US forecast Jan 26 to Feb 23, 2017

[Jim Eshelman]

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning January 26, 2017

LONG-TERM PATTERNS Map 1 Map 2
For the twelve months beginning January 14, the United States Year chart promotes greater optimism. It might be the best AND most interesting year we've had in quite a while. Jupiter is most angular (IC, 0°56'). Uranus is on Midheaven (3°01') opposite Jupiter (1°41'). Sun squares MC (1°14') and Jupiter (2°37').

JUPITER OPPOSITE URANUS brings ideological rebellion - both peaceful and violent forms, as diverse as Woodstock and the storming of the Bastille. We expect a remapping of the larger social contract in a push for widening horizons and expanded opportunities. Proponents of liberal social and political agendas raise their voices, especially in demands for civil rights and social diversification.

At its best, it brings collective optimism and a feeling that good changes are afoot. Inventiveness is strong, including new technology and tech vision, futurism, and “good science” that engages popular imagination. "Internet of Things" (IoT) and virtual and augmented reality (VR & AR) will be become more routine presences in our lives and homes. Medical breakthroughs will accelerate, e.g., there is an excellent chance that the final crack in cancer's defenses will occur this year.

Political and thought leaders show more insight and resourcefulness, more ability to understand and manage vast complexity for tackling scores of problems that sit before our new president and Congress. Don't worry, though: Sun-Jupiter promises plenty of self-serving, elitist "politics as usual" in the mix, motivated by a non-philanthropic tendency of people with money and power wanting more money and power. A shadow expression of Jupiter-Uranus historically has been the rise and growth of fascism, a form of radical nationalism. Fascism’s totalitarian, suppressive elements are at odds with the liberal, democratic, social-support wave of Jupiter-Uranus, though it is the drum beat of that wave's foes.

With Jupiter most angular, the year is overall optimistic. Expect victories (e.g., military victories and athletic wins), diplomacy and peace, and heightened prosperity, economic expansion, and a spirit of abundance, celebration, and national pride. With Sun angular, the authority of government - both its desirable contributions and undesirable shadow - is a larger, more persistent presence in the typical American's life. As Sun is well aspected, this will be mostly a beneficent presence.

BRIDGE

January 26 to February 11 continues a SATURN Zone from the prior month, though now without the collaboration of Mars and Jupiter. (Saturn conjoins Cansolar MC.) Saturn stands out for significant loss. This may mean losses in general (whether of life, loot, or an athletic competition); or specific losses such as economic crises (financial crisis, or periods of scarcity, loss, economic narrowing, and deprivation), earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, severe cold, and other “act of God” natural disasters characterized by hardship, tragedy, and death. These basic themes generalize through several other types of events catalogued in our standard references.

Given the timing and current national conditions, these results probably will pertain to politics and policy, suspending for a time the overshadowing beneficence of Jupiter.

February 20-26 (and continuing) is a URANUS Zone. Uranus is explosion, though more often metaphorically than literally. Sudden rupture or eruption, shock, and surprise are its unique contributions. Many of these events involve disclosures and revelations. These basic themes generalize through several types of specific events catalogued in our standard references.

LUNAR INGRESSES

Caplunar (January 26)
The Caplunar describes January 26 to February 23, and especially the first three weeks (January 26 to February 15). Sun squares Midheaven within 1°, yet most striking is the 0°01' Moon-Uranus mundane square. Moon also squares Jupiter mundanely, more moderately (2°32').

Pity the poor mundane astrologer who, seeing these indicators, knows, first, that all major activity is likely to center around our new president, and - given the miniscule orb of Moon-Uranus - that the nature of the events will be sudden, startling, unpredictable, upending things to the point of turning over the table altogether. Isn't this exactly what we have seen from him for the last year or more? It's the main course of the new month. By their very nature, these events are unpredictable.

More generally, angular Sun concentrates on the government per se. Solar times usually show increased government intervention and a heightened, front-and-center perception of government’s presence in people’s lives. Moon-Uranus shows rapidly shifting conditions, including surprise attacks, characterized both by their sudden and explosive nature and by the need for quick adaptation and reorientation, new learning, and new responses. Life shows us that it still can surprise us beyond our expectations. Particular events can include new science and technology, new strategic approaches, or civil instability.

In fact, we might see the wakening of a new form of civil rights movement. One can be optimistic and hope that the Moon-Jupiter square is positive with prosperity and diplomacy prevailing. Most people think that possibility is far-fetched at the moment, and that we are more likely to see exclusive elitism and enhanced privilege gaining ground. Always with Moon-Jupiter we see the theme of “our people first,” whether as strong elements of national pride, patriotism, family, community, and standing first for those groups with which one identifies.

Arilunar (February 2)
The Arilunar for February 2-8 is dormant. A 2° Moon-Jupiter opposition affects the world generally - in some places, fostering an extra edge of prosperity, and, in others, the volatility of ethnic and cultural assaults by both terrorists and governments.

Canlunar (February 8)
The Canlunar for February 8-15 is also dormant, and also has the same close Moon-Jupiter opposition world-wide. For both of these weeks, expect the Caplunar's trends to flow through. Otherwise, read this chart just like last week's Arilunar.

February 8-13, Pluto crosses quotidian angles for Washington, and Uranus joins it by the last day. This enhances the volatility of the present week considerably.

Liblunar (February 15)
The Liblunar for February 15-23 resembles the Capsolar in several ways, and likely will mark a week when Jupiter, Uranus, and their aspect will have an especially strong voice. (Uranus is on MC 0°37', Jupiter on IC 1°22', and their opposition is 1°27' wide. Pluto is within a degree of WP.)

Are the post-inauguration protests still occurring, even accelerating? The triple angularity Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto, and Moon's opposition to the first two, strongly resembles charts for turning points in the late 1960s civil rights and emerging gay rights movements. While reinforcing every Jupiter-Uranus trend listed at the top, Moon-Uranus is more explosive, Moon-Jupiter more driven to personal liberties and quality of life. Pluto enhances the radical feel. Less angular Moon, Mercury, and Mars are consistent with strong populist expressions of voice and action.

Beginning the 20th, Uranus' Bridge zone drives all Uranian themes home more powerfully; and Uranus crosses CanQ angles the same days. February 15-16 are likely difficult, with Saturn-Neptune on quotidian angles.

[Jim Eshelman]

I'm now wishing that, in migrating these threads, I hadn't deleted the Other Locations and Trump Watch pages. I was curious what I wrote about Trump for February 14. That was the day he reportedly asked FBI Director Comey to drop the investigation into Flynn - perhaps committing a documented impeachable offense.

Transiting Pluto was square his natal Jupiter within 0°03', so I certainly used some variation of my standard Pluto-to-Jupiter transit interpretation. Mercury opposed natal Pluto that day, which I wouldn't have bothered seeing or interpreting, but which makes great sense in hindsight. Same for Sun opposite his natal Mars (not yet quite partile). His Demi-Lunar had a Moon-Saturn conjunction across the horizon and a somewhat wider opposition of Saturn to his natal Sun across the horizon - and I know I gave that an appropriately severe, "not good for him" spin.