Solunars by Aldebaran Sidereal Academy

USA Mundane Forecast
for the four weeks beginning FEBRUARY 8, 2024
To interpret Sidereal solar and lunar ingresses, please see my free book Sidereal Mundane Astrology. (A link can be found near the top of the Publications sub-forum.) For standard interpretations, see Ch 8 of the current (17th) Edition.

• Outer Planet Sign Transits
• Pres. Biden's Lunar Returns

LONG-TERM (Solar Ingresses)
CAPSOLAR effective Jan 15, 2024 to Jan 14, 2025.
Jupiter is on Eastpoint (0°12') for Washington, signifying a year of prosperity, good fortune, and victory. From the time the COVID-19 pandemic landed in 2020, we predicted that the economy would not fully stabilize until 2024, when people would feel we were fully restored to a climbing economic standard. I stand by that forecast today: Before this year is out, the Dow will have crossed 42,000 and the positive impact of economic well-being will have settled in for the U.S. populace as a whole.

I cannot guarantee the same for emotional well-being or the state of democracy in this country. Despite this angular Jupiter, we will not face smooth sailing on all fronts. Social stability is at risk. Geopolitical tensions run high. The year warrants our full, active attention and participation rather than coasting. Angular Jupiter is in exact mundane square to Pluto (0°19'). The most common Jupiter-Pluto manifestations are:

• Ideological extremism that challenges beliefs, traditions, values, and the political-cultural systems that sustain them.
• Political undermining or reversals including leaders being attacked or deposed and reversals in political dominance.
• Efforts to reconstruct or heal a social order, reflected in ideological zeal defending justice, liberty, and democracy and efforts to correct unjust, dangerous conditions.
• Outlandishly freaky weather events, which this year means accelerated signs of climate destabilization (primarily floods and structural collapses this year).

A similar aspect to Jupiter-Pluto is Jupiter conjunct Uranus, which, though it does not exist in the Capsolar, is the most important aspect of 2024. Mostly a positive influence, it has a shadow side. Generally it means ideological rebellion both peaceful and violent. Jupiter-Uranus signals efforts to remap the larger social contract especially through a liberal social and political agenda demanding wider horizons, expanded opportunities, civil liberties, and enhanced diversity. It means inventiveness, new technology and tech vision, futurism, and “good science” that engages popular imagination (fueled by Saturn's continued passage through Aquarius which always democratizes technology).

At best, Jupiter-Uranus signals collective optimism and anticipation of good change. However, it has a shadow expression keyed to the words radical nationalism that historically has coincided with the rise and growth of fascism in the world.

Because this is a presidential election year, none of this is a surprise, although these forecasts are exactly what we have seen from these aspects in the past and not just manufactured from today's headlines. We also know that it will be a year of strong emotions. Everywhere in the world (but closer in the U.S. than most places), Moon conjoins Neptune. This always signals waves of heightened populist emotion, fervor, herd-mind arousal, and often confusion, disorientation, uncertainty, and an undermined sense of security. Economically, it likely means a bubble economy with the rising market supported by specific kinds of gains that are unsustainable in the long run. Surely some of Moon-Neptune's impact in this country will be partisan fervor approaching insanity in the political contests. Yet (despite what today's headlines might suggest), the emotional tone may be a great deal better than that. Moon squares Venus worldwide as well, a surprising signal that the two terrible wars currently holding most of the world's attention will end before January 2025. It also signals that the Moon-Neptune will be positive, happy hysteria more than morbid, fearful hysteria. Moon-Venus signals peace, public happiness, celebration, and nurturing protective acts. It anticipates alliances rather than antipathies. Paired with Moon-Neptune it suggests intense devotion to what one loves and a flourishing of the arts. When afflicted - as it will be in June and July - it signals periods of disillusionment, betrayed alliances, perceived offenses, and diplomatic embarrassment. (Fortunately, it is not afflicted most of the year.)


MEDIUM-TERM (The Bridge)
Through mid-July, overlapping Neptune and Sun zones dominate the news. Much of this surely refers to the election with drama and uncertainty surrounding the government in general and the president in general. There is an excellent chance that two U.S. presidents will be at the heart of this - the former and the current - both of which are subject to doubts, passion, and uncertain turns in the road. Furthermore, Sun-Neptune blends are broadly chaotic and disorienting. After 2/11, Jupiter joins this, bringing more optimism, an emerging bubble in the stock markets, and an increasing tendency to make decisions based on beliefs rather than facts. The most volatile times this month are the week Mars joins Sun, Jupiter, and Neptune, especially the three days that Mars doubles up (Feb 17-19). We can expect Mars conjunct Pluto to make for ferocious (perhaps militarized) emotions and actions centered on Valentine's Day: The tone will be that physical and psychological long-term stresses hit a breaking point.

• START-2/9 Neptune Mars Sun
• 2/10 Neptune Sun
• 2/11-2/15 Neptune Jupiter Sun
• 2/16-2/23 Neptune Jupiter Mars Sun [2/17-2/19 double Mars]
• 2/24-END Neptune Jupiter Sun

• Feb 14: Mars-Pluto conjunction
• Feb 27: Mars-Jupiter square
• Mar 1: CapQ Moon-Neptune conjunction exact

CAPLUNAR (Feb 8) Effective Feb 8-Mar 6
This is a loud, boisterous month - nothing tame about it. Uranus exactly sets square Sun on Nadir. Worldwide, Moon conjoins an exalted Mars. Sun-Uranus means intensified and highlighted Uranus themes especially centered on sudden, startling events that are psychologically (if not physically) explosive. Disclosures, revelations, and other sudden events centered on the president or other significant leader are especially common, though the aspect isn't that narrow. Unexpected, intentional, authoritarian actions are the centerpiece.

Moon-Mars adds volatility and aggression. Historically, ingresses with Moon exactly aspecting Mars in Capricorn have been significant for military escalations (and this aspect applies worldwide). Besides that possibility, it suggests the usual Mars litany of hurt, destruction, fire, bombs, blood, and violence, though (with Sun-Uranus) also of decisive, ingenious action.

Sun has mixed indicators: The Sun/Saturn midpoint is on IC (13' mundanely) while Sun squares a non-foreground Jupiter (1° mundanely). If strong executive action is taken, it will meet a mixed reception (though this possibility is not likely the point of this chart). Jupiter may mean judicial action. Sun/Saturn means that a solar figure is constrained, blocked, or made accountable.

ARILUNAR (Feb 14)
The Arilunar is dormant; but for Washington, the Moon-Mars aspect strengthens (mundanely, it is only 0°33' wide) while the world as a whole has a violent 0°01' Mars-Pluto conjunction. The 2° Moon-Venus does not give much comfort: Venus, Mars, and Pluto together commonly show war-leaning geopolitical confrontations. London, Moscow, Pyongyang (though Venus is stronger), parts of Japan, and Scandinavia are most obvious among the locations with Mars-Pluto angular. In the U.S.. Mars Pluto is on IC near the West Coast, including Sacramento specifically, and on Nadir on an arc from Los Angeles through Idaho.

CANLUNAR (Feb 21) Effective Feb 21-28
This is the best-feeling week of the month. We feel strong, prospering, and that we are doing good things. Jupiter and Venus are most angular, partile square MC and Asc, respectively. Nonetheless, Venus is still exactly conjunct Mars and less than 4° from Pluto in mundo. This is an active, assertive "doing good things," not a gentle "all is well and comfortable" time. War remains a heightened risk all four weeks of this Caplunar, perhaps especially during this week when the normally divided nation seems united in a sense of robust positive action.

LIBLUNAR (Feb 28) Effective Feb 28-Mar 6
From the month's best-feeling week, we switch to its worst. Sun, Mercury, and Saturn are squeezed within 0°18', in close conjunction with Midheaven. To the minute, Saturn is at the Su/Me midpoint, 0°09' from each. If nothing else, it means bad news for the president or the nation as a whole.

Sun-Mercury highlights Mercury themes like transportation and communication and usually guarantees front-page space and headlines. Sun-Saturn appears for primarily sad events, including the death or other restraint of national leaders; government gridlock or other lockdown that involves suppressive, restrictive, controlling; failing government; financial crisis; natural disasters; and other events mandating government oversight and control. Mercury-Saturn anticipates restrictions, delays, failures, or calamity relating to transportation, communication breakdowns from technical failures or because people simply stop listening to each other, and interrupted commerce. (Another logjam in Suez?)

In short, we expect something bad and sad. This may be connected to the war theme of the month. We especially could get some serious bad news about the president's health (or that of another national solar figure). We have to anticipate communication or transportation problems (surely a forced or accidental communication or data outage or two), and any of the specific events listed above.

If this were not enough, Uranus is due east on the prime vertical, meaning that Uranus is in an obscure mundane aspect to Sun-Mercury-Saturn on Midheaven. This reinforces the Sun-Uranus themes of the Caplunar (surprising, even revelatory events, perhaps connected to leading solar figures) but also increases the chance of transportation disasters, Mercury-Uranus being the most common aspect for air disasters in particular.

Sun-Mercury-Saturn is also angular in Southeast Asia and western Indonesia, through much of Africa, across France and Brussels, through Italy and Germany, and across the central U.S.

SIDEREAL LUNAR RETURN (Feb 14)
Effective Feb 13-Mar 12.
President Biden has an astrologically unusual month: Both his full Sidereal Lunar Return and the mid-month Demi-SLR have no planets near angles - neither natal nor transiting planets. By itself, this means nothing in particular. Though, by average, every return will have about four foreground planets, sometimes it just happens that there are none.

Yet so important is the lunar return that, rather than simply be a time when this one chart doesn't have something to say, especially in a portentous month for the country it seems to be saying he's not there in some sense. It could mean he's physically elsewhere (someplace where there are strong angularities). It could mean he's "not there" in some other sense, as for health reasons. It does not suggest he is present and engaged (if he is indeed in Washington during this time). With Sun, Jupiter, and Uranus deeply background, Washington is not a center of dignity and elevation for him this month. Nor does he have other outstanding astrological indications, other than a few briefly important Mars transits such as we all have every month (to his Moon 2/15, the most important of these; his Pluto 2/23; and his Mars 3/1).

Often the partile non-angular aspects have a stronger say in such a chart. His are mixed: Mars transits to his Moon (57') and Pluto (23') and Jupiter transits to his Pluto (35') and a mundane natal Jupiter-Neptune (17'). He is more likely to be at his best if somewhere other than Washington.

Vice President Harris concurrently has an active lunar return. Both Saturns are the two most angular planets. Transiting Sun and natal Mars, Uranus, and Pluto are also foreground. Her progressed Venus-Saturn square is exact this month. Something burdensome, sad, high impact, and dramatic and can be expected for her.

The First Lady's January 21 SLR has transiting Saturn exactly angular, partile square her Moon. Her February 17 SLR has a 0°09' Moon-Neptune square near angles aspecting natal Saturn mundo (the Neptune variously aspecting her Moon, Saturn, and Mars). She is deeply worried about something.

I think all of this means we should be concerned for Pres. Biden's physical well-being.

SIDEREAL DEMI-LUNAR RETURN (Feb 29)
Effective Feb 28-Mar 12.
As with the full SLR above, the Demi-SLR has nothing foreground. The above possibilities remain - perhaps it means nothing, or that he is elsewhere, or that he is ill. The U.S. forecast from the ingresses should be our guide: The Liblunar shows the week concurrent with this Demi-SLR is unusually hard in a way that may center directly on the president.

Just like the Liblunar, Biden's Demi-SLR has a close triple Sun-Mercury-Saturn conjunction, though background. All three square his natal Mercury-Saturn (ecliptically or mundanely). These are threatening aspects (and add that new information - some bad news - is tied to the affliction). Transiting Pluto is in partile orb of square his natal Moon. Mars squares his Pluto mundo. His natal Saturn and Neptune rotate in this return chart so that they form a half-degree mundane square. Every indication is troublesome at best, sad most likely, and possibly dire.

Vice President Harris has transiting Neptune and natal Pluto closest to angles. Her natal Venus-Pluto conjunction is the only foreground aspect. She is, at best, in extraordinary circumstances where the rules of reality seem to bend and rewrite around her. In the First Lady's March 3 Demi-SLR, the most angular planet is natal Neptune rising. The one foreground aspect is Pluto opposite natal Venus, though a little wide. She seems worried - anxious - most likely concerning possible loss of someone close to her.

This is complete. It wasn't a pleasant one to write... and we aren't even up to April yet.