tell us is that the ability of different economic groups within the population to face changes to their financial position is noticeably different from 40 years ago. Cheap debt and low general inflation due to globalisation has for the most part prevented this becoming a critical problem until now. However the large pool of the relatively poor have little if any slack in their budgets and that pool of poor people is relatively larger than the one that existed in 1980.

With that in mind it is time we face the monster.

T he likely trajectory- the journey begins

I want to leave aside true hyperinflation for the moment, as I don’t think countries such as US, UK and Western Europe are likely to see that in the immediate future- though by 2060 all bets will be off. I prefer to look at the impact of moderately significant inflation which I consider much more likely.

The problem is we do not know for any given company just how the mix of income inflation and cost inflation will play out. This is why we cannot necessarily relax about tech shares for example.

At a macroeconomic level we have companies, labour and consumers ( and of course public sector activity). In theory a company may have the same people as its labour, its consumers and its shareholders. In practice, while there is some overlap between the sets, there is plenty that is outside one or more groups. Then, other than labour, inputs will include natural resources, land and purchased materials (made by other companies labour either locally or elsewhere).

Obviously depending on how relative inflation changes the exact picture will be complex. So it is helpful, even when not using mathematics, to use the convention of taking the extreme case first to demonstrate the bounds of the problem.

The simple case- one direction

So let’s start with a simple (albeit wholly unrealistic position); Everyone’s wages increase at exactly the same rate as every single wholesale and consumer price. In this case although the nominal cost/price of everything increases the relative costs don’t – everyone can afford to buy exactly the same mix of products/labour/resources as they did before. Great. In this case holding assets across the board is an advantage and holding fiat most definitely is not.

In this simplistic model, the only thing that changes for the company and individuals is the relative cost of debt service. The amount of nominal debt (and even in many cases the interest rate) is fixed in the past. The relative importance of the debt decreases as inflation increases. The debtors become relatively less well- off and the creditors become relatively better off. Great if you owe money (as do many governments) less good if you are owed it.

However, even in this simple case, there are complications. Suppose you are a government with a public sector pension fund which holds debt instruments. Will you be better off or worse off due to inflation? Without exact numbers it is impossible to say.

So, if it’s impossible to say in the simplest cases, imagine what happens when things get a little or a lot more complex!

Introducing a split in the route

Now then, let’s get to the meat of the issue. In this case suppose (due for example to natural resource/harvests/foreign trade disruptions) prices of inputs in an industry go up more than labour costs – If this happens consumers are squeezed.

But, what if this happens across the board.

Let us look at a selection of products and what may happen if prices rise significantly

Let’s look at what that might look like for an individual. If for example their salary goes up due to inflation by 10% ( and taxes and housing follow suit) but companies across the board increase their prices in line with other inputs by 20% and the consumers’ potential expenditure would rise by 20% then what would happen would look like this:

In this typical illustration, percentage expenditure in the occasional or luxury groups, which incidentally includes much of consumer tech, falls.

In this case what the company sees is reduced demand. It doesn’t look like much on the diagram but it is 50% of demand in those categories. Reduced demand is less units sold and so less profit on the bottom line.

Suppose, on the other hand, companies across the board allow the inputs to rise without increasing prices. Demand for units may will remain the same rise but in most cases the net impact will be lower margins and profits.

Either way, pain to the consumer will feed through to the majority of companies. Companies with big overheads will fail as will companies that make the wrong choices or get behind in rising prices.

In practice, tech for example is a mainly people business. But this does not protect it from the substitution away from occasional and luxury towards essentials, only from the increased inputs other than labour.

There is no escape. No automatic silver lining for the stock market once the cycle begins to unfold.

Ever more complex route decisions

However this is not the full picture. Other options are available. Maybe wage inflation will increase more than other inputs? Maybe companies can increase their prices accordingly? That sounds promising.

But it is unlikely. We have, as mentioned, reached the end of that cycle and globalisation is no longer the route to cheaper and cheaper (even in real terms).

Then we have the other variable: debt and interest rates. There is no reason to think that the demand for debt (consumer or government) will decrease noticeably in the near future. Rates going up will have the same impact as input prices on consumers’ disposable incomes. Heaven knows what will happen to governments. (Only significant inflation to erode the debt faster than the interest needs to be serviced can really see them out of their holes).

For example while general inflation will lead to a bigger tax take all other things being equal, it will take balancing to get that tax take to cover the inflation in labour costs. Add to that the pressure to raise interest rates ( interest being added to any deficit) and there is a risk that net debt will rise not fall despite the inflation.

Given that it has done so consistently in the good times it is a stretch to think it is going to evaporate in a few years in the less stable ones.

The answer of course to all these examples is “it depends”. It depends on the mix of labour vs resource inflation. It depends on the cost structure of an individual company. It depends on to what extent people can access cheaper foodstuffs or alternatives to heating. It depends, it depends, it depends…..

There are plenty of people whose job is to model these things day in day out so let’s not try to do their jobs.

The only thing we can know for sure is that things will change and we cannot assume that simple extrapolation will give us an answer and is highly unlikely to give is the answer we were secretly hoping for.

Conclusions

The astrology suggests we have reached, or are reaching the end of a number of long term cycles and the environment of low inflation due to globalisation, increasing debt coupled with reducing rates and loose money inflating asset prices is coming to an end.

We see over the next decade the picture radically changing to one where the majority (excepting the top 10%) have far less discretionary expenditure and envisage that this will flow through into corporate profits and thus share prices. Indeed we can’t be sure that inflation will be the end result as ultimately the problem might just be lack of demand i.e recession even though medium term inflation may take us to that point.

However, we do not see lower interest rates continuing, (though at first rises will be slow they may have to accelerate in later decades), and this will further pressurise individuals, not to mention governments. That too will feed through into asset prices including eventually even property.

Enjoy spending your money now. Or put it on the horses. You might as well.

The USA in 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 23:34:25 GMT

A look at the astrology of the USA in 2022

Although I don’t usually do forecasts on this blog, I decided to make a special case for the USA due to the significance of its 2022 configurations and specifically the Pluto return position of 27 degrees Capricorn ( and 29 the progressed Pluto) which is reactivating many of the conditions of the country’s “birth” through independence in 1776.

The good news is that the conjunctions of Neptune and Jupiter and Saturn and Mars described in my previous post are not at or around 27-29 degrees, the degrees not just of Pluto but of the natal Moon in Aquarius which will also have its return around October. It is not a coincidence these two returns appear in the same year – the cycle of Pluto is almost exactly the same as the cycle of 9 full moon cycles.

The bad news is that the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction is almost exactly opposite the US Neptune and square its Mars. That means that the Saturn Mars conjunction is also quincunx the natal Neptune though it is only in trine to the natal Mars (I say only as with two malefics a trine does not necessarily mean wine and roses).

Other aspects the conjunctions make include a conjunction of Saturn/Mars with both the progressed Mercury and Moon and a trine of Neptune/Jupiter with the natal Mercury.

That is without taking into account 45 degree aspects. The latter haul in the 1776 Uranus as well as the progressed Ascendant. We can be sure that the events around April and beyond are going to impact the USA.

And, although at first look it is a relief to see they don’t pick up the Pluto return, I am afraid that may not be such a positive after all, as it means the issues will not be confined to politics and will likely affect the economic position too.

In any case it would be wrong to think that matters pertaining to Pluto are not related at all to those pertaining to Neptune. The 1776 chart has a broad trine between the two planets ( part of the reason that the US has benefited so much during the Pluto/Neptune sextile of the last 70+ years).

What may not be so apparent to those within the country is that the economic policies that have been pursued over the last century or more are significant contributors to the political divisions that have been evidenced in the last few years. It is the reliance on simple neo-classical economics and related monetary policy, not to mention unfettered capitalism leading to offshoring of jobs and employment insecurities that has mean that the wealth of the nation has not become distributed in ways which support the American Dream for the majority of Americans.

That is likely to become even more significant during the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction and unfortunately the results of those policies are going to manifest over the coming years. There is no escape.

Going back to the Pluto return itself. We have already seen some of the manifestations of this in the events of January 6 ^th 2021. At that point Mars was exactly square the country’s progressed Pluto producing its infamous triggering effect.

The influence of the progressed Ascendant square the 1776 Uranus contributing to unrest and rebellion cannot also be ignored and that will remain in force through 2022. Remember that by 45 aspect it is picked up in April. Expect shocks with Uranus.

Pluto itself though is likely to be triggered again by Mars and the other inner planets.

Some dates for consideration:

Jan 15-19: Sun conjunct Pluto
Feb 10-12: Mercury conjunct Pluto and Sun conjunct progressed Mercury
Feb 15 Sun conjunct 1776 Moon
Feb 28 ^th – March 5: Mars and Venus conjunct Pluto and mercury conjunct progressed Mercury ( issues relating to the President are likely then too). Indeed the whole of the first half of March looks eventful
Then come the April conjunctions, already discussed- events may even manifest right up to 20 April when the Sun leaves Taurus. Then we are in eclipse season so there may be no real escape.
The time around May 8 ^th also looks interesting as does the 29/ 30 ^th May new Moon
For Independence Day, Mars returns to its 6 Jan 2021 position. Eek- that doesn’t bode well does it?
20-22 July sees the Sun oppose Pluto – though this is not once of the most noteworthy periods
Economic events may manifest around Sept 1 ^st and continue through the month
Late September/ October of course sees the progressed Moon return which is likely to reactive the Pluto problems. Oct 19-21 may be particularly noteworthy as could the time around 20 November. Of course September and October is the run up to the Mid-term elections so it is not surprising that this will be a period of polarisation.
By December the mood may have shifted somewhat. But that will be after some extremely interesting times.

The conjunctions of April 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 22:06:11 GMT

The Neptune/Jupiter and Saturn/Mars conjunctions in April 2022

Although I did a number of Neptune related posts a few months back, I find that I keep returning to the upcoming Jupiter and Neptune conjunction in almost every subject I discuss, so I thought I would give it a post all of its own.

Although Jupiter and Neptune meet every 13 years, the last time these two planets met in Pisces was 1856. However the conditions then were not the same as 2022. The preceding new moon in 1856 was conjunct Neptune and Jupiter whereas this one is not especially close degree wise.

Furthermore, although Saturn made a wide square to the 1856 conjunction, it was in harmonious aspects to Mars etc. This time Mars and Saturn make their own conjunction days before Jupiter and Neptune. There will be a very different feel to 1856 although some of the themes will repeat.

It is worth then not just considering the Jupiter Neptune conjunction but also the Saturn Mars one that precedes it.

Here is the chart for the new moon that precedes both.

As we see the Saturn Mars conjunction is at around 22 Aquarius and the Neptune Jupiter conjunction at 23/24 Pisces. Charts affected by one are likely to be affected by the other

Saturn and Mars comes first by a few days on 5 ^th April It’s characteristics are harshness, restriction, military force and suppression , shortages and targeted work.

This is most likely to manifest as crackdowns on unrest in susceptible countries. In markets it is likely to lead to limited trading, and indeed may indicate restraints on trade- be they the introduction of new legal restraints or temporary shutdowns. In Aquarius the things that are likely to be affected are technology and networks, protest groups and social media.

Individual charts will give an indication of whether a country or market will be hit by this. But as we have seen, the critical degrees turn up almost everywhere.

Only a week later on April 12 ^th comes the Jupiter Neptune event. Things could not be more different. As we have discussed before Jupiter and Neptune together is all about enormous hope/hype and resultant delusion. In more concrete terms ( so far as Neptune and Jupiter lend themselves to concrete events at all!) it is about shipping, chemicals, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, gas and hyper- expansionist monetary policy/inflation. With Jupiter Neptune things get so big they have to pop.

The last Neptune Jupiter conjunction (which was in Aquarius) was in 2009. It followed the Financial Crisis and started the Quantitative Easing and other expansionist monetary actions that have characterised the whole of the last cycle. Note that the move away from the Gold Standard in the US happened in 1971 a few cycles ago. This is the antithesis of hard monetary policy.

1856

As mentioned, the last equivalent conjunction of Neptune and Jupiter in Pisces was in 1856. The Republican party in the US was just coming into its own. It was the first Oxford and Cambridge boat-race but it also coincided with a number of ship wrecks – boats are likely to figure prominently even if the exact conditions surrounding the conjunction are different.

In 1856 the discovery of Mauvine kickstarted the chemical industry, so we can expect something related to that industry for sure.

Also in 1856 the Crimea War ended. That is potentially good but it is worth noting that later in the year the Opium Wars began. With Jupiter and Neptune we can be confident that the conditions for that were in place before the conjunction. We can be very confident that drug matters will play a part this year too.

Finally in 1856, a few months after the conjunction the Royal British Bank collapsed. This is important because the conjunction was not the point of collapse, it happened afterwards. Similarly a recession in the US followed in 1857. What we see in Jupiter and Neptune is Great Expectations but once they separate we are faced with reality and that reality will almost certainly fall short.

I expect many markets/shares and crypto to reach a peak around April 2022 and in many cases never recover. Of course not all shares will never recover, but don’t expect it over night. It took 2 decades for the Nasdaq to get back to its heady 1999/2000 days, that can happen again. Crypto is likely to have a huge shake out post April.

However note what I have said elsewhere about us being in the waxing sextile phase for most of the outer planets- that should mean that economies as a whole may hold out a few years longer.

2025-6

However in 2025-6 they must face the next Neptune Saturn conjunction ( in early Aries). That is suggestive of recession . To put that in perspective, although the last Neptune Saturn conjunction was in 1989 the last one in Aries was in 1703!

In 1989 the UK 80s property boom ended and 6-7 years of depressed prices followed.

And, with St Petersberg founded in 1703 and the fall of the Belin Wall starting the dissolution of the USSR in 1989, we can expect Russia to be prominent then.

Interesting times are ahead and that is without looking at the very special conditions in the USA. Those are the subject of my next post.

Kazakhstan unrest January 2022

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 22:58:58 GMT

The astrology of the January 2022 Kazakhstan unrest

It is back to the political arena this week for a look at the unrest in Kazakhstan.

This is the first time I’ve analysed the country so apologies if my views are a little tentative. I’m using the chart posted in Nick Campion’s, Book of World Horoscopes. The date is clearly correct but I have done no validation of the time; let us hope the chart speaks for itself.

Protests began on Sunday 2 ^nd January and we can immediately see that that was the day that Mercury crossed the Descendant. This gives us some confirmation of our chart time.

We note that Kazakhstan has recently in 2021 had its Saturn return ( yeah, me too Kaz) so perhaps the events of this week are the culmination of wider concerns about the country’s direction and not just about the fuel prices which pulled the trigger.

We can see that transiting Saturn at 12 degrees has now reached a square to the Kazak Venus, an indicator or resource limitation. The fact that it is sextile to the Midheaven and square to the progressed Midheaven further emphasises the picture as fundamental to the state of the nation.

In the last year we note that the progressed Ascendant has formed a square with the natal Pluto and then we also see that in January transiting Pluto has reached a trine to the progressed Moon, which suggests the people may be particularly unhappy (though a trine is one of the better connections between the two planets it can still manifest as fear and loathing). This is background stuff but indicates that what we are seeing is the culmination of a longer period of disatisfaction.

Worryingly we see that Pluto will cross the Descendant within the next couple of years, that is likely to lead at best to problematic relations with other countries – already Kazakhstan has turned to Russia for help in quelling its protests. With that Pluto there they may need to watch that they don’t get dominated by the very party they look to for help.

But none of this would be enough to cause nationwide unrest. For that we must turn to our old disrupter Uranus and our helpful trigger guys such as Mars.

In the Kazah Independence chart we already have Uranus trine Jupiter and square the Midheaven. With the progressed Midheaven at 13 degrees this will have been activated in 2020 and 21 and will continue to be for at least another year. But what seems to have set the whole thing off is having Mars at 13 Sagittarius (the natal Mars is at 12) and the New Moon ( i.e the Sun and Moon) at 12 Capricorn conjunct the Kazak Uranus. Boom.

As transiting Uranus is currently at 10 degrees and will move forward to 12-14 degrees in the coming months, this is not over by a long stretch.

Cryptocurrencies Part III

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 16:32:43 GMT

Cryptocurrencies Part III- Dogecoin and Shiba Inu

It is Christmas day, so fitting that we should consider some fun and fantastic beasts. We are looking at a couple of crypto tokens; the first a joke, the second a joke about a joke- truly meta.

Dogecoin differs from the cryptos we have looked at so far, in that, although it did have a peak in November that peak was far, far below the one in May. We should therefore expect to see a rather different picture this time.

The May 8 ^th chart is extremely active.

Jupiter at 29 Aquarius is trine the day’s transiting venus and trine the Dogecoin Mars- everything that we could wanto to say about the wider picture and the events of that day could be distilled into this alone. But there is more, so much more.

Throughout 2021 our old friend Neptune at 20-22 Pisces is sextile the Dogecoin progressed Sun at 22 Sagittarius ( exact around May). It is worth noting that by April 2022 the progressed Sun will have reached the magic 23 degrees.

We also have background themes from Pluto at 26 degrees, close to the Dogecoin Venus ( and progressed Venus) but opposing the progressed MC.

In May Uranus is conjoining the progressed Moon, and by 8 ^th May transiting Mars has just passed a square with natal Uranus and is opposing Pluto bringing a real downer to the party.

There is more. The Dogecoin chart has Saturn at 17/18 Scorpio trine the MC and even Jupiter. On 8 ^th May the transiting Sun has reached 18 Taurus and is another turning point indicator.

A further configuration of note ( and specific to this chart) is the planets at 2 degrees. The natal Neptune is at 2 Pisces, square Mercury in Sagittarius and semi-sextile the Moon at 2 Aquarius. Note how this is also in a 45 degrees relationship to the 17 degree planets. Until April the progressed Mars had also been at 2 degreesm but is moving away by May ( though this is a slow process). It is this more than anything that seems to account for why the peak does not repeat in October/November. The2020-21 impact of Mars is over for ever – and the dratted token really becomes a dog.

It is interesting to note that a low around 21/24 June coincided with Jupiter at 2 degrees Pisces ( retrograde) and the Sun at 2 Cancer. Clearly the chart is very sensitive to this point.

But what about October/ November, what is missing that was there is the other crypto charts?

The Pluto conjunction with natal Venus opposite the progressed MC certainly seems to have pulled values down in the period since May. But there were enough planetary influences to cause some rise in prices to 28 October.

Specifically Jupiter reached 22 Aquarius then and was exactly sextile the progressed Sun. On 28 October itself, transiting Venus reached that Sun. Perfect for a top.

But we also note that in October the progressed Moon was at 18 Taurus after applying to the MC. On the day Mercury had reached 17 Libra and was both square the chart MC and Jupiter and sextile its Saturn. Another day and that would be over and with it the momentum. Remember the 45 degree relationship with the 2 degree planets- well that would be over too. In this case Mercury was the last of the 4 inner planets to reach 17 Libra, so the price relinquished its last optimistic puff.

We don’t really need to add it, but the Sun was at 5 degrees sesquiquadrate the transiting Neptune at 20 degrees enough to also trigger the progressed Ascendant 20 Libra turning point. So, so neat isn’t it?

We’ll look at the wider implications of what this means in terms of prediction in general in our monthly enlightenment column coming soon.

In the meantime, let’s turn to our even more entertaining pup, Shiba.

Shiba Inu

This baby is only 18 months old so outer planet movements will be minimal. And, as we don’t have a confirmed time for the chart, moon phases can’t be relied on either. Not ideal but we will look at what we can.

I suppose the first thing to ask is are there any planets or angles at around 23 degrees and I am pleased to report that little Shib passes that test. Pluto is at 23 Capricorn ( although this is hardly the planet one wants to confirm a theme, Mercury is at 22 Cancer and Venus at 24 Gemini. Plenty to occupy us then and enough to suggest that this is going to have major movements in both directions.

Interest in our little puppy was only really taking off in the spring of 2021 so it is not so surprising that the peak then wasn’t the overall one; the latter occurred on 28 October. But nevertheless it did make an interim top in May on the 11 ^th so we’ll start with that.

Although we don’t have a time for this chart it is interesting to note that the Ascendant of the midnight chart is making a square with transiting Jupiter. However the uncertainty of the time means we can’t rely on that as an indicator.

Wat we do note is that 11 ^th May 2021 was a new moon. Now that is very interesting because, as mentioned, the outer planets haven’t moved far. So in a baby/puppy chart we have to rely on the inner planets and the moon more. This little doggy has Jupiter at 20 Capricorn and Neptune at 20 Pisces and the may new Moon is trine that. An excellent sign of a top and likely turning point in a young chap’s chart.

Other factors that indicate change and excitement include the transiting sextile between Uranus and Mars at 11 degrees – Uranus being very close to its natal position means that that position is activated . Arguable transiting Mercury at 12 degrees and the (possible) natal Moon at 9 degrees and the progressed Sun at 10 degrees are also pulled into this. That all the transiting planets are separating from the natal ones means the event is over and we are moving on.

With our May peak confirmed astrologically we can turn to how the puppy grew over the next six months.

In October Neptune was right back where it started from at 20 Pisces, so was sextile natal Jupiter, activating the bubble configuration hardwired into the chart. Remember that the Sun on 28 October was at 5 degrees in a sesquiquadrate position to that Neptune. So neat.

Jupiter at 22 Aquarius was probably close enough to activate this too, but it also was quincunx natal Mercury, Trine natal Venus and semi sextile natal and well as transiting Pluto, and of course the trigger in this case was the transiting Venus at 22 Sagittarius.

Another turning point in trade at least is indicated by transiting Mercury at 17 Libra opposite the natal Mars.

Finally, Mars at 28 Libra has just passed its square to the natal Saturn, although this is of itself a hard aspect so perhaps more likely to provide some relief rather than downward pressure. Either way , its another sign that a shift was in the air.

I suppose we should also ask why our growing pup didn’t make it to 9 November before having his bubble burst.

The answer seems to be that while Neptune was still at 20 degrees there were no planets to support it then. 23 degrees was being activated by Jupiter though but with only a quincunx to Mercury activating the Pluto position that was as likely to be negative and positive. The Mercury /Mars transiting conjunction at 5/6 Scorpio is in a 45 degree relationship to the Neptune ( and thus Jupiter) positions though, one would have at least expected a spike in trade if not in price. The answer seems to be though that in such an immature chart we need inner planets in the natal chart ( in this case at 5/6 degrees) to be activated for an effective turning point, and furthermore in this case the square with Saturn is just negative rather than contributing to an exact turning point. It is a theory worth further study and in the absence of an exact timed chart could be negated by the real angles so we can’t deduced too much from it.

We do note the Sun was at 17 degrees though picking up Mars but yet again only a quincunx.

More significantly we also note that the chart was sensitive to the moon phases – with troughs in November at the New, quarter and full moons. Again suggesting our puppy is still in his baby Moon years.

So there we are. Cryptos remain a very interesting subject, at least until April 2022 and Shiba Inu is no exception, however much of a joke it may have been intended to be.

Cryptocurrencies Part II

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 16:16:48 GMT

Cryptocurrencies Part II - Ethereum and Binance

Having considered the general background and Bitcoin, in this part of our 3 part series we’ll look at Ethereum and Binance. In Part III we’ll have loads of fun looking at Dogecoin and Shiba Inu

Ethereum

Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum did not peak in April, indeed it didn’t peak till a month later on 12 May 2021. That is interesting, although the cryptocurrency market to some extent moves as one, there are many factors which differentiate them. The devil is in the planetary details.

Remember how Bitcoin had a Sun Jupiter conjunction by progression in 2021, well Bitcoin has a Venus Jupiter one ( arguably making it even more attractive), although this is somewhat offset by a natal Saturn square. During early May transiting Jupiter has been opposite this point accentuating everything big time. That explains the overall boom in 2021.

In April the progressed Moon was conjunct Uranus, making for surprises though by 12 May it was separating so is important but not enough to confirm our boom as then.

We need more to confirm the day itself. We find it in the transiting Sun which is sextile Neptune and trine the Ethereum Mars at 22/23 degrees. Note that 23 degrees as Neptune will return to it with Jupiter in April 2022, unless other factors are difficult that suggests another peak to come.

But the 12 May was not the middle of a bubble- this was a peak. So, not only are we looking for price boosters, we are also looking for turning points. Transiting mars has just crossed the MC ( and is about to square the progressed Ascendant) and is sextile Uranus –that is inevitably going to result in sudden shifts in trading conditions. Mars has also just passed a trine with the natal Neptune which also indicates the end of excess trading enthusiasm and illusion.

Furthermore, in 2021 Ethereum broke away from a harsh opposition between the progressed MC and Pluto, however in May Pluto reaches 26 degrees of Capricorn and the Ethereum Moon, re-igniting background challenges and fears of speculators.

There are other minor aspects too that confirm this such as Mercury sextile natal Mercury and separating from a trine to the progressed Ascendant. But we have found enough, let us turn to the November peak

Unlike the May peak, the November one coincided almost exactly with that of Bitcoin on 9 ^th November.

Of course some of the configurations from May are still in place; we still have a trine involving Uranus and the progressed Ascendant and we still have the conjunction between progressed Jupiter and Venus. However we no longer have Jupiter to activate it. Instead we now have a progressed Moon at 28 Aries trine the conjunction and square the progressed Mars which has now reached 28 degrees also. Both indicative of the conditions for high values but also expecting a change shortly as the Moon moves to 29 and away from the conjunction.

Transiting Jupiter is however obliging us in another way. Now it is at 23 degrees and is quincunx Mars, indicating frantic trade.

But still , that alone is only enough to time things to around October and November, it is not enough to time things to November 9th. For that we need more.

On the 9th the Moon reaches 24 degrees Capricorn, conjoining Pluto and having passed the opposition to Mars

But what do we need to see the turning point. As we know from our Bitcoin analysis of the same day transiting Mars and Mercury are conjunct at 6 Scorpio, they square the Ethereum Sun and transiting Saturn. With an angle ( the Ascendant) at 7 Libra we can see the conditions for a turning point. And we should not forget that Neptune is at 20 Pisces, making a sesquisquare with 5 Scorpio. Mars and Mercury have moved past and the event is over. Similarly the Sun has passed its trine to the progressed MC. Short term support, as well as some of the longer term support is slipping away.

Binance

The Binance chart is rather different from the Bitcoin and even the Ethereum charts, unsurprisingly, but nevertheless there are still elements that resonate to the same transits.

First we can look at some of what are turning out to be key degrees ( i.e the degrees that will be important in April 2022)- i.e 23 degrees. Binance has Saturn at 23 Sagittarius, and, this year alone, it has its progressed MC at 23 Leo.

In May these were somewhat activated by Neptune at 22 Pisces. But Neptune was also picking up the Venus

(representing value) at 22 Taurus that time. The trigger on 3 ^rd May was transiting Venus at 22 Taurus. Note how the different chart details mean that the precise date of a top was a few days different in this case.

Although Pluto was making a wide trine to progressed Venus and even a square to the natal Uranus at the time, almost certainly contributing o the wider trends of the year it probably didn’t have that much impact on the events of May itself.

Another ongoing configuration in the year was progressed Ascendant trine progressed Mars. A very upbeat trading signal for the whole year. However there were no notable triggers to this in early May.

However, also in May we note the wider picture included Jupiter at 28 Aquarius. In the case of Binance, that meant it picking up the Uranus at 27/28 Aries- a sign of big unexpected events – in this case both a run up to a peak and a turning point. On the 3 ^rd May, Mercury was at 28 Taurus creating the trigger necessary for the top.

Finally we can look at a couple of other interesting configuations. Saturn at 13 degrees was trine the natal Jupiter but also almost square the Ascendant. On the 3 ^rd May the Sun was at 12 Taurus. By the 5 ^th May it had crossed the all important Ascendant/Descendant axis. If we didn’t already have some triggers for a turning point this would be a dead cert.

Even without the fact that the 3 ^rd May also saw transiting Mars conjoin the Binance Sun.Even though I see astrology work time and time again, it fascinates me how all these different crypto charts are so neatly triggered by slightly different aspects on different days.

But in the case of November the day was the same, so we should expect even more fascinating correlations.

Of course the key here was Jupiter at 23 Aquarius. In this case opposite the chart progressed MC and trine Saturn. Aided and abetted by Pluto now at 24 Capricorn. But that just gives us an idea of the background picture; we need more.

Neptune continues to make a trine to Venus but that is still just a year long background event and although progressed Mercury has reached 21 Cancer by the autumn its effects are still broad brush.

The answers, once again come from the transiting Sun and Mars/Mercury.

What about the mars/Mercury conjunction square Saturn? Well that has just passed the trine to the Sun at 5 Cancer. Not forgetting that 5/6 degrees is a semi-square from 20/21 degrees. The Mercury /Mars conjunction subtly affects Neptune and accentuates its activity at that time.

The Sun is at 16 Scorpio, it has passed the Ascendant and by 10 ^th November will have crossed the progressed Ascendant trine Mars and semi-sextile the progressed Moon too, not to mention the sextile to Pluto.

Once again we have all the necessary factors both in the broader picture and on the day.

And we don’t need to go into detail about the likelihood of April 2022 being significant- it is clear that once again, what affects one will impact them all.

Cryptocurrencies Part I

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 13:50:00 GMT

Cryptocurrencies Part I - Introduction and Bitcoin

It is a long time since I wrote about Bitcoin; back in September 2017. Then I was just interested in Bitcoin itself and the wide story of currencies. But that ignored the vast amount of amusement that can be gained from looking at some of the other inventions

I’ve chosen 5 contenders, all created with slightly different purposes in mind:

The original Bitcoin

Bitcoin, when it started in 2009 was envisaged as a new currency – in direct competition with state backed currencies – allegedly benefiting from being a non-centralised non-governmental and distributed system. New bitcoin could be “mined” but there was an upper limit to the number that could be mined and new bitcoin get harder to obtain as that limit is reached.

The idea for the upper limit was supposed to demonstrate Bitcoin’s opposition to fiat currency of which governments cannot resist creating more and more. Speculation and disproportionately rising prices has, however, ended that dream.

Ethereum ( and Ether):

Like bitcoin a decentralised blockchain but in this case with additional functionality. Ether is technically the currency that operates on the network and is generated on a proof of work basis as a reward for miners.

Unlike Bitcoin Ethereum has no supply cap and in that sense can’t be considered as addressing the expansion of fiat currency problem.

Binance

Originally founded in China – the name is used for both an exchange and a coin. The coin was initially issued on the ETH network but is now on a Binance one.

Like Ethereum “mining” Binance coin is via proof of work.

Dogecoin:

A joke token – that many have taken to their hearts. The sheer audacity and of someone creating something theoretically totally worthless and yet allowing it to become a roaring (or should that be barking) success appeals to me enormously.

There is no implemented hard cap on the total supply of Dogecoinsbut it started with a supply limit of 100 billion coins, yet by mid-2015 the 100 billionth Dogecoin had been mined with an additional 5 billion coins put into circulation every year thereafter.

Shiba Inu:

Even more of a joke- set up as a competitor to Dogecoin and with all the supply ( a quadrillion) being issued at once. Which does mean there is an upper limit.

Ironically given its parody status, in theory that should have made it closer to success as a currency with everyone having access to the issue. However in practice it attracted only a small group of crypto enthusiasts so we are still waiting for a world fiat beater.

It is immediately apparent from the 5 charts that Crypto has gone a bit mad in 2021. It will be very interesting to compare the similarities between the charts and their relationship with the planets in this year.

One proviso, however, is the difficulty in finding valid charts for cryptocurrencies. In theory it ought to be out there on the internet in black and white ( or their digital equivalent), in practice there are a number of difficulties:

Finding a location –especially where the crypto creator remains unidentified such as Satoshi Nakamoto for Bitcoin and Ryoshi for Shibu.
Picking a chart. There are charts for the first mining, charts for the first transaction, charts for the first trade/exchange and charts for the first “real world” purchase. The problems in identifying the location means that there is some inconsistency in which chart I use
Finding a time – dates are available – although the internet is not wholly reliable on these, a it of digging can usually turn up the right date in each case. For Bitcoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin an internet stamped time in UMT is available. For Binance the prospectus information gives times the subscription opened. Shiba Inu remains a time mystery so far and I have used midnight. This latter chart is the least reliable, which is a shame as it would prove a very interesting study, as it is we can only look at it as an amusing afterthought.

Anyway, that’s enough preamble, let us bite the bullet and get on with the astrology

We won’t talk too much about the history. Let’s just focus on 2021. Our key periods of interest are inevitably going to be April/ May and October/ November

· Bitcoin peak 9 ^th November
· Ethereum peak 9 ^th November
· Binance peak 3 ^rd May
· Dogecoin peak 8 ^th May
· Shiba Inu peak 28 October

Although the exact record highs differ, all the cryptos made some highs in both periods. So, I suppose it makes sense to pull up charts for May ( let’s try 8 ^th ) and 9 ^th November to see if there are any global themes that stand out.

The key aspects at this point were:

· Uranus square Saturn ( all year)
· Jupiter square Venus and Pluto trine Venus ( short term)
· Uranus conjunct Sun ( short term and was exact earlier in month)
· Uranus sextile Mars and Mars square Moon (very short term)

In November the key aspects were much more plentiful:

· Uranus square Saturn ( all year)
· Uranus widely square Sun, Mars, Mercury ( short term but none exact that week)
· Saturn square Mercury and Mars ( follows from above)
· Pluto conjunct Moon ( short term but repeats monthly)
· Neptune sextile Moon and trine Sun ( very short tem)
· Jupiter square Sun ( applying but wide)
· Mars conjunct Mercury and sextile Venus ( a few days)

Although there are some similarities, the conditions for the peaks were really quiet different, so the fact that there were two within six months may be incidental.

We know that Pluto, Neptune, Uranus and Saturn remained in their signs the whole year. Jupiter, however left Aquarius shortly after May 9 and went into Pisces. It went retrograde in the summer and then returned to Aquarius by the autumn. It is interesting to see that the peaks were NOT when Jupiter was in Pisces, indeed the autumn peak was when Jupiter was furthest back in Aquarius. However the peaks do partially correlate with when Saturn and Uranus were furthest apart from their exact square positions.

Nevertheless, this is tenuous and the conclusion must be that the transiting positions themselves were not as influential as the transits to the founding charts.

Before we turn to those charts though it is worth considering the wider picture. On the one hand we have lots of new and excited young speculators interested in cryptocurrencies, on the other we have the fact that crypto has no intrinsic value.

Fiat currency in theory has no intrinsic value but of course in practice it has a value based on the economic position of the country concerned. Even if this is declining as more fiat is issued it is still greater than zero unless and until the country is bankrupt. This may well prove to be the case for some countries in the coming decades but few hold fiat anyway – they hold shares, houses, etc etc, the picture for those will depend on the trajectory and we will look at it separately after we have finished with cryptos.

Cryptos intrinsic value is always zero as it is backed by absolutely nothing.

However that does not mean its nominal value is zero as if enough people believe in it, it will be attractive to buy it is purely faith based. How long that faith lasts is the question, it could be days, months, years. In the absence of any intervention it could even be decades.

But the reality is that too much speculation attracts the regulators so its life is limited, as in China for example.

Enthusiasts always say that their Crypto is out of reach of their government – this may be technically true but in practice, once again, the facts do not support this. Governments can ensure that you cannot convert back to fiat ( a look back at what the US states did with online gambling gives an idea of the creative ways they can prevent access to things). Access to exchanges online in a country can be banned, taxes can be prohibitive, etc etc. Indeed it is a regulator’s legal team’s dream to come up with scenarios for tapping into your crypto earnings. Cash them while you can would be my recommendation.

As for the speculation itself. Gambling is fine as long as you have the money to lose and in many cases the speculators have loads of paper gains so worst case they end up where they started, I only fear for the ones who have borrowed or bought near a peak and have their life savings to lose.

Anyway let’s turn to our chosen currencies now, starting with our old favourite.

We’ve looked at the Bitcoin chart before, so we won’t spend time on the chart itself, let’s just turn to May and November

We can look at the wider picture for the year first.

the progressed Sun was conjunct the progressed Jupiter but quincunx the progressed Ascendant
Pluto was stationed conjunct the progressed Mercury in spring
Neptune was conjunct the progressed Uranus and Venus but also opposite Saturn but also semisquare the progressed Sun and Jupiter
Uranus was square the Node, sextile Venus and trine Mars
Saturn was for part of the year stationed on Mercury opposite the Moon
Jupiter retrograded back to Neptune and the Descendant
Progressed Mars is approaching a conjunction with the natal Sun
The progressed MC was trine natal Jupiter

That is some serious action. Without even looking at the details we know it would be a big year.

The spring top for Bitcoin was 14 April.

The progressed Sun had reached Jupiter in March suggesting a major increase in interest and in April Neptune was at 21 degrees and on the Uranus Saturn opposition so no surprises there was a turning point that month.

At that point the Saturn/Uranus transiting square was not too close to the natal planets, so was allowing expansion prior to them moving closer and subduing it. Pluto was right in the middle of its station and about to retrograde also indicating a change of sentiment.

In mid April Mars was trine Jupiter which was close to the Ascendant/Neptune conjunction. That was highly expansionary and indicates large trade levels, especially since it was not far from its quincunx to the Bitcoin Sun and progressed Mars either. And at the same time the Sun and Mars were making a transiting sextile ( attended by Mercury). Again in sextile to Jupiter and thus to the Descendant and Neptune. It is clear that the conditions for a boom were in but so were the conditions for an imminent change of direction.

In October a nd early November Jupiter was stationed on the Descendant/Neptune conjunction – that is big bubble territory. Things were likely to slowly dissipate as Jupiter moved on.

On 9 ^th November the overall top, we have the following conditions: Neptune continued its 20-21 Pisces position conjunct natal Uranus it was operating in all year, and was still sextile the Sun progressed Mars conjunction but now the Progressed Moon had reached 20 Capricorn so was further activating this. This was a aspect in place for a few months.

Pluto was still within 2 degrees of progressed Mercury but the midday chart on 9 ^th was activated by the Moon at that point – another suggestion of a turning point.

On the other hand Saturn was conjunct natal Mercury, a negative influence, but it is worth noting that it had been stationed opposite the Moon am even more negative influence so things had improved somewhat in those weeks. But on 9 ^th November Mercury and Mars were conjunct and square both the Moon and Mercury, once more a typical heavy trading indicator but also a tunring point one.

Also on 9 ^th Venus was trine the Ascendant and had passed a conjunction with natal Pluto – a sort of sweet spot. And finally the Sun was just about to conjunct the IC- an absolutely classic turning point.

So once more we had all the background conditions in place for a top and the triggers for a change of direction.

It is worth a quick look at the position a month later in contrast.

Jupiter had moved away from the Ascendant and Neptune suggesting that peak would not repeat. The progressed Sun is moving permanently away from Jupiter too although this is a very slow process. We should also note how trading increased around 4 ^th December when Mars was at around 24 degrees- this gives us an indication of what to look forward to in future months.

Neptune was still at 20 PIsces and the Sun/progressed Mars Moon was even closer so this might imply ongoing bubbles. Interesting that this is still in effect- so we are still in upside ( well the price are better than a year ago). We should bear this is mind. Things are not as great as November 8/9 ^th but they are still relatively great.

Pluto is still conjunct mercury but has now being joined by Venus. Venus with Pluto is rarely positive for values unless accompanied by a Jupiter trine etc.

On the positive side Saturn has moved away from Mercury but it is now square Uranus which is generally disruptive for everything (mainly Covid related it would seem).

Today ( 21 ^st December) the Sun has moved into Capricorn and will conjunct Pluto BUT Mars is currently at 4 degrees sextiling the progressed Sun/Jupiter so holding prices and volume up.

Although I don’t intend to do a full forecast here we can extrapolate a little to April 2022 and the Jupiter Neptune conjunction at 23 Pisces. That should create the conditions for a rise , you would think, but at the same time Saturn and Mars are conjunct on the Descendant – a potential big negative. It will for sure be an interesting month.

But what we do know for sure is that the planetary activity in relation to the chart is more important than the day’s planetary activity alone.

Rivian - serious challenger or pale imitator?

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 19:59:17 GMT

Astrological insights into Rivian and its IPO

Rivian Automotive, Inc. is an American electric vehicle maker and automotive technology company. Rivian is building an SUV and a pickup truck designed for both on-road and off-road driving. An electric delivery van is also being built as part of a partnership with Amazon. The company also plans to build an exclusive charging network in North America.

The company raised nearly $US12 billion in financing following its IPO in November 2021, which also saw investor recognition that it could become a major competitor to Tesla. So let’s compare their astrology.

As usual we have “find a chart” problems. Although Rivian was founded in 2009, there does not seem to be any definitive date for that foundation.

The first concrete chart we have is for its incorporation in Delaware in 2015. We will see if this has any value by comparing it with the IPO chart.

The IPO occurred on 10 November 2021, with trading starting immediately the bell was rung. However this chart is too recent for any transits to be of value. Nevertheless it will prove illuminating to compare the share price movements for a month with the astrology.

The Incorporation chart (hereafter “Rivian chart”) is very interesting. It is a product of the cardinal cross with Pluto very closely square Uranus. Jupiter is trine Uranus but quincunx Pluto suggesting funding adjustments at some point.

It does not have the clear testimony that the Tesla chart does though. While the Sun and Mars are in the same sign (Aries) as Uranus the Sun is 10 degrees apart from Uranus and Mars 11 degrees further on again. Mercury is even further away, situated in Pisces. The integration between motor vehicles, electricity, innovation and drive just doesn’t seem to be there. Though the Pluto/Jupiter quincunx does seem more closely aligned with the business in this case.

There is a nice trine between the Moon and Mars, suggesting the public will buy into the vision, but the Moon, the chart ruler, is in the 12 ^th house so that suggests some hidden issues.

One positive is the trine between Saturn and the Sun, suggesting the commitment to the enterprise. However Saturn is also square Neptune, which I see as somewhat concerning as it also suggests weakness and a lack of solid foundations.

We can compare the chart with the transits at the IPO chart. Pluto is close to a sextile with the progressed MC- an indicator of powerful force. Jupiter is on the midpoint of these positions which can be seen as positive.

Neptune crossed the MC in 2020 (during peak pandemic time) so the uncertainties from that probably satisfied that aspect. In November 2021 Neptune was closer to Mercury; I would be concerned that communications might be incomplete or misleading with this aspect.

At the time of the listing Uranus was exactly square Jupiter, suggesting that funding could suddenly change. Furthermore the Rivian moon was half way between these two points – in semisquare to both. Uranus is also conjunct the Rivian Venus, a sign of unexpected value maybe. Furthermore, the progressed Sun is now at 12 degrees trine Jupiter- indicating a pay-out for the founder(s) perhaps as it is certainly a suggestion of bounty.

On the day of the IPO, there is a Mercury/Mars conjunction – that is a good sign for a car company. It is trine Neptune perhaps again indicating that things are not 100% clear though this is not an especially negative aspect – perhaps more inclined to great expectations rather than anything else. The conjunction is moderated significantly anyway by a square with Saturn and the Moon.

A good sign is that progressed Mercury is almost conjunct the Rivian Sun, perhaps making the business appear more viable than in 2015.

Also on 10 ^th November the transiting Sun was close to a trine to the MC- an excellent time for an IPO when the company would be seen in a very good light, as well as opposite the progressed Venus and sextile the progressed Moon. Perfect for maximising value by appealing to new shareholders.

Interestingly there is no significant aspect to the Rivian chart’s Pluto Uranus square. I find this rather odd but perhaps it can be explained by the fact that the IPO was to raise new finance not to allow previous funders to liquidate their stocks.

We can now look at the share price movements in November and December compared with the IPO chart.

Initially there was a lot of trade in the company and after listing the shares rose to $170 by the 16 ^th but after that the price has declined reaching a low of $108 on 3 December.

On 16 ^th November Mercury had reached 18 Scorpio and was conjunct the IPO Sun (which as we know was opposite the Rivian progressed Venus) a definite indicator of a change in sentiment and direction.

Mars had also reached its opposition to the Rivian Venus at 11 degrees and was square the Rivian Jupiter. A sign of a maximum value point and indeed maximum trading. Transiting Venus itself had crossed the Rivian Descendant and was trine the Rivian Venus further accentuating the Mars transit.

Finally the Moon has reached 0 degrees Taurus and conjunction with the Rivian Mars, emphasising the Mars aspect to Venus and Jupiter. Things were about to get less frantic and active as all these aspects separated.

By 3 ^rd December we were approaching the eclipsed new moon on the 4 ^th . The Sun ( now opposite Uranus) had now reached 12 degrees Sagittarius so has passed the IPO Venus at 10 Capricorn and Mars at 11 Scorpio and more importantly reached a grand trine to the Rivian progressed Sun in Aries and Jupiter in Leo. Things were looking up again- albeit short term.

Added to this Mars was now at 24 Scorpio, almost conjunct the IPO Sun and making a sextile to the Rivian Pluto aided and abetted by Jupiter at 25 Aquarius. Definitely the potential for a turnaround and an uptick in trade.

Mercury at 15 Sagittarius was also active by trine with the Rivian Uranus. All in all a positive mood so no wonder the share price stabilised and even rose a bit over the next week.

Of course we aren’t just interested in short term activity we want to know the big stuff. So what is coming up astrologically for the company?

Neptune will cross the progressed MC – I expect that to correlate with optimism given the Pluto trine although it is also indicative of illusion. It is this degree that will be highlighted by the Jupiter Neptune conjunction in April- expect big movements in the price around then.

Pluto will soon quincunx the Moon, so things won’t all be plain sailing. Uranus will however, trine the Rivian Pluto which may imply a jump forward. All in all the short term is not too bad, though I still have my concerns about some of the fundamentals.

Is Tesla past its peak?

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 19:09:17 GMT

A look at the astrology of Tesla's rise to a peak on 4 November 2021

The trajectory of Tesla’s share price is extraordinary. First listed at around $17 (equivalent to under $4 when adjusted for splits), it rose significantly but gradually to reach around $90 at the end of 2019, approximately a 25 times increase over 10 years. It then rose in 2020-21 by another 10 times the 2019 price to $1249 on 4 November 2021. Overall over 300 times increase- not a bad return really!

But what we are interested in is the astrology of that meteoric rise and, of course, the multi-billion dollar question – has the share peaked or is there more to come?

As usual we have more than one chart to choose from. In this case we have a fairly valid foundation chart- as the Incorporation coincided with the coming together of the investors in 2003. We don’t have a date for the inception of the plan to create the business but this incorporation chart looks pretty solid.

We also obviously have the IPO chart from June 2009. As we can deduce that whatever the long term prognosis for the business is, the current price is highly speculative; the IPO chart can be expected to show all sorts of interesting factors by itself.

We will look at both.

Tesla’s foundation/incorporation (hereafter “Tesla”) chart has some interesting aspects, not least a tight trine between Pluto and Jupiter. This aspect correlates highly with big money. But we should be aware that while the aspect is positive, later hard transits can also mean the “higher they climb the further they fall” We will see whether any of these might be coming up. The caution we should approach the business with is further emphasised by the Neptune –Jupiter opposition, our favourite big bubble or excess inflation configuration. The chart has Venus conjunct the MC – indicative that we have something that may be found attractive.

The chart does also contains a beautifully descriptive aspect for the business; a conjunction of Uranus and Mars trine Saturn Mercury and the Sun. With Uranus representing new technologies, Mars and Mercury, cars and Mercury with Uranus electricity, added with Saturn (both production and conservation of energy), it really speaks for itself . Unsurprisingly both the Ascendant and MC are mercury ruled too, although that does not really suggest the significance of the branding that will emerge.

But the chart also contains some anomalies. Other than a semi-square between Jupiter and Saturn/Mercury there is little connection between the money and the activity. Tesla doesn’t make money from its activities; it makes it from issuing stock etc.

Then we note the Moon. It does aspect Uranus (via a 150 degree quincunx) and Pluto (a sesquiquadrate 135 degrees) but neither aspect are especially integrated with the activities. Perhaps describing the attitudes of the public to the products and to the shares.

The Tesla IPO chart (hereafter “ IPO”), is very different. For a start there is almost a grand cross (indeed it is the Cardinal Cross of the period 2010-13) involving a conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, Pluto, Saturn and the Sun/Mercury. The IPO thus taps into the mood of the Cardinal cross, when there was cynicism about the old financial ways and increased liquidity from quantitative easing as well as the birth of Bitcoin and the beginnings of the real recovery in the tech stocks after the crash of 2000 followed by the overall market shock of 2008-9.

In this case it is worth noting that we still have Pluto in aspect to Jupiter, but now it is square- making the likelihood of later negative events more probable.

Venus, now the ruler of the MC so still indicating attractiveness, is opposite the Moon, suggesting extremes of emotion. Venus ties into the Cross via two sesquiquadrates. It really is all about the big values in this chart.

The other two things worth noticing are the extravagant Leo Ascendant – a major shift from the Tesla considered Virgo one and the position of Neptune on the Descendant suggesting possible deception or at least self-delusion by “others” be they customers, shareholders or media etc.

So, having identified the themes, it is time to look at where the charts are now (or rather up to 4th November 2021 the date of the peak so far).

Let’s deal with the Tesla chart first

We can look at what has evolved over the nearly 12 years since the IPO. We know that we are in a number of waxing (outgoing) aspects; Neptune and Uranus are in an approaching first sextile, Pluto and Uranus in an approaching trine.

We note that progressed Mars has been approaching a trine to the progressed Sun all that time. It will be interesting to see what happens as it starts to separate.

During 2020 and much of 2021 Uranus has been sextile the Uranus/Mars and Saturn/Mercury conjunctions, that is likely to have resulted in positive surprises. Again from 2022 Uranus will move away and indeed reach Pluto and Jupiter, which will definitely be interesting. It isn’t a negative aspect so some upside is suggested by that on its own.

In 2020 we saw the Pluto/Saturn/Jupiter conjunction oppose the progressed Sun but it was also trine the Ascendant and Node- so the picture was mixed and more than offset in the medium term by the other configurations such as Jupiter crossing that 12 degree point conjoining with the tesla Neptune- the classic bubble picture.

Also during 2020 and 21 Neptune was square the Tesla Pluto and quincunx its Jupiter, the combination can definitely indicate over optimism and delusion. Soon Neptune will cross the Ascendant and Mc axes, and this may create a turning point in sentiment- though it is unlikely to lead to clarity.

Looking at November 2021, we see that Jupiter has now passed opposition to progressed Jupiter, also suggesting the peak of a cycle.

We also note that there is a grand cross involving a mix of transits, natal and progressed planets: natal Neptune at 12 Aquarius, opposite progressed Mercury in Leo and square the opposition between Uranus and the New moon on the 4 ^th which has triggered the configuration. The progressed Moon is also at 12 degrees and the progressed MC at 11 degrees. It is not surprising then that this represents a peak. But is it THE PEAK?

Perhaps significantly Saturn was making no major hard aspects so there were no real challenges at that point. Since November 4 ^th , Saturn has been slowly approaching 12 degrees, dragging the mood down. Pluto has also been approaching an opposition to the progressed Sun, another harsh influence- shades of early 2020. But these shall pass.

In summary then the peak is clear and there is enough to suggest the current lull in price but with both Neptune and Uranus moving to key spots by mid 2022 we can’t be sure it is all over yet.

However more important for the share price is surely the IPO chart.

Turning first to progressed Venus, we see it crossed over the Ascendant in 2017 and has changed signs in 2021. More importantly it has been opposing Neptune for the last few years, suggesting values that may have diverged from reality. However Venus is now in a quincunx relationship with the IPO Uranus- a reliable indicator of sudden adjustments to value. Venus is also square the progressed MC (less obvious as that is at 29 degrees). And that progressed MC is trine the IPO Saturn another sign of shifting sands.

One of the things that stands out is the position of Neptune in the chart, close to the Descendant. And, looking back, again, at the last decade we see that during that time it has moved through the 7 ^th house, but in 2021 it is now firmly in the 8 ^th , and we may expect some changes in the financial position from that. But in November 2021 Neptune is not making lots of close aspects ( though it is about to semi-square the IPO Pluto position and can explain the trend since 4 ^th November), so it alone is not likely to be the culprit here.

On the other hand, we can see that over the decade Mars has moved from 12 degrees to 18 degrees where it is now trine the MC. Since it will move on to Saturn over the next decade we probably can’t expect the good times to continue. In addition to all that Saturn has been stationed quincunx the Sun and progressed Moon, enough to create a wider environment of questions, in this case over the leadership perhaps. Nevertheless we still need more to pop a bubble.

Unsurprisingly we find it.

In 2021 the Progressed Ascendant has moved to 3 degrees of Virgo – where it is trine Progressed Pluto but quincunx progressed Jupiter. On November 4 ^th we can see that transiting Mars has reached 3 degrees of Scorpio, and although it is sextile the Pluto and Ascendant positions, interesting but not necessarily terrible, it is quincunx Jupiter, a sign that adjustments in expectations are needed.

Less obvious is the semi-square between transiting Mercury and the progressed Mars ( we also have a sesquiquadrate between progressed sun and progressed Jupiter). We know Mars is one of the most reliable triggers to wider configurations so it is not surprising that everything would come to a head at that point and this is heightened because of that Mercury at 27 Libra.

As already mentioned the day saw a new Moon at 12 Scorpio opposite transiting Uranus. Mars in the IPO chart is at 12 Virgo and the node at 12 Capricorn- indicative of a critical point, but far more importantly the IPO Moon is at 12 Aquarius square the Uranus/New Moon opposition. Nothing does shock to the system (in this case the retail shareholders) quite like that opposition. We were at a top so not all the aspects are necessarily bad but inevitably show that sudden change is in the air.

The combination of the Mars and New Moon configurations on the same day is more than enough to shake the tree.

Looking forward we see that Jupiter has now crossed the Descendant in December and will soon reach Neptune – a useful indicator of what we may see when Jupiter and Neptune meet by transit in April 2022. We also see that during the next year Uranus will cross the MC – expect high drama when this happens, not least because the progressed MC will sextile the IPO Uranus at about the same time. A double whammy of the whammiest configuration. Don’t you just love astrological insights?

I also thought that it might be interesting to take a very brief look at Elon Musk’s chart especially given his starring role as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. There is no known birth time so I’ve invented one and relocated the chart to California. So angles etc. should be ignored

It is completely unsurprising to see that the chart has a Jupiter Neptune conjunction (and obviously sextile Pluto), and opposite Saturn, pretty much the characteristics of many markets/currencies etc. as this is someone who is clearly tapping into the zeitgeist.

That Jupiter is currently square his Jupiter is equally unsurprising for someone designated person of the year. That it is sextile my completely invented progressed MC is rather spooky as it sums things up pretty well!

There will be plenty to follow in Musk’s life as Pluto moves to trine his Pluto and sextile Neptune/Jupiter, followed by Neptune opposite Pluto and Uranus square Mars over the coming few years.

Evergrande

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:08:59 GMT

A look at the astrology of Evergrande's debt problems

I had a list of topics for late November and December, Tesla and Rivian, Bitcoin etc and Evergrande. The latter was last on my list but I’ve decided to promote it to top billing as it is certainly experiencing enough drama!

Concerns had been growing about Evergrande’s debt for some time, but these escalated in October and November and in November Evergrande was removed from the Hang Seng index.

Today reports are that the share price has now dropped below the 2009 IPO price. Given how markets have performed in the last decade that is pretty dramatic. So let’s have a look at the astrology.

Although Evergrande was founded in 1996/7, there does not seem to be a date for it. So we’ll have to satisfy ourselves with the IPO chart from 2009.

One thing that sticks out immediately is the fact Saturn was almost on the Midheaven when the company listed and square Pluto. That doesn’t particularly bode well but isn’t catastrophic, But by progression Saturn has gradually moved over the MC that is basically confirming the negative promise of the chart. But that isn’t the main problem, because….

….owch, the longer term picture is right there and obvious. The progressed Ascendant has been applying to a conjunction with the natal Pluto since at least 2018, In 2021 that conjunction became exact. In October/November the conjunction with progressed Pluto was at exactitude. And yes that meaNs that the progressed Ascendant/Pluto is square the Saturn/MC. Things frankly don’t get much worse than that value wise. It is pretty horrendous.

As if it wasn’t enough, we also see that transiting Pluto in conjunct the node and square Venus, another value downer. In this case the sextile to the progressed Sun is not protective because that Sun is square the Evergrande Neptune. As if that wasn’t bad enough in November and December transiting Jupiter has been stationed on that Neptune.

There are other negatives too, progressed Mars has been square the Evergrande Sun/Mercury conjunction, and Uranus in November/December is opposite that conjunction . Oh and Neptune, this year, has been transiting the Evergrande Uranus and square the natal Ascendant. Who knew anyone could choose a chart with the potential for so much disaster.

A quick look at the day that the company was expelled from the Hang Seng is of interest. That was 19 ^th November ( effective 6 December). We see that the Sun and mercury were conjunct the Evergrande progressed Sun,( already perilously aspected) so announcements were about how its whole identity was threatened. Transiting Venus and transiting Mars were picking up the progressed Mars etc around 12/13 degrees and Saturn was opposite natal Mars (exact the end of November).

I think that enough, other than to see why today is significant. Obviously it is the day following the removal from the index. It is also the day a deadline passed regarding debt repayment. That’s the actual manifestation explanation but we are interested in how astrology describes it. Well, transiting Mars, our trigger extraordinaire is square Pluto and conjunct the progressed Sun, and Mercury is just on the Ascendant. The latter transit is perfect for a shift in sentiment about the shares, and the crossing of a threshold, in this case the IPO price.

With transiting Jupiter trine Venus, you might expect some protective themes to hold up value but the reality is the negatives are too many and Jupiter just magnifies them.

Frankly after all that, things can only get better in the longer term, but I rather suspect that long term won’t come to pass as it is difficult to see how the challenges could be overcome.

We have one more thing to do though: to look at how China’s chart fits with Evergrande.

We can look at the China chart in relation to Evergrande ( both natal and progressed positions).

In fact it is not as dramatic as one might fear. The main connections are around 8/9 degrees, the degree of the Chinese Sun, that Sun is currently square its own progressed Venus an opposing progressed Mars. The latter has some time to run. But the progressed Ascendant, with is quincunx the Sun is conjunct the Evergrande Mars tying the two together and with Saturn currently at 9 Aquarius opposite this point it is no surprise things have come to a head. We also note that the China Mars at 24 degrees Taurus is picking up the Evergrande progressed Sun and Venus ( currently activated by transits from Pluto and Jupiter).

There are links and therefore consequences for China but they are not immediately devastating . However, we see that by April 2022 Pluto will reach the Chinese Uranus. That may well make Evergrande look like chicken feed. China starts a new 30 year phase from May ( when the progressed Sun moves into Taurus) and we will likely get the first taste of how this will play out by late January or early February when Pluto is quincunx it position in the China chart (and, rather worryingly, conjunct its own position in the US chart).

Enjoy Christmas, and conserve your energies for an interesting 2022.

Argentina and the Peso 2021

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:22:46 GMT

A look at the astrological conditions affecting the Argentine Peso over the last few years and especially in 2021

2021 has not been a good year for the Argentinean Peso. Even based on the official rate the Peso has fallen by 20% this year, but the unofficial rate suggests its value may be half the official one- although in this case it is far less clear when exactly that depreciation has occurred.

For, however bad 2021 may look, it should be taken in the context of the last 5 years, which as the graph shows has been disastrous. Of course it all started with the legal decision to force the country to pay out previous bond holders; the financial effects of that have resonated ever since.

But we are not here to cast judgement on what has been done, we are here to discuss the astrology of it.

Let us start with the country chart.

As usual a n umber of factors immediately jump out. The country has Neptune on the IC, not a recipe for stable finances unfortunately especially as it is opposite Mars. But that is a natal aspect, it doesn’t tell us much about the specifics of 2021.

For that we need to look at the transits and progressions etc.

We can see that Jupiter is currently on the Descendant, which has been the case since September and originally occurred in April May this year. It definitely puts the country in the limelight with partners and n particular this year with the IMF.

But that really describes its relations, the underlying problems are more likely to correlate with transiting Neptune. During the year it has been square Venus ( ruler of the second house of financial resources) and progressed Saturn- the latter a continuance of 2020 themes, and suggests weakness in the strength of the currency among other things. There may be some brief respite now as Saturn trine the Argentine Mars and sextile Neptune can perhaps moderate things for a week or two.

We can also look back and see how Neptune in the last few years has crossed over the country’s Pluto and the natal Saturn

We also see that Uranus has been conjunct the country’s Jupiter this year, and also opposite its Uranus ( indeed it is currently opposing Uranus). This does not just suggest financial problems, it suggests unrest. We can see how that plays out in this quote from Bloomberg earlier in the year:

Argentina’s Economy Buckles After Leader Puts Politics First - Bloomberg

“ A strategy that puts political decisions above everything has squashed any plan to boost exports, lower inflation and kick-start growth. Exacerbated by the pandemic and too few vaccines, a rudderless economy is having its revenge.

Social unrest, closed schools , packed hospitals, cabinet disputes and a deteriorating business climate loom. Nearly 70% of ICU beds are occupied. About 42% of Argentines live in poverty , up from 26% in 2017.”

We also note that the situation was accentuated in the year with Jupiter square progressed Jupiter at 22 degrees. Note how that degree picks up the natal Venus again. I am concerned for the impact of the Jupiter Neptune conjunction in early 2022 on the country’s finances. Having transiting Venus stationed with Pluto around these degrees for the next two months will not help either especially since it is also square the progressed Mars. Things will get worse before they get better I believe.

Other things to note are the progressed Sun which has moved into Capricorn this year. This will create a shift in the way the country is governed after the last 30 years, though it may be too early to pinpoint the details of this. One positive of the shift is that Jupiter around June to August was making a favourable aspect to the progressed Sun – perhaps enough that things were a little calmer over that period than in April or October.

Having considered the country chart, we now turn to the currency.

The first thing that we can see is Pluto close to the Descendant. However it hasn’t crossed that point yet. Nevertheless the degrees would have been active in 2020 during the initial stages of the pandemic. So no surprise that the currency fell then.

Note that although Pluto is also trine the Peso Jupiter Pluto conjunction that probably isn’t sufficiently positive to offset the problems and is just an indicator that the currency has an inbuilt tendency to major corrections.

But if we stay with Pluto and look back over the transits of the last five years, we see something else. From 2014 onward, Pluto was close to the progressed Ascendant, making exact contact from 2016 and hardly separating for the whole period since. That alone is enough to depress a currency notably against its partners. By 2019 Saturn has joined Pluto making the situation even tougher. Added to this in 2018-19 Neptune opposed Uranus. No wonder the currency has been hot over such an extended period.

In 2021, we also note that the progressed MC is square progressed Mars and quincunx the currency’s natal Saturn. While this is not as significant as the Pluto and Neptune transits it adds another level of negative influence to the currency’s image. In December ( as in August/Sept) transiting Saturn is also at the same degree.

We also note that transiting Jupiter is square the currency’s Pluto/Jupiter conjunction at the moment. Unfortunately this is just likely to accentuate the trend.

All that and we haven’t even mentioned that during 2021 Uranus has been crossing the Peso Neptune and progressed Saturn. Changes to the currency are likely with this aspect and may occur during the period December 2021 to February 2022.

It will be interesting to see how this then ties into the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in April. That conjunction will mostly make positive aspects to the Peso chart but it is also an inflationary contact so in this case we can’t conclude that the situation will stabilise as quite the reverse may occur.

It is, however, good to see how the astrology has unfolded over the 5 or more years and to anticipate how it will finally play out in the next year.

Coinbase - share price movements

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 19:56:14 GMT

An astrological analysis of the Coinbase share price fall on 9th November 2021 and the rises that preceded it in October.

I already had Coinbase on my to-do list for November, but its sharp fall in stock price yesterday at 10am, after the third quarter results announcement, albeit followed by a quick recovery, encouraged me to bring my analysis forward a few weeks. In any case the fall was in the context of a significant rise since early October.

We are, of course, looking at another corporation and with that comes the problem of choosing a good chart.

Coinbase as a concept was started in 2011, but it wasn’t until 2012 that the founder took on a partner, raised some funds and business began.

Even the Coinbase blog is a bit vague and doesn’t mention the first date of offering vault services. It does, however show the date it first offered the ability to buy and sell via a bank account: 26 October 2012. In the absence of a time we can use noon in SF.

The incorporation of Coinbase was in Delaware as 27 January 2014. I am a bit sceptical about the usefulness of these dates ( as they are a legal formality only) but we will look at it nonetheless.

The IPO first trade took place on 14 April 2021 in NY at midday ( due to it not being a full public offering). That one should work well but of course was only 7 months ago so not terribly revealing in terms of outer planet transits.

It is important to understand what these charts ( and their equivalent in other companies) represent. At the time of the first chart there is no incorporation and no shares. While the chart may well link to later charts that connect to the share price- this chart does not do so. It is purely a chart about the nature of the business activity, the founders and the potential for success for the business.

It behoves us to remember that it is entirely possible for a business chart to look good but for an IPO chart for the same company to be negative, if that IPO takes place at far too high a price.

The incorporation chart is, as mentioned, a legal formality, probably done for tax and employment purposes. It is difficult to scale significantly without incorporation but it may tell little about the business itself. I do believe though that over a long time period a company does grow into its incorporation chart as the business and brand becomes synonymous with the legal entity. Coinbase is unlikely to have reached that point, Coca Cola probably has.

The Incorporation chart does have its uses though, it is a perfect chart for looking at taxes, legal cases and other non-business related matters.

Finally the IPO or first trade chart. This absolutely says something about the shares. It may well represent more than just the price though, it certainly gives indication of the demand. It should ideally link to the business chart- otherwise you can suspect that there is something odd happening.

Anyway , back to Coinbase and let’s start with the 2012 chart.

Wow. Even though I have used a midday chart for the initial business, the chart for 9 November at 10 am has the same angles. That is really quite extraordinary. Though of course one swallow does not make a summer.

We also note that the progressed Ascendant this year has reached the chart Pluto. Though that is about the wider changes in the company not yesterday’s stock price.

For that we need to look at some inner planets. We see immediately that the transiting Mercury and Mars are quincunx Uranus. That alone is enough to give a sudden movement. The fact that it picks up the progressed Ascendant Pluto point for a few days also increases the probability of significant movement. We can also note that the day was highlighted by the transiting Sun in a trine to the progressed Moon – the latter probably saved the Stock from a bigger shock.

Less obvious is the fact that Mars/Mercury at 5 degrees of the fixed signs are at 45 degrees, a semi-square, to 20degrees of the mutables. So as well as activating the chart themselves, they are also in communication with Neptune at 20 Pisces.

Indeed Mercury is exactly semi- square progressed Mars at 20 Sagittarius activating the ongoing square between Neptune and that progressed Mars. This configuration suggests confusion over levels of trade ( not trade in the shares but in the business) and that was confirmed by the announcement which suggested activity was down significantly on expectations.

We can probably expect more change in the next few days, as Mercury and Mars move to 12 degrees conjunct the progressed sun and opposite the Coinbase Uranus.

A quick look back at Mid October is also merited. We can see that at that time the Sun was conjunct Mars in the sky as well as being trine transiting Jupiter and they were both close to the MC of the chart and sextile its progressed Mars. But the only other notable transit was of Venus at 12 degrees Sagittarius. Perhaps there was no foundation to the rises in October that shows in the chart of the business itself?

Turning then to the Incorporation chart, what do we find?

This time we see that Mercury and Mars once again pick up the progressed Ascendant. We also note that this puts transiting Saturn on the MC at the time of the price fall. And we see the Sun is, this time, Quincunx the progressed Moon.

As I suspected though, the Incorporation chart is not as useful.

However, we can see again that 12 degrees is prominent and so confirms that the next few days could be interesting.

Turning to the First trade chart

The outer planets and progressions are mostly of little use as they are little changed from April. Even though they shout drama with Pluto on the Descendant square Sun quincunx Mars. There is a lot going on at 24-26 degrees.

We can see though that Uranus at 12 degrees is currently square the Coinbase natal Saturn- that certainly suggests a shake up around now ( and even more so in the next few days!) - though doesn’t indicate the exact date. Although Mercury and Mars oppose natal Uranus, it is not exact on 9 ^th November .

However, we know that they are also in semi-square type aspect with Neptune ( both natal and transiting).

And that leads us to the timing of the fall in the chart though. As the transiting MC opposes Mercury and is quincunx Neptune. We also see that the Moon is square the transiting MC at that time. They are very short term indicators – so not surprising that the stock price recovered. But I am more concerned by the fact that once more 12 degrees is highlighted in the coming days.

Looking back again over October’s price rises. We see the major rises occurred when the transiting Mars/Sun was in the region of 20-26 Libra activating those degrees I previously mentioned. Jupiter was at 22 degrees as well emphasizing the connections. It is also of note that Mercury stationed at the IC of the chart at that time too. Certainly enough to suggest activity although operating with both Neptune and Jupiter, as we know, is to set oneself up an illusion. Perhaps there was no fundamental value to underpin those rises.

On balance, though , this is definitely an interesting chart and interesting times. One can’t help but ask, no just what will happen this week when 12 degrees is reached but what will happen when :

Pluto goes back over the Descendant at the end of the year.
Neptune moves forward to 23-24 degrees and Jupiter conjoins it in April 2022
Uranus and Jupiter conjoin at 23 Taurus in 2024

For answers look to our services.

Turkish Lira falls

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 14:12:15 GMT

A look at the depreciation of the Turkish Lira in October and over the last few years

It is about time I looked at a currency.

Since, Erdogan sacked two deputy governors of the country’s central bank last month and the Turkish Lira has lost nearly 60 per cent of its value since 2018, making it among the worst performing currency of any emerging market, it is a good choice for an analysis.

Here is the chart for the last month vs the Euro

The Lira had been under pressure already from a surprise recent interest rate cut and high inflation

Here is the astrological chart for the Turkish Central Bank.

I will not pay too much attention to the chart angles as the time is assumed midnight but may be later in the day.

Immediately a number of features jump out.

Transiting Pluto has been stationed on the Lira progressed Saturn. It doesn’t get much more depressing than that. Pluto with Saturn represents long term irrevocable structural change.

Pluto has of course been making its way through this part of the zodiac for a few years. It first passed Saturn at 16 degrees in 2016-17. Then in 2019-2020 the progressed Saturn and the Lira’s Pluto ( opposite at 21/22 Cancer) would have borne the brunt of the Pluto/Saturn/Jupiter conjunction.. ll very heavy – though Jupiter presumably provided some partial relief.

If that wasn’t enough we see that now progressed Mars is also conjunct the natal Saturn position. That is accentuated by the natal quincunx between Saturn and Jupiter and between Saturn and the Moon and also the square with Uranus. That progressed Mars aspect has also been in effect since 2016. Mars is a trigger always but in market charts it can specifically indicate vigorous trade. So in this case we have the natal problems inherent in the chart activated by sellers.

It is not surprising then that we see that the events of October are broadly reflective of the trend for the last 5 years.

Indeed, if we go back to my 2016-2020 Lira forecast, it was pretty much doom and gloom all the way, with just a few short breathing spaces. Unfortunately for the Lira and the country my forecasts were correct.

Turkish Lira 2017-2020 (fortuna2020.blogspot.com)

Turning back to our astrological chart, we also see that Saturn has been stationed since September on the Lira progressed Venus , one of the significators for intrinsic value. It is no surprise to see that that progressed Venus is also quincunx the chart’s Neptune- the indicator of inflation. Turkey has been suffering very high inflation in the last year or more; indeed inflation is running much higher than the Lira depreciation would suggest: at least 20% over the last year but probably more.

The problem of inflation is further indicated by the transiting Neptune square to progressed Mercury- which has been in effect for rather longer than the Saturn transit.

The changes at the top of the bank are suggested by the progressed Sun square Sun, activated in October by the progressed Moon and tapping back into the progressed Venus configuration.

We can further note that events in October were given a further impetus but old “do it big” Jupiter opposing its natal position and by transiting Mars square Pluto.

Once again astrology describes it all.

Here’s a taster of what the next few months hold from my 2021-24 Lira (unpublished) forecast:

in August to November. ……there is a final return to the conditions of 2021 so value may turn negative again albeit for a few months.

December could see a turning point. Policy and rates may lead to some belief and there is definitely room for a sudden upside even though there is still limited trade in the currency. There is an ongoing inflation risk.

Instability characterises 2022 though.

January and February don’t start off too badly. But there is a likelihood that the currency might become more of a focus. Challenges to other currencies may have an impact on the Lira despite rate changes etc and due to inflationary pressures. There is a high likelihood of shocks leading to volatility, although there may be policies to mitigate these. This is also a time when values take leave of their senses and there is way too much inflation and detachment from reality despite policy attempts to control this.

It looks like out of the structural Turkey frying pan and into the global inflationary fire, perhaps .

The Dow Industrial Index: a retrospective

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 20:44:04 GMT

A look at significant events in the history of the Dow

Having looked at the history of the Nasdaq, it seems only right and proper to do a little comparison for the Dow Jones Index. That means going back much further than for the Nasdaq, back to our old favourite decade of the 1890s as the Dow was created only a few years after the Pluto Neptune conjunction and still very much under its influence. So let us look at that birth-chart.

A couple of things immediately stand out; the chart contains a kite formation which includes a grand fire trine of Jupiter/Moon and Mars around 4 degrees and the Sun at 5 Gemini. This is a fairly strong signature, something that should not surprise us much 125 years later.

In addition, the chart is set a few years after the Pluto Neptune conjunction but the planets are still close enough to resonate with it- we can’t just consider it alone, we must see it as part of the greater cycle.

We also need to be aware that there is potential for value shocks with Venus opposite Uranus and widely picking up both Neptune and Mercury- elements which will come into play as progressions tighten the relationships.

Finally we note a less obvious threat, as the MC/IC axis is 45 degrees from the Moon providing both points of opportunity and risk for the future.

Thus we can expect the chart to resonate to the broader cycle of Pluto and Neptune, but it will also respond to Saturn/Uranus and Jupiter.

1929

We’ll give the first couple of decades a miss then and turn to the conditions of 1929. We can immediately notice the problems here.

Pluto appears on the MC, and the chart’s progressed Ascendant has reached its progressed Saturn. That is enough to depress anything. We note how Mercury at 19 Libra is activating the Pluto on 29 October 1929. But we also see that Neptune is sneakily positioned at 3 degrees Pisces – this does not mean things will be negative but it does mean that whatever the conditions are, they are likely to drag on and Neptune is a weakening influence- here it is weakening that strong kite configuration.

But we should also not omit to notice that Pluto and Neptune have reached a semi-square of 45 degrees to each other – the first tough aspect in our wider cycle.

And that is a perfect point to start considering those outer planet cycles in more depth. They aren’t the whole story ( if they were all the markets would always move together!) but they do form a big part of the long term picture.

The markets took 2 decades to recover from 1929 but they really started to do so from 1950, and that marks the first Pluto Neptune sextile. Its first outing within orb lasted till around 1956, enough time to give the Dow a big boost, though we need to acknowledge that Neptune square Uranus also operated in 1954-6.

Our next big aspect was Pluto conjunct Uranus in 1965 signifying technological transformation among other things. And our next chart is set for the Dow peak in 1966 at close of trading hours again ( at 3.30pm EDT or 14.30 EST).

As well as th e obvious Pluto Uranus conjunction opposing Saturn – a pretty significant configuration of itself, we note that that configuration is square the Dow Neptune but it also picks up the progressed Mercury/Jupiter conjunction. Change was happening in a big way and the market was not immune to the shifts in influence.

We can also see immediately that our old friend Neptune at 22 Scorpio is conjunct the Dow Uranus and opposite both Venus and progressed Mars. Jupiter at 21 Gemini is activating this but the significant triggers for the day are transiting Sun square Uranus and transiting Mars square the progressed Ascendant.

Note also the Moon and transiting Ascendant picking up the chart’s angles. Not surprising that we had reached a critical turning point.

October 1987

Although the crash of October 1987 was a flash in the pan crash and not exactly what we are trying to analyse here, it is worth taking a peak at the chart for completeness sake.

I’ve set this one for morning opening (9.30EDT – 8.30EST) as the market starting falling from opening.

Note the impact in this case of transiting Uranus conjunct the Progressed Ascendant and opposite the Dow Mercury- enough even by itself to create shocks. But transiting Uranus is also square progressed Mercury and picks up a trine to progressed Jupiter not to mention the transiting Jupiter around that time - in this case those Jupiter trines were not beneficial but magnifying. But if this wasn’t enough, we love a double whammy and we have one, the Ascendant at opening conjunct the progressed Uranus.

There is more, we can see that the Sun has just passed a sextile to transiting Uranus which has kicked things off before trading starts. We can also see that the Moon is square Saturn that morning and Saturn opposes the Dow Neptune. WE even have the progressed Sun on the Midheaven at the start of trading.

Not surprising then that the day and the weeks that followed were a case study in drama in the market. The only thing I would question is why 1001 astrologers didn’t point it out beforehand. Or perhaps they did and no-one was listening.

After 1987 things turned positive again and despite the recession of the early 1990s, by 1995 Greenspan was talking about irrational exuberance. The benefits of the Uranus Neptune conjunction (after Saturn had moved away), especially when activated by Jupiter in 1997 meant that even Pluto transiting the Moon couldn’t stop the market rising ( although it did create some sceptics who it was alleged “didn’t get it”). It was different this time!

That all came to an end in 2000. Note how the Dow reached its peak two months before the Nasdaq, an indicator that there was more delusion affecting the latter than the former.

This is a cha rt for the peak, not the bottom. We should expect to see indications of a major turning point.

We do see that Uranus at 15 Aquarius is square the Dow Saturn. It is also quincunx progressed Sun at 15 Virgo, tying things down to the year in question. At close of business on 14 Jan we can see that the Ascendant is 14 Cancer activating this.

Transiting Pluto is sextile progressed Mercury but it is also almost opposite progressed Mars and Pluto. Over the coming years it will pass over these continuing to depress values and even weed out weaker components. The progressed Moon was activating that conjunction during January 2000 setting the process off.

We can also see that the Moon has just made a conjunction with Jupiter earlier that day, that is a monthly event, but in this case we see the conjunction is opposing the Dow progressed Midheaven and is trine the progressed Jupiter. Big changes are afoot and affecting the angles of the chart – i.e creating conditions for a turning point in sentiment. With The transiting Sun and Midheaven of the moment within 2 degrees all the condition are set.

We can also see that Neptune at 3 Aquarius is approaching the kite in the chart- it has reached Mars at 3 Aries but the coming year will see it move over all the 4 planets as well as the progressed Ascendant. This was a very key time.

2008-9

Then we turn to 2008-9 and the Global Financial Crisis. I’ve set the chart for the bottom on March 23, but any of the significant dates in September and October 2008 would be valid while showing a rather different emphasis..

We can immediately see Pluto tucked away there at 3 degrees Capricorn, putting a little pressure on the Kite formation and particularly on its Mars. On that day the Moon opposed Pluto too. But other factors are not so obvious, or rather they don’t seem clustered around 4 or 19 degrees.

However there is a configuration that involves the Venus –Uranus opposition in the chart. This is now being squared by Neptune (activated then by Mercury and Mars) opposite Jupiter. However Uranus ( widely conjunct the Sun) mitigates this somewhat. On the other hand it opposes the progressed Sun and squares Neptune/Mercury. Similarly Saturn which opposes Uranus. It seems these factors more or less outweigh each other – But then they should as the bottom has been reached.

There is one more factor, however, that should not be ignored and is part of the story in this period. Progressed Mars has reached natal Neptune. That is once again a key sign of ongoing weakness. Indeed we can see that we have 2 Neptune/Mars conjunctions ( progressed and transiting) so yes this does make a good low. Though it may also pertain to the increased liquidity that will flood the system over the coming years.

In 2010-2013, people, including many astrologers were negative about the prospects for the markets. I, on the other hand could see no real weakness either in 2010-2012 or 2013-16. Even in 2020, when there were definite signs of financial difficulties, my concerns were mainly more for currencies than stocks.

Let’s explore again why I was less concerned. Here is the chart for July 2010 when the cardinal cross was at a peak.

We can see that at this point the Cross was clustered around 0 degrees to 3 degrees of the zodiac. We would expect it to affect the kite in our Dow chart, if not in 2010, then in by 2012 as the planets moved a couple of degrees onwards.

But as mentioned at the start of this analysis, the Kite formation is a strong one. And what we see in this chart is that, although Pluto in Capricorn makes a hard aspect to Mars and is quincunx both the Dow Sun and Jupiter, and although we see Uranus (and Jupiter) conjoining Mars, we also note that Uranus will sextile the Sun, Trine Jupiter and Trine the Moon. Similarly Saturn ( with Mars) will oppose Dow Mars but will sextile the Moon, sextile Jupiter and Trine the Sun.

The kite formation protects from harsh aspects by compensating with softer ones. In this case quantitative easing took away the sting of the crisis and the Dow was able to recover.

We see the excess liquidity in the chart as Neptune opposes the progressed Jupiter. A blessing, but in the long run perhaps a mixed one. We will see.

2020

Next we turn to 2020. And specifically March 2020 when the Covid fears and their effect on the market were at their peak. The chart is once again set for the low- after 2 weeks of falls. Our initial focus is the Pluto/Jupiter conjunction activated by Mars on the progressed Ascendant and square the progressed Mercury Venus conjunction. . Obviously this Pluto configuration is the Covid one, but why did it not persist?

We must also turn to the other factors – why are the falls at their peak at that time, not earlier or later? We immediately see Uranus at 4 Taurus activating the kite configuration. But on that day the Sun is conjunct natal Mars at 3 Aries. Progressed Sun is in opposition at 5 Libra and we have further activation at 5 Sagittarius by Mercury. Indeed we must also note Venus at 19 Taurus too.

Note the difference between this Uranus at 4 Taurus and the previous chart Uranus at 0 degrees Aries. Then the position of Uranus tapped into the positive aspects of the Kite. This time It creates a square with Jupiter, an opposition with the Moon, a quincunx with the progressed Sun and only some semi-sextiles to offset. This is a much harsher prospect, albeit triggered by quick moving Sun and Mercury and with Jupiter creating the potential for major swings which could be positive ( and were by the following month or so) despite the pressures from Pluto.

So where next? We can once again set a chart for 9 August 2026 as we did with the Nasdaq.

This is an ex traordinary chart in its synastry with the Dow’s kite formation. Pluto is at 3 Aquarius, conjunct the progressed Ascendnat Neptune at 4 Aries conjunct Dow Mars, Uranus at 5 Gemini conjunct Dow Sun, Jupiter is at 8 Leo widely conjunct the Dow Jupiter. But we can also note that progressed Venus has reached 4 Scorpio and even the progressed Moon will soon be at 3-4 of Virgo.

Add to that a transiting Saturn crossing the Descendant axis and we have the conditions for a very significant event or environment. Be prepared.

Tesco Website Problems

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 20:59:11 GMT

A review of the astrological conditions of the Tesco Website Outage

As readers of my Facebook post on the recent outage will have realised, I love nothing better than a technology glitch. So this past weekend I was delighted to discover that Tesco’s web and app were out of service for 36 hours. I admit I would have been less diverted by the event I had had an order being processed but luckily I didn’t. So I will concentrate on the astrology which is a delight.

Unfortunately Mr Jack Cohen was not an avid astrologer and did not write down the date and time he started his stall in 1919. Nor did he record the exact moment he decided to brand as Tesco. More is the pity. Indeed the first accurate date I have at the moment is for the incorporation of what is now Tesco PLC on 27 November 1947 and the subsequent listing on 23 December 1947. I’ve assumed a time of 8am for the latter though the market may have opened later in the 1940s than now ( who knows as unlike the USA market there is not a nice little primer on historic market hours). We’ll use that chart as there is only 4 weeks between the events so using both would be unnecessarily complicated.

Fortunately the date of the original Tesco.com website launch( April 11 2000) is also available as that should also prove a fruitful source for exploration.

Although Tesco’s first written acknowledgement of the recent problem came at 9.08am BST on Saturday 23rd, analysis of the downtime records suggests it probably started around 2.20am (1.20 GMT) so that is the time I’ve set for the charts.

Comparison of the Listing chart with the Downtime is immediately revealing.

Transiting Uranus appears conjunct the Progressed Listing Ascendant, square the Listing Pluto and Quincunx both the Listing Jupiter and Neptune. This reflects the unexpected sudden event which affected the underlying systems. Mercury is conjunct that Neptune – tying things down closer to the day and time. This may also hint at the likelihood of a hack.

Transiting Jupiter is conjunct the listing progressed Mercury as well and though trine Listing Uranus ( generally a positive) it is square the Mid-heaven of the moment and opposes the listing Saturn and progressed Mars, Once again we can see all the usual players at work. In this case the big network being attached and shut down.

Then we also see that Pluto is conjunct the progressed Moon this month and is square Mars that day. Unhappy customers abound.

Once again we have our our wider conditions and our triggers.

But does the Tesco.Com chart also reflect the problems?

Of course it does.

First we see that the month is characterised by a Saturn conjunction with the Online Neptune. The potential for suppression of widespread access to media exists. But it takes more than one swallow to make a summer.

Once more transiting Uranus ( with its quincunx to Mercury) is key. This time it picks up the Online progressed Sun and the natal Mars and even Jupiter as well as being quincunx its Pluto and sextile its Moon. The latter representing the poor customers. That is a pretty busy configuration- which is just itching to be triggered.

Jupiter is once again active being close to conjunction with the Online Uranus and sextile the Progressed Online Ascendant. Note how the Ascendant of the moment activates matters in this case.

This time the Pluto-Mars square picks up the Online progressed Midheaven. Ouch. And the transiting Sun squares the Nodes and is quincunx the progressed Mars.

So both charts show multiple contacts which reflect the events involving all the usual suspects- Uranus and mercury- technology, Jupiter – large events, Mars- attacks or accidents, Saturn restrictions. And in this case even the Sun is involved – it goes to the heart of what the web offering does.

I think what this example does is interesting in that it shows how different charts can be connected over time; in this case the original floatation chart for Tesco itself and the chart for its Online service.

Note how Pluto at 13 Leo in the first chart relates to the second – Pluto at 12 Sagittarius. A positive connection at the time ( 2000) when the company was starting to transform to digital- but setting up vulnerabilities each time that point is hit.

Similarly Uranus at 22 degrees Gemini and 20 degrees Aquarius emphasizing technology in both cases.

Further insight can be gained by looking back at Facebook and seeing some parallels or at least connections. There we saw progressed Mars at 13 degrees Virgo , Saturn at 23 degrees Libra with Venus at 23 Gemini and Jupiter at 24 Taurus. While the exact angular triggers were different we can see how the two organisations have links that can be triggered at similar times.

There will obviously be a lot of information in the chart regarding the source and the nature of the hack and whether the situation is fully resolved or will have further consequences, but this is not the place for such analysis.

Nasdaq - then and now

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 18:17:05 GMT

Nasdaq – Are Neptunian dreams made of this?

Another episode in our Neptune season and we turn to the stock market – specifically, in this case, the Nasdaq.

While many market indices do move in tandem for much of the time, the interesting moments are when they diverge, either moving the same way but in different magnitudes because one is more sensitive than the other or, even more exciting, moving in opposing directions.

It therefore pays to not talk about “the markets” but to separate them out and consider each as a being on a separate trajectory.

Unlike the Dow, which has its origins in the 1890s and mirrors the story of the Pluto Neptune cycle, the Nasdaq wasn’t born until 1971, a product of the technology developments that grew out of the Pluto Uranus conjunction of the 1960s, but it wasn’t born then. Oh, no, this baby waited for our favourite combination of planets: Neptune and Jupiter. From birth it had ideas well above its station, it would go big- very big!

I like to use charts for the composition of the index rather than the First trade but both are valid. In this case I am using the chart for close of play on 5 Feb 1971.

So, this is not just about Jupiter and Neptune but Mars too ( of course it is-we’ve seen it time and again in this Neptune season).

Although, out of sign at 29 degrees Pluto remains in orb of a sextile with Neptune and Jupiter, and does the same with Mercury. Mars at 8 degrees Sagittarius ( oh yes, even BIGGER), helpfully pulls Uranus back into the picture too.

The chart is not without its challenges though. Pluto is square the Moon and Venus – value is challenging. Saturn squares the Sun and is sesqui-quadrate Venus emphasising those difficulties.

There was not too much action in the early years. We should not be surprised to know that it took the Uranus/Neptune conjunction of the early 1990s to see it really taking off. Here is the chart for that conjunction

Loving the Ma rs showing once again. This time Mars is sextile the conjunction, and the MC of the moment is almost exactly the position of the Nasdaq progressed Mars.

We would expect the Neptune Jupiter conjunction of its birth o be highlighted and surw enough the progressed MC in quincunx it. The Node conjoins it and progressed Mercury is square.

There is plenty more happening and we can also see what is in the pipeline. Pluto will cross the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction releasing its potential in the coming years and Neptune and Uranus will move over the Descendant (as will the progressed Venus) radically increasing visibility.

Let’s look at the peak on 10 March 2000. I don’t have a time for this so it is set for the peak close at 16.00 e.s.t.

We can see immediately a number of things:

Transiting Jupiter is square Neptune – indication of a peak but not in of itself indication of falls to come. However, Pluto has past the Neptune-Jupiter-Mars conjunction and is finishing its business with a sextile to Uranus. It will over the next few years square progressed Sun/Mercury and quincunx Saturn a less happy state of affairs.

Neptune has passed Progressed Venus and is completing its sextile to the Neptune-Jupiter. Passing Venus means that Venus ( value) is more likely to be realistic than previously.

Uranus, after transiting the natal Sun has now crossed the progressed Descendant axis- time for a shock.

We also see that the Index has reached its Saturn return- always a sign that it is necessary to inject a bit of adult sense into things. The moon on that day has activated the Saturn.

There is plenty here to dampen the mood over the coming days, weeks and months and even years.

Indeed even in 2007/8 before the financial crisis the index had failed to recover much of its glory. The crisis made sure that it stood no chance of doing so for a while

Our next chart is for the March 2009 low.

We can note immediately that the progressed MC which has trundled over Saturn and is now at progressed Saturn will gain its freedom over the coming year. Transiting Saturn is trine it and with the opposition to the transiting Sun perhaps also indicating that things will now move on.

Uranus is approaching a conjunction with Progressed Sun- an indication that change if not surprise is in store. Though this is likely to play out in a mixed way for a few years as the progressed Sun opposes Pluto.

Transiting Pluto itself has more or less finished its transit of Mars, though it is holding on to a square with progressed Mercury for a little while longer.

More interesting is Neptune ( conjunct what I am rapidly concluding is his secret best friend Mars) on the progressed Descendant. Neptune is no longer in the dark, and with Jupiter going to conjoin it very soon there is the opportunity for more delusional forces to kick in and kick out the pessimistic ones.

There is plenty in the chart to indicate the end of harsher conditions and the beginning of more upbeat ones even though there will be a cardinal cross for the next few years. My forecasts for 2008-12 and 2013-2016 addressed this at the time.

Our next chart is set for the date when the Nasdaq finally reached its 2000 peak again in April 2015.

Relative to the earlier charts, this is dull. Why? Because it is not in itself a turning point. Saturn is creating a negative influence on the Neptune-Jupiter conjunction , but the progressed Sun has moved on from its opposition to Pluto and will now trine the conjunction over the coming few years. The cardinal cross is waning and we have Mars – Mercury conjunct Saturn making for the big announcement that things have recovered.

After this the next key event was the Covid shock in March 2020 (when the Saturn Pluto conjunction sat on the Descendant). I wrote in my 2020 blog forecast (written in 2016) that “February and March….. there is uncertainty that increases the rate of changes. However, there is also huge external pressure. Although the signs are not all bad, I think this will result in some significant selling.” For April I wrote “ April is a key turning point in sentiment. Any movements in value will be huge and trade will continue to be high volume and erratic.”. I think there is no need for me to expand further.

But, with the exception of that Covid shock in March 2020 the index has been a blast. Especially in 2020-21.

We know we are in the approaching sextiles of Neptune and Uranus, of Pluto and Uranus and the final Neptune Pluto. Indeed in August 2026 all three outer planets are in aspect to the Neptune/Jupiter conjunction. We also know there will be a super bubbly Neptune Jupiter conjunction in Pisces next April. Won’t all that just mean the bubble ( and it really is a bubble now) will get even bigger?

Obviously this is not the place for long term forecasts- if you are interested see Services.

However, my outline forecast (unpublished) for 2021 had the index reach a peak by the end of July, though this is within the bounds of time orb for a broad trend forecast. Let’s look at what, at the moment, seems to be the peak on September 7 2021.

We can see the usual subjects being activated.

The bubble is clearly being caused by the combination of the node and progressed Ascendant which are opposite and square the Jupiter Neptune conjunction. Jupiter conjunct the natal node creates our favourite double whammy. Saturn although at 7 degrees is making as favourable an aspect as it could while not encouraging too much over enthusiasm.

But we can also see a lot of change in this chart. The progressed Mc changed signs in May, and the progressed Moon in early September. Uranus will by mid 2022 reach natal Saturn – that is unlikely to go un-noticed. And then we have Pluto which will cross the Descendant again in early 2022.

We may not have reached peak Nasdaq but we have probably passed peak sanity. I am concerned about events in April 2022 though the Nasdaq is not the main focus of those events. Inflationary factors will dominate and may take some time (even years) to affect the fundamentals of the index, but affect it they will.

So, just for fun, and with no commentary here’s that point in August 2026

Nasdaq composite foundation time ( close of business time). A brief history of trading hours on Wall Street - MarketWatch

Boris Johnson and Boosterism

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:43:00 GMT

An brief analysis of Johnson's birth-chart

I don’t often look at personal charts, even those of leaders; everything that needs to be said can generally be gleaned from corporation or country birth-charts and there are plenty of others providing personal, astrological, analyses perfectly, adequately so I like to stick to my niche.

However, it would be remiss of me, as I work my way through my Neptune topic phase, to omit the gloriously fabulous example that is Boris Johnson.

Of course many astrologers have already looked at his chart so I won’t go into too much detail, especially around personal matters etc. I just want to stick to the boosterism that dominates his politics.

The key thin gs that stand out in this chart are:

His Libra ascendant, with the ruler Venus conjunct the Sun which can make him seem very personable.

The Sun in Gemini, planet of communication but also of two sidedness and fiction in some instances. We’ll return to this in a minute

The fact that this is trine the Moon and Saturn ( although these planets are in water rather than Air), making it easier still to gain co-operation from people over the longer term

He also has a relatively un-aspected Mercury – a lack of aspects to a planet can mean an excessive focus on the planetary characteristics concerned. In this case, yet more Gemini communication matters. Too much of a good thing is not always helpful

However he also has:

A Scorpio moon. In contrast with much of the rest of the chart, this is not a co-operative position- it is liable to make him paranoid and vengeful under the surface. Perhaps why some that have worked with him the past say he can be a nasty piece of work

The Moon in quincunx to Mars accentuates this characteristic.

Mars in a T square with Saturn and Uranus. Combined with his moon this means he doesn’t like to be corned and will react with sometimes shocking responses when he is. Some of this can be seem in his recent interview when asked about the pigs that were going to be slaughtered en-masse.

But by far and away the most significant thing that stands out in his chart is:

A very close Jupiter –Neptune opposition. As we have seen in our journey through the lands of Neptune – Neptune can very easily lack boundaries, lose track of reality and be an unreliable witness .

Jupiter alone can bring generosity of spirit, positive vibes and good fortune. But Jupiter also exaggerates. Jupiter in such close aspect with Neptune can lead to fantasy, over –optimism and boosterism to an extreme extent. It is also likely to result in laziness and a total inability to pay attention to detail. Even Boris’s greatest supporters acknowledge the latter.

The combination of the Gemini Sun/Venus and un-aspected Mercury with the Jupiter-Neptune configuration definitely suggests someone who may have a loose grip on mundane facts.

However for Boris, this does not seem to have been a disadvantage too often- although he has been sacked more than once for lying. That Jupiter brings luck and widely trine Pluto it also brings the ability harness great power.

People who don’t support him are no doubt hoping for karma to assert itself at some point.

Yet, karma has its own timescales- sometimes it is immediate, but sometimes it takes lifetimes. I once worked with someone who was similar in some ways to Boris. He wasn’t in Boris’s league – but he did take short cuts and hide his mistakes. His team couldn’t believe he got away with the things he did, and kept saying “surely one day he’ll be given enough rope to hang himself” but it never happened, his boss only saw him through rose tinted spectacles. His career continues to blossom 25 years later after those around him have faded into oblivion.

So is it likely that events will turn against Boris in the near to medium term future?

The birth-chart is only the beginning of a story and progressions and transits can shift the balance over time. The question is, is it likely to shift that balance enough in the next few years to affect his career path and the direction of the UK?

Her is the position, in terms of transits and progressions, at present. Yesterday (6 October 2021) he gave a speech at the Conservative conference which was the epitome of his boosterish persona.

We see that i n his progressed chart Jupiter is opposite the Ascendant- this is an aspect that is lasting a few years and makes him even larger than life and in the public eye during that time. The progressed Sun square the opposition emphases this even further. Pluto currently at 24 Capricorn is trine/sextile this configuration making his position very strong, though with transiting Jupiter at 22 Aquarius he engenders strong opposition too – just not quite strong enough. We also see Uranus trine his progressed Pluto at the moment providing even more opportunity.

The chart is not without its obstacle though. Transiting Saturn is quincunx progressed Venus and progressed MC. That is challenging. Just not enough to offset the other factors at present.

Over the coming couple of years we can see a few changes emerging though. Progressed Mercury will square natal Mercury – there will be more of the sort of content that filled his recent speech.

Neptune will move to sextile and trine the progressed Jupiter- Ascendant opposition and this tiej next year it will be accompanied by Jupiter. Believe it or not the statements could get even more phantasmagorical.

However, over the coming 2 years Uranus will reach his natal Jupiter – Neptune position. This is likely to lead to shocks – perhaps for him, perhaps for the country. Uranus may be the pin that pricks the booster bubble. It is certainly not going to pass un-noticed. In a slightly longer time-frame Neptune moves into square with his Venus/Neptune and Pluto into a quincunx. Perhaps he loses the support of those close to him.

By 2024 Pluto will square his Moon, I feel that by then he may be acting really quite irrationally as Uranus (accompanied by Jupiter in early 2024) will reach his progressed Jupiter /Ascendant opposition. Even for Boris that looks to be too extreme a configuration to escape lightly. A radical change of fortune is likely.

Facebook - outages and whistle-blowers

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:29:12 GMT

A look at the challenges for Facebook in October 2021

Still continuing my Neptune and Media themes, I thought it would be interesting to look at Facebook’s chart for this week. With both whistle-blower testimonies and a significant outage across all its platforms, we’d expect for some pretty interesting astrology.

There are two main charts for Facebook ( ignoring its short lived predecessor Face and its legal foundation). The first is its launch at Harvard on 4 Feb 2004 and the second its first trade chart on 18 May 2012.

We would expect to see both Uranus and probably Neptune prominent in the outage, perhaps also Mercury and Jupiter given its significance. Pluto may be relevant to the whistleblowing and Saturn may also show up as important in an outage.

Starting with the foundation chart we can compare it to both the progressions and transits this week. I’ve chosen the outage start time for added interest.

We can immediately see Uranus at 13 Taurus ( quincunx transiting Mars/Sun – also the degree of the impending new moon) conjunct the progressed Mars ( and the Node) and square Neptune. Honestly we could just stop there. Isn’t it fascinating how Mars shows up with Neptune in so many of these media event charts.

But we can also see That transiting Neptune ( quincunx Mercury) is square Foundation Pluto-a good description of the whistleblowing. And transiting Saturn is quincunx Natal/progressed Saturn, also aspecting both the progressed MC ( publIc image) and at the time of the outage sextile the Ascendant. Frankly they had no chance!!

Of course, we aren’t surprised to find more of the same. Uranus is now trine Progressed Mars ( not as serious but once more activated by the Mar/Sun conjunction). The Ascendant of the Outtage is conjunct the North node in this case.

A certain amount of caution is required here though. We see that Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto, all around 23 degrees, are also aspecting the natal Sun, progressed Ascendant, Saturn and Venus. Big stuff. But these are longer lasting aspects and we already have big stuff in terms of the share price, we need more to indicate something specific on the day. Fortunately ( or unfortunately if you are a shareholder) Mercury obliges at 21 Libra- activating all the above.

We can also see how Saturn once again taps into this chart. This time it is trine the progressed Sun/Mercury and sextile the chart’s Uranus. Not too serious, but it is also square the MC much tougher proposition. Although facebook is up over the year, this Saturn station has pulled it down over the month.

Once again the astrology has favoured us with its brilliance.

Time of launch : Facebook's Early Days at Harvard - The Atlantic

First trade time: First Trade Business: Facebook, horoscope for birth date 18 May 2012, born in New York, with Astrodatabank biography - Astro-Databank

Outtage – 5 Oct 2021 11.30am EDT NY

Fake News

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 14:20:31 GMT

Fake News- a potted history of the 20th and 21st centuries

Another episode in our Neptune season and we turn to the subject of fake news. Actually, that in itself may be fake news as this really is going to be a wider consideration of media trends.

Indeed, I want to start by noting that although Neptune may have an association with modern day media, communications are fundamental to the human condition and most of the planets have something to say about it (no pun intended).

Of course, it is no surprise to note that we associate Mercury with messages and exchanges but we may forget that the Moon, representing the masses, includes gossip and common knowledge, and plays a big part in the dissemination of news and in scaremongering too. Jupiter has an association with publishing and publicity and expanding the number of people reached by any story. Even Mars plays a part as competitive sources fight, with propaganda, to become the dominant “truth” not to mention the more cruel and malicious elements. Then there is Venus, with her softly softly PR approach – just a snippet over a generous lunch perhaps? And Mars with Venus probably describes that insidious process of lobbying.

Furthermore the 21st century may have coined the phrase fake news but it most certainly doesn’t have a monopoly on media lies and half-truths- the people have always been gullible and society has always included those prepared to take advantage of the fact.

So what part does Neptune play? I think in some ways it is a fairly neutral one- it represents dissemination, with global reach and without limits so it is obviously relevant to the internet. However, Neptune does not care particularly about the truth, for Neptune all is true, as all possibilities exist co-terminously – all widely disseminated stories and memes are the domain of Neptune whatever their source or purpose.

However where Neptune is relevant on the internet is that even the term fake news is ambiguous. It can include:

• completely fictitious stories invented by students in their bedsits for a laugh ( although many are later taken as fact by readers)

• deliberately positioned stories by political bodies or corporates to encourage a particular perspective (propaganda) or sell a particular product (advertorials);

• stories and views proffered by “influencers”- these are almost always operating in a Neptune driven environment and often fail to disclose what they are being paid to do or say

These may or may not be related to the political bodies or corporates mentioned above

• Stories circulated by people or groups who care only for what they can earn from advertisers for “eyeballs”- they don’t care about the truth, only whether it is sufficient to form clickbait – so the more salacious the better

• Memes which start out as legitimate but lose connection with their original content so that the meaning changes as people share them

• Negative statements repeatedly frequently (used by people such as Trump) to undermine real news content by referring to it as fake news

What pulls those altogether is the fact that the reader will have no idea of the original source of the content, will not know the purpose or motivations of the creators and will not understand the financial and other benefits that may accrue to those creators as a result of the direct dissemination of the content or the behaviour of the readers thereafter. That is very Neptunian.

So, where should be start if we want to consider modern fake news? If we want to look at social media and the internet there is no better place than the Neptune/Uranus conjunction of the 1990s. But as I said, I want this to be broader as other media and even face to face PR still plays a part in the mass delusions of the current day.

I think this means that we need to turn once more to the Neptune Pluto cycle that started in 1891/2 at 7 Gemini as that best describes the wider cycle that we find ourselves in. Our first chart is therefore for that conjunction.

And of course it was in Gemini. Usually I am discussing what this means in terms of the trade cycle, but in this case it is more relevant to look at Gemini as the Mercury ruled sign of communications and exchange. Clearly we were starting a cycle where media was going to be important. Indeed one of the first reference to the term “fake news“ appears in the 1890s.

But it is a long cycle and it takes a long time to form a new aspect between the two planets. Our first significant aspect was the semi-square, in orb in the early 1930s. 1933 for example was the year that Hitler established a Ministry of Propaganda. But even before then, we can see the tentacles of Nazi influence in the Völkischer Beobachter which restarted on 26 Feb 1925

We can see immediately the Uranus Neptune quincunx at 20 degrees, activated by the Moon. But we also see the Mars-Pluto square strengthened by Jupiter and Saturn forming a rectangle, close enough in orb of Neptune for its influence to be felt.

The chart for the formation of the Ministry is even sharper.

As well as being semi-square Pluto, Neptune is conjunct Mars on the South Node and quincunx Mercury- lies are centre stage. And not only do we have the semi-square with Pluto but a sesquiquadrate with Uranus too. Unfortunately, though unsurprisingly in hindsight, there is a lot of power in the chart.

So let’s leave it there and move on to the happier times of the 1950s and the beginning of the advertising golden age. This, as we know, was the start of the Neptune Pluto sextile. Neptune is in by now in shiny glossy Libra.

However, before we cheer the sparkles, we should note some of the similarities to the 1933 chart. Now Uranus is semi-square Pluto and Mercury is square Neptune. Neptune remains in the same sign as Mars, although they are not close enough for a conjunction, and Mars is still conjunct the South Node. This may not be a time of such harsh messages but the public are perhaps no less susceptible to being manipulated than before. Nowadays we are wise to many of the games advertisers played in the 1950s through to the 1980s but at the time we were drawn in by those messages.

The Sextile remained in orb throughout that whole 3 decade period, making its final sextile of the era in 1986, peak Saatchi and Saatchi days.

We can see from this that media influence is nothing new. But what of the more recent “internet years”?

There were three conjunctions between Neptune and Uranus in 1993 and the first two are relatively un-aspected. The third however is rather more interesting.

There is a sextile with Mars ( interesting how this planet seems to come into play in so many of these charts) and Mercury and these planets enable to some extent the re-activation of the Pluto Neptune sextile. There is also a semi-square with the node.

We know how this conjunction correlates with the rise of the internet but we can also see how the inclusion of Mars creates the conditions for competition, whether for eye-balls or of opinions. There is definitely the potential for things to get out of hand in this chart- although there is also the potential for crackdowns and regulation by governments with Saturn square Mars and Pluto and trine the Sun and Jupiter.

Of course in 1993 Neptune was in sedate Capricorn, so while the seeds were being sown, there was no particular wave of fake content at that point.

Neptune moving into Aquarius increased the potential and there was certainly a bit increase in the amount of fake advertorial, not to mention the explosion of memes at this point.

But it was Neptune moving into amorphous Pisces around 2012 that really provided the conditions for the fake new industry to take off. The increasing problem was identified by Craig Silverman in 2014-16.

We see it reaching a peak in the USA around the 2020 election, and especially in December 2020 when Neptune was Square the node and THE Sun/Mercury conjunction. The nodal square was almost exact on 6 ^th January 2021 coinciding with the storming of the Capitol.

Where do we go from here?

I am afraid it can get worse before it gets better with Jupiter conjoining Neptune in Pisces in April 2022. But we also cannot ignore the fact that we have not yet reached the Neptune Uranus sextile which coincides with the return of the Pluto Neptune cycle ( and thus Uranus Pluto too) in the late 2020s. This suggests to me that the greatest peak of fake news has yet to manifest.

But can you believe me?!!!!!!!

It's not a gas!

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 18:06:23 GMT

A look at the gas price crisis in the UK

After my post last week on inflation, I decided that a short series with a Neptune theme might be in order. And any doubts about that would be immediately quashed when we note that our first chart is for 17th September – just like the last one…

Unfortunately for me invoking Neptune has meant that I have over-slept significantly all week and am behind on all projects. So I am grabbing this chance while I can!

The topic for this week is gas, and although prices have risen everywhere I’m going to stick with the UK as we have had some of the biggest problems as a result of those rises.

There is obviously no incorporation chart for gas and there is little to be gained to going back to the introduction of coal gas- although there is a good chart for this based in London on 28 January 1807.

It seems more sensible to look at the North Sea Gas era as it is that which has led to the UK’s dependence. So here is the chart for the day ( set for noon as the time is unknown) when the first serious find was made.

Note the Neptune- Mars conjunction. (Since we have no time the position on the ascendant is co-incidental – so far as anything is in this universe of ours). We can also see how gas in the Uk ties into the Pluto-Uranus opposite Saturn configuration of the mid 60s- and this how it key to changes in industry in the country since then.

Now let’s see how the current planetary positions ( transits and progressions) play into that chart.

Bingo!

The progressed Sun in 2021 is exactly conjunct the progressed Neptune. [Note that although the progressed Pluto and Uranus are at the same degree this is a very very long lasting aspect and while part of the wider story not responsible for this September’s drama.] On the other hand transiting Pluto trine the Sun in the chart and activated by transiting Jupiter is obviously contributing to the problem. We also note that last week Mars was square progressed Mars and Jupiter. Mars has clearly been the trigger in this case.

It is also concerning that progressed Mars will apply to the 1965 Jupiter then progressed Jupiter over the next two years; even if the short term price issues are resolved this does not suggest the wider issues will be resolved quickly.

Another lesser factor is the transiting Neptune-Mercury quincunx- part of the energy issue leading to gas shortages was the lack of wind power (Mercury). It is quite neat.

We can also see that the north node has returned to its 1965 position for only the third time- so now represents a key time for determining future direction.

Another chart of interest, although not confined to gas alone, is the chart for the privatisation of the electric companies in 1990 – this has been set for the float date at the market opening.

It obviously doesn’t shout gas or Neptune. indeed it is Uranus (electric) which is the rising planet. However it is a useful chart from which to consider consumer energy matters. There is a very tight quincunx between Neptune and Jupiter hiding out here too. It is also worth noting how the chart ties in to the Uranus/Neptune/Saturn conjunction at this time, so we can assume that it will resonate to the cycles of these three too.

It is also worth also consulting the UK chart itself. Here shown with transits and progressions for mid September

We can immediately spot one thing that interestingly is not Neptune related: Mars on 17 September was exactly conjunct the UK Uranus. This is quite clearly the trigger. Note that it was also the trigger in the earlier 1965 chart- and it is what appears to tie the two together now.

But there is masses going on in the chart generally. Transiting Uranus is on the Mars/Neptune midpoint and is square the country’s progressed MC and Sun/Jupiter/Moon conjunction. It is not surprising that last week’s gas crisis has led to this week’s oil tanker one and the burgeoning Christmas Turkey one. And with Uranus having a few years to transit the chart’s grand cross it looks like we are in this for the long haul ( although apparently without any hauliers).

More pertinent to our gas situation, Jupiter is opposite the country’s Saturn and of course our gassy friend Neptune is square the progressed Ascendant and Mercury is trine that progressed Ascendant, clearly showing how the two energy sources, mentioned earlier, were creating a unique pressure point for the UK.

We love it when a plan comes together- even when the only individual appearing to do any planning is the Universe and definitely not anyone in government.

Inflation: A retrospective

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 14:47:44 GMT

A look back at the conditions that defined the 1970s

With articles in the Financial Times today stating “Unpublished ECB inflation estimates raise prospect of earlier rate rise” and “Is it time for the Bank of England to start tightening monetary policy” it seems like a perfect time to have a look at inflation

No actual forecasts here, though you can form your own opinion, of course; just a look back at the 70s and the conditions that existed then and later.

Let’s start with a chart. This one is for the UK, but the US one is not substantially different. And of course we note that once again we are on the right track- the chart is for 16th September the date I started this post.

As the chart shows and as we already know inflation was at its peak in the 1970s. But what specific astrological conditions characterised that period?

It is clear to me that on the basis that they are expansive, we should look at Neptune and Jupiter our bubble creators extraordinaire. Yet Neptune and Jupiter meet every 13 years, so clearly that alone is insufficient to explain a once in 50 year event. Is there something else?

Indeed there is. In the 1970s Neptune was trundling its merry way through Sagittarius, and signs don’t come much more expansive than that one, which is in fact one of the 2 signs ruled by Jupiter.

Here is the chart for the Jupiter Neptune conjunction in 1971 in the UK. The conjunction, here forming the base of the chart was also in the UK second house of money and resources. Definitely a set up that you wouldn’t want. It was also trine the UK Jupiter giving it a bit of extra ( but rather un-needed oomph) and a sextile to the UK Uranus indicating the expansion would probably be unexpected.

Inflation in the Uk actually peaked in summer 1975 as Neptune transited the progressed Moon. Jupiter was trine the UK Saturn at 23 degrees weakening the significator of stable situations.

A second lesser peak occurred in May 1980 a year after the 1979 general election. By then Neptune was trine the UK Saturn and the progressed Moon had moved into square with natal Neptune and quincunx the natal Moon.

Neptune continued in Sagittarius throughout the 1970s, and early 1980s inflationary period, until 1984/5 when it moved into Capricorn. The next conjunction with Jupiter was in January 1984 and is also interesting as it is at 0 degrees 1 min of Capricorn, so out of Sagittarius but only by a whisker. The situation improved significantly after the early 1980s, though full stability did not occur until the 1990s.

This of course begs the question, do we have to wait until 2137 and the next Jupiter Neptune conjunction in Sagittarius for another bout of high inflation?

The answer is of course probably not. Neptune in hard aspect to the UK Saturn and Neptune in 2007 might not have brought inflation but did bring a banking crisis.

Neptune in Jupiter’s other sign of Pisces ( and in modern astrology associated with Neptune itself) from 2011 has led to asset price inflation. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, the Neptune Jupiter conjunction of 2010 was in Aquarius so we escaped the possibility that we would start Pisces in the way we started Sagittarius. However Neptune moves too slowly for us to escape completely- there is a Jupiter Neptune conjunction in 2022 at, oh no (!) 23 degrees Pisces. Here is the chart.

Just on the basis of this short post, I can’t guarantee you retail inflation, but I can guarantee the seeds of some related financial drama. I’ve already indicated elsewhere that next spring it is an interesting time in the US so we are looking at a theme.

Enjoy.

The Women's US Open Tennis Final 2021

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:51:36 GMT

Emma Raducanu and Leyla Fernandez

This week, it is back to sport.

And I am sure it will be no surprise to anyone that the topic is the women’s US open 2021. The extraordinary success of Emma Raducanu can’t be ignored, but the progress of Leyla Fernandez is also worthy of consideration.

So I decided to be a little different and concentrate on the joint rather than individual picture. This is their composite chart ( note that without birthtimes the angles should be ignored and the moon position is approximate).

It is a nice chart. With a Venus conjunct Mercury grand trine with Saturn and Uranus, there is potential for friendship as well as rivalry and for the play and the media interest to continue to evolve and remain interesting. The sextile between the Sun and Pluto, which is trine Jupiter can bring huge power. Indeed depending on the birthtimes it may also pick up the moon.

Although I don’t often refer to midpoints or 45 degree aspects, here there is a very interesting one involving Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. I think that describes very well the drive and determination of both to win. Neptune opposite Jupiter describes great expectations – though there is also the potential for great disappointments too.

But it wasn’t the composite chart itself I wanted to focus on, it was the composite in relation to the US final.

The match started at about 17.18 local time, but was scheduled for 5pm so the chart is set for that. Note that the Moon is on the MC – an indicator that this is all about the women. By the time they started playing Saturn was rising- which is perhaps a little strange until we see that it is conjunct the Composite Neptune and taps into that expectation opposition- Saturn made both players as well as all of us face the reality of their expectations and the fact that someone had to win and someone lose.

But the thing that immediately struck me was the Mars position. The Mars for the final is almost exactly the same as the composite Mars. What a fabulous condition for a competition and hopefully the start of many more final matches between these two. Mars is trine Pluto and sextile the Moon of the moment, demonstrating the power of the competition to seize the attention of the masses.

Also conjunct is the Venus position for the final and that of the Composite chart. It is not surprising that the media and sponsors are all over this.

There is more. Jupiter on the day is at 24 Aquarius and is conjunct the Composite Uranus- a perfect signature of a major positive surprise for them (born 2 months apart means they share the outer planet positions in the chart). Uranus itself is square the Composite Jupiter (almost exactly to the progressed Jupiter), creating that astrological double whammy that we love so well. Indeed these aspects would have been in situ for both players for all the competition perhaps indicative of their successful paths to the final as well.

We could go on but I want to keep this short and sweet. Isn’t it wonderful to see how perfectly astrology describes not just the moment, but how that moment ties in with not only a single individual but also a pair of them. Much respect to Emma and Leyla and to the Universe too.

Robinhood Markets Inc

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 23:45:51 GMT

The d emocratization of finance, or a fleecing of the lambs?

This week I have decided, despite the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, to definitely write about something financial. However, it is that time of late August when very little of note is happening in the markets/companies, so I’ve chosen to look at a company which is not currently in the news but has been during the year. I had my doubts that this was a good choice but, once again the universe made up my mind by showing Robin Hood Prince of Thieves on BBC1 this evening. So let’s listen to the Universe and look at Robinhood.

As usual we are faced with a plethora of possible charts. Although Robinhood was said to have been founded on 18 April 2013 in California, Robinhood Markets Inc. was not incorporated until 22 November that year (in Delaware). We have no times for either and according to US astrological convention will use noon.

Then of course we have the IPO, on 29 July 2021. Although the market opened early morning the first trade of the stock actually took place at 12.24.

Looking first at the foundation chart

We can see that the chart describes the company moderately well. The Ascendant is Cancer and the Moon is in the first house, this looks good, the company is supposed to be about democratizing investment for the public represented by the Moon. Uranus and Mercury are conjunct the Midheaven- perfect for a company in technology dealing with multiple transactions but particularly for one proposing to disrupt the status quo. So far so good.

However when we look at the position of the Sun, the company’s founders, the picture becomes a little more nuanced. The Sun is conjunct Mars in Aries; driven and strong, as well as more widely conjunct Venus in Taurus. We certainly have quite a few planets in their dignities here and Mars and Venus conjoining the Sun suggests that the founders can be charismatic and that the company can appear so too. Yet this conjunction is square the position of the Moon, suggesting tension between the goals of the founders ( to enrich themselves perhaps with Venus in Taurus and the Sun ruling the second house?) and the stated aim of the company to enrich the people. The chart final depositor in most cases is Mars (emphasizing the founders) not the Moon ( the people). The position of Jupiter on the midpoint will accentuate this.

Another concern might be the position of Saturn opposite the Sun conjunction and retrograde as well as inconjunct Uranus. That suggests some inherent challenges, as does the square between Pluto and the Uranus Mercury conjunction. The company was of course created during the period of the big "Cardinal Square."

Moving on to the incorporation chart

This is curious. Other than the Moon of the incorporation chart being conjunct the Ascendant of the foundation one, there is little synastry between the two charts. Now, while incorporation in Delaware is a necessary step for regulatory and tax purposes rather than business ones, we would expect at least some connections between the charts.

The foundation chart seems a better bet for analysis, nevertheless the incorporation chart does seem more favourable for the people than the first one.

The Foundation chart alone is, in any case, enough to give us an indication of the issues Robinhood has had between 2018 and 2021 with regulators and lawsuits. The period between 2018 and 2020 was characterised by Uranus crossing the Sun conjunction in the Foundation chart, and in 2020 was supplemented by conjunctions of both Saturn and Jupiter with Pluto on the Ascendant.

We can look at three of these difficulties.

The most recent event was a FINRA fine of $70m announced on June 30 2021 and this related to outages etc. on March 2 and 9 ^th 2020. This is the 2 March chart.

Here we see Uranus, exactly conjunct the progressed Mars and opposite the progressed Moon- quite literally there were many angry customers due to the outages. We also see Saturn on the descendant , not to mention Mars conjunct Foundation Pluto square Uranus. Nasty.

Contrast with the chart for 12 June 2020 relating to the suicide of a customer

This time it is Jupiter conjunct the Ascendant. Uranus opposes Foundation Saturn and Saturn opposes the Moon, as well as progressed Moon approaching Foundation Saturn. Add in a tricky Mars, Neptune, Moon conjunction that day echoing the Mars/Neptune configuration in the chart and the unfortunate conditions were set.

Then we can also look at the restrictions on trading imposed on 28 January 2021 which led to a class action and brand issues.

This time our friend accompanying Pluto on the Ascendant is Venus. But there is a lot more going on. Uranus, still travelling over the conjunction, is now over the progressed Sun. Saturn squares that very active progressed Mars. The Moon is highlighted with the North node and inconjunct Foundation Jupiter and there is a T-square between the Jupiter/Sun conjunction of the day and Mars but also the Foundation Saturn. The latter is also activated during the day by the Moon in Leo. Very little in the chart escapes challenge.

If nothing else we can be sure that this chart is valid! We also see how the challenges inherent in the Foundation chart bear out in practice.

Finally we turn to the IPO chart.

Whereas the foundation and incorporation charts are mainly about the company and its customers/owners etc. , the first trade chart will more accurately describe the experience of the public shareholders.

The first thing to notice about the chart is the Moon, relegated to the 6 ^th house and not making any really significant aspects. The company may be about the people, the listing sure isn’t. Nor does this chart scream disruptor, with Uranus only making wide aspects.

It is interesting that the first trade took place with the Sun close to the Midheaven, it is opposite Saturn suggesting that this may not in the end be a highly traded stock and perhaps suggests that the share price will get dragged down. This is reinforced by the Ascendant ruler Mars in opposition to Jupiter but about to change signs to less flamboyant Virgo. This suggests initial enthusiasm quickly dampened (Aug 4 ^th was the peak so far).

It is also interesting to consider the relationship between the founding chart and the First Trade. Perhaps the most noticeable things is the position of Pluto in the first trade, right on the Foundation ascendant and opposite the Incorporation Moon– an indication of major success or major failure ( depending on the other factors). I would consider this too risky – others may be braver. There is, however, also some opportunity in the form of the First trade Moon sextile the Foundation Jupiter.

Another thing that bothers me is the connection between the Foundation Saturn and the First trade Ascendant. It is magnified by the Incorporation Ascendant being conjunct the First trade Saturn. It also highlights that by Progression the Foundation Sun and Mars are approaching an exact opposition to Saturn in the next 2-5 years. That is too much Saturn for me.

Interesting times await, I would suggest.

Afghanistan

marza9@msn.com (Amanda Williams) — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 22:08:49 GMT

A Look at Afghanistan's current events

Another week and another change of mind for me. I planned to look at cryptocurrencies but world events have forced me to look at Afghanistan instead.

But what makes it especially interesting is that I’ve never covered the country before and so had to choose a chart. So what? Well, the choice of the Book of World horoscopes is for a 1973 chart, but I always double check.

I discovered that Afghanis celebrate independence on 19 August, based on events of 1919. So given the choice, which would you use I wonder?

In my case there was absolutely no choice. I realised that I am writing on 19 August 2021 and the Taliban have just announced it will serve as freedom from US power day. Sometimes the universe just gives you the answer.

Since the treaty was signed on 8 August 1919 we can assume independence started at midnight on 19th.

Of course the first thing that stands out is the Midheaven. It is within a degree of Jupiter’s station this year- and Jupiter has now retrograded back to progressed Uranus in the Afghan chart at 27 Aquarius- big upheavals were almost inevitable. More so because in the chart Uranus is opposite Saturn at 0 degrees Virgo and square its North node at 29 Scorpio. All this picks up natal Mars at 27 and progressed Mars at 29 Virgo as well as a square to the Moon at 27 Taurus.

It is also fascinating to note that last week’s analysis of Italy the same axis was highlighted, but with much more positive planets involved.

We can also see that in this chart the current Mars/Mercury conjunction ( trine stationary transiting Uranus) is conjunct the country’s progressed Saturn and Ascendant and square its progressed Midheaven. Yes, ladies and gentleman, we have another double whammy! This conjunction is exact today but has been active for the whole of the last week.

Added to that the Afghan progressed Mercury is at 14 Sagittarius and progressed Moon is at 13 Aquarius as well all tapping into the conjunction this week. No wonder that things have come to a head so rapidly.

That Mercury/Mars will dissipate over the coming couple of weeks but the Jupiter effect will last for some months yet. I take that to mean that the short term disruption will settle down but we are only beginning to see the longer term changes that will be made.

Another interesting fact is the square of transiting Neptune to the Ascendant of the country an indicator of the uncertainty surrounding the country and its relations with others.

One thing that does puzzle me about this chart, though, is the progressed Sun, representing the leadership. At 5 Sagittarius it is not especially aspected by either configuration. The natal Sun is at 24 Leo (obviously as it is 19 August) so is bound into the country’s chart with Uranus and the Moon – not a terribly stable Sun at any time. But one would have expected to see the progressed Sun particularly hit by the astrological events, but it is not. Almost as if the leader was not really important. We perhaps do not have the full picture of what has happened in negotiations that have taken place earlier this year.

While this is not the place for detailed forecasts, it would be remiss of me not to consider what this change means for the women of Afghanistan.

The women are signified by both Venus and the Moon- though the latter also refers to the people in general. As already mentioned the Moon is square Uranus in the natal chart. Venus at 26 Virgo also makes an aspect. Interestingly both are in sextile to the natal Mars. No aspects are made to Saturn or Pluto. So, although there are indications of sudden changes, there is nothing really inherent in the chart that suggests repression, except the position of the Moon in the 12 ^th house and that the ruler of the 12 ^th is Venus- hidden away. Venus is also in the 4th house suggesting perhaps some preference for traditional family roles but nothing too dramatic. Progressed Venus was retrograde in Virgo until 1966 and did not return to its natal position until 1997. Venus finally moved into Libra in 2002 which seems significant as it follows the US invasion. It is now at 18 degrees and in the middle of the 5 ^th house – quite a shift. It is difficult to see how the freedom genie will be put back in the box so easily. But certainly the natal chart position does not suggest stability.

But there is something else in the chart that catches my eye. As mentioned progressed Mars is at 29 Virgo. In May 2023 it will change signs. That will clearly bring a change to the mood in the country. Maybe it is not just the women who want progress then but the men too.

One can’t also rule out more disruption in 2024-5 when Uranus will reach 27 Aquarius and Jupiter reaches the country’s Ascendant.

Looking even further ahead, 2033 stands out as interesting in terms of women and freedoms in general.

A little light analysis of Italy's winning form in summer 2021

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 18:59:47 GMT

I originally planned a post about Japan and the Olympics. However, as those Olympics progressed I decided there was a more interesting story, that of Italy.

So far in 2021 Italy have won the Eurovision Song Contest, won the Football Euros, made it to the men’s final at Wimbledon and not only garnered more than their usual share of medals at the Olympics but did so in quite notable ways ( winning the men’s 100m and sharing a gold for the high jump). It looked like a case that would merit some investigation.

I first looked at what I predicted for Italy in summer 2021 in my (unpublished) long range forecasts for 2021-4. There was nothing conclusive however. I did say that Italy would be moving away from the past and that by August would see the people being more optimistic. Ok- but nothing dramatic, so, definitely, worth a more in depth assessment.

Looking at Italy’s chart in 2021 we do see some very clear significators at play. First we see that the progressed Sun, which moved into a new sign, Virgo, in 2020, is approaching a conjunction with progressed Mars. This conjunction will last through to 2030 and after a lull in 2025 will reach a peak in 2029/30. Interesting times.

Normally I would be focussing on what that all means for the government or leadership ( less flamboyant but more determined and driven). But today we are interested in other things. A conjunction of the Sun and Mars is all about the boys. Furthermore both planets are approaching a conjunction with progressed Jupiter- planet of luck and doing things the big way. Although they are 4 degrees apart – transits can activate this connection. Note, however, that there is an offsetting influence in the form of the country’s natal Saturn. Hard work is required to make any success happen.

So what other broad influences are happening in 2021? Progressed Venus is close to a conjunction with the MC. This will bring media attention, now and probably into the next couple of years too.

When we look at the transits we see that Pluto is sextile the Italian Sun and trine its Moon. Good for strength in both leadership and the people. But more importantly we see that transiting Jupiter in early Pisces opposes the progressed Sun/Mars and comes close to a conjunction with the progressed Mc in spring and summer- everything would be amplified. Added to this, The North Node passes over the Italian Uranus and indeed its Descendant, making for big surprises.

On the other hand, there are few negating influences from the other outer planets such as Saturn, Neptune and Uranus this summer, though that will change in the coming years.

So the stage was definitely set for some big successes. And we can look more closely at some of the details.

Let’s start with the Euros. I’ve set two charts, both for the end of the final. One (above) is set for London and the other ( below) for Rome. We see from the London chart that transiting Jupiter is exactly opposite the Sun/Mars conjunction at that time and moreover the Ascendant for the moment of winning is conjunct that Jupiter. We see that Mercury is trine/sextile this too. Furthermore we see that transiting Mars has reached the Italian Jupiter and progressed Mercury as it is trine the MC of the moment.

That is pretty persuasive. But when we look at the Rome chart (in this case we have set the chart of the moment as the inner wheel) we see that the angles of the chart are highlighted at around zero degrees. This picks up that progressed Venus on the country’s MC. But more importantly it picks up the transiting Mercury at 0 degree Cancer. We find it right down at the base of the chart – at the roots of the country. Football was definitely coming Rome.

Moving on to the other events. The Eurovision contest final took place on 22 May 2021. I don’t have a time for the announcement of the winner so we will consider only the wider picture. Transiting Jupiter is once again opposite the progressed Sun and is activated by the transiting Sun at 1 degree Gemini. We look to Venus in this case ( music) and see that Uranus is sextile Italy’s Venus and transiting Venus is close to a conjunction with progressed Venus. We love a double whammy here at Optimesia. Mars is also sextile the Italian Mars. It is not as convincing at chart as the Euros but there are certainly many signs of success.

What about the Olympics? For that I set a chart for the opening ceremony.

What is striking is that Jupiter which was at 0 degree Pisces in the Eurovision chart is back there( having gone retrograde at 2 degrees) when the Olympics started. And this time the Sun is a zero degrees Leo. Almost exactly two signs on from the Eurovision. Added to which transiting Venus is at 1 degree Virgo exactly conjunct the progressed Sun/Mars. This alone is enough to confirm that our winning pattern is going to be repeated in some way.

But even more interesting is a chart set for the 1 ^st August in the afternoon Rome time ( when the country won its 2 most notable gold medals). We should not be too surprised by now to see transiting Mars conjunct the progressed Sun/Mars point. Male dominance. Though co-operation (a shared gold) is also highlighted with transiting Venus opposite Venus. But of course we can expect more than that. We find that Jupiter has regressed into Aquarius so is no longer at 0 degrees. But no worries, now it is at 29 degrees Aquarius and aspecting the progressed Venus and natal MC. This equals big news. And just to top it off we see that there was a conjunction between the Sun and Mercury that day at 9 degrees Leo- exactly trine the Italian Ascendant.

We can see, therefore, time and again, how the broader positive conditions (don’t forget these will last a few years yet!) have been activated this summer to enable Italy to win and win again.

Furthermore we should not forget what was said at the beginning of this post; the reference to governmental changes. As if in confirmation Ben Hall in the Financial Times today (11 Aug) writes:

The former president of the European Central Bank has not quite performed the miracle of saving Italy, just as he saved the euro. But in six months he has laid the foundations for his country’s recovery and revival. For the first time in decades, Italy is no longer seen as a byword for political dysfunction. Given its debt burden and deep-seated economic problems it could still pose a systemic threat to the long-term viability of the single currency. But for now, Italy exudes optimism and confidence. And its progress is changing wider perceptions of the EU’s prospects as the pandemic recedes.