Solunars by Aldebaran Sidereal Academy

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning SEPTEMBER 19, 2018
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 (15th) Edition.

LONG-TERM (Solar Ingress) PATTERNS
The 12 months beginning January 15, 2018 are unstable, revolutionary, revising, remapping, anti-establishment, and often anti-government. Here are the highlights from the Capsolar (most of which have already been manifesting all year exactly as written in January):

Pluto (0°08') & Uranus (0°42') angular. A spirit of revolution assaults current systems, tearing at iconic structures. Victory in the 2018 elections will fall to those who present best as rebels. PLUTO: High-impact events that sever connections. Mainstream and counter-establishment sensibilities clash. Leader crises, financial crises, severing historic relations. Natural disasters include hurricanes, earthquakes, floods. URANUS: Explosions (literal or metaphorical); sudden rupture, shock, surprise, overflowing normal boundaries & limitations. Disclosures, revelations, surprise attacks, changes in leadership, protests, and revolts and their suppression.

Foreground SUN-VENUS-URANUS: Changes in foreign relations are a certainty. Shifting social values, including increased liberty in Venus matters. "Culture wars" kick up more intensely for the midterm elections. The voice of rebellion is concentrated on those in the highest office.

MOON conjoins MERCURY & SATURN. Expect economic narrowing and backtracking on the recovery: recession is not unthinkable. Capsolars had close Moon-Saturn aspects in 1819, 1837, and 2008, which should concern students of American money crises. Its record for violent inhumanity is heart-stopping. Climate destabilization will escalate faster in 2018 than in previous years, with tragic, life-smashing consequences.

• Mercury + Saturn. Restrictions, delays, failures, & calamity in transportation & communication. Communication fails for technical reasons & because people stop listening to each other. Information flow is interrupted & rationed. Data integrity is increasingly doubted; cybersecurity is a greater priority than cyber-expansion. Commerce is interrupted: More newspapers go out of business, more small businesses close their doors.
• Moon-Mercury: The media remains much of the story.
• Moon-Saturn: Hardship, narrowing, sacrifice, loss, sadness, with few causes for celebration. Bereavement, deprivation, disappointment, destructive assaults by people & nature; other hardship centers primarily on alienation and divisiveness. It will be a good year for undertakers.
• Saturn in Sagittarius: Internationalism, immigration, aviation, elitism, hierarchical economic separation, & missiles dominate headlines.

MARS-JUPITER: Resources are squandered, stretched past capacity. Religious evangelism and other belief-driven enthusiasm and aggression accelerate. Bigots have louder voices. In nature, as in human affairs, expect stormy weather.

Cansolar (July 17)
Moon exactly rises (0°22') in 0°16' PVP square to Neptune, part of a Moon-Venus-Neptune PVP T-square. Saturn is widely foreground. This portrays suggests passionate waves of populism sweeping us toward the fall elections. Moon foreground shows powerful response by the masses feeling strongly about things, the herd’s collective will surging up powerfully from mass mind. Human-interest stories move the public emotionally to an unusual degree and children are highlighted in the news (so, for example, the issue of immigrant children being separated from their families likely will continue). Moon-Neptune reiterates extreme waves of emotional reaction, fervor, herd-mind arousal, and even hysteria accompanied by confusion, disorientation, uncertainty, and an undermined sense of security. (Expect much mob-like emotional frenzy from political rallies this summer.) Venus-Neptune signals intense devotion, passionate belief, compelling fantasy or role-playing, and performance art; disillusionment, betrayed alliances, perceived offenses, and diplomatic embarrassment.


MEDIUM-TERM PATTERNS (The Bridge)
All month is a PLUTO Zone (transiting Pluto squares Capsolar Ascendant). This reiterates and concentrates Pluto elements in the Capsolar interpretation above.

Beginning Oct 13, transiting Saturn conjoins Capsolar Moon, changing this to a SATURN-PLUTO Zone. Periods of such Saturn transits (which lasts until 11/8, just after the U.S. midterm elections) reliably produce a few weeks when death, loss, sadness, sacrifice, and severe hardship dominate headlines worldwide, either from human action or the destructive impact of nature. Paired with Pluto for the U.S., this takes the form of harsh, dramatic hardship with a sometimes apocalyptic feel, such as catastrophic disasters with profound feelings of irrevocable loss or separation.


SHORT-TERM (Lunar Ingress) PATTERNS

Caplunar (Sep 19)
The Caplunar covers September 19 to October 16, especially the first week, September 19-26. A single aspect, a closely angular MARS SQUARE URANUS, defines the period. (Mars is 1°00' past IC, Uranus 2°16' before Descendant, and they are 0°12' from exact ecliptical square.)

In a word, Mars-Uranus squares are explosive, bringing startling violence, surprise attacks, and psychological (if not physical) “bombshells.” The planets of fire + explosion anticipate bombs and collisions. These can be purely psychologically and verbal (it is an election year, after all) or can be physical explosions and attacks or sudden, raging natural disasters.

Widely angular Venus and Moon are unlikely to soften this. Rather, Moon and Venus likely identify the context or target, such as children or perhaps women figuring vividly in the events. For the U.S., this will bring particular sadness or occur under especially arduous, demanding conditions because Washington's Caplunar has a Sun-Saturn mundane square that does not exist for the world at large. Even though background, it is geographically localized, adding lead to the tragedy side of already heavily-tipped scales.

September 22-24 brings CapQ angles to PLUTO then SATURN, so especially hard news hits on these days. (JUPITER crosses CanQ Ascendant 9/23 but should not reverse this meaning. It may provide other details, e.g., judicial action is center stage.)

Arilunar (Sep 26)
The Arilunar covers September 26 to October 3. Neptune is solely angular, 2° from Ascendant; but the most striking feature is a T-square of Moon with Uranus (only 0°05' away), Venus, and Saturn.

Our best hope is that the main events anticipated by this ingress are due to the unfriendly combat of election season. Yet, September annually begins to unleash nature's storming fury; especially in a year when the Capsolar has a strong Moon-Saturn we must anticipate its lash. All of the Arilunar aspects are consistent with the month's Mars-Uranus-themed Caplunar.

Therefore, at best, the new week keeps us off balance and repeatedly scrambling for solid footing. At worst, it forces a bubble-bursting confrontation with harsh reality, as we try to scurry back into the psychological comfort of our lovely bubbles.

Angular Neptune always signals extreme excitement, the insanity of a crowd whether at a sports event or acting as a mob: madness, panic, confusion, uncertainty, and disorientation. Events stir doubt and uncertainty about the near future.

Moon-Uranus, the other strongest influence, signals sudden, shifting conditions. Changing circumstances (whether environmental or social changes) require quick adaptation and reorientation, new learning, and new, nonreflexive responses. To this, Moon-Saturn adds hardship, sacrifice, loss, sadness, and disappointment, probably with an emphasis on alienation and divisiveness. Whatever happens, people are not helping each other. Contrasting Uranus and Saturn themes provide all the conditions of a highly polarized election season, including wide polar swings (freedom-restriction, liberality-conservatism, the forces of change vs. the status quo), so perhaps that is the whole of it. (But don't get too comfy with that possibility, given the tone of surprise and insecurity spread throughout this week's charts.)

Bringing Venus to the mix brings powerful emotions gripping the heart. In this chart, Moon-Venus does not mean peace, celebration, or kindness but, rather, powerful emotions in response to unstable, hurtful, and unhappy conditions. A central story in this fury may be about love itself. Otherwise, this planet-mix speaks of love coexisting with loss, spoiled fun, and a sense that “the party is over.” In this particular election season, hate and remorse themselves may take leading roles.

CapQ WP continues through Capsolar Moon-Mercury-Saturn for the first half of the week, triggering everything written above about these aspects in the Capsolar section. Angular SUN (squared by URANUS) on 9/30 puts the president especially in the spotlight.

Canlunar (Oct 3)
Due to two dormant lunar ingresses following, the Canlunar covers October 3-24. Additionally, the chart repeats the strongest features of the Caplunar, so it not only picks this last half of the month as when the main Caplunar themes will explode on the landscape, it also extends them an extra week into next month.

Uranus sets (1°51'). Mars is more widely on IC (3°49'). Their square is within 2° in mundo. Expect everything described for Mars-Uranus above, in the Caplunar section.

However, there are two important changes this week. Not only is Mars less acutely angular, Venus is much closer to an angle (0°27' from Eastpoint). Partly, this softens the tone. Perhaps in response to last week in particular, people are more focused on making a difficult situation better. Shifting relationships with other countries are always anticipated when Venus and Uranus are the two strongest planets (echoing their Capsolar foreground square) but, more broadly, this week starts letting people smile again and share something exciting and perhaps promising.

At the very least, last week's obscurity and uncertainty shakes out into greater clarity about the future, which might even give people motive to take that future into their own hands. Raucousness and disagreement this week are probably a healthy sign after last week's blur. That clarity probably comes from new information and clarifying facts, because Moon squares Mercury for Washington (0°09' in mundo). The media plays a large role in this, and itself is probably a big party of the stories of the week. Watch the news especially for anything about security of voting machines.

October 7-8 brings transiting URANUS to an angle, with PLUTO coming in on its heals. These will be disruptive days, concentrating the shocking focus of the week. Almost the same days (10/7-9) CanQ IC crosses Neptunes

Liblunar (Oct 9)
The Liblunar is dormant, which is a shame because the planets almost in the immediate foreground would have been interesting to interpret. (Instead, expect Mars-Jupiter news from Cuba.)

In any case, the Caplunar and Canlunar still characterize this new week. To the Caplunar and Canlunar expectations, add discovery & revelations as major themes of the week. Something that was secret becomes disclosed, and that's a pivot for whatever else happens.

CapQ MC squares PLUTO to start the week. Ingress URANUS crosses MC on 10/14. Expect the usual sorts of events (see SMA Chapter 8 if you want a list).

PROGRESSIONS & TRANSITS

President Trump continues several progressions this month. The foremost are a mix of powerfully positive and positively negative patterns:

• p Saturn conjunct p Midheaven
• p Mars sextile r Pluto
• p Venus conjunct r Jupiter (p Venus also trines r Uranus; p Sun aspects Venus-Jupiter)

Until September 24, transiting Jupiter squares progressed Moon, which intensify the advantages or sense of protection. Beginning October 5, emotional insecurities and uncertainties increase for a couple months as progressed Moon aspects natal Neptune.

Transiting Pluto aspects natal Jupiter & progressed Sun all month. Pluto-Jupiter has been the defining transit of his presidency: It uplifts the lowly and drags down the almighty, and it remains unclear from the transits alone which direction it will swing. As the month progresses, fortunes improve with a series of quicker Jupiter aspects, including Jupiter to natal Moon 9/24 to 10/4 (exact 9/29) and Jupiter to natal Mercury from 10/10 on.

Of particular interest, transiting Jupiter crosses natal IC beginning October 12. This aspect lasts until 10/22 (and is exact 10/17 as the new Libsolar occurs). He then has Jupiter square natal Ascendant right after the midterms, from November 8-17. Though neither is exact for Election Day itself (Nov 6), we shouldn't ignore these unusually positive markers before and after the election. Against these positive signs for Trump compete extremely challenging Lunar Returns. -- To get an idea how this will play out, we can watch September 26 to October 6 when Jupiter crosses his natal IC relocated to Washington, DC.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Sep 16)
Conflict continues: Natal Mercury is 0°18' from setting and transiting Mars 1°12' from Eastpoint. These set the tone of the month.

Moon squares Sun (1°40'): This, with Uranus and Pluto angular, always marks an acute turning point, a non-trivial phase shift.

Big shifts in relationships show throughout the chart, whether close relationships in his personal life or souring of relations with other countries. Verbal conflicts and aggression are specifically about relationships, perhaps especially about someone for whom the president cares a great deal. This comes first from Pluto rising (square natal Jupiter) and Venus on MC. Venus-Pluto highlights shifts and reconceiving of existing relationships.

Furthermore, Venus opposes Uranus along the SLR meridian (0°36' in mundo). This aspects both Mars and Saturn: SLR Mars (on EP) squares Venus-Uranus ecliptically; SLR Saturn squares Venus-Uranus mundanely. Therefore, expect a particularly negative expression of Venus-Uranus (personally or internationally). Possibilities are endless as long as they startle and shock, especially if they involve separations. Loyalty is lacking on both sides. Inflamed passion overwhelms reason. (Of course, he could simply have a new erotic adventure out of the world's line of sight.)

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Oct 1)
Pluto, which is exactly angular (0°41') is also exactly stationary. It builds on the SLR's milder Pluto and is the only closely angular planet. These two weeks deliver a blow, isolate him, force a separation, and bang the hard gavel of reality on his circumstances.

Pluto only 0°18' from square his Jupiter cannot be taken as positive for President Trump, given the rest of the chart. All that the Lord hath given, the Lord is toying with taking away. A Mercury-Pluto square requires that one fess up without evasion or equivocation, as if testifying under oath. The universe demands both information (Mercury) and authenticity (Pluto), and demands its answers now.

More widely angular planets - especially transiting Sun and natal Venus, Saturn, and Neptune - produce half a dozen mundane aspects that probably tell the main story of the period. Mundanely, his close natal Venus-Saturn conjunction is even closer (0°54'). Both Venus and Saturn square Neptune (0°51' and 1°45', respectively). These reflect betrayal (on both sides of a transaction) plus dour mental states, heart-sickness, and increasing distrust of, well, pretty much everybody. Additionally, the Saturn-Neptune square expresses emotional exhaustion, resignation, and defeat (or at least fear of defeat).

Finally, transiting Sun aspects all these. Sun, which conjoins his Neptune within 1°06' ecliptically, tightens to 0°19' mundanely, showing surrealistic, disproportionate views about oneself. In a lunar return, it commonly brings humiliation and a tendency to panic and deny reality. At this orb, it is a most acute aspect.

Sun also mundanely squares his Venus-Saturn, fueling the whole natal Venus-Saturn-Neptune package. Sun to Saturn lays open skeletons in one's closet (at least to oneself), spawning self-doubt and feelings of physical and emotional depletion. Sun-Venus can't be its usual pleasant self in this context and surely just fuels the Venus-Saturn and Venus-Neptune traits mentioned above.

A partile Moon-Neptune square (0°51' in mundo) inflates the emotional extremism. Transiting Venus' partile background square to natal Pluto (0°57') does nothing to alleviate loneliness or resist severing connections.

One must feel compassion for him. It is an unusually severe period requiring uncomfortable soul-searching.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Oct 14)
Objectively, President Trump has some good aspects as he enters the last half of October, especially Jupiter's transit of his natal IC. For example, this likely shows that his relationship with what politically is called his base is strong. Under this transit, the most private life elements, such as family and the sanctuary of the East Wing, provide his most rewarding pleasure and greatest respite.

However, emotionally he is a mess coming out of last fortnight's Demi-Lunar, and his new SLR reiterates most of the same themes for four more weeks. (For example, Pluto remains on Descendant (3°47') and continues to square his Jupiter (0°20'), but natal Jupiter is no longer angular.)

On the other hand, natal Venus, Saturn, and Neptune, which remain foreground, are much closer to the angles. Natal Neptune is a mere 0°54' from IC and natal Saturn less than 2° below Ascendant. (Natal Venus is within 3° of Asc.) The meaning is the same as in the last chart, but more acute. Mundanely, his natal Venus-Saturn conjunction is now 0°51' wide, while Saturn square Neptune is 0°53' on the other side, placing Saturn at the Venus/Neptune midpoint within 0°01'. In addition to the interpretation given for the last chart, this is disillusioning. Ideals fall, bubbles pop, and the enchantment ends. One becomes jaded, cynical, and untrusting from hurtful betrayals.

As if the chart needed anything further to mark it a downer, angular Sun squares natal Saturn; transiting Saturn (widely conjunct Westpoint) squares natal Neptune; and, as in the last chart, Moon squares Neptune in mundo. The only planet likely to rouse some combative energy to pull him from the inertia of depression is transiting Mars in middleground partile opposition to natal Pluto, which suggests rage and volatile response to emotionally charged issues amidst stress. driving one to the breaking point.

In the chart of someone less physically protected than the President of the United States, this series of charts would suggest a risk of suicide.

Transits to Capsolar planets seem valid when interpreted as inherently, these would not be locale-specific. Preliminary conclusions from the first months of watching is that they are indeed important identifiers for locales where the 'natal' planet was angular in the Capsolar, or where it spins to a CapQ angle on a particular day.

t Pluto conj. Capsolar Pluto ALL MONTH
t Saturn conj. Capsolar Saturn ALL MONTH (exact 9/30)
t Jupiter conj. Capsolar Jupiter START to September 20
t Jupiter conj. Capsolar Mars September 30 to October 10 (exact 10/5)
t Saturn conj. Capsolar Moon October 12 to END

Mars transits: None.

Jim Eshelman wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 7:35 am Caplunar (Sep 19)Caplunar 9-19.jpg
...A single aspect, a closely angular MARS SQUARE URANUS, defines the period. (Mars is 1°00' past IC, Uranus 2°16' before Descendant, and they are 0°12' from exact ecliptical square.)

In a word, Mars-Uranus squares are explosive, bringing startling violence, surprise attacks, and psychological (if not physical) “bombshells.” The planets of fire + explosion anticipate bombs and collisions. These can be purely psychologically and verbal (it is an election year, after all) or can be physical explosions and attacks or sudden, raging natural disasters.

Within hours of the Capsolar setting up, two shooting incidents occurred - one in Wisconsin, one in Pennsylvania - that are listed in the September mundane events thread. This Caplunar popped its cork fast!

Mars-Uranus explosion.. Kavanaugh is being accused of participating in "trains" of a number of men and one (drunk or impaired) woman. Avenatti released communications with the Senate Judiciary Committee detailing accusations from victims and witnesses and a victim + witness.

Jim Eshelman wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 7:37 am As the month progresses, fortunes improve with a series of quicker Jupiter aspects, including Jupiter to natal Moon 9/24 to 10/4 (exact 9/29) and Jupiter to natal Mercury from 10/10 on.

JUPITER aspecting Natal MOON
Feelings rise near to the surface. Usually this marks a joyful time with much cause for celebration. However, if you have been under much stress, it initially brings a release of tension, perhaps free-flowing tears and general emotion.

President Donald Trump received laughs before the United Nations General Assembly in New York City Tuesday after he claimed his administration had been more successful than any other in the country’s history.

And then he said.. dare I say jovially.. that he wasn't expecting that reaction.

Moon just entered Aries. The next 24 hours could be INSANE.

Check out this jetstream pattern (which should bring some unusual weather) compared to the Canlunar map. The dip is right on the Saturn line.

Lance wrote: Wed Oct 03, 2018 5:23 am Check out this jetstream pattern (which should bring some unusual weather) compared to the Canlunar map. The dip is right on the Saturn line.

I can't make it out clearly. It looks like the dip is over Texas?

Jim Eshelman wrote: Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:39 pm Moon just entered Aries. The next 24 hours could be INSANE.

And it was! OMG the Kavanaugh circus!! - And now Moon just entered Cancer. I suggest contrasting the new Canlunar forecast to last week (and, more broadly, the last two weeks) to see what the next leg of the trip looks like. I think the contrast will be the most interesting factor.

Since Monday, Trump has been under one of the worst Demi-Lunars I've ever seen. Placing it in the context of the September 16 SLR gives a broad view of the Kavanaugh situation but, even more, last night's report by NYT of documented tax manipulation and fraud is potentially severe for him. Is it fake news or a real discovery by one of the world's premiere news organizations? I think his Demi-Lunar shows how he's really feeling about it - "skeletons in one's closet" indeed.

Jim Eshelman wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 7:37 am SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Oct 1)DSLR4.jpg
Pluto, which is exactly angular (0°41') is also exactly stationary. It builds on the SLR's milder Pluto and is the only closely angular planet. These two weeks deliver a blow, isolate him, force a separation, and bang the hard gavel of reality on his circumstances.

Pluto only 0°18' from square his Jupiter cannot be taken as positive for President Trump, given the rest of the chart. All that the Lord hath given, the Lord is toying with taking away. A Mercury-Pluto square requires that one fess up without evasion or equivocation, as if testifying under oath. The universe demands both information (Mercury) and authenticity (Pluto), and demands its answers now.

More widely angular planets - especially transiting Sun and natal Venus, Saturn, and Neptune - produce half a dozen mundane aspects that probably tell the main story of the period. Mundanely, his close natal Venus-Saturn conjunction is even closer (0°54'). Both Venus and Saturn square Neptune (0°51' and 1°45', respectively). These reflect betrayal (on both sides of a transaction) plus dour mental states, heart-sickness, and increasing distrust of, well, pretty much everybody. Additionally, the Saturn-Neptune square expresses emotional exhaustion, resignation, and defeat (or at least fear of defeat).

Finally, transiting Sun aspects all these. Sun, which conjoins his Neptune within 1°06' ecliptically, tightens to 0°19' mundanely, showing surrealistic, disproportionate views about oneself. In a lunar return, it commonly brings humiliation and a tendency to panic and deny reality. At this orb, it is a most acute aspect.

Sun also mundanely squares his Venus-Saturn, fueling the whole natal Venus-Saturn-Neptune package. Sun to Saturn lays open skeletons in one's closet (at least to oneself), spawning self-doubt and feelings of physical and emotional depletion. Sun-Venus can't be its usual pleasant self in this context and surely just fuels the Venus-Saturn and Venus-Neptune traits mentioned above.

A partile Moon-Neptune square (0°51' in mundo) inflates the emotional extremism. Transiting Venus' partile background square to natal Pluto (0°57') does nothing to alleviate loneliness or resist severing connections.

One must feel compassion for him. It is an unusually severe period requiring uncomfortable soul-searching.

The papers filed for his father's estate are coming out. Yeah, I bet that was pretty scary for him.

I'm worried he's setting up Dr. Ford in his rally speeches. She's already getting creditable death threats. While I hope nothing happens, if something does, I hope Kavenaugh recuses himself. Or doesn't and gets impeached.

Jim Eshelman wrote: Wed Oct 03, 2018 7:53 am

Lance wrote: Wed Oct 03, 2018 5:23 am Check out this jetstream pattern (which should bring some unusual weather) compared to the Canlunar map. The dip is right on the Saturn line.

I can't make it out clearly. It looks like the dip is over Texas?

Both the jetstream dip and the Canlunar Saturn line run almost straight down the Colorado / Utah state line.

Don’t know if or how it’s related, but I think it’s a coincidence worth watching at least.

Yes, it does seem suppressive through there. An interesting contrast is that this morning that area switched (in a moment) from Jupiter-influenced under the Arilunar to Saturn-influenced under the Canlunar. However, it was still solidly under the Arilunar when this 6 PM Monday picture was taken.

My own personal coincidence is that my Demi-SLR this weekend will setup just as my train is crossing that line (or very near it) and also places Saturn on an angle in the return chart. I'm curious whether that doubling up will, oh, stop the train or something

Moon enters Capricorn in a few hours, wrapping up another month. Wow, we had more surprises and hits on the last four weeks than in somecyears. Mostly, the month was all about Mars-Uranus.

I also correctly got the shift from the Arilunar week, when everyone was in a flurry about Kavanaugh, to the Can lunar week, in which everyone switched to getting past it and out the other side.

Besides that, the country was mostly one Bang Bang Bang after another.

That's how I see it. Your thoughts and assessment?