US forecast Jan 30 - Feb 27, 2022

[Jim Eshelman]

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning JANUARY 30, 2022
If you are unfamiliar with the methods and interpretations of Sidereal mundane astrology, please see my free book Sidereal Mundane Astrology. (A link can be found near the top of the Publications sub-forum.) For standard interpretations, see Chapter 8 of the current (17th) Edition.

USA Mundane Forecast §§§ The Biden Report §§§ Other Locations §§§ Ingress Summaries §§§ Transits to Capsolar Planets §§§ Outer Planet Sign Transits

LONG-TERM (Solar Ingresses)
Capsolar effective Jan 15, 2022 to Jan 15, 2023. For the United States, the 12 months beginning January 15, 2022 are an accounting cycle for the Biden administration. Midterm elections nearly always weigh against the White House so, independent of astrology, we expect Democratic losses in the Senate and House of Representatives. With a Capsolar that is anti-President, anti-establishment, and more generally antigovernment, Republican gains seem certain.

Sun conjunct Pluto (1°21') is the primary aspect this year. Pluto, missing from 2021 Capsolar angles, has returned to angularity (square Ascendant 1°29'). Although the range of Sun-Pluto themes is diverse, from severe natural disasters to political confrontation, they always invite unprecedented conditions and irrevocable shifts of circumstances. Typical motifs include rebellion against prevailing conditions, assault on or removal of those in power, and disrespect for and disobeying the law. People demand freedom from arbitrary control or leadership that they feel is failing them. Especially with Pluto in Capricorn, more people think of themselves as sovereign, "a law unto oneself" or "exception to the rules," leading to increased lawlessness.

Moon opposes Mars and squares Neptune. Crime is up. People feel that their neighborhoods are more dangerous. Mundanely, Mars square Neptune is only 0°05' wide in Washington. Sun conjunct Pluto and Moon-Mars-Neptune also amps up the physical threat to the President or, if not him directly, then the Federal government, perhaps through heightened domestic terrorism. Expect a year of ferocious civil unrest as what was once called "civilization" rips open with unaddressed grievance while struggling to settle into some new pattern in which people feel greater safety and security.

Moon opposite Mars (affecting the world as a whole) creates a state of alarm. Typical expressions are violence, blood, fire, earthquakes, accidents, and other destruction, often with significant loss of life. Other expressions include war, bombings, other explosions, other attacks, and deaths of leaders. Moon square Neptune (local to Washington) describes waves of emotional reaction, fervor, herd-mind arousal, or panic accompanied by confusion, disorientation, uncertainty, and undermined security. Mars-Neptune is fundamentally an aspect of panic or feeling the ground fall from under one’s feet - surging adrenaline with heightened aroused emotion - increasing the risk of treachery, sabotage, other betrayal, poisoned relationships, and scandal. (On the other hand, it seems professional sports are back with a vengeance!)

The Sun/Mercury midpoint, 0°14' from Capsolar IC, broadly intensifies and highlights Mercury themes, including transportation, commerce, and science. As Mercury squares (non-foreground) Uranus (0°34'), trends of scientific and technological advances continue (this year has social unrest, not a dystopian turning from technology): Freedom and flexibility in communication and travel are big break-out themes for the year, including significant expansion and redesign in social media's impact. Science continues to have direct, relevant influence on people's changing lives.

Mercury-Uranus also has repercussions on social trends. With growing urgency of antisocial independence and autonomous self-sufficiency, with people feeling exempt from precedents and historic social standards, "independent thinking" becomes a rallying cry (though probably more of a fantasy than a reality, as herd-mind passions surge the cry for "independent" opinion). Greater curiosity would help conditions improve, but, instead, we are likely to see passion-fed rejection of expert opinion, reliance on crowd opinion, and other challenges to convention or authority. “Don’t tell me how to think” takes on new, widespread life.

Across the U.S., the direst conditions concentrate on the West Coast. Moon, Mars, and Neptune lines flow especially through California, with the usual list of severe expectations. (Los Angeles is somewhat more Mars-driven, with Neptune affecting San Francisco more, but the entire state will feel both planets and their aspect.) A kinder tone is marked by Venus angular through the eastern Plains States, roughly at the longitude of Houston and from Houston northeast toward Minneapolis. Florida and the Appalachians feel the Sun-Pluto conjunction with unusual strength.


MEDIUM-TERM (The Bridge)

ALL MONTH, Pluto squares Capsolar MC. More importantly, the Cansolar's Sun-Pluto opposition progresses to exact aspect (0°00'00") February 2. All the Pluto themes mentioned above are amplified as the chief aspect of the Capsolar dominates. Sun-Pluto themes are diverse, from severe natural disasters to political confrontation, always inviting unprecedented conditions and irrevocable shifts. Typical motifs include rebellion against prevailing conditions, challenges to those in power, and disrespect for and disobeying the law. People demand freedom from arbitrary control or leadership that they feel is failing them. More people think of themselves as sovereign "exceptions to the rules," leading to increased lawlessness.

THREE PERIODS OF THE MONTH bring Mars + Pluto patterns. The first is brief, January 30 only, ending transiting Mars square Cansolar Midheaven. Then transiting Mars opposes Cansolar Ascendant February 17-23. Finally, transiting Mars squares Cansolar Moon February 25 to the end of the period (with worldwide effect, not just the U.S.). All of these windows will bring greater aggression and probably increased violence, unleashing explosive force in events or behavior. Other prominent themes will be law-breaking and the consequences of cumulative stress as well as the usual range of Mars events (fires, violence, the wrath of nature). Blood likely will be shed.

Summaries of long-term trends from outer planet sign transits are here.


SHORT-TERM (Lunar Ingresses)

Caplunar (Jan 30)
Effective Jan 30 to Feb 27, especially the first week, Jan 30 to Feb 6. This chart and every voiced lunar ingress this month primarily expresses a single aspect, Jupiter square Neptune. Furthermore, Neptune is exactly angular in each ingress. While each week has its own subtleties, they seem, together, to be telling a single story.

Writing this in mid-2021, it is hard to imagine exactly what so loud, persistent, and unusual a pattern might mean. It lasts beyond this month: Except for March 13-25, this Neptune (and, usually Jupiter-Neptune) dominance persists through early April and much of May. We need to examine its possibilities from principle.

First, since the angular Neptune in these charts usually aspects Jupiter, we can expect an unusually positive expression of Neptune but not necessarily the best expression of Jupiter. Economically, Jupiter-Neptune is consistent with inflation: prices climb as the value of your dollar shrink. Stock market speculation likely will surge: Jupiter-Neptune is optimistic gambling with touch of "the big con," or at least trying to outfox the odds.

Sometimes, this aspect can be downright giddy. It means unreasoned optimism - not necessarily unreasonable optimism (it might be the correct view in the long run), but the optimism is not a product of reasoning from facts. It is one of many examples of faith prevailing. Belief drives decision-making during these weeks. Confidence fuels all sorts of excess, immoderation, and glut. It also makes us vulnerable to disillusionment if faith is misplaced.

By itself, foreground Neptune always signals extreme excitement, whether happy or unhappy. With a positive spin, we expect the madness of a crowd as at a major sports event (but maybe acting as a mob). Circumstances of our day-to-day lives remain in flux, either still unstable from a winter surge of virus or settling into a new normal of reinventing how to live, work, and connect as a society. Neptune surely causes confusion, uncertainty, and disorientation, a gripping need to know “What happens now?”, perhaps specifically "How do things work now? What can we count on?"

Jupiter-Neptune usually sponsors greater social cohesiveness. Favoring the collective more than the individual, we are persuaded that we thrive better together. Social idealism, inspiration, hopeful dreams of something better, and collective action (e.g., civil rights movements, labor strikes, social programs, or humanitarian acts) take the lead. Diplomacy usually succeeds. As always, there also is backlash from people opposed to such things.

Unusually positive circumstances prevail where Jupiter sets, on a gentle curve from Fargo through Kansas City and ending in central Louisiana. Jupiter is also angular on the longitude of New Orleans, Jackson, and Memphis. On the other hand, California has Saturn setting through most of the state, especially north of Los Angeles.

Arilunar (Feb 6)
Effective Feb 6-20. The Arilunar echoes the Caplunar in all important respects: It is even more positive: This fortnight has the strongest benefic qualities of the month. Jupiter rises (1°21') with Neptune on EP (0°58'). Jupiter squares Neptune (0°15' PVP). Moon aspects Mercury and Pluto.

Jupiter rises across Florida and through Jacksonville and Charlotte, continuing across western Pennsylvania and New York. Jupiter squares MC on a line through New Orleans, Jackson, and Memphis. Sun-Saturn rise together on a curve through eastern Texas, near Kansas City, and across eastern Iowa and northern Wisconsin. Uranus on IC passes through Los Angeles.

Canlunar (Feb 13)
The Canlunar is silent. - Jupiter brings benefits through the Plains states and nearby areas and California gets plenty of winter sunshine (though San Francisco - like Portland and Seattle - has a Saturn line).

Liblunar (Feb 20)
Effective Feb 20 to Mar 13. In this three-week Liblunar, Neptune is again closely angular with a Jupiter-Neptune square (2°51' PVP). Moon's aspects are different, though: The predictable Moon-Pluto square (2°31') is joined by Moon mundane square Venus (1°44') and Mars (2°17').

Passions flare. Besides overt sexual themes, we find emotions strongly stirred especially from social restlessness, perhaps on matters of social justice.

Jupiter continues to shine its benefits through the central part of the country, setting from New Orleans to Minneapolis. An intersection of Saturn and Uranus near Santa Barbara is a formula for earthquake (or similarly themed social disturbances).

[Jim Eshelman]

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Feb 6)
Effective Feb 6 to Mar 6. A single foreground aspect defines the month: Venus conjoins Mars (1°59' mundo), with Venus closer to IC (1°00') than Mars (2°59'). Emotions flare. Inflamed passions can prevail over reason. In the young, this aspect has private meaning usually outside public view (and perhaps it has similar private meaning for the president and his wife as well).

In the public arena, this similarly signifies volatile wrestling within relationships. Particular foreign relationships are most likely the center of attention right now. With Venus stronger than Mars, Biden likely will have diplomatic success and secure or strengthen alliance, though only after strains have pushed the relationship to the edge.

This positive outcome is reinforced by partile non-foreground aspects. Transiting Jupiter squares his Saturn (0°21' mundo), generally an indication of stabilizing difficult matters due to a reprieve or forgiveness, well-earned rewards, or "wiping the slate." With this, transiting Pluto continues to oppose natal Jupiter which, absent malefic indications, tends to be positive and affirm political strength and even miracles.

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Feb 21)
Effective Feb 20 to Mar 6. The clarity and simplicity of the full SLR becomes obscurity and obfuscating complexity in the Demi-lunar. Three planets are foreground: Transiting Neptune is 2°07' past Ascendant; natal Neptune is 2°57' before Descendant (such that the Neptune/Neptune midpoint is only 0°25' from the horizon); and transiting Jupiter is distantly foreground. There are no aspects among foreground planets.

This chart occurs as the nation has been in a month of ingresses with angular Neptune plus Jupiter-Neptune aspects. Also, the entire term of the Demi-lunar occurs within the three-week window when a matching Liblunar is effective. Rather than fall back on the usual Neptune angular interpretations for return charts, we can expect that the mundane expression of the ingresses will describe what is really going on - as very strong Neptune factors edged positive by Jupiter.

We expect unreasoned optimism or faith. Belief drives critical decision-making. Confidence fuels excess, immoderation, and glut (and makes us vulnerable to disillusionment if faith is misplaced). Angular Neptune signals confusion, uncertainty, and disorientation, of course, and one always has to think deception and scandal may be part of the mix. Mostly, expect a flurry of activity as too few facts are available and madness is in the air.

This is the main character of these two weeks for Biden. Other partile (non-angular) aspects may give insight into the details, though. Venus and Mars are still conjunct (0°31') and transiting Mars squares natal Venus (0°55' mundo), so foreign relations are likely turbulent and need resolving. As the slightly foreground transiting Jupiter squares natal Saturn (1°00'), we expect diplomacy to prevail, circumstances to stabilize, and forgiveness to be earned.

[Jim Eshelman]

Geographic areas centered on map lines have a roughly 150-200 mile leeway (3°) for strong effects. For these mappings of planetary energies, see standard interpretations in Chapter 8 of Sidereal Mundane Astrology. (A link to the free current edition can always be found near the top of the Publications sub-forum.) Readers may wish to consider all planet lines and intersections against the standard interpretations.

Caplunar (Jan 30)

Arilunar (Feb 6)

Canlunar (Feb 13)

Liblunar (Feb 20)

[Jim Eshelman]

This section provides the raw components for our forecasts, providing a quick visual overview and making it easier to see when lunar ingresses echo patterns in the operative solar ingresses.

SOLAR INGRESSES

CAPSOLAR (Jan 15)
Pluto (Sun Mercury).
Moon-Mars Moon-Neptune.
Su/Me Sun-Pluto (Mercury-Saturn Mercury-Uranus).

LUNAR INGRESSES

CAPLUNAR (Jan 30)
Neptune. Moon-Mercury Moon-Pluto Jupiter-Neptune.

ARILUNAR (Feb 6)
Jupiter Neptune. Moon-Mercury Moon-Pluto Jupiter-Neptune.

CANLUNAR (Feb 13)
(Dormant.) Moon-Pluto.

LIBLUNAR (Feb 20)
Neptune Moon-Venus Moon-Mars Moon-Pluto Jupiter-Neptune.


PRES. BIDEN'S LUNAR RETURNS

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Feb 6)
t Venus Mars (r Neptune)
t Venus-Mars

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Feb 21)
t Neptune (Jupiter), r Neptune
(no aspects)

[Jim Eshelman]

Transits to Capsolar planets are important identifiers for locales where the 'natal' planet was angular in the Capsolar, or where it spins to a CapQ angle at the time of the aspect.

t Pluto conj. Capsolar Pluto START-Feb 15
t Neptune conj. Capsolar Neptune START-Feb 16, Feb25-END
t Uranus conj. Capsolar Uranus ALL MONTH
t Uranus sq. Capsolar Mercury START-Feb 20

t Mars conj. Capsolar Venus Feb 13

[Jim Eshelman]

Pluto in Capricorn (2021-2038)
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=2475&p=33906#p33904
Harsher, struggling, dystopian: people doubt they will regain guarantees of safety or security from violence, economic crisis, or cultural breakdown. Autonomous self-sufficiency, struggle for survival. Need to preserve and restore survivability of the planet. Shortages of land, secure living space, and privacy (territorial conflicts). Hunger and dwelling insecurity. People determining anew how they want to be governed. Control vs. being controlled. Increased social isolation and focus on survival (anticipating breakdown of society or survivability of the world with depleting stability and resources). Intensified tensions between individual survival vs. connected wider community, and between uplifted and controlling classes vs. the debased and controlled classes. Breakdown of old structures and outmoded patterns. Bedrock financial institutions are challenged and reassessed. New economies emerge, including a structural reconceiving of work, jobs, employment, and earnings. Anything father-themed comes under attack (and retaliates). Ancient grievances and resentments are renewed. Society's relationship to aging and the aged will change necessarily. Revolution in pharmacology.

Neptune in Aquarius (2009-2023)
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=388
Suppressed or diffused social progressiveness, squashed rebellions, deranged concepts of liberty, all setting the stage for a future conflict or breakthrough after the transit is over. Imagined new vistas and possibilities without current capacity to reach or manage them. Roused socialist-leaning liberalism. Failure of universalism, futurism, or true enlightenment to flourish. Shortage of dispassionate clarity, fostered ignorance.

This transit reflects living in a time when most people feel like we are living in a science fiction wonderland, "imagining the inconceivable." Change happens so fast, technical progress accelerating far beyond any vision prior generations had to the 21st century (provided it doesn't involve transportation). One aspect of this is increased complexity with life changing faster than neurology can grasp, manage, and keep up. It has fostered technological surveillance and loss of privacy.

Uranus in Aries (2017-2025)
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=390&p=2560#p2560
A volatile time politically. Issues of economics, government, and accelerated armament. Great challenges to the stability of existing alliances: Acute polarization splits former allies (individuals, social groups, or nations) along new axes. Widespread dissatisfaction fuels repudiation of historic closely held views and values. Each such era, while people are passing through it, feels like a transitions between a concluding old cycle and an opening new cycle.

An unyielding, unremitting sense of emergency exists, then autocratic governance increases. Extraordinary autocratic power is yielded (voluntarily granted) to national leaders, who acquire increasing dominion of economic and social issues. Armament, safety, going one's way alone without the encumbrances of alliances... these win out over the demand for personal liberty and social equality. The masses seem more comfortable with an authoritarian father figure to "make everything OK." Absent a state of war, there me be a suspension of checks and balances on autocracy normal to martial law.

Increased polarization and struggle between opposing extremes - each historic period has its own example, whether it be arising fascism vs. socialism (or political elements that, if more extreme, would have emerged as overtly fascist or socialist, extremism of right vs. left), opposing views on slavery, Catholic vs. Protestant wars, etc. Economics (especially trade) are unstable, in a precarious balance. Economics policies become more nationalistic and autistic, increasingly protective, to defend against trade inequities and competition imbalances. Extreme unrest in economically hurting populations.

Saturn in Capricorn (Jan 2020 - Jan 2023)
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=3344#p28419
Individual and political struggles for survival, autonomy, and self-sufficiency. Land & space: Shortages of land and secure space, redefining boundaries; territorial acquisitions and annexations, mineral rights, mining conflicts; walls, embargoes, spatial segregation, splitting historically separate countries into autonomous nations. Earth & water crises: Ecological concerns regarding climate change; land- and water-based retaliations by the Earth against destabilizing climate change; volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, no-warning fire outbreaks; water and land rights and conservation. Hunger, food-security, and dwelling issues including crop failures and famine; further crumbling of farming as a viable livelihood; hunger may be weaponized (or may be addressed aggressively). Earth-mindful rebellion religions thrive, including renewal and empowerment of paganism. Major finance developments: Vast financial institutional restructuring and management, especially favoring capitalism. Changes in how we collectively control money and commerce including bedrock foundations, controls, and financial restructuring; institutions aimed at money security are created or strengthened; long-standing economic hardship and social disenfranchisement boil over. Fear: Focus on how we manage and respond to it. Disabilities and misfortune draw focus: "Inferiority" (so-called) more visible; disability and genetic bigotry; widespread civil liberties conflicts and civil rights resistance activism. Relief from the arts and laughter.

[Jim Eshelman]

This is now done.

[SteveS]

Jim wrote:

Caplunar (Jan 3)
Effective Jan 3 to Feb 27, especially the first week, Jan 30 to Feb 6. This chart and every voiced lunar ingress this month primarily expresses a single aspect, Jupiter square Neptune (all are PVP squares). Furthermore, Neptune is exactly angular in each ingress. While each week has its own subtleties, they seem, together, to be telling a single story.
Writing this in mid-2021, it is hard to imagine exactly what so loud, persistent, and unusual a pattern might mean. It actually lasts beyond this month: Except for March 13-25, this Neptune (and, usually Jupiter-Neptune) dominance persists through early April and much of May. We need to examine its possibilities from principle.
First, since the angular Neptune in these charts usually aspects Jupiter, we can expect an unusually positive expression of Neptune but not necessarily the best expression of Jupiter. Economically, Jupiter-Neptune is consistent with inflation: prices climb as the value of your dollar shrink. Stock market speculation likely will surge: Jupiter-Neptune is optimistic gambling with touch of "the big con," or at least trying to outfox the odds.

Jim, I find this most interesting! Neptune can have a lot to do with large-scale finance, and indeed Jupiter-Neptune cycles has much to do with all kinds of large scale speculation which can cause financial bubbles. I and a couple of my speculative buddies will be keeping a keen eye on these time frames. One of the best cases of a large scale financial situation happened in 1971 with 3 Jupiter-Neptune conjunctions. Thirty days prior to the third conjunction, Nixon took the US completely off the gold standard on Aug 15, 1971, setting off the great inflation of the 70s. It will be most interesting to me to see if the above time frames you have isolated will possibly time another important inflationary cycle. Time will soon tell.

[Jim Eshelman]

I thought you'd like that one

[SteveS]

Indeed Jim, thought provoking.

[Jim Eshelman]

Shelling began today along the Russian-Ukraine border and Putin shot off some missiles. From the news report, one would predict that a war is starting.

And yet, Russia's Liblunar (February 21, 0:35 UT, what we call Sunday evening) has Jupiter square Asc 0°01' (!), Venus on EP (0°55'), albeit with Venus conjoined by Mars. While this could be a victory chart, it's even more a chart of diplomacy and peace, albeit with relationship frictions.

Moscow has a near-partile mundane Moon-Venus square. By itself, the aspect is a strong signal of peace. But, as with the Liblunar for U.S., the Russian chart is a mix of Moon-Venus, Moon-Pluto, and Venus-Mars aspects that are consistent with war. If we had ONLY the lunar aspects, I'd anticipate at war or at least serious international friction.

And yet, with Jupiter and Venus both within a degree of angles, I feel compelled to treat the chart as peace-trending (albeit it with serious international friction in the mix).

The Venus-Mars conjunction today squares Moscow's Cansolar Asc. Passions and drama, strained relationships, etc. Ther CapQ is quiet, though. Over the next 24 hours Sun conjoins Capsolar Jupiter on the CanQ MC.