US forecast Dec 24, 2022 - Jan 21, 2023

[Jim Eshelman]

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning DECEMBER 24, 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 Ch 8 of the current (17th) Edition.

USA Mundane Forecast §§§ The Biden Report §§§ Ingress Summaries §§§ Outer Planet Sign Transits

LONG-TERM (Solar Ingresses)
Capsolar effective Jan 15, 2022 to Jan 15, 2023. (Summarized from my Jan 15-30 forecast.)

• An accounting cycle for the Biden administration. Republican gains seem certain in the midterm elections.
• Sun conjunct Pluto (1°21'): Unprecedented conditions, irrevocable shifts, rebellion against conditions, assault or removal of those in power, and disrespect for law (greater lawlessness). People demand freedom from control or leadership they feel is failing them. Solar figures are challenged and held accountable. More people feel "a law unto oneself" or exception to the rules. - Since May 22, Sun-Pluto has progressed to within 1°00'. This lasts until January 15. During this part of 2022, Sun-Pluto comes into their own.
• Moon-Mars-Neptune: Crime is up. Neighborhoods feel more dangerous. Ferocious civil unrest. "Civilization" rips open with unaddressed grievance while struggling to settle into new patterns in which people feel safer and more secure.
• Sun-Pluto with Moon-Mars-Neptune: Increased physical threat to the president or the Federal government as a whole (perhaps through heightened domestic terrorism).
• Moon opposite Mars (affecting the world as a whole): A state of alarm. Typical expressions: violence, blood, fire, earthquakes, accidents, other destruction; often significant loss of life. Other expressions: war, bombings and explosions, other attacks, deaths of leaders. Moon square Neptune (local to Washington): Waves of emotional reaction, fervor, herd-mind arousal, or panic accompanied by confusion, disorientation, uncertainty, and an undermined sense of security. Mars-Neptune: 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.
• Sun/Mercury = IC: Broadly intensifies and highlights Mercury themes, including transportation, commerce, and science. Mercury square Uranus: Scientific and technological advances continue (no turning from technology). Freedom and flexibility in communication and travel are big break-out themes, including significant expansion and redesign in social media's impact. Science continues to have direct, relevant influence on people's changing lives.
• Mercury-Uranus impacts 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: herd-mind passions surge the cry for "independent" opinion). Passion-fed rejection of expert opinion, reliance on crowd opinion, other challenges to convention or authority. “Don’t tell me how to think” takes on new, widespread life.

Libsolar (Oct 18)
Effective Oct 18, 2022 to April 15, 2023. (Summarized from my Oct 3-31 forecast.)

• Matters begun now will have unusual impact and continuity through the first part of 2023.
• Pluto 0°08' from IC square Sun-Venus: Repeats Sun-Pluto from the Capsolar: This is the quarter when the Year Chart's promise ripens. The Biden administration faces an accounting cycle. Republican gains seem certain. We face unprecedented conditions, irrevocable shifts, rebellion against conditions, assault or removal of those in power, and disrespect for law. People demand freedom from control or leadership they feel is failing them. Solar figures are challenged and held accountable.
• Venus rising conjunct Sun: Common for events that resolve conflict and bring peace. Venus issues are at the forefront, e.g., abortion rights will be a primary issue impacting the balloting. Might this also forecast a peaceful resolution to existing conflict and threats?
• Venus-Pluto (0°29'): An irrevocable change in relationships. Along with purely local expression (e.g., natural disasters) and social impact (e.g., marriage and reproductive rights), between nations this refers to significant shifts in alliances and antipathies. This will be its fundamental theme. I stand hopeful that the predominantly peaceful tone of the chart will prevail.

MEDIUM-TERM (The Bridge)
All month, progressed Cansolar Moon squares Neptune, typical of heightened emotion, fervor, disorientation, and uncertainty, the "What happens now?" of post-election government transition. Pluto squares Capsolar Ascendant until the old Capsolar evaporates January 15. Overall, the month (and especially the start of the new year) should be positive, even upbeat, since Jupiter crosses Cansolar angles from December 29 until beyond the end of the current four weeks.

• START to 12/28: Pluto Neptune
• Dec 29-Jan 14: Pluto Neptune Jupiter
• Jan 15 to END: Neptune Jupiter

Mars spends all month in Taurus, turning direct January 12 (13Ta04). Summaries of longer-term trends from outer planet sign transits are here.

SHORT-TERM (Lunar Ingresses)

Caplunar (Dec 24)

20221224 CpL.png

Effective December 24, 2022 to January 21, 2023, especially the first two weeks, December 24-January 7. Things are surprisingly cordial in Washington and the nation as a whole, though much is being said - and said strongly - as the new governmental balance settles in. This forecast comes from a Venus-Jupiter square widely foreground as backdrop for a concentrated Moon-Mercury-Pluto conjunction wrapped tightly around Descendant. (See the mundoscope above.)

Is it possible that we have returned to constructive partisanship - a sense of diverse perspectives working toward common solutions without surrendering honestly divergent positions and values? (For the first time this century?) This one-to-four-week chart looks like it, for the moment. People at least are talking to each other.

Mercury-Pluto is the strongest influence (Me/Pl 0°02' from the angle). Divergent ideas converge (sometimes feeling they don't come from the same universe). If minds are open, this transforms patterns of thinking, shifts paradigms, and signals communication breakthroughs. However, if minds remain closed, the same energies express as collisions of information, opinions, and words. In both politics and nature, events and their consequences stun the mind. Will this occur now in a way that insightfully mingles disparate views? Jaded political expectations struggle against the hope that collegiality will prevail this time.

Moon-Pluto has been stunning us for three or four years until the inconceivable has become commonplace. (One wonders how we will handle things getting boring again.) Moon-Mercury stirs the media as much as the conversation. It's too early in the new Congress for breathtaking reports, though that is the sort of headlines-grabbing thing that happens when Moon, Mercury, and Pluto are together and strong.

Besides the gentler Venus-Jupiter square backdrop, collegial communication is hinted by Moon and Mercury conjoining Venus mundanely. I'll optimistically side with this outcome.

Locally, Pluto strongly affects places within 200 miles of Philadelphia. Eastern Kentucky is the luckiest spot in the country (Venus-Jupiter exactly angular). Weather is unseasonably warm on the east side of the Rockies and down through Houston, while West Coast states get hardship and hard weather from Saturn. A storm concentration is likely in the westmost tip of Oklahoma and northern Texas.

Arilunar (Dec 31)
The Arilunar is silent for Washington. Worldwide, Moon square Mercury, Venus, and Pluto suggests conversations connected to shifting relationships (effective diplomacy); but there is no specific effect for the U.S. as a whole. Southern California gets its sunshine back. Saturn is unusually strong near the longitude of New York City and Albany.

Canlunar (Jan 7)

20230107 CnL.png

Effective Jan 7-14. Sun exactly conjoins Mercury on Washington's Zenith, which signals getting down to business with strong management. Broadly, Sun-Mercury anticipates spotlighted Mercury themes, such transportation, communication, and commerce matters, and often occurs with unusually important executive communication (e.g., a pivotal presidential speech). Jupiter widely foreground gives an optimistic spin.

Uranus mundanely squares Sun-Mercury. (Sun-Uranus is 0°04.) This is always good for a surprise - something we didn't see coming, an important new idea, something refreshing that grabs our attention. It isn't necessarily governmental (e.g., might be connected to technology).

Ungraciousness comes from Moon opposing Pluto (like always) while also square Mars. This mundane square is unique to the U.S.: People are ready to fight. The anticipated strong, principled, leadership action sets the sparring and scrapping in motion.

San Francisco has a happy, lovely Venus line, and LA's new mayor lets loose a surprise; but the Pheonix area has a Mars-Saturn convergence that, in the past, has coincided with violence and other hurt. Flooding and disorientation are likely through the Mississippi Delta, with aggressive weather through the Midwest and mid-south.

Liblunar (Jan 14)

20230115 LiL.png

Effective Jan 14-21. With the old Capsolar expired a few hours later, conditions are changing. The Libsolar gains holds primary sway, which shifts the tone of the nation emotionally and practically. Concurrently, this new Liblunar has Neptune exactly setting.

It's not bad. (Jupiter, barely foreground, tips the tone slightly positive or, at least, away from "bad.") Moon squares Sun showing a periodic change in things, drawing national attention to what's happening in Washington. I think all this chart really means is that the usual Neptune questions, "What's going on? What happens now?" dominate for a week.

Whatever happened last week in Phoenix probably isn't over, with Saturn exactly setting. Hard, hurtful conditions arise near the longitude of Minneapolis (all the way south to mid-Louisiana). Freezing and troublesome conditions prevail along the Continental Divide (even worse than seasonal expectations).

[Jim Eshelman]

An interpretation of Pres. Biden's November 20, 2022 Sidereal Solar Return (SSR) was given here: https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php? ... 744#p49543

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Dec 31)

20221231 Biden SLR.png

Effective Dec 31-Jan 28. Conflict hits. Biden experiences hardship and has to fight. But he's OK, even winning (but not without paying a price). - That's the gist of this lunar return. It comes from transiting Jupiter exactly on Zenith while transiting Mars conjoins natal Saturn on Eastpoint: It's hard, he has to fight, and he is protected (at worst) or winning (at best).

This might be a health crisis. Mars to Saturn can trigger health crises. (Also, transiting Saturn is partile square natal Sun in mundo in the background.) If the chart shows health concerns, these will be over with him well recovered within a week or two.

It may, however, just be political. If so (given the Jupiter), this is probably positive: Mars transits to Saturn break loose stuck patterns and dislodge energy log jams. It's a great time to resolve incomplete, unresolved matters (though doing so is uncomfortable if not painful).

He may have old debts to pay: Mars to Saturn drags skeletons out of the closet, calls debts due, and lets the past catch up to you. If a health matter, this is just a consequence of aging; if not, then he may have apologies to make.

These lead to the final main element of his SLR: Transiting Jupiter opposes natal Neptune along the Zenith-Nadir axis. This transit, besides calling on faith and optimism, usually means that we get a break, such as an emotional clean start, relief from financial stress, vindicated honor, or being honestly forgiven an embarrassing past. Where Mars-Saturn calls debts due, Jupiter-Neptune brings release from debt or doubt.

Several partile aspects align outside the foreground. They should serve as background conditions, or backdrops to other events. Transiting Venus and Pluto are exactly conjoined and (less visible on the chart above) mundanely square Jupiter. All three, in turn, aspect natal Jupiter. The weight of benefics in this cluster says that conditions are positive, that friendship and high regard keep his esteem and standing, and probably that he feels the benefits of friendship..

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Jan 15)

20230115 Biden DSLR.png

Effective Jan 15-28. Transiting Jupiter rising says this is basically a good two weeks. The demi-lunar continues an important feature of the full SLR two weeks earlier: Jupiter exactly opposes natal Neptune near the horizon. (Each is less than 4° from the horizon, which isn't obvious from the ecliptical chart above.) Therefore, the same Jupiter-to-Neptune effect likely continues: If he was ill, his recovery is progressing well. Dirty slates continue to be wiped clean. He continues to "get a break" where he needs it. He has endured the Mars-Saturn struggle, likely mastered it or paid the cost in full (getting a signed receipt), and remains optimistic.

Another factor is even stronger, though: Transiting Mercury is 2° from Midheaven. This is quite general with nothing in the chart that clarifies a particular meeting. Besides a general sense of being busy (taking care of business), transiting Mercury angular means that circumstances engage one's need to gain and share information, or to understand and demonstrate relationships between facts. Others' curiosity is intensified. Therefore, we can conclude both that he's at his desk and that people are eager to hear what he has to say.

Outside the foreground, transiting Sun squares natal Uranus 0°04' in mundo: He's bursting with ideas and has a few surprises for people. Mars squares his Jupiter 0°13' (also in mundo): He's not shy about any of this but may incur costs he doesn't anticipate. Transiting Venus-Uranus are in partile square, so I think he's having much fun while doing all this! (It may also mean that the events involve Venus-Uranus topics such as marriage rights.)

[Jim Eshelman]

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

LIBSOLAR (Oct 18)
Sun Venus Pluto (Moon). Sun-Venus-Pluto.

CAPSOLAR (Jan 15, 2023)
(Silent.) Moon-Pluto.


LUNAR INGRESSES
CAPLUNAR (Dec 24)
Moon Mercury Pluto (Venus Jupiter).
Moon-Mercury-Pluto Moon-Venus Mercury-Venus Venus-Jupiter (Sun-Jupiter).

ARILUNAR (Dec 31)
(Silent.) Moon-Mercury Moon-Venus Moon-Pluto.

CANLUNAR (Jan 7)
Sun Mercury (Jupiter).
Moon-Mars Moon-Pluto. Sun-Mercury (Sun-Uranus Mercury-Uranus).

LIBLUNAR (Jan 14)
Neptune (Jupiter). Moon-Sun.


PRES. BIDEN'S LUNAR RETURNS
Sidereal Lunar Return (Dec 31)
t Mars Jupiter. r Saturn.
t Jupiter op r Neptune. t Mars co r Saturn.

Sidereal Demi-Lunar Return (Jan 15)
t Mercury (Jupiter) (r Neptune).
t Jupiter op r Neptune.

[Jim Eshelman]

This is done.

[Jim Eshelman]

Well, that Moon-Mercury-Pluto in the Caplunar is clearly TRANSPORTATION CRISIS. My wife was flying out to Georgia tonight for a family event and thousands of flights are being cancelled. Specifically, she was told no flights are going out until next Wednesday. I guess that takes care of the first week of this chart!

Caplunar (Dec 24)
Effective December 24, 2022 to January 21, 2023, especially the first two weeks, December 24-January 7. ... Mercury-Pluto is the strongest influence (Me/Pl 0°02' from the angle).

[Jim Eshelman]

This breaking news - depending on how it develops - might be what this forecast was about: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/09/politics ... index.html

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Dec 31)
...Conflict hits. Biden experiences hardship and has to fight. But he's OK, even winning (but not without paying a price). - That's the gist of this lunar return. It comes from transiting Jupiter exactly on Zenith while transiting Mars conjoins natal Saturn on Eastpoint: It's hard, he has to fight, and he is protected (at worst) or winning (at best)... He may have old debts to pay: Mars to Saturn drags skeletons out of the closet, calls debts due, and lets the past catch up to you... Transiting Jupiter opposes natal Neptune along the Zenith-Nadir axis. This transit... usually means that we get a break, such as an emotional clean start, relief from financial stress, vindicated honor, or being honestly forgiven an embarrassing past. Where Mars-Saturn calls debts due, Jupiter-Neptune brings release from debt or doubt.

[Jim Eshelman]

More Mercury-Pluto travel chaos: An FAA pilot safety computer went offline so all flights nationwide were grounded until 9 am EST.

Or is this today's Eris station, since Eris was also involved in that Moon-Mercury-Pluto trio?

[Jim Eshelman]

In wrapping up the old month, I was surprised to find something EXACTLY RIGHT except I got the players wrong. (Astrology was perfect, the astrologer was a bit off.) Look at what I wrote in the Caplunar forecast - and, where I said "bipartisan," think instead about the two halves of the Republican Party (parties within the party). It's also a really good example of Mercury-Pluto in action.

Is it possible that we have returned to constructive partisanship - a sense of diverse perspectives working toward common solutions without surrendering honestly divergent positions and values? (For the first time this century?) This one-to-four-week chart looks like it, for the moment. People at least are talking to each other.

Mercury-Pluto is the strongest influence (Me/Pl 0°02' from the angle). Divergent ideas converge (sometimes feeling they don't come from the same universe). If minds are open, this transforms patterns of thinking, shifts paradigms, and signals communication breakthroughs. However, if minds remain closed, the same energies express as collisions of information, opinions, and words... Besides the gentler Venus-Jupiter square backdrop, collegial communication is hinted by Moon and Mercury conjoining Venus mundanely.