Russia gains upper hand in war with Ukraine

 

(31 May 2022) As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth month, there are increasing signs that Russian forces have the advantage.  Ukrainian forces in Mariupol finally surrendered two weeks ago while Russia has made important advances in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in recent days.   While the Ukrainian army has been bolstered from weapons donated from various Western countries,  the much larger Russian army appears to be prevailing in the disputed eastern border provinces. 

The challenging military situation is bad news for Ukraine's President Zelenskiy who has become a popular symbol of resistance in the West.   As we can see in Zelenskiy's horoscope, the planetary outlook in the coming months looks difficult for him and Ukraine. 

As of April 2021, he is running the Moon-Jupiter dasha period.  This is a positive dasha combination since the Moon is well-placed in its own sign of Cancer in the 3rd house (efforts/action and it is powerfully aligned with several outer planets -- Pluto (power), Neptune (charisma) and Uranus (originality).  It is also conjunct the unequal 4th house cusp and opposite the 10th house cusp (MC). 

Taken together, these alignments infuse the Moon with much more strength and is one reason why Zelenskiy has become an international statesman and celebrity during 2022.  The Moon's wide conjunction with Mars (conflict, violence) is perhaps one reason why he has risen to fame during wartime.  Minor dasha lord Jupiter is also very favourably placed as it is close to the Ascendant in Gemini and forms a mutual reception and opposition aspect with Mercury in Sagittarius.

 

So far, so good. But the Moon-Jupiter period will give way to the much less auspicious Moon-Saturn period in August 2022.  Not only is Saturn a natural malefic, but it is closely aligned with Mercury (135 degrees) and Mars (30 degrees).  While these alignments are not full-strength Vedic aspects, they are close enough to their respective divisor angles that Saturn's period is more likely to bring suffering as a result.  Therefore, from the dasha periods alone we would expect his fortunes to deteriorate during Moon-Saturn from August 2022 until March 2024. 

The current transits add another layer to the analysis.  Saturn afflicts his 9th house of luck and foreign affairs while Neptune detracts from his 10th house of status and career.  This malefic alignment appears to be quite strong in his chart since it closely aligns with the Ascendant within just a few degrees.  This is largely a negative influence since the combined energies of Saturn and Neptune suggest weakness, loss and disappointment.  The situation is made more onerous since Saturn will station retrograde this Saturday, June 4 and begin its four-month long backwards journey through his 9th house.  That double whammy of the Saturn-Neptune influence will therefore remain close at hand throughout June at least.

Zelenskiy's situation will likely become much worse in the summer and early fall as Uranus, Rahu and Mars (24 Aries) will all line up and square his Moon in late July and early August while Saturn will station direct at 24 Capricorn in Sep-Oct exactly opposite his Moon.  Since his Moon-Saturn dasha period is scheduled to begin in August, it seems highly likely that Zelenskiy will face his toughest challenge yet. 

While it is possible that Ukraine may be able to avoid the worst of his karmic fallout, the fact that he is president suggests that Ukraine is likely to also suffer.  Overall, it is hard to see how Ukraine can defeat the Russian or even hold them to a stalemate that produces a negotiated peace.  If there is a peace agreement under these transits, the Ukraine is almost certain to lose a significant part of its territory.


Weekly Market Forecast

Despite a small pullback in Tuesday's session, US stocks remain in rebound mode from their recent lows.  As expected, last week's Mercury-Venus-Pluto alignment did coincide with some strong late week gains. 

This week looks less positive than last week though.  Not only is Saturn approaching its retrograde station on Saturday, June 4, but Mercury is also due to end its retrograde cycle and station direct on Friday, June 3.  This near-simultaneous stationing of two planets is quite unusual.  Moreover, Mercury and Saturn will form a fairly close square alignment, within one degree.  Mercury-Saturn aspects tend to be bearish anyway, but the double stations make that outcome more likely.  While I'm generally not as gloomy about the market as some analysts, it's harder to make a bullish case this week. 


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   In addition to reviewing the key planetary and technical influences on US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, I also provide an astrological analysis of potential upcoming moves in currencies, gold and oil.

Saturn-Neptune alignments signals monkeypox outbreak

(24 May 2022) Just as Covid winds down and begins to recede into memory, world health authorities are back on alert following an outbreak of the monkeypox virus.  Originating in Africa, the index case of the current outbreak was diagnosed in the UK in early May and has since spread to a dozen countries, primarily through male homosexual contact.  While the total number of cases is still very small at 200, the media machine is nonetheless whipping up fear as government officials closely track its spread.  Coincidentally(!), the WHO has been meeting in Geneva in recent days to discuss a proposed pandemic treaty to better coordinate the global response to these kinds of infectious diseases.

Perhaps not so coincidental was that this new viral threat has emerged just as Saturn forms an exact 30 degree alignment with Neptune.  Both Saturn and Neptune are associated with illness and disease, with Saturn as the traditional significator of illness, while Neptune is the modern planetary significator of sickness and weakness.  The period around their geometric alignments therefore make these kind of diseases more probable as their energies reinforce each other and become strong enough to breach the threshold of manifestation.  

While the 30 degree alignment is not a traditional Vedic aspect, I have found that all angular separations of any 30-degree multiple can manifest the significations of the planets, for good or ill.  The current Saturn-Neptune alignment is made all the more potent since Saturn is approaching its retrograde station on June 4.  Any planet near its station become more powerful, so the potential effect of this Saturn-Neptune alignment is amplified by the proximity of Saturn's imminent reversal of direction. 

The monkeypox outbreak could even be said to partially fulfill a prediction I made on December 29, 2021 in my New Year's astrological forecast.  At that time, I suggested that the Saturn-Neptune-Lunar Node alignment in April might coincide with some kind of pandemic-related setback, such as a new variant:

Overall, the 2022 New Year's chart looks challenging.  The strong Neptune influence here suggests pandemic concerns are likely to continue.  The April alignment of Saturn with Neptune and the Lunar Nodes looks like another possible setback in that respect, possibly signaling a new variant or perhaps new evidence of waning vaccine efficacy.

 

Instead of a new variant, it seems we have a whole new virus to worry about now.  Although I was off in my timing by a month, the key Saturn-Neptune alignment is still front and center.  Saturn was just one degree away from its exact alignment with Neptune in April, and now in May and throughout June, it will be just a few arc minutes away (one degree = 60 arc minutes) from the geometrically resonant 30 degree alignment. 

Today, for example, that difference is just 1 arc minute as Saturn is at 1 Aquarius 04 whereas Neptune sits at 1 Pisces 03, according to the sidereal zodiac, Krishnamurti ayanamsha.   Saturn will station retrograde on June 4 at 1 Aquarius 10 whereas Neptune will be at 1 Pisces 11 -- again just 1 arc minute of difference from that resonant 30 degree alignment.  The exactitude of the alignment is a bit concerning for possible disease impact, even if most health experts currently do not expect monkeypox to become a full-blown pandemic like Covid.  Let's hope its effects are more confined to the fear created by the media and governments rather than actual human sickness and suffering. 


Weekly Market Forecast

The Saturn-Neptune alignment is also one reason why sentiment has been so negative recently in the stock market.  This week US stocks are attempting to bounce after last Friday's low.  In last week's post, I wondered about the possible bearish effects of the Mercury-Mars-Pluto alignment early in the week and indeed we did see some selling today although buyers moved in and stocks finished well off their lows. 

Even though the shadows of Saturn and Neptune are hanging over the market, it is quite possible we could see some upside this week.  The Mercury-Venus alignment will be close on Wednesday and Thursday and argues for some upside on at least one of those days.   But next week's Saturn retrograde station still looks like an obstacle to be taken seriously.  Especially since Saturn will be square Mercury, which also happens to be stationing direct the day before, on Friday June 3.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   In addition to reviewing the key planetary and technical influences on US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, I also provide an astrological analysis of potential upcoming moves in currencies, gold and oil.

Photo Credit: Sergey Yeliseev

Stocks continue to struggle as the NYSE turns 230

(18 May 2022) Happy birthday, NYSE.  The venerable New York Stock Exchange was "born" 230 years ago yesterday.  On the morning of May 17, 1792, the founding document of the NYSE, the Buttonwood Agreement, was signed by twenty-four of the city's leading merchants on Wall Street.  The agreement established a formal set of rules to facilitate securities trading and thus created the legal framework that allowed the NYSE to grow into the largest stock exchange in the world.

While there is some uncertainty about the exact time of the signing of the document, the horoscope is most frequently cast for either 8.52 a.m. or 10.10 a.m.  The 8.52 a.m. chart arguably paints a more compelling picture of the historic success the NYSE due to its powerful 10th and 11th houses representing status and gains, respectively.   The 10th house of status and fame is strengthened by the presence of Venus and Saturn and the 1st lord Moon (28 Pisces) exactly receives the 8th house aspect of Mars (27 Leo), the lord of the 10th house.  Any such 1/10 combination are considered very auspicious for social status and prominence.

The 11th house is no less impressive as the 2nd lord of wealth, the Sun, is placed almost exactly on the cusp of the 11th house representing gains and income.  Benefic Mercury is also close by and further boosts the results of the 11th house.

Of course, the real value of the chart is that we can use it to make inferences about the rise and fall of stock prices based on the current movement of the planets.  As we know, markets have been declining throughout 2022 as the Fed has been forced to raise rates to combat surging inflation.  Higher interest rates means less consumer credit, less spending, lower corporate profits and lower stock prices.


As I have noted previously, stocks were likely to remain fairly volatile as long as Saturn (0 Aquarius) is in a close 30-degree alignment with Neptune (0 Pisces).  This is still very much the case this week, especially since Mars conjoined Neptune yesterday and today, and thereby served as a catalyst for the release of the bearish Saturn-Neptune energy.  While stocks rallied 2% yesterday, the main indexes slumped 4% today and are on the verge of testing their low from May 12.  But as Mars begins to move away from Neptune, negative sentiment may be less likely to manifest in the coming days. 

Looking at the transits in the context of the NYSE chart, we can see that Saturn is casting its full-strength 3rd house aspect (60-degree/sextile) to the Moon within just two degrees of orb.  Due to Saturn's low velocity ahead of its retrograde station at 1 Aquarius on June 4, Saturn has been afflicting the NYSE Moon for several weeks.  This is another factor that can explain the recent correction in stocks.

Looking ahead, the late week may be mixed, however.  While Mars separates from Neptune (that's bullish), it will cast its malefic aspect to natal Jupiter and align with Mercury and Pluto.  This is less constructive and could nullify some the positive effects of Mars separating from Neptune.  However, the alignment of transiting Mercury and the Sun with Jupiter looks more bullish and could set up a more positive end to the week.  This Sun-Mercury conjunction occurs very close to the natal Sun (6 Taurus) so that could increase its positive resonance somewhat. 

The planets early next week don't look great, however, as Mars aligns with Mercury and Pluto.   Since these three planets usually don't blend their energies very well, investors should be on guard for further weakness to start next week.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   In addition to reviewing the key planetary and technical influences on US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, I also provide an astrological analysis of potential upcoming moves in currencies, gold and oil.

Biden speech addresses inflation as Mercury turns retrograde

 (10 May 2022) As Democrats face the very real possibility of a shellacking in the upcoming November midterm elections, President Biden did his best to avoid taking responsibility for soaring inflation in today's speech from the White House.   Citing inflation's global scope, Biden instead focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Covid supply-chain interruptions as the primary causes  of the relentless rise in prices across the US. 

With the economic outlook deteriorating by the day, Biden had little choice but to shift blame elsewhere as his favorability ratings remain deeply in the red.  Given all the bad news, it's not surprising that the stock market is now venturing into bear market territory (i.e. -20%) as more analysts consider the possibility of a recession by the summer after the negative Q1 GDP print.

Beset with problems on all sides, Biden appears to be flailing here in the hope that something sticks.  Today's speech was a much-needed attempt to rally the nation but underlined the weakness of his political hand.  Perhaps not surprisingly, the speech coincided with the Mercury retrograde station.  As the planet of commerce and communication, Mercury's retrograde cycle is said to highlight times when persistent issues should be addressed and rectified.  It is the time to review and reevaluate past mistakes in order to arrive at more workable and sustainable solutions.

Mercury turned retrograde at 10 Taurus -- exactly on Biden's 7th house cusp.  The timing of the speech embodied the powerful angular Mercury placement opposite his Ascendant at 10 Scorpio.  But looking at the whole transit picture, we can see that this Mercury retrograde cycle (May 10-June 10) may not be kind to Biden.  For its part, Mercury forms a close 75-degree alignment with Mars in the first half of the week.  While 75 degrees is not a full-strength aspect, it is nonetheless a multiple of 15 degrees and thus a divisor of the circle and has the potential to coincide with problems and frustrations (Mars) with communication (Mercury). 

Also, we can see that the Saturn-Ketu square is still afflicting his chart.  Saturn (0 Aquarius) may have weakened somewhat as it has moved a bit past its square with natal Mercury (28 Libra), but Ketu remains closely conjunct.  The Ketu affliction to Mercury not only represents difficulties in communication, but it also reflects the weakness of the US economy since Mercury signifies commerce.  The current decline in the stock market can similarly be seen in terms of this double Mercury affliction from Ketu and Saturn.  Biden's troubles are more likely to diminish once Ketu moves past its conjunction with natal Mercury next week or the week after. 

But Biden may still be behind the eight-ball since Saturn will turn retrograde on June 4 and thus will once again form an exact square to Biden's Mercury.  This suggests more bad economic and financial developments are likely in the month of June. 

Similarly, we can see that the horoscope of the S&P 500 is afflicted this week by the Mercury Rx station and its alignment with Mars.  The additional problem here is that the Sun will conjoin Rahu later in the week (Friday?) and will highlight the Mars-Ketu conjunction at 28 degrees of Aries.  Whatever the immediate impact of tomorrow's CPI report, the planets later this week do not look positive for the stock market or the US economy. 

For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   In addition to reviewing the key planetary and technical influences on US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, I also provide an astrological analysis of potential upcoming moves in currencies, gold and oil.

Markets remain volatile ahead of Fed decision

 (2 May 2022) Investors are relieved to turn the calendar page this week after the carnage they endured in April.   Amid soaring inflation, slowing growth data and mediocre corporate earnings, US stocks fell on average 8% in April, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq falling 13%.   On the first trading day of May, volatility remained elevated as stocks initially fell to new lows below 4100 on the S&P 500 before an afternoon relief rally pushed stocks back into the green by the close.

As I've noted in previous posts, the April pullback was not unexpected as it coincided with some fairly strong Saturn influences.  Saturn formed a powerful square aspect with Ketu (South Lunar Node) throughout the month, as well as a 30-degree alignment with Jupiter and Neptune.   Saturn's bearish energy was also more likely to manifest during April since it changed signs last week as it exited sidereal Capricorn and entered the sign of Aquarius. 

While the Saturn-Ketu and Saturn-Jupiter alignments have now largely separated and weakened, there is likely some lingering Saturn influence in May as it remains in a near exact alignment with Neptune.  For the record, Saturn is due to form an exact 30-degree alignment with Neptune on May 17.  But because of the approaching Saturn retrograde station on June 4, the Saturn-Neptune alignment will stay fairly close into late June.  This doesn't mean that stocks will keep falling throughout that time, but it does mean that there is likely to be intermittent manifestations of this negative energy as long as the alignment is within, say, one degree of exactitude. 

This week all eyes are focused on the FOMC meeting on Wednesday as the Fed delivers its latest statement on monetary policy.  A 50-point hike is basically a given but the markets will be paying special attention to Powell's forward guidance and the possibility that he may moderate his hawkish stance.   If Powell acknowledges the deterioration in some of the economic indicators, it is possible markets will see that in a dovish light which would be more positive for stocks. 

The importance of Wednesday's meeting is reflected in the planetary alignments that day.  As if to highlight that intensity, there is an exact alignment of Mars, Sun and Uranus.  The Sun-Uranus suggests an intense and/or surprising situations that cause significant reactions.  The 60-degree alignment with Mars is an additional injection of energy into the mix.  FOMC days are usually quite volatile anyway, and this one may be even more so.  Sun-Uranus conjunctions tend to be bullish, but the inclusion of bearish Mars makes a positive outcome less reliable. And since the Sun-Uranus conjunction (20 Aries) aligns closely with the natal Saturn (22 Aries) in the Nasdaq horoscope, we have to take the downside risk more seriously. 

However, Mercury (9 Taurus) and Venus (8 Pisces) will also be in close alignment at this time and could offset some of the potential negativity.  And the bullish influence intensifies further since it will align with the Ascendant (8 Aries) and the Jupiter-Neptune alignment (9-10 Scorpio).   While it is possible these positive influences may not manifest exactly on Wednesday, they are nonetheless very much in the mix. 

Finally, we should note an additional complicating factor.  Not only is the Saturn-Neptune alignment an underlying bearish influence, but both of those planets are involved in a larger midpoint arrangement since the midpoint of Saturn and Uranus is conjunct the midpoint of Neptune and Chiron at 10 Pisces.  (Sa/Ur=Ne/Ch).  This is a few arc minutes past exact but still in very close proximity.  The complicating factor is the addition of the Sun when it conjoins Uranus on Wednesday and Thursday.  It is possible the Sun could act as a trigger to release more bearish energy from this midpoint pattern.  I would not put this in the category of a high probability bearish influence, but it nonetheless carries some hypothetical weight.  

Therefore, while there is some uncertainty around FOMC day, I do think the Mercury-Venus alignment offers a decent bullish set up for later in the week, especially if it isn't getting any traction on Wednesday. 


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   In addition to reviewing the key planetary and technical influences on US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, I also provide an astrological analysis of potential upcoming moves in currencies, gold and oil.

Photo Credit: Scott Beale

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