Europe's energy crisis deepens as Russia halts gas flow

(31 August 2022) The crisis in Europe only seems to go from bad to worse.  Russia's invasion of Ukraine initiated a cascade of events that has resulted in an unprecedented energy crisis in Europe.  The February invasion prompted Western countries to impose strict sanctions on Russia, including the banning of Russian oil and gas upon which Europe was almost wholly dependent.  The sanctions have led to severe shortages and sky-high prices as governments have enforced austere restrictions on its populations.  This week Russia upped the stakes again as it halted all flows of gas through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline, ostensibly for pipeline maintenance.  However, it is unclear if Russia will resume the gas flows on Saturday, September 3 as scheduled.  

The shortages have led to crippling five- to ten-fold price increases for both business and consumers and threaten the proper functioning of the European economy.  And with winter not far off, some governments are worried that there won't be enough energy to heat homes and keep plants running.  Whatever the military and geopolitical implications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this energy crisis has the potential to completely devastate Europe's economy.  Will Europe be able to avoid a cold, bleak winter?

The horoscope of the European Union (Nov 1, 1993) offers some insight on this question.   We can see the multiple afflictions to the EU chart at the time of the invasion in February.  Not surprisingly, malefics Saturn and the Lunar Nodes, Rahu and Ketu are very prominent in the chart at that time.  From its placement in the 7th house, Saturn 24 (Capricorn) was approaching its Saturn return and was within one degree of opposing the Ascendant (23 Cancer), which underlined the oppressive and unwanted nature of the invasion.  Since the 7th house symbolizes partners (both business and marital), Saturn's transit to the 7th house cusp represented a major setback with Russia, Europe's energy exporter and partner. 

The nodal transit to the complex alignment of Mars-Pluto-Moon reflected the sudden and explosive nature of the invasion.  Typically, transits of Rahu and Ketu to Mars are synonymous with violent or unsettled situations, and even more so when they simultaneously align with the Moon (population, emotions) and Pluto (power, coercion).   The fact that these transits occur with important chart points is a very big reason why Europe suddenly fell into its worst crisis since World War Two.

It is also worth noting that the EU horoscope was running the very difficult Rahu-Saturn dasha at the time.  Dasha lord Rahu is conjunct Mars and Pluto thus reflecting the greater likelihood of intense, coercive situations while Saturn is in a very close 90-degree alignment with Mars, Pluto and the Moon.  Saturn's minor dasha period therefore was more likely to feature hardship and war due to its nasty alignment with those three tense planets.

The transits for this week's pipeline shutdown also show significant affliction.  After stationing retrograde in June at 1 Aquarius, Saturn is now on its way back to exactly opposing the Ascendant, just two degrees from its position in February at 24 Capricorn.   Saturn (26 Capricorn) exactly squares Mercury (26 Libra) in the 4th house and reflects the current economic disruption in Europe.  The transit path of Saturn here was especially destructive.  After opposing the Ascendant at the time of invasion, it stationed exactly square the Mars-Pluto-Moon alignment in June in the first degree of Aquarius.  It doesn't get much worse than that.   While it is certainly possible that Russia may not fully resume gas supplies to Europe after this scheduled halt expires on Sep 3, the short term aspects (esp. involving Mars) don't look bad enough for that kind of nightmare scenario.   Perhaps supplies will be reinstated but with the ongoing threat of being cut again. 

The larger problem is that Saturn is due to station direct at 24 Capricorn in late October.   The Uranus and Rahu conjunction at the top of the chart also form hard aspects to the Ascendant and are no doubt also part of this scenario of difficulty.  With Saturn and Uranus due to form a close square in October, it seems quite likely that the situation in Europe will remain precarious for several more weeks, and it could well get worse on this difficult square aspect.  We could finally see some improvement by November after Saturn resumes its normal forward motion, however, as it moves away from its alignment with the EU Ascendant.  . 


Weekly Market Forecast

Stocks are drifting lower this week as the market realizes the Fed is unlikely to reverse its rate hikes this year.  While the outlook doesn't look very encouraging in the near term, we should not be surprised if this week's Mercury-Jupiter alignment coincides with a rally attempt at some point.  While it seems unlikely to alter the down trend, it could bring some upside in the coming days.

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