US forecast Mar 2-29, 2019

[Jim Eshelman]

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning MARCH 2, 2019
If you are unfamiliar with the methods and interpretations of Sidereal mundane astrology, please see my free book Sidereal Mundane Astrology. (A link to the current edition can be found near the top of the Publications sub-forum.) For standard interpretations, see Chapter 8 of the current (16th) Edition.

LONG-TERM (Solar Ingress) PATTERNS
For the United States, the 12 months beginning January 15, 2019 will resemble the 12 that came before them. Capsolars for 2018 and 2019 both have Uranus, Pluto, and Sun as the three strongest planets. Both have a powerful Mercury-Saturn combination supported by Mars-Jupiter. Where they differ is that 2019 has more Sun in the mix - the focus is more on the president (however hard that may be to believe) - and is missing the Venus-Uranus elements that drove so many changes in international relationships. Also, the Mercury-Saturn elements are concentrated on the U.S. in 2019 and not shared with the world as in 2018.

Uranus is on IC and Sun on Eastpoint. Their square, only 0°08' wide (in RA), is this year's most important aspect. Sun-Uranus signals startling events, which, historically, has included surprise attacks, sudden changes in leadership, and technology breakthroughs.

URANUS is most angular (2°36' from IC). Explosion is the most characteristic idea (whether literal or metaphorical). Its unique contributions are sudden rupture or eruption, shock, surprise, and overflowing normal boundaries and limits. Disclosures and revelations are common. Uranian events often have profound social impact to the point of defining the character of an era.

SUN is also closely angular (1°53' from EP), concentrating attention on the head of state or the government in general. Sun is involved for increased government intervention or heightened, front-and-center perception of government’s presence in people’s lives. Sun's aspects to Uranus and Pluto infer rebellion against present leadership and a wide rejection of prevailing political views. (Sun-Pluto always has an element of disrespect for, or rejecting, the law or those forces that create and enforce the law. Sometimes this means removing those in power.)

MERCURY CONJOINS SATURN in the foreground. We expect restrictions, delays, failures, or calamity relating to transportation and communication. Communication fails for technical reasons and because people don't listen to each other. Expect further economic narrowing and backtracking on economic recovery: Commerce is interrupted: More newspapers go out of business. More small businesses (especially retail outlets) close their doors. Information flow is interrupted and rationed. Data integrity is increasingly doubted; cybersecurity remains a greater priority than cyber-expansion. With Saturn in Sagittarius all year, immigration, aviation, elitism, hierarchical economic separation, and missiles dominate headlines.

Reinforcing the message of economic crisis, Washington's Capsolar has a MARS-JUPITER mundane square that doesn't exist ecliptically; i.e., it is geographically distinctive to Washington. This could be as slight as a few more government shutdowns or as ravaging as a market crash, but probably will be something between. Resources are squandered, stretched past their capacity. Belief-driven enthusiasm and aggression accelerate. Bigots have louder voices. In nature, as in human affairs, expect stormy weather.

Mercury also conjoins Pluto. Mundanely, Mercury sits 0°30' from the Saturn/Pluto midpoint. This anticipates major collisions of information, communication, and ideas. One sense in which this is positive politically is that it suggests that opposing factions in Congress will again be engaging passionately, unlike the tepid, rigid polarization of recent years. Investigations drill deeply into untapped data to disclose information that changes the prevailing paradigm, significantly reframing how people think about things.

Another expression of this "collision" motif, against which we must guard, is in the realm of cyber attacks, including the remote undermining of critical communication, management, and cyber-control networks. This will be a significant theme of 2019.


MEDIUM-TERM PATTERNS (The Bridge)
All month is a PLUTO zone (as it transits Capsolar EP). This is bounded by two additional factors. On March 3, MARS completes it conjunction with CapQ Moon. On March 29, JUPITER begins to transit Cansolar IC (something that will have a bigger role next month).


SHORT-TERM (Lunar Ingress) PATTERNS

Caplunar (Mar 2)

20190302 Caplunar.jpg

The Caplunar covers March 2-29, especially the first two weeks, March 2-16. It is severe and dangerous. History will retain these four weeks in public memory for generations to come. Saturn exactly rises (0°49'). Mars is on IC (1°40'). Their mundane square is 0°51' wide. Partile angularity and aspects signal a concentrated, significant event.

Mars-Saturn events are harsh, hateful, hurtful, and destructive events. The aspect does not specialize in any one type of event but, rather, incites destruction and hardship wherever it occurs. Examples include declared wars, murderous shootings, fires and other fiery disasters, and assaults upon the nation or its leaders.

Other aspects reinforce, but do not necessarily narrow, the portents. Moon conjunct Pluto is the hallmark of our time, an aspect of tension and intensity that sponsors abrupt events that stun our sensibilities. Mars square Pluto portrays ferocious unleashing of force, often violent, or the consequences of sustained, cumulative stress. Commonly a criminal element appears, or at least casual disrespect of law. Saturn conjunct Pluto says much the same but adds feelings of irrevocable separation - something lost that is unrecoverable, conditions departed to which we can never return. It also threatens economic growth or economic security.

With this mix, Moon conjunct Venus can only mean that what is lost - what these events cost us - is something dear to our hearts. We feel this event strongly. Though Venus' partile ecliptical square to a non-angular Uranus suggests that alliances are at risk and the relations of this country to others is in flux, the whole feels more personal.

The Mars-Saturn intersection falls almost exactly at Washington: It will be expressed either through the nation as a whole or in that specific geographic area. Another vulnerable spot is around Oklahoma City for various serious things going wrong, perhaps foremost matters of transportation and communication.

March 5, Quotidian MC conjoins Jupiter, both square Sun. (CanQ MC squares transiting Mars' opposition to Jupiter 3/7.) It is a mark of victory, though politics likely motivate the (not necessarily philanthropic) choices. Neptune crosses angles 3/8.

Arilunar (Mar 9)
The Arilunar, covering March 9-16, is dormant for Washington. The Caplunar persists as the descriptive lunar ingress. Arilunar Moon square Pluto (2°22') matches Moon-Pluto in the Caplunar, sustaining the intense (and, frankly, tense) tone that keeps everyone on the edge of their seat.

March 12-14, CapQ Ascendant crosses one or another Neptune (and Jupiter-Neptune on 3/12). March 14 is the exact CapQ MC conjunct transiting Jupiter.

Canlunar (Mar 16)

20190316 Canlunar.jpg

The Canlunar (due to dormancy of the next two weekly ingresses) covers March 16 to April 5. Foremost, Neptune is on Midheaven. Also in the foreground, Mercury squares Jupiter (0°45'), with a non-foreground Sun aspecting both. Finally, Moon opposes Pluto.

This is an abruptly different feel than the Caplunar, though not at odds with it. The two charts will collaborate for the next two weeks, in addition to the portents of the Capsolar. This chart is not threatening (certainly not like the Caplunar). By itself it feels like wheeling and dealing, "doing business," all with a sense of great drama and showmanship. Yet, 'neath the umbrella of the Caplunar, Neptune so angular suggests anxiety and doubt.

Angular Neptune always signals extreme excitement, whether happy or unhappy: the insanity of a crowd, as at a major sports event or acting as a mob: panic, confusion, uncertainty, disorientation, and a gripping inquiry: “What happens now?” Causes can be many, from natural disasters to the deaths or resignations of leaders (which stir doubt and uncertainty), and mobs of all types (whether mindless herd-torrents or waves of people driven by a shared vision). Financial panic is possible with the layering of the Capsolar, Caplunar, and Canlunar.

Mercury square Jupiter suggests that negotiation is a big part of the event or its aftermath. "Good conversations" often themes this aspect, with topics from trade negotiations to diplomatic missions and important legal or judicial action. Often there is acute win-lose polarization going into the situation. As already mentioned, "deal making" is the word of the day.

A noteworthy aspect (not shown in the illustration above): Just outside the foreground zone, Sun squares Saturn 0°08' in mundo, an aspect that does not exist ecliptically and therefore is unique to the Washington area. This adds a somber, arduous, demanding note to the circumstances: Survival instincts are acute. Particulars often involve a threat to the head of government or circumstances worsened by government gridlock or lockdown.

Mars rises (square Venus) through the length of California, including Los Angeles: Does the perpetual fire season now begin in March? Mars and Neptune are angular through the Plains states and lower Mississippi River area, with Nebraska especially in their conjoint cross-hairs.

March 16-17, CanQ Ascendant squares Neptune, the theme planet of the Week chart.

Liblunar (Mar 22)
The Liblunar, covering March 22-29, is dormant for Washington. The Canlunar persists as the dominant lunar ingress.

Liblunar Moon square Pluto (2°07') and Moon opposite Uranus are destabilizing. Along with the Caplunar's Moon-Saturn, these are the three most common Moon aspects for history's most severe events. Besides the usual list of natural disasters, Moon aspecting Uranus and Pluto have pushed gripping, edge-of-the-seat sagas including major movements by the people to claim freedom, both tragic and joyous (Boston Tea Party, end of prohibition, the Selma marches, the Watts and Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, the Stonewall riots, Woodstock, and San Francisco's Summer of Love). Also, history records culturally griping abrupt shifts in leadership (the murders of John Kennedy, Indira Gandhi, and Yitzhak Rabin, Nixon's resignation, etc.). Whether this sort of event erupts openly this week, a deep groundswell is building in mass mind for exactly this type of eruption.

March 23, CapQ Ascendant conjoins transiting Sun, which remains close to the angle for several days either side. This will be a trigger day for pending events, and likely will concentrate attention on the president. On March 24, CanQ Descendant crosses transiting Jupiter.

[Jim Eshelman]

PROGRESSIONS & TRANSITS
President Trump's strongest negative progression expires this month: progressed MC conjunct progressed Saturn leaves a 1° orb March 14 (presuming Trump's given birth time is exactly right). Other progressions continue, especially progressed Mars sextile natal Pluto and progressed Venus conjunct natal Jupiter (with Venus also trine r Uranus & progressed Sun aspecting the Venus-Jupiter).

Perhaps of greatest interest this month and next, progressed Moon conjoins natal Mars beginning March 10. This likely brings two of the most combative, scrappy months of his presidency. Additionally, Jupiter and Saturn transits interweave: Saturn squares his Jupiter until the 24th (aspecting progressed Sun most of that time). Jupiter conjoins his Moon until the mid-March when it switches to opposing his Sun. Pluto keeps up the pressure - the intensity - by opposing progressed Solar Return Moon all month (climaxing 3/15).

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Feb 27)

20190227 SLR.jpg

With this February 27 Lunar Return, a hammer drops, a blow is felt. Transiting Mars squares Midheaven and also squares natal Pluto on IC. Anger, sex, dominance, violence or other “charged” issues arise. Threats loom. Stress mounts. Cornered, one looks for an escape route. Mars-Pluto months are suspenseful and tense with an air of crisis or emergency. Most often, one is forced to take responsibility (or blame) for one's own actions. Often one's own rules are abandoned in the face of pressing circumstances, in a spirit of lawlessness where practical necessity wins out over formality.

Within these pressures, he still has friends and advantage (Jupiter conjunct his Moon 0°30', Venus opposite his Venus 0°49'), yet his wealth, well-being, and esteem are under assault (Saturn square his Jupiter 0°51').

(The SLR opened while Mr. Trump was in Hanoi where this Mars-Pluto transit also was the one angular feature. The illustration above shows how it looks with his return to Washington. The two charts are functionally identical.)

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Mar 14)

Demi-SLR.jpg

Saturn and Pluto rise conjoined in the Demi-Lunar, meaning accumulated burdens and pressures. The world places heavy demands on President Trump's time, strength, and resources (it takes from him) while it slams the no-nonsense gavel of dismantling change. These planets isolate and alienate, cutting him off from things and from people. He is alone, bearing a great weight.

Saturn and Pluto aspect several natal planets, showing parts of his life to which they bring their crushing pressure. Saturn squares his Jupiter within 0°20' (and Pluto squares it more widely): These bring low the uplifted and take from him Jupiter things such as wealth, prestige, esteem, and reputation. Pluto opposes his Saturn closely (as does Saturn, more widely): The former breaks up existing structures and failed patterns, challenging stability and threatening security; the latter engages him in a survival tug-of-war with his environment.

More widely, Pluto opposes his Venus, which is natally conjunct Saturn. This is another aspect of separation, transforming close friendships and intimacies (often by terminating them). Saturn opposes his Mercury, cutting him off from communication or, at least, leaving him feeling unheard, criticized, and discouraged. Each of these aspects has a happier expression in other settings; but the combination of Saturn and Pluto pounding on Saturn, Mercury, and Venus compounds pressure and isolates him in many simultaneous ways.

In the immediate background is a nonetheless important configuration. Moon opposes Jupiter within a degree and both square Sun and Mercury. These are atop his natal Sun and Moon. No matter how background, transiting Jupiter partile conjunct natal Moon must be taken as a favorable mark. It allows a softer landing than he'd experience without it, some benefit of patronage or peerage. The key aspect in this set is likely Mercury-Jupiter, which highlights the art of the deal: a business advantage from nimble words, canny planning, and a grace of entitlement. He may well find himself enmeshed in legal proceedings. (Mercury-Jupiter was a major factor in the charts for Richard Nixon's resignation and Bill Clinton's impeachment.)

During this time, transiting Saturn square natal Jupiter balances with transiting Jupiter opposite natal Sun. These reek of politics and perhaps mean that he escapes with a close call but at a price. The assault likely will climax within a day of March 24 when transiting Mars conjoins his Midheaven. NOTE: A similar Demi-SLR occurs June 3, followed by a stronger version of the same chart in the June 16 SLR, near his birthday.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Mar 26)

SLR.jpg

Transiting Sun sets, exactly opposite natal Neptune. The crisis and drama of prior weeks are over. Now comes this aspect of humiliation, vulnerability, even mortification: His path (and perhaps his fate) is more in others' hands than in his own.

More broadly, transiting Sun aspects his natal Mercury-Neptune square. Similarly, transiting Mercury and Neptune are in partile conjunction, mundanely square Moon. Mercury-Neptune, therefore, is a major voice in this chart. Themes of reason vs. unreason, enthrallment, and deception swaddle everything. Truth is not this hour's champion: It is not clear who is deceiving and who is deceived. In the background, Mars squares his Mars, anticipating head-to-head conflict. Venus conjoins natal Descendant so he has the benefit of friends.

The most critical days are March 27 when transiting Mars squares the conjunction of natal Mars and progressed Moon, and April 1 when transiting Mars squares his Ascendant.

[Jim Eshelman]

Caplunar (Mar 2)
The Caplunar covers March 2-29, especially the first two weeks, March 2-16. It is severe and dangerous. History will retain these four weeks in public memory for generations to come. Saturn exactly rises (0°49'). Mars is on IC (1°40'). Their mundane square is 0°51' wide. Partile angularity and aspects signal a concentrated, significant event.

For a start, the market reversed its upward trend today, the first business day after a new Caplunar with Saturn exactly rising and afflicted. We'll see if this continues for two weeks.

[Jim Eshelman]

March 12-14, CapQ Ascendant crosses one or another Neptune (and Jupiter-Neptune on 3/12).

Scandal, celebrity, cheating, academics: FBI this morning busted several wealthy parents, including two Hollywood celebrities, for participating in a scam to get their students into better schools via bribery, test score manipulation, etc.

[Jim Eshelman]

Caplunar (Mar 2)
The Caplunar covers March 2-29, especially the first two weeks, March 2-16. It is severe and dangerous. History will retain these four weeks in public memory for generations to come. Saturn exactly rises (0°49'). Mars is on IC (1°40'). Their mundane square is 0°51' wide. Partile angularity and aspects signal a concentrated, significant event.

I think the main impact of this has been the severe (deadly) weather, most recently the "bomb cyclone" that dropped over the middle of the country a couple of days ago. Air current maps have quieted now, but two days ago air current maps looked like a full-on hurricane - over Denver! We have to keep in mind that the ingresses for Washington show impact for all parts of the U.S., especially those things that affect larger sections than could be shown by any regional maps.

Of course, there have been continued squabbles in Washington and this morning North Korea announced they were "thinking about" cutting off negotiations with the U.S. and accelerating (er, "starting back up") their nuclear missile program, so there are threats in the air; but I think the real "threat in the air" of this Caplunar has been the life-threatening weather.

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Mar 14)
Saturn and Pluto rise conjoined in [Donald Trump's] Demi-Lunar... Saturn and Pluto aspect several natal planets, showing parts of his life to which they bring their crushing pressure...

So far, I think this exactly timed Congress' rebuke of the president when 12 Republican joined Senate democrats to deny him his national emergency by almost veto-proof numbers. There will be more to this, including the forthcoming veto, and I don't expect Congress to overrule it (but they might).

I didn't expect this SLR to be a "final slam" - it's must a two-week chart, and a six-week stretch of very severe Saturn-Pluto charts are coming up in a couple of months. This one is a rehearsal for later.

Of course, there may be more before the fortnight is over.

[SteveS]

Jim wrote:

I think the main impact of this has been the severe (deadly) weather, most recently the "bomb cyclone" that dropped over the middle of the country a couple of days ago.

Exactly!

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

I'm a bit further east than Denver, which was on the west side of this "bomb cyclone." Omaha and environs were on the east side. If we had had snow (well, we did have snow, but less than an inch) this would have been called a blizzard. We had rain instead. Warm rain. The ice broke up on most rivers, got to a narrows and piled up to dam the river. Usually when that happens we drop dynamite out of helicopters to break up the jams, but not in a not-a-blizzard-cause-there's-no-snow 60 to 80 mph winds. So, let the flooding commence.

The fire departments in two small towns were trapped and ended up hanging onto ropes around trees to avoid being swept away. The Air National Guard broke out the Blackhawks to rescue them at 2AM. The flooding is ongoing.

[Jim Eshelman]

Yikes, this is bad stuff. You're exactly on a Mars line of the Arilunar and between the Saturn and Pluto lines of the Caplunar.

Meanwhile, a bit of commotion here. We're in the same block (at work) as the Century City Mall, and there's an active shooter over there. We're all staying in the building and safe, behind several layers of protection. It will be interesting to see if this is more than a threat.

[Jim Eshelman]

Th Mueller report to the DOJ landed late March 22 (about 4:35 PM). Since then, the claims and counter-claims haven't stopped, although it seems to me that the most solid thing is that we haven't see the report yet. Trump was objectively not charged while not exonerated, but he's riding it like a victory lap. I was curious today to see how this all showed against the predictions made from Trump's chart.

First, under "Progressions & Transits," I noticed that progressed MC left 1° orb of progressed Saturn March 14. This aspect has pretty well defined the period of the investigation to date. On the trade-off of Jupiter and Saturn (which alone seems to describe this: everybody won some, everybody lost some), I observed:

...Jupiter and Saturn transits interweave: Saturn squares his Jupiter until the 24th (aspecting progressed Sun most of that time). Jupiter conjoins his Moon until the mid-March when it switches to opposing his Sun.

The Saturn transit to his Jupiter basically ended with the report's release (or in the weekend immediately following). This, in fact, is how he is playing it: Every though he is overstating his case, it does seem a great weight has been lifted from him. The flow-through of continuous Jupiter transits describes the time pretty well, so far as it's outwardly portrayed.

His March 14 Demi-SLR is represented as especially hard. That has matched most reports of him for the last couple of weeks, though not this particular event. I think I caught the right balance of the Jupiter transits in this summary at the end of the Demi-SLR forecast:

In the immediate background is a nonetheless important configuration. Moon opposes Jupiter... These are atop his natal Sun and Moon. No matter how background, transiting Jupiter partile conjunct natal Moon must be taken as a favorable mark. It allows a softer landing than he'd experience without it, some benefit of patronage or peerage.

This is it exactly! The Barr relationship is his "extra Ace" at the moment.

During this time, transiting Saturn square natal Jupiter balances with transiting Jupiter opposite natal Sun. These reek of politics and perhaps mean that he escapes with a close call but at a price. The assault likely will climax within a day of March 24 when transiting Mars conjoins his Midheaven.

This was an easy call. Of course there would be politics. (But it does match the symbolism.) The climax was predicted for March 23-25 and occurred late on the 22nd'; more to the point, it was forecast for Mars conjunct his MC which had just moved within 1° orb a couple of hours before the report issued.