(24 March 2019)
They don't call Jupiter the Great Benefic for nothing. Just ask
President Donald Trump. Today, US Special Counsel Robert Mueller
finally handed down his report into the possible conspiracy between the
Russian government and Trump campaign during the 2016 election.
Mueller found that there was no evidence for a conspiracy although he
did not exonerate Trump for possible obstruction of justice charges.
While the full details of the report are not yet known, the initial
impact has been positive for Trump and his beleaguered administration. While I still expect the other shoe to drop for the Trump administration later this year, I was not surprised by this finding. Trump's horoscope is looking pretty good these days, mostly due to the favourable placement of transiting Jupiter. Jupiter (29 Scorpio) is slowing down now ahead of its retrograde station on April 10. It is in close conjunction with his Moon (28 Scorpio) and also activates his Sun (29 Taurus) by opposition. So this Jupiter transit was doubly positive for Trump since it aligned with both the Moon and Sun. And with the upcoming station so close at hand at 0 Sagittarius, the transit was more likely to coincide with significant developments that would elevate his status and power. The conjunction of Mars (1 Taurus) with his Midheaven (10th house cusp) was a very appropriate accent on the events of the day as Mars/10th house transits are often positive.
So is that it? Is Trump now free and clear? I don't think so. The summer still looks like his most difficult period as the protective effects of Jupiter diminish as it moves into the background in his chart. Saturn will become more dominant once again as it will align with his Ascendant for several months around the time of its direct station.
Trump may well fall back into the soup later this week when Mars squares its natal position on Wednesday and Thursday. Interestingly, Mercury will end its retrograde cycle at the same time in an unusual conjunction with Neptune. This will align with Trump's Ascendant and could coincide with some deception or confusion regarding communication. Mercury-Neptune conjunctions are notorious for situations of confusion and deception and the particular placement of this conjunction at 22 Aquarius makes me think that Trump will suffer in some way. New evidence against him may well come to light.
Any new developments this week are unlikely to completely undo the feeling of relief in the Trump camp but it could well indicate that the other investigations by the SDNY and the House of Representatives will get new life. Whatever happens, I would expect his situation to significantly worsen by June. His next solar return chart (June 14 2019) is extremely tense and suggests that his job may well be at stake. As astrology teaches us, what Jupiter gives Saturn can take away.
Weekly Market Forecast
Jupiter's entry into Sagittarius could also help the stock market this week. Stocks looked shaky last week following a fairly downbeat Fed statement on Wednesday. While Jay Powell promised no more rate hikes in 2019, his more pessimistic tone about the US economy caught some investors off-guard. The fragile state of the economy suggests the low rate environment will remain in place indefinitely and a rate cut could happen as soon as June.
Jupiter enters sidereal Sagittarius on Wednesday according to the Krishnamurti ayanamsha (Friday according to Lahiri) so I would expect some upside this week. Tuesday's Moon-Jupiter conjunction may be the most bullish day on paper in that respect. Venus aligns with Uranus and Chiron on Wednesday so that may also provide a boost to sentiment. The late week Mercury-Neptune conjunction is more of a question mark, however. If stocks are up by Wednesday, then that might translate into some profit taking later in the week. At this point, next week also looks somewhat more bearish as Mars aligns with Uranus and Chiron while Mercury is aspected by Saturn. Gains may therefore be short-lived.
The end of this impressive post-Christmas rally may be getting rather close now. Jupiter turns retrograde in early April (on April 10th) so that could prove to be significant. I would not expect a reversal exactly on that date, however, but rather look as the month as a whole as having a higher potential for a change in the up trend.
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