Trump and Putin: a very unusual relationship

(23 July 2018) The fallout is still ongoing from last week's Helsinki summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Trump was widely criticized from both sides of political aisle for siding with Putin in his denial of any Russian meddling in the 2016 US election despite the fact that every US law enforcement agency has concluded that Russia did engage in cyberattacks in the US election in an attempt to defeat Hillary Clinton and help elect Trump.

The resulting furor against Trump has again raised questions about why Trump would be so quick to defend Russia and Putin while dismissing his country's own security experts, and indeed most sitting members of his own party.  Many observers are now publicly discussing the possibility that Putin must have damaging information on Trump, the so-called kompromat, or embarrassing or blackmail-type information that makes the Russian asset easier to control.  These range from owing billions to Russian oligarchs to the infamous pee tape.

I doubt very much if astrology has the means to discover exactly what kind of dirt Putin has on Trump.  Let's leave that for Robert Mueller and the judgment of history.  But the nature of their relationship is something that can be examined astrologically through the combined Davison horoscope.  This technique offers insights on the relationship between two people by taking the half-way point in time between their births and casting a new chart.  This chart can then be analyzed for the nature of the relationship.  It may also offer predictive insights on future developments in the relationship. 

The combined Trump-Putin horoscope is therefore cast for 10.41 p.m GMT on 10 August 1949.  In addition to the well-established Trump time (14 June 1946 10.54 a.m.), I am using the more uncertain Putin birth time of 7 October 1952 9.30 a.m.  Looking at this chart we can see the themes of innovative behaviour that interrupts the status quo through the placement of Rahu (North Lunar Node) on the Ascendant in Pisces.  A strong Rahu is neither good nor bad but is more commonly found in the charts that emphasize breaking down barriers and tradition. 

Well, that may well be an apt description for Trump and Putin who are trying to undo NATO and end US global dominance as well as undermining the Western tradition of liberal democracy.  Of course, that may apply more to Putin than Trump but with Trump it's hard to know what his goals really are.  His only loyalty seems to be to himself and enhancing his own power.   If that involves weakening the Western powers and aiding the rise of authoritarian rule, so be it.

The theme of radical and coercive applications of power is seen through the 120-degree Rahu-Sun-Pluto alignment that is exact within one degree.  Sun-Rahu charts assert a new way of doing things and can often project their egos in unusual and sometimes hidden or deceptive ways.  The Sun symbolizes power and government while Rahu represents disruption, deception with an aim towards transformation. The Pluto dimension suggests manipulation and coercion without regards for rules.

The deception theme is also strongly implied by the exact Mars-Neptune 90-degree square that roughly aligns with the 1-7 axis.  Neptune is like Rahu in that sense, as it can distort intentions when it is in a negative angle with other planets as is the case here with Mars.

The other main placement worth noting is the Moon in the 12th house opposite Saturn.  The Moon in the 12th house suggests a hidden or behind-the-scenes quality to the relationship that can result in penalties or punishment in some way if the chart is afflicted.  This more negative reading of the Moon in 12th is due to the harmful influence of Saturn.  To me, this is confirming the secret nature of the relationship and one whose illegal means will eventually be revealed. 

These relationship charts also offer uncanny insights into timing.  The Helsinki summit took place on 16 July and we can see that Jupiter had just stationed at 19 Libra direct in a perfect trine, 120-degree aspect with the Moon and Mars in the natal chart.  This is typically a very positive Jupiter transit that reflects the coming to fruition of the relationship.  In other words, it seems likely that both Trump and Putin got what they wanted. 

Of course, transiting Neptune is also closely conjunct the 12th house Moon here and reflects the shady and perhaps imperceptible nature of the relationship at this time.  Neptune conjunctions can be favourable influences, although this is less likely here where the 12th house Moon is clearly damaged.  Neptune in conjunction with the Moon signifies delusion, deception and scandal.  Neptune moves slowly so the conjunction will persist through the rest of 2018 and into 2019 so the whole Trump-as-Russian asset theme is likely to go for a while.  But I guess we don't need astrology to know that.

And so what does the future hold for the Trump-Putin relationship?  It is quite possible it could escape careful scrutiny for a few more months but the chart comes under greatly increased stress in January.   At that time, Saturn will be in the 10th house and oppose Mars as well as casting its 3rd house/60 degree aspect to the Moon.  Saturn rules the 12th house of secrets and penalties, so its transit to the 10th house of power is more likely to expose some of the more nefarious characteristics of the Trump-Putin relationship. 

At the same time, Ketu (South Lunar Node) will be conjunct Jupiter in the 10th house.  This is usually a difficult transit that undermines the assumptions and philosophy of an individual.  Here I would interpret to mean that their way of working together is going to suffer a significant setback.  Saturn will then go on to station retrograde at the end of April almost exactly square the Ascendant and exactly quincunx the Sun.  Ketu and Pluto will also be there in close attendance.  This looks like the end of the relationship in its current form.  This is a very negative alignment that supports the notion that the hidden secrets of the Trump-Putin agreement will be exposed and most likely punished in some way.  This occurs right before the time that I had noted for a possible resignation or impeachment for Trump.  I thought that Trump is more likely to leave office sometime in the summer of 2019.  Perhaps this somewhat earlier affliction to the relationship chart in the spring offers a clue to a possible sequence of events where either Mueller or Putin pull the rug out on Trump first and then he is forced out in the summer. 

It seems incredible that The Trump Show will finally come to a merciful end but the planets do make a decent case for it.  We shall see how it all plays out.


Weekly Market Forecast

Stocks have been moving sideways over the past few sessions as Q2 earnings season has begun.  The Dow made an interim high last Wednesday at 25,215 but has been slipping ever since.  The BSE Sensex has fared better as it closed at a new all-time high today.  In my previous market forecast on 12 July, I had suggested that stocks could rise a bit further but would be more vulnerable to declines late last week and this week.  This has been only partially correct as the pullbacks in the US indexes have been very modest so far. 

Nonetheless, I did not expect too much downside just yet since the key alignments are not yet in place.  This week looks more vulnerable to declines since Friday's Full Moon and lunar eclipse will carry a lot of potentially bearish baggage from the Sun-Mars opposition.  This is a nasty pattern this is likely to coincide with one or two significant down days this week and possibly into next week.  We could still see higher prices tomorrow (Tuesday) since the Moon will not yet be in conjunction with Saturn.  In that respect, Wednesday looks worse.   While our attention may be mostly focused on this Friday's Full Moon, the Saturn-Mars-Uranus alignment will be in effect well into next week and so we could have a longer period of higher than normal volatility.

For more details, check out my weekly investor newsletter.  I cover US and Indian stock markets, as well as short, medium and long term trends in gold, oil, and major currencies.

US stocks hit new highs on New Moon

(12 July 2018) This year it's all about the Moon it seems.  Financial markets have been under significant pressure in 2018 from rising interest rates in the US and the imminent threat of Trump's trade wars.  But it has been the Moon that has had the final say.  Since the beginning of the stock market correction in January, stocks have risen and fallen in sync with the phases of the Moon. 

As I suggested in a previous post on the effect of the Full Moon, stocks have generally made significant lows around the time of the Full Moon.  Conversely, stocks have made interim highs right around the time of the New Moon.  This cycle has been more pronounced in US and European markets.  Since the lunar cycle lasts about 29-30 days, we have seen a repeating pattern of stocks rising for about two weeks into the New Moon and then falling into the Full Moon.

There has been solid statistical research on the effects of lunar phases on stock prices which bears out this pattern across many cases.  It is an empirical reality that cannot be easily dismissed, although the possibility of a self-fulfilling prophecy always exists.  But why it should be so pronounced and so obvious this year is harder to say.  I know that each time stocks pulled back around the Full Moon, there were also corresponding bearish planetary alignments.  The twin effects of the bearish Full Moon and different negative alignments likely exacerbated the usual lunar cycle.  Positive alignments have conversely tended to occur leading up to the time of New Moons.

And so we find ourselves on the eve of another New Moon tonight just before midnight EDT 12 July 2018.  Actually, this New Moon is also a partial solar eclipse so that could introduce some added tension to the mix. To be honest, I don't think that eclipses are all that bad.  While they have been traditionally regarded with dread and fear, their impact on financial markets is quite mixed.  Many eclipses have no effect at all, and some eclipses have been positively bullish for stock markets.  As a single variable, therefore, eclipses are not reliable predictors of any particular financial or political outcome.   Of course, not all eclipses are created equal.  Some solar eclipses -- and New Moons -- are more benefic than others due to the particular alignment of the other planets.  But that is a more detailed analysis best left for another day.

So will stocks swoon once again in the coming days after the New Moon?  I think it's quite likely.  Eventually, I would expect this lunar phase correlation will weaken with time but maybe not just yet.  The key co-factor is the other planetary alignments at the time of the New Moon.  As the chart below shows, there is a celestial tug of war of sorts between bullish Jupiter and Neptune and bearish Saturn and the North and South Lunar Nodes, Rahu and Ketu.  Jupiter just stationed direct on Tuesday and thus there was another reason for stocks to rise this week in addition to the approach of the bullish New Moon. And with Jupiter now slowing moving towards its 120 degree aspect with Neptune, there could be more optimistic  sentiment available to push stocks higher later this summer.  

However, the Saturn-Rahu/Ketu alignment is made worse by Mars.  Mars is retrograde and it is currently approaching its conjunction with the South Lunar Node, Ketu.  Weighing the respective effects of these off-setting energies is not straightforward but certainly we should acknowledge there is added risk in the days ahead.  And since we are now approaching the bearish Full Moon (and lunar eclipse) on July 27th , there is another reason to think that stocks will continue adhere to its pattern in the near term and tend to decline for the rest of this month.

So when might stocks start to fall?  Today saw the NASDAQ hit a new all-time high while the S&P 500 made an important new interim high.  As we can see from the price chart, the New Moon doesn't mark the exact days of interim highs.  In June, the New Moon occurred two days after the high while in May stocks made an interim high four days after the New Moon.  And April's New Moon occurred two days before the interim high for that month.

So there could be a grace period of a few days here before the next move lower begins.  I would nonetheless expect stocks to start to fall next week at some point.   For more details and possible market scenarios, check out my weekly investor newsletter.  I cover US and Indian stock markets, as well as short, medium and long term trends in gold, oil, and major currencies.

Born on the 4th of July: the year ahead for America

(4 July 2018) Many Americans are celebrating Independence Day today in an atmosphere of heightened anxiety and uncertainty.  While the Trump presidency has won its share of supporters who like his tough talk on trade, geopolitical isolationism, and anti-immigrant policies, most of the country still feels a mix of unease, fear and anger with the new direction of the country.   Trump seems determined on remaking the post-WW2 Pax Americana into a more unpredictable global regime where the US follows its narrower and more immediate self-interest regardless of the long-term consequences.

On this 4th of July, it is worthwhile to look at the Solar Return (SR) or Varshaphal horoscope for the USA to glimpse into possible trends for the year ahead.  While there is some dispute about the exact time (and even date in some cases) of the USA horoscope, I prefer the one timed for 6.30 pm on 4 July 1776 by Vedic astrologer James Kelleher.  I am not 100% certain this is the correct time, but there are a number of telling hits to the chart using past events which make it at least as plausible as any other time.  In that sense, it is a workable chart, if still a fallible one.

As we know, astrologers like to consult the birthday or Solar Return/Varshaphal chart of individuals or entities. The resulting chart can give indications for dominant themes for the next 12 months depending on how planets are oriented in the chart.  The birthday chart generally follows the same rules of interpretation as standard astrology, although adherents of the Tajika approach may beg to differ. 

If malefic planets like Saturn, Mars, the Lunar Nodes, Rahu and Ketu, are prominent in some way, then the year ahead is more likely to be challenging.  Progress may be slower than expected and setbacks and suffering are more likely if these malefic planets are negatively aligned with the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant.  Malefics in bad aspect with positive, benefic planets are also more likely to translate into difficult situations.  Conversely, if benefic planets like Venus, Mercury or Jupiter are more prominent in the chart, then the year is likely to be one characterized by rewards and happiness. 

N.B. The Solar Return chart for this year is actually dated for July 8 instead of the 4th due to the precession of the equinoxes.  In order to cast a chart for the exact same position of the Sun back in 1776, it is necessary to correct for the very slow movement of the solar system around the center of the galaxy.  This movement amounts to about one degree every 70 years.

2018 Solar Return

A quick look at this year's chart shows a couple of obvious problems.  Saturn is rising in the 1st house of the Self in Sagittarius while Mars conjoins Ketu in the 2nd house of finance and opposes the Mercury-Rahu conjunction.  Saturn in the 1st house suggests a year of pessimism and caution and the likelihood of intensifying national hand-wringing.  The negative Saturn influence suggests a continued souring of the national mood and the risk of major setbacks, economic, diplomatic and military. 

With Saturn in the legal sign of Sagittarius, we could expect more pessimism surrounding the legal process, the rule of law and thus the Mueller investigation.  Since Saturn in Sagittarius effectively pushes legal matters to the forefront, we are likely to see growing concern from these contentious areas including Trump's Supreme Court appointment, the laws surrounding immigration and border protection and possibly even the legal status of the President within the US Constitution.

But the good news is that legal institutions still look strong and may well rise to the occasion despite the currently chaotic state of affairs.  Jupiter is the planet of law, and it is in a very harmonious Grand Trine alignment with the Sun and Neptune.  The Sun represents the executive branch (President) and the government more generally while Neptune here should be seen as embodying higher principles of law, including its predominance over the wishes of any single individual. 

Therefore, I take this positive pattern as a hint that the US government will remain intact and legitimate for the next 12 months. Its institutions are likely to remain vigilant against any encroachment or attempted corruption by the Trump administration.  It also speaks to the outcome of the Mueller investigation.  The "witch hunt" label so often tossed around by right wing partisans will likely be seen as merely self-interested Trumpian bluster.  It seems likely that significant criminal charges will be laid in the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. 

To be sure, other interpretations of this Sun-Jupiter-Neptune pattern are possible as the strength of the Sun with Jupiter could reflect on Trump himself as his standing may improve.  However, the afflictions in Trump's personal horoscope look bad enough that I don't think this is a likely development over the next year.  The strong Sun-Jupiter in this chart is more of a reflection of Mueller than Trump in my view.


Economy

Economic and financial matters are likely to be an increasing source of worry during the next 12 months as the Mars-Ketu conjunction in the 2nd house could correspond with declines in national wealth.  Both Mars and Ketu are quick-acting and disruptive planets, so we could see economic fortunes deteriorate suddenly.  Trump's trade war is only in its initial "negotiating" phase, but this placement suggests it is likely to get worse before it gets better.  I would expect the rising tariffs on imports and loss of export markets for US goods to eventually reduce economic growth. 

Stock markets are unlikely to escape the fallout as 2018 looks increasingly like a lost year.  Previously, I had written that stock markets looked volatile and very choppy but might be able to avoid significant damage over the next year.  But this SR chart looks more negative for investing, so I would think a negative performance for markets is now more likely over the next 12 months.   

We can compare this SR chart with the SR chart for July 4, 2007 at the start of the financial meltdown.   Here again we see the 2nd house of wealth and assets afflicted by the Moon-Mars conjunction in Aries.  Mars is the key factor here as it usually makes outcomes worse for the matters related to the house it occupies.  Since Mars is with Ketu in the 2018 chart, there is a real risk that we could not only falling stock markets (N.B. the markets peaked in Oct 2007 and fell for the next 18 months) but that the US is more likely to suffer from slowing economic growth during the next year.  A recession (i.e. negative economic growth) is a likelihood in 2019 and 2020. 


Trump and the summer of 2019

While the 2018 Solar Return chart has more than its fair share of problems, the 2019 Solar Return chart looks much worse.  The Saturn-Ketu conjunction opposes the natal Sun within just a couple degrees while the Moon (people) forms a T-square.   This symbolizes stress to leaders and possible changes in government that will create an ugly national mood.  If Trump is going to leave the presidency, this July 2019 to July 2020 is the most likely time window when it could happen.  I tend to think the summer of 2019 is the most likely time when Trump will leave office.  A forced resignation is the most likely scenario given these terrible alignments.  The Mars-Mercury conjunction square to Uranus suggests deepening economic hardship leading up to the next General Election in 2020.

Weekly Market Forecast

The stock market suffered another decline last week given ongoing concerns about a deepening trade war with China.  The Dow touched as low as 24,000 last week before rebounding slightly early this week.  India's Sensex also briefly dipped below 34,000 last week before recovering somewhat this week.  This bearish outcome was very much in keeping with last week's market forecast as I thought Thursday the 27th's Full Moon would likely correlate with more downside.  The periods around Full Moons are often bearish, and this one was particularly negative given the close conjunction of bearish Saturn. 

Well, now that we are moving towards a theoretically more bullish New Moon on 12th July, will the market resume its upward climb?  I think that's likely but the gains may be more muted and unpredictable than previous New Moons.  The rallies into the New Moons on June 13 and May 15, for example, were fairly strong (4-6%) and were more or less one-way up trends.  The current period looks more mixed and suggests that the road higher could have some detours. 

One problem now is that Mars is retrograde and will align with Saturn and the Lunar Nodes, Rahu and Ketu towards the end of July.  As a rule, the more malefic planets involved in an alignment, the higher the probability of a down market.   Mars is already just three degrees away from an alignment although I suspect it will have to move a bit closer to produce any major selling.  Moreover, the next Full Moon will actually be a Lunar Eclipse on July 27th.  With both Mars and Saturn in the mix with this eclipse, it seems likely that this bearish Full Moon pattern will continue. 

Tomorrow's (Thursday, July 5) Mercury-Mars opposition looks bearish, especially in the morning although we could see some gains later in the day and on Friday as the Sun will be aspected by Jupiter. 

Next week looks a bit more positive as Jupiter ends its retrograde cycle on Tuesday the 10th and resumes forward motion.  Mercury will align with Jupiter in the early part of the week so that bodes well for positive sentiment, at least for a couple of days. 

For more details and analysis on market trends for this week, this month and this year, please check out my weekly MVA Investor Newsletter.  The newsletter is published every Saturday and includes extended discussion of US and Indian stock markets, as well as gold, oil and major currencies.