US forecast July 9 to August 5, 2017

[Jim Eshelman]

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning July 9, 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, most interesting year we've had in quite a while. Jupiter is most angular (IC, 0°56'). Uranus is on Midheaven opposite Jupiter. Sun squares MC (1°14') and Jupiter.

JUPITER OPPOSITE URANUS brings ideological rebellion - both peaceful and violent forms, as diverse as Woodstock and the storming of the Bastille. Expect remapping of the larger social contract, pushing for wider horizons and expanded opportunities. Proponents of liberal social and political agendas raise their voices, demanding civil rights and social justice. At best, it brings collective optimism, inventiveness, new tech vision, and futurism.

However, 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.

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 is a larger, more persistent presence in the typical American's life. As Sun is well aspected, this will be mostly a beneficent presence.

Cansolar (July 17) Map 1 Map 2
Angular Jupiter (square Asc 1°24') reinforces the strong, mostly positive Jupiter trends of the Capsolar for three months, but with a twist: Jupiter now squares a foreground Pluto. In some ways this reiterates messages of the Capsolar's Jupiter-Uranus emphasis, especially regarding social rebellion and remapping the larger social contract (something we have seen in many ways over the last six months, but especially in the battle over health care). Jupiter-Pluto is intensely political and ideological. It challenges existing value systems and the political and other power systems that support them. We have seen this in recent years for terrorist attacks that target cultural values more than governments, as well as other attempts at political destabilization. We also know that, while it can be the unlikely king-maker, it is even more likely to drag the uplifted from their pinnacles into stunning ruin. Anything represented by Jupiter is open to extremes and ruin (including meteorological events and the economy - though other current indications do not resemble patterns of serious economic falls, so manifestations more likely will be political).

Of great importance is a Moon-Mercury mundane square which, for Washington, has a 0°00' orb. It is not clear how this pairs with the Jupiter-Pluto indications. Since it pairs with a wide Moon-Uranus aspect, it surely refers to constant streams of information that express discoveries and disclosures, innovations and novelties. Given its extreme precision for the U.S., this should be an especially good quarter to watch for Moon-Mercury effects. In a time when the news media saturates our awareness, I nonetheless predict it will be even more prevalent - that, in great measure, the media itself will become the story. Otherwise, besides the celebrity and media element, expect situations (as in business) that involve voluminous paperwork or its digital equivalent, strategy, tactical moves, and news outlets fixating our attention as they rarely do - think of the OJ trial or the days of 9/11.

BRIDGE

July 9-13 continues the MARS-SATURN Zone: While Saturn transits a Cansolar angle, Mars transits a Capsolar angle. These are the most concentrated and hurtful transits solar ingresses receive this month. Besides the usual litany of fires, bombs, and personal violence (all unusually high risks), this aspect does not specialize in any one type of event but, rather, incites destruction and hardship wherever it occurs. (Please see our standard reference, Sidereal Mundane Astrology, if you want a longer list of specific possibilities.)

July 14-16 is a final SATURN Zone for the outgoing Cansolar, wrapping up any unfinished business remaining from the last 12 months. As always, Saturn stands out for significant loss - losses in general (whether of life, loot, or an athletic competition), or specific losses such as economic crises (periods of scarcity, loss, economic narrowing, and deprivation), or natural disasters characterized by hardship and death. These basic themes generalize through several other types of events catalogued in our standard references.

July 17-21 then flips this around completely with a short JUPITER Zone. For a few days, everything flips from lose to win, from scarcity to greater abundance. Reinforcing the strongest indications of the Year Chart, the lead is taken by diplomacy and peace, expansion, prosperity, and generosity (though also with a big side advantage to the privileged and aristocratic). This grace will be appreciated in an otherwise treacherous week.

July 22 to August 1 is a worldwide MARS Zone, as Mars squares Cansolar and CanQ Moons. These are always severe times of painful news (often daily) from all corners of the globe. Violence, blood, fire, bombs, earthquakes, accidents, and other destruction often causing significant loss of life. Other forms include war and other attacks, and the death or other crisis of leaders - just to name a few.

LUNAR INGRESSES

Liblunar (July 2 and continuing)
The Liblunar covers July 2-16 (the new Caplunar is dormant). As the last lunar ingress before mid-July when we get the new Cansolar, this is a critical two weeks: The Liblunar overlaps the climax of Saturn's transit to Cansolar Midheaven (concurrent with Mars' transit of a Capsolar angle). Beyond it's own immediate indications, the Liblunar shows cycles cresting and concluding. Everything picks up pace.

Resembling the two ingresses before it, Venus is 1° from Ascendant, and the Moon-Uranus opposition is closer mundanely (1°41') than for the world in general. The same basic interpretation applies, and the same ongoing events are likely in play.

However, subtler factors give this chart a different feel. Uranus (0°19' south of the prime vertical) forms a type of Venus-Uranus mundane square. Focus is squarely on our relations with other nations - allies and rivals alike - and relationships likely with shift significantly. Expect bomb-bursts and surprises that trigger (for good or bad) the same feelings as fireworks, the coalescence of wonder and threat.

Caplunar (July 9)
The Caplunar, applying to July 9 to August 5, is dormant for Washington. It does, however, introduce a Moon-Mars opposition for the whole world that is only 0°04' wide in mundo for Washington. As Mars and Saturn both transit solar ingress angles this first week, the U.S. is clearly involved in increased hostility, if not violence, blood, and destruction. Significant fires rage. Volatile aggression pushes itself into our world. A hidden Sun-Pluto influence enhances the "outlaw" spirit, while challenging the authority of those in power and rebelling against conventional political expectations.

Pluto crosses a Q angle July 10-11, and Uranus July 12. These (plus or minus two days) are the most disruptive, destabilizing days. Saturn and Neptune mark July 12-13 as likely days of tragedy. A Jupiter reprieve draws out our best July 14 and, to a lesser extent, 15.

Arilunar (July 16)
The Arilunar covers July 16-22, just as the new Cansolar appears. It threatens to be a treacherous week. Moon-Mars is repeated (1°48') along with the recurring, wider Moon-Uranus. Neptune rises, an unhappy pairing with Moon-Mars, and squared by a cadent Venus. Of the many possibilities under Venus-Neptune, the most common, especially with strong Mars, are mass murders (especially shooting deaths) and acts of treachery and betrayal.

Intense devotion, passionate belief, and compelling fantasy or role-playing are themes of the time. Disillusionment, betrayed alliances, perceived offenses, diplomatic embarrassment, and loss of respect are their shadow expressions. Loyalty surrenders to practicality. With Moon half a degree from square Sun, the theatrical element is more pronounced, and attention is focused especially on the involvement of the government and the person of the head of state.

Give or take two days, the solar focus on the head of state peaks July 17 and 21, with transiting Uranus shaking things up with the unexpected July 20. Also, the 19th-20th brings Jupiter-Pluto (first Jupiter, then Pluto); see what to expect above and in our standard interpretations.

Canlunar (July 22)
The Canlunar covers July 22-29. Sun conjunct Mars dominates, with Sun only 0°11' from Descendant and square a more widely angular Uranus. To this, we add Moon widely opposite Pluto, widely foreground.

These lead factors are all explosive, uprooting, and (to repeat a common word this month) destabilizing. Sun-Mars is fiery, explosive, violent, and destructive - intentional acts of assertion and aggression, volatile confrontation, competitive face-offs, preludes to war. Sun-Uranus is psychologically (and sometimes physically) startling, and, yes, explosive, and proves particularly challenging to those in charge. Moon-Pluto, weakest of the three, gives much the same message.

Liblunar (July 29)
The Liblunar covers July 29-August 5. It resembles a run of charts from last month, with Venus on MC and a Moon-Uranus aspect. This overlaps Mars' transit to Cansolar Moon, suggesting that, in a time when the rest of the world is embroiled in accelerated violence, the U.S. has a rare hour of peace, love, and other causes for celebration. A showing of diplomacy (rare in recent months) may arise from Washington.

Transiting Jupiter crosses a Q angle July 31, giving the best chance for this - perhaps a day early (since all of these have a two-day orb)? By August 1 we have three Plutos angular. The most threatening time is August 3, when Mars-Uranus is angular.

[Jim Eshelman]

SUMMARY
This will be one of the worst summers of Donald Trump's life. In a time layered with multiple overlapping Jupiter-Pluto expressions, two Moon-Saturn combinations also converge. The time may be approaching when:

"Humpty Pumpkin got stuck on his wall.
Humpty Pumpkin is going to fall.
All Bannon's malice & all Putin's men
Won't scoop the smashed pumpkin off the pavement. Amen."
Progressed Sun on natal Ascendant is in its final month. Progressed Saturn on MC has begun to replace it. The Solar Return is filled with harsh aspects. Tensions peak July 19-26, roughly, when Lunar Returns show a shift, and when lunar ingresses are already treacherous for the country.


PROGRESSIONS
Pres. Trump's progressed aspects are undergoing a significant shift. Older patterns are fading, while others rise to the fore. One critical aspect reaches its first peak this month, pushing matters into the new directions.

This is the last month for his long, strong progressed Sun-Ascendant wave. A slow Venus-Jupiter conjunction (peaking in mid-2018) is the only clear bright spot for him looking forward. Of great concern for him is progressed Saturn conjunct progressed MC, which peaks next January, until now held at bay by Sun-Ascendant. The long-term picture for Pres. Trump is dire professionally, politically, and even in terms of health, moving from a time of brilliant sunlight to deepening, darkening shadow.

Direness strikes hard this month. Progressed Moon conjoins his progressed Saturn-MC conjunction - exact to Saturn July 19. Observe that TRANSITING SATURN CONJOINS HIS NATAL MOON THE SAME DAY, and his July 20 Demi-Lunar shifts the tone from reprieve to assault. Moon-Saturn progressions are some of the roughest we endure: Emotionally exhausting experiences (bringing sadness, depression, frustration, resignation, or illness) commonly involve great loss of dignity, with enhanced feelings of inferiority and inadequacy. Nobody wants to be a "loser" or publically disgraced, and it would be especially hard on this president's personality.

Finally, progressed Moon semi-squares his Uranus all month, exact on June 23, with transiting Mars conjunct the progressed Moon June 26. Typical expressions of Moon-Uranus progressions include restlessness, a heightened desire for freedom or change of pace - something thrilling, new, and refreshing. Expect rebellion, reduced inhibitions (not that he has many at the start), and emotional tension, perhaps expressed as fluctuating moods, willfulness, and freedom demands that threaten close interpersonal connections. This could actually be fun, if it were not for the simultaneous Mars transit and the other nearby high-stress, high-pressure aspects. From Mars' involvement, aside from high risk to physical health, expect irritation, inflammation, impulsiveness, intolerance, vitriolic attack, alienating possible allies... in other words, just another day at the office for Donald J. Trump.

TRANSITS
PLUTO squares his JUPITER as SATURN conjoins his MOON (the latter exact July 19).

Pluto-Jupiter lifts up and casts down, in both cases performing extremely and against the odds. It has lifted him to a pinnacle, and may continue to hold him there, though his risk is a Nixonesque hard casting down on the rocks, falling amidst so much Saturn activity. Pluto sesqui-squares his Sun beginning July 18, which, at its simplest, shows the world demanding that he undergo fundamental changes, that he dismantle himself (or be dismantled by circumstances), and take off on an entirely new life-phase. While Jupiter also transits his Sun July 23 to August 4, it could be a reprieve - a second chance, an uplifting - but, most broadly, is just another layer of the multiple-layered Jupiter-Pluto themes in his life. Falling adjacent to the double Moon-Saturn and Mars' conjunction with progressed Moon, it is likely to be a harsher, more hurtful expression of Jupiter-Pluto to his Sun that we see.

Saturn conjoins his Moon all month, and was discussed broadly above. As a transit, it is hard. Practical matters do better than emotional ones. Times are somber, and one becomes distant and cautious, cut off from nurturing. Wounded pride, loss, and feeling misunderstood. are typical. Others indeed seem unsympathetic.

On the last day of the period, Jupiter enters orb of conjunct his natal Jupiter. More on that next month.

Key brief MARS transits help identify hotpot dates. Their exact days are:

7/12 t Mars conj. r Sat, sq. s Asc
7/15 t Mars conj. r Ven
7/17 t Mars conj. s MC
7/26 t Mars conj. p Moon, ssq. r Ura
7/31 t Mars sqq. r Moon
8/3 t Mars ssq. r Sun
8/6 t Mars conj. r Pluto

SIDEREAL SOLAR RETURN
Please see the June forecast for an analysis of Trump's Sidereal Solar Return.
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1450#p8523

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (July 6)
Pres. Trump new Lunar Return brings a specie of relief from the prior month, yet still keeps the pressure on him. The strongest factor in the SLR is a partile Moon-Saturn conjunction: Things are not going his way.

Moderately foreground, transiting Venus and Mercury are each 4° from angles. This is the bit of kind relief of which I spoke. It gives a mild sense of peace, a few more kind words. In fact, people have kinder words for him than he has for them, since his Mars is widely conjunct Westpoint.

Finally, Pluto is still partile square his Jupiter.

Were we to follow the more house-driven approach of Fagan and Bradley's early years, we would read the 11th house Moon-Saturn conjunction as frustration of hopes and wishes, and perhaps abandonment by friends. I am most intrigued, though, by Bradley's statement in Solar and Lunar Returns that an 11th house Moon "always seems to bring about a state of affairs where the native is required to commit himself, in promise, oath, or admission."

DEMI-SLR (July 20)
Only Mercury is angular (square Ascendant 0°59'), so the main expectation is Mercurial things - speeches, travel, commerce, and paperwork, for instance. Yet we cannot ignore the powerful luminary aspects in this Lunar Ingress: Moon and Saturn are 0°02' from exact conjunction. Sun, though background, is closely conjunct Mars and partile square Uranus. (To boost the Mars themes, his natal Mars is widely foreground.)

So speeches and travel will not mean kind words and pleasant scenes. We already know he has a pattern of self-defeating, self-harming actions that make it hard for people to be his friends - even allies - and increases the personal vitriol against him by his foes. These patterns are practically the exact keywords for this Demi-Lunar. Circumstances drive his ego-expression farther off the stage, into the depths of his own shadow, where it only finds gratification from lashing out eruptively and sensationally.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Aug 3)
Just before the end of the astrological month, a new Lunar Return brings a quarter-degree Jupiter-Pluto square to the foreground. We don't need to repeat what this means: It is the thematic aspect of the times, especially within the life of Donald Trump. (WIth Pluto also partile square his natal Jupiter, this makes for double Jupiter-Pluto.)

Does anything tip this aspect good vs. bad for him? Yes, something does: The natal planets closest to the angles are Saturn, Neptune, and Mercury, supported by Venus. Saturn, which squares Ascendant 0°12' in his Solar Return, conjoins it within 0°06' in his Lunar Return. His Mercury squares MC less than a degree, and his Neptune is a degree and a half from IC. Saturn-Neptune combinations indicate dour (even morbid) psychological states and, with Mercury, produce strong neurotic symptoms that become evident in one's speech, actions, and ability to function.

Nor does the pressure let up. Sun conjoins his natal Pluto (0°11'). Expect high-impact experiences that confront and challenge him and drive him to make a decision he'd rather avoid making. Pressures are intense. His instinct is to flee. Some sort of turning point is forced. Saturn conjoins his Moon (detailed above). These are strenuous psychological times that push one either to a full-on confrontation (Trump's usual tactic) or to leave.

No matter how we look at this SLR, it delivers a similar feel. For example, both luminaries are afflicted - Moon partile conjunct Saturn in the immediate background (where it emphasizes health vulnerability), and Sun is closely conjunct Mars in the middleground. He appears psychologically exhausted.

Two important natal aspects are brought to the fore, his Venus-Saturn conjunction and his Mercury-Neptune square. Again, these do not show the best side of a person; e.g., they enhance isolation, dissociate reason from the practical world, and misdirect problem-solving attention away from real issues to chimera. "Sacrifice for duty" has never been his strong suite - will he draw that ability from within himself now?

[Jim Eshelman]

With Moon entering Capricorn within the hour, we're off and running on a new month.

[Jim Eshelman]

Caplunar (July 9)
...a Moon-Mars opposition for the whole world that is only 0°04' wide in mundo for Washington. As Mars and Saturn both transit solar ingress angles this first week, the U.S. is clearly involved in increased hostility, if not violence, blood, and destruction. Significant fires rage...

Etc. There are forms this Mars and Saturn can take; but, since I mentioned fires, I should document that 45 serious fires are currently burning in the American West, 14 of them in California. Six states are under "red flag' warning conditions. The Alamo fire in north Santa Barbara County is the worst, but only one (and, in fact, only one of two in that specific area). Experts expect these fires to worsen this week due to dryness mixed with lightning storms that probably will ignite more fires. (Last week's forecast in the still-active Liblunar cited Saturn angular up the middle of California, effectively covering the entire state, i.e., 150-200 miles either side of the middle line of the state.)

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

The plains states and SW are heading into drought conditions, and temps will be high 90s to mid 100s, so fires would not be a surprise further east through the midsection of the country, and Georgia/Florida area.

[Jim Eshelman]

The plains states and SW are heading into drought conditions, and temps will be high 90s to mid 100s, so fires would not be a surprise further east through the midsection of the country, and Georgia/Florida area.

Look at the Caplunar maps. The Moon-Mars lines cut immediately east of the Rockies, then square Ascendant across the Plains (especially northern plains).

[Jim Eshelman]

Especially with July 17 fast approaching, one should not assume that the last few days lf news will last and build... but it is very difficult to see Humpty Pumpkin as anything but tottering.

Donnie Jr. appears to have outright admitted to everything the FBI special investigation is investigating. If he hasn't dotted all the I's and crossed all the T's on his own, emails just released seem to finish the punctuation for him. He tripled the impact, by added Jared and the campaign manager to the meeting.

As long as the current Cansolar lasts - which is only until July 17 - transiting Saturn conjoins its Midheaven. We are certainly seeing that in real time. But, as soon as the chart flips in less than a week, that transit evaporates and we have a short run of Jupiter square Ascendant.

Now, the Jupiter is not full indemnification. It's part of an angular Jupiter-Pluto square. But I'm pretty sure there will be an obvious flip from Saturn transiting the angle and no Jupiter, to Jupiter transiting the angle and no Saturn.

Meanwhile, the news looks and feels so much like the release of the smoking gun Watergate tape that, in the most optimistic picture for Trump, one is genuinely curious what escape route he may still have.

Meanwhile again, the White House is busy with perhaps the most important part (to him) of Trump's agenda, dismantling old executive orders and administrative rules that they believe tie the hands of American businesses. They are nearly in secure lockdown mode working on this with very specialized talent brought in to do it. The long-plan may be to hang onto the White House just long enough to get these orders rescinded - setting back close to 20 years of gains by the other side - and then not worry about what happens next - it's THAT big of a deal to him.

[Jim Eshelman]

When I first wrote about the Capsolar in the January forecast, I included more specific forecasts - particular examples - that I've gradually dropped as I tighten the next from month to month. (Once the first quarter chart hits, I trim the Capsolar verbiage to balance the increased verbiage of the new Quarter section.) But here's the way one paragraph appeared in the first two or three months of this year:

At its best, [Jupiter-Uranus] 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.

Today an FDA panel unanimously recommended full approval for the first gene-therapy treatment for cancer, specifically leukemia. The treatment alters the patient's own cells so that they fight the leukemia cells, turning the patient's body into a "living drug" against the disease.

Not only is this the first gene-therapy for cancer, it would (if fully approved) by the first gene-therapy of any kind to hit the market. It is being hailed as "a new era in medicine" (NYT). Here is a report on how it works and how successful it has been so far:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/12/heal ... d=34985990

The most impressive sentence, to me, is: "A single dose of the resulting product has brought long remissions, and possibly cures, to scores of patients in studies who were facing death because every other treatment had failed."

This is coming forth in the year of the Jupiter-Uranus opposition angular in the Capsolar, during a time of recurring Moon-Uranus aspects in nearly every lunar ingress. The news broke on a day when the nation's CapQ has ingress Uranus exactly on IC, and ingress Jupiter within orb of MC.

[Jim Eshelman]

With new tools that we have (thanks to Derek), I thought I'd update some of the particulars for Trumps Lunar Returns.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (July 6)
There was originally the request of whether his natal Pluto should be regarded as angular. Ecliptically, it is 0°19' from Descendant. I didn't think his Pluto was that close to the angle. I can now confirm it is 5°46' above Descendant, which is about as strong as the transiting Mercury (4°11' below Dsc) and Venus (4°02' west of IC).

Somewhat more distantly, natal Venus is 7°45' below Dsc.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Aug 3)

Does anything tip this aspect good vs. bad for him? Yes, something does: The natal planets closest to the angles are Saturn, Neptune, and Mercury, supported by Venus. Saturn, which squares Ascendant 0°12' in his Solar Return, conjoins it within 0°06' in his Lunar Return.

Saturn is actually 0°05' away, but who's counting? And natal Venus is 0°56' below Asc. They are only 0°51' from exact mundane conjunction, partile conjunct Ascendant. His Neptune is 1°49' east of IC, so, contrary to what I said above, there really is a Saturn-Neptune aspect, a mundane square only 1°54' wide. And it's really Venus-Saturn-Neptune, so it has much deeper elements of betrayal than I first observed.

Saturn-Neptune combinations indicate dour (even morbid) psychological states and, with Mercury, produce strong neurotic symptoms that become evident in one's speech, actions, and ability to function.

I hold to this original assessment.

[Jim Eshelman]

Yesterday, July 19, transiting Saturn conjoined Trump's natal Moon, and progressed Moon conjoined natal Saturn - both exact to the minute of arc. And did you see that interview with NYT? OMG, does he have any idea what he is saying? That he wouldn't have appointed Sessions as AG if he'd known Sessions would recuseh imself on Russia, and that the AG owes better than that to the president?

OMFG. If we are still in a world where any of this means anything real, that is practically an impeachable statement all by itself.

It won't go that far, that fast, of course. I do think, from the astrological timing, that in six months we'll look back at July 19 as a very significant date in the process, and that interview has putting a smoking gun to his own head.

And then, today, he has a new Demi-lunar that already was in effect yesterday.

DEMI-SLR (July 20)
Only Mercury is angular (square Ascendant 0°59'), so the main expectation is Mercurial things - speeches, travel, commerce, and paperwork, for instance. [EDIT: Add interviews.] Yet we cannot ignore the powerful luminary aspects in this Lunar Ingress: Moon and Saturn are 0°02' from exact conjunction. Sun, though background, is closely conjunct Mars and partile square Uranus. (To boost the Mars themes, his natal Mars is widely foreground.)

So speeches and travel will not mean kind words and pleasant scenes. We already know he has a pattern of self-defeating, self-harming actions that make it hard for people to be his friends - even allies - and increases the personal vitriol against him by his foes. These patterns are practically the exact keywords for this Demi-Lunar. Circumstances drive his ego-expression farther off the stage, into the depths of his own shadow, where it only finds gratification from lashing out eruptively and sensationally.

"...self-defeating, self-harming actions that make it hard for people to be his friends - even allies." Sessions was one of his supporters.

[Jim Eshelman]

and news outlets fixating our attention as they rarely do - think of the OJ trial or the days of 9/11.

Or, y'know, it could just be OJ again LOL.

[Jim Eshelman]

Cansolar (July 17)
Of great importance is a Moon-Mercury mundane square which, for Washington, has a 0°00' orb. It is not clear how this pairs with the Jupiter-Pluto indications. Since it pairs with a wide Moon-Uranus aspect, it surely refers to constant streams of information that express discoveries and disclosures, innovations and novelties. Given its extreme precision for the U.S., this should be an especially good quarter to watch for Moon-Mercury effects. In a time when the news media saturates our awareness, I nonetheless predict it will be even more prevalent - that, in great measure, the media itself will become the story.

And, indeed, the media itself is the story. White House press secretary Sean Spicer just resigned in protest over the appointment of a new communications director that he things is a bad choice.

[Jim Eshelman]

Moon entered Cancer last night. As a review, here is what we can expect this week:

Canlunar (July 22)
The Canlunar covers July 22-29. Sun conjunct Mars dominates, with Sun only 0°11' from Descendant and square a more widely angular Uranus. To this, we add Moon widely opposite Pluto, widely foreground.

These lead factors are all explosive, uprooting, and (to repeat a common word this month) destabilizing. Sun-Mars is fiery, explosive, violent, and destructive - intentional acts of assertion and aggression, volatile confrontation, competitive face-offs, preludes to war. Sun-Uranus is psychologically (and sometimes physically) startling, and, yes, explosive, and proves particularly challenging to those in charge. Moon-Pluto, weakest of the three, gives much the same message.

[Jim Eshelman]

A quote from the forecast of President Trump's July 20 Demi-Lunar Return:

...We already know he has a pattern of self-defeating, self-harming actions that make it hard for people to be his friends - even allies - and increases the personal vitriol against him by his foes. These patterns are practically the exact keywords for this Demi-Lunar. Circumstances drive his ego-expression farther off the stage, into the depths of his own shadow, where it only finds gratification from lashing out eruptively and sensationally.

President Trump has an ongoing Moon-Uranus progression, and today transiting Mars conjoins his progressed Moon and semi-squares the Uranus. Consider that in context of the words above: He has been spending days baiting, lambasting, and ridiculing one of his oldest, most loyal allies since he began running for President, Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

His staff has tried to get him to back down on this. Today, his other allies told him, "Enough!" Republican Senators were tired of having their former colleague maligned, other cabinet members were on the verge of revolt, and observers were seriously questioning how much this is all wounding him with his political base. In response, Trump said he'd back off for now.

I submit that this is the crisis peak of the Mars conjunction with progressed Moon, within the rather exacting terms of the demi-lunar forecast above.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

That could have been the peak, but it also could have been his announcement that, having consulted with his (sic) generals, "trans" people were no longer going to be allowed in the US Military because they "cost too much" medically and distracted from battle.
Which was a complete surprise to the Pentagon and Joint Chiefs.

[Jim Eshelman]

I think the key factor on this is that the budget he wanted for the wall is roughly the same as the budget the Pentagon had set aside for transgender medical coverage.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

I think the key factor on this is that the budget he wanted for the wall is roughly the same as the budget the Pentagon had set aside for transgender medical coverage.

Yeah.
The Senate and House passed a bill with veto-proof vote counts that he can sign or not, doesn't matter, requiring Congressional approval of changes to the sanctions on Russia, Iran, and I think, N Korea. Now if they'd just pass a few bills keeping small hands off the rest of the grownup stuff....

[Jim Eshelman]

Moon has entered Libra. Here, for review, is the prediction for this week. I'm especially curious about the day-by-day variations this week - they seem interesting.

Liblunar (July 29)
The Liblunar covers July 29-August 5. It resembles a run of charts from last month, with Venus on MC and a Moon-Uranus aspect. This overlaps Mars' transit to Cansolar Moon, suggesting that, in a time when the rest of the world is embroiled in accelerated violence, the U.S. has a rare hour of peace, love, and other causes for celebration. A showing of diplomacy (rare in recent months) may arise from Washington.

Transiting Jupiter crosses a Q angle July 31, giving the best chance for this - perhaps a day early (since all of these have a two-day orb)? By August 1 we have three Plutos angular. The most threatening time is August 3, when Mars-Uranus is angular.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

Trump Watch:
3:30 PM DC time, NY Times announced Anthony Scaramucci has resigned. Since he wasn't supposed to start till sometime in August, I guess he wasn't really there.

EDITED: 2:30 PM DC Time.

[Jim Eshelman]

Trump Watch:
3:30 PM DC time, NY Times announced Anthony Scaramucci has resigned. Since he wasn't supposed to start till sometime in August, I guess he wasn't really there.

O.M.G.

[Jupiter Sets at Dawn]

Trump Watch:
3:30 PM DC time, NY Times announced Anthony Scaramucci has resigned. Since he wasn't supposed to start till sometime in August, I guess he wasn't really there.

O.M.G.

It was 2:30 PM DC Time. It's just 3PM DC now.

[Jim Eshelman]

More evidence of the Jupiter-Uranus prediction I made about this being the year of gigantic medical science breakthroughs. Word just broke that, for the first time, scientists have "edited" genes in an embryo to prevent disease.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/scie ... d=34985990

[Jim Eshelman]

Now, i the last couple days of the current astrological month, it is known that Special Prosecutor Mueller has convened a grand jury to deliberate concerning the Russian issues, and it has been meeting. See the overall month description under "Trump Watch" above (click on the arrow in the quote below), which begins:

This will be one of the worst summers of Donald Trump's life. In a time layered with multiple overlapping Jupiter-Pluto expressions, two Moon-Saturn combinations also converge. The time may be approaching when:

"Humpty Pumpkin got stuck on his wall.
Humpty Pumpkin is going to fall.
All Bannon's malice & all Putin's men
Won't scoop the smashed pumpkin off the pavement. Amen."

It did all really start to blow up big on July 19, the exact date pegged as a convergence of malefic forces for him.

Today he has a new Sidereal Lunar Return. Here is a reminder of the primary terms of the forecast:

50]...brings a quarter-degree Jupiter-Pluto square to the foreground... Does anything tip this aspect good vs. bad for him? Yes, something does: The natal planets closest to the angles are Saturn, Neptune, and Mercury, supported by Venus. Saturn, which squares Ascendant 0°12' in his Solar Return, conjoins it within 0°06' in his Lunar Return. His Mercury squares MC less than a degree, and his Neptune is a degree and a half from IC. Saturn-Neptune combinations indicate dour (even morbid) psychological states and, with Mercury, produce strong neurotic symptoms that become evident in one's speech, actions, and ability to function.

Nor does the pressure let up. Sun conjoins his natal Pluto (0°11'). Expect high-impact experiences that confront and challenge him and drive him to make a decision he'd rather avoid making. Pressures are intense. His instinct is to flee. Some sort of turning point is forced. Saturn conjoins his Moon (detailed above). These are strenuous psychological times that push one either to a full-on confrontation (Trump's usual tactic) or to leave.

No matter how we look at this SLR, it delivers a similar feel. For example, both luminaries are afflicted - Moon partile conjunct Saturn in the immediate background (where it emphasizes health vulnerability), and Sun is closely conjunct Mars in the middleground. He appears psychologically exhausted.

Two important natal aspects are brought to the fore, his Venus-Saturn conjunction and his Mercury-Neptune square. Again, these do not show the best side of a person; e.g., they enhance isolation, dissociate reason from the practical world, and misdirect problem-solving attention away from real issues to chimera. "Sacrifice for duty" has never been his strong suite - will he draw that ability from within himself now?

[Jim Eshelman]

Top FBI Officials Could Testify Against Trump [quite a loaded, well-presented piece]
(Atlantic) https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics ... surrogates

3 Reasons Why Trump Should Be Very Concerned About Grand Jury
(LawNews) http://lawnewz.com/high-profile/3-reaso ... rand-jury/

Grand jury subpoenas issued in relation to Trump Jr. meeting: sources
(Reuters) https://a.msn.com/r/2/AApnlMA?m=en-us

Special Counsel Mueller using grand jury in federal court in Washington as part of Russia investigation
(Post) https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... bde1110a9b

Mueller issues grand jury subpoenas related to Donald Trump Jr.'s 2016 meeting
(CNN) http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/03/politics/ ... index.html

Mueller Plunges Across Trump's Red Line
(Atlantic) https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ar ... ry/535875/