US forecast Aug 23 - Sep 19, 2018

[Jim Eshelman]

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning August 23, 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 8 of the current (15th) Edition.

LONG-TERM (Solar Ingress) PATTERNS
The 12 months beginning January 15, 2018 are unstable, revolutionary, revising, remapping, anti-establishment, and often anti-government. Here are the highlights from the Capsolar (most of which have already been manifesting all year exactly as written in January):

Pluto (0°08') & Uranus (0°42') angular. A spirit of revolution assaults current systems, tearing at iconic structures. Victory in the 2018 elections will fall to those who present best as rebels. PLUTO: High-impact events that sever connections. Mainstream and counter-establishment sensibilities clash. Leader crises, financial crises, severing historic relations. Natural disasters include hurricanes, earthquakes, floods. URANUS: Explosions (literal or metaphorical); sudden rupture, shock, surprise, overflowing normal boundaries & limitations. Disclosures, revelations, surprise attacks, changes in leadership, protests, and revolts and their suppression.

Foreground SUN-VENUS-URANUS: Changes in foreign relations are a certainty. Shifting social values, including increased liberty in Venus matters. "Culture wars" kick up more intensely for the midterm elections. The voice of rebellion is concentrated on those in the highest office.

MOON conjoins MERCURY & SATURN. Expect economic narrowing and backtracking on the recovery: recession is not unthinkable. Capsolars had close Moon-Saturn aspects in 1819, 1837, and 2008, which should concern students of American money crises. Its record for violent inhumanity is heart-stopping. Climate destabilization will escalate faster in 2018 than in previous years, with tragic, life-smashing consequences.

• Mercury + Saturn. Restrictions, delays, failures, & calamity in transportation & communication. Communication fails for technical reasons & because people stop listening to each other. Information flow is interrupted & rationed. Data integrity is increasingly doubted; cybersecurity is a greater priority than cyber-expansion. Commerce is interrupted: More newspapers go out of business, more small businesses close their doors.
• Moon-Mercury: the media remains much of the story.
• Moon-Saturn: hardship, narrowing, sacrifice, loss, sadness, with few causes for celebration. Bereavement, deprivation, disappointment, destructive assaults by people & nature; other hardship centers primarily on alienation and divisiveness. It will be a good year for undertakers.
• Saturn in Sagittarius: Internationalism, immigration, aviation, elitism, hierarchical economic separation, & missiles dominate headlines.

MARS-JUPITER: Resources are squandered, stretched past capacity. Religious evangelism and other belief-driven enthusiasm and aggression accelerate. Bigots have louder voices. In nature, as in human affairs, expect stormy weather.

Cansolar (July 17)
Moon exactly rises (0°22') in 0°16' PVP square to Neptune, part of a Moon-Venus-Neptune PVP T-square. Saturn is widely foreground. This construct primarily suggests passionate waves of populism sweeping us toward the fall elections. Moon foreground shows powerful response by the masses feeling strongly about things, the herd’s collective will surging up powerfully from mass mind. Human-interest stories move the public emotionally to an unusual degree and children are highlighted in the news (so, for example, the current story about immigrant children being separated from their families likely will continue). Moon-Neptune reiterates extreme waves of emotional reaction, fervor, herd-mind arousal, and even hysteria accompanied by confusion, disorientation, uncertainty, and an undermined sense of security. (Expect much mob-like emotional frenzy from political rallies this summer.) Venus-Neptune signals intense devotion, passionate belief, compelling fantasy or role-playing, and performance art; disillusionment, betrayed alliances, perceived offenses, and diplomatic embarrassment.


MEDIUM-TERM PATTERNS (The Bridge)
All month is a PLUTO Zone (transiting Pluto squares Capsolar Ascendant). This reiterates and concentrates Pluto elements in the Capsolar interpretation above.


SHORT-TERM (Lunar Ingress) PATTERNS

Caplunar (Aug 23)
The Caplunar covers August 23 to September 19, especially the first week, August 23-30. Passions run high this month. Relationships are more volatile. Everything feels more personal and emotionally important.

For the world in general, edgy conflict is fueled by a wide Moon-Mars conjunction in early Capricorn. For Washington, this is amped up considerably: Mundanely the Moon-Mars orb is 0°32'. It pairs with a closely angular Venus. While Venus and Mars often disagree on whether to lean toward war or peace, they concur on heated engagement. Inflamed passions prevail over reason. International relationships can be strained and domestic debate hits a wall.

This chart leans toward the negative. Besides the headline Venus + Mars, Pluto is about 5° on one side of Descendant and Saturn about 9° on the other side. These, concurrent with an angular Venus, lean toward separation (or at least greater distance) instead of conciliation or easy alliance. Although Venus and Mars strong together sometimes match significant national sports events (I'm not aware of any occurring in the month ahead) or an unusual entertainment opportunity on the national stage, this exact grouping of planets is more likely to stir collective feelings of the loss of something intimate and precious.

On 8/26, CanQ Ascendant squares stationary Mars, promising a volatile or violent day with tempers and competition high.

Arilunar (Aug 30)
Due to two dormant lunar ingresses following, the Arilunar covers August 30 to September 19, the rest of the astrological month. Much of the passionate engagement of the Caplunar is reinforced by a partile Moon-Venus-Mars T-square (mundane aspects for Washington). This may even ignite something steamily sexy!

One advantage over the Caplunar, though, is that Mercury and Jupiter are both within 3° of angles and of square with each other. Mercury-Jupiter is the Arilunar's only angular feature. This brings opportunity for diplomacy and, more generally, for people to intentionally listen to each other. This is excellent for commercial alliances, trade negotiations, successful conversations and cooperation, and perhaps major judicial action.

Mercury-Jupiter is rare for adversity; however, the Moon-Venus-Mars still promises fire. Under Mercury-Jupiter, negative events nearly always take the form of one party’s victory at the cost of another’s loss in highly oppositional conflict, a clear win-lose scenario.

September 1, Uranus (on CanQ Descendant) startles us out of our sleep with shocks or disclosures (bad surprises). September 2-5 is a rough patch, with Saturn and Neptune crossing CapQ angles together (fortified by Sun opposite Neptune part of that time).

Canlunar (Sep 6)
The Canlunar is dormant, so the Arilunar (with the monthly Caplunar, of course) continues to define the week. The Canlunar does, however, add fuel to existing fires: For the world in general, Moon square Venus tries to calm things down, but for Washington there is a half-degree Moon-Mars (mundane) opposition. America likely will take the lead on aggressive, uncooperative behavior.

Centered on 9/7, Mercury and Neptune cross Q angles together, suggesting obfuscation or missed communication (and thus missed opportunities).

Liblunar (Sep 12)
The Liblunar is dormant. The Caplunar and Arilunar have the week to themselves.

September 13 is better for communication and "winning" overall with CanQ Ascendant on Jupiter while MC is on Mercury.

[Jim Eshelman]

PROGRESSIONS & TRANSITS
President Trump continues several progressions this month, of which the foremost are a mix of powerfully positive and positively negative patterns:

• p Saturn conjunct p Midheaven
• p Mars sextile r Pluto
• p Venus conjunct r Jupiter (p Venus also trines r Uranus; p Sun aspects Venus-Jupiter)

However, the more positive progressions still dominate through this month. Trump will seem protected, having surprising fortune extricating him from difficulties. At birth, he had Jupiter trine Uranus within 0°26'. Progressed Venus has just passed the Jupiter (07') and trines Uranus. Progressed Moon sextiles the entire pattern (carried over from last month when it was exact). Beginning September 13, transiting Jupiter squares progressed Moon, which will intensify these advantages.

Transiting Pluto squares his Jupiter again all month. This, the defining transit of his presidency, uplifts the lowly and drags down the almighty. Beginning August 29, transiting Pluto also aspects progressed Sun. This builds on and compounds much that the Pluto-Jupiter transit says.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Aug 20)
Natal Uranus is 0°27' from MC. Transiting Neptune is 0°22' from WP. While 3° from exact ecliptical square, they are only 0°48' from perfect square in right ascension, heightened by this angularity.

Neptune will transit Trump's Uranus for the next year or two, and occasionally come to the angles of his return charts. This month should give us an opportunity to see what that often enigmatic aspect will mean for him. Often the consequences of this transit are primarily psychological until it nears its climax. Altered views of reality stimulate important inner changes. In particular a dream, temptation, or lure (transiting Neptune) inspires you to make major changes (natal Uranus), maybe to overhaul your whole life. It brings exotic ideas, ingenuity, and new perspectives.

What might this mean especially and uniquely for Donald Trump? We know he has the daring - the gall - to pursue whatever he wants. We also know that, while he seems to change his mind all the time, he rarely makes substantive changes in his views regarding anything of great importance. However, if there is a time for a dream of a different future to grab hold of him and set him in motion, it is under this aspect over the next couple of years.

We need to watch these four weeks closely. They will tell us things about the next two years.

His Uranus is strongly connected to luminaries and very positively aspected. However, its midpoint structures implicate deception connected to failed relationships as important themes in any major Uranus transit. His Uranus is most potently at Ne/As, and also closely aspects Ve/Pl and Sa/Pl.

Background factors have a hand in what is occurring. Away from the angles are three partile transits: Pluto to natal Jupiter, Mercury conjunct natal Pluto, and Sun conjunct natal Mars. These are challenging, confrontational, and combative. He is advised not to turn his back on what they mean in his current life (and they surely mean something connected with the Mueller investigation).

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Sep 3)
Transiting Mercury is the most angular planet, 2°from Demi-lunar Descendant: This fortnight is all about information, words, and facts. Mercury conjoins natal Mars and Pluto in mundo, with Mars 3° below Descendant and Pluto 1° above. Mars/Pluto is on Descendant.

In the correct interpretation of these three planets lies the central meaning of the chart.

The combination is volatile. Stressors reach a critical level. Nerves are strained. One loses control of the narrative amidst cascade, causing irritation that likely erupts in volcanic rage. Under Mercury-Mars transits, one becomes increasingly irritable, intolerant, and high-strung, as the mind races. Criticism runs high. Under Mercury-Pluto, decisions are called due and circumstances demand unambiguous answers amidst confrontation, stress, and irritability.

With similar Mercury-Mars-Pluto stressors, Richard Nixon turned to all-day heavy drinking and wandering White House hallways broodingly. Donald Trump reportedly does not drink. His psyche will need to find a different release or appeasement.

That's the meat of it; but there are a couple of other details. First, transiting Sun is on Westpoint which, perhaps, tells us nothing new: It usually means one is the center of attention with a bit more ego flaring, and either is, or has special dealings with, "the authorities." On WP, it suggests seeking attention and ratification of one's importance from others. All of this is rather ordinary. (Hint: I suggest reading Bradley's interpretation of Sun-Neptune oppositions in a lunar return for other subtleties.)

Finally, Pluto continues to square natal Jupiter (0°28'). Though background, it reiterates that background events and circumstances continue, which probably refers to the Mueller investigations. Transiting Venus squares natal Venus-Saturn, also background: He isn't a very loyal friend, and feels cut off from the friends who most comfort his stressed psyche.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Sep 16)
Conflict continues: Natal Mercury is 0°18' from setting and transiting Mars 1°12' from Eastpoint. These set the primary tone of the month.

Moon squares Sun (1°40'): This (especially with Uranus and Pluto concurrently angular) always marks an acute turning point, a non-trivial phase shift.

The rest differs from the prior two weeks mostly by the amount of Venus involved. Big shifts in relationships show throughout the chart, whether close relationships in his personal life or souring of relations with other countries. Verbal conflicts and aggression are specifically about relationships, perhaps especially about someone for whom the president cares a great deal.

This comes first from Pluto rising (square natal Jupiter) and Venus on MC. Venus-Pluto highlights significant shifts and reconceiving of existing relationships.

Furthermore, Venus opposes Uranus right along the SLR meridian (0°36' in mundo). This aspects both Mars and Saturn: SLR Mars (on EP) squares Venus-Uranus ecliptically; SLR Saturn squares Venus-Uranus mundanely. Expect a particularly negative expression of Venus-Uranus themes (personally or internationally). Possibilities are endless as long as they startle and shock, especially if they involve separations. Loyalty is lacking on both sides. Inflamed passion overwhelms reason. (Of course, he could simply have a new erotic adventure out of the world's line of sight.)

[Jim Eshelman]

Transits to Capsolar planets seem valid when interpreted as inherently, these would not be locale-specific. Preliminary conclusions from the first months of watching is that they are indeed important identifiers for locales where the 'natal' planet was angular in the Capsolar, or where it spins to a CapQ angle on a particular day.

t Pluto conj. Capsolar Pluto ALL MONTH
t Saturn conj. Capsolar Saturn ALL MONTH
t Jupiter conj. Capsolar Jupiter September 7-20 (exact 9/14)

Mars transits: None.

[Avshalom Binyamin]

His Uranus is strongly connected to luminaries and very positively aspected. However, its midpoint structures implicate deception connected to failed relationships as important themes in any major Uranus transit.

Welp.

Former longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan Tuesday to eight counts — five counts of tax evasion, one count of making false statements to a financial institution, one count of willfully causing an unlawful corporation contribution, and one count of making an excessive campaign contribution at the request of a candidate.

Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was also found guilty on eight counts — five counts of tax fraud, one count of failing to disclose a foreign bank account, and two counts of bank fraud.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-co ... 018-08-21/

[Jim Eshelman]

I just noticed that Hawaii has Saturn on MC for the new Caplunar that comes in tonight.

Rather than add this to the forecast above (which I'm entitled to do, up until Moon enters Capricorn), I'll just say here: There's an awfully good chance Hawaii won't dodge Hurricane Lane the way it dodged the last one.

[Jim Eshelman]

Caplunar (Aug 23)
On 8/26, CanQ Ascendant squares stationary Mars, promising a volatile or violent day with tempers and competition high.

Today. Jacksonville, FL.

[Jim Eshelman]

Arilunar (Aug 30)
...One advantage over the Caplunar, though, is that Mercury and Jupiter are both within 3° of angles and of square with each other. Mercury-Jupiter is the Arilunar's only angular feature. This brings opportunity for diplomacy and, more generally, for people to intentionally listen to each other. This is excellent for commercial alliances, trade negotiations, successful conversations and cooperation, and perhaps major judicial action.

I think part of this (maybe much of this) is week filled with eulogies, especially euologies carrying the recurring theme of leders starting from respect and listening, even admidst powerful disagreement.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

And music. Gospel music, military, choral and church organ music. And bagpipes. And snare drums.

[Jim Eshelman]

And music. Gospel music, military, choral and church organ music. And bagpipes. And snare drums.

I just noticed that Pluto is on IC through Arizona this week (in the Arilunar).

[Jim Eshelman]

This started yesterday. We're already deep into it - the aftermath of the McCain services and the revelations from the new Bob Woodward book are smacking him around quite fiercely. My description of Nixon below is not far from Woodward's description of Trump at the White House.

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Sep 3)SLR2-sm.jpg
Transiting Mercury is the most angular planet, 2°from Demi-lunar Descendant: This fortnight is all about information, words, and facts. Mercury conjoins natal Mars and Pluto in mundo, with Mars 3° below Descendant and Pluto 1° above. Mars/Pluto is on Descendant.

In the correct interpretation of these three planets lies the central meaning of the chart.

The combination is volatile. Stressors reach a critical level. Nerves are strained. One loses control of the narrative amidst cascade, causing irritation that likely erupts in volcanic rage. Under Mercury-Mars transits, one becomes increasingly irritable, intolerant, and high-strung, as the mind races. Criticism runs high. Under Mercury-Pluto, decisions are called due and circumstances demand unambiguous answers amidst confrontation, stress, and irritability.

With similar Mercury-Mars-Pluto stressors, Richard Nixon turned to all-day heavy drinking and wandering White House hallways broodingly. Donald Trump reportedly does not drink. His psyche will need to find a different release or appeasement.

That's the meat of it; but there are a couple of other details. First, transiting Sun is on Westpoint which, perhaps, tells us nothing new: It usually means one is the center of attention with a bit more ego flaring, and either is, or has special dealings with, "the authorities." On WP, it suggests seeking attention and ratification of one's importance from others. All of this is rather ordinary. (Hint: I suggest reading Bradley's interpretation of Sun-Neptune oppositions in a lunar return for other subtleties.)

Finally, Pluto continues to square natal Jupiter (0°28'). Though background, it reiterates that background events and circumstances continue, which probably refers to the Mueller investigations. Transiting Venus squares natal Venus-Saturn, also background: He isn't a very loyal friend, and feels cut off from the friends who most comfort his stressed psyche.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

This started yesterday. We're already deep into it - the aftermath of the McCain services and the revelations from the new Bob Woodward book are smacking him around quite fiercely. My description of Nixon below is not far from Woodward's description of Trump at the White House.

At first I thought you'd mixed Trump and Nixon the sentence above, but now I'm not so sure.

The New York Times published an op-ed purported to be from a senior Trump Administration official who prefers to remain anonymous for obvious reasons lambasting Trump. Claiming to be trying to frustrate and block his agenda.

[Jim Eshelman]

Yes, just read it. He (?) speaks of a fairly widespread movement of committed conservatives within the administration that is working to block large segments of Trump's actions. It mentions that invoking the 25th amendment to remove him was actively discussed early in the administration, but was not acted on, and instead they decided to take other protective actions in an ongoing way.

Fortunately, this is written down, so Trump won't see unless Fox News surprises everybody and actually reports on it <vbg>.

[Avshalom Binyamin]

[Jim Eshelman]

But to repeat myself... with every hour that passes today, I like even more the Demi-SLR interpretation. Mercury most angular, and conjunct natal Mars and Pluto. Sheesh!

And really: Go read Bradley's interpretation of Sun opposite Neptune in Solar & Lunar Returns, It's all over this anonymous op-ed. Here's part of the later Sub-Neptune treatment that I already have copied on the site:

"...a desperation of feelings, which may give rise to disastrous attempts to lie, misrepresent, glamorize or fictionalize one's self. The native lets his imagination wander awry in the fascinating dream-world of 'delusions of grandeur,' and is apt to incur the ridicule of those whom he intends to impress with his envious 'background' and/or assets... In a frantic effort to defend private interests, the native may go to a ridiculous extreme by telling falsehoods, which he believes will serve to secure his ends."

"...the surest omen of self-delusion, of the neurotic flight-from-reality kind. The native is bound determined, unconsciously, not to recognize aspects of reality in any relationship, for in doing so, his idols are at stake. He keeps himself a veritable prisoner to his fancies and malpractices, no matter how impractical or injurious they may be, in a sort of masochistic, self-sacrificing way."

"Another characteristic Sun-Neptune expression is a 'persecution complex,' brought about through the sinister forebodings and suspicions which the native appears to feel while under this influence."

[Lance]

Yeah, I was re-reading the Trump Watch.

Dead on.

That’s crazy.

[Jim Eshelman]

Yeah, I was re-reading the Trump Watch.

Dead on.

That’s crazy.

It's Sidereal astrology.

Thank you, Cyril Fagan

[Jim Eshelman]

September 2-5 is a rough patch, with Saturn and Neptune crossing CapQ angles together (fortified by Sun opposite Neptune part of that time).

On September 5 at 3:45 PM EDT, New York Times posted an anonymous op-ed documenting a large ongoing mutiny of White House staff restraining and blocking President Trump. The day before was the publication and public discussions of Bob Woodward's forthcoming book Fear. These all occurred with Sun, Saturn, and Neptune on Washington's CapQ angles.

[Jim Eshelman]

It just occurred to me: I suppose what I wrote for the Arilunar a pies to the Kavenaugh allegations.

[Jim Eshelman]

And so we come to the end of another Sidereal month. Please feel free to comment, assess, etc. on how the forecast went.

On my first impression I think the forecast wasn't as sharp, though I can't say it was wrong. That is, the emotional tone it described was certainly there, though perhaps in a chronic sense rather than an acute sense. One of the best successes was identifying that the storm risk from Florence was of rain - Jupiter lining along the East Coast - and now a (say) Hurricane Andrew style "storm of the century" destruction (as it probably would have been if it had veered down to Saturn-dominated Florida). The sexual themes are there, including Cavanaugh accusations that marked much of the last week and, climactically, we ended the period yesterday with Stormy Daniels' published physical description of Donald Trump's mushroom-like penis.

There are some other themes that popped up, but nothing as acute as in my best months.

But that's my first impression without rereading it, and may not match yours.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

I think when so much is happening, it's harder to pin down a couple of events that stand out, and the charts reflect this. It was a busy month. It all fit, and there was a lot of all to fit in.

BTW, I forgot to mention above: Trump's demi-lunar was dead on! Having the Woodward book and the NYT anonymous op-ed appear in the first two days of the demi (and then its sequelae) is a smack-on as one could want.

[Jim Eshelman]

I think when so much is happening, it's harder to pin down a couple of events that stand out, and the charts reflect this. It was a busy month. It all fit, and there was a lot of all to fit in.

As I read Woodward's book, which has a lot of dates and disclosures of things we didn't know before, I'm looking checking where possible against predictions of the time - to see if the new information shines light.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

That should be interesting.

[Jim Eshelman]

That should be interesting.

The one (relatively minor) discovery I made was that on the weekend before the State of the Union - the dates I picked as Trump's worst crisis and (what I thought would be) a more obvious "beginning of the end" - White House staffers were putting him through drills of Mueller-type interviews and finally told him he'd failed, he couldn't testify. He wanted to testify anyway and his attorney told him he had the choice of not testifying or of going to prison.