Solunars by Aldebaran Sidereal Academy

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning JANUARY 23, 2020
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 (16th) Edition.

LONG-TERM (Solar Ingress) PATTERNS
For the United States, the 12 months beginning January 15, 2020 are dominated by Uranus on Eastpoint and a triple Sun-Saturn-Pluto conjunction (with some Mercury) at Midheaven. It will be a difficult year with more challenges than blessings. Perhaps our best way to use this year is to prepare for the even more severe patterns coming in 2021.

URANUS gives the main flavor of the year, which will be full of surprises. Uranus forecasts sudden rupture or eruption, shock, surprise, revelation, and overflowing of normal boundaries and limitations. Some extreme destructive examples are explosions, structural collapses, earthquakes, and floods. Uranus events actively caused by people include surprise attacks, sharp changes in foreign relationships, and changes in leadership, whether through death, coup, or abdication; as well as riots, revolts, and other populist uprisings.

However, the year's main story likely will be told by the more widely foreground cluster of Sun, Saturn, and Pluto. Every four years, the U.S. enacts a ritual deposing our head of state (it's called a presidential election). For over half a century, in every election year except 1984, Pluto has been on Midheaven of the Capsolar, a perfect symbol. This year, with Pluto conjunct Saturn as the closest aspect (0°15'), within about 2° of a culminating Sun, the momentum to overthrow the seated monarch is more than ceremonial: It seems that it is the focus of the national soul. By one means or another, it seems astrologically inconceivable that Donald Trump's presidency will survive both the constitutional impeachment process and the constitutional election process.

This will be a horrible struggle, probably with great damage along the way. SATURN CONJUNCT PLUTO signifies tragedy or hardship including catastrophic disasters often laying waste to a landscape. The planets' symbolism describes feelings of irrevocable loss or separation, a seemingly apocalyptic moment. The last time the U.S. had an angular Saturn-Pluto this powerful was in 2001, for the 9/11 attacks. Historically, the aspect has marked the downfall of cities and nations (though that would be an extreme expression).

In the U.S., the Sun-Saturn-Pluto triplet is exactly angular in southern Florida, New Orleans, and coastal Mississippi. I fear there is no way these areas (and Yucatan) will make it through 2020 without a devastating (likely Category 5) hurricane after the fashion of Hurricane Andrew, just as the Mars line through the Santa Barbara region makes it seem certain this year's fires in that area will be more severe than the already-terrible ones of the recent past. You can see the impact of these lines outside of Washington, DC here.

SUN-SATURN marks primarily sad events. (Even happy events occur under arduous conditions.) Examples include the death or other restraint of national leaders; government gridlock or other lockdown involving restrictive, controlling, or failing government that causes or worsens disaster; fiscal crisis; structural collapses, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and other events mandating government oversight and response. SUN-PLUTO events can be highly diverse, from natural disasters to political confrontation, but routine motifs include removing or assaulting those in power, rebelling against prevailing conventions, and disrespect for and disobeying the law.

Uniting these two themes, Uranus forms mundane squares to Sun, Saturn, and Pluto. In order of strength, SATURN-URANUS signals bubble-bursting forced confrontation with harsh reality. Expect wide swings of great tension between opposites such as freedom-restriction, liberality-conservatism, or the forces of change and status quo, with political and practical gridlock until one side gains dominance. URANUS-PLUTO is destabilizing, revolutionary, revising, remapping, anti-establishment, and often anti-government, with a spirit of revolution that dismantles current systems and tears down existing structures (metaphorically or literally). People are willing to ignore, challenge, or forcibly reject precedent, custom, convention, and authority. SUN-URANUS signals sudden, startling events that are psychologically (and sometimes physically) explosive such as surprise attacks, sudden changes in leadership, and life-altering technology breakthroughs.

We are already in a new American civil war, at least with respect to culture. This chart portrays a nation hurled more deeply into that divided reality in 2020, perhaps closer to the spirit of a new American revolution. With Pluto at the end of Sagittarius, every solar or lunar cardinal ingress of the next two or three years, for every part of the world, will have Sun or Moon closely conjunct, opposite, or square Pluto.

Mercury is 3° from Midheaven. Sun and Mercury are conjunct, their midpoint half a degree from MC. Compared to the above, the usual Mercury themes seem trivial. Beyond the obvious, one would hope that trade wars are over and the flow of international commerce resumes at its old pace. We can anticipate a year of technology altering everyday life at even a faster rate than currently anticipated (not limited to 5G and IOT). Mercury is 0°10' from square Uranus in RA, so these developments are well within its purview: We have a year of discovery and amazement ahead, even as we endure a persistent sense of emergency and alarm.


MEDIUM-TERM PATTERNS (The Bridge)

• Uranus conjoins Capsolar Eastpoint all month for sudden explosions (literal or metaphorical), rupture, eruption, shock, surprise, and overflowing normal bounds and limits.
• Saturn conjunct Capsolar Midheaven begins February 1, the day Saturn enters Capricorn, and becomes exact the last day of this lunar month. This is a singularly important not to be under-estimated. Great tragedies have occurred under Saturn's exact transit to Capsolar MC of a place and, in the most benign interpretation, still signifies a great tragedy for the United States or, perhaps, for its head of state. Loss (whether of life, property, or hope) is in the air. With Uranus, expect brutal, rigid polarization in the political spectrum, especially those representing changes vs. the status quo. (The Iowa caucuses may decide whether the Democratic party swings far left or more centrist this year.) Consider freedom vs. restriction.
• Mars crosses one or another Cansolar angle February 9-16. This raises Saturn-Uranus to a serious threat, psychologically marked by a forced bubble-bursting confrontation with harsh reality.
• Mars squares Capsolar or CapQ Moon beginning the next day and continuing to the end of the lunar month. Whereas the prior Mars transit is distinctive to the United States, this one affects the whole world. For most of a week, expect a heightened state of emergency worldwide, pulses pounding harder, and one news story after another focused on violence, blood, fire, bombs, warring, earthquakes, accidents, and other destruction and death. (I really want more opportunities to forecast nice stuff, but this is what we've got to work with.)

To summarize, the Bridge zones are:

• Jan 23-31. Uranus.
• Feb 1-8. Uranus Saturn.
• Feb 9-20. Uranus Saturn Mars.

NOTE: Mars is in Scorpio until February 9, then enters Sagittarius. Of longer-term significance, Saturn enters Capricorn January 31.

SHORT-TERM (Lunar Ingress) PATTERNS

Caplunar (Jan 23)
The Caplunar covers January 23 to February 20. It has unusual importance this month because every other lunar ingress is dormant or nearly dormant. This Caplunar is truly "Chart of the Month."

It is also unusually difficult to interpret. On the one hand, Jupiter in Sagittarius is only half a degree from IC - the only angular planet - the simplest interpretation of which is that this will be a good month when people are happier and doing better in their lives. On the other hand, Moon conjoins Saturn and Pluto, the simplest interpretation of which is that this will be a bad month when people experience loss, burden, and hardship. Somehow, both Jupiter and Saturn-Pluto need to find expression.

Research into historic events has uncovered three categories of events for which these two symbol sets coexist: (1) Significant turning points (primarily difficulties and losses) for members of the British royal family. (2) Massacres with acute bigotry and especially ethnic division. (3) Severe weather such as hurricanes and floods, where rain coexists with tragedy.

Generalizing these, aside from the weather (winter storm) conditions (especially along the Eastern seaboard where Jupiter is most angular), these events center around people of unusual prominence and social standing, especially if that comes with wealth. Charges of elitism and special treatment fly (as they always do lately; but here we expect it to be the primary story). Events look like a "big win," but it isn't clear for whom; and it comes at a heart-breaking price. "Purity tests," favoritism, and "good ol' boy" connections dominate politics. Class-division, cultural separation, and ethnic hatred run strong.

Or, so it seems from these mixed symbols. I lean these interpretations negative because the recurring Moon-Saturn and Moon-Pluto aspects in all four lunar ingresses set the emotional tone. The expected "big win" could be in any area at all, especially areas like diplomacy, military conflict, high court decisions, or economic or class-distinctive advantage.

Or it just may rain - a lot! Torrential rain and snow bring flooding: Jupiter squares Uranus (PVP) and is the strongest planet in the new Capsolar.

Mars-Neptune drape angles through the Rockies, from Montana to New Mexico, exactly crossing in Wyoming.

Jan 23-25 CanQ angles cross Plutos, with transiting Saturn (opposite Sun) crossing 1/26, likely the harshest day. 1/29 CapQ Asc squares Venus and CanQ MC squares Jupiter, one spot of celebration in an otherwise hard week.

Arilunar (Jan 31)
The Arilunar covers January 31 to February 20, especially the first week that includes the Iowa Caucuses. It is borderline dormant, since the most angular planet is Venus 3°05' above Ascendant. I think, though, that this is close enough for us to rely on it.

Passionate emotion flows through this chart. Venus rises about 3° and Neptune more widely. They are conjunct (2° in mundo). Both square a non-foreground Mars (which is 0°08' from their midpoint). The Moon-Saturn square is only 0°01' wide as Saturn passes through the last minute of Sagittarius. In addition to this and Moon-Pluto, Moon conjoins Uranus (0°22' in mundo).

Regrettably, the easiest thing to forecast is a high-casualty mass shooting, something that cuts the nation to its emotional quick. Beyond that, so close a Moon-Saturn highlights sacrifice, loss, and sadness in events focused on death, deprivation, alienation, and divisiveness.

More generally, Venus conjunct Neptune speaks of intense devotion, passionate belief, compelling fantasy, disillusionment, betrayed alliances, perceived offenses, and diplomatic embarrassment or loss of esteem. These are weaponized by Mars. Moon-Uranus adds surprise and overturned apple carts, often with civil instability, populist arousal, riots, and reversals. (This could pertain especially to Iowa, of course.)

Venus and Neptune exactly rise from Ohio to Florida, including Atlanta (where Mars also is angular) and other areas. Mars culminates from Wisconsin straight south to Mississippi. Saturn-Pluto rises in San Francisco.

2/3 CapQ Asc opposes ingress Mars and CanQ MC squares ingress Saturn. This, with the usual 2° orb, is the center of violence, fires, open conflict, and loss. (Iowa Caucuses are 2/3, the State of the Union is 2/4.)

Canlunar (Feb 7)
The Canlunar covers February 7-13. It is dormant. Moon opposes Saturn (0°26' in mundo) and Pluto (1°24').

Mars-Neptune is angular along a Wisconsin-to-Louisiana stretch with Memphis and New Orleans exactly touched. Saturn-Pluto rises in the Portland-Seattle area. Moon-Saturn-Pluto squares Ascendant through Maine.

2/7 CanQ MC squares Pluto. 2/10 Cansolar Moon-Uranus comes to angles: Things shift rapidly. Feb 11-12 CapQ Asc squares Neptunes and CanQ MC squares Saturn: deep grief marks loss and requires renunciation.

Liblunar (Feb 13)
The Liblunar covers February 13-20. It is dormant. For Washington, Moon opposes Uranus (0°30' in mundo), squares Pluto (1°12') and squares Saturn (1°27').

Saturn culminates in New Orleans and all spots due north; Pluto somewhat west of this, at the longitude of Little Rock. Both are draped along the Mississippi River (and square Asc along the east side of the Rockies). Mars slices through California, including Santa Barbara (and due north).

2/15 CanQ Asc crosses ingress Mars: Significant fires, violence, and conflict will center on that day. 2/18 CanQ MC crosses transiting Uranus.

PROGRESSIONS
Long-term progressions continue all month: p Mars sextile r Pluto, the contentious p Mars semi-square r Mars, protective p Sun aspects to p Venus and r Jupiter, and p Mercury sextile r Jupiter, which is optimistic for negotiation and cutting a deal.

Progressed Moon aspects natal Saturn nearly all month, but is somewhat offset after February 9 by a progressed Moon-Jupiter aspect.

TRANSITS
All month, t Pluto aspects p Moon. Also, t Saturn aspects p Moon until 2/2, a fortnight when things important to him will be taken from him. Beginning 2/4, t Uranus aspects r Uranus, stirring change, disruption, and surprise.

Saturn weighs heavily on his chart this month. t Saturn opposes r Saturn until 2/7. This transit always is a marking point in life where self-definition and the consequences of the last 15 years of life confront one, pro or con. It requires confronting and remolding one's limits, ambitions, and self-directed destiny. Beginning 2/14 t Pluto opposes r Saturn, which breaks down old structures and stabilities, forcing major structural changes. Then, beginning 2/7 (peaking 2/16), t Saturn opposes r Venus, undercutting happiness: One feels alone, excluded, and neglected.

Jupiter offsets some of this hardship. Aspecting r Mars until 2/1, it fortifies him for battle. However, the only thing that looks like relief is when t Jupiter squares r Jupiter, a day before this astrological month is over. This brings advantage, but not necessarily in the "big win" sense: It is a turning-point in one's Jupiter nature, typically requiring changes or revisions in such matters as esteem, prestige, career, or finances.

Timing of these transits, plus shifts in ingresses and sign transits, suggest that matters come to a head - a significant climax - on January 31.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Jan 21)
Transiting Neptune (1°00' past Asc) and natal Sun (2°08' past IC) are most angular; thus, transiting Neptune squares natal Sun (1°08' in mundo). This is the centerpiece of a complicated chart.

He is a wounded king. Imagine suddenly having a Neptune transit to natal Sun that pops into place rather than inching up by ecliptical aspect: Suddenly, one is in a maelstrom of uncertainty about identity, career, and life direction. Prejudices are dramatized, energy is drained, and one feels fatigued and spent. One's self-perspective is disproportionate and unrealistic, either excessively self-elevating or morbidly self-deflating because certainty and confidence are gone about who one is and what one is about.

Mars squares the rising Neptune and Venus. It is wide and Mars is in the immediate background. Current theory states that (aside from partile aspects), only foreground planets enter into meaningful aspects in return charts, so this probably is not a valid aspect. I mention it, though, because Mars-Neptune is historically the most threatening, damaging aspect of U.S. presidents. This Venus-Mars-Neptune combination marked President Nixon's lunars for his resignation. This trio brings a feeling of back-stabbing betrayal. We shall learn something from whether this aspect manifests.

President Trump probably survives his impeachment ordeal with his position intact: Several close mundane aspects exist between foreground Moon, Venus, and Neptune, including Moon square Venus. Transiting Venus also squares natal Sun (2°05' in mundo), so family congregates about him with affection, flattery, and gifts. But two other, wider mundane aspects suggest brooding self-doubt and uncertainty beneath any gaiety: Venus conjoins Neptune (3°13') and Moon squares Neptune (4°25'). At least privately, he feels he's been made to look like a fool in front of others and indulges in self-pity. He may honestly believe he has been the victim of an insidious plot.

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Feb 5)
Change, disruption, instability, attack on President Trump, and his wanting to withdraw or flee - these are the main themes of the Demi-SLR. At the time I am writing this, available non-astrological facts strongly suggest that the Senate will exonerate him in his impeachment trial. However, were it not for this "conventional wisdom," we might think this chart portrays a bigger threat to him.

In any case, circumstances require change, provide disruption and instability, mount attacks, and inspire him to withdraw or flee.

Natal Pluto is on MC (1°52'). Transiting Uranus sets (2°06'). More widely, transiting Sun is on IC (5°02'). Sun and Uranus both aspect natal Pluto (3-4° in mundo). Uranus-Pluto, the most important aspect, dismantles current circumstances to welcome significant changes. Sun opposite culminating natal Pluto also signifies a turning point, closing an old cycle to inaugurate a new cycle. In particular, the world demands authenticity - setting aside pretense as inescapable reality bangs its gavel.

Stronger than all of this in some ways, transiting Mars conjoins natal Moon within 0°02'. Neptune joins the mix in mundo to enhance the wounding nature. The aspect means open combat. Two other non-foreground partile transits go further: Pluto squares natal Jupiter (0°14' in mundo), marking significant turning points in Jupiter matters such as wealth, title, and eminence. Saturn opposes natal Saturn (0°36' in mundo), which marks turning points in general, especially being required by life to confront consequences of ones actions and structures - especially those set in motion 15 years ago when transiting Saturn conjoined natal Saturn.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Feb 17)
Two Jupiters, two Saturn, two Venuses, two Plutos, and a Neptune: Indications of this chart are mixed but primarily anticipate unhappiness and intimate personal loss.

Transiting Saturn is most angular (Dsc 1°53'), tipping the scales. Transiting planets foreground are Saturn, Venus, and Pluto with Venus 0°02' from the Saturn/Pluto midpoint. This signifies separation and loss in Venus matters: perhaps simply finding oneself suddenly without friends, or perhaps something more intimate.

This, though, is only the start. Both transiting and natal Venus and Saturn are foreground in two aspects (transiting Venus-Saturn and natal Venus-Saturn) that, in turn, aspect each other. For those interested, here are the technical details: t Sa op. r Ve (0°09'), t Ve sq. r Saturn (0°24' in mundo), t Ve sq. r Ve (0°26' in mundo), r Ve-Sa conj. (0°50' in mundo), t Ve sq. r Sa (1°39' in mundo), t Saturn op. r Saturn (2°03' in mundo). To these, add Pluto aspects: t Pl op. r Sa (0°55'), t Ve-Pl sq. (1°34' in mundo), t Pl op. r Venus (2°01' in mundo), and t Sa-Pl conj. (2°59').

These are horrible. None of us would want to pass through it. It uproots fundamental Venus matters in his life. The particulars may be finding himself without friends (or betrayed by what he most loves), as extreme as divorce, grief, or heartbreak, or simply feeling socially inadequate or inferior with loss of allies and popularity. It definitely comes amidst combat: Sun opposes his Mars (0°49') for a bitter, contentious split.

Venus-Saturn themes in return charts typically bring difficulty, disappointment, embarrassment, or remorse in social or love matters, emotional disappointment, spoiled fun, and a sense that “the party is over.” Others coldly refuse one's overtures. There is a noticeable lack of beauty. There is surely a broken heart.

That's the most important part of the chart. Subtleties exist, mostly aspects with wider orbs, such as the interweaving of natal Neptune with Venus, Saturn, and Pluto. The one additional reasonably close foreground aspect is transiting Jupiter square natal Jupiter (1°17') which must give some small reprieve; but it seems unlikely it will outbalance all the rest.

Saturn in Capricorn has several clear themes. These include individual and political struggles for survival and autonomy, shortages of land and secure space, the Earth retaliating against abuses of land and water, hunger and dwelling issues, vast economic (primarily financial) institutional management and restructuring especially favoring capitalism, a renewed arising of rebellion religions, a central place in our lives not just of fear but, especially, with how we manage and respond to our fear, focus on disabilities and misfortune, and a choice concerning leadership that will take us through the next decade and a half.

The great cultural myth that gives voice to the time is Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (among other Dickens writings), to which I suggest we turn for understanding and guidance regarding consequences. Other great literature works that arose during Saturn in Capricorn and immediately dominated the mindscape are Gulliver's Travels and Brave New World.

Most themes are variations on individuals' needs to struggle for survival and, even more, for autonomy and self-sufficiency.

SHORTAGE OF LAND or SECURE SPACE: We will feel more acutely the absence of land and need for space in various ways from territorial acquisitions and annexations to ecological concerns regarding climate change, earth itself, water; mineral rights or mining conflicts; but also living space and questions of how we all can continue to survive on this planet with existing resources. (Thanos may yet prove to be the avatar of the era.) Expect walls, embargos, and spatial segregation, including the splitting off of historically separate countries into autonomous nations. Congressional redistricting will certainly be one of the most significant issues of 2021.

EARTH & WATER CRISES: Capricorn is symbolized by a creature half of the land, half of the sea. Expect a rebellion of the Earth with land-based and water-based planetary retaliations against destabilizing climate change; specifically, unusual frequency of volcanic eruptions, significant earthquakes, and no-warning fire outbreaks. Historic "Dust Bowl" conditions arose under this transit. Yet we can handle this if we will: Water and land rights and conservation will be central, dominant issues.

HUNGER/FAMINE: As in historic times, expect hunger and food-security to be major issues, including serious famine. (Mythologically, the goat Amalthea was there primarily to feed infant Zeus.) We will see further crumbling of farming as a viable livelihood with impact on food availability and food security and possible peasant or farmer uprisings from accelerating fear and unhappiness. Hunger may be weaponized. Divergent examples include Gandhi's hunger strikes and the Holdomor famine-genocide in Ukraine that weaponized intentional starvation to kill hundreds of thousands. We also have addressed hunger and deprivation aggressively during such times. Increased volcanic eruptions may be Earth's response to global warming imbalances, which in turn suppresses crop growth.

I expect Earth-mindful REBELLION RELIGIONS will thrive following the Saturn-Pluto in Sagittarius cultural withdrawal from mainstream institutional religion. This will include a renewal and empowerment of paganism. Especially, there will be new efforts to encode and preserve ancient wisdom for future times.

Saturn in Capricorn has always marked times of MAJOR FINANCIAL MOVEMENTS and DEVELOPMENTS. These have not been simplistic, e.g., one cannot say that the stock market will go up or down. It places more attention on how we take control of money and commerce. Occurrences have been a mix of bedrock foundations, controls, and financial restructuring.

Bedrock financial institutions intended to further money security and certainty in trade come into being, including national banks, international economic cooperatives and trade alliances. Economic hardship may exist and long-standing economic and social disenfranchisement boil over: It demands our effective, strong-handed response. Overall, we find affirmations of capitalism historically: We will see proposals that sound pretty close to Perot's over the 2020 campaign and the two years following.

Attention will be on FEAR, especially our response to it. Historically, we have taken control to reduce the causes of fear under Saturn in Capricorn.

Capricorn has a persistent theme of deformities and disabilities. "INFERIORITY" (so-called) will rise to higher visibility. Disability and genetic bigotry (often racial) surely will be a theme. Related to this are widespread CIVIL LIBERTIES CONFLICTS and civil rights resistance activism.

WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP we get is pick between a Hitler and a Roosevelt. Either way, a strong-willed, controversial, massively powerful, historically singular figure can be expected that will moved disproportionate power to a single executive for what, at the time, seems good cause for the general welfare.

OUR RELIEF will be in the arts and laughter. Let us return to laughter, literature, and love as our entertainment. Saturn in Capricorn is not passive - not so much about our hardship, deprivation, and fear as how we address them and strengthen ourselves for the two decades that come next: The increasingly anarchic survivalism of Pluto's transit through Capricorn 2021-2040.

Jim Eshelman wrote: Thu Nov 21, 2019 7:47 pm Caplunar (Jan 23)
The expected "big win" could be in any area at all, especially areas like diplomacy, military conflict, high court decisions, or economic or class-distinctive advantage.

I think one manifestation of the Jupiter Caplunar occurred this morning: President Trump signed the law revising NAFTA (and renaming it the USMCA). This is the biggest bipartisan accomplishment since Trump office, with major improvements pushed in by the Democrat-led House. Besides the diplomatic achievement and economic impact, it has several hallmarks of an angular Jupiter.

News outlet (e.g., USA Today) are reporting "historic, unprecedented flooding" in the south, with particular focus on Mississippi and Tennessee. I can't identify a specific place and dates, but suggest - for destructiveness - that you look at all the maps for this month (the Caplunar through the Liblunar, since some spots have dormancy that allows intermediate ingresses to flow through), especially looking for lines going through Mississippi (most of which also catch the tip of Tennessee). It's an interesting examination.

Jackson does seem to be one spot hard hit. This month, the capital of Mississippi had an Arilunar with Mars 2° from MC, square Neptune on EP; a worse version of the same thing with a Canlunar with Mars 0°46' from MC, Neptune 0°20' from Asc, and the two 1°06' from exact mundane square; and Liblunar with Saturn 0°40' one side of MC, Pluto 3°34' on the other, Uranus rising. All of these occurred with Moon aspecting Saturn-Pluto worldwide.

Looking back... this is the month when Covid-19 was already around us and not yet acknowledged. It was the month that led right up to the news being taken seriously and, on February 20 - the day this month ended, the market crash (serious crash!) that was our long-dive into two hard years and a long recovery. Almost every part of this thread speaks to that one way or another.