US forecast January 16 - February 13, 2018

[Jim Eshelman]

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning January 16, 2018
If you are unfamiliar with the methods and interpretations of Sidereal mundane astrology, see my free book Sidereal Mundane Astrology. (A link to the current edition can always be found near the top of the Publications sub-forum.) For standard interpretations, see Chapter 7.


LONG-TERM (Solar Ingress) PATTERNS Map 1 Map 2
The 12 months beginning January 15, 2018 will be a stronger, less forgiving version of 2016. The Capsolar for Washington has Pluto square Ascendant within 0°08', and Uranus 0°42' from Westpoint. 2018 will be unstable, revolutionary, revising, remapping, anti-establishment, and often anti-government. It will embody a spirit of revolution that assaults current systems, tearing at even iconic structures. This time, however, a different party is in power. Victory in the 2018 elections will tend to fall to whomever can present himself or herself as the greater rebel.

Pluto signals high-impact events that stun the senses and sever connections. Mainstream and counter-establishment sensibilities confront each other. Events are fiercely political, such as leader crises, terrorist attacks, bombs, financial crises, catastrophic destruction, and severing historic relations. Natural disasters include hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods.

Uranus signals explosions (literal or metaphorical); sudden rupture, shock, and surprise; and overflowing normal boundaries and limitations. Expect disclosures and revelations, surprise attacks, changes in leadership, protests, revolts, and their counteracting suppression.

Substantial changes in foreign relations are a certainty with a foreground Sun-Venus-Uranus. These aspects are foreground through much of the Americas, so the U.S.'s stance regarding the Western Hemisphere may fundamentally shift.

Venus-Uranus also signals shifting social values, especially increased liberty in Venus matters. What would 2018's version of legalizing same-sex marriage be? It may have only been a blip on the radar until now, as Uranus and Pluto insist on startling us with the unlikely and unconceived. "Culture wars" kick up more intensely for the midterm elections. Significant events (something solar in nature) will mark 2018 in the same way that John Glenn's orbit, the Kennedy and King murders, the civil rights and gay rights eruptions of the '60s, Patty Hearst's drama, the Columbine shootings, and the Berlin Wall's fall immortalized their respective times. Aspects concentrate the voice of rebellion on those in the highest office.

A third Capsolar feature, universal to the whole world, is Moon's conjunction with Mercury and Saturn. Moon-Saturn is much closer for Washington than for the world in general. Mercury + Saturn applies to the entire world and, in a more negative way, especially to Washington.

Many Moon-Jupiter aspects in recent Capsolars have corresponded to economic recovery. Expect the opposite from this close Moon-Saturn. Recession is not unthinkable. Capsolars had close Moon-Saturn aspects in 1819, 1837, and 2008, which should concern any student of American money crises. Its record for violent inhumanity is heart-stopping. It also appeared for the Galveston, Labor Day, and Andrew hurricanes: Climate destabilization will escalate faster in 2018 than in any previous year, with tragic, life-smashing consequences.

From Mercury + Saturn, expect worldwide restrictions, delays, failures, or calamity relating to transportation and communication breakdowns. Communication fails either from technical failures or because people simply stop listening to each other. Cybersecurity becomes a greater priority than cyber-expansion, and data integrity is increasingly doubted. Commerce is interrupted in the new, more negative environment. More newspapers go out of business, and more small businesses close their doors. Flow of information is interrupted and rationed. Moon-Mercury also keeps our attention on the media which, itself, is much of the story of the new year.

Mingle this with Saturn's important passage through Sagittarius: Themes of internationalism, immigration, aviation, elitism, hierarchical economic separation, and, well, missiles will take up much of your headline space for 2018.

Moon-Saturn itself signals hardship, narrowing, sacrifice, loss, and sadness, with little cause for celebration. Bereavement for widely beloved figures, deprivation and disappointment, destructive assaults by people and nature, and other forms of hardship focus primarily on alienation and divisiveness. It will be a good year for undertakers.

Finally, Washington has a PVP Mars-Jupiter conjunction. This furthers the Moon-Mercury-Saturn concerns of financial crisis. It could be as slight as the government shutdown of 2013 or as ravaging as the market crash of 1929, but probably will be something between. Resources are squandered, stretched past their capacity. Moon-Saturn does not leave much room for positive expressions of Mars-Jupiter, such as boosted productivity. Religious evangelism and other belief-driven enthusiasm and aggression accelerate. Bigots have louder voices. In nature, as in human affairs, expect stormy weather.


BRIDGE PATTERNS
All month, Uranus and Pluto transit Capsolar angles while CapQ Moon conjoins Mercury. This is a time of disruption and destabilization from rebellious, anti-establishment, and primarily anti-government forces. The spirit of revolution permeates, eroding existing structures and approaches. This is primarily accomplished in Mercury areas and through Mercury means, e.g., through publications, news focus, speeches, marches, and the abundant flow of data.

However, the last three-fourths of the month take a somber, even sinister tone. Beginning January 20, transiting Saturn conjoins Capsolar and CapQ Moon. During such patterns, we have weeks of unusually plentiful, unusually tragic stories of hardship, sacrifice, loss, and sadness. These will be consistent with Mercury-Uranus-Pluto, and especially with what is said above about Mercury-Saturn combinations.

SHORT-TERM (Lunar Ingress) PATTERNS

Caplunar (Jan 16)
The Caplunar, covering January 16 to February 13 (especially the first week, January 16-23), is foremost a Venus chart with the added "star power" of the luminaries: Venus sets (2°15'), conjunct both Sun and Moon, with added color from Uranus.

Moon, Sun, and Venus conjoined on Descendant places focus on the nation's relationships with other nations. Though generally positive and celebrant, this is not without twists and turns. This echoes much of the Capsolar's message, so these themes are doubly dominant right now. Additionally, the luminary-Venus conjunctions infer peace and public happiness, and more alliances than antipathies. Stories of love hold the public’s attention: High profile weddings are especially suitable to this symbolism, or matters that significantly affect the institution of marriage. Events incite boosted national pride. An added aura of celebrity attaches to it all.

That this Caplunar overlaps the start of the Winter Olympics is surely only part of what this chart foretells. With Moon and Sun both square Uranus, there will be surprises and derailments. We will not be bored. [NOTE: Uranus squares Ceres within 0°11' in mundo, foreground. I mention this in case obvious themes arise that we should note.]

Sun-Uranus crosses CapQ angles on the 17th and 21st. (All quotidian crossings have a roughly two-day orb on either side.) On the 22nd, Venus-Neptune crosses a CanQ angle and brings some of the most distinctive events of the week.

Arilunar (Jan 23)
The Arilunar covers January 23-30. This will be a week of civil unrest and social instability. Moon and Uranus are conjoined (0°13'), half a degree from square Midheaven, with Pluto square Ascendant, classic patterns (among other table-spilling possibilities) of populist unrest.

Angular Moon signals an erupting "voice of the people," strong surges of collective mass-response feeling powerfully about circumstances or events: the herd’s collective will, powerfully surging. With Moon-Uranus, the odds for overflowing protest increase. Expect sudden, eruptive, shifting conditions, and popular arousal that require adaptability and reorientation.

Mercury conjoins Pluto (0°42'), square Ascendant. This (with Moon-Uranus) suggests major disclosures that impact and challenge how people think. Expect major collisions of information, communication, vehicles, or, especially, of ideas. Public figures are called to "face the music" and confront uncomfortable facts.

Saturn crosses CanQ angles the first two days of the week, which therefore are the worst. (Distinctive Saturn events will likely be of a Venus-Neptune nature, for this aspect is still near the angles.)

Canlunar (Jan 30)
The Canlunar covers January 30-February 6. Pluto rises closely. Moon, already square Uranus within a narrow 0°06', is also in close mundane opposition to Pluto. Like last week, expect shocks and separations, especially a confrontation of mainstream and counter-establishment sensibilities. Moon's involvement again increases the sense that this is a surging uprising of the herd, as mass-mind feelings and needs erupt into action. Moon-Uranus always surprises with shifting conditions. Moon-Pluto always stuns our sensibilities and halts our mind with their intensity.

Moon opposes Mercury: These events draw abundant media attention - as if the media camped out on the lawn of the story - and involve other Mercury themes, especially the rapid, voluminous flow of information. A background Venus-Jupiter square exists only in mundo, and so is distinctive to the Washington area, suggesting that pressing issues center around the elite (i.e., celebrities, the socially entitled, and the economic elite).

February 1 is the worst day of the week, with Saturn on CanQ Ascendant. This is followed with the best day on the 3rd, with Jupiter crossing Midheaven.

Liblunar (Feb 5)
The Liblunar covers February 5-13. Despite the uproar of the two prior weeks, it is this fourth week that is truly violent, cruel, combative, and even bloody. Mars exactly squares Midheaven. Saturn and Neptune are more widely foreground, and in mutual square (2°49' in mundo). Moon's opposition to Uranus is only 0°05' wide. Something is ready to blow up, and Mars lights the fuse!

Mars is foreground for diverse hurtful events, including fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, violent explosions, and accidents. High profile deaths by inflammatory illness, violence, notorious shooting incidents, significant military and police activity, the inauguration of war, actions causing great violence and damage in the name of war, and a general air of crisis and assault facing political leaders all are characteristic of angular Mars; yet also acts of great heroism, endurance, and resourcefulness.

Types of events in which angular Mars, Saturn, and Neptune join Moon-Uranus include earthquakes, explosions, and mass murders, among others. With a locale-distinctive Mercury-Uranus mundane square, event particulars are likely to include discoveries, disclosures, revelations, and transportation disasters (especially air disasters).

The best days of the week are the 9th and 12th, when Jupiter crosses angles. The harshest day, when people are most likely to push things through against good judgment and despite resistance, is the 11th, with Mars. In the CanQ, Pluto doubly rules February 8.

[Jim Eshelman]

PROGRESSIONS
Progressed Saturn conjunct progressed Midheaven, having built to maximum strength over many months, is exact in January. We have watched the president's position weaken. He has been challenged by increasing burdens, threats, and losses. Standing in deepening, darkening shadow, his long-term picture is dire professionally, politically, and in terms of health.

This peaks in a powerful personal crisis aspect soon after the anniversary of his inauguration. Progressed Moon conjoins natal Pluto all month, exact on January 24, while concurrently sextile progressed Mars (exact 1/21). Moon-Pluto expressions already part of Trump's character include refusal to comply with others' expectations or limitations, and little regard for convention, or for other people or their feelings. What happens now, though, is more acute. Expect separation, isolation, a wish to escape from pressing conditions, perhaps someone's death, certainly a culmination that involves crossing a threshold that has no going back. Everything that has been pressing and challenging him comes to a head near January 24.


TRANSITS
URANUS squares natal SATURN all month, being exact January 26. Tension stems from struggles between opposites such as stability vs. change. Current patterns are challenged, shaking material foundations and personal rigidities. President Trump reacts strongly against others' efforts to control him, is uncooperative, and demands increasing autonomy.

Until January 20, PLUTO squares natal JUPITER. Over many months, this transit has redefined status, finances, ethics, and reputation, exalting aspirants to unlikely heights and dragging down those at the pinnacle. It will return for a final fling in August through November.

Similarly, until January 30, NEPTUNE aspects natal VENUS. This aspect is best known for investment of emotional force (to the point of adoration) on unattainable people and things. In combination with Pluto-Jupiter and Uranus-Saturn, its main effect is heightened emotion and unrealistic expectations of people and the limit of their loyalty. Issues of personal betrayal - either by or to the president - will play heavily in the unfolding of this aspect.

Two more Neptune aspects arise late in the current period. Beginning February 11, SATURN squares natal NEPTUNE. This is a demoralizing aspect filled with frustration and disillusionment. Dreams fail. Security feels undermined. Personal demons and troubled mental states may emerge. One comes to feel one has few or no options. Health can fail. Abdications and removals are not unusual.

For the moment, though, there is solace. Beginning on January 28, JUPITER aspects natal NEPTUNE. This aspect eases psychological pressures. It brings hope and religious-like faith in one's dreams and ideas. Were the Saturn transit not stronger and of longer duration, it might represent a clean start emotionally and financially. It at least gives him a psychological break for a while.

Here are key MARS transits to help identify trigger dates:
1/18 - t Mars op. r MC
1/22 - t Mars sq. r Mars
1/27 - t Mars sq. r Asc
1/30 - t Mars sq. p Sun


SIDEREAL SOLAR RETURN
Please see the June forecast for an analysis of Trump's Sidereal Solar Return.
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1450#p8523


SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Jan 13)
A new Lunar Return just before the new Caplunar portrays brooding darkness. Transiting Mercury and Saturn closely conjoin each other and IC. They, and especially Mercury, square natal Neptune on Ascendant. (Natal Mercury is also foreground.)

Mercury-Saturn dominates the chart, then gains primary importance for the world at large when the new Capsolar begins a day later. It portrays negative, burdened states of mind and barriers to communication. People don't listen to each other well. Minds are closed. Mistakes and fumbles occur more often, including self-sabotage behavior. Others may also do the sabotage and (with Neptune) we expect betrayal, bitterness, and growing distrust (which, of course, further impairs communication).

Its simply a bad month for the president, with plenty of bad news. It's made worse by the magnifying, distrusting, fantasy-fuelled natal Neptune.

Middleground Pluto continues to square his Jupiter; but the more important transit activity centers on Uranus square natal Saturn (0°12'), because Uranus, Sun, and Venus are in tight formation, so we also have partile transits of Venus and Sun to natal Saturn. This fuels everything written about Uranus-Saturn above and especially accelerates burdens, self-recrimination, and emotional separation from his support systems. It is very hard for people to accept or acknowledge love, affection, and support when Venus transits their Saturn.

One of the worst days of Donald Trump's life, and his darkest day in the current lunar month, is January 26. On that day (near progression and transit peaks detailed above), his natal quotidian angles show transiting Neptune on Midheaven and transiting Saturn on Descendant. This means depression and black emotions. A common characteristic manifestation of Saturn-Neptune is removal or resignation from a position of eminence.

Because this year, by a mathematical quirk, Trump's Solar Return and natal quotidians are in exact lock-step, his Solar Return quotidian angles also place transiting Neptune on Midheaven and transiting Saturn on Descendant the same day. Transiting Mars squares his progressed Solar Return Moon and his natal Ascendant. to put it mildly, it is a really bad day for him.

DEMI-SLR (Jan 28)
Mr. Trump appears much happier and stronger under the January 28 Demi-Lunar. He remains under the umbrella influence of the January 13 SLR, but this new chart has its own voice, a happier voice.

Venus squares Ascendant closely. Jupiter rises more widely, exactly square natal Mars near Midheaven (0°27'). The two transiting benefics mark this a "feel good" lunar return. Jupiter's transit to elevated natal Mars grants strength, competitive prowess, and a feeling of victory.

It isn't all White House Rose Garden, though. Transiting Venus opposes natal Pluto. He is distant from those around him. Key relationships reach a turning-point or decision point. Transiting Mars squares his natal Ascendant (0°05'), so he remains combative as always and feeling under attack: His sense of strength and victory come from feeling he is bettering his attackers more than from a sense of safety. Uranus' square natal Saturn (only 0°02') is joined by Mercury (opposite natal Saturn 0°01'), excruciatingly close aspects that merge many themes already active in the SLR. This background aspect establishes that the "background story" of this period involves disclosures, revelations, emergence of truth that touch the weak, dark parts of his psyche. The solution for these troubles would be an unconditional acceptance of the real nature of things; but this isn't likely to happen.

The most acute quotidian crossings passed a couple of days earlier. The early days of this Demi-SLR fortnight might be understood best by natal and progressed Neptune on angles January 29-30, and progressed Mercury and Mars on February 3.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Feb 10)
Matters come to a climax in the new SLR February 10. Pluto exactly rises (0°43'). A line is drawn in the sand. He stands alone, separated from others just as Pluto separates his new future from life as it existed before February 10.

Conditions remap his reality. We have a clue as to the area in which this decisive remapping occurs, because the rising Pluto squares his natal Jupiter. This SLR gives Pluto a parting shot (for now) at remapping Donald Trump's career, wealth, ethics, and esteem. The aspect either exalts the unlikely to positions of startling eminence, or drags the uplifted off their pinnaces to ruin. The aspect alone does not tell us which way things will go this time for Donald Trump.

Another sign of his being alone and cut off is his natal Venus-Saturn conjunction on Descendant. There is sadness, a spoiled party, a lost dearness. Furthermore, transiting Pluto, still many degrees (and a couple of years) from opposite his Saturn in the zodiac, is much closer to opposite his Saturn mundanely.

Therefore, both Uranus (by half-degree ecliptical square) and Pluto (by wider mundane opposition) strongly aspect Trump's Saturn. This shakes the concrete and certain in his life, threatens his security, and digs deeply into his closet for skeletons. He could use relaxation and play, and isn't likely to get them.

One aspect deserves mention, though it has uncertain importance. SLR Sun squares Jupiter within 0°30'. Falling from the 1st house to the 10th, in classic house-driven astrology it would be an important sign of luck and eminence. The aspect is not at all close to the angles, though - it is middleground. I am inclined to insist that it must carry an element of salvation and uplifting with it. Were he not the most powerful man in the world by some accounts, and reportedly quite irreligious, I would read it especially as great benefit and grace from someone in great authority and power, or even from Higher Power.

His day of grace could well be February 12, when SNQ Ascendant squares progressed Venus conjunct natal Jupiter.

[Jim Eshelman]

This is now finished. (It is subject to edit and revision until Moon enters Capricorn, and does need some tightening and rewrite.)

It is a critical month in Washington, I think. I'm also struck by the number and severity of planet lines across the country - far more than usual (individual and combinations). Much of this is the winter weather, most likely; though one wonders if it all could be. This isn't hurricane season, but many of the lines mark areas normally vulnerable to hurricanes, so one wonders what in the world is going on. It looks like this will be the most climate-destabilized winter in modern times, easily topping even the last few years.

Across the country, there are simply too many areas marked for likely damage. Having my political predictions prove correct this month would be one of the best things in my life, but I fear we may pay with concurrent (probably unrelated) hardship in so many places.

Finally, I have no idea how the Pence forecasts are proving out. He is so invisible most of the time. I may have to start keeping special searches and feeds running to get whatever scraps of real news about him I can. I frankly don't know if the proposed chart is performing well or not!

[Jim Eshelman]

Investors seem to have been reading this thread The market started hugely high (something like 260 up in the first half hour), and then dove down to below Friday's close (and is now just a hair above it). Reason? Fear of a government shutdown on Friday.

[SteveS]

Yes, the market today put on a daily reversal. Will know by close Friday if it puts on a weekly reversal. The last time the market had a weekly reversal was in August, weekly reversals are always important to notice from a technical standpoint. If market puts on weekly reversal, I will post charts.

[Jim Eshelman]

If there is a temporary U.S. government shutdown, it will be effective 0:00 EST, January 20, 2018 - interestingly the first minute of the anniversary of Trump's inauguration day.

FWIW, Ascendant at that moment is identical (within a degree) with the CapQ Asc.

CapQ Asc is opposite solar and transiting Uranus and square Capsolar Sun, both within 2°. In other words, the Sun-Uranus partile square from the Capsolar is highlighted.

Pluto (19') and Uranus (39') continue to square Capsolar angles. Saturn is not quite in partile conjunction with Capsolar Moon, being 1°02' away.

CanQ Asc is activating the Cansolar Venus-Neptune square, with transiting Neptune 0°16' from square it. Transiting Venus squares Cansolar Moon 0°19'.

We have an economy-negative Capsolar and an upbeat Caplunar.

So... do you think we're going to have a temporary shutdown?

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

We might. They need 14 Democrats in addition to the Republcans. There are four who have said they won't vote for it, and John McCain is still out sick.

I was interested in the news that there is a link between the Russians, and their money, and the NRA. I know there's been a lot of surprise just how much money the NRA has been able to muster for political purposes. Way more than dues.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

30 seconds, I predict, no bill.

[Jim Eshelman]

Roflmao

[Jim Eshelman]

Moon-Saturn itself signals hardship, narrowing, sacrifice, loss, and sadness, with little cause for celebration...

Finally, Washington has a PVP Mars-Jupiter conjunction. This furthers the Moon-Mercury-Saturn concerns of financial crisis. It could be as slight as the government shutdown of 2013 or as ravaging as the market crash of 1929, but probably will be something between.

Close enough (First posted here in the 2018 Capsolar thread on December 17.)

[SteveS]

Jim wrote:

This furthers the Moon-Mercury-Saturn concerns of financial crisis. It could be as slight as the government shutdown of 2013 or as ravaging as the market crash of 1929, but probably will be something between.

Yes, this most interesting Moon-Mercury-Saturn cnj in out 2018 Capsolar could very well be associated to prolonged situations of government shutdowns disrupting sectors of commerce. Pluto being partile angular in Capsolar has to do with 'firsts' and this tight Moon-Mercury-Saturn cnj is par-excellent symbolism for government shutdown(s). Will be interesting to see how this political situation progresses.

[Avshalom Binyamin]

Looks like the can is kicked to Feb 8, and if I read your forecast right, I'd guess we'll get shut down again for a day or 3.

[Jim Eshelman]

Yeah, that looks like a particularly antagonistic week, and something of a blow-out day.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

The architect of the blowup over DACA and the shutdown was Steven Miller, August 23, 1985, time unknown, in Santa Monica, CA. He's a white supremacist from a Russian Jewish immigrant background. He worked for Michelle Bachman and Jeff Sessions, and now is one of Trump's chief advisors.

[Jim Eshelman]

Pence has landed in Israel where his visit is somewhat historic - first U.S. VP to address the Knesset - and where he is being received with full diplomatic honors. For Tel Aviv, both his lunar and demi-lunar have Jupiter angular, with the newer Demi-SLR featuring transiting Jupiter exactly setting (Mars a bit more widely), natal Jupiter widely foreground, and natal Venus-Mars closely on IC. It's a pretty good chart for the occasion. (Transiting Jupiter is even square his SNQ MC for this visit.)

I'm not so impressed, though, with transiting Saturn conjunct the Tel Aviv SSR Descendant.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

The Dow's been falling all day, since Nunes' memo was released. It crossed 600 point loss a few minutes ago (2.3%) and is down 630 points as of now (2.5%!) although this being the last hour, it may bob back up a touch.

[Jim Eshelman]

Yes, over 600 points down today post-Nunez. (And this was after a better-than-expected jobs report at dawn: 175,000 jobs expected, 200,000 created.)

For this week, the prediction doesn't mention the market specifically, but does describe some surrounding phenomena, especially if you take my Mercury = The Press and view it as Mercury = The Memo.

Canlunar (Jan 30)
The Canlunar covers January 30-February 6. Pluto rises closely. Moon, already square Uranus within a narrow 0°06', is also in close mundane opposition to Pluto. Like last week, expect shocks and separations, especially a confrontation of mainstream and counter-establishment sensibilities. Moon's involvement again increases the sense that this is a surging uprising of the herd, as mass-mind feelings and needs erupt into action. Moon-Uranus always surprises with shifting conditions. Moon-Pluto always stuns our sensibilities and halts our mind with their intensity.

Moon opposes Mercury: These events draw abundant media attention - as if the media camped out on the lawn of the story - and involve other Mercury themes, especially the rapid, voluminous flow of information. A background Venus-Jupiter square exists only in mundo, and so is distinctive to the Washington area, suggesting that pressing issues center around the elite (i.e., celebrities, the socially entitled, and the economic elite).

February 1 is the worst day of the week, with Saturn on CanQ Ascendant. This is followed with the best day on the 3rd, with Jupiter crossing Midheaven.

"February 1" - all of these are plus-minus 2 days for the 2° orb.

[Jim Eshelman]

At close> 666 down. (Seriously - 665.75).

[SteveS]

But way over due for at least a 10-20 % correction.

[Jim Eshelman]

Liblunar begins today. (Which also means I'm behind on finishing next month's forecast.)

It's kinda nasty.

Liblunar (Feb 5)
The Liblunar covers February 5-13. Despite the uproar of the two prior weeks, it is this fourth week that is truly violent, cruel, combative, and even bloody. Mars exactly squares Midheaven. Saturn and Neptune are more widely foreground, and in mutual square (2°49' in mundo). Moon's opposition to Uranus is only 0°05' wide. Something is ready to blow up, and Mars lights the fuse!

Mars is foreground for diverse hurtful events, including fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, violent explosions, and accidents. High profile deaths by inflammatory illness, violence, notorious shooting incidents, significant military and police activity, the inauguration of war, actions causing great violence and damage in the name of war, and a general air of crisis and assault facing political leaders all are characteristic of angular Mars; yet also acts of great heroism, endurance, and resourcefulness.

Types of events in which angular Mars, Saturn, and Neptune join Moon-Uranus include earthquakes, explosions, and mass murders, among others. With a locale-distinctive Mercury-Uranus mundane square, event particulars are likely to include discoveries, disclosures, revelations, and transportation disasters (especially air disasters).

The best days of the week are the 9th and 12th, when Jupiter crosses angles. The harshest day, when people are most likely to push things through against good judgment and despite resistance, is the 11th, with Mars. In the CanQ, Pluto doubly rules February 8.

[Jim Eshelman]

Liblunar forecast immediately above: We launched an attack on Syrian pro-regime forces and killed about 100 of them a short while ago. Seems to fit, "truly violent... combative, and even bloody. High profile deaths by... significant military and police activity, the inauguration of war, actions causing great violence and damage in the name of war."

[Jim Eshelman]

The mostly benefic Caplunar describes very well the Senate's noteworthy cooperative deal-making that climaxed in a new budget bill yesterday. The Week chart (Liblunar) OTOH is fitting the markets roller-coaster extremes, our accelerated military assaults in Syria, and even Pelosi's 8-hour endurance test yesterday.

[Jim Eshelman]

DEMI-SLR (Feb 10)
Another unusually complex return occurs just as Pence's Saturn Return is peaking. Several extremely exact factors fall on angles for this birth time. In brief:

Mercury exactly culminates (0°55') in 0°05' square to Mars on Descendant (0°50'). This is confrontational, argumentative, but also strategic, calculating, mentally quick. (A vehicular accident is always possible, but one involving words is even more likely.) Mercury opposite natal Uranus (2°44') shows more disclosures or discovery, plus mental quickness and the need to break from routine mental habits.

Jupiter is on Westpoint (0°22') square (0°15') a culminating Sun. (Natal Jupiter is moderately involved as well.) His status rises, he gains dignity and advantage and, frankly, wins whatever he is undertaking.

Neptune squares Ascendant (2°02') and widely squares Mars (3°50'). There is treachery and deceit, and no little uneasiness, agitation, and trembling from a fear of personal vulnerability.

Filling in the gaps, angular Sun opposes his natal Sun (2°), placing him more in the spotlight and reinforcing symbols of strength. Sun also squares natal Mercury (0°59'), suggesting a flurry of motion and communication, a need for practical solutions, and unusual attention being placed on his ideas and words.

Regarding Pence, who had a new Demi-SLR over the weekend, the above won't apply even if this birth time is correct, because he is in Seoul.

His SLR (two weeks ago) for Seoul has Neptune closely angular. His Demi-SLR (over the weekend) has Venus square Asc + Neptune exactly on IC.

So, unlike the sharp, confrontational figure described above (atypical of him), he's cordial and rather lost - if this birth time is approximately correct.

But he IS right at his Saturn Return regardless.