Lunar eclipse marks US Covid chaos

(30 June 2020) It's all too appropriate for 2020: a lunar eclipse that takes place just minutes after America's July 4th Independence Day celebrations.  The world's only superpower, the United States, finds itself in an unfamiliar state of chaotic disrepair as a result of an incoherent response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The lack of any coordinated government response has seen infections rise once again following the premature and haphazard reopening after the Memorial Day holiday in late May.   The recent anti-racism protests and riots also haven't helped matters as many states now report worsening numbers, largely among young people.  Southern states are now having to reverse their reopening in an effort of gain control of the new outbreak.

Of course, astrologers know that eclipses are traditionally seen as celestial events that mark times of uncertainty, disruption and chaos.  It is therefore perhaps not surprising that Sunday's lunar eclipse will occur just a day after the US national holiday.  It is almost as if the stars are declaring that all is not well in the 'land of the free' and that the universe has yet to decide what course it will set for the future. 

As the Mercury retrograde cycle continues, it seems likely that the US will be unable to gain the upper hand in the fight against the coronavirus in the near term.  In last week's post, I suggested that the end of the Mercury retrograde cycle on July 12 could be just the first step towards getting a better handle on the virus. 

In terms of financial markets, last week's decline was not too surprising as Mars was aligned with Saturn and the Lunar Nodes, Rahu and Ketu.  That said, I thought we might have seen some upside late in the week with the culmination of the Venus retrograde cycle, although we did get one up day on Thursday.  Friday's decline coincided with the Mars alignment with the June 21 solar eclipse point at 6 Gemini.

So far this week, we have seen stock markets rally as Jupiter conjoined Pluto in the first degree of sidereal Capricorn.  This was in keeping with the forecast outlined in my newsletter since Jupiter alignments with outer planets like Pluto tend to coincide with rallies.  This was perhaps even more likely since the Sun conjoined Mercury today (Tuesday). 

The rest of this week is perhaps somewhat less bullish, although not really bearish either.  Jupiter has moved past Pluto while the Sun has moved past Mercury.  This suggests diminishing positive sentiment for the rest of the week.  At the same time, I would not be surprised to see further gains, if only due to upward momentum. 

After the lunar eclipse just after midnight on Sunday, July 5, I would expect sentiment to turn more bearish.  In addition to the post-eclipse uncertainty, irascible Mars will aspect Mercury, the planet of commerce, in the first half of next week.  This is a bearish combination that seems more likely to see stocks decline.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.


Photo: CSPAN.org

US sees surge of new Covid cases

(23 June 2020) The coronavirus continues to occupy center stage in our lives here in mid-2020.  Most countries remain in some state of lockdown along with suppression measures like mask-wearing or social distancing.  For the most part, the successful efforts of past two months have at least significantly reduced the number of infections to the point were reopening is now considered fairly safe.

But the picture is less encouraging in the US.  While some states started to reopen at six weeks ago, infection levels are still stubbornly high and have not followed the steeper declines seen in Europe and Asia.  Moreover, several southern US states have seen a significant rise in cases in recent days.  This is not only includes infections which could be an artifact of wider testing but hospitalizations and deaths as well.  This is a clear indication that the virus is still not under control in places like California, Texas, Arizona and Florida. 

In a previous post, I thought there was a very real chance for a second and third wave of Covid-19.  However, I didn't give proper attention to the possibility that the current first wave would remain a problem for this long.  The afflictions in President's Trump's horoscope pointed towards the possibility of a second and third wave in the fall and around the time of the New Year.  Trump's chart is still under heavy affliction as Saturn (6 Capricorn) sits atop of his 6th house of health and illness.  As a rule, Saturn makes most things worse.

If we look at the Inauguration horoscope for the Trump presidency, we can see how current planetary alignments may well be prolonging the first wave of Covid.  The Inauguration chart (Jan 20, 2017 12.00 p.m.) symbolically represents the key events and conditions in the US over the course of the president's four-year term.  For health matters, we should analyze the condition of the Sun (vitality), the 1st house and its ruler, Mars (the nation as a whole), the 6th house which contains the sign of Virgo (health), and its ruler Mercury. 

Clearly, Saturn (6 Capricorn) has recently stationed and turned retrograde and remains conjunct the Sun.  This is a reflection of the general weakness of national vitality and presidential leadership in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Lagnesh (1st house ruler) Mars was just recently conjunct with its natal position at 0 Pisces.  This excessive Mars energy likely reflects the negative outcomes of Covid disease as well as high level of tensions and anger surrounding the violent race protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.  The theme of emotional upset and volatility is also seen by the opposition of Uranus (15 Aries) to the Moon (15 Libra). The Moon symbolizes the nation's emotion state while Uranus represents the desire for freedom and the breaking of traditional bonds.  That is very much the case in these protests against Confederate monuments which have links with the slave era.  This Moon-Uranus aspect therefore describes the unpredictable and somewhat irrational behavior that seems to be taking hold in the US this summer.  

But the worry over the recent resurgence in cases largely corresponds with the start of the Mercury retrograde cycle last week.  Mercury is an important planet for the nation's health since its ruler, Virgo, is placed in the 6th house of health.  Whenever transiting or natal Mercury is weakened, then the nation's well-being is more likely to be compromised.  The retrograde condition of the 6th house ruler, Mercury, is one such planetary weakness.  For this reason, the worrying rise of infections in the Southern states may well be connected to Mercury's current retrograde cycle. 

Looking ahead, we could see a peak of this latest surge sometime in early July.  At that time, Mercury will conclude its retrograde cycle and station direct in exact opposition to its natal position at 12 Sagittarius.  The affliction will be likely be magnified due to the square aspect from Mars (12 Pisces) around July 8.  Therefore, US may have to endure this first wave setback a while longer, at least until Mercury separates from Mars and returns to direct motion (July 12).  


Weekly Market Forecast

Stocks have been moving sideways in recent days as Federal Reserve stimulus attempts to neutralize the economic fallout of rising unemployment rolls.  As expected, last Thursday's Mercury retrograde station did see some pullback in US markets.   This week has been more positive, however, although last night's 'Navarro flash crash' in the Futures underlined the vulnerability of the market to bad news. 

The planets this week seem more difficult.  Sunday's solar eclipse has so far been a non-event although transiting Mars will activate the eclipse point  (6 Gemini) this Saturday by square aspect.  According to astrological theory, eclipses release their energy -- for good or ill -- when they are aspected by another planet.  The Mars aspect here suggests a more negative outcome.  Moreover, we can see that Mars will form an alignment with the Lunar Node (Rahu) and bearish Saturn for the rest of the week.  But the late week offers a hint of redemption as Venus ends its retrograde cycle and aligns with the Sun.  Venus-Sun alignments have a positive bias, although that could be partially offset by the negative Mars influence.  I would expect an eventful week regardless.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.


Photo of Anthony Fauci: CSPAN.org

Stocks rally ahead of Thursday's Mercury retrograde station

(16 June 2020) Well, this is the last thing we need.  With all that is going on in the world these days, Mercury is due to turn retrograde just after midnight (EDT) on Thursday morning, June 18.  Three or four times a year, Mercury undertakes an apparent backwards journey in the night sky for a period of approximately 21 days.  The solar system's fastest planet isn't actually going backwards, of course, but only appears that way because of its different orbital speed from Earth.  Astrologers believe that Mercury retrograde periods are marked by misunderstandings, technical breakdowns, frustrations and delays.  

While Mercury retrograde periods can very often coincide with these kinds of problems, it is important not to exaggerate its importance in our daily lives.  Many people may be unaffected by the retrograde cycle, especially if the Mercury retrograde cycle does not activate any key planets in their natal horoscope.  On Thursday, Mercury will station retrograde at 20 degrees of sidereal Gemini.  If a person was born with, say, Jupiter near that point, then the Mercury retrograde station will likely be very positive and could manifest as good career news.  Conversely, if someone was born with Saturn near 20 Gemini, then this week's Mercury retrograde station is more likely to bring frustrations and setbacks related to Mercury's symbolic portfolio of commerce, computers and travel.  

Mercury will conclude its retrograde cycle at 11 Gemini on July 12.  Individuals with malefic planets like Saturn and Mars in that middle range of 11-20 degrees of Gemini, or perhaps in the opposite sign of Sagittarius, are therefore more likely to experience the classic sorts of Mercury retrograde hassles.  Other specific elements of the individual horoscope may also form positive or negative aspect with Mercury as it moves through its retrograde cycle.

In that sense, we should think about Mercury retrograde as having a stronger impact for good or ill, largely because it is moving more slowly than usual.  As a rule, the slower the planet, the stronger its impact.  That's why the time around the retrograde and direct stations are the most powerful.  When Mercury is stationary it can form an aspect with another planet for a much longer time than it ordinarily would. 


Mercury retrograde and the stock market

Nonetheless, retrograde Mercury's bad reputation is not all myth.  We can see how it manifests on our collective consciousness through its effects on the stock market.  If nothing else, the stock market is a barometer for collective human sentiment at any given time.  From my experience, Mercury retrograde cycles do have some modest correlations with down markets.  But there are two important conditions that should be noted.  First, the 3-4 days around the time of the stations (i.e. the reversal of direction) is usually the most important for markets.  Markets are not more or less likely to fall during the entire 21-day retrograde cycle.  Second, while Mercury retrograde stations may be somewhat bearish, it also matters a great deal what planets it aligns with at the time of the retrograde and direct stations. 

At the time of the last Mercury Rx station on Feb 17, 2020, Mercury formed a minor 45 degree angle with Saturn and was aspected by Rahu.  Both planets are malefics and thus stocks fell slightly on the day after the retrograde station and fell further three days after the station.  The retrograde cycle ended on March 9, 2020 as Mercury aligned closely with malefic Saturn.   Not surprisingly, this was also a bearish influence as stocks were in the midst of their Covid-19 waterfall decline. 

The previous Mercury retrograde station occurred on Oct 31, 2019.  Stocks did indeed also fall that day but rebounded the following day and continued higher thereafter.  One reason may have been that Mercury was conjunct bullish Venus at the time of the Rx station so that mitigated much of the inherent negativity of the Mercury retrograde station.  The lesson here is that not all Mercury retrograde periods are created equal.  While there seems to be a general bearish bias to them, the negative effects can be quite minor and short-lived, sometimes just one day or even less.  But if Mercury is heavily afflicted by malefic planets at the time of its retrograde or direct station, then the down move could be more significant. 

Weekly Market Forecast

This week's retrograde station looks more negative in that respect.  While Mercury turns retrograde in its own sign of Gemini (that's usually a plus actually), it will form a tense minor aspect with Saturn.  This is not a full-strength aspect so the effect may not be too strong, but it is not helpful.   Moreover, it forms the same minor 165-degree aspect with Ketu (South Lunar Node).  Significantly, the midpoint of Saturn and Ketu will be exactly opposite Mercury on Thursday and Friday.  

Another potential negative in the mix this week is that Mars will change signs on Thursday-Friday and enter Pisces.  Mars sign ingresses sometimes coincide with increases in volatility, although by itself the effect is limited.  This week, however, we will also have Mercury turning retrograde while in an unusual alignment with Saturn and Ketu.  This loads the cosmic dice in favour of some negative sentiment which could see stocks reverse lower. 

The upcoming solar eclipse this coming Sunday also has some interesting alignments that would suggest a more pessimistic mood.  The Sun-Moon conjunction of the eclipse forms a 150-degree angle with Saturn.  In the Navamsha D-9 chart, Saturn squares both the Sun and Moon.  This suggests disappointment and setbacks are more likely over the weekend which could further negatively impact sentiment going into next week.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.


Photo Credit: NASA

Understanding the Covid stock market recovery

(9 June 2020) Looking at the stock market, it's hard to believe we are even in a recession with double-digit unemployment.  And yet the last two months has seen the stock market stage a remarkable recovery following the initial pandemic shock .  After crashing more than 30% in March due to the coronavirus lockdowns, US stocks have rallied strongly with the major indexes regaining 75% of their previous losses.  Certainly, the actions of the Federal Reserve have been pivotal as trillions of dollars of QE asset purchases and overnight repos have pushed money into the higher risk assets such as the stock market. 

With the number of Covid cases now sharply falling in many countries around the world, there is legitimate hope that the worst could be over and life and the economy can return to normal.  To be sure, this is still very much a glass half-full view since a second wave of infections is still very possible.  And even if there is no second wave, it is unclear when suppression measures like social distancing and mask-wearing can end.   But can the economy and the stock market fully regain their previous levels if the virus remains a threat?

An astrological analysis provides another perspective on these questions.  While the recent gyrations of the stock market can be seen through various planetary phenomena, it is useful to look at the horoscope of the New York Stock Exchange (May 17, 1792).  The huge sell-off saw a major low in stocks on March 23.  This low coincided with a bearish conjunction of Mars and Pluto, two malefic planets symbolizing tension and anxiety.   At that time, Saturn, the most bearish planet, formed a close 120 degree angle with the Sun at 6 Taurus.  Moreover, Saturn was just one degree from its retrograde station in May, hence it had a magnified effect on the Sun in the NYSE chart. 

 

At the same time, Jupiter (29 Sagittarius) was approaching its bullish conjunction with Pluto (0 Capricorn).  This was a hint that a recovery was on the way.  But more important was that both these planets were moving towards a 120 angle with natal Mercury (2 Taurus) in the NYSE.  Jupiter-Mercury aspects are usually quite bullish.  This was another clue that a significant recovery would be forthcoming following the March low. 

So while the bearish Saturn influence waned as it moved past its exact aspect with the Sun, the bullish Jupiter influence grew as it aligned very closely with natal Mercury.  Jupiter then stationed retrograde in mid-May at 3 Capricorn.  Over the past four weeks it has again formed a close 120 degree aspect with Mercury.  Currently, it sits at 2 Capricorn and thus the positive 120 angle is still in effect as the market is at post-Covid highs.

However, over the next week, Jupiter will move to 1 Capricorn which will put it past its exact alignment with Mercury.  As a rule of thumb, alignments that have moved past exact tend to be weaker.  This suggests that the bullish energy in the NYSE chart is more likely to diminish in the coming days. 

In addition, retrograde Saturn will move back to 6 Capricorn and thus will re-create its exact bearish angle with the Sun.  So that could be a double whammy for market sentiment.  Less bullish Jupiter and more bearish Saturn. 

Overall, it suggests that the market is ripe for some kind of pullback in the next few weeks.


Weekly Market Forecast

Stocks have continued to be generally strong in recent days, despite last Friday's difficult lunar eclipse. This week has been less positive, as today's session saw some significant selling. 

I would expect more downside this week, especially after Wednesday's Fed meeting.  The key alignment is the Mars-Neptune conjunction.  This sets up directly opposite the natal Mars in the NYSE chart.  Friday's Mars-Neptune alignment with the Moon seems more vulnerable to declines in that respect. 


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil. 

Anti-racism protests spread across the US

(2 June 2020) "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."  The events of recent days have highlighted the inherently messy nature of the US political system as ongoing anti-racist protests have often descended into chaotic rioting and looting in many cities across the country.   The protests began following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American, while in police custody in Minneapolis last week. 

The civil unrest has forced many cities to impose curfews and call out the National Guard.  President Donald Trump has encouraged governors and mayors to get tougher on the protests but so far the mostly-Democratic controlled cities have been reluctant to come down too hard for fear of making matters worse.  Trump has threatened to use regular army troops to quell the unrest but so far it remains only a threat.  But the protests enjoy a fairly broad public sympathy so what began as an anti-racism protest may be morphing into a wider protest movement against the Trump presidency. 

The astrological signature for the current unrest is clearly seen in the Mars-Sun-Venus alignment.  In recent days, we have seen an unusual pattern whereby Mars, the malefic planet of aggression and conflict, is aspecting both the Sun and Venus in Taurus.  The Sun (government, authority) and Venus (harmony, comity) also happen to be conjunct at this time, thus the Mars aspect damages them both simultaneously.  Both the government and the police are coming under intense scrutiny at this time and all notions of Venusian harmony are in short supply. 

The reason the impact of this pattern is focused in the US at this time is perhaps because of significant afflictions in the Inauguration horoscope of Donald Trump (Jan 20, 2017).  The Inauguration chart has an Ascendant (Lagnesh) of 20 Aries so the Mars-Sun-Venus alignment is activating that degree by hitting the cusps of the 11th (friendship, ambition) and 2nd houses (security, fixed assets) with Mars also aspecting the 5th (youth, recreation) and 6th house cusps (open enemies, illness).  This is a very apt planetary configuration for conflict and national outrage that is being driven mostly by young people. 

And we should remember that Saturn (7 Capricorn) is still very much in conjunction with the Sun (6 Capricorn) and underscores how beleaguered the Trump White House is at this time.  The Sun represents Trump in this chart and the ongoing Saturn conjunction reflects the barrage of criticism toward him and his inability to get the upper hand in this matter. 

The protests are likely to continue in some form over the coming days as Mars will move towards its conjunction with its natal position at 0 Pisces on June 18.  This looks like an intensifying of the current crisis, perhaps including a more explicit military development.   

Interestingly, the likelihood of the protests continuing is also seen in Trump's personal horoscope.  The Saturn influence is still in effect here as it sits on his 6th house cusp indicating blockages and a defensive posture against open enemies.  But look at the ongoing Sun-Mars square in transit.  It will set up against his Sun-Rahu-Uranus-Ketu-Moon alignment (yes, he was born on a lunar eclipse) from about June 11 to June 15, very close to the date of his next birthday. 

So while the Mars-Sun-Venus alignment will only remain close at hand for a couple more days, Mars will continue to aspect the Sun for several more days after that.  This will keep energy and aggressive tendencies higher than normal.  And since the Mars-Sun square will activate both Trump's chart and the Inauguration chart, it seems likely that the protests, chaos and rioting could continue for a while yet. 



Weekly Market Forecast

Despite the domestic turmoil in the US, markets have generally moved higher over the past week as the focus remains on the post-lockdown reopening.  I thought we might have some downside from last week's Mercury-Rahu conjunction and the increased Mars influence this week but this has yet to manifest. 

This week could still see some downside given this ongoing Mars influence.  However, I would think that Friday's lunar eclipse is perhaps a better candidate for some selling.  Mars will form a double square (or T-square) configuration with the Sun, Moon and Venus.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.