Fortuna 2020

Debt race to the bottom and other current events

2011-08-08T15:03:00.001-07:00

My previous post ( A busy time) dealt with the theory, let's return to the real world. And, because they wouldn’t want it any other way, let’s start with the USA.

Wow! Astrology was certainly in action here, specifically in the US $ chart.

Every 2 ½ years the progressed moon changes signs, changing the nature and feel of the environment . The US$ progressed Moon has been in demanding Leo since January 2009, recently it moved into conservative Virgo. How recently? How does 1st August strike you as a date? Hmmmmm….. thought so! I’ve always found my US$ chart to work particularly well and here was an example of it being especially sensitive to events. And it is a critical degree too being tied in closely with the quantitive easing effects of progressed Neptune at 0 Scorpio and progressed Mars at 0 degree Capricorn.

Just to make life even more juicy transiting Mercury went retrograde on 2nd within one degree of that Moon and opposite transiting Neptune. Incidentally that transiting Neptune slipped back into Aquarius just as the US credit rating was downgraded.

As I said, Wow.

You say? Yeah , but what happens next?

Well, I have already pointed out that the progressed Moon will conjoin the US$ ascendant at the critical currency degree of 4/5 Virgo that ties with the Renminbi Saturn in December… and apparently the US deficit position will be revisited before the year end ( it has to be with that Mercury Neptune retrograde situation going on at the time of the votes). Frankly I think we have a lot more activity well before December. The new moon in late August is at 4 Virgo, and the September full moon conjunct the US$ Mars. The US country progressed Ascendant moves into Virgo after nearly 40 years in Leo – that is some switch of sentiment….. In October the US Jupiter, its wealth indicator, is challenged by Pluto again. More significantly, Neptune stations square the US$ chart MC and trine the currency’s natal Jupiter Neptune liquidity point. There is a suggestion of more liquidity, certainly there is more than a suggestion of a falling dollar. But it comes to a head as Saturn reaches 28 Libra in December, when Jupiter is stationed opposite progressed Neptune.

You say but ‘what about the solution?’ I say – there is no ‘solution’, sorry. There is a choice – same as there always is- but neither outcome is going to rebuild the castles in the air of the American dream.

We crossed the Rubicon of too much debt ( private plus government) combined with too much inequality a long time ago. As I’ve mentioned before, we are looking at the interweaving of the cycle that began around 1950 with that that started in 1981/2.

All we have done lately is continue towards the inevitable conclusion. The impact of excess money supply ( i.e currency inflation) in a the longer term is exactly the same as the impact of excess credit, it is only the short term pathways that are different; ultimately both roads lead to the same destination.

No more quantitive easing will result in facing the consequences of the debt head on. More will have the same effect as more debt, weakening the dollar, raising commodity prices, increasing costs to households leading to less consumption, and finally to facing the debt head-on, just a bit later and maybe even with a bigger bill, certainly at least as big.

‘But can’t we stimulate the economy, as they suggest?’ You say. I’ve heard some gems from so called experts lately. ‘We need to encourage entrepreneurs to invest, to boost production not consumption’ is one of the best. Indeed production without demand is so nonsensical that I thought they were joking at first. Sadly not. They truly believe it and in their gilded cages fail to see that demand from the majority is dead, already slaughtered by a multi-generational debt burden.

Of course, we mustn’t complain – after all this is capitalism working precisely how it is designed to, with the whole of the wealth ultimately accruing to the few. What ( other than a few guillotines and their ilk) is not to like?

Ah, yes, guillotines. That brings me to dissatisfied populace and thus to the UK. It’s that cross Mars again. Mars in early Cancer square Uranus and opposing Pluto and picking up the Pluto Mars progressed opposition. Without that stabilising Saturn we have precisely the sort of excitement that you’d expect, riots, some nice martian fires, yada, yada.

I’m not convinced that this has anything to do with the short term economic picture ( dire though it may be) but rather the much longer cycles referred to before. The majority of these rioters are not complaining about recent government policies or greedy bankers, they aren’t that sophisticated, they just want to fight and nick stuff. And it’s a warm summer evening and there ain’t much else to do. Why such an environment exists is part of a much bigger question. This is I believe a flash in the pan, give it a week max. But wait for Pluto and Uranus to cross the UK angles later on (2012-14) and both the reasons and results might be quite different.

Anyway, back to the markets. Our work with the dollar done, let us turn to the Euro.

Owch. Saturn has not been so very kind here. Seated ( exact on 5th August) on the Euro progressed Ascendant it has been dragging the Euro through the mire in the last few weeks. [ I can’t believe that any of its leaders went on holiday with that coming up, but apparently they did. That is of course why they are leaders – you have to be exceedingly ingenuous to make it to the top, else reality will give you cause for pause long before you make it].

But it is worth noting that Saturn will now move on from the progressed Ascendant – we don’t dwell on the current situation.

However, August/September sees Uranus once again disrupting the MC/IC axis of the currency – we’ re used to that now though. Since we have plenty of Uranus transit to get through, (it won’t finish its final pass until early 2012) we won’t have a resolution for a bit here. But care in coming to conclusions about the outcome – while Uranus shakes the tree, Pluto won’t return to the Euro chart angles, and Uranus is on the descendant – the signifier of it partner currencies, while September looks tricky for the Euro October looks tricky its friend in the US as well.

It is worth a quick peak at Italy, is it not?

As a country with Saturn at good old 4/5 Virgo, we can expect it to pop up in a currency context. I see the progressed Euro Moon is square this point at present as well. And that means the next New Moon at the end of this month is putting Italy into focus. I use the chart relocated to Rome for most purposes but it is worth noting that the original Turin chart has its progressed Moon on the Ascendant square that key degree at the moment, an alternative sign for putting it in the spotlight. Try as I might though I can’t see much else of relevance in this chart going forward except one thing. When the Euro was created the currency’s Pluto was on the Italian Ascendant. And their progressed Moons are almost conjunct. In November the Euro progressed Moon reaches its natal Pluto. Whereas everything else looks moderately ok – that does not bode well for the popular response to the currency conditions.

How goes our friend Sterling and the Bank of England? Not out of the woods – retrograde Pluto and Uranus will see to that in September but frankly it could be a lot worse. I’d guess that it is external events that are going to create the most problems here – with early December showing as a time that the BOE will be a trifle busy.

UK economic issues to look out for are in the future – as Neptune reaches natal Pluto, progressed Mars opposes progressed Pluto and, as mentioned, Uranus and Pluto sit on the chart’s angles in 2012-13. Ugh.

But it’s not just been about currencies has it? Equities have been having a bit of a tough time too in the last couple of weeks. The Dow has fallen nearly 2000 points or over 15% since July 11. Why?

Well it is back to that cross again. You might recall that the cardinal cross of August 2010 made a a bit of a mixed bag of aspects to the Dow chart and that I correctly in that case anticipated that this would not be too serious a blow for th index. But just now we’re missing the stabilising Saturn in early Libra while we are suffering from the attack of Mars in early Cancer which makes only hard aspects. Expect the situation to improve within about a week to 10 days- although continued fluctuations to occur as Mars moves over the angles in late August, early September – beware that Virgo new moon on 28th. An note that Saturn is unlikely to be a positive force at is transits the chart ascendant through September.

Note. Whereas I have always used the minted dollar chart for my work, I couldn’t help but notice the recent 150 year anniversary of the paper dollar ( 17 july 1861). A chart which has Saturn at 6 degree Virgo- close enough to 4/5 to warrant a mention I think.

The Italian chart and Lira in its most recent form ( prior to Euro adoption) dates back to the same year. Astrology enjoys global co-ordination.

A busy time:Mars attacks, Saturn's on vacation

2011-08-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

I’ve been quietly looking at the next six months forecasts lately but I wasn’t really intending to update what I had already said here. Instead my plans were to present something more in the way of commentary rather than forecasting, in the anticipation that there would be a few things worth commenting on….I have, as usual, been distracted by life. Now, however, we’ll take a peak.

Some of the areas I was investigating were the June/July eclipses and their impact on various charts and the reactivation of the 2010 cardinal cross by both the new Moon in July and subsequently, in early August by Mars.

As it turns out there are a number of other interesting things to note too.

First let’s consider Saturn. Last year in July August it was very tightly involved with the cardinal cross. Many astrologers, myself included in this case, determined that nasty old Saturn would increase the impact of the cross and thus August 2010 would be a particularly unpleasant phase.

However, whilst there was no let up in the ongoing trends last summer, things just weren’t as bad as expected. I think this is because we failed to take account of two factors relating to Saturn.

The first is that Saturn in Libra is dignified, in what is called ‘exaltation’ – essentially showing its best side. So instead of the darker, more depressing side of Saturn, we get rather more of its balancing, refined discipline.

The second, and in my view the more important factor, is my increased feeling that a grand cross involving Saturn doesn’t necessarily cause all hell to break loose. Indeed it is more inclined to prevent such a scenario. I have such a combination in my own chart ( Saturn there being also dignified) and it does act in this way, leading to my life being, frankly, rather dull and uneventful instead of allowing my more reckless and unstable tendencies to rule.

Now, before you all get excited and think this is an unequivocally good thing, (I mean in global terms not my personal actions), I would like to take the role of Saturn and bring you back down to earth. What Saturn in a grand cross tends to do is create a holding pattern; keeping things together and neither allowing break out of the characteristics of the other 3 sides of the cross nor resolving their latent issues.

So together we had a nice Saturn in a constraining role and these two factors, I believe, kept a lid on some things last August.

Saturn is still in Libra and will be until 2012 ( yeah I know we are all waiting to see what, if anything happens in 2012), however it has moved on a number of degrees and is now only very weakly constraining the other planets in the cross. So when the square between Pluto and Uranus gets activated by the inner planets now, the pot boils over.

It’s a useful lesson – though we’ll have to wait hundreds of years for a repeat of this configuration to capitalise fully on what we have learnt, I’m afraid.

2011-06-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Review of 2010-11

Back In 2008 I started my forecast with the UK and the remark that my analysis thus far had raised as many questions as it had answered. Over the last 3 years many of those questions have been answered, and my faith in the accuracy of astrology vindicated. We’ll look at some of this as we work our way through these reviews and in my posts in the coming weeks.

I particularly want to focus in the next weeks on the reactivation of the cardinal cross, the eclipses and the outlook for the dollar and currency markets in the second half of the year. But first let's see how I've done over the last 18 months.

UK
I expected more activity in the UK in 2010. Of course things dramatically changed as a result of the election ( which some will criticise me for not predicting but given its legal inevitability that would only be valid if I had predicted it to occur earlier), and though there was a certain amount of dissent during the year especially from students it wasn’t particularly concentrated in the summer. Although one might comments that the rampages by individuals ( Bird and Moat) in the North of England might have channelled some of these energies.

The biggest events seemed externally focussed; volcanoes, BP, weather etc. and I’ll deal again with these broader themes in a dedicated post.

As far as Sterling was concerned, inflation certainly continued apace in 2010, with monthly letters from the Bank of England, but not as much as I expected either. The government has certainly focussed on public pensions though as anticipated.

In Uk and sterling terms I predicted few dramatic developments in early 2011 – just shakiness which more or less sums up the stats at the moment. I did mentioned interest rates as a key focus for 2011 and that story continues to play itself out.

So a case of getting the themes right just not all the causes.

FTSE
I found the FTSE chart very surprising when I looked at in 2008. I looked at it in the expectation of seeing long term lowered value, but it just wasn’t there. I couldn’t see why at that point, only later did I understand the currency situation as it played out through QE and the impact that has on asset values. It is all clear in hindsight- more evidence that astrology works even when the astrologer just doesn’t have the vision to understand its implications.

I noticed in particular that the FTSE didn’t especially pick up the 2010 cardinal cross. Whilst the charts showed some key weak points in March and May and again in September and November these weren’t trends. And so it proved. A drop in July also tallied with the peak of the cardinal cross but not for long.

In early 2011 I expected more of the same with some big trading on events days in March through June. And of course we have had Japan and then the big IPOs to fulfil this prediction. The trend as I expected has been for an overall flat path in early 2011. The ftse 100 lies not far from its April 2010 position today.

I also predicted consolidation and re-evaluation within the index and there have indeed been more shifts within sectors that overall.

The Euro
Well against all the odds – if other commentators are to be believed -we still, at the moment, at least have a Euro. I questioned whether countries would drop out in my 2010 forecast. My view was that the Euro story was part of a bigger currency issue and so it proved. My prediction of difficulties in the first half of the year followed by a more benign situation in late 2010 early 2011 was validated. I expected that problems would resurface by April 2011 and so it proved with Greece and the rest of the PIIGS becoming an increasing problem to date.

I can’t believe I didn’t bother to predict the remainder of 2011 before but went on to 2012. In fact, along with the other currencies the Euro shows a critical point in September through to November, as Uranus transits the Descendant and the progressed moon reaches Pluto. I remain convinced that this Autumn is a critical time for the currency markets. Another point I will return to in coming weeks.

Ireland
I anticipated a mix bag for Ireland in 2010, and into 2011 with some people benefitting while others struggled. And a return to difficult times of severe recession. Pressure on the government was expected particularly in September. And with the severest problems beginning in April/ May 2011.

In fact 2010 was a year of extreme dissatisfaction in Ireland. On 11 May there were protests against bank bailouts – these were followed by other protests through the year. The financial situation continued to be severe and in November in IMF intervened and in late November the EU offered a rescue deal.

The government didn’t change in September though it survived votes of no confidence in June . However an election was announced in November and in early 2011 Fianna Fáil was swept from power in the worst defeat of a sitting government since the formation of the Irish state in 1921. Given that elections need otherwise not have been held till 2012 I consider this pretty reasonable accuracy.

Shame my forecast for the rest of 2011 doesn’t suggest things will improve soon.

France
On reading my original forecast for 2010 I can’t help but think that I was feeling around in the dark. I defined a critical point in summer 2010 with parallels to 1968 but noted that there was a significant amount of liquidity in contrast to recession expected. In fact what happened was the PIIG problems which contrasted with France’s relatively stable position and tended to consolidated its power in the EU.

On the other hand there were some strikes and protests ( this is France, that is normal). Most notable were pensions strikes in September and October with some limited violence. This was only a month or so out from my forecast and well within my 3 month orb for long term forecasts.

I expected early 2011 to be ok too and so it proves so far. France’s arrival on the front pages has nothing to do with internal problems. Quite the opposite their finance minister is being generally lauded.

However I still expect the year to end somewhat differently.

Germany
As for France my forecast indicated contrasting pictures- on the one hand dramatic shifts on the other gentle opportunities. The cardinal cross of last summer was expected to generate significant tensions.

My overall predictions for the 4 year period 2008-12 seem to be on the money as this article suggests.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/14/germany-new-boom-making-stuff

More specifically, in early 2011 I predicted, ‘we might see internal political divisions regarding such external relations where they are seen to reduce national spirit’.

Perhaps I should have written wealth for spirit. In fact Germany, itself weathering the global economic storms quite well as I expected, became a focus of attention for the Greek and other bailouts with some very strong internal opposition from some traditionalist quarters. Merkel’s party suffered regional defeats in early 2011 due to these bailouts ( although in reality it is German banks that are being protected more than anything).

But there is also the increasing immigration issue, and Germans are having to accept this and adapt with among other things Islamic education and increasing numbers of mosques.

The picture for the remainder of the year is harsher. Especially those final three months again.

Italy
With the notable exception of Berlusconi, Italy’s reputation as a wild card in Europe has been somewhat overshadowed in the last couple of years by Greece, Portugal and even Ireland. The former two were not the subjects of my original predictions though Ireland was. Nevertheless Italy is one of the PIIGS and therefore worth a few more moments of our time.

Although Italy was by no means the worst affected by the 2007/8 crisis, plummeting global demand seriously affected the country’s exports, causing their volumes to contract by 19% in 2009 Furthermore with debt in nominal terms of 1.8 trillion euros, Italy has more than that of Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece combined.

I predicted a relatively calm economic start to 2010, but that the picture would become more complex during the year. Although there were some positive signs around April, the recession would continue right through to December. Others’ forecasts were for a small amount of growth for the year as a whole and these were more or less realised. Economic growth slowed more than forecast in the last quarter of 2010 and Italy’s recovery from the global recession has been slower than that of its euro-area partners such as France and Germany.

However I also identified more government issues. In May, throughout the summer and again in the last quarter.

In fact, the Berlusconi sex scandals abated a little for much of 2010, but returned with a vengeance in November, with under age belly dancers and a defence that managed to offend the gay community for good measure. However, the prediction was proved right as in the two months to July , two ministers and a junior minister were forced to resign over corruption scandals. As a result Fini, the co-founder of the party fed up of the Prime Minister’s reputation split with Berlusconi in July and this led to a vote at the end of the year. The government survived the no-confidence motion by three votes in December Still the Teflon coated leader remains in power.

The astrology works again. I have to concede that it gives a clearer picture of political issues than economic ones- but then, in most cases economically it is an ill wind that blows no-one any good.

Now however Italy is faced with continued global financial imbalances, fall out from the Libya situation – a country with which it has historic connections, and a prime Minister who spends half his time in court. On 7 April 2011 the Economist wrote that Italy’s public debt is the sleeping dog of the euro zone’s crisis. Yet my forecast is relatively positive for the economy- though I ask whether the country is the beneficiary of external funding over this summer. I see good financial restructuring – no I don’t know why either so don’t ask. I don’t move the planets.

Spain
I expected that the people would begin to find their voice in Spain in 2010, after tolerating the economic conditions for a couple of years. Nevertheless my view was that Spain has a greater tolerance for economic pin than others. And I expected the impact of the fiscal situation to be mixed on the economy mid year, though less attractive at the year end and early 2011.

In fact the Spanish economy experienced more of the same in 2010 after 2008-9. In June, following the Euro crisis elsewhere, Spain increased austerity measures to reduce debt. The prospect of wage cuts and pension freezes prompted some street demonstrations. Unions called a nationwide strike ion 29 September, against plans to make it easier for companies to hire and fire workers. But a poll in El Pais estimated that only 9% of Spaniards supported the strike. This confirms my general prediction that despite everything Spaniards wouldn’t react as many nations might. Finally, Spanish property sales stats at the end of the year showed that sales fell 48% between the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2010 – which amounted to the lowest level of Spanish property sales on record

My prediction for early 2011 was for continuation of 2010. I didn’t however predict the events of May- but then they so far have only changed things slightly and are focussed on the young. Local elections in May 2011 have spurred the young – albeit relatively calmly to protest against Spain's 21% unemployment rate and a record 4.9 million jobless.. It is notable that in some cities protests were timed not to disturb residents. Although there have been some violent incidents.

I expected issues relating to leadership and Zapatero has stated that he will not stand again for office in 2012. This supports my original view that there won’t be a dramatic change this year.

Switzerland
The beginning of the year I surmised would be about relations with other countries and sure enough the government has renegotiated its double taxation agreements with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate the OECD standard, and it is working with Germany and the UK to resolve outstanding issues, particularly the possibility of imposing taxes on bank deposits held by foreigners. Parliament passed the first five double-taxation agreements, including that with the US, in March 2010.

The cardinal cross, I perceived, would impact the country’s Venus and Mars and may lead to a bankruptcy and that the aspects to the Moon would lead to re-evaluation of the Swiss position. There was no major bankruptcy but the Swiss franc became even stronger. This was a bad prediction though.

I suggested that the first half of the year showed little overall direction which seems to have been the case. The government implemented a third fiscal stimulus program in the year and aimed much at new technology. I thought there may be technology breakthroughs in the last quarter and in fact growth in the later part of the year was headed by the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors along with medical technology and measuring instruments plus the watchmaking industry. Switzerland's benefited from their leading international position in research so overall growth in 2010 was over 2%

I also forecast that Switzerland would try to recover some of its image at the end of the year for competitiveness purposes. And the most interesting prediction was for April 2011 and the country’s Neptune return. Neptune moving especially slowly has been bringing these changes for a while.

I quote from a report re Swiss laws.

‘Until now, Switzerland has been the sole remaining country in Europe without a unified, national set of rules governing civil procedure. This will change dramatically with the entry into force of the CCP on 1 January 2011. The 26 cantonal codes of civil procedure and the Federal Act on Jurisdiction in Civil Matters (CJA) are to be replaced by the CCP. The introduction of uniform rules will lead to increased legal certainty since it will do away with the legal fragmentation that has prevailed in this area up to now’.

How is that for a return to the themes of an original constitution? And compensates more than slightly for the non-existent bankruptcy

2011 is mostly expected to be positive and a survey for Q1 2011 showed growth and optimism amongst Swiss companies. However the strong franc is starting to impact Swiss exports. It is those external financial relations that need managing.

Iceland
My prediction for Iceland having been aimed at failed banks, I didn’t extend it fully over the years to 2012. However I expected more of the same and economically that is what the country has.

However it is worth taking a quick peak at the country’s chart for last year’s Volcano especially from 14 April. Although Pluto hovers at the base of the Icelandic chart it needs help to create such an event. The help in this case was provided by a trine to progressed Jupiter and the progressed Moon sextiling the country’s natal Pluto which was at that time being transiting by Mars. A Saturn square activated by the continued Saturn/ Uranus opposition probably added to the drama with some black smoke.

The most interesting thing I note about the Icelandic chart though is that now Uranus sits on its Descendant and Square the IC–as well as its internal rumblings it is Iceland’s external contacts that we should be looking at .

Greece
I only looked at Greece last year, after the event so to speak, but I did briefly outline how I thought things would play out later. When writing in February2010, I anticipated a new flare up the debt problem later in the year and this occurred on schedule with the austerity measures being determined on 1st May followed by German support. On 5 May 2010, a nationwide general strike was held in Athens to protest to the planned spending cuts and tax increases. Three people were killed, dozens injured, and arrested .

The average Greek person has paid the price and not been happy about it. There has been much dissention as I expected.

Unfortunately I was right again when I anticipated the problems continuing into 2011. However I thought that April and May would bring a more positive view and working towards solutions. Well they are trying to work towards solutions but with limited success. I commented that I believed that the damage would already have been done and that the transit of Uranus to Pluto would be limited in impact. This is not so – the worst of Uranus to Pluto is still in process. The astrology is once again spot on – only my judgement was lacking.

2011-06-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

On to the Americas now, starting with the country that still hangs on by its finger nails to the title of world economic powerhouse.

USA
The great thing about forecasting the US is that it is easy to check what happens, whereas other countries struggle to make the UK mainstream media unless there is a revolution or an attack from Andromeda, the US is reported on relentlessly.

I predicted that 2010 for the US and its currency would continue the themes of 2009 at first, until May. I expected something to happen and speculated whether it was internal unrest ( I didn’t think so – although the rise of the tea party pretty much matches the themes) or an external event that united the country. As we know the event was actually in late April and involved oil exploration. The well was capped in July and declared dead in September. And it united the nation against BP in England, even though my analysis at the time showed the focus was Houston.

I think, given that I was predicting 2 years out, in general terms, as part of a much bigger project, I can give myself good marks for this one. Obviously if I had taken the time to investigate the flagging of this time period in the US more fully I could have pinned the nature of the event down.

The one point I missed was that the dollar effects weren’t tied to the BP spill, but rather to the longer economic trends. In fact, although the dollar reached a temporary high in May against the Euro, due to the Greek situation, in Yen terms it had only recovered marginally and has been declining all the way since. The Swiss Franc chart really sums up the situation, as does the gold one. The discussion of last summer was whether to carry out more quantative easing, however as the Guardian put it in Novmber 2010, ‘the results of the [mid term] elections make it very difficult for the US to pursue the first best policy to keep its economy recovering: further fiscal expansion, for a time’. I might disagree with this prescription but not the hold on it.

I had predicted that by November 2010 the pressure would lead , if not to government change, at least to policy change. I was however a little naïve in my interpretation of what the impact might be. Taxes on rich people/? In America? I must have been smoking something when I suggested that. Or perhaps I was unusually trying to be optimistic and save the world. To be fair Obama, did want to restore the capital gains rate to 20%, as it was in the 1990s, and allow dividends to be taxed like income, (potentially boosting rates for wealthy taxpayers to nearly 40%), but ended up extending the tax cuts made by his predecessors and adding a few more ( although fortunately not on the scale some would have liked). Anyway the debt continued to rise and the dollar to fall: just a coincidence of course.

I predicted that the liquidity expansion would continue into Spring 2011, and so we have it. While there is no new round of QE interest rates remain non existent. Late April 2011 the US committee that oversees interest rates announced that it was carrying on with the policy of keeping rates low but would end its huge programme of buying back government bonds. It has also been mired in debates over its debt ceiling.

I made the mistake of thinking that as the US chart looked better in 2011, this meant that the situation was improving – whereas, of course, the significant manifestation in 2010 was the BP spill which indeed is over. The longer term issues continue.

I am not sure why I didn’t focus more on the Fall of 2011; perhaps because it was only later having looked at many charts that it became clear it was signficant. Saturn reaches the US natal Saturn again this summer. Pluto again opposes the country’s Jupiter in October as Uranus sits at the base of the US chart. It suggests more debt issues. In the Dollar chart Saturn opposes the stellium in Aries from August and in December it conjoins the Neptune/Jupiter inflation conjunction in the chart. A 30 year event and dating back to the beginning of the mega credit/debt cycle that started in 1982. At the same time the progressed Moon crosses the ascendant – or what I call the Renminbi point. Looks like we are in for some fun.

Dow
My main comment about the Dow in 2010 was that the aspects formed to it by the cardinal cross were for the most part positive. The chart did react to the cross – with short term lows in July and September but this was nothing significant. There was, as expected, another tricky spot around November, but not as much as I anticipated.

Then I got it wrong. I did not expect continued rise into the first half of 2011. Since May 2010 ( indeed since November 2010) the Dow has increased from 11,000 to 12,500. It seems that the impact of Uranus/Jupiter on the chart’s Mars was greater than the Saturn conjoining the Ascendant. Perhaps Saturn was limited in its effect due to its retrograde motion and perhaps the trine to Pluto offsets the Venus conjunction, I really don’t have all the answers to this one. From March it is easier to see as Saturn has been stationed out of the picture.

On the other hand, the focus on the markets in 2010 was on something else entirely; how they operate and especially the May 6 flash crash, and the months of investigation and testing that followed. Now this matches the Saturn on the Ascendant perfectly. The market image was under scrutiny. It just seems that this wasn’t enough to put off investors. Actually, on balance, this sums up the aspects of the cardinal cross very well; another lesson by astrology for the astrologer.

Another manifestation of Saturn has been volumes. As high-frequency traders moved away from the stock market there has been lower volatility and volume. The combined average daily trading volume in the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market in the first four months of 2011 fell 15% from 2010, to an average of 6.3 billion shares a day. Trading activities has been declining throughout 2011.

Back to prices; Jupiter has recently been trine the Dow Jupiter and Uranus will leave Mars at last. This does look like a temporary top. Saturn reaches the Ascendant again in September, I suppose we will have some pull back then. I’ll stand by my significant speculation prediction for the year end though.

Nasdaq
The Nasdaq didn’t really diverge that much from the Dow trends in 2010. I didn’t seem to have made any fixed predictions for the direction of this index in 2010, merely highlighting the offsetting factors. My timing was pretty much the same too. And I did comment that by December we could expect ‘regulatory influences to slow things down’ a pretty good sum up of the curbs introduced by 10 December.

I did however expect more action in the Nasdaq in 2011. Suggesting a significant rise in value from the early part of the year and continuing probably till October. I thought that the trend would be accentuated in April and May as well and then held back. So I was much, much, more accurate for this index and don’t feel any need to update my predictions for the future.

What is interesting though is the recent Linkedin IPO. Not a Nasdaq IPO yet typical of the type of company that the Nasdaq is known for. This IPO I think symbolises what has been happening in both markets – it is the type of stock that matters and the repeat of bubble conditions that I anticipated, the fact that it affects the Dow too is not so surprising given the mix of components.

I am therefore happy about my predictions for a potential return to some of the 2000 bubble conditions even if I could have distinguished my indices better.

Canada
I predicted positive themes for Canada around March 2010, continuing into the summer. Although I expected the country to be caught up in the impact of events elsewhere. Throughout the year I saw positive signs for technological growth . However I expected recessionary matters particularly re house prices to resurface from September onwards leading to extreme cautiousness by the year end.

The reality was that Canada started the year hosting the winter Olympics which gave it a positive shot in the arm for a while. The economy grew at a 6.1 percent annual rate in the first three months of the year.

The G20 met in the country in June at which point it was reported that Canada was the envy of the developed countries. The housing market was hot and three-quarters of the 400,000 jobs lost during the recession had been recovered. It had had to raise interest rates a little.

The result was a slightly less stella second half, though still not much to complain about. The housing market began to cool especially in volume terms. Year on year sales were down 15% at December. There were price declines in September to November as some of the bubble gas was sucked out. Severe weather also hit in December.

In 2011 I saw restrictions with partners but overall strength from the country, and new government or policies around March. On the other hand there seemed to be excess liquidity problems but overall developments were positive. A key turning point was expected in April.

In fact the assets bubbles continued in the first part of the year. Canada was suffering as I expected from excess liquidity with inflationary issues prevalent, though the strength of the currency was complicating the overall picture. An election was held on 2nd May ( a little later than I forecast) and whilst the same government remained in power its strength increased making its policies easier to implement.

I’m happy with my Canadian forecasts for the past and future and am interested in that niggling Neptune influence which hangs around still.

Mexico
Mexico was another country that I expected to start 2010 in a positive way. The peso was expected to be volatile and I predicted some intervention around April. The government was not expected to be doing so well at this time however.

The summer was expected to be harder. The country was expected to suffer from effects on established industries and wealth. The peso emphasis was on other countries. Overall a bit of mixed bag of change but with both winners and losers was anticipated.

Relations with partners were expected to decline late year.

In 2011 I expected a big change in governance style around February or March; even a new regime. But April suggested government strength, and the focus continued to be relationships in to May.

This summary of the year 2010 confirms the forecast. GDP posted positive growth of 5% in 2010, with exports leading the way, while domestic consumption and investment lagged. The administration continues to face many economic challenges, including improving the public education system, upgrading infrastructure, modernizing labour laws, and fostering private investment in the energy sector. The mixed bag effect is confirmed by the finance ministers comment that higher oil prices don’t benefit Mexico to the extent of other exporters as they dampen US industrial demand. Mexico is seeking to sell more goods to Latin America and Asia to reduce its dependence on the U.S.. There was a significantly positive outlook.

Relations with the US did deteriorate but later than forecast, in early 2011 when the Mexican president condemned the US support for the drugs war as woefully inadequate. Although the direct cause were the wikileaks which did start at the end of 2010 and did impact of Mexico’s broader reputation internationally.

The Peso as expected reflected other countries’ stories. Against the dollar it strengthened, the year 2010 ended with an appreciation of the peso versus the dollar by 6.1%, but against the Swiss franc it fell, against the Euro there was fluctuation. The Mexican government in September 2010 enacted a new law which basically restricts the use of US Dollars for almost all purchases inside of Mexico.

So far in 2011, excluding the drug issues mentioned above, the government has been getting in gear for 2012 elections and is promoting economic success rather than focus on the drugs war. There was reshuffle by the President early in the year with this in mind. Nevertheless my original view that there seems to be a fluid picture – no clarity on the future – is borne out by this focus on re-election or change.

All in all a reasonable forecast.

Brazil
So far Brazil has the dubious honour of being the country I have forecasted least well. Let’s see what happened in 2010-11, bearing in mind that my predictions so far don’t exactly form a solid basis for the next round.

The results are interesting.

I predicted in the country chart, a year that started with disputes and disinformation. While I can’t correlate the timeline here, there are critics of Brazil who claim that there is misleading information about statistics, but then that could apply anywhere.

I expected the government to be a little reckless around April and it appears that the government ramped up spending last year ahead of October presidential elections a move that was criticised as financially imprudent by some and is now resulting in budget cuts. My best Brazil economic forecast event so far.

I thought that there could be demos over the summer to September, although of course I had not noted that there was an election in the offing. I did not predict a change of government at this time and there wasn’t. There were minor protests about dams but these are not of the nature I meant. A c- for that bit.

In September, I said Jupiter was to conjoin the Brazil Pluto emphasising debt issues. This is when the election occurred. In fact it just seems to have consolidated the Brazil position further ( although debt did rise due to the extra measures mentioned above)

November I saw as having some stabilising issues but also a repeat of themes dating back to early 2009 at least. I expected some restrictions in liquidity or withdrawals in December 2010. Things did quieten down a little in the last three months and in December, The central bank made banks hold onto more of their deposits instead of lending that money out in a bid to cool inflationary pressures. Much better predicting.

In 2010 stats reveal that Brazil’s GDP was boosted by a 10.1% growth of manufacturing and 6.5% agriculture and livestock, domestic consumption (60%) was crucial for GDP expansion together with overall investment that increased 21.8%. Overall the economy actually grew at its fastest for 24 years in 2010, although that might be partly due to the pre- election measures, it obviously reflects genuine growth too. And though I might have got many details right I missed this continued trend in the country.

Early 2011 I thought looked positive but with evidence that some delusions might be overthrown. The new president came into office on 1 January 2011. In March 2011 the Central Bank hiked the basic rate to 11.75% to combat overheating of the economy and the government ratified its decision to cut budget expenditure by 30 billion US dollars. Other than the budget cuts it’s not really possible to say yet what is happening with the new President in charge.

May2011 was to be a key turning point though the effects of this are for later. Although it was announced in May 2011 that there will be measures not to ban imports but to boost national industry in such a way that it can consequently help to reduce imports”.

So overall I did a better job but still not to the standard of other countries.

Brazilian Real
The 2010 themes for the Real were positive according to my expectations. Uranus on the Ascendant in February, liquidity and the potential for a turning point in its value in May.

In fact Brazilian central bankers have raised the country’s benchmark rate 325 basis points, or 3.25 percentage points, to 12 percent since April 2010 to calm inflation. Bingo!

A new long term trend was expected to begin in the summer supported by some very strong aspects. More increased value was expected. And more trade in it in August September October. Most of the aspects were positive again.

There has continued to be speculation in favour of the Real which has appreciated versus the dollar again ( though by less %age wise than in 2009) but not versus the Swiss Franc however. The issue does not seem to be the rise of the Real , rather it is the fall of the dollar. Nevertheless I feel I did ok here.

In 2011, the forecasted Real appeared to show strength around February, ( this does in fact show as a spike in the Swiss franc chart!!!!!!) but with less speculation. The key turning point in May showed up in the Real chart too. The finance minister has recently commented that currency inflows are returning to more normal levels.

All in all the Real forecasts seem ok, even if the Brazil ones still need some work.

Venezuela
With Saturn stationed on the Ascendant, overall the themes were for parallel instability and restriction. A strange combination but one that seems to have played out as expected.

The prediction for early 2010 was for some frenetic activity but not especially bad outcomes. May suggested radical action. The summer’s aspects emphasised disinformation and lack of economic direction.

In reality, in the first half of 2010 Venezuela faced the prospect of lengthy nationwide blackouts when its main hydroelectric power plant - which provides more than 35% of the country's electricity - nearly shut down.

Venezuela's economy was the fourth largest in Latin America in 2010 but it contracted 1.4 percent in a second year of recession. GDP grew a tepid 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter compared with a year earlier. Slow growth is exacerbating Venezuela's decades-old problem of double-digit inflation, and real buying power has shrunk rapidly. Twelve-month inflation through February was 28.7 percent, one of the highest rates in the world.

The benefits to Venezuela of being a commodity nation were noted during the period of the cardinal cross. And so it proved despite everything else. Venezuela has avoided hyper-inflation thanks to its oil income, which allows it to import a large amount of consumer goods.

My forecast for September 2010 suggested leadership problems, perhaps caused by physical events and these leadership difficulties would continue through December. In fact Government-mandated wage hikes of up to 30 percent are common, but labour unrest is on the rise among both public and private workers .
In December 2010, the National Assembly passed a package of five organic laws designed to complete the transformation of the Venezuelan economy in line with CHAVEZ's vision of 21st century socialism. These laws likely will be implemented in 2011

In 2011 the restrictions were expected to continue. With some tough months due to a Saturn influence. But not to be wholly difficult. Surprisingly the aspects for the next few months were relatively good right through to June.

In reality Venezuela began 2011 ‘wrestling with macroeconomic imbalances resulting from the government's unorthodox economic policies, a housing crisis, and a continuing electricity crisis’ but the currency action mitigated this for a while. Venezuela's economy expanded 4.5 percent for the first quarter, pretty much on planetary schedule.

Bolivar
At the time of predicting, I noted there were a few aspects to the Bolivar chart in early 2010 but not of too great significance . And it mirrored the country with a key point in May.

In May, 2010, Chavez closed the unofficial foreign exchange market - the "parallel" market - in an effort to stem inflation and slow the currency's depreciation. In June 2010, the government created the "a new system to replace the "parallel" market.

The cardinal cross barely touched it. The chart showed Saturn transiting the Moon in September suggesting stability and/or restriction. Some volatility of a positive kind was evident in November and the December chart showed significant restriction in December.

In December 2010, CHAVEZ eliminated the dual exchange rate system and unified the exchange rate at 4.3 bolivars per dollar.

The focus was expected to be on the Bolivar in early 2011 as it diverged from the country chart with February likely to lead to a re-evaluation internationally. The chart was to be again hit by Saturn from April.

In January 2011, Chavez announced the second devaluation of the bolivar within twelve months.

For a country which I have never visited, which is to say the least unique in economic and leadership terms and often poorly reported on I think I deserve a gold star for my attempts here.

Argentina
After some tricky moments in their summer I expected that February 2010 would see everything ok with the world in Argentina. A very brief time in May was expected to be followed by a calm June July and August. The only tricky element was October. And in fact things were just expected to continue to be pleasant right up to some budget reviews in December.

In 2011 the predicted positive themes were to continue all the way through to June.

Argentina started the year 2010 with a debt renegotiation. Although touch and go for a while the negotiation was successful and economically the country hasn’t really looked back. Although the ex-president and husband of the current one died suddenly in October.

Argentina's economy expanded by 9.2 percent last year, driven by strong consumer spending, high global prices for its grains exports and growing demand for manufactured goods in neighbouring Brazil.

As usual I am proud of my astrological identification of Argentina as a good bet, and even more so when the FT on 22 May published an article entitled ‘Argentina is a risk worth taking’.

However, in deference to those who have been negative on Argentina while I have been positive, it is noted that high inflation has been a weakness of the Argentine economy for decades. In December 2010, inflation was believed to be running at more than 25% annually, the highest level since the 2002 devaluation and this will eventually create problems, it just hasn’t done so yet.[

Argentinian Peso
Mirroring the tricky January 2010 country chart the Peso chart showed a more favourable position in February. There were some negatives expected through July though. I expected to see something picking up the dollar after the cardinal cross and a pretty good end to the year overall.

In nominal terms, the peso weakened 3.4 percent over the 12 months vs. the dollar to end of 2010 but remains at a similar level vs. the dollar than in 2009, it has not depreciated at the same rate as internal inflation has risen. It is interesting to see that it still tracks the dollar quite closely, in a way that Brazil and Mexico do not. Still, I would have bet on more overall strength based on the forecast. Depends I suppose whether one looks for stability or appreciation as good in a currency. ….

Themes were expected to come to a head in March 2011, with positive influences through July. We’ll see how this plays out.

2011-06-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

Another post, another continent. This time Asia, or at least some big economic players there.

China
My prediction for China in 2010 saw a big focus on economic issues (as the chart was picked up by the Saturn Uranus opposition), but also themes of deception or confusion over economic matters. But Neptune square the MC could also relate to overexpansion which I didn’t mention. Astrology 1: astrologer nil again!

China actually started the year in big boom state with soaring property prices, among other things. Through the year, the Chinese government took repeated steps to cool the inflationary pressures during the year. Beijing /raised the ratio of deposits that banks must hold in reserve with the central bank nine times since the start of 2010, in an effort to limit the amount they could lend. In the second half of the year it increased interest rates 4 times to 6.5%.

I also noted that the people would make themselves heard over the early summer. And this definitely happened as A series of strikes ( started after suicides at Foxcomm but spreading widely) added to the wage pressures. As a result wages have been rapidly rising in all areas of the country due to labour market pressures.

The cardinal cross activated China’s Uranus and I expected a big shift over the period ( though not just the summer of 2010) I assumed to greater development position. China actually overtook Japan as the second biggest economy at this point – a key point in global economy history.

Then, I thought that things would quieten down in the autumn, some instability would remain due to the Uranus transits. Sure enough the Chinese government stepped in with the rate increases at this time.

In the end, China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew a faster-than-expected 10.3% in 2010, official statistics show. Consumer prices grew 3.3% year-on-year, ahead of China's 3% target. But more troubling for Beijing was that the price of food rose 7.2%.

In 2011 I saw a bit of a state of flux – as if the country was waiting for something more concrete .

This seems to have been the case with no clear indications about whether the attempts to control the boom were working. Now at the end of May 2011 there is a sign that the economy is cooling, The big question now is how much economic growth may slow, before the authorities shift their priority from controlling inflation to revving the growth engine.

Another overall winner for me.

Renminbi
It still seems strange to be considering the currency separately as it is more or less fixed to the dollar. However that could change, and not in the too distant future.

In my forecast I forsaw Pluto trining the currency’s Saturn as indicative of futher managed revaluation in the early part of 2010.

In fact what happened was that beginning in January 2010, Chinese and non-Chinese citizens were given an annual quota to change a maximum of 50,000 USD all of which is closely monitored. Neat- and I can be forgiven for not getting this rather complicated version of change.

With the cardinal cross hitting the chart in the summer I thought perhaps the Renminbi might be allowed to float at this time. However there were clearly still currency pressures that would exist at the year end.

There was no float but total cross-border renminbi transactions hit 58.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, 13 times the amount of one year earlier and this is attributed to China's continued efforts to make the currency more international while still controlling any attempts at speculation. Another pretty damn good prediction.

In 2011 I predicted continued changes (due to the Uranus aspects to Mars and Jupiter) and that some of the currency pressure would reduce after April.

In fact in early 2011, China took a further step towards increasing its currency’s global role, allowing domestic companies to move renminbi offshore for investment purposes. Mainland companies can now use the renminbi to launch businesses overseas and fund acquisitions.

Furthermore Rumours suggest that Beijing is now in favour of further appreciation and as of May China is considering letting foreign investors to invest directly in Renminbi.

HK$
We can’t consider the Renminbi without the HK$ these days. Again I recklessly produced a forecast for an apparently fixed currency rather than look at something that would move. I thought that 2010 would prove a critical time for the HK$. I extrapolated to suggest that people would be speculating in property and other HK assets if they couldn’t trade in the currency and that has definitely proved the case. Another one of those gold stars for me.

I did not forsee a float here over the summer – just a gentle shift in attitude and expected the year to end with a strong impetus for change.

In 2011 I saw this desire continue and that aspects through April would be incredibly positive for the currency. In April Neptune would square Jupiter – there would be more change in May.

In April 28 2011 The FT reported that ‘Hong Kong citizens are increasingly turning their backs on the US$ and momentum to reject the dollar peg is developing! Sorry FT but you are three years late in spotting that one!

The FT said that HK People are increasingly choosing to hold Renminbi both in Hk and on the mainland. Property purchases swell every day as it is a way of being long on the Chinese currency.

My goodness me where do they find this stuff? Oh wait….. I already wrote it in 2008. And this is my hobby – I have a day job doing something else. Really, sometimes I wonder what people get paid for. A gold star? I think I deserve a large gold bar. Oh wait again – I bought some in 2007 in anticipation of western currency depreciations. Just as well I listened to the planets and not to the economists isn’t it?

Hang seng
While we are on the subject of HK assets let’s look at the shares.

I expected the early part of 2010 to be broadly positive but for some tricky trading conditions in late Spring. I expected the chart to be hit by the summer Cardinal cross, though, with a lot of volatility, but to hold together after a few weeks and that the latter part of the year might see speculation.

The year started well and then the index fell a little. After recovering it made lows in May from which it didn’t really recover till September though there was indeed volatility. It then soared from September to November.

In 2011, I forecast relatively benign start but with Neptune reaching a conjunction with Saturn in March/April although somewhat mitigated I expected the enthusiasm to wane.

2011 actually started well with some downturn in March, recovering a bit in April but falling again into the end of May

Now I actually think everyone must be trading on my forecast as this was so accurate….

Shanghai Composite
Back to mainland China now. I clearly found reading the signs difficult in this case- I hedged my bets saying that Neptune could mean depressed prices or delusion. Not much of a trading guide I am afraid. Though I went for rises on balance.

I thought there may be a rally in March 2010 and lots of trade in April. The prognosis for the summer was very good – I did pick late July as a notable time . However the themes for the remainder of the year were more diluted.

In fact this turned out to be mainly all garbage. [thank goodness I stuck to gold bars and not Shanghai shares]. The Shanghai Composite tended to move as the Hang Seng. So after some jitters in February 2010 it continued ok until May when it tumbled. So far not so bad. But it didn’t start to recover until July and didn’t rise significantly till October. Being in the market over the summer would have been a mistake, though buying in July would most definitely not. It did end the year down again though.

In 2011 I expected Saturn to depress prices in January 2011 and that this would continue into February and March. May I assessed as mixed and down on balance.
This is more in line with what has happened with only March to April seeing rises and even then not to 2010 highs. May has been a down month

It is back to the drawing board on this one. But although I misread the signs here I still stand by the astrology which identifies the timing very well- if only I could balance all the factors properly to draw the right conclusions.

Japan
My forecast for Japan in 2010 started with its continued need for a restructured economy although the picture was reasonably positive. March suggested quite radical changes might be needed and April that the Japanese people would be vociferous in their demands for change.

In the early part of the year the flagship company, Toyota, recalled more than 10 million vehicles in an embarrassing safety crisis. And it was the global media rather than the Japanese people who made a fuss.

In June its fourth prime minister resigned in three years.

I believed the impact of the cardinal cross would be mixed. But that there would be some positive changes from Neptunian expansion and these themes would continue through the rest of the year.

In fact total GDP Growth for 2010 was 3.9%, that might not sound much but it was one of the highest GDP Growth for about 20 years in Japan. However the bag is mixed, Japan's economy has been hit by a drop in domestic demand, car sales have been hit after a number of government subsidies came to an end, and a new tobacco tax affected demand for cigarettes. Not to mention the impact of the Yen on exports.

In 2011 I expected little change in January and February but that March April was a critical point. However I saw that leading to better times in the summer.

Of course we all know what happened in March 2011. And for that alone I think I can get another one of those gold bars.

The Yen
The conflict between issues of fundamental value and speculation that I identified in 2009 was, I expected, set to continue in 2010. There seemed to be a critical time around April and May in the currency markets ( we know of course now that that related to Greece etc).

After a mixed start what happened was a weakening in April May with a flight to the dollar ( remember it wasn’t just Greece, there was BP and there was a Korea situation too).

Despite problems in other currencies the Yen still looked a better bet over the summer. And there was definitely speculative buying predicted for the latter months of the year.

Sure enough, after its blip in April/May the yen continued to strengthen against the dollar until the end of the year ( give or take some November volatility)

In 2011 I expected faith in the currency to remain strong until February but saw Neptune reaching the Yen descendant in March April while Saturn opposite Jupiter transited the MC, a key turning point. The picture was less clear in May but still the Yen probably looked ok.

In reality – the currency held its position in the first two months, experienced first a rapid strengthening blip in March after the earthquake then a fall into April as things worsened. However by May end we were back to pre earthquake levels.

The astrology bears out against all odds here.

Nikkei
Until 2009 end, I’ve not been as happy with the Nikkei forecasts as with the Yen ones, but we’ll see how 2010 went.

I expected early 2010 to continue the themes of 2009. I expected little trend activity into April. I then predicted a lot of trade and speculation in the market from May.

The reality saw some of the benefits of late 2009 eroded in January and February though with a continued trend. However there was then rise into May when it got back on trend. Over the summer’s cross I couldn’t read the result back in 2008 and couldn’t tell whether there would be a boom or not given conflicting elements.

From early May the market actually fell right through into September , By 15%
I took the impact of Neptune and Saturn in the autumn to be definitely negative though. I had suggested selling earlier than this. In fact there was some uptick- although not much until November. My bad.

Then Japanese shares rebounded from the year's lows on buying led by foreign investors, with their recovery having gathered momentum since November following monetary easing by the

Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. Overseas investors were major buyers during this recovery on the view that Japanese shares were undervalued compared with those in other developed markets.

In 2011, there was nothing new to report in my forecasts until March, although a better picture than in late 2010.

This was true – the pattern of November and December was followed in the first two months of 2011

I saw a significant shift in March April (that’s 3 Japanese charts picking up that time – must just be coincidence right?) I described it as a pretty spectacular double whammy – I took this to be economic only but in retrospect what better description of an earthquake followed by a nuclear event to fit with the description of double whammy. I stated that we were picking up an event more important than just about the index, and I even noted that it was picking up consumerism and oil ( broaden that to energy in general and you can see how close astrology can get) – I suggested it raised a lot of questions. Quite, though not exactly those I had imagined.

The market fell 20% practically overnight. Since then it recovered half of this lost value but is actually at the same level as December 2009.

I must say I remain perplexed- how could I misread the cardinal cross so badly yet read this more of less unexpected event so well? It clearly can’t be the astrology it must be my interpretation .

I feel like I misread some elements of the cardinal cross and the following months badly across the board especially as regard share prices. A more normal astrologer would have concluded that markets would suffer across the board and then recover a bit. So perhaps I tried to be too complex.

India
I didn’t forecast much notable activity for the beginning of 2010 in India. More of the issues of 2009, when I had expected hardship and a government that did not really have the representation of the people at heart. I had assumed that a Neptune conjunction would lead to the dissipation of practical intentions.

My first major date was April – when I thought there might be leadership or policy direction changes or at least a challenge to the modern India post early 80s. However any coordinated dissent was felt unlikely.

Around this time the Indian government did backtrack on nuclear promises, although whether this qualifies as being such a major policy change is questionable. As we shall see it does have elements that tie to longer term themes though. A cricketing scandal also looked set to turn into a full-blown political crisis In April.

I thought that there would be another shock to the financial system around May but that the immediate term impact would be low and that the impact of the cardinal cross even weaker.

In fact it was around this time April/May that the RBI started to raise rates again – having dropped them to compensate for the global financial problems.

After a quiet few months, I expected that around October 2010 would be more eventful, and that there may be issues that are not been addressed in the economy. I thought this would be economic- but, in fact, from a media perspective, it related primarily to the shambles over preparations for the Commonwealth games. However that does not really cover everything that was happening as the later economic statistics show ( vindicating my prediction).

As I expected, November was mixed. A repeat of some nastier aspects was offset by some stabilising ones. In December there was reactivation of the transiting Uranus to Neptune by Mars.

In fact India’s biggest ever political scandal came to a head Nov. 14 when the telecoms minister was sacked after he was accused of presiding over the rigged sale of (2G) mobile telephone licenses and bandwidth in 2008. Nevertheless the government rammed through some financial bills despite some deadlocks in the following month.

I had also noted that at the year end there was a Uranus conjunction to the Sun of the Bank of India- that would likely mean changes in leadership or direction. Though I didn’t expect the transits to end until the Spring of 2011.

In fact The RBI had upped its rates six times , doubling them to over 6% since March 2010 to normalise a monetary policy that was on expansion mode since the onset of the global financial meltdown.

The problems, I mentioned above, were there all the time; underneath. While GDP growth was great, unfortunately the wholesale price index soared 8.4% and prices of onions, vegetables and other staples rose even faster. The indices suggest they jumped almost 17% in a year. Exports also declined for 12 months in a row. That is not good for a country where people are as poor as India.

In confirmation of my belief that the themes of 2010 would continue into the new year, in February 2011, the Hindu newspaper on March 17 published a secret U.S. diplomatic cable obtained by WikiLeaks that claimed Singh's party had attempted to buy support in a crucial nuclear vote in 2008.

I saw March 2011 as potentially a turning point for the currency and even in the country. But actually rates continued to rise to offset inflation. And the currency continued to fall against safe haven currencies such as the Swiss franc ( though not many others).

May 2011 seemed as if it would be mixed with more tests for the government. According to Newsweek the Indian Prime Minister is the world leader “other leaders love”. India Today, by contrast, found that only 1% of Indians consider him their first choice for prime minister.

However I saw a change coming from June and it appears that the rains have arrived early, are expected to be good and that this will dampen ( no pun intended) food inflationary problems. We need some longer trends to confirm some of my forecasts here.

Sensex
In February 2010 I expected volatility, which would continue until May. A slightly less excitable picture would prevail in the months through July however. August was expected to be a bit of a mixture – more dependent on constituents than the overall trend. October’s aspects suggested that the volatility might return but be calmed by regulatory actions before the year end. These actions would play a bigger part in January 2011 together with volatility and discussion about trends. March2011 I forsaw would be accompanied by some big shifts and a positive outlook.

In fact the year began with falls into February and then some spirited rises and falls into May. What I thought might be a cooling effect on values was however one on volatility and there were rises again into July. August was, true to expectations, more or less flat. There were indeed sudden rises into October and volatility through late November when the market fell a little. But it ended the year not quite at its October high but close which surprised me. However my prediction of government influence does hold with all those interest rate rises.

The index then fell rapidly into February 2011, in line with my expectations and with March as a turning point upwards. However the latter didn’t hold past April. It seems the market doesn’t know how its economy goes and the evidence suggests that the true picture is rather fragile.

I am not 100% confident about my chart for the Sensex and with the Brazil country chart it is on my list of ‘back to the drawing board’.

Indonesia
I expected a lot of imbalances in the Indonesian 2010 economy especially throughout the July and August time in 2010. I also expected impact on the Rupiah and ultimately a fall in its currency after some fluctuations.

I felt that some difficulties would raise their heads in the economy the latter part of the year.

2011 I thought would start quite stable but that there would be a lot of underlying instability to compensate for.

I though the currency might recover but questioned its long term viability.

This is what actual happened.

‘Indonesia’s economy grew at the fastest annual pace in six years last quarter, adding to the case for the central bank to raise interest rates further as inflation accelerates. Rising consumer spending is driving the expansion in the world’s fourth-most populous nation, increasing pressure on the central bank to restrain price gains and protect purchasing power. The central bank has refrained from raising rates since 2008 to support the growth push. But growth was revised down because of domestic-related supply constraint issues caused by weather anomalies that hampered harvests and these caused inflationary pressures mainly from volatile food prices. The inflationary food price problem led to the need to abolish tariffs, import rice and to many more falling below the poverty line. There are indeed significant imbalances that could do with being addressed despite the apparent growth.

The currency had a mixed year. Ending pretty much where it started vs the dollar ( but thus depreciating against other stronger currencies) In August 2010 Bank Indonesia proposed to redenominate the rupiah by truncating the last three zero digits.

In 2011 the Rupiah has strengthened almost every week vs the dollar, although it has still continued to fall slightly vs the Swiss franc just not on the scale that the dollar has.

For a country which I feel my way on, not bad at all.

South Korea
I had already noted that in 2010 there was a key time for South Korea around April and May– though I plumped for economic rather than political drama. The effects appeared to carry over right through into September. I expected some challenges to growth at the end of the year.

In fact we already know that the Korea story of the year was political – and focussed on the relationship between the North and South. The timing of this was pretty much perfect for the prediction and overshadowed any economic reporting at the time

I’ve learnt my lesson on this – when it comes to countries expect the worst- for Korea tough aspects probably mean military matters not a hard day at the factory.

As in many of the other Asian economies we have viewed, South Korea grew strongly – if growing is what so much inflation can be called ( that for another day). However, as elsewhere, the situation is a mixed blessing. President Lee Myung Bak has declared “war” on inflation, with the government announcing price controls and the central bank raising borrowing costs for the third time since the global financial crisis. Furthermore even though South Korea’s economy has recovered strongly from the 2008 downturn, the drivers of that recovery have helped big companies more than individuals and families.

As anticipated South Korea’s economic growth moderated in the fourth quarter as quickening inflation added pressure on the central bank to extend interest-rate increases.

In 2011 with Saturn continuing to inflict hard medicine on the chart, I thought that there might be debt problems in February – there was a double hit of transits then.

However, 2011 started better than expected economically . And of course once again that Saturn wasn’t about the money but about N Korea in February 2011.

Having said that SK did bail out some small banks and there were some bank runs in February: don’t knock the astrologer completely. At least prove you can do better. Yes and over 30 countries and as many currencies and markets too. Any takers? No. Thought not.

2011-06-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

Let’s go random in this post and jump around the world hoovering up the outliers.

Australia
As I forecast the Australian economy missed out on negatives from cardinal square in 2010, continuing to boom on the back of its commodity base.

Politically it was affected though as on 24th June Gillard replaced Rudd as Prime minister but was then confirmed in place by the election of last August. I didn’t pick this up from the chart – but in terms of overall power not much changed so that is not so much of a surprise. Still worth another peak to see what I missed.

In my forecasts I also expected the currency to continue to rise in 2010, however I expected this to be accompanied by some shocks and, sure enough, there were a series of interest rate rises in the first half of 2010 and again in November.

The Austrailan dollar remained strong but volatile due to the interest rate rises and the US$ trajectory. Against the Swiss franc it has no discernible trend throughout the 18 months to May 2011.

I noted that the situation would become harder in December 2010 and the floods in December 2010/January 2011 caused GDP to contract in Q1 2011 – the biggest contraction in 20 years due to the floods in the coal region. Now that’s a prediction to be proud of as it went against trend.

However, I hold my hands up and admit a big error – I predicted droughts not floods. That’s again me not the astrology which, as I say, got the timing absolutely right.

I also liked my comment re immigration changes with apparently some key changes to the system in recent months. I have to say I don’t even know how I managed to deduct this…..! Astrology is pretty cool when treated with respect and due reverence.

Australia was still expected to remain one of the fastest growing developed countries in 2011 due to its combination mining and agriculture. But I felt that some difficulties would be experienced by May and sure enough the government is worried about the increase in unemployment, interest rates have been fixed for 6 months and the A$ has recently fallen a bit vs the beleaguered US$.

Another nice, if not quite spot on, set of deductions.

Russia
Another commodity based country, another country that didn’t get much action with the cardinal cross of 2010.

The economic decline bottomed out at the end of 2009 with big devaluations of the Rouble in late 2008.

I expected some forceful action around April and May of 2010, but the absence of the cardinal cross suggested little over the summer. I expected little new problems of any magnitude for the economy or government until the year end.

The nation was not untouched by the cross however with the, mentioned, wide Saturn Pluto configuration activated leading to severe drought and fires in July and August which reduced agricultural output.

Overall, however, 2010 was indeed considered to be a good year for the country as much of the 2008-9 problems were stabilised. GDP grew by 4% in 2010 and inflation was high. As a result, Russia raised rates to 8% in early 2011 and then again to 8.25, but given they were over 12% in early 2009 this is hardly revolutionary. Bank reserves requirements were also increased in early 2011.

The Rouble has risen to highest against dollar since 2008. It has been rising since beginning of 2010- it rose rapidly in first 4 months of 2009, and has continued volatile since then. Versus the swiss franc it depreciated June to December 2010 but has been flat for much of 2011.

A let down however was my prediction for leadership difficulties at the end of 2010 and early 2011; the only evidence of these was lower poll ratings. In fact events of the Jupiter Uranus conjunction manifested through a terrorist attack at Moscow airport in January 2011 instead.

My highlighting of March & April turned out only to be regional polls, although they were accompanied with the usual accusations of corruption.

Russia is also focussing on its communications and software status in 2011 in line with my expectation that change is in the air.

A bit of a mixed bag this- could do better but given what was happening when I was preparing my forecast I think I did well to forsee getting back on an even keel so rapidly.

Saudi Arabia
Saudi continued to rise above the global economic storms of 2008 as it posted 3.8 GDP growth in 2010 on the back of its commodity base. Its currency peg to the dollar is of limited impact in the shorted term despite the currencies depreciation because of the benefits from the rising oil price.

As I forecast the country went on much as ever during the whole of 2010.

Around April 2011 I forecast more activity but only a rather more extreme case of the same. And, although in 2011 Saudi Arabia has not been completely immune from the ‘Arab Spring’ with a “day of rage” on 11 th March and continued minor protests through into May and of course the inevitable bans on them, in comparison with many other middle eastern and North African countries matters have been relatively subdued.

This might however change in the next few months if my prediction is correct.

South Africa
My predictions for security issues surrounding the world cup could have been completely off track but I concluded in the end that much disruption could be avoided. Security was tight and nothing much of a global nature happened – although there were many unpleasant events surrounding the cup these were mainly focussed on a number of European teams rather than spectators or local population!

I predicted that the economic benefits wouldn’t last however, and while there was small growth in 2010, and trade with China is also rising, growth was indeed below potential and tailed off after the benefits of the World Cup.

I predicted increased demand for the rand in mid 2010 and on going issues surrounding this into 2011 and sure enough the rand has been strong in keeping with other commodity backed currencies- gaining 30% over less than 3 years due to capital inflows and this has an impact on the wider economy.

I suspected that early 2011 would see less economic optimism, and that there would be more emphasis on the internal problems . The economic situation seems to be as I expected. Furthermore the Zuma government is trying to take action on key issues such as crime prevention ( there is continued violence in townships due at least partially to unemployment levels of 40% in some parts)and a plan to test 15m for HIV by mid 2012. Fascinating.

Although not as fascinating as the fact that, elsewhere, I predicted the World Cup winner before the first match in SA began. Now that is a real prediction given that it was based on a chart for the 15th century. Astrology really is quite extraordinary.

Turkey
Much of my forecast for Turkey in 2010 was positive. Although I expected June to September to have some internal issues, my expectation was that any issues would more likely be political rather than economic though.

In fact Turkey was the fastest growing nation in Europe in 2010 with 8%GDP growth and a good recovery coupled with stock market highs. Interest rates were 7% from May to November , to deter speculative capital.

However the situation is not perfect with Euro exports down, energy prices problematic and currency risk hovering over the externally funded debt.

The Turkish Lira – for a long time a depreciating currency - has managed to track the dollar for much of the last 18 months, although it has declined significantly vs the Swiss Franc. Perhaps this tells us more about US$ woes than Turkish Lira strength but it does prove that there are big shifts in power in the world today and that Turkey is a pivotal nation.

I also expected issues from summer of 2010 to resurface in early 2011 but probably peter out with perhaps a few policy changes.

But by the far the most interesting element of my forecast was the advance of Pluto to the Ascendant which I anticipated would mean Turkey would be pulled into international issues. What I did not know ( having looked at none of the Arab countries but Saudi Arabia) that so many of Turkey’s neighbours and Arab partners would be dragged into the Arab Spring uprisings. As I write its borders are being inundated with Syrian refugees.

It is such a beautiful manifestation of that Pluto aspect that I am rather pleased with my identification of this in the chart of a closely associated nation but one that is not directly impacted. Although obviously from a responsible citizen perspective I do not applaud civil unrest and/ or retaliation anywhere.

I have June to September as a good period; and with the election on 11 June 2011 appearing to see the incumbent returned to power there is no reason to doubt this.

2011-06-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

And finally, or first if you are starting in chronological order, the risky collection.

I updated the political risk countries last May, so we’ve only a year to cover on this one and although lots has happened, none of it particularly takes us any further forward either way.

Let’s start with North Korea
My forecast for the second half of 2010 seemed mainly to be about a depressed economy. Lack of accurate information prevents me from assessing whether this was true – although there is speculation about continued famine there. I missed the re-lighting of the tensions with S Korea following the island shelling of late November 2010 and the situation that followed it.

I noted a change around March April 2011, including a more outward looking influence and sure enough there is a development as NK sets up an economic zone with China. Though it is not clear how this will play out. I note that I expect even bigger shifts soon ( July- though could be sooner given the upcoming eclipses)

Pakistan
My forecast for Pakistan was integrated with my Indian security forecast. However it was noteworthy that the forecasts diverged more than converged. Pakistan’s continued terrorism problem did not abate.

Probably my gold medal award here goes to my comment for last spring/summer suggesting ‘possible floods’ although to be fair that has got to be the understatement of the year. And they were slightly later than I expected. However my estimation that the focus for the remainder of the year would be economic depression was correct – estimates are that the GDP growth rate of 4% prior to the floods turned to up to -5% after.

I expected more action in early 2011- though I didn’t predict the earthquakes. The change of year coincided with a breakdown of the coalition and assassinations.

And internal terrorism continued of course. With something happening most days it I difficult to pinpoint any difference in the month of March that I highlighted- though disruptions to power supplies on 19 March in one district definitely align with the Uranus Mars configuration I mentioned.

I saw attention turning back to economic matters by May. Which, given that the month started with the US finally tracking down Bin Laden in the country could perhaps be described by critics as my worst forecast ever (*). Although actually talk now is in fact about the budget and government so perhaps I was more accurate than I give myself credit for.

Looking now at my earlier forecast again, I’d suggest that around October through December things will definitely heat up in terms of terrorism and/or political change.

(*) Interesting to note the stellium of planets including the Jupiter Mars conjunction is concentrated in the Pakistan 12th house a good representative of a concerted attack on hiding terrorists.

Israel and Iran
Unlike my economic forecasts my forecasts for Iran and Israel only extended to early 2011, so I don’t have much in the way of forecasts to assess.

Israel
I have to smile when I read my forecast written in 2008- For around May 2010 I had written ‘the problem with these aspects is they are “not very rational …do something at all costs .. worry about the consequences later”. I might have thought this would relate to relations with Iran, but in other respects it proved spot on.

Israel has a remarkable tendency to shoot itself in the foot. And it proved this quite conclusively with its raid on the peace flotilla at the end of May 2010. For a country so concerned with its image in the rest of the world this was a PR disaster. Whilst from the individual’s point of view there were personal tragedies, from a country point of view the one I feel most sorry for in this case is the US who were damned if they did and damned if they didn’t condemn the action. Well, no, I lie, I don’t ever really feel that sorry for the US.

Israel then went back to focussing on what it does best- cursing the Palestinians. Despite attempts at peace talks in September 2010, and attempts to revive some elements on concord into 2011, we are pretty much nowhere

Don’t they ever get bored of this? Because I am already. I thought that there would have been resolution one way or another after all these aspects, but it seems it can be dragged out for ever. Suppose I better update the forecasts, if I can be bothered to care.

Iran
The Iran/ Israel nuclear dispute has been kept rather low key over the last 12 months, although one can be sure that it is still high on the tacit agenda. Iran itself didn’t really have much going on worth noting from Summer 2010 to early 2011. In February 2011, however, it joined with much of the Arab world in having some protests. These however are not on the scale of other countries and not publicised. There is, at this point, not much to say.

Interestingly, I saw things not being moved forward in Iran until February 2011, Indeed looking back my timing fits well with the protests which started with the 2009 election and then flared up in February 2011, though maybe someone just read my blog and acted accordingly ;-).

As I say I haven’t looked at 2011-12 so that is something for the coming few months. Yawn.

'Universe - that isn't funny!'

2011-03-12T01:09:00.000-08:00

Last week I bemoaned the fact that the big events over the last 18 month seemed to happen in countries that I hadn't analysed.

What do you know.. a few days later and the Universe provides an earthquake in Japan. A country that I have, of course, analysed. I could have accepted an event somewhere, to keep me on my toes, but not one that killed so many people. Be careful what you wish for.

I am afraid that it is no consolation that I identified March April 2011 as a critical time in all three Japanese charts.

However on the strength of actually getting a predictive result I will be back next weekend with my review and plans for the rest of 2011.

back in business..

2011-03-06T14:10:00.000-08:00

I am horrified to find it has been almost 10 months since I last posted here. This time I have no astrological excuse, this was not due to any Neptunian procrastinations on my side, instead I have just been preoccupied with the ordinary events of everyday life and really didn't have anything more to add to what was written.

However, my blog is due a review of 2010 ( which already seems a lifetime away), and this will follow in the next few weeks. After which I hope to get back to at least some topical analysis of my existing predictin choices and prehaps even some additional forecasts.

In the meantime, a few comments to entertain you:

Some people, questioning the validity of astrology yet open to other esoteric explanations, have suggested that psychic powers play a part in accurate forecasting. Whilst I would be foolish to deny a certain type of psychic energy operates during the interpretation process, I hope those people who credit all predictions as sourced this way will eat their words. And share some of my amused frustration in the process.

Why? Because,although my actual prediction record is rather good, my selection of targets for analysis shows a distinct lack of extrasensory ability. If I was talented in that direction I would in 2008 have added to my list of countries to be analysed all of the following: Chile, Haiti, NewZealand, ( all subject to earthquakes in the last 15 months), and all of North Africa, currently the focus of major political turmoil. The fact that I dismissed all these countries as not worth worrying about in the general scheme of world events is surely conclusive proof that my psychic talents are, frankly, pretty pathetic. [Aside from the fact that I am spectacularly unlucky!]

It is also the reason that someone should be funding me to take on staff so that we can cover every single country and market, but that is another story...

That's all for today. Look out for the review of 2010 and where I think we are going in 2011 soon..It had better be soon as it definitely looks like we are going there......

Bordering on conflict- May 2010 political risks update

2010-05-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

Economics is one thing. Writing about controversial political situations is another. An update on my three key risk areas is in order, but I will be brief and circumspect.

India and Pakistan
My view of Pakistan has been relatively correct. My original prediction was for continued internal problems, but little cross border open dispute.
But I was mistaken about the Indian internal political situation in the first half of 2010. The government is intact. However The Maoists, who apparently do seek to overthrow the Indian government, have stepped up attacks recently. In April, they killed 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh state. Although they deny yesterdays train disaster, it is clear that what has happened is in line with the Uranus transit etc discussed.
I have nothing to add to that at this stage.

Israel and Iran
Always sensitive, I tread on eggshells when I write about these two. However there is little concrete to say. Iran, after its internal issues last year, has been in the background recently, though there have been pushes for more sanctions during this spring.

The chart for the summer seems relatively quiet though. September looks a bit more unsettled. Still one can’t be sure how wide the orbs might be on this one and Mars could trigger events in late June – 1st July or in early August.

Israel’s immediate issues continue to be with Palestine. But it has been stepping up its capacity to fight externally. "This capability can be used for a war on terror in Gaza, for a war in the face of rockets from Lebanon, for war on the conventional Syrian army, and also for war on a peripheral state like Iran," said a Israel spokesman. It does seem to be itching for action. But even Israel has less in its chart in the early cardinals than in the later mutables so we could see very little action even from them for a few months. Although one can’t totally ignore the dates mentioned above, given that the two have survived much worse transits by keeping to rhetoric rather than guns, I am hopeful that we don’t have problems here yet.

North Korea and S Korea
I considered NK in isolation before and only looked at SK’s economy. I did however spot the potential for political conflict in the SK chart.

‘By April the picture evolves a little: Saturn and Uranus make an opposition across the progressed ASc/Des axis and square the progressed MC. Uranus was square this point when NK separated so its an important point for the nation politically’

But in my NK analysis, I was much clearer, I wrote ‘In April there is a suggestion that there will be a slight show of military force- Jupiter opposes the Sun and Squares progressed Mars, picking up that Pluto and Sun too, and with Saturn once again square the Ascendant axis there is controlled tension within and outside’.

I should have noted the connection between the two remarks!

While I completely believe NK capable of the act, I don’t understand why the existence of a missile that they sell to other countries is evidence of NK direct culpability. Clearly I have no understanding of such subtleties. China hasn’t actually accused them, I find that interesting too.

However my reticence aside, further, under NK, I wrote:
‘The cardinal square over the summer of 2010 picks up first the country’s Saturn and then the Uranus/ascendant. This is a very unstable time- when there could be significant aggression by or against NK. ……………….’ Unfortunately, this still holds.

SK have MC at 29 PI, Prog MC at 29 GE, Prog Asc at 29 VI. Uranus has gone over this point but Jupiter is here and Saturn has yet to cross the point. Pluto opposes its Pluto and will be picked up by the coming June 26 eclipse. Neptune hangs around the SK Uranus, amassing force perhaps?.

I doesn’t really help to be right does it? I hope nothing further develops but it doesn’t look too good.

May 2010 review continued - Asian economies

2010-05-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

Now lets move on to Asia – Pacific. We’ll keep the political issues for the next post, but we’ll see whether we need to update our economic forecasts.

Let’s start with the oldie. Japan.

I predicted a change from around February and it does appear to have happened. It was announced that Japan's exports jumped 40 percent in April, rising for a fifth straight month, due to overseas demand for cars and high-tech goods .But retail sales have fallen and Japanese consumers are suffering more than ever. Despite the high level of government debt, however, 95% of government bonds are held domestically making it less vulnerable to the sort of problems Greece encountered.

I suggested that people may be especially restless in May, when Jupiter and Uranus squares the natal moon and there may be political resistance to change y with Saturn square the Moon. There has been dissent and departure by groups within the coalition regarding a US military base and tens of thousands of locals are alleged to have gathered in protest in the last month However I though the people would be much more unsettled due to the economic situation- I suppose it is not the Japanese culture to protest.

What about the summer? Japan has Jupiter at 0 Capricorn, and progressed Mercury at 1 degree. However it gets support from Mercury in Pisces and progressed Neptune in Gemini. It seems that the mixed themes will continue. It doesn’t look like there is too much of a trend here.

The yen chart has progressed Sun and Venus in early Libra and progressed Saturn at 3 Capricorn. So the Saturn/Pluto square has already touched it, and this led to a change of direction for the currency at the end of 2009, yet overall the chart has been positive - it also has prog Uranus at 0 Leo. My expectation the May critical time for currencies was born out by the Euro. Yet, as I suspected despite the anticipated fluctuations, the yen remains stronger than at 1 January vs even the dollar – Uranus was trine the progressed Mars. I don’t expect much trend change in the next few months – though there might be some sudden movements.

The Nikkei has followed the other markets, rising then falling in 2010- it is now 10% below its January level. My predictions were fine for the first 4 months but have gone seriously awry in May. Why? Well I could blame a Uranus square ( Uranus being allegedly about the unexpected), but I don’t subscribe to the view that it can’t be predicted. I am more inclined to blame the fact that I completely failed to mention/notice the square between the natal Saturn and progessed Asc in place from the end of 2009 and Neptune creeping close to a square to them (Of course Neptune is always involved when I make mistakes!). However transiting Saturn will stabilise this in the next 2 months. So I do see some positives in the next months though perhaps not as much as I originally anticipated.

China
Japan was the most difficult of the Asian charts. China is much easier.

The Renminbi has been interesting – with talk of revaluation ( it never got as far as I expected to real revaluation) turning to reverse in a flash after the Euro troubles at right on track for the Uranus square ( yes, you see, Uranus is predictable!). Where is it going now? I still expect change in the rate with Mars/Juputer at 3 Cap right under the cross. That Pluto trine the Renminbi Saturn will be picked up by the prog Moon by the end of June –Surely the dollar/Renminbi can’t resist that? Maybe – the critical degree is 5 not 4.

With the peg in place the currency doesn’t not necessarily follow the country. China has continued its growth so much so that regulation on house prices has been introduced. Elsewhere, the Foxcomm suicides have hit the news but must be put in context of company specifics in a country of 5billion people.
However analysis suggests that the latest generation of migrants are finding the challenges tougher and there is growing anger at the perception that much personal wealth is the fruit of corruption, not hard work. Research suggests Chinese people have faith in their ability to improve their own lives often surpassing respondents in capitalist countries, including the US, but this very optimism can lead to disillusionment. This seems to reflect well the difficulty presented by Neptune square the MC- and the Chinese attempt to shut down media reports internally confirms my original expectations.
Although we have the square across the country’s Uranus at 4 Cancer, the natal Moon and Jupiter in Aquarius may be moderating the effect of the Jupiter/Uranus/ Saturn opposition. As I have said, China is sensitive to Uranus in the early degrees of the cardinal signs so I expect events to accelerate from around the June 26 eclipse onwards. As I say, a few suicides is hardly the stuff of China’s past experience with Uranus, so perhaps there are other issues to come. The apparent moderating influence may turn out to be a catalyst. The trouble is, if China are successful with moderating media coverage, I might never know.

The Shanghai composite after an early positive start to the year, has fallen from 3200 to 2600, mostly in the last few weeks: the regulatory intervention I expected, the trend in May I got wrong again. I am attributing this to Neptune again, square the index’s Mars. However I am still concluding that the market will rise again over the July- August period. Interestingly, this suggests more risk appetite which seems to discount the possibility of generalised financial problems elsewhere

Hong Kong
I have no comments to make about the HK$, other than to say I still suspect changes in the coming few years. Note September’s natal Mercury retrograde for this one

The Hang Seng has fallen from 22k to 19.5k since January, most recently over the last 6 weeks – as the progressed Moon has interacted with Pluto at 4 degrees Capricorn. That moment is gone, but the HS has Mars at 0 Cancer. However , Saturn in early Pisces is supportive but a prog MC at 1 Scorpio is less helpful ( quincunx Uranus and Jupiter). I’ll stick with my forecast of this being a bottom though whether the upturn is now or Autumn, I’m not sure.

India

The country’s industries are booming (compared with the Western ones) But there are problems. Having recovered from a hard year last year, hit by the global recession and last year's poor rains which ravaged farms and hit growth, food price inflation is 16% and they are waiting for this year’s rains. The inflation must be the impact of the Neptune progressed Asc. I suspect they will get the Monsoon now as Saturn goes direct and moves away from its opposition to Neptune and that progressed Asc and its square to the prog. MC.

I am less clear about the impact of Jupiter Uranus square the progressed MC this month. There has, in a way, been a question over the impact of Euro/UK focus derived from the expansion of the last few decades – with the depreciating Euro and sterling challenging the outsourcing industries. But there has been no impact on leadership or government though, despite my expectations. It is difficult to unravel conflicting signs – in this case a square to the Prog MC offset by a trine to the natal one.

I still see little action in the early cardinal degrees. Rather I am not now looking at the recent conjunction with Neptune and the prog Asc. opposed by Saturn and picking up the MCs as representing the start of a new long term cycle focussed on internal consumption rather than exports. There is planned investment in healthcare, infrastructure and skills as well as food guarantees for the poor.

The Sensex index has fluctuated by about 10% in 2010, with lows in February and May, and highs in early January and early April. It really has just followed the global market trends so far. And overall shows little direction. I originally said that lack of trend would continue over the summer and don’t see reason to change my assessment now.

Australia
I really don’t have any thing to add to my earlier Australia forecast. A number of rate rises have fulfilled the Saturn square Neptune, Neptune trine Neptune configurations. Australians are less optimistic which given the ongoing growth in the economy is presumably what the rate rises were introduced to do.

The Aussie dollar has weakened vs the US$ dollar, but that is again more a reflection of the dollar strength.

Indonesia
After a relatively good 2009, GDP growth is forecast to rise to 5.5 percent in 2010. For the full year, exports are forecast to rise by about 11 percent, based on the forecast increase in world trade and firm prices for commodity exports.

So far Indonesia has been doing ok this year. And the Rupiah has kept up with the dollar, more or less. But I expected the Indonesian economy to be affected by the upcoming squares, with prog Venus and Neptune in early Libra. Still, there is one thing I missed before, the Moon in early Sag suggests that the people still aren’t too affected. We’ll see, I’ll stick with some difficulties in the coming 3-4 months but I could be wrong and the country could continue to shine.

S Korea
With an MC and progressed Asc at 29 of the mutables, Korea has been a bit in the news in the last couple of weeks ( as transiting Uranus did its work) but this is about economics – we’ll do international relations problems elsewhere.

Growth Is expected to be more than originally forecast . Things have been going well economically this year and the Won has not moved significantly vs the dollar ( and I have done little work to merit a forecast of it).

I mentioned engineering advances and it appears that ‘ Korea’s profile as a peaceful nuclear power has risen with the announcement of a deal for its first ever export of a nuclear power plant—to the United Arab Emirates. Since that announcement, Korea has reached an agreement to build a research reactor for Jordan and hopes to win a contract to build a reactor in Turkey as well’

And it also appears that SK is currently in talks with China and Japan about economic free trade area.

I shouldn’t laugh but I wrote ‘Technical problems might surface and apparent breakthroughs turn out to have side effect’. Unfortunately news comes this week, as Uranus and Jupiter transit the MC, of a couple charged for starving their child due to an internet addiction :SK is the world leader digitally and apparently internet addiction is becoming a big problem.

The good old cardinal cross picks up SKs Venus at 2 Aries as well as Pluto at 4 Cancer (and Jupiter at 5). It also activates a square between progressed Uranus ( 1 PI) and Mars (3GE). More news on all fronts should continue.

May 2010 Review continued - The Americas - ex USA

2010-05-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

I’ve reviewed the current situation in these countries and actually there is really not that much to say, that I haven’t already dealt with. However, in the interests of completeness I short summary is in order, and it does give me a chance to add a few comments:

Mexico
I recall that I found Mexico a little hard to read when I wrote it 18 mths ago. My issue was how the transit of Pluto to Neptune would play out. I am never sure about outer planet transits to each other without other triggers and this was a bit of a test.

What it seems to have represented is the ongoing drugs violence and attempts to eradicate it. I perhaps did not pay enough attention to the country’s Mars at 0 Leo in quincunx to its Neptune. But, as the drugs issues had only limited relationship to the global economic situation Mexico has actually been doing not too badly this year ( last year it had to recover from global economic shock of 2008 and flu). With many favourable Jupiter transits at the moment growth for the quarter has been reported at over 4%.

The Peso has also performed better than last year. A low vs dollar in May ( knock on effect of Euro shivers) was not as low as February and of course the dollar has risen a lot this year.

Nothing coming up in the next few months suggests much change from the current pattern.

Argentina
How can I be objective? I have Moon conjunct the Argentinean Jupiter and vice versa. Just as well then that I can report they have been having fun this week with their 200 year celebrations.

The Peso has weakened vs the dollar ( from 3.7-3.9)– mainly since mid April when the bond reconstruction was announced ( but equally probably as a result of Euro). However like the Mexican Peso the impact is not great given the dollars gains. It could continue tricky for a month or so, but after that not much change expected here either over the summer (their winter)

The universe decided to remind me of its never abating sense of humour at this point. I realised that, quite unconciously I had popped across the road and bought myself an empanada de carne for lunch!

Venezuela
It is difficult to tell what really happens in Venezuela at grass roots level. The Chavez spin machine tends to obscure both good and bad. However from what I can find the country has been suffering from the effect of last years power outages ( with its progressed Asc conjoining its Uranus), It is also in need of rain ( Saturn has been stationed close to its Neptune). However there is nothing to suggest that the situation will get any worse as, as I said before, the country is relatively unaffected by the July cardinal cross.

The Bolivar, (a currency born with Uranus/Jupiter which is now without orb of opposition to its progressed Saturn) has been suffering a split personality disorder with 2 rates. Chavez has now banned trading in bonds. Neptune continuing to square its progressed Sun Mars suggests continuing erosion (and a tendency to perform worse than the others in this report) but, again, not any affects from the cardinal cross.

Brazil
My failure in 2009, Brazil seems destined to flummox me. Booming at 6.5% growth, it seems not to care that it has Pluto at 0 Aries, Neptune at 2 Capricorn and Uranus at 3 Capricorn. Perhaps I have underestimated the benefits of its Asc at 0 Pisces and Mars at 3 Scorpio which must have been considerably supported by the Pluto in the square.

On this basis we would expect the positives to continue then . The country also has Jupiter and its IC at 0 Gemini (& thus MC at 0 Sag), which will be aspected by sextile and trine by Uranus Jupiter and Saturn.

Still Uranus conjoining Pluto can’t be that great- perhaps the problem is the political backlash from the Turkey Iran deal it has been brokering.

Its all a bit difficult to unpick and frankly I am not sure I get it at all!

My Brazilian Real forecast for 2009 was much better than the country one and continues to be ok for this year. My suggestion of a turning point around April/May was born out by the announcement of interest rate rises on 28th April. A decline from 1.70 to 1.85 vs dollar followed,( until then the Real had recovered nearly all ground lost in Sept/Oct 2008), though once again the European effect cannot be ignored in this direction. The fundamentals still look strong – with the cardinal cross making almost only favourable aspects to the chart.

Canada
It seems like an anomaly to throw Canada in with Latin America, but actually the charts and the evidence suggest that it is trending the same way ( just from a more stable start). Despite losing some ground vs the dollar in May ( along with most other currencies), the Canadian dollar has still strengthened this year and regained ground lost in late 2008. It is still close to parity

The country is expected to show growth of 3x the average of the G7 for the period and both it and its currency look to continue to be ok for the next few months.

BP - A corporate chart analysis

2010-05-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

I don’t usually do retrospectives, but I thought a little investigation of this was in order.

We are talking about a company that has its progressed Saturn stationed on its natal IC and close to its Sun. Much is expected and responsibility can’t be shirked with that. However could we have predicted just what this would bring and when?

There are lots of astrological analyses of the BP spill, but I just wanted to look at a chart that I haven’t seen considered. BP was obviously incorporated in England. And the spill took place at a drilling point offshore in the Mexican gulf. The trouble with using the gulf chart is that one only sees it in retrospect. I was wondering whether the company chart could tell the story too. But rather than use the UK chart I though I would relocate the chart to Houston (after all oil and Houston are pretty much interchangeable in the US). The chart is stunning even before applying transits, so I checked: BP US HQ is indeed in Houston.

Here is the chart. We see that Neptune conjoins the MC in the Houston relocated chart. It also squares the Asc. Mercury and Saturn sit on the descendant. Where oil is transformed into money we have a potential problem. BP only bought Amoco in 1998, so transits prior to that weren’t a direct problem. Frankly though its not a good chart and so it proves.

The tri-wheel is set for the leak day. We have progressed Sun trining progressed Mars, both at zero degrees (Leo and Aries) it’s great for oil drilling; we’ll get plenty ….. But the Progressed MC is squaring natal Uranus in these months – we are in for a big surprise. With the South Node on the MC things can only go backwards. The transiting Sun reaches 0 Taurus. Boom. (Chiron is at 0 Pisces too). Pluto is situated on the progressed Ascendant trine Jupiter. Oil is literally gushing out. Uranus sextile the natal Moon, Jupiter quincunxes the progressed MC to make it all much more public. Progressed Moon also highlights the Asc that month opposing Mercury and Saturn. BP becomes Biggest polluter. Oh dear.

So the conclusion is that a chart for BP in Houston would have been enough to predict some difficulties.

A month later, and Jupiter/Uranus sits on the progressed Mars at 0 Aries. Oh, well (no pun intended), once Saturn gets to 0 Libra it should be under control…

Much ado about everything -April May 2010 Euro US update

2010-05-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

Once again, it has been a long time between posts. Although I admit to a continued element of procrastination, the main reason has been lack of anything to say.

‘What?’ I hear you explain. Haven’t we had a host of unprecedented events? Volcanic ash, leaking oil, Goldman Sachs legal cases, UK coalitions, a Euro crisis, a flash crash in the US market, Thai protests, the Koreas getting angsty, supersonic jets breaking the speed record, and man creating life. A typical six weeks then, really.

True, it has been busy, but remember; I have been focussing on longer term trends, not the talk of the week. I would need to clone myself 1000 times to achieve such a broad spread across countries together with, for instance, the detail needed to predict a market crash that lasted all of 20 minutes. On the other hand, it could be argued that we’ve got the effects of the cardinal cross over early and it is all plain sailing from here. I am not entirely convinced of this, but when I read of the fact that the US considers the BP spill to be its worst ever environmental disaster, I have to admit that this does fit the symbolism sufficiently.

I’m going to have a quick look at this disaster in my next post but here, nevertheless, with Uranus arriving in Aries, I do think it is time for an update on the cardinal cross of this summer. And I am starting with the USA, UK and Europe

What amazed me as I read through my earlier forecasts in parallel with another look at the relevant charts, was how little I felt I wanted to change.

In the UK, the expectation of public disruption over this summer is perfectly in line with the proposed government budget cuts. There is still a focus on the Bank of England chart with its Mars at 0 Libra, so Sterling must still be vulnerable. Despite the flash crashes and market uncertainty I still see no clear direction for the stock market over the summer ( though the FTSE 100 looks more problematic than the wider market with progressed Venus Jupiter and Neptune at 1 degree Capricorn).

So what about the poor unloved Euro and its countries? Well, Greece’s debt problems certainly confirmed my suspicions by resurging like killer zombies in a horror movie. I was certainly very wrong in April 2008 when I thought that dollar problems would beta Euro ones, even if my 2009 reassessment overturned that. The Euro has now fallen from 1.50 dollars at the end of the year to around 1.23. As I said in the relevant posts the Euro chart angles are right on the cardinal cross. These issues aren’t going away for a few months. I expect the lunar eclipse around 26 June (at 4 degrees with Pluto) and the period of July and August to continue to be disruptive.

Looking at the individual countries , I again can’t see a reason to change my expectations.

France is on schedule and in character, threatening to leave EU and with its usual strikes but really its been relatively stable throughout– The country has an MC at 1 Aries and Sun at 29 Virgo. But it also has a conjunction between Jupiter and Neptune around 0 Scorpio opposite Saturn. In the end, it will calm down again.

Germany, however, has Saturn at 2 Capricorn and Mars at 0 Libra. Unlike France’s demonstrations, German dissent is likely to be less visible but more powerful. Perhaps the aspect is already operating in the enforced austerity of the Mediterranean countries, but I still wonder about its internal effects.

As I expected, Spain despite its construction industry problems and unemployment,has beeen benefiting from its South American connection. And only in May did it get its first bit of excitement, voting for austerity measures (just), and having to help some banks. With only Pluto at 1 Libra affected by the cross, it is still somehow culturally able to deal with obstacles. Perhaps the key is having is Pluto at the same degree as the German and Bank of England Mars’. Ouch, yes, but not for Spain, which is blithely continuing with the help of its Neptune/Uranus conjunction and progressed Mars at 0 Sag.

Italy, with its MC at 29 Virgo has also gone down the austerity route this week with public sector wage freezes and retirement date increases- amid the obligatory complaints. Although the
government seems to be surviving ok. Sadly with Neptune at 1 Aries, on its IC one never really knows what is happening in Italy. I still have my biggest doubts about it, especially in the longer term.

Ireland, who bit the bullet with cuts before anyone, however, has some of the hardest aspects of all of them to come this summer. Uranus at 0 Cancer, Moon at 1 Cap, and an MC at 4 Libra. There are a lot of supporting trines etc, though, including its Jupiter at 0 Aquarius, so expect survival but not after protests. None of these countries need a summer of hot evenings with people loitering on the streets, trust me.!!

So going back to the Euro, what do I think about its survival? That depends not just on Europe but on the US.

So I wrote 2 years ago about this time “ I am not sure the US is ready for all out civil disruption, but it is likely that there will be pockets of it at this time- strikes, trade restrictions, shortages, and in some cases riots may ensue. Unless, there is some natural disaster which unites the nation – presumably with these planets in place earthquakes can’t be ruled out, or perhaps a hurricane hitting the major cities. Note that these are not a prediction – merely possible manifestations of the transits. Considerably more work would be required to identify what creates the disruption and whether it is internal or external. ……..With Saturn on the US Midheaven military intervention is possible- either to keep order or for clear-up”

Turns out we have an oil spill disaster to unite the US against BP and we certainly have the need for clear up (the military announced it was joining it on 28th April, but there are numerous other agencies involved too). Let’s hope that, however bad the spill is, it is the end of the transits to the US chart. But that can’t be guaranteed. Indeed, arguably, the culprit of this episode isn’t the cardinal cross but Neptune opposing the progressed MC. Either way, the US (Sibly) MC is at 1 Libra ( busy degree, huh?!), and the US Venus and Jupiter are at 3 degree and 5 of Cancer respectively. Things may only be getting started. The Federal reserve has its MC at 0 Aries and its sun at 1 Cancer opposite its Pluto at 0 Capricorn. Clearly Pluto has already been busy activating this, however one can’t help think that there are more debt issues out there to be dealt with in the coming few months.

Looking at the dollar chart, the same degrees contain the progressed Mars and angles. Although ‘printing’ with the helpful Jupiter/Neptune conjunction around 0 Scorpio has deferred much of the problems, its ability to assist is weakening and this summer might be the last gasp of bailing before the US too has to take proper austerity medicine.

So, on balance, my original view that this little crisis was not confined to one currency does not change. The Euro remains challenged but with only its angles hit and no planets; the talk of its demise may be a lot of hot volcanic ash cloud. The US$ appears to have reached the end of its monetary elastic too, despite the spin. The Fed has had one too many challenges .Only global cooperation is going to solve this one. I think the Euro is more vulnerable to speculators, due to the situation of individual countries, but that the US is more vulnerable to a problem with its total debt burden.

It is also worth revisiting the US stock market charts. I expected lots of trade but less clear direction and with the Dow at Feb levels that seems about right. The Nasdaq I expected equivalent uncertainty and I noted that in February the progressed Moon would oppose the progressed MC/Saturn conjunction. Sure enough, this led to a low. The subsequent May lows are not quite as bad and although the cardinal cross will transit the Nasdaq Venus and progressed Mars, there is a supporting trine from Uranus to another of those natal Jupiter/Neptune conjunctions – this time at 2-3 Sag. On balance I can’t change my view that despite some fluctuations and the continued international debt issues that index is not going to collapse.

Its always been my view that the impact on the stock markets would not be as depressive as many thought, and almost all the individual market charts have supported this. The fact that I have been right till now, doesn’t alter the fact that I keep doubting the astrology and continue to be very nervous about the whole financial edifice.

Finally, a brief round up of other European periphery countries:
Iceland of course continues to be an international source of entertainment. With its Saturn return at 29 Virgo, and the cardinal cross on its Neptune and Asc at 1-2 Libra, and its MC at 3 Cancer, it isn’t finished yet. Maybe those who are waiting for Katla to follow Eyjafjallajökull won’t be disappointed……Those coming eclipses maybe just what it needs to get going.

All I said about Switzerland was that it would upset others and sure enough it has been the focus of complaints about its intervention in the Swiss Franc/Euro market. I hope it upset a lot of traders.

Russia is interesting. With Neptune, Uranus and the Moon all around 26 degrees, it is almost done with its big transits. With Pluto trine its Pluto it is on a different track for change. But Pluto does square its Saturn at 4 Aries, so while the summer’s cross only touches it, the eclipse in June is more serious, possibly indicating more violence like that of this week, but less economic events.

Review of 2009: all markets

2010-03-07T05:44:00.000-08:00

It’s review time.

A little later than planned, and definitely a lot shorter. Rather than the calendar year we will look at Feb 2009 – Feb 2010. There are a lot of forecasts to look at but I really will try to keep this as short as I can.

Successes
General
Swine flu! Well ok I didn’t actually name it, but in my general discussion of Jupiter Neptune Chiron I identified new diseases/genetic modifications as a possible outcome. Furthermore in Feb 2009 I said “anything that exists in an amorphous/en-mass state can be associated with Jupiter and Neptune together are also characteristic of the combination such as the spread of ….. viruses etc ..”

I also suggested Cancer cures and increasing software virus problems. Both of which were significant in news items during the Jupiter Neptune Chiron conjunction

There were financial successes too:
My initial April 2008 forecast of currency crises in May 2009 was on the surface of it incorrect. But I did revise it in Jan/Feb 2009. In fact this wasn’t really a failure as we now see that there was indeed a currency crisis but it affected all the currencies! As a result we saw huge increases in assets with extreme, perhaps speculative, flows into emerging stock markets.

Unfortunately other than the Shanghai composite and India’s Sensex, I didn’t review any of the emerging stock markets, but I did say in February 2009. ‘there is a currency crisis at the moment : all of them need to fall, the question on everyone’s lips is “against what?” ….. soft commodities and other assets really need to be taken into account.’

I went on to claim Russia would be the most influenced by the Jupiter Neptune conjunction. And at the end of 2009 it was sitting at the top of the list of stock markets. Perhaps not the effect I expected but it can't be argued that my forecast was technically right. In any case Medvedev has in the last months admitted that Russia suffered worse than other countries from the crisis due to the failure of the authorities to change its economic model over the last years.

I also produced a forecast for Argentina which was surprisingly positive given its history and sure enough its stock-market was close to the top of the 2009 list too.

Also conforming the commodities vs. currency expectation; the oil price doubled again during the period, as did Sugar, Copper, Zinc and Aluminium. Indeed there are few commodities that did not increase and many that haven’t gained over the year showed peaks in the May to July period as expected.

Looking at the year in broader terms, my forecast in April 2008 for ever increasing dollars in 2009 proved to be correct. As did my forecast for Sterling.

I forecast ongoing problems for UK property which based on the indices alone did not pan out. But the reality of sales volumes and experience in all but some pockets of the country actually supports that forecast as well.

In many of the major stockmarkets ( US/UK/Japan) I correctly forecast March as a month with significant trading. Though I was less sure about direction. Having said that, I did not forecast major drops anywhere and suggested that the Pluto Saturn square from November would surprisingly not damage the Dow too much. Again all on the ball.

I also predicted that the Dow would lose some old friends. GM and Citigroup did indeed depart though by hook or by crook ( but mainly by government bailout) they survived the bankruptcy I anticipated. An then I suggested that Jan/Feb 2010 would see some big deal making in the UK market. Cadbury and Prudential anyone?

I successfully identified the fact that France wouldn’t be as affected by the recession as the UK, and that Germany would use it as a transformation opportunity. I also spotted that in 2009 Spain would not have much conflict and be less affected in some way despite its construction recession – which proved the case, with their banking requiring less help during the year than others despite 20% unemployment and, as I predicted, some bad statistics in the summer.

Furthermore I predicted that China ‘ did not look too bad’ economically and that it would ‘appear to maintain strength despite the rest of the world’. So why is everyone so amazed it had a good year?! I even spotted it might look at it interest rate in the latter part of the year ( though I was 2 months out on when)

My ‘lots of trade’ on the Shanghai composite March to May corresponded with a rise again. I was one month out on my expected falls (July to Sept rather than the actual which was August to Oct). Although I expected more upside in Jan 2010, I suspect I was right in saying it is now unsubstantiated. I also spotted in my China analysis that the people might be a little deceived by early 2010- the fact their apparent property bubble seems to support.

I predicted the overall continued strength of the Yen despite volatility – and even the fact that it would have a weak patch in the time around March. I even mentioned the conflict between speculative buying of the Yen and Japan country fundamentals.

As well as March’s big moves, I spotted that the Nikkei would suffer from the retrograde in July. that August would see buying and that Oct/Nov would show volatility with a downward bias. It is extraordinary isn’t it?!

I predicted that Australia and Canada would not be so badly affected, including benefits from commodity prices and then less monetary freedom in Australia in second half of year ( which naturally corresponded with their interest rate rises) and that around October Canada’s reputation as being safe would be in focus. In fact CIBC World Markets chief economist Avery Shenfeld wrote. Canadians can count their blessings, from a sounder financial system, a federal government that can afford to run deficits after years of fiscal rectitude, and a household sector that, while facing sharply increased bankruptcies, has been less beaten up on housing and job prospects,"

As mentioned already, in Latin America I found the Argentinean outlook relatively benign too. As so it proved, even though there are now internal disputes about the use of Treasury reserves- which I was one month out on with my ‘surprising steps in terms of reorganising the economic position..the peso I made no overall predictions for direction vs dollar. The Peso weakened vs. US$ until September, which I noted as more activity, but then strengthened until Jan 2010 which I determined as broadly positive for the currency. Still I suspect much closer to the reality than others' forecasts.

In Mexico I made no really dramatic predictions for the Peso and indeed it tracked the dollar most of the year.

Politically I was on fire, I forecast :
“Italian leadership problems” for the period Berlusconi was the subject of sex scandals, and ‘excitement’ in the country in February 2010 when the have had the corporate fraud issues.

More ‘excitement…not currency related’ in Mexico in April ( though admittedly this was bit of an understatement!). I need to work on my excitement analysis - narrow it down a little more. But no one can deny the timing was right.

Also i suggetsed there may be issues of hostility internally for Mexico later in the year and indeed there have been problems with the enforcement of the anti drug cartel matters.

I anticipated the sudden change of government in Iceland and short lived Union dissent in France in March

I also forsaw Iran's difficulties – May into summer when they had election opposition issues. Iran I seem to have nailed completely.

Less so North Korea. Nevertheles I correctly forsaw aggression in March – when they threatened missiles for April and did a major nuclear test in May.

I also said there would be no significant Indian-Pakistan issues – that Pakistan’s main conflicts would be internal and that India would be focussed on economic matters. This was particularly noteworthy given the issues at the time of my forecast would have suggested the opposite. But I was right.

I spotted that there would be more interal action by the government in Russia from February. Medvedev has taken a harder line on internal issues than Putin.

Furthemore I expected a possible resurgence of violence in Northern Ireland which has indeed experienced a number of incidents in the year after at least 5 years of relative calm.

On the other hand I correctly thought that (Southern) Ireland people were disposed to be remarkably tolerant about the economic problems during the year in terms of their response.

I Predicted Bank of England leadership changes in March, In this case, to be fair, we didn’t get a change, rather a very high profile month for Mr King- (the astrology timing was spot on – just my interpretation of how it would play out needed refining)

Similarly the issues I expected regarding the head of the US Fed in November were correct. Re-appointment of Bernanke was a very close run thing.

I said there would likley be aationalisations in Venezuela around November. Which happened on schedule in its banking sector but have also affected other industries such as retail.

Finally, my prediction of stuff going on politically in Germany in September turned out to be correct but not much of a prediction (if I had checked the election time in advance I would have realised what that meant)

Another dumb but not inaccurate prediction was for mid Feb 2010 events in Canada. So that would be the Winter Olympics… doh. I need to actually read up on these countries coming plans first….. that’s right, I don’t generally bother, I really am forecasting based on charts alone.

Failures
I didn’t expect 100% success, and there were one or two areas where I am disappointed:

Probably the biggest was Japan’s stock market. It did ok (in fact it was up 50% from March 2009) and better for many in their local currencies but of the main markets it was the worst performer in local currency terms for the whole year.

I also though that there would be more likelihood of the Renminbi floating around May. But despite the expected pressure from US, this didn’t happen.

I also forecast a significant movement in the Bolivar during the first Jupiter Neptune conjunction. This did not happen. However I also noted that, after not much happening Bolivar wise from August to December, these themes would repeat at the end of the year and sure enough then the pressure got too much and the Bolivar devalued. Right forecast, right aspect, but second transit rather than first .

But I am not happy with almost all of my Brazil forecast. My forecast was for a quite negative year, whereas Brazil has apparently recovered well so far from the financial crisis. The Real has continued to climb versus the dollar since march 2009. Certainly there don’t appear to have been major leadership issues in November other than objections to the Iranian leader’s visit for example. Protests mentioned in the forecast occurred but were mild and localised. The only corresponding events are Lula’s rhetoric in September re the developed countries etc and his speech re the oil deposits and a “new Independence Day. Lula’s latest oil development plans have met some opposition but not as much as my prediction anticipated. The only part that seems to correspond is the stimulus in December together with an expectation that February 2010 would bring a liquidity hit, and the Real has fallen in the month vs. the dollar. It might be necessary for me to go back to the drawing board on this chart.

Some of my economic forecasts on re-reading seem a bit vague: Switzerland and Italy for example. In fact in both cases the aspects clearly just weren’t strong enough to indicate trends so my predictions have come across as muddy. In fact not too much happened economically in either case relative to the rest of the world.

Politically, I thought there might be more Tibet issues, but there weren’t. Though there was violence in Ürümqi, the North west of China in the early summer.

I expected more issues around North Korea leadership, especially in August, which didn’t happen.

And finally I forecast more relating to conflict in Israel in May- though they did set fire to Palestinian crops on 4th of that Month.

Seeking perfection
If I am depressed it is because I didn’t get everything right! And because I seem to be able to identify political issues more concretely than market direction, which is a shame when I am an economist and finance person with no background whatsoever in politics! But, really, looking at the list I did spectacularly well and even when I failed to interpret the aspects perfectly the astrology got the timing spot on. And, for many of these countryies it was my first forecast and I was working with an experimental chart. On balance -Nice. I've given myself a gold medal ;-)

Greece: 2010-2012

2010-02-22T05:25:00.000-08:00

Now this is more fun, eh? Looking at somewhere where the action is now.

Let’s look first at what constitutes the Greek chart. With the noon chart (caveat emptor – not a timed chart) we have a Sun, Mercury conjunction on the MC square another conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter. The Moon is square a conjunction of Neptune and Uranus and opposes Pluto and Chiron. That is interesting – an outer planet collection that touches the people (described by the moon ) but not the administration ( described by the Sun), we’ll have to see how this plays out.

It is also interesting because the Neptune and Uranus conjunction falls right across the IC of the Euro chart and the Moon on its Ascendant. It is not difficult to see how that is playing out…. (Someone really should never have let them join with such a chart!)

The chart is completed by an opposition between Venus and Mars. Which would be a minor consideration but Venus is the chart ruler.

During the decade which has led up to these problems progressed Mars was working its way through an opposition with the country’s 12th house Pluto

It is also interesting to note that in 2004, the Greek olympics year the progressed Sun was 180 degrees from the natal Sun ( and in the noon chart so was the MC). Of course all this was square the Jupiter Saturn conjunction again- multiplying the normal Greek issues. No wonder the debts just kept getting bigger.

There are currently a number of active progressions : Progressed Sun is trine Pluto, Progressed Saturn in trine with natal Mars, Progressed Mars conjoining the Moon and the progressed Ascendant activating the Sun/Saturn/ Jupiter square. And finally, progressed Jupiter is about to change signs in March for only the second time since the formation date. That much action, all for one little country….

Incidentally a key debt/mega wealth signifier is Jupiter /Pluto. Greece did not have this at the date of foundation, but by progression it now has a sextile between these planets.

2010
Now, in February 2010 is not a surprise to see Pluto transiting the Uranus/Neptune conjunction and Saturn smack on the Moon and progressed Mars, because of the relationship between this configuration and the Euro. We have a Euro problem and the source is the Greek nation’s nature in regard to money and government. Pluto and Saturn are excellent at bringing chickens home to roost – and with the Greek configuration they have been rather wayward hens. Whispers of the problem have been around since Pluto and Saturn started their square in November. But it has all come to a head during the Jupiter sextile to the configuration too. Proof that Jupiter isn’t always as charming an influence as we might wish – sometimes it just magnifies the problem.

So, Saturn is retrograde and will be popping back into Virgo soon, presumably that will be the end of the matter? Sadly of course, it is only the beginning….

March, however will likely see things calm down a little as the square separates, but with Neptune quincunx the progressed Sun and Uranus transiting the country’s Pluto the underlying problem isn’t going away.

Sometime this summer, I’ll say June as that is when Uranus and Jupiter enter Aries but it could be May or July, the situation will flare up again. Let’s look at the aspects : Saturn conjoins the Greek Moon and progressed Mars, Pluto transits its Neptune and Uranus and Uranus and Jupiter conjoin the Pluto. Full house. Shall I elaborate? No, I think we have the picture. Then again, maybe we don’t- perhaps this comes to a head because of other Euro countries, rather than Greece itself.

And just in case we think that it will pass quickly – the arrival of the progressed Moon at zero degrees of Virgo square the progressed Jupiter in September suggests otherwise.

The last three months of the year are characterised by the Uranus Jupiter conjunction retrograding over Pluto and trine the progressed Sun. Although not a direct challenge to government, given the circumstances we can imagine some major changes.

2011
As the themes of those last few months continue into 2011, Saturn moves on to square both the progressed and natal Mercury positions, restricting communications, exchange and activity in general.

By the time Jupiter returns to the early degrees of the cardinal signs most things are likely to have happened, never but there is still likely to be a lot of speculative trading involved at this time. This is supported by Neptune moving into a square with the progressed Jupiter. This is highly inflationary.

By April Jupiter reaches the Jupiter/ Saturn conjunction and squares the Greek Sun, we have more issues with government but generally this is probably a positive move for economic growth. Expect some optimism.

In May the progressed Moon reaches Mars and trine progressed Saturn, which is actually a relatively positive prospect – suggesting working towards solutions. In July Jupiter crosses the Descendent and reaches progressed Saturn the following months, suggesting a shift in the mood.

Uranus continues its dance over Pluto throughout this time but it is important to note that though this might be a major event in most cases, in the case of Greece now it is less significant that what has already occurred. Nevertheless it is a generally unsettling influence.

And Saturn opposes the Saturn Jupiter conjunction and squares the Sun in October, so the optimism and economic improvements may be short lived. In November the two themes conflict as Saturn squares the Sun and Jupiter retrogrades over the ascendant.

So throughout the winter we have attempts to grow and expand offset with restrictions and difficulties.

2012
January to March continue with more or less the same aspects in place. Tricky for the leadership but with attempts to improve the overall situation. Unfortunately the presence of Uranus in square to the Greek natal Uranus/Neptune conjunction still will cause unexpected speculations and trades that will not settle down yet, and with the Moon and progressed Mars involved even actual disruption of activity.

Nevertheless April and May aren’t to bad at all with Neptune sextling the aforementioned Neptune conjunction and diluting some of Uranus’s instability, Pluto trining progressed Mars and Saturn and allowing restructuring and work towards a better economic future and Jupiter making some lovely aspects to Mercury. Much headway can be made with these during this couple of months.

Although Saturn is still opposing Saturn and Jupiter and square the Sun, in June, there is a feeling of positive change engendered by Jupiter’s transit over the progressed Jupiter and subsequent aspects to progressed Mars. Whilst not everything is resolved there is a much improved situation.

But Uranus is still opposing the progressed Mars and squaring Uranus even in December, there is still a lot of background dissention.

Chart
Formalisation of independence
1 Jan 1822 (OS) noon local time Athens Green
Source: N Campion, Book of World Horoscopes

Indonesia: 2010-2012

2010-02-22T05:16:00.000-08:00

I can’t claim that I am not interested in Indonesia because I’ve never visited, as I have. But there is a vast difference between interacting with a country for business and lying on a beach. I don’t have a feel for it at all. I doubt this will be one of my best analysis, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

It is tempting to use a chart for Indonesia that predated this one, But the only one I can find represents the union of the island under Dutch rule such as the nationalisation of the Dutch East India Company on 1 Jan 1800 and this seems to predate any feeling of unity, so I will go with the independence chart.

Indonesia has the 1945 conjunction of Jupiter Neptune and Chiron, so writing about it before last year would have been a trifle wiser. Too late, but perhaps I will be able to refine by views of the conjunction as interpreting it seems to be my weak point.

Other notable factors in the chart are a very close conjunction between Mars and Uranus, a permanently unstable feature, and perhaps a reason I should use the later confirmation of independence chart. The country also has a Saturn Venus conjunction on the MC, and a Mercury Moon square. A bit all over the place and conflicting really. The progressed chart sees a long term sextile between Jupiter and Pluto which perfected in 2008, suggesting growing power – in this case with the Neptune conjunction the services sector is more important than engineering etc and part of the configuration probably represents faith rather than economic power or perhaps just a representation of the demographics as this is a rapidly growing population. Interestingly 2008 was the year Indonesia withdrew from OPEC as it was no longer a new exporter of oil.

It should also be noted that the Rupiah ( decreed by law on 3 October 1951) has its MC, Sun, and Saturn around the same degrees of Libra and opposite Jupiter. As the country goes so does the currency.

2010
Transit wise Pluto has recently been squaring the Neptune conjunction in the chart and Saturn has been transiting it since November. However these are subtle long term influences and will probably need the impact of Uranus and Jupiter in the coming year to crystallise into anything event wise.

Although we had a Neptune conjunction of the same nature in the sky in 2009, it made no aspects to the equivalent configuration in the Indonesian chart. Instead it opposed the country’s Sun – which of course meant corruption allegations against the president. However a simultaneous trine to the progressed Sun was protective in the main. Uranus has been trine the deepening Saturn Mars conjunction but will move on now and the issues of this conjunction will be on a back burner for a few more years.

Indonesia has not been immune to the global economic downturn, with exports affected but with such a low level of per capita income and unemployed, the marginal impact on the country as a whole is hardly like that for nations with richer populations. Furthermore despite attempts by the government to increase expenditure to cushion the economic slowdown, the budget deficit is only around 2.0% of GDP, New measures to expedite spending and stimulate the economy are being implemented (1) but it remains to be seen whether that will be enough to compensate for global shifts.

So where is the country heading?

Pluto will continue to square Neptune throughout the year but, by May, Saturn will conjoin the Indonesian Jupiter and Uranus and Jupiter will oppose it. The cardinal cross will pull in the Indonesian progressed Venus through July and August. Given what we know already about the significance of the conjunction we can expect major imbalances within the economy. Output and trade is likely to suffer- probably the impact of no longer being an oil exporter has been underestimated and there is likely to be a significant impact on the commodities business of the country too. Furthermore the effect on the Rupiah is likely to be significant, showing major fluctuations and ultimately in 2010 depreciating.

The effect of the cardinal cross continues right the way through to September. Then Jupiter and Uranus have moved away and are trining the Indonesian Saturn again taking the pressure off a little. However Saturn now reaches the progressed Jupiter and sextiles Pluto, definitely the impact of the oil balance will be felt now.

2011
In January 2011 Saturn will trine the Mars and Uranus conjunction, this is a relatively stabilising influence, but with Jupiter and Uranus opposing Jupiter again there is a lot of instability and imbalance to compensate for.

The currency might actually rise this year – or it might be subject to significant speculation with the Jupiter Uranus opposition – either way it looks like losing contact with fundamental value. Perhaps it may be replaced completely.

The two configurations continue throughout at least the first six months of the year . Jupiter moves forward and across the descendant in May, putting the focus further on external trade issues. From then on the picture is dominated by Saturn, first conjoining the progressed Jupiter in August then , moving on to square the MC, and Saturn in October and finally crossing the ascendant and squaring the progressed Saturn and Mars in November and December. All this Saturn suggests either a very depressed business environment and or a restrictive political situation. Saturn was last in this position in 1982,

2012
Pluto and Uranus continue their transit of the Neptune conjunction in the background during the year. For Indonesia this seems to be about long term trends in the economy.

Saturn conjoins the progressed Sun in January 2012, putting pressure on the government and the as it retrogrades a square to progressed Mars and Saturn in May suggests some sort of police or military clampdown. Again the themes continue throughout the year.

Chart
Declaration/proclamation of independence
17 Aug 1945 10 am local time Jakarta Indonesia-
Source: N Campion Book of World horoscopes
1)Asia Monitor Nov 2009

South Korea: 2010-2012

2010-02-22T05:11:00.000-08:00

South Korea is a fascinating development tale and a tribute to the importance of education. Unfortunately it is another country with which I feel little affinity but which I feel must be included in the key economies for completeness, especially as it is currently chair of the G20.

Another Cancer ascendant nation, SK has a pretty powerful Jupiter Pluto conjunction in Cancer, despite its 12th house placement (of which more soon) trining its sun- strong leaders are a feature of the nation ( North and South) and the potential for huge success in a chosen endeavour stands out in the chart. The country has a Mars close to the MC ( which really shows in the people- in my experience they like to work) and a Uranus Moon opposite Saturn- SK even the women are seriously tough cookies in my experience. With its strong manufacturing base it differs from many countries we have considered, and its technology focus leads the world

After a rather tricky Mars Uranus progressed square in 2005-8, at present there are not too many close progressed aspects other than an approaching Sun/Sun square which may prove interesting. There is one long standing progression though – Jupiter to the country’s ascendant which is within orb all decade and will perfect in 2013.

However when it comes to transits the matter is different. Pluto is opposing the country’s Pluto Jupiter conjunction at present, and Saturn is square. This means that some of the industrial success is being undermined by world events. GDP growth fell from over 5% in 2007 to approx zero (est) in 2009. Although SK suffered in 2008-2009 from the world recession it still grew, this aspect suggests it should be careful about over production and focus on transformation and improvement until Pluto moves on in a couple of years.

And as mentioned elsewhere Pluto can be a very dark force. However contrast the SK Pluto transit of the 6th house of work and environment with that of Turkey’s 7th. Korea needs to focus on its internal matters, Turkey cannot help but be affected by the external ones.

2010
Neptune which was aspecting the Moon Saturn opposition is now moving on to conjoin Uranus, which though unsettling is less so than the previous few years might have suggested.

Uranus is transiting the SK Mars which could mean more advances in engineering, although it might also cause some dissent.

Positive aspects from Jupiter to the SK Sun and Jupiter in March will bring good news though .

By April the picture evolves a little: Saturn and Uranus make an opposition across the progressed ASc/Des axis and square the progressed MC. Uranus was square this point when NK separated so its an important point for the nation politically. But this is also good old hard economic stuff, where it is important to balance the old with the new else your economic model comes apart later. Saturn on the IC starts a new cycle while Uranus is completely overthrowing the old. Technical problems might surface and apparent breakthroughs turn out to have side effects. The combination together with Pluto is rather ripe for industrial disasters or environmental scandals.

There is a lot going on here – and I want to keep this short, but with the progressed Moon crossing Pluto and Jupiter in May we have a very important time for the Korean industrial powerhouse from April through the summer’s cardinal cross.

Jupiter joins Uranus in June on the MC – this is all really dramatic stuff – perhaps it is partly due to SK holding the G20 chair and the need for extra key meetings on global economic matters during 2010. Suddenly it seems SK is in the limelight during this cardinal cross for even as Uranus and Jupiter move from the MC they will conjoin the SK Venus and the effect will continue through into September when Saturn squares the Jupiter Pluto conjunction.

A brief holiday in October when the Moon and Sun form a progressed trine doesn’t last as Saturn is squaring that moon and Uranus and Jupiter oppose Mars. I don’t know what the SK inclination towards strikes is but in other nations this would be a likely outcome of this aspect.

The year ends with Saturn squaring the progressed Jupiter /Ascendant conjunction, definitely a time of challenge to growth.

2011
We still have the background unsettling but low key Neptune transiting Uranus during this year but this is not the main worry.

The Saturn aspect continues into the first part of 2011, with Saturn stationed square the Ascendant – this is indeed hard re-evaluation and consolidation and restructuring time.

Pluto also continues to oppose the Pluto Jupiter conjunction, requiring continuing re-evaluation of the impact of SK’s growth. It’s double whammy time too with Jupiter squaring the conjunction in February. A look at whether too much investment has been made too quickly may be in order. So also might take-overs and big debt issues. Although SK is hardly the world leader in debt problems !!!

Really the situation is more or less fixed for the first five months of the year.

Some positive aspects from Jupiter to the SK Uranus, the Pluto conjunction and then to the Sun lighten up the summer a little but Uranus now moves into square the Jupiter Pluto conjunction. This really is a tough time for the industrial powerhouse of SK. September sees the last transit of Pluto but there is still more Uranus to come.

That key period of October 2011 sees Saturn move on from its square too, perhaps the conditions are lifting a bit?

But I’m still not convinced that the country will really see a complete lifting of the overhanging problems until 2012 at least. Trouble is- when you start off with such a powerful conjunction and get all the benefits of the upside, when you get the downsides they are equally powerful.

2012
Does look better though. Uranus transiting Venus might bring some pleasant surprises and the continuing Jupiter sextile Jupiter suggests a pick up in demand and optimism. Saturn trine Uranus balances the new with the old rather than bringing them into conflict and at least for the first three months of the year economy and government look strong; Pluto and Jupiter sextile the Sun in March- that can only be a good thing for the country’s growth.

Positive Jupiter aspects continue, to the Ascendant, to progressed Venus. Mercury and the Sun throughout the whole of the last part of the year. However we still have the Uranus square Pluto Jupiter to content with throughout the year and is will throw some unexpected events into the mix – perhaps in the form of competition from elsewhere or again technical faults which cause problems.

Still it looks as if the worst is over by the end of 2012 – well at least for a couple of years until the Pluto Uranus square hits the ascendant anyway.

Chart
Start of Independence Movement
1 March 1919 14.00 local time Seoul SK
Source : Book of World Horoscopes. N Campion.
Generally people use the 15 August 1948 chart for SK. But after reflection I could see no reason
For not using this earlier one. This is the chart that best indicates Korean national feeling. The chart for NK describes the separation of part of the nation- rather like the Indian and Pakistan situation.

Note on art: No it doesn't completely break the rules, this design is Korean.

Turkey 2010-2012

2010-02-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

Briefly the Turkish chart is characterised by Pluto rising square Mars. The Moon, the chart ruler is weak in the 12th house at 29 degrees 59mins . Uranus conjoins the MC in Pisces. Saturn and Mercury are conjunct in Libra, while Venus and Jupiter are close in Scorpio and square Neptune. With relatively few hard aspects it could be assumed it is a simple chart but the mix of planets and signs make it a curious and complex chart, with no one theme predominating.

Interestingly, although the proclamation is said to have occurred at 20.30 Attaturk was formally elected at 20.45- when the Moon had reached Cancer, and perhaps this makes more sense. The chart Moon is very transient.

In any case, either way, Pluto has recently ( 1-2 years ago) opposed the Turkish moon . Neptune has also been activating the chart – squaring the Jupiter configuration, whilst Uranus trined it. Saturn is in the 4th house having stationed close the IC a year ago. Economically Turkey’s rapid growth from 2002-2007 slowed during this period and the Lira completed its restructuring on 1 Jan 2009. The Lira has fallen since its redenomination in 2005, the Neptune square not being conducive to stability, but the Lira has stabilised a little of late, strengthening vs. the dollar in 2009. The Sun progressed into Aquarius in 2007 indicative of some of the issues around secularism that occurred at this time. They have been interesting times. What next?

Assuming the correct time for the chart, we see that the progressed MC is squaring the natal Uranus throughout this period. Changes will happen both in Turkey and with its partners that will radically change the way the country relates in the future.

2010
The current Pluto Saturn square picks up the progressed Saturn, Sun and Venus – but on balance relatively favourably. Harder aspects to the ascendant and Mars lie in the wings for later. Neptune is opposing the progressed Moon but the aspect is over and the Moon moves on. Uranus comes to the end of its quincunx to Saturn and Mercury. Things are getting quieter for a while.

However Jupiter transits the country’s MC in March, which might throw up some excitement. Its trine to the Turkish Venus and Jupiter in April looks very positive.

In May the retrograde Saturn squares the Moon again, some issues from last October will be problematic. Uranus and Jupiter together also start to square the Moon, expect some divisive events and a not wholly happy populace. 1988, when Uranus and Saturn opposed the Moon was more or less the start of Turkey’s hyperinflation ( though Uranus itself was responsible only for the shift rather than the actual inflation). The issues continue through the effect of the cardinal cross in June to September. I would imagine this to take the form of both political and economic disruption – though it is quite possible that this will reflect external events rather than be caused directly by Turkish policy.

In October and November, Saturn will conjoin the country’s Mars, suggesting a clampdown of some sort on activity, further problems are suggested by the subsequent Square to Pluto and the Ascendant. The economic position is ok at this point though with Uranus and Jupiter trining Jupiter.

2011
Uranus and Jupiter again square the Moon in early 2011- suggesting that any respite is short lived and that summer 2010 problems resurface them. Jupiter’s subsequent opposition to Mars only makes disagreements more out in the open. However Neptune by now has reached a trine with the moon making the mood more diluted – perhaps issues will just peter out. Although with Jupiter opposing the Saturn Mercury conjunction in May we might get some changes in policy/law as a result.

More important is the approach of Pluto to the Ascendant axis during these months. Pluto represents underground change, and it is crossing the Descendant square Mars, there is a risk that either Turkey will be subject to terrorism or serious power struggles. When Pluto squared this point in 1974 Turkey moved into Cyprus. Or, more likely since Pluto is on the Descendant, the country will be pulled into international issues and power games especially since Pluto is also sextile progressed Venus, suggesting diplomacy. Another possibility is earthquakes in the region.

June through to September looks more positive with Uranus sextiling the progressed Sun, only exaggerated by a Jupiter square in June. Changes will be welcome at this time and much can be accomplished. Nevertheless the Pluto transit doesn’t go away – it is hard to be completely relaxed. Jupiter sextiles the Ascendant in July and opposes the natal Sun, normally this would be a good thing but in this case it probably emphasises the involvement in power struggles.

The progressed Moon crosses the IC at this time – and the progressed Ascendant is also slowly transiting the same point. As in other charts we have looked at this indicates a key turning point especially for a country that already has Uranus on its MC. 2011 looks like the crucial year for Turkey to enhance its relations and thus its trade.

The themes continue throughout October and November, and the Saturn return in November December ends a 29 year cycle in the country’s history, one that started with the Saturn Pluto conjunction at that time. The next cycle looks to have a less challenging economic theme. Nevertheless all Saturn cycle ends force the evaluation of the whole cycle and there may be much introspection and questions asked of the government in these winter months.

2012
We still see Pluto on the Descendant as 2012 begins, looking more and more like the impact of the wider world on Turkey. A heavy transit especially when accompanied by that Saturn return. I do feel the country will be under some fairly restrictive influences at this time one way or the other. It is unlikely to be great for the economy – although the chart is not showing massive restructuring of industries or hard recession, rather more an ominous shadow of difficulties.

The time around April 2012 looks better – with Jupiter opposite Venus and the chart’s Scorpio
conjunction as well as sextile the MC and Uranus there is some optimism and opportunity but it is still tempered by that ominous Pluto.

To add to the problem, over the Spring and summer Uranus reaches its cardinal square with Pluto – close to the Ascendant axis and opposite Mars. This is really tricky. Perhaps the fact that the MC is not involved saves the country from break up but having such a major global square slap bang on an angle can’t be brushed under the carpet. That and retrograde Saturn repeating its return to the 1923 position suggests a very difficult political period- even though economically it is more mixed. It is possible that Turkey is suffering damage to its main industries such as tourism etc at this time as a result of economic hardships elsewhere. Either way the government will be under pressure.

Furthermore the fact that Pluto moving on from the ascendant will soon oppose natal Pluto suggests little respite for some time yet.

Chart
Creation of Republic
29 October 1923, Ankara, Turkey, 20.30 local time
Source: Book of World Horoscopes. N Campion

Saudi Arabia: 2010-2012

2010-02-22T05:04:00.000-08:00

While I am sure that to do a good forecast I need to understand a county well, I am not sure the same in true for just an interpretation of its natal chart. Sometimes it seems the less I know about a country, the more the image I have seems to resonate with its chart. Perhaps it is the fault of the chart ascendant that just shows the simple view presented to the world.

The Saudi chart is no exception. My view of Saudi Arabia is perfectly described by the Capricorn Ascendant with Saturn rising, and the Sun conjoining Jupiter also in Capricorn.

Unsurprisingly this chart does not show some of the drama that other countries have experienced over the last couple of years. It has no planets at 20-28 of Aquarius, or other fixed signs, activated by Neptune, only progressed Venus at 20-26 of the mutables activated by Uranus, and nothing at 0 of the cardinals activated by Pluto. Whilst Saturn and Jupiter has activated points in the last few years this is small fry compared to many countries.
So let’s just focus on whether this situation will change in the next 3 years.

2010
Uranus is transiting progressed Venus and the Moon, so we can expect issues surrounding women in the country to be highlighted over the next year. Jupiter emphasises this in the last three months of the year. But Neptune makes no aspects in 2010 ( the closest is an approaching trine to Neptune not a cause for any disruption). Pluto is trining Mars, but this is just a powerful aspect. There are no hard squares, although Saturn does activate this in a tricky manner over the summer.

Saturn spends the year transiting the early degrees of Libra and makes few aspects. Jupiter makes favourable aspects to the chart as it moves through Pisces and little at all, except as mentioned above, when it joins Uranus in the cardinal cross.

So, compared to other countries , 2010 looks relatively calm economically.

2011
Again little notable action from the three outer planets, but this year Saturn and Jupiter do shake things a little.

April 2011 sees Jupiter square the Saudi Arabian ascendant, it then moves on to square Saturn then the Sun Jupiter conjunction. All of this will go to make the country seem more extreme in its nature than usual. The same goes for the economy – all matters will be exaggerated.

Jupiter, however moves on fast, by July it will conjoin progressed Mars – making the country more assertive than usual and increasing all economic activity. At this point it is aided by the ongoing Pluto trine, a lot of power can be harnessed by the country at this time.

Jupiter then goes on to square natal Mars – suggesting even more. But before we forget- Jupiter transits a chart every 12 years and makes hard aspects every 3, its not so much of a big deal without the outer planets and by this stage the Pluto influence is waning.

By October though, Saturn will square the Ascendant, then Saturn. This is more significant. Remember once again it is picking up October 2011 which seems to be a critical point in all the currency charts. . Even Saudi wealth would be affected by a worldwide redenomination.
Furthermore Uranus is transiting the progressed Moon at this time – futher indications of a critical point

By November the square reaches the Sun/Jupiter conjunction – and the country rulers. Restriction even here. Jupiter retrograde is of no assistance. Indeed its transit of the IC further suggests a tunring point. The transit also quincunxes the Moon and progressed Venus- nothing escapes completely.

.
2012
There is some evidence of things settling down by January 2012. Saturn trines Neptune, a weakening but not difficult aspect by itself. Jupiter makes its final pass to the IC and progressed Mars, more assertion but not particularly constructive

Saturn retrogrades backwards from February to September, keeping a feeling of restriction in place. Of course the country is no stranger to Saturnian influences, it is just that this time they may come from external influences rather than being imposed internally.

In November Saturn crosses the Saudi Arabian MC and opposes the country’s progressed Mars. The end of a cycle which started with the Saturn Pluto conjunction in 1982-3. Saturn and pLuto both pick up the progressed Ascendant by quincunx at the year end as Jupiter transits, Definitely a change of direction is indicated.

Chart
Capture of City from Turks.
15 Jan 1902 Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Rectified to approx 6.30am local time
Source Book of World Horoscopes. N Campion ( given time 6.45 am)

South Africa : 2010-12

2010-02-22T04:57:00.000-08:00

Time flies, doesn’t it? But until the last couple of weeks we haven’t missed much economically have we?

I was, of course going to complete my G20 countries months ago, but try as I might I couldn’t raise any enthusiasm for a group of countries I had never visited. So economic output at Fortuna2020 has equalled zero. However, Greece has kindly re-ignited my interest. Of course it wasn’t on the list, but I’ve bribed myself: if I finish my G20 then I can look at Greece. Oooooh the thrill of it!

So here we are in South Africa. At least with the World Cup it is topical. You’d think I would be more thrilled wouldn’t you? However my appreciation for the World Cup is severely diluted every four years until that moment of ecstasy when England are eliminated. Then I am gripped by it. Of course England is unlikely to be submitting a team this year as the media has decreed that philandering is not acceptable in its footballers. And, since the phrase faithful footballer is clearly an oxymoron ..well…

Ooops, I digressed, didn’t I? Can you tell I am not enthused by South Africa? Oh well let’s get it over with shall we? I’ll try to make these next few posts short and sweet.

The chart I am using for South Africa makes it a Gemini nation – the dual face of Gemini fits well with the history of apartide. The contrast between the beauty of the Cape and the crime of Jo’berg is also indicated by this aspect. There are other interesting factors in the chart, notably a Mars Neptune conjunction, but we won’t analyse these we’ll just look at the future.

The Rand chart is rather mixed with a Jupiter Saturn conjunction quincunx Uranus. Interesting to see a currency that is about global matters and does not really tap into the personal planets at all. It has benefited from Neptune transiting its Sun in 2009; but some gains have been speculative.

South Africa has so far remained relatively unaffected by the world economic problems (
though of course relatively is a big qualification in this case), with its currency strengthening significantly in 2009, - although making the country less competitive, it is probably welcome after some years of deppreciation. However the political situation has been more questionable with the hints of past scandals associated with Zuma, president since May 2009 . Neptune spent the last year transiting the country’s moon : a situation where no-one knows the truth. The unsettled effect has been amplified by a Uranus sextile to the country’s Uranus which is pulling in a square to natal Pluto.

As 2010 begins these aspects are still in play. They are accompanied by a Saturn transit to the SA Jupiter, suggesting some restriction in business, but the trine to the progressed ascendant confirms that the country is coping better than others. However Pluto is square Jupiter suggesting that there are a number of problems simmering beneath the surface.

Transiting Jupiter is about to pass over the country’s ascendant and into its first house in the next few weeks. Of course the fact that the country must be more open to the world and find eyes focused on it is par for the course for a world cup host. Jupiter also squares the SA sun and MC, definitely a time when the activities of the country, good and bad, will be thrown open to all eyes.

Jupiter continues its journey through the first house in March and April shifting from hard aspects to the natal sun and MC to one to the progressed sun and MC. Jupiter then opposes the country’s progressed Mars and sextiles its progressed Uranus in April – unfortunately this progressed aspect probably reflects the crime and violence that occurs in the country and Jupiter is likely to draw attention to this in the run up to the Cup. Hopefully there is sufficient prominence given to the country’s Aids problem too.

From a trade point of view, though, the aspect is probably going to be a good thing – much more development and economic activity.

There are some problems surrounding the rand as Saturn transits square its Mars, but this is offset by Jupiter; probably too much demand upsetting the hard currency balance and not a longer term issue. The issue of trade in the currency continues throughout the period to August, but it is a technical rather than a value one.

However, Saturn is square the SA Pluto through the months of May to July. Add to this the upcoming mundane Saturn Pluto square and it is difficult to see how there won’t be some unpleasant events associated with this Cup. Security will need to be good else the sort of event that marred the Africa cup in Angola could be repeated.

June itself is characterised by the first conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus (sextile the SA mercury) at 0 degrees of Aries.. This in itself is a dramatic aspect. Perfect for a sporting event to break with tradition and suggesting progressive steps, but nevertheless a combination that can be volatile- on the pitch it could give some fantastic football, off the pitch I am less confident of the positives. Still there is little in the SA chart at 1 degree of the cardinal signs so perhaps too much disruption can be avoided. Economically, and despite the impending restrictions of Saturn, its all good stuff.

The themes continue into July. But now the impact of the Saturn and Pluto become stronger- a bit of a hangover effect probably. However, compared to some countries this key aspect is not too damaging to the SA chart. the progressed Moon forms a sextile and Saturn again trines Mercury as it conjoins Jupiter. All in all, a dampening of the exuberance but not too difficult, which continues throughout the SA winter months until October.

Furthermore Neptune trines Pluto, an easy aspect economically, though it has its downsides in other areas.

By October Saturn trines the country’s Sun and conjoins its progressed Neptune. This would normally be a sign of stability, politically and economically. However it is accompanied by the return of Jupiter and Uranus to a square to Pluto and sextile to Uranus through to January 2011. Much of the past problems come to the surface again so that Saturn trine is probably going to be harder on the economy and on the president than would otherwise be the case.

November and December sees Neptune transiting the SA moon again – yet more evidence of a return to murky situations.

Saturn on the Rand progressed MC opposite its progressed Sun and natal Venus, suggests the attraction of the currency wanes at this time.

The period is also dominated by Pluto’s square to the SA Jupiter. This is a debt aspect, and
since SA have been rather cautious about debt, we could probably surmise that this represents the impact of events elsewhere in the global economy.

2011
As mentioned the themes of October onwards continue into the early part of 2011. Now, however, Saturn reaches progressed Jupiter and then squares Neptune. This will inevitably subdue optimism and clamp down on deception. It is less good for the currency too.
However it is offset by Jupiter sextiling the progressed Ascendant and opposes the country’s Jupiter, and expansive, even over-expansive, aspect.

There might also be another spike in rand trades at this time- the currency’s Mars is again squared by the Jupiter Uranus conjunction. With Pluto trine its own Pluto, it is facing questions over fundamental value – perhaps in line with other commodity related currencies.

Uranus returns to its sextile with SA Mercury in March, and Jupiter opposes progressed Mercury . Since these both highlight communications and information, we can expect information to come to light at this time which may change the political picture. It also suggests a continuing high level of trading activity.

April sees Jupiter sextile Neptune Mars conjunction and trines the progressed Sun and Mars
May sees Jupiter square the SA Uranus and sextile the Moon as well as Neptune squaring its Mercury and sextiling Saturn. A bit of a mixed bunch but not economically problematic in the longer term. However it will highlight some endemic problems within SA. The transist are accompanied by the progressed Moon Trine the progressed MC- not a bad aspect but in this case focusing on the people more than usual and perhaps further drawing attention to ongoing issues.

The Saturn conjunction with progressed Mercury in June will likely result in some repression of information and or trade.

July and August see Jupiter conjoining the country’s Saturn, good for both the government and the economy, a fact further confirmed by the sextile between the progressed Sun and Moon and a progressed Moon trining the Mars/Neptune conjunction and Uranus sextiling Mercury again. However, I do have reservations about the significance of the Neptune Mars conjunction in the SA chart and although all this seems mild stuff, the Moon highlighting a potentially questionable natal aspect is not without its downsides.

The Rand’s progressed Moon crosses its ascendant at this time – throwing the currency into strong focus globally. Remember elsewhere there are hints of a big change in worldwide currency values in October 2011 – these aspects, then, might represent the SA impact of the external trends.

In September/ October Saturn opposes the Rand progressed Sun, and the progressed Mc opposes its Venus, reinforcing the likelihood of currency re-evaluations.

Pluto squares the SA Jupiter in October, repeating the themes from early 2011. As mentioned earlier this likely represents the impact of events elsewhere in the global economy. Pluto also trines progressed Saturn and quincunxes the progressed Ascendant as the year ends, this together with a Saturn trine to Pluto suggests some dark and difficult influences politically and economically.

2012
Jupiter retrograde stations on SA’s Saturn in early 2012, and the progressed Moon sextiles the progressed Uranus/Mars conjunction, It is a probably time for change.

The rand chart shows a brief upswing of activity -with Uranus sextling the Moon and progressed Jupiter again and Jupiter squaring them.

Tricky aspects to the SA chart involving transiting Pluto Jupiter and Neptune in February suggest that the external impact of late 2011 is causing adjustment in all areas of the economy. In March Neptune sextile Saturn, Jupiter conjoins progressed Saturn and Uranus opposes Jupiter. Another mixed bag but the balance is an upset to the status quo.

April and May are much easier, with a nice sextile from the moon to SA’s Uranus, easing change, and a Jupiter trine to the Sun, and progressed MC, then to Neptune/mars and then Uranus/mars then conjoining Mercury. Everything happens quickly and by June a lot of changes will have been implemented without, it seems too much force being required. However June itself might see difficulties for the government.

There are underlying changes suggested to the Rand as Pluto sextile’s its Mercury. Perhaps talk of changing denominations or the use of the hard currency. Saturn also opposes Venus – issues of fundamental value are discussed. Jupiter crosses the Descendant in July– probably representing what is happening politically.

For July is another month dominated by Jupiter and Uranus transits. Jupiter consolidates its position conjoining the SA Sun , IC and progressed Ascendant. Uranus sextiles these points at the same time. A new government? Certainly a key turning point in the country’s history, now or perhaps at the end of the year when the aspect repeats. In any case Jupiter’s aspects in September suggests things are taking a while to settle. Neptune square Mercury suggests misinformation

August sees Saturn opposing Venus but trining Pluto, transformation in key sectors such as mining, Uranus opposing Jupiter in November accompanied by Saturn opposing Saturn and the continuing Jupiter transit suggests the end of 2012 is not the end of the situation.

The square between Saturn and the progressed Jupiter/natal Moon in the rand chart suggests more currency restrictions too.

Chart
Union of South African states. 31 May 1910, Midnight local time, Pretoria, South Africa
Source Book of Word Horoscopes. N Campion

Postscript to Neptune to Pluto

2009-09-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

Following the submission of my earlier posting I was reading some quotes and discovered the folllowing, apparently well known, one by Ludwig von Mises

"There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as a result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved."

It mirrors my conclusion that the recent stimulus will make no difference in the long run.

But what made me post it was a quick look at Mr Mises' birthchart. Born on 29 September 1881 he has a wide conjunction of Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Chiron and Pluto in Taurus. Not many people have one of those!! The "coincidence" has made me quite convinced that Mr Mises knew his credit booms and that I know my astrology.

From Neptune to Pluto: the direction of this runaway train

2009-09-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

As readers will know, my focus is on predictive financial astrology. I am not against personal astrology but tend to leave it to others. As a result I rarely consult my own chart. However such a blinkered approach was likely to come unstuck and, sure enough, it did. So busy was I forecasting the dollar and Yen and the potential impact on them of the Neptune/ Jupiter /Chiron conjunction this year, that I failed miserably to identify what that conjunction would do to me.

Before you start playing the violins for me, however, I must point out that I have had an excellent few months. The only downside has been that I have been indulging myself far too much to get round to researching or writing any posts on this blog. Neptune square my Midheaven has resulted in severe procrastination in all career and business matters.

I am under no illusions now that this attitude will fully improve until the 2010; hell, if life is good why worry, but I am at least going to apologise for not posting since April and commit to at least some posts in the next months as the Pluto Saturn square bears down on us.

My next post will provide a more detailed review of the last 6 months, and will be followed by my attempt to complete forecasts for the remaining G20 countries that I have not yet investigated. However, I’d like to say something here about this year’s planetary aspects in general and to look at my general forecasts in the light of what has actually happened.

There have of course been two major factors at play, that Neptune conjunction and the ongoing Saturn/Uranus opposition.

First the Neptune conjunction. I posted about this twice- in my original introduction and early in 2009. In both I was uncertain of the outcome, initially I tended towards a currency crisis around May/June. In my early 2009 update I decided this was less likely. In the latter post, I also reviewed others’ views of the conjunction and noted that they were almost universally positive. Such optimism resulted in my post on hope. The fact is that Neptune and Jupiter do encourage hope and most people buy hope in a way that I don’t. A crisis clearly did not materialise. There is a severe problem but very few can see it. On reflection, Neptune/Jupiter is not generally inclined towards materialising anything harsh- what it has been doing is blinding and optimistically sowing the seeds (by "printing" money willy-nilly) of the future crises, which will no doubt accompany the cardinal cross.

However in case you think my forecasts are suspect, I refer you back to that original introduction where I anticipated “new diseases” and to the post earlier this year when I said “Jupiter and Neptune together are also characteristic of the combination such as the spread of peoples and other species including viruses etc through migration”. Swine flu duly obliged to prove my theory. I also noted the possibilities of cures too and there have been a number of encouraging studies/results on the cancer front during this time. I might (procrastination tendency permitting) return to look more closely at my non-financial predictions in another post.

Now let’s turn to Saturn-Uranus. For much of the last 6 months the opposition was merely operating at a large orb and hovering in the background. Now it is back with a vengeance (with protests in Washington for example).

But what does it mean? Many astrologers have blamed the opposition for the financial crisis. I still see the crisis as superficially Neptunian, but essentially due to the more serious Pluto crisis brought to the fore by Pluto moving into Capricorn.

Nevertheless it would be wrong to ignore the impact of Saturn/Uranus. What is the sky trying to tell us. Five oppositions? That is a lot. And a long period of tug-of-war between the two planets. I think the dark secret of this opposition is “Inflation vs Deflation”

By that I don’t mean that Saturn represents deflation and Uranus inflation. Indeed it is Neptune that represents inflation and increasing money supply in general and Pluto that shows the inclination to deep dark recessions. Saturn does indicate contraction, but Uranus does not indicate expansion, instead it indicates things moving to a new scenario, invention and the like.

No; what these two planets are representing is the policy debate and the tension that arises from the resulting actions.

The questions we asked last year were: Are we stuck with the Saturnian, recession or can we take radical, Uranian, action and create a miracle? Can we maintain stability by bailing out the weakling or must we embrace the true risks of capitalism by letting the lame ducks die?

The questions that have troubled investors since, at market level, are: do we assume that there will be deflation and assume that bonds are the safest option (the Saturn option) or do we assume that there will be high levels of inflation and make more radical and risky bets, equities, commodities, etc (the Uranus option).

As we can see the debate from last November still rages. There is a theory that we are in recovery – that the policies have worked - but the markets still show all sorts of nonsensical divergences. We look for signs of hyperinflation and see unemployment and low wage growth which must be signs of recession. We look for evidence of recession and see stock market rises and commodities rising yet again.

The fact is we are asking the wrong questions; old questions, questions for a crisis of the non-Neptunian kind. We treat the symptoms with Keynesian stimulants, the remedy for a Saturn/Jupiter cycle crisis. We still don’t get the background Pluto crises either. We still hold to the status quo when Pluto says “it is dead, get used to it”.

Where we have been going for the last few decades is towards an unsustainable situation, a true structural Pluto style crisis; Neptune merely enabled and obscured the fact. Deluded by Neptune, we have gradually and imperceptibly moved towards greater inequality. Thus pouring Neptunian measures into a Neptunian situation has potentially been catastrophic; now we are reaching the tipping point with the mass of people experiencing high unemployment or low wages together with increasing expenses, with a few who have scooped all the monetary gains immune from all but the threat of violence.

I admit I was in favour of less stimulus, but now I think it has made no difference, it has delayed some inevitables but brought others forward. But it doesn’t change the sum of those inevitables one iota. The majority of the damage had already been done by 2006. Neptune is now merely deceiving and delaying.

It is too late. The planets say so. The existing tension, policy debates and market anomalies, will continue to do so until mid 2010 when Uranus and Saturn make their final opposition. At that time they will have moved forward so that Pluto will have entered the mix: Pluto and Saturn are recessionary, at best. As my picture for this post, I’ve included a shot from the Jay-Z video “Run this town”- watch the the whole video, its visual theme, though not the lyrics, gives a good flavour of the feel approaching square. You better hope that Uranus/Jupiter pulls a rabbit out of hat next year or else and, even then, you better hope that rabbit isn’t wearing a revolutionary beret.

Hope, hype and happenstance:Part III

2009-04-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Introduction

Part III in my little departure from an increasingly rigid road of market prediction was inspired by a conversation I had at my office Christmas party, though I was reminded of it by the repeated correspondence of world events with my choice of country for analysis.

I am used to being challenged when I mention my involvement in astrology. Those that don’t laugh outright attempt to engage me in debate along the lines of “if you think it works, explain and prove how.” I usually refuse to rise to the bait; it works for me and I would rather just play the markets with it than lock myself up in dusty academia to research the mechanics.

However, now and again, I have doubts myself. Not doubts about the effectiveness of my predictions but over what exactly contributes to them And the potential conclusion of such musings is far more troublesome and scientifically disturbing than astrology itself could ever be.

These troublesome musings were thrown into sharper focus at the aforementioned Christmas dinner, when the colleage to my right did not show scepticism about my forecasts, but went straight for the jugular. “Did I think that my predictions were right because astrology worked or for some other reason?” I, expecting the usual doubting Thomas, responded that if he thought that I was solely using economic or business expertise, how did he account for the fact that some of my best predictions in 2008 were for Japan, a country which I have neither visited nor understand politically or economically. His response? He did not mean economic expertise, he meant something akin to psychic powers!

Psychic powers? You are joking right....?
Now, setting aside that there is no single, conclusive definition of what psychic powers comprise, let’s run with the idea. I have noticed, myself, when reviewing my forecasts in retrospect, after they have been realised, that I am sometimes at a loss to easily explain how I formed a judgement regarding a particular date. Although hindsight should be clearer, sometimes it isn’t…..

In order to recreate the forecast I have to recreate the process of getting there, not to just look at the date in question. When analysing a chart over a period, it is not a series of discrete events but a story that evolves and grows as I move forward in time. Themes emerge month-on-month in a way they can’t if I just look a specific date in isolation. Now this might be because that is how astrology is supposed to work: but it might not.

In order to conduct an analysis over a long period, I need to focus on a chart and its transits for some hours. Normally during that process I am uninterrupted and reach a level of concentration that I don’t in other matters (certainly not in my excessively dull day job). Essentially, it is a form of meditation. The question then is, under the meditative state, am I able to channel information not available to the normal conscious mind?

And of course if I can do so, presumably so can others. Even allowing for the fact that the ability to express and interpret such “universal information” might benefit from a reasonable level of financial knowledge, the fact remains that channelling information about the future from the universe is not accepted as scientifically possible. Clearly a can of worms has been opened. That will be $1m, thanks very much, Mr Randi.

I think, therefore you aren't
However, if you find that disconcerting, the explanation could be even worse. I’ve poked around in this particular worm can before. A few years ago, an astrologer friend and I pondered the subject of myriad astrological techniques and the existence of so many predictive and religious belief systems. It seemed to us that, for the believer, the chosen system always works. But the logical conclusion of this is that the world becomes exactly what we believe it will. Now I am aware that this is the premise behind the literature relating to the so called “law of attraction.” But that does not take things to their final conclusion…... namely, that our whole world is the creation of our minds and nothing but that mind exists.

In such a scenario, astrology only exists in my mind, and in my mind it works. And similarly astrology’s detractors are all products of my mind. As are you, my reader. Explanation, simple: upshot, terrifying.

Obviously the much vaunted law of attraction becomes irrelevant under the above scenario. If nothing exists, who cares? There is nothing to attract. And whether astrology exists, well, who cares? There is no solar system or universe. And whether the Dow will rise or fall in 2009, who cares? There is no Dow. And whether you are reading this, who cares? No-one cares, you aren’t, you don’t exist…….

But supposing you did, wouldn’t you be beginning to see that astrology is a much lesser evil?! So having peaked under the lid, I prefer to leave the worms in the can and carry on with the astrology.

Hope, hype and happenstance: Part II

2009-04-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer

Ok . I didn't ask for permission to republish this cartoon, but I reckon I am giving it the best possible publicity here and the getting your message out there, as we shall see, seems to be all that matters.

Introduction

The primary purpose of my blog is prediction. From time to time I also include short discussions to further the understanding of the art of forecasting. Occasionally I indulge myself by taking a diversion into something such as how the broader planetary cycles manifest in other areas such as music. I don’t, however, usually devote space to my personal opinions on economic or political policy. This post represents a dramatic departure. It is not about astrology, nor is it about prediction; it is purely and simply about economic policy and hype.

One might think that hype and economics would be poles apart: one a function of psychological manipulation, the other of mathematics. But hype doesn’t automatically work. It won’t work if the evidence completely contradicts it. And it works best if there is a smattering of “scientific proof” (better known as misleading statistics) to convince. It works best of all when its proponents also fall for their own snake oil; when they read about each other’s statistical models and become as totally convinced of their own righteousness as American evangelical preachers.

Bubbles we have lived and loved
Remember the late 1990s? Remember the dotcom boom? If you weren’t such a victim of that particular bubble that you have conveniently blocked all trace of it from memory, you will recall how every newspaper and TV channel was full of the “new paradigm” that guaranteed infinite wealth for those brave enough to invest in a web-holding page with a fancy brand name and nothing else, and that the Dow would soon be at 36,000 on the back of the fact that profit was no longer an essential quality of a successful business. Sceptics were mocked as dinosaurs. No wonder so much of that particular hype was sustained even after the markets had peaked.

Profit eventually regained its role as the primary goal of any business model but soon we were hearing that it was property that could only ever go up. Economists, academics and consultants jumped on the latest (fee generating) hype bandwagon telling us how the UK population was rising, and that this would lead to limitless demand for houses (but see note 1). Other vested interests chipped in, to explain how gearing up on your property investments would make you as wealthy as an x-factor judge in your old age. And, if you had more money than you could possibly ever need to gear up your property investments, not to worry; you could gear up your private equity investments as well.

Whilst developers, property services companies and private equity groups have been shrinking like Alice after following the “drink me” instructions, many members of the public are still coming to terms with the fact that they were victims of this particular hype.

They are also only just coming to terms with the fact that “buying and holding” equities hasn’t quite materialised as the brilliant investment strategy that proponents suggested over the last 20 years.

That is all very well, you say, but these were all driven by market vested interests, the same situation can’t happen in the whole economy? There we have economic theory to underpin our actions. Hype won’t work if we have a truly solid foundation, right? Right! But, wrong! We don’t have anything like a solid foundation.

Economic theory is useless
As professor Willem Buiter pointed out in his FT blog of 3rd March 2009, (ages ago but actually at the time I wrote most of this- note 2) most economic theory is useless. The trouble is not that the mathematical models of economics fail in themselves; they are mathematically perfect and quite beautiful in their own way. But, as Buiter describes, they assume states which are for all intents and purposes practically irrelevant.

In this case the PhD mathematicians were so busy differentiating to the nth degree that they didn’t do the simple arithmetic. If they had they would have realised that at the rate per annum at which the hedge funds and traders were accumulating wealth, the whole GDP of the world would be in a few hands in less than 2 decades. So, unless you are a philosopher who believes that having got all the angels in existence onto your pinhead you don’t have a problem populating the other end of your pin, you logically have a practical problem.

And if you think that hype just restricts itself to market participants, you are destined to be disappointed and you probably haven’t noticed that the so called government is run by communications consultants. Simply, the leaders didn’t know, the traders didn’t care, and the spinners didn’t know or care as long as they got paid.

If you are a UK resident, you will recall the Gordon Brown promise of “no more boom and bust.” We’ve run an economy to ruin over the last decade on the basis of that little hype gem. Even just two years ago in March 2007, I sat in a financial services seminar while an “expert” showed us a series of graphs which “demonstrated how successful” the UK economy had been over the previous ten years. The room was full of representatives from the financial services industry, but no-one challenged a single premise on which this presentation was based. I sat there shaking my head in disbelief, but even I didn’t ask the 64 trillion dollar question “what element of that so called growth disappears when you strip out the effect of credit growth?” (Even Cassandra can be afraid to challenge the hype when representing her employer rather than herself).

But the UK in the 2000s was only a microcosm. The economic theory that underpinned the above bit of hype was only an extension of the prevailing theory about free and efficient markets and growth that has dominated US policy for the last 5 decades.

But you are probably asking “Now we recognise the hype of the last decades for what it was, why is there still a problem?” The problem is that, we are still buying into that hype and now we are the naïve recipients of its extension which is, at least, as dangerous as anything we have encountered before.

What is that is being hyped now? Keynesian solutions.

Keynes: another time another place, please
This is not a critique of Keynesian or New-Keynesian theory. Nothing wrong with these in their place; I can see (without a single mathematical model) the sense in what are essentially counter-cyclical government policies. Under conditions where the private sector has failed to allocate sufficient resources, no harm at all in a bit of public sector stimulation, a few periods of low interest rates etc. And of course that’s why the hype is working – because the theories are mathematically logical and perfectly justifiable under the right conditions.

The problem is this is most definitely not the time and place for stimulation. In my view the current situation is the opposite of the one Keynes envisaged.

For the last two or three decades, increasing cheap credit led the private sector to allocate too many resources to… well pretty much everything really. The US called this growth and attributed it to their economic superiority (and indirectly to the superiority of the prevailing economic models). The time for intervention was then, although the intervention required would have been the opposite of stimulation. Now, the credit drug fuelled party is ended we might have had a chance to get a much more sustainable allocation of private sector resources. Sadly that has not happened.

Instead, we are getting more and still more stimulation, all based on the principle that Keynesian economics is the right medicine for the condition.

There are a lot of lay people, not yet been exposed to the full onslaught of the hype, who are still saying, “how can these type of solutions help a situation where there is already so much debt?” No doubt all but the “criminally insane” among them will soon capitulate under the tidal wave of expert en-masse advocating the same solutions. How can the average lay person resist when even the professionals are in concord?

Do I have a better solution? Or, more to the point, as the spinners will ask “do I have a KISS solution they can sell to the masses? The answer is no. I can’t pick up the milk and put it back in the broken bottle anymore than the next person. But I am wise enough not to spill another bottle in order to hide the mess from the first. Until time travel becomes a reality, it is too late for solutions to problems that arose in the past.

Hope or happenstance: where we are going now
Buiter ended his blog entry with “I believe that the Bank has by now shed the conventional wisdom of the typical macroeconomics training of the past few decades. In its place is an intellectual potpourri of factoids, partial theories, empirical regulaties without firm theoretical foundations, hunches, intuitions and half-developed insights. It is not much, but knowing that you know nothing is the beginning of wisdom”. In any case it looks like the milk is mainly frozen in the bottle and is not spilling out as planned. That can only be a godo thing for the future. We can hope, but as we saw in Part i hope isn’t all its cracked up to be either.

Of course, it is also too late for me to be writing this. It is always too late when so many decades of spin have obscured reality to such an extent. So now the consequences will unravel as destiny decrees that they will. And that is where astrology comes into its own. For my views of that, see part three of this little series – happenstance.

Notes

1) though they failed to point out that population was not growing as fast as in the first half of the 20th century ( 38m to 50m from 1900 to 1950 (30% increase) and 50m to 60m from 1950-2000 (20% increase)) or that almost all the growth from 1965 to 2005 was in the over 60 age group ( hardly first time buyers), or that the late 80s house price increase was actually a lag effect of the 1970-80s inflation.

2)Yes, I got distracted by other matters. But no matter as you see the intervening weeks have been relatively uneventful.

3) I am not here questioning the bail out of certain elements of the financial system: unlimited for private and non-financial corporate depositors. Such action would be required to stabilise the whole system. Only the bail out of the whole failed structures.

Sources
Willem Buiter's Maverecon blog, Financial Times, March 3, 2009

Hope, hype and happenstance: Part 1

2009-04-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Introduction
I’m afraid this blog has been a little quiet of late. I didn’t intend it, indeed I had this series of 3 posts almost ready 5 weeks ago, but other distractions took over and suddenly here we are, weeks later.

I thought another break from the run of mechanical analyses was in order. So what follows are three non-astrological posts, dealing with facets of prediction in general. The third post will look specifically at the validity of astrology, the second with how hype and spin blind people to the real forecasters out there. This one, however, looks at negativity in forecasts and how this is received; basically why spin falls on such receptive ears.

In my weeks off we haven’t missed much market wise. As expected the turn came on 10/11th March and things have been relatively stable/almost positive since. However I wonder if perhaps this optimism is a little misplaced. But I bet most readers will be embracing the promises of green shoots. Maybe they only want good news? Is the turn on 2Oth April more realistic- you'll have to wait for later posts for that now let's get on with looking at the optimists.

On December 29 2008John Kay wrote in the FT:
Although people endlessly ask for predictions, they rarely really want the answers. It was only late – too late – in life that I realised that when people said, “We really want you to challenge our ideas,” they mostly did not. They wanted instead to be congratulated on their wisdom. Similarly, when they ask, “What is going to happen?” they seek reaffirmation and reassurance rather than insight into the future.

This is certainly true. People do indeed want reaffirmation. (I’ve duly just obliged). Yet I think that there is another factor at work. Mr Kay continues:
The market for clairvoyance has existed through history and is satisfied by messages based on hope and ambiguity. The market for economic prediction is similar.

The essence of this statement is that Mr Kay is saying that some predictions are accepted not just because they confirm what people believe but because those predictions confirm what people want to believe.

On being Cassandra

I recently published a forecast for Argentina which was generally positive. That forecast might, of course, prove to be completely wrong. The point is not the outcome, rather that the prediction is relatively upbeat; to date, optimism has been rare in my posts. Indeed one of the first criticisms I received on this blog related to the negativity of my forecasts. If I had been quoted at all in the mainstream media, I would have been deemed an economic Cassandra.

Now, as it happens, my negative outlook has been more than realized in practice, which got me wondering………… Like the Cassandra of mythology, unfortunately, I was not wrong. Yet, even if I had a higher profile, my forecasts probably wouldn’t have been quoted in the mainstream media. Had my forecasts been rather more rose tinted, however, I hazard a guess that I would have been deemed an “expert” with the forecasts seized on and repeated ad-infinitum.

Why, then, is there such an asymmetry in the public acceptance of positive and negative data? Why is it that upbeat predictions are seized on without question yet predictions of failure lead to unpopularity, or worse, invisibility?

This asymmetry or bias is endemic, not just in market forecasting, but in business as a whole.

“Give me solutions not problems” is the response of the ostrich like manager across the globe when confronted with anything other than positive news. Superficially that even sounds rational; but when the problem presented and denied represents a fundamental market change and indicates a need to review strategy from the top. Denying it dooms the business.

The denial of potential bad news is entrenched in day-to-day life too, though the fact is often obscured by actual real time news which is unfortunately impossible to deny so easily.

Interestingly the level of denial is so overarching that even the literal experience of Cassandra herself is denied by writers and psychologists. At best the archetype is described as “someone whose prophetic insight is obscured by insanity, turning their revelations into riddles or disjointed statements that are not fully comprehended until after the fact”.(wikipedia) At worst Cassandra’s visions are ignored and instead her experience used as a metaphor for the disbelieved victim of abuse or the oppression of women’s ideas.

This denial in modern references of the fact that Cassandra is simply supposed to have been able to forsee disasters is both facinating and unnerving. The need to deny, to such an extent, that the path that is being followed could be anything other than the yellow brick road leading to the great wizard suggests that there is some fundamental human characteristic at work.

What’s left in Pandora’s box?

I think the answer lies in the quote from John Kay, the little word hope. Not Cassandra’s domain but Pandora’s.

Arguably hope is a brilliant genetic mutation, which evolved giving early man the will/hormonal stimulus for long enough to keep going against all odds. A lack of hope in a primitive environment would mean capitulation too early and almost certain death. Imagine one is lost in the desert, hope keeps one going that few extra steps. And even in the last throes of death, hope is perhaps anaesthetic in its effects, a protection. Hope can therefore be a good thing and still is in many tragic circumstances. Without it most of us would be registering with Dignitas at age 22. And yet…

…..Remember that when Pandora released all the evils from the box, only hope remained? Anything that is at home with a box full of evil isn’t likely to be a cuddly toy itself. So let’s look a bit closer.

Hope triggers (is?) hormones, chemicals: a drug. Like anaesthesia, it numbs us to the reality of the increasing pain, it encourages us to stagger on, oblivious to the impending doom that bears down on us. But in the modern economic world hope bestows disadvantages as well as advantages. We have to hope because it helps soldier on by denying the agony of our limited prospects. But we do not have the possibility of overcoming the threat; but the threat is unending, we cannot walk away from the system that enslaves us even when it is killing us, so we become hope addicts instead.

Hope also encourages us to believe, against all evidence to the contrary, that we can win the lottery, back the winning horse, beat the market, or attain wealth and glory as a result of the latest get-rich-quick gimmick. Unfortunately, on a national scale, it also allows us to refuse to accept the fact that we can’t grow our GDP infinitely, that our booms can’t go on forever.

The problem of economic cycles must thus be unavoidable. Not because of some invisible market force, but because we are almost all programmed to hope for the best until the moment of annihilation.

Hope is the last evil in the box, because in the modern financial environment, the motivation to keep going actually propels us onward down a path of destruction instead of encouraging us to acknowledge defeat and branch out elsewhere.
Furthermore, when presented with information to make decisions, we chose to ignore the negative options and embrace the more attractive possibilities, no matter how infinitely less likely they are.

Well, when I say we, I mean the majority. I don’t mean the typical Cassandra. The gift and curse of Cassandra is not the ability to foresee the future, but the ability to see today as it really is without the benefits of those dregs at the bottom of Pandora’s box. And, thus, to be denied by the hope addicts.

So where does that leave a financial astrologer such as myself? Off the hook for peddling doom maybe; the Cassandra label is misapplied if all the forecaster does is see today’s reality more clearly than the rest. But if all the forecaster sees is today’s reality where, if at all, does astrology have a place? I shall leave consideration of that question for the final of my three posts. With the knowledge that people are programmed to be susceptible to positive messages we turn next to the question of spin.

I have referred solely to hope in this post. Arguably in this context hope and faith could be interchangeable types of belief. However my view is that, although the two appear to overlap, faith is a fundamentally intellectual perspective, whereas hope is a biological compulsion.

Note:

Hope is much on people minds given Obama's election campaign. This post is not in any way reflecting on that campaign or administration. It seeks only to discuss behaviour in general

Reference

Financial Times :Kudos for the contrarian by John Kay Published: December 29 2008 18:48

Forecasting timing: how inner planets change the date

2009-03-04T05:04:00.000-08:00

I often mention in my posts the fact that my forecasts are only supposed to be accurate to within three months as I am only considering outer planet movements and ignoring the inner planets. This week we have an excellent example of how inner planets trigger events earlier or later than the outer planet trends would otherwise suggest.

I keep harping on about the Neptune, Chiron Jupiter conjunction in May and usually refer to it being in operation from April to July. But this week, we are seeing some pretty dramatic meltdowns in the markets, which I might not have forecast for another couple of months. We’ve also seen another event characteristic of the conjunction, a whole lot of beached whales, many of whom died.

So why are these events taking place now and not in May?

If we look at the chart for Monday 2nd March 2009, we see all three planets in Aquarius, but they are still not close to conjunction. Neptune is at 24 degrees and Chiron at 22 degrees, but Jupiter is only at 13 degrees and still has two months to go until the configuration becomes exact.

However, the sector of the tropical zodiac we call Aquarius is busy at the moment. As of the 2nd Mars and Mercury were at 20 degrees, sufficiently close to Chiron and Neptune to have impact. But that is not the whole key to the puzzle. The key is in what traditional astrologers referred to as translation of light (or transfer of energies if you prefer). Mars made a conjunction with Jupiter on 17th February and Mercury did the same on 24th February. Then as they moved towards Neptune they effectively completed a conjunction between Jupiter and Neptune which would not otherwise take place until May.

By next Monday, 9th March, their work will be done and they will both be separating from Neptune. From then, the influence of Jupiter will reduce until the two planets meet in person, so to speak, or until the next translation; it is not only conjunctions that create the translation effect, but they are probably the strongest of the influences. Indeed the particularly string influence on 2nd was due to the Moon in Taurus adding its own translation energies to the mix.

You can see the effect ( excluding the moon) rather nicely on the following graph.

Canada: 2009-2012

2009-02-28T11:35:00.000-08:00

Canada seems to be unique from an art sense in that it has has a number of talented artists prepared to paint their home ground. This is a Lawren Stewart Harris’ painting Northern Island II. Unmistakeably Canadian in inspiration, yet original in interpretation.

But, despite my apparent enthusiam I won’t be moving there, as it is too damn cold. Like Iceland Canada has Neptune ascending – though in this case Saturn is quincunx rather than square the point: not quite as frozen then….Other notable configurations in the Canadian chart include a Saturn Pluto opposition, and a Uranus/Sun conjunction trine Jupiter and sextile Mars. The latter is a true pioneering configuration

Looking back to last year we would expect to see some of the same patterns as Australia, but not all. Australia has experienced a larger house price boom over recent years than Canada, and is perhaps even more dependent on hard rather than soft commodities.

The 1st August eclipse was trine the progressed Mars but because the Canadian Sun is at 8 degrees Cancer, the degree point was activated but no hard aspect was made as the eclipse tool place at 9 Leo. The 16th August eclipse was widely square the Sun Saturn progressed conjunction and MC. Indeed the separating Saturn Sun conjunction (square progressed Jupiter) itself is probably more significant than the eclipse, representing the end to some internal imbalances caused by the commodities boom in some territories. Canada also has an ongoing Saturn transit to the progressed Moon which starts in 2008 and continues until around 2020.

So while it cannot be said that Canada was unaffected by the events in the financial system in 2008, the impact was less dramatic in the short term.

Indeed the Uranus/Saturn opposition of November was sextile the nation’s Saturn, an indication of relative stability in an unstable environment.

2009
The eclipses of February don’t have much to add to those of last summer. February also experienced the beginning of an ongoing Pluto trine to the progressed Ascendant potentially signifying long term changes and strength and lasting throughout the first half of 2009.

March is characterised by a sextile from Jupiter to progressed Venus and to Neptune, this probably relates to the increase in liquidity in the system; it is difficult to see how Canada would not be affected by the US stimulus. Saturn sextile Saturn again keeps things sensibly and responsibility in check though. April sees Saturn trine Pluto, the second planet in the natal configuration, continuing the repetition of the themes of the latter part of 2008.

Then of course comes May through to July, as Jupiter Neptune and Chiron combine at 26 degrees Aquarius. This does affect the Canadian chart. The hints of problems that might have been brushed aside in September October 2008, after the eclipse was widely square the progressed Sun Saturn conjunction, are much more likely to come to the fore now as the Neptune configuration is exactly square this point. However at the same time it trines the Moon, Uranus in Pisces also makes contradictory aspects: trining the Sun/Saturn and squaring the Moon.

As we are expecting this configuration to play out at a currency level, we can expect the impact to be mixed in Canada.

We should also be aware that it is the beginning of a trend that will not disappear until late 2012. Neptune will move in tandem with the progressed Sun for 4 years and lead to a sense of inertia as events will not indicate the best direction to take for some time. It may well be severely recessionary, particularly from time to time as it is further activated by Saturn. This will, as we shall see, have a downside, when there are development opportunities to be grasped.

While there is little new information from June to August, the Saturn Uranus mundane opposition repeats in September, by now widely sextile the country’s progressed Saturn. Again the country is saved from the worst of the instability, but is not untouched. In October Saturn sextiles the progressed Sun/Saturn conjunction and trines the progressed MC, but square the Moon. Probably not a nice time for the people as a whole but not a bad time for the government, and Canada’s reputation as a relatively safe country.

The Neptune conjunction repeats in late 2009/early 2010, but the exact conjunction is further away from the critical degrees in Canada’s chart and it can remain a little more detached than in May.

2010
In January we see Pluto repeating its trine to the progressed Ascendant, repeating the pattern of gradual change, but Jupiter completes its square to progressed Saturn and Sun this time and then trines progressed Jupiter and the Moon. This suggests advancement from the picture in 2009 to a new situation. The country should beware of over-complacency at this time though as Neptune still lurks in the background and Pluto is moving forward to make some very dramatic and (if Pluto gets its way) not wholly pleasant conjunctions in the coming two years.

In February Neptune repeats its square to the progressed Sun, and Uranus opposes the progressed Moon. Uranus in opposition to the Moon tends to represent some sort of protest by people – in this case short lived. Possibly currency issues or confusion and deception by government might stimulate such action.

By March Jupiter conjoins the country’s natal Jupiter and squares the progressed Mars and Venus and trines the country’s original Uranus/Sun conjunction. It must be remembered though that, whilst this is a highly positive and exuberant aspect , Jupiter only takes 12 years to complete a cycle and makes positive aspects every couple of years; it is a time to seize that pioneering spirit a little more than average, but by itself not a major trend signifier.

In April the progressed Moon is sextile progressed Saturn, which only continues the stability indicated by Saturn in the previous months. Jupiter square Venus carries the positive mood of March through for another month or so. Pluto now reaches a trine with Mars (remember that natal Mars makes aspects to the Sun and Uranus as well as Jupiter, so this is the beginning of a much more interesting phase), possibly leading to a discovery of new invention or new reserves of something. Uranus trines Saturn and the progressed MC, also indicating positive surprises. Neptune is once again conjoining Jupiter and trine the Moon: there is still a lot of liquidity in the system, which is not really helping concrete decision making, it is easing some otherwise difficult situations.

By May Uranus again reaches a sextile with the progressed Sun and is square the Moon; once more a mixed bag where the government are favoured but the people are not. The progressed Moon sextiles the progressed Sun over this and the next months drawing out the issues for a longer period.

Of course this is only a run up to the cardinal cross of summer 2010. By June, Uranus and Jupiter trine progressed Mercury, another good sign for technical advances. Athough Jupiter makes a tricky quincunx to the progressed Ascendant in July, this is probably only again the impact of news about events elsewhere upsetting things a little.

The actual cross in August sees the progressed Moon most impacted. Uranus and Jupiter oppose the progressed Moon , and Pluto squares it. And we already know that we are encountering a long cycle of Saturn conjoining the progressed Moon. My interpretation of this is that Canadians will not be able to remain detached from events elsewhere at this time and will be caught up in economic and political events that create some radical changes in the country. The other planet affected, is progressed Mercury but much more favourably, so in terms of trade, information and communication the indicators are all positive for the country.

Whether as a result of events of July/August, or as a response to the broader trends of the preceding year, September sees Neptune square the country’s progressed Saturn. There is, thus, a repetition of some matters that were the focus in 2006, when Neptune was square the natal Saturn; house price issues and other recessionary matters have resurfaced. These themes continue for the remainder of the year.

In October the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction is retrograde and again trines the progressed Sun/Saturn. This extremely positive force for invention and change would, to some extent, offset any negativity created by the Neptune square. However, at the same time, Saturn will square the country’s Uranus/Sun conjunction. Here we see challenges. Jupiter and Uranus are encouraging dramatic and groundbreaking change in industry, but the natural Canadian pioneering spirit is being held too much in check by regulation and by a need to conform to broader expectations of a developed nation.

Not surprising then, that by November we get Neptune square Saturn accompanied by Saturn opposing Neptune: one of those double whammy’s that can indicate severe recession, and here is likely to reflect inertia as the impetus for change is crushed by less visionary forces as well as possibly currency restrictions.

December sees more of the same, a real conflict between change and restriction leading to nothing more than hording cash and not investing in the future.

2011
One of the broader themes in the Canadian chart at this time is the progression of the Ascendant to a conjunction with the country’s Mars. Canada has a real chance to become a leader in change in the world at this time.

The Jupiter/Uranus change impetus continues into the early part of 2011. However Saturn now reaches a conjunction with the natal Descendant. Relations with partners such as the US are under duress, perhaps some channels are shut altogether (maybe US protectionism in play?). But Canada has unusual strength at this time: Pluto is not only in trine to the progressed Ascendant but also now to Mars as well. That is some power.

February sees Jupiter square the Uranus/Sun conjunction and this is probably stronger than any of the restrictive Saturn forces at play – invention/creation and change will come to the fore- perhaps with an impetus for change of leadership or at least new policies ( Uranus is still trine the progressed Sun). In March the progressed Moon reinforces this. Jupiter also is trine the Canadian progressed Mars by the end of the month, further ratcheting up the energy levels.

Neptune is now conjoining progressed Jupiter, more signs of inflationary liquidity, and still squaring the progressed Saturn/Sun conjunction (now joined by progressed Mercury). There is still a real problem with the issue of credit and asset values part of an ongoing recessionary background. But this almost seems like a distraction from what else seems to be happening.

Jupiter crosses the Canadian Ascendant in April representing a key turning point. Saturn stationed opposite Neptune trine Venus and sextile progressed Venus is still creating restrictions on investment preventing the development of new ideas, but accompanied by a sense of being in a comfort zone that is rather attractive at least in the short term.

By June there is a slight weaking in the inertia effects of Neptune ( though this is short lived still), and Uranus trines Mercury and Saturn sextiles the progressed Mars. Together a chance to harness plans for change. The repeated impetus of the Pluto trine is by June/July emphasised by Jupiter completing a grand trine from its position in Taurus. Whilst I can’t for one minute think that Canada will be at war, it is instructive to explain that no-one would really want to take on a country with this combination of strengths. It is an extremely powerful combination and can only be good for the country in question. In this case one assumes that it is economically positive.

Jupiter’s sextile to the Sun/Uranus conjunction in August is almost a postscript in comparison, nevertheless it is equally positive.

However we still haven’t got rid of the nuisance that is Neptune. In August it repeats its conjunction with Jupiter and corresponding square to the progressed Sun. Still lacking in any concrete substance, and with Saturn opposes Neptune again, keeping everyone in a state of inertia at best.

Finally in September/October, Saturn returns to the Descendant and in October it is joined there by the progressed Moon. While this does reinforce the restrictions created by partners, there is something to be said for it : now we can move forward with some degree of certainty.

Jupiter repeating its trine to Mars and the progressed Ascendant in November will probably see the country doing just that.

Of course we can’t escape so easily from the tentacles of Neptune’s mists. And it is still hanging around its square to the progressed Mercury/Sun/Saturn conjunction at the end of the year. Canada isn’t out of the woods yet, there are still some bears to be contended with.

2012
Indeed Neptune continues to cast its fog over the direction and leadership of the country all year, as it is never far from being in square to the progressed Sun.

Yet we can expect some shifts in 2012. Saturn has finally moved on from its opposition to the Canadian Neptune, even if Neptune hasn’t completely left the country’s progressed Saturn. So at least we don’t have a double whammy any more.

Saturn is actually trine the progressed Jupiter at this time, it is also trine the Moon, suggesting again that certainty that we mentioned occurring in October. Not ground breaking but at least constructive.

However February brings further shifts that aren’t so positive. Pluto is moving on from its trine to Mars and is now on the country’s MC and opposing the Sun/Uranus conjunction. That is really quite an extraordinary configuration. I would expect a change of government and even a change of constitution of the country with that sort of planetary force at play. Either that or world domination. In March, Jupiter sextiles the Uranus Sun conjunction ramping up the force for change.

April sees more tricky conditions with Uranus quincunx the progressed Ascendant/Mars configuration, which will lead to disruptions. Coupled with Jupiter transiting Pluto at the same time there may be some power struggles. In June, Jupiter activates the T-square between the progressed Sun, Jupiter and Mars, suggesting that things are not quite so quickly resolved and that there are ongoing disputes.

By August Uranus is square the Sun/Uranus conjunction and MC. Remember that Pluto is already aspecting these points. Canada’s key configuration, like so many in the world, picks up the global Pluto Uranus square.

In September Jupiter conjoins Venus and opposes progressed Venus. This is a financially positive influence and given the significance of the other aspects in play probably will merely make the situation a little more palatable.

Saturn, still obviously in aspect to the progressed Moon, makes a trine with the Canadian progressed Jupiter in the last few months, which might continue some of the positive influence and allow changes to be integrated.

The year ends with the mundane trine between Pluto and Saturn picking up the Uranus Sun conjunction again. Since Canada was founded on a Pluto Saturn opposition, it is able to use this combination well, and it should be good for its commodities industries as well as for other business transformation.

We are also finally seeing the end of the Neptune aspects but have to wait to see whether this allows the country to move forward or whether it will become bogged down by other factors in 2013.

Chart Sources
Confederation
1 July 1867, Ottawa, 0.00am Source N Campion, Book of world horoscopes

I do have a query over the time for this chart. But it is not the same query that other astrologers have. Legally the decree for the creation was determined in London and the date specified in London. No time appears to have been specified in the document. Surely from a UK legal point of view then the change occurred at midnight London time? But midnight London time is 5 hours ahead of Ottawa. Canada’s view seems to be that midnight Ottawa time was the time of the change. As Canadian astrologers seem to be happy with their local time, I have gone with that, but a doubt remains.

This chart really only represents the combining of a few states of Canada. There is an argument for using the chart for the final and current version of the confederation. But on that basis we could be choosing a chart for the US when Hawaii joined. Creation of the sense of a national identity may in some instances be as key as the delineation of the borders- the fact that later on others wish to join up to such an identity does not alter the moment of its creation.

As in Australia, the decree creating the Canadian nation also authorises power over the currency. Again I have taken the chart to be representative of both.

Australia: 2009-2012

2009-02-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

The chosen art for my Australian posting is architectural, and needs no introduction, so we’ll go straight to the analysis.

The chart for Australia is characterised by three configurations: a Jupiter, Mercury conjunction opposite Neptune, a Uranus conjunction with Venus opposite Pluto and a Sun conjunct Saturn, Moon, Mars grand trine.

Looking back over 2008, we see that the summer eclipses picked up parts of these major configurations. The August 1 St eclipse was opposite the progressed Ascendant sextile Venus and quincunx Saturn/Sun. The 16th August eclipse conjoined progressed Mars and trined Jupiter and progressed Venus. The former probably represents the shift in commodity prices for the second half of the year and the latter the impact on the Australian dollar.

The Uranus Saturn opposition of November was square the Australian Pluto Uranus opposition further focusing on the commodities issue.

Similar themes continue throughout the next 4 years. The overall trends are not as bad as some countries we have looked at but nor are they are positive as some.

2009
The January 2009 eclipses reflected that of August but with the added stimulus of progressed Moon conjoining progressed Venus.

The country however was closely in focus following the bush fires as a major conjunction involving the sun/Mars and Jupiter occurred on the progressed Ascendant.

Neptune is now opposing progressed Mars which suggests trade weakness at the best of times.

April sees Saturn activate the Uranus/Pluto opposition again, although the trine to progressed Saturn should afford some protection. It also sees Jupiter reactivate the Neptune opposition to progressed Mars, something further complicated by Uranus in quincunx.

May through to July sees the Neptune/Jupiter/Chiron conjunction picks up the Jupiter/Neptune Mercury configuration – unsurprisingly, given what we have seen elsewhere, it is likely to have impact on the currency. Uranus in square to those planets suggests shocks (external?), though the trine from Neptune suggests that monetary inflation absorbs the brunt of events.

By July, Saturn is making its final square to Pluto and Uranus and it may be possible that some of the commodity price falls of the last year are slightly mitigated and Australia is able to benefit a little from this in the medium term.

From August to October, Saturn squares the chart’s Neptune and Jupiter– and quincunxes the progressed Sun Venus conjunction. The upshot of that is much less monetary freedom and likely currency falls and recessionary conditions.

Little more happens until near the end of 2009/early 2010, although the progressed Moon in trine to Saturn moderates matters in the last months.

2010
December 2009 and January 2010 are characterised by a return to the Jupiter/Neptune opposition to progressed Mars and more currency growth. Jupiter though then trines the progressed Sun and MC and sextiles Jupiter. This looks overwhelmingly positive for the economy and its leadership.

In February, Neptune sextiles the progressed Venus and Jupiter while Uranus creates a square to Jupiter. There is likely to be a slightly misplaced sense of economic comfort around this time – perhaps post Australian holidays everyone is just in a good mood? A minor progressed Moon aspect to the Moon in March is also basically positive.

By April Neptune is trine Neptune and this continues the excess currency inflation. The theme continues for a few months and is likely to be accompanied by some shocks, as indicated by the squares of Uranus to Uranus and Mercury and the repeated Saturn square Neptune recessionary indicator. Clearly, together this indicates a lot of uncertainly and little long term planning evolution in the economy.

However it is worth noting that although there may be a sense of being buffeted slightly, or a sense of inertia arising from not knowing how to respond to events elsewhere, the country appears to completely miss out of the excitement of July August 2010 and the peak of the cardinal cross. This can surely only be a good thing.

The country has no planets at or near zero degrees of the cardinal signs and other than a continuation of the themes of May to July, which run right through to Neptune trine Neptune in September, there is unlikely to be any radical action in August.

It is worth noting that using an alternative chart for Australia gives more or less the same result: well the country is far away and perhaps sheltered a little from events even in a global economy.
However, as we will see in 2011, the seeds are being sown at this time that will lead to the need for radical restructuring later.

In October and November the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction does square Jupiter and Neptune and this is likely to be the biggest challenge that the Australian dollar sees in terms of valuation changes vs. the rest of the world. Of course the downside of revaluations is the impact on the economy and the leadership- with Saturn now square the Sun Saturn conjunction and MC, chances are that there will be a lot of hardship for the country and budgetary challenges for the government.

By December the situation becomes more concrete as Saturn crosses the Ascendant. This suggests even tougher times and currency depreciation.

2011
January 2011 sees Saturn station on the Ascendant and square to the progressed Saturn– so major focus on the difficulties of the country at this time – droughts are, incidentally, also likely.

Saturn is also trine Pluto and sextile Uranus suggesting some stabilisation of commodity activity and the change to plan for rebuilding some sectors that are in the doldrums.

March sees Jupiter square the MC and Sun/Saturn, normally this might indicate some exuberance, but in this case it is more likely to just reactivate the Saturn aspect and broaden its reach. There is a suggestion of some sort of turning point in April when Jupiter crosses the Descendant and also picks up the Uranus/Pluto opposition. Potentially this could be a time when new developments can take off.

Another interesting factor to note is that the Australian progressed Sun moves into Taurus now, after 30 years in Aries. This represents a long term change of emphasis from driven economic development to accumulation and security. There may be less immigration, too, from now on.

May sees Jupiter reach its conjunction with progressed Venus, which is also associated with accumulation and conservation of wealth. It is accompanied though by a Pluto conjunction with Saturn. The tentacles of this conjunction will have been felt for some while – but now it begins to perfect. It is the restructuring aspect par-excellence and there is no getting away from it. Whole industries will have to be re-evaluated, but the country still seems to be somewhat in denial as Jupiter and Venus does not suggest poverty and hardship on a large scale.

The fact is, that everything in the garden could look rosy in the next couple of months as Jupiter conjoins the progressed Sun /Venus conjunction. But this should probably be viewed with a healthy dose of scepticism. Pluto is not a force to go partying with. And anyway Saturn is again squaring the Sun and MC. Not great for government or country. There do seem to be conflicting factors at work here.

The summer is also rather misleading, with Jupiter trine the Saturn/Sun conjunction one would expect stability, and even when accompanied by Saturn square Jupiter we wouldn’t really have too much to worry about. But October sees another critical point where there is a change of direction. Jupiter squares the progressed Ascendant, and restrictive Saturn finally returns to the natal Ascendant, ushering in a time of real change.

By December, Saturn trines the Neptune Jupiter opposition, which probably brings currency stability at least, but not necessarily economy wellbeing. Jupiter briefly stations on the Australian progressed Sun this month which further suggests a positive situation albeit short term.

Unfortunately we still have Pluto creeping up again in the background, bringing the need for deep seated changes as it approaches its conjunction with the country’s Saturn.

2012
Australia’s Saturn opposes progressed Venus by January and stations close to the progressed Sun, so that the first half of the year is characterised by the restriction that accompanies a Saturn opposition. The fact that Pluto is aspecting the country’s natal Saturn at the same time is likely to cause a knock on effect. The comfort and wealth associated with the Sun Venus progression is really now challenged and reassessed.

More seriously by March and April, Pluto reaches the IC and the Sun. This is the first time that Pluto has transited the Australian IC since the country’s legal formation. Issues relating to the whole foundation of the country and its economic sustainability are likely to manifest over the coming year or so.

However at the moment Jupiter in trine to the IC/Sun conjunction is creating a helping hand- there is deep reassessment but it is accompanied with opportunity for growth. The trine of Saturn to Neptune in March and sextile to Jupiter in April further suggest that this may be a period of transition but it is not an unequivocally dark one.

By July Uranus reaches its square to the Australian Saturn, which might lead to sudden changes in government policies, which given the mixed picture for August take a while to fully register their effects.

In September Jupiter conjoins the country’s Pluto and opposes Uranus. As we’ve mentioned, this is likely to have an impact on the country’s commodity industry. The combination of this together with the conjunction of Pluto and the Australian Saturn, which repeats in October, probably means major changes within this industry.

Stability in the currency seems to continue though. Saturn trines Neptune and sextiles Jupiter, and Neptune sextiles the progressed Sun. Together this implies not much change in either direction.

As mentioned Pluto conjoins the country’s Saturn in October. Saturn conjoins the country’s progressed MC and opposes the progressed Sun. This suggests that there are some real problems for the government and leadership. Probably because the changes needed ( as indicated by Pluto) are unpopular in some quarters.

The year ends, then, with the Pluto conjunction fully entrenched and the likelihood that the issues with continue int0 2013 as Uranus squares Pluto at a mundane level.

Chart:
Australia Federation. Sydney 1 January 1901 midnight
There is an argument for using the First fleet chart but the fact that it could be claimed that it is only a NSW chart and uncertainty over whether to use a morning or evening time for that chart meant that I selected this one. It may well be the best chart to use for economic events anyway.

Australian Dollar
The authority to run its own currency was given to Australia at the same time as the Federation was created. I am therefore using the same chart for both.

Venezuela: 2009-2012

2009-02-20T06:29:00.000-08:00

Maintaining my art theme as an introduction to each topic is proving harder than I anticipated. There is no shortage of great art, but great art that reflects a nation's scenery is another matter. Where it exists it is almost certainly not by a local artist; people just don’t seem to want to paint their back yard. This week was not exception, there were plenty of great local artists painting something else altogether; the picture of Angel falls is my compromise.

Why Venezuela?
Returning to the real matter in hand, astrology, I have noticed that my timing for choosing countries for analysis is even better than my astrological predictions.

Why this might be we will save for a more philosophical post next week. But, to maintain the trend, Venezuela, this week, has proved a topical choice. Not only has there been a bank run on the Stanford Bank in Caracas following the alleged latest international fraud by Texan Allen Stanford, and a drugs arrest of UK family, but it has been interesting politically. As the Uranus/Saturn opposition squared the progressed Moon which represents the people, Chavez won his bid to change the regulations that limited the length of time he could serve. He could thus, in theory remain in power not just for the duration of this forecast, but potentially until the 2020 of this blog’s title. While I won’t be going into the detail of what this means policy-wise, it is worth bearing in mind as we look at the country; Chavez does not plan to voluntarily relinquish control, so if we see a change of control in the charts we should assume that this will be a time of significant political disruption.

The Venezuelan chart is not as interesting, cycle –wise, as either Brazil or Mexico. Nevertheless there are some points worth noting. Libra rises, Venus rules Libra, the chart seems to suit the country’s name. The MC of the chart is 13 Cancer, the degree of the US Sun, and by virtue of its formation in 1777 it has Pluto at the same degree as the US. Perhaps this helps contribute to Chavez’s antipathy to America, though the signifier of the rhetoric of recent years is likely to be progressed Mercury opposite natal Mars.

My review of the Bolivar will be relatively brief, as, while Venezuela’s oil interests make it politically and economically interesting its currency is much less so. Nevertheless the Bolivar chart I am using doe shave a rather nice Jupiter Uranus conjunction which can’t fail to be activated in the next year or so as the two planets meet at 0 degrees Aries in the cardinal square.

The 2008 eclipses were obviously important for the country, given the impact on oil prices. The 1 August eclipse was square Venezuela’s progressed Sun, the 16th August eclipse was square the country’s progressed Mercury and Mars. The Saturn Uranus opposition picked up a number of planets, and in November the progressed Moon further activated progressed Venus and Mars and trined the Sun. This latter aspect has probably been positive for the leadership.

The eclipses also formed squares with the planets in the Bolivar chart, notably the 16th August eclipse square the Bolivar progressed MC – not a positive sign. Everything is also accentuated in the Bolivar chart at the moment as like other charts we have considered, it has a progressed Sun Mars conjunction

2009
The recent eclipses, picked up the same planets as in August. The six months in between probably saw a trend which may now be starting to change.

March is not especially noteworthy in the country chart. Saturn repeats its aspects of November, and Uranus trines Mars, the latter might spice things up a bit, but not too much. In April Saturn conjoins the country’s Sun again, and will remain in orb until August, suggesting restrictions and difficulties for the government. The Bolivar looks more interesting, with Jupiter conjoining the currency’s Mars this week ( bank run right on schedule then!), and later the progressed Ascendant, suggesting more focus on the currency.

This takes us into the Neptune conjunction of May to July. This quincunxes the Venezuelan natal Neptune and squares the progressed Mercury. This is tricky, though not catastrophic. Uranus also opposes natal Neptune and sextile Pluto. This tends to confirm currency issues that we have identified elsewhere and possibly oil price movements too.

It is not surprising, then, to see that the conjunction makes some major aspects to the Bolivar chart. A square to the progressed Mars/Sun conjunction as well as to the progressed MC and Venus, and a sextile to Neptune. At the same time Uranus sextiles the Mars/Sun and MC as well as the chart’s Uranus/Jupiter conjunction. This suggests some very significant currency movements affecting the Bolivar.

Note, however, that the fact that Saturn trines the Venezuelan Venus/Mars progressed conjunction again by July suggests that Venezuela’s position will not be as bad as some others. The indications are that it is significant though since the progressed Moon squares the conjunction in July.

A relatively benign August and September follow: with Uranus and Saturn making comfortable aspects to the country’s progressed Mercury and its Mars. The Bolivar seems to stabilise as Saturn trines the currency’s Saturn and conjoins the progressed Moon in August, and as Jupiter returns to cross the progressed Ascendant again in September we may backtrack to repeat some of the themes of the period around March.

By October, though Saturn transits the Venezuelan Neptune, a sign of economic weakness and recession. Furthermore there is a notable double whammy: Saturn trines Pluto and Pluto sextiles Saturn. Now trines and sextiles are relatively mild aspects, yet when both Saturn and Pluto are involved there must necessarily be some heavy lifting, restructuring and perhaps more of the Chavez favourite, nationalisations are likely. The progressed Moon carries these aspects through to the end of the year, and the reappearance of the Neptune conjunction. Expect the prevailing themes in April to run right the way to early 2010.

The Bolivar chart looks quite calm from October to December. A Saturn sextile to the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction and trine to the Mars/Sun one keeps big movements in check for a while though the plethora of progressed Moon aspects suggest that currency issues are still under the spotlight.

That is not surprising as December into January sees the repeat of the Neptune conjunction across the world.

2010
In the country chart, while January continues the trends of 2009, February sees Jupiter cross the chart progressed MC, a turning point which also picks up the progressed Mercury, highlighting, trade, exchange and information. Thus, March is characterised by lots of events, commercial, political and leadership-wise. However, these are not especially negative, merely a little frenetic and exuberant. Aspects to Mercury also predominate in the Bolivar chart.

May looks to be a generally positive period. Saturn, trining the Venezuelan progressed Mercury, Pluto and the Moon, imparts stability, while Jupiter and Uranus together encourage change. The only challenge is the Uranus to Uranus opposition, which although accompanied by positive aspects, is probably too much radical change in one go.

As a result June and July are characterised by the need to adjust as Jupiter and Uranus quincunx Saturn. More worrisome though is the Neptune square to the Moon, which suggests a lack of direction economically and much disinformation. There is still a lot of currency focus, with volatility in June, followed by restrictions in July, backing up the trends in the country chart.

The August cardinal cross in the early degrees of the cardinal signs is not highly activated in the Venezuelan chart. Aspects to Venus, the chart ruler, suggest the country is favourably placed though what ever happens at this time. September aspects to the Venezuelan Moon suggest the people are not unhappy with conditions. That could suggest that events point to a commodities issue rather than anything else, although Venezuela’s unique view of capitalism might contribute. The Bolivar chart is almost entirely untouched by the cardinal cross: this is not that surprising, we can expect most of the currency action to have taken place by this time, instead we will have real economic problems to contend with in many places.

September, however, does see quincunxes from Saturn to the progressed Venezuela MC and Sun, suggesting leadership difficulties, and this is accompanied by a notable triple conjunction of progressed Uranus, the progressed Ascendant and progressed Moon. This could be read as a revolutionary aspect- yet the events of the preceding year do not seem to suggest it. A physical event, floods, earthquakes etc might be the explanation. The Bolivar chart still shows relative stability with Saturn still transiting the progressed Moon ( part of a long term aspect).

In the Venezuela chart October though December continue the tricky leadership times, and Jupiter and Uranus again oppose Neptune, and Neptune quincunxes Neptune suggesting economic and currency instability again. In the Bolivar chart Jupiter/Uranus trines Jupiter/Uranus and sextiles the progressed Mars/Sun again- volatile in a good way.

November, however, sees Saturn reintroduce stability via a trine to the Ascendant Moon Uranus conjunction in the country chart and a conjunction with the Ascendant in the Bolivar chart.

In December Saturn crosses the country’s natal Ascendant, which suggests quite severe restrictions of some kind. Again this is reflected in the Bolivar chart with a Saturn square.

The two opposite indicators of instability and restriction look like running in parallel for the last months of the year.

2011
Saturn, in the form of stability and even difficult restrictions, continues to hold sway, stationing on the Venezuelan Ascendant, retrograding back to its trine with the progressed Ascendant and finally retuning to the Ascendant in September of 2011. It was last at this point in 1981, but then it was accompanied by Pluto and Jupiter, so the events of that time will not be repeated in the same way. Still, it could be quite a tough few months. The Bolivar still looks to be subject to quiet heavy trade with Uranus continuing its aspects of late 2010.

Other than the impact of Saturn the early part of the year looks relatively clam, Uranus and Jupiter both make favourable aspects in February and a more mixed March is followed by an April where there are some big events. Jupiter crosses the Descendant and square the MC, throwing focus onto partners and any difficult relationships with them. But Jupiter is also trine Jupiter and sextile the progressed Ascendant Uranus configuration- anything is possible and great strides can be made in new areas and new relationships. As mentioned Saturn is continuing its stabilising influence and Neptune trine Saturn, although not a very constructive aspect will only serve to smooth the edges of any complications. The Uranus trine to Venus is economically and socially enhancing.

In May and June, Jupiter adds another dose of pleasantness in the country chart, sextiling the Moon, and Pluto imparts power through its sextile to the progressed MC. When Jupiter reinforces this in July, it is difficult to see how the country cannot be riding out any global storms very well indeed.

After Saturn returns to hover over the Venezuelan Ascendant and trine Uranus etc in September/October, it moves on to form some more difficult aspects. By December Saturn squares Pluto, suggesting restructuring of a difficult and loss making type. Uranus in square to the Moon together with Jupiter square Venus suggest upsets or protests. Jupiter opposing the country’s Saturn suggests a shake up of traditional values.

The Bolivar chart does not really mirror the country chart at all in 2011.

In February/March in the Bolivar chart Jupiter crosses the Descendant squares the Sun/Saturn/Mercury and opposes the progressed Moon, suggesting the need to re-evaluate the currency within the global marketplace, this is likely to reflect actions being taken elsewhere. In April through to July there is even more activity in the chart. Saturn retrogrades across the Bolivar ascendant and Jupiter squares the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction as it transit Neptune. These aspects look a little like a re-run of late 2010, but the external picture will be looking quite different by now so given that the country chart is looking positive we can assume that what is happening are adjustments to align the currency with that fact.

By September/October a more problematic theme starts to emerge in the currency chart. Saturn and the progressed Moon square Saturn and oppose the progressed Neptune. At the same time transiting Neptune squares the progressed Mars/Sun and MC. With Saturn opposing Neptune we have restraint over inflation but with Neptune square the other planets a tendency towards it. On balance the restriction looks more likely, with the Neptune square manifesting as a lack of trade. The Saturn square to Uranus/Jupiter in November and December further suggests this.

2012
2011 started with a Saturn station on the Ascendant, this year starts with one close to Venezuela’s natal Saturn position. Now a Saturn return is not too big a deal for a country that is over 200 years old as it has one every 30 years or so. Nevertheless it is not something that will ever pass without creating some conditions of hardship or restriction.

Neptune continues to trine Saturn at the same time and together these might contribute to a recessionary phase. Certainly there will be no moving forward with projects or policies.

Pluto also stays close to its sextile with the progressed MC throughout the year, continuing to contribute a feeling of power.

February to April is characterised by a number of minor squares. May sees Jupiter transit the progressed Mars and progressed Venus .Mars would put people in an antagonistic mood but with Venus it is likely to result in something a bit more creative.

The first three months in the Bolivar chart are mixed and unremarkable from a long term perspective. In April Saturn repeats its opposition to Neptune, but this time the aspect is accompanied by Pluto conjoining the IC, the first time since the founding date. This latter aspect is further magnified by Jupiter transiting Pluto in May. The Bolivar has already had a number of incarnations without such an aspect so this could be the beginning of the end of the Bolivar as a separate currency. Perhaps the country will adopt another, although this is unlikely to happen until a few passes of Pluto have occurred.

Jupiter transiting the Mars/Sun conjunction sextile Jupiter/Uranus increases trading activity in the currency in June suggesting increased trade again. But given the Pluto transit mentioned above the most interesting facet of this is that the Mars/Sun conjunction will shortly change signs. This confirms the likelihood of moving to another currency regime within a year or two.

Little new happens in the Bolivar chart for the remainder of the year so developments on this theme are likely to be slow and other economic events will take precedence.

Returning to the country itself, June’s conjunction of Jupiter with the Venezuelan Mercury emphasises the power of communications; the country might want to talk on the global stage more than usual. Jupiter is square the progressed MC though in July suggesting speaking out of turn, an indication reinforced by a Uranus opposition to Mercury – Venezuela might speak but it can’t expect everyone to agree. The people support the attitude though as the progressed Moon transits the MC.

The Saturn return follows, look to 1983-4 for indication of the likely impact, it is square progressed Pluto so could be potentially extremely challenging. And in October Jupiter stations on that Uranus progressed Ascendant configuration, possibly leading to more certain revolutionary behaviour – it is a bit of an anarchistic conjunction to take us to the end of 2012.

Seems it could be all change in both currency and political terms. I don’t think Chavez expects that!

Chart sources

Venezuela: 8 September 1777, 12pm local time San ildefonso, Spain relocated to Caracas, Establishment of the Captaincy of Venezuela by Carlos III, The History of Venezuela, By H. Micheal Tarver, Hollis Micheal Tarver Denova, Julia C. Frederick, Google books
Although independence was not achieved until later, the territories that make up today’s Venezuela were first separately identified as a government region at this time.

Bolivar
Venezolano, 1 January 1872, midnight, Caracas.
The current Bolivar Fuerte is only a year or so old. It replaced the old Bolivar which in turn replaced the Venezolano in 1879. Since there is a direct line connecting all three it is logical to use the oldest. The Venezolano was actually approved on 11 May 1871, but did not become a functioning currency until 1 January 1872 when sufficient amounts were in existence. Since there is a time for 1872 but not 1871 I have chosen to use the 1872 chart.
Wikipedia/wiki/el venezolano

Brazil : 2009-2012

2009-02-20T06:24:00.000-08:00

I’ve returned to cathedrals for my Brazilian themed artwork. This time the design of the Brazilia Cathedral, which is stunning. I’m sticking to my art theme as there are only so many pictures of currency notes and central banks that one can take.

Background
The Brazilian chart is set for the year after Mexico’s. Hence the outer planets are in the same place. Only Jupiter has moved by one sign. So the longer term cycles for these countries will be broadly similar. However the medium term effects will be different with all the inner planets and angles individual to each nation.

There have been substantial shifts since Lula da Silva came to power, at a time corresponding to progressed Sun opposite natal sun in the chart. However any advances made since then are being severely challenged by the global situation.

The summer 2008 eclipses made limited aspects to Brazil. It was not one of the countries hit directly by the events of July – Oct. This proved true, Brazil’s high banking reserve requirements due to past crises saved it from the worst of the initial crisis up to the end of September .However it does pick up longer term aspects from Uranus ( to the Mars, Sun progressed conjunction which tend to raise leadership challenges) and a Pluto square.

And sure enough the Uranus Saturn opposition in November seems to have activated the Brazil chart as the impact on the BRIC economies began to be appreciated and the currency and markets fell.

The Real is an interesting curiousity, dating as it does from 1694, the year the Bank of England was founded. Neptune and Jupiter are prominent as in some many currency charts, though in this case Venus trines Saturn, giving the coins at least strength.

Until mid 2008 the Real had been relatively strong, but that all changed later in the year. The 1 st August eclipse conjoined the Mon and quincunx Saturn, not wholly important, but suggesting change was in the offing. The 16th August eclipse conjoined the progressed Moon sextiled the progressed MC and opposed progressed Jupiter, suggesting a turning point.

But as for the country it was Uranus and Saturn that really hit the Real. Uranus conjoined the Real’s progressed Neptune Ascendant conjunction – the bearer of the previous years’ strength.
Subsequently the opposition picked up the Real Sun and Mars, increasingly the trading levels as investors repositioned themselves.

The other noteworthy issue as we look forward is that both the country and the currency are experiencing Mars/Sun conjunctions by progressions. A distinct theme.

2009
The January 26 2009 eclipse made easy trine aspects to the Brazilian Jupiter, the Moon and progressed MC. No problems from that then. The Feb 9th eclipse made almost no aspects except those mentioned from Uranus. There was more action in the Real chart. The 26th January eclipse opposed the Moon and the more recent February one again picked up Jupiter and the MC. Not surprising that the last few months have seen the decline of the Real based on the summer eclipse turning points

In March 2009, Pluto will conjoin Brazil’s Uranus sextile Mars. This is a somewhat revolutionary aspect, but not in a hard way- it suggests sudden change but without the unpleasant effects which often accompany such changes. Pluto also then conjoins Neptune, which merely speaks of the ongoing global events and how they impact the country indirectly.
There is a lot happening in the Real chart too. Uranus conjoins the Real Neptune ( note again the parallels with both the country and currency receiving aspects from the outer planets to Neptune), Neptune opposes progressed Jupiter, Pluto conjoins Saturn and Saturn once again activates the Real Sun and Mars. Looks like more activity in this currency is coming up in the next 2 months.

In April Jupiter will oppose the Brazilian Venus, Uranus will conjoin progressed Mars and Saturn conjoin the natal Sun. This again suggests that the government will face problems and in this case that there may be more active disputes. The Jupiter to Venus aspect suggests money issues. In the Real chart Uranus crosses the progressed Ascendant, sudden changes in value are likely which given the upcoming conjunction is not surprising.

The May- June Neptune conjunction transits the country’s progressed mercury- planet of communication and exchange. Pluto once again conjoins Neptune, suggesting issues of deception being brought to light and the destruction of illusions. The progressed Moon conjoins Pluto. The people are likely to experience some fear over the market situation and how this will affect them at the grass roots level during this period.

During the same period, Uranus picks up a sextile to Venus in the Real chart and also is within orb of a sextile to the progressed Sun, although there is also a square to the progressed MC which is worrying. This is accompanied, however, by the Neptune conjunction continuing to oppose progressed Jupiter and trine the progressed MC. Jupiter is also transiting the natal MC. The indication here is for more big currency movements in the Real, but the picture is mixed about the direction. So far the Neptune opposition has led to selling, but the strength of the conjunction might just reverse that in a big way. That is further indicated by a sextile from Saturn to the Real Jupiter and another between Pluto and the Real progressed Moon.Bet on volatility rather than one direction.

In August the progressed Moon briefly squares the Brazilian Uranus and Neptune in the chart reactivating some of the above. And in the Real chart Saturn opposes the Sun suggesting depreciation although not of such long duration.

In September Saturn reaches its opposition of the Brazilian progressed Sun and Mars: hard graft for the government and with Jupiter opposite Venus, perhaps problems with paying its public servants. October thus has a repeat of the Pluto square and Uranus again conjoining progressed Mars and the potential for disputes and strikes again. November sees a repeat of surprise challenges to the leadership.

In the Real chart, over the same period the Saturn/Uranus opposition is still at work. This time Uranus opposes Saturn and is on the progressed Ascendant/Neptune trine the progressed Venus. This indicates yet more volatility – perhaps it is hard to see where the country is going economically at this time and the Real is reflecting that uncertainty. By October Saturn is trine the progressed Mars/Sun in the Real chart, suggesting continued substantial trading but now in a more rational manner. Though Neptune opposite Jupiter at the same time does not imply any settling down to a long term value.

November and December also see the beginning of a more serious phase. The Pluto Saturn square picks up the Brazilian Pluto square Neptune/Uranus. Although with Saturn trine progressed Jupiter there is usually opportunity for consolidation rather than severe restructuring, the reality is likely to be more of the latter. Still with the progressed Moon sextile progressed MC at the year end, not everyone is unhappy.

In the Real chart, Uranus is still creating valuation surprises, as it transits Neptune, and Neptune in opposition to Jupiter suggests value is quite out of kilter at this time. The effect of the Pluto Saturn square can be felt in the currency too though, as it resonates to the quincunx in the Real natal chart. There may be currency trading restrictions and issues relating to Real debt at the end of the year.

2010
The themes of December continue into the new year. Pluto again transits Brazil’s Uranus, although these are very long term transits and there is no reason to think the effects will be confined to this month alone.

February brings a change of scene as Jupiter crosses the Ascendant in the Brazil chart and Uranus crosses the Real ascendant. This is accompanied by more disputes ( Uranus conjoining the Brazil Mars) and more disinformation ( Neptune conjoining Brazil progressed Mercury). Jupiter however makes a sextile to the Neptune/Uranus conjunction and a trine to Mars, this suggests a liquidity hit. In the Real chart Jupiter sextiles Saturn and progressed Mercury – such liquidity could take the form of hard currency rather than computer bytes.

A brief progressed Venus Moon conjunction in the Brazil chart during March, coupled with a Jupiter sextile to progressed Uranus makes everyone rest on their laurels despite the ongoing restructuring from Saturn opposing Pluto. In the Real chart the impact of the mundane Pluto Saturn square means the picture continues mixed, though a Jupiter conjunction to the progressed Moon seems to mirror the country’s complacency.

Jupiter opposite Brazil’s progressed Sun in April suggests some rather reckless actions by the government, which are likely to escalate in May as Jupiter crosses the progressed Sun/Mars conjunction. In the Real chart Uranus us now trining the progressed Sun Mars too and Jupiter conjoins the Sun and then the Neptune progressed Ascendant conjunction: we are reaching a turning point in the currency valuation.

The months of June to September are characterised by the cardinal cross, that we have discussed many times. In Brazil’s chart, Pluto mainly aspects Uranus, and Jupiter/Uranus quincunx Mars. That suggests real on the streets demonstrations. There is a need for a lot of deep-seated change. However Saturn opposes the Brazilian Pluto but trine Jupiter and sextiles the MC. There is little growth but much positive change for the better with this, setting the country up for a better time later.

In the Real chart we see a conjunction between the progressed Moon and Sun, more indications that a new trend is starting. The Jupiter Uranus conjunction trines the Real’s Pluto, a very powerful force. Saturn trines the progressed Mars/Sun conjunction and Jupiter trines the progressed Pluto. This is a re-evaluation of the Real as big as that in 2009, but this time we are looking at fundamentals rather than fantasy.

In September 2010, Jupiter conjoins the Brazil Pluto, indicating issues regarding debt, but not necessarily bad ones. Yet Saturn squares the Neptune/Uranus conjunction suggesting inertia and lack of technological development.

In the Real chart the progressed Moon is picking up Neptune, reactivating some of the themes from the past 18 months, and the Jupiter Uranus conjunction is again activating the progressed Sun/Mars, the currency looks strong at this time and once again there is much trade.

In October Pluto is again transiting Brazil’s Neptune, while Neptune transits Mercury- more misinformation and uncertainty will ensure. However we do have a stabilising Saturn trine to the country’s Jupiter and the Moon. This won’t make things better but will stop the worst of challenges to policy etc.

In the Real chart Neptune sextiles the MC. Jupiter crosses the progressed Ascendant and makes a sextile to Venus and a square to the progressed MC, as well as a conjunction with the progressed Moon. Saturn sextiles the Moon but squares Saturn This is again a lot of major planetary activity and it does suggest that the speculative element of the Real trading is not dead yet.

November sees Pluto back with the Brazilian Uranus and Mars, a continuation of the theme all the way back to early 2009. Jupiter again transits the progressed Mars Sun conjunction, sending the government into overdrive. Expect rhetoric and takeovers. Jupiter conjoining the Real Neptune once again suggests a lot of speculation or inflationary activity However Pluto is now conjunct Saturn again suggesting more concrete fundamental government action regarding the currency.

Indeed Saturn opposite the Brazilian progressed Venus in December probably makes for a short period of financial hardship –perhaps confiscation or restrictions on withdrawals etc. It is certainly another key moment currency wise as the Uranus Jupiter conjunction transiting the progressed Ascendant is reinforced by the progressed Moon.

2011
Jupiter and Uranus shake up progressed Mars again in January 2011. But Jupiter conjoins Pluto and trines the MC and sextiles progressed Jupiter again ( as in the middle of 2010), Financially that looks quite positive- perhaps debt levels will be a cause for celebration, despite the people chanting for change. In the Real chart Neptune continues to sextile Venus which also suggests things are looking up.

In February and March, Jupiter squares the Brazil Neptune suggesting mistaken speculation or over liquidity. March’s Pluto transit to Neptune again continues the background theme of breaking up the delusions. There is some positive news in Mars though as Jupiter makes a sextile to Brazil’s Jupiter Moon conjunction, bringing a sense of comfort

The Real is definitely showing its stronger side in February, with a repeat of the Jupiter sextile to the progressed Sun/Mars conjunction and a Pluto transit to progressed Mercury. In March Uranus also activates the progressed Sun/Mars again and the progressed Moon, Jupiter sextiles the chart’s Uranus and Saturn trines the progressed Venus. This looks very good and far less out of control than the previous months have been. Things might be settling down

Jupiter conjoins Brazil’s progressed Venus in April but Saturn again opposes it. It’s a mixed sign. A feeling of wealth coupled with a fearing of restriction. With Uranus transiting Pluto and square progressed Jupiter and MC, there are likely to be huge changes in place.

May’s aspects suggest that this is so . Neptune reaches the Brazilian ascendant. And it is on the progressed Descendant. This suggests that there will be an enormous turning point in Brazil’s position relating to partners, and the rest of the world in general. It’s whole image is changing and in the medium term is going to be quite unclear. With Neptune square Jupiter and the MC, we have a fantasy, speculative aspect. It’s a gamble. At the same time Uranus squares Neptune/Uranus and Pluto conjoins Neptune. The key aspects that determined the beginnings of Brazil as an independents state are all coming in to play. This is not just about Brazil this is about the relations between North and South America and Europe too.

The Real looks mixed for April like the country chart. In May the major aspect is a square from Uranus to Saturn which is decidedly upsetting. It might suggest new denomination. The progressed Mars and Sun are now opposite the Real natal Pluto suggesting a complete change,

Curiously, June 2011 shows Jupiter sextiling the Brazil country Ascendant, trining the progressed Ascendant and conjoining the progressed Moon. Later in the month Jupiter trines the Neptune/Uranus conjunction and opposes Mars. All this means that the themes of May continue to be activated but also that they are basically positive for Brazil. In the Real chart Saturn trines the Uranus, calming down the changes of April. There are a number of Jupiter squares in the month but this is likely to be related to practical issues of the currency rather than value.

July and August’s conjunctions between Jupiter and the Brazilian Saturn suggests consolidation in a positive way. September basically continues the theme, with the progressed Moon carrying the baton of the earlier aspects in both the country and Real charts. Although the corresponding Uranus square is extremely disruptive, in the light of the rest of the aspects it can’t be too bad. Other country policies create shocks but the country can withstand them. It is worth noting though, the repeat of the Saturn opposite progressed Venus, which you will recall might suggest monetary restrictions for a short while. The Real chart ( where the mundane Pluto Uranus square is picking up the natal Saturn) shows that people are having to adapt quite dramatically to changes and that there is caution as a result.

October basically continues the events of September but with Uranus square the Brazilian Neptune meaning a element of uncertainty about how changes will play out. It must be ok because in November Jupiter conjoins the progressed Moon trines Uranus and Neptune and the progressed Ascendant again. And in December it sextiles the Ascendant. Whilst there are some quincunxes, we have continued Uranus conjunct Pluto in trine to the MC and sextile progressed Jupiter. Generally a good ending to the year for Brazil as a result of international events.

During this last quarter of the year the Real chart is once again very active. It comes to a head by December when Jupiter Saturn and Uranus are all active. Uranus makes wholly favourable aspects to the progressed Mars/Sun conjunction and Pluto. Saturn makes a mixture with a stabilising sextile to the midheaven but a square with Venus again. Jupiter makes wholly squares to the planets Uranus transits. On balance then the surprises are good, though reactions might be overdone.

2012
The late 2011 Real themes continue in January 2012. In the same month Pluto transits the Brazil progressed Neptune, which would be unsettling if it were not for the fact that it also trines progressed Saturn. Given the benefits from the end of 2011 this looks like continuing policy changes for the long term good.

Jupiter is again replaying some of its positive aspects of earlier months in February, and with Uranus and Pluto nearly in square we are seeing how the global mundane aspects continue their impacts on Brazil in its historical position as part of the greater global trade developments. Jupiter’s repeat conjunction with the Brazilian Saturn intensified by a progressed Moon aspect in March still confirms the stability of the impact in the country.

Jupiter is trine Saturn in the Real chart in February further suggesting stability, although this might be at the expense of value in March when Saturn opposes Venus again.

In March through to July, Neptune again crosses the Brazil Ascendant and squares progressed Jupiter. This just confirms the speculative activity mentioned for mid 2011. More Jupiter positive aspects to Uranus the progressed Moon and the Sun, followed by a sextile from Uranus to the moon Jupiter conjunction and then a sextile of Jupiter to the progressed Sun Mars, suggest that Brazil is still doing well, just no-one knows exactly what the true outcome will be.

There is a repeat of the Pluto conjunction with the Real progressed Saturn in April. But the difficulties associated with this are offset by the Jupiter transit to the Ascendant and its square to the MC. We are seeing more issues relating to the change in the currency which could be tricky, though the aspects in the currency chart do not suggest that is so. Indeed by May the rela chart is showing sextiles from Jupiter to the Sun. Mars and Neptune , which suggests a very positive situation. June is a bit more mixed but still characterised by a Jupiter trine to Venus and sextile to the progressed Ascendant and a Saturn sextile to progressed Jupiter. These should ensure that the Neptune sextile to Saturn is basically experiences as stability rather than weakness and should partially offset the mundane square of Pluto to the Real’s Mercury. Though the latter may create some difficulties on the street.

Neptune, by July, is sextile the Brazil natal Uranus/Neptune conjunction and trine Mars. Neptune/Mars aspects can suggest weakness but the sextile is the least complicated and in this case probably supports the other positive themes. The Real chart has more Jupiter sextiles to key points and so the currency will be well regarded at this time.

August does, however, suggest a shift of emphasis after almost a year of positive news in the country. In the Real chart we might see too much lightening of restrictions as Jupiter transits Uranus. Also Uranus is still making a positive sextile the Brazilian Moon Jupiter conjunction, the people are still happy and in a Brazilian party spirit. But Jupiter reaches the IC, a turning point and squares the Ascendant and progressed Ascendant as well as conjoining progressed Jupiter and sextiling Pluto. This is just too much of a good thing. It looks like Brazil’s finances might just be too good compared to elsewhere. It is a slight warning. Jupiter then trines the Sun and conjoins the progressed MC, more indication of a turning point, but all still with a happy populace that even another Pluto transit to Neptune can’t totally unravel.

September to December continue many of these themes. There are some slight adjustments though. In the Real chart Saturn again conjoins Venus in September, suggesting some restrictions or depression in value again. Saturn is trine the Brazil Ascendant from October and perhaps depressing some of the over inflated expectations – or maybe just bringing some hard headed realism into the picture. It is pointing out the need to watch debt with quincunxes to the country’s Pluto and Jupiter. In the Real chart Neptune and Saturn are in mundane aspect and Saturn squares the progressed Sun/mars and Ploto configuration. This is definitely tricky and the currency might suffer some negative sentiment during this part of the year.

In November Saturn conjoins the Brazil Mars, constraining activity a little but not too much as it is still sextile Uranus and the progressed Ascendant. This is mirrored by a Pluto conjunction to Neptune trine progressed Saturn. Potentially somewhat recessionary, but we can consider that a scaling back might be in order after the last 18 months. Still Jupiter is retrograding over the progressed MC in December, the new patterns won’t embed until 2013.

In the Real chart the end of the year is a bit mixed. Positive conjunctions between Jupiter and the Real Uranus and a Saturn sextile which is a very stable sign are offset by the ongoing effect of the mundane Pluto/Uranus square to the chart’s Saturn which is only really starting to get going. Although the year end’s ok the currency readjustments are taking time.

Chart Sources

Brazil: Independence declared by ruler. 7 Sep 1922 Sao Paulo. 16.47 local time. Chart from N Campion’s Book of world horoscopes based on a time rectified by Brazilian astrologers.

The Real
Brazil Mint Foundation: 8 March 1694, Salvador Brazil. Based on law issued by Portugal. Chart set for 12pm Lisbon Portugal relocated to Brazil. See casadamoeda.com.br

Another fascination currency history here.
The law of 8 March 1694 answered this request, by determining that gold and silver in Brazil would devalue by 10% over and above the 20% devaluation decided in 1688 by Portugal. It also states that a mint should be opened in the city of Baía so that the provincial currency could be coined there and would only circulate Brazil.
See: WAR, TAXES AND GOLD:THE INHERITANCE OF THE REAL Jorge Braga de Macedo, Faculty of Economics, Nova University at Lisbon; NBER and CEPR Álvaro Ferreira da Silva Faculty of Economics, Nova University at Lisbon Rita Martins de Sousa Institute of Economics and Management, Technical University of Lisbon

Mexico and the Peso: 2009-2012

2009-02-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

There was never going to be much contest for my Mexican artwork, it was always going to be Riviera or Kahlo. In the end, this one, which I was not previously familiar with, seemed like an appropriate theme for an astrological site.

Background to the Mexican chart

The chart for Mexico from 1821 is worth a brief discussion because of the number of outer planet aspects involved. Neptune conjoins Uranus close to the MC, (there would not be another conjunction of these planets until 1993). The two planets also square Pluto. This configuration, and the birth of modern Mexico, therefore represented a critical point in the cycle of industrialisation that took off with the grand trine between the three planets in the late 1760s. It was an especially critical moment because Uranus is trine a Saturn/Jupiter conjunction, a significator of the medium term business cycle. 1821 was thus a key year in economic history and Mexico can be expected to resonate with many of the events that follow.

It should be noted that Mexico is going through a 20 year period ( 1996-2017) when the progressed Moon and Saturn will make many conjunctions, this is a sign of stability but not of growth and may create an overall climate of negativity. Although it is a much better aspect than the equivalent square, which would definitely create a very negative climate.

Other than a slight depreciation in 2002, the Mexican Peso has closely tracked the US$ since the late 1990s. However that changed in October 2008, when the Peso saw a sharp fall in response to the US economic conditions. Can we see this in the chart and can we forecast what the next few years will bring?

The eclipse of 16th August together with Neptune was close to the Peso Chart’s MC, as will be the eclipse of 9th February 2009, this is an especially weakening aspect. That Mexico, and the Peso that seem to have such close ties to economic development as a whole should pick up this eclipse is to be expected. The Peso is hardwired into international economics. However the aspect was coupled in the Peso chart by a transit of Saturn to the progressed Sun/Mercury conjunction with the Peso moon ( as well as its hard aspects to Venus and Mars). Both of these events would have had a dampening effect on value but together they were even more significant. Nevertheless a major currency weakening would normally be accompanied by significant Uranus Pluto transits as well as Neptune. In fact it is notable that the effect on the Peso of the dollar is much more than, for example, against the Euro. We have not seen a complete collapse of this currency- rather a knock on effect from the dollar.

2009

Moving back to the events of the moment, news reports have already confirmed that remittances to Mexico from workers in the US have fallen and that jobs are increasingly difficult to obtain for Mexicans both at home and across the border. Unsurprisingly then we see that, Pluto has recently transited the Mexico Neptune and the eclipse of 26th January was square the Mexican chart’s Moon and progressed Jupiter – representing the people’s difficulties relating to funds.

The 9th February eclipse, involving Neptune, makes only one aspect in the country chart, to progressed Mars, suggesting discontent but not with any particular focus. And indeed there is not much worth mentioning in the chart throughout February and March suggesting little change in the situation during that time.

In the Peso chart the eclipse of 26 January was more dramatic than the summer ones. Conjoining Pluto, sextiling Neptune, trining Mercury and the Ascendant opposing Saturn and picking up quincunxes from Venus and the progressed Ascendant, it pulls in most of the Peso chart. These are not all negative aspects though, they are merely significant ones. As will be seen these points will pick up a stream of mundane aspects over the coming years, the eclipse just represents the starting point – an unsettling effect. This unsettled picture is further confirmed by the fact that the chart’s Uranus picks up the ongoing Saturn Uranus opposition- the currency sits on a knife edge at present – and indeed it has barely moved this last month.

Other than forming a conjunction with the Peso MC, the February eclipse makes no aspects to the currency chart. Some weakness continues whilst other factors become more significant. As we go into March, Pluto trines the progressed Venus Ascendant configuration and square Neptune again - this shouldn’t be too bad and no excitement is expected until April when Jupiter crosses the MC. At the same time Saturn conjoins progressed Mercury, restricting trade in the currency, which might be an interesting development.

By May, when Neptune and Jupiter conjoin, there are developments in the country chart. Retrograde Saturn sextiles the Mexico progressed MC, opposes progressed Mercury quincunxes the progressed Sun, and sextiles natal Mercury and the progressed Ascendant. This is rather a mixed bag and merely re-emphasises the themes of September-October 2008. Whilst there is hardship ( with Saturn opposing progressed Mercury, it still does not cut too deep). The Neptune Jupiter conjunction makes only a sextile to the Mexico Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in the chart- surprisingly this is not too bad; possibly currency movements or commodity prices favour Mexico at this time. The Peso is also relatively unaffected by this conjunction. The conjunction is widely opposite the currency’s Saturn and square the Sun, suggesting that it is tipping into instability, but not quite. Saved temporarily by the dollar it seems

The summer is trickier though – The progressed Moon and Saturn quincunx the Mexican Jupiter/Saturn conjunction from August to October, confirming employment difficulties. Pluto also returns to transit Neptune again, deepening further, the sense of powerlessness and perhaps bringing corruption in industry and government to the fore.

In August and September Jupiter again crosses the Peso MC, and in the latter month the progressed Moon picks up those unstable aspects to Uranus and Saturn again – suggesting more shaky ground but no clear direction. A Jupiter trine to the Peso progressed Mars in October is indicative of more trade in the currency, but it can’t be showing too much direction still as November sees a stabilising trine from Saturn to progressed Uranus and the Sun.

In the country chart, November sees the progressed Moon and Saturn opposing Pluto, potentially creating a quite hostile environment for a month or two. So, although Neptune and Jupiter repeat their positive sextile in December, the background themes are not so good; the first mundane Pluto Saturn square is within orb of a square to Neptune, and a Saturn conjunction with the Sun and progressed Moon, such a combination does not make the sextile to Mars (a possible sign of military action) look terribly promising.

It is therefore in December 2009 that we really see a pattern emerging for the Peso. At that point the Saturn Pluto square starts to pickup many of the points in the peso chart; including progressed Venus, Mercury, Neptune, Pluto and Saturn. Despite some trines from Pluto, this looks to be depressing for the value of the currency, perhaps a reflection of what is happening politically.

2010
January and February continue the themes of late 2009. However Jupiter moving into Pisces and sextiling Neptune, the MC, progressed Jupiter and trine the moon suggests that conditions improve probably through increased liquidity, at this time. March sees a repeat of the Neptune sextile to the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction, and thus is again a relatively positive month. The Neptune sextile continues throughout the year, suggesting perhaps subsidies and other help to industry which will obviously have both positive and negative consequences.

In the Peso chart Jupiter conjoins Jupiter and picks up all the key points again. Because these are neither clear cut negative nor positive, we can expect the Jupiter transit to result primarily in volatility. This is further suggested by an opposition between Jupiter and the Peso chart Moon in March, and by the progressed Moon again picking up all the same planets as Pluto and Jupiter in the same month. It looks like large flows of funds are involved during this whole period and the trend for the Peso is down- but perhaps not against everything. Again this seems to confirm the general economic picture for the country.

The progressed Moon continues to transit the main points of the Peso chart until June, so we cannot expect things to settle down by themselves. Sure enough, April seems Jupiter oppose the progressed Peso Sun/Mercury conjunction and quincunx Mars, suggesting intervention by the state to stabilise matters ( Saturn is also trine the Peso Sun). In the country chart, by April, Pluto is fully conjoining the Mexico progressed Neptune and making a square to the Sun, although sextile the Moon; the people seem to have the power and the government is struggling

Meanwhile, Jupiter trine the Mexican Venus and Uranus and conjoining progressed Venus suggests unexpected wealth effects for a short time. This is difficult to explain at this point but must arise due to currency or other impacts on the global markets during the period. . Neptune opposes the Peso Saturn suggesting that there is excess liquidity being put into the system which will weaken the Peso but make the people happier.

The respite continues in May with Jupiter bringing good news through its conjunction with the progressed Mexico Mercury and trine to progressed MC. Whilst the short term impacts look positive ( Uranus sextiles the Peso Sun and Jupiter and Uranus sextile progressed Uranus suggesting pleasant surprises in May and June), the longer term outlook is less rosy.

The summer is tougher. July and August are the key months for the cardinal square, which we are expecting to have some major impact on international affairs. The cardinal cross first aspects Mexico’s Pluto, breaking up the established industries and sources of wealth and power, then it aspects Neptune, which as mentioned suggests a feeling of powerlessness and with the trine to Mars may signal significant inflation. There is certainly a sense that Mexico is a victim of events elsewhere at this time.

The square also picks up large sections of the Peso chart: However with planets at these early degrees of so many signs, there is no overwhelming negative or positive balance to the scales. The expectation is for liquidity which will bring relief to some and problems for others. In any case it is unlikely at this time that Mexico will be able to control the direction of its currency due to external factors, the fact that the cardinal cross picks up both the Peso natal Ascendant and progressed one further suggests that the emphasis is on the impact from other partners over that summer.

There is little change to these themes until after September. Then, Saturn moves forward squaring the Mexico MC and progressed Uranus, that suggests pent up feelings with no outlet. However November’s Saturn transit to the Mexico Descendant and its December opposition to the progressed Sun, suggest that relations with partners such as the US are at a low at this time.

September sees Uranus and Jupiter again sextiling the Peso Sun, but Saturn opposing Neptune (the most significant of a number of its aspects),; another mixed bag which suggests short term benefits may be offset by long term declines. The rest of the year continues to confirm the split personality of the currency with hard aspects to Jupiter from Saturn, but positive aspects from the progressed Moon to Jupiter and Mars.

2011
January 2011 represents further developments in the themes of December, as Saturn moves to square the Mexico progressed MC and conjoin Mercury. Nothing especially new there.

In the Peso chart 2011 begins with a repeat of the square between Pluto and Jupiter/Uranus, but now without the repressing influence of Saturn. The aspects to Neptune and Jupiter do suggest the potential for more currency movement- but the problem is that the conflicting aspects make it difficult to see whether in the short run this will lead to increased value (against more significantly declining currencies) or increased volume in circulation ( leading to reduced value).

February sees the final transit of Jupiter and Uranus to the Mexico Pluto together with a repeat of the hard Pluto aspects to Mexico’s progressed Neptune and the Sun. All the problems of summer 2010 are likely to resurface, but there is the beginning of a shift to something new. Later in February Pluto crosses the Mexican MC for the first time since independence. In doing so it picks up the progressed Jupiter and Uranus trine as well. That suggests a big change of governance style for the country as well as an equally big change in economic power. Jupiter, picks up a number of aspects to all the Mexican planetary points from Neptune to the MC at this time, further confirming that this will be a time of tremendous change.

In March Jupiter crosses the Ascendant, which, given the above transits, could mean the beginning of a new regime. Saturn conjoining the progressed Moon again, this time opposing the Mexico progressed Sun tends to confirm this. April, has a different emphasis with Jupiter conjoining the progressed Sun but opposing the Moon (and picking up the progressed chart angles), the leadership look stronger then. Yet Pluto still continues for some months to transit the Mexico MC/Uranus, so the situation will not yet be stable. Interestingly this period also corresponds with the beginning of a Neptune sextile Neptune aspect; potentially pleasant but lacking direction.

In the Peso chart Neptune opposing Saturn and squaring the Sun in March is, overwhelmingly negative, but Uranus sextile the Sun at the same time looks encouraging. April is again mixed with Neptune making a quincunx to Uranus but Uranus trining the same point. Furthermore Jupiter conjoins progressed Jupiter and the natal Mars in the same month, suggesting much trade in the Peso again. However it must be short lived as Saturn opposes progressed Jupiter in May. It really does not look as if people have a handle on where this currency is going trend wise and are just trading the moment for the whole period. That would back up the sense that politically things are rather fluid during this year.

In May there is some sense of action in the Mexico chart, as Jupiter trines progressed Mars and then begins its every 12th year transit to the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction ( the last one was in early 2000). This is a brief transit, however, and by June Jupiter trines Neptune and with reinforce the ongoing Neptune/Neptune sextile. Maybe this represents too much complacency as Saturn stations close to the Descendant and the progressed Moon crosses the progressed Ascendant – the focus again is on difficult relationships.

For the Peso, June through August sees another mixed bag, including a nasty quincunx from Pluto to the Midheaven, suggesting debt problems, but coupled with an upbeat Uranus transit to Neptune and trine Saturn which makes everything seem fine. Pluto’s subsequent trine to the progressed Venus/Ascendant configuration even suggests some value in the Peso over this period – backing up that complacency that is felt politically and economically.

July and August seem to bring out the best from the recent changes. Although Pluto crosses the Mexico MC again, Jupiter is trine it and makes favourable aspects to progressed Jupiter and Uranus too, and later to Venus. All this suggests potentially positive economic effects and with Jupiter stationing they could continue until early 2012. However we must not overlook the continued hard aspects of Saturn, by October making a conjunction with the progressed Mexico Ascendant, and in November opposing its natal position.

It seems like there are two very strong but conflicting themes here, internal changes leading to optimism and possibly economic strength within the country and continuing difficult with relations outside the country. The pattern is one of the people vacillating between the positive and the negative.

In the Peso chart, August to October is dominated by an opposition from Neptune to Saturn, and square to the Peso Sun. In an economy this means recession, in a currency it can just mean printing money. However an opposition aspect from Saturn to Mars in September, when accompanying this probably suggests immediate weakness rather than just growth of supply. Nevertheless Pluto continues to square the Peso Neptune and Uranus to conjoin it, that is likely to represent a large unexpected change in the currency whatever else happens, before the end of the year. It really does not look too bad though as December is also characterised by a sextile from Jupiter to the progressed Moon. The Peso chart, like that of the country, seems to embody a dichotomy during the period.

Unsurprisingly then 2011 ends with Uranus squaring Neptune and trine Mars in the Mexico country chart, suggesting the need to adapt to another set of external circumstances.

2012
Even less surprisingly, given the external challenges, Pluto continues to transit the Mexico MC and Uranus in January. Nevertheless the impact of the continuing Jupiter transits across the whole MC configuration and the Neptune sextile, seem to suggest that, until March at least, the changes are not too painful.

For the Peso, 2012 begins with the Neptune opposition to Saturn ongoing, but being replaced with a less forceful quincunx to Uranus. Jupiter is being decidedly bountiful to the peso too– sextile Jupiter and trine progressed Venus, and squaring the Pluto Saturn opposition in the chart, which in this case suggests positive transformation.

By March though the dominant aspect in the Mexico chart seems to be the Saturn opposition, which is reinforced by the progressed Moon. The aspect continues in play until September. Furthermore Uranus is now opposing the Mexico Sun and square progressed Neptune/MC. So just when it looked like everything would settle down there may be more changes in leadership. The mundane Pluto/Uranus square is pretty much across both the Mexican angles (MC and Ascendant) by this stage. It should not surprise that a country formed under such major mundane configurations should be so susceptible to major economic world events, nevertheless it does look as if the changes are going to be deep and long lasting. However there are only small signs of the inertia and stagnancy that some other countries show significantly over this period- whatever the outcome Mexico moves forward.

March is however still relatively benign for the Peso, with only Uranus transit to Neptune to worry about and a stabilising Saturn sextile to Saturn to settle things down. April is even more interesting. The progressed Moon transits Jupiter on the mid point of Neptune and Pluto and opposing Progressed Venus/Ascendant This looks to be a very positive point for the currency. That does not mean major appreciation though, merely that it will be seen to have strength. The aspect is follows by a trine from Jupiter to the progressed Sun and another transit of Neptune by Uranus this time sextile Pluto and trine Saturn- all suggesting overall strength. Maybe political changes are viewed well by the outside world and this reinforces the currency value.

In any case, May and June are characterised by sextiles from Jupiter and Uranus to the Peso Midheaven, and from Jupiter to the Sun and Ascendant, and then to Mercury and Neptune, yet more signs of a good image for the currency and a sense that things are settling down.

Yet throughout the summer the impact of the Pluto transit to the Mexico progressed Uranus continues to be felt- it is all change in industry and government still. However in the Peso chart, although Pluto continues to make a slightly tricky aspect to the MC in the summer, Jupiter continues to dominate, stationing with a conjunction with Venus and sextile to Mars, and although that is coupled with a square to the Peso’s progressed Sun, it also has the impact of the Uranus transit to support it.

By September, Saturn moves from its opposition to the Mexican country Saturn to oppose Jupiter, embedding the changes into the economy. By October Saturn is sextile the Mexico Neptune and square Mars, which does suggest a lack of progress at that time but given the magnitude of the recent changes that is probably a good thing.

In November there are more unexpected challenges for the government, perhaps related to corruption (as it is square to Neptune). But the year end of the themes of October with Saturn still sextile Neptune but also conjoining both the progressed and natal Moons of the country. The people may finally be seeing signs of long term stability by the end of the year.

In any case, by October, Pluto has reached a trine with the Peso progressed Ascendant too and that suggests a stable value for the Peso versus other currencies. Indeed December 2012 sees Uranus sextile Pluto and trine Saturn yet again, for an overall positive end to the year for the Mexican Peso which seems to mirror the political picture described above.

Chart Sources
Mexico: 28 Sept 1821 Mexico City. 18.00 local time. N Campion Book of World horoscopes.
There seem to be a number of dates for Mexican independence, and the most popular is 27th September. However this time is stated by Campion as being the one used by Mexican astrologers and reports suggest that the actual change of government occurred then. The only time I could find was 8pm (MEXICO A Land or Volcanoes FROM CORTES TO ALEMAN By Joseph H. Z. Scnlarman THE BRUCE PUBLISHING COMPANY) but suspect this is a misuse of the 24hr clock and that the 18.00 time is more accurate.

Peso
Founding of Mexican Mint :11 May 1535. Noon local time Madrid, relocated to Mexico city. From casa de moneda de Mexico . http://www.cmm.gob.mx/ and other web and wikipedia enties

Arguably the chart for the Mexican Peso could be traced to Spanish Ordinance of Medina del Campo of 1497 as the Peso can trace a direct line from this. The Peso is certainly sensitive to this chart, and indeed there are a number of similarities between that and the one I use. However I have chosen to use the decree for the founding of the Mexican Mint as being specifically Mexican.

The problem with the earlier Peso charts is a lack of times. I have assumed a Spanish time of midday and relocated this to Mexico, which merely serves to switch the Sun from the MC to the Asc. We'll have to see if it works

Argentina and the Peso: 2009-2012

2009-01-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

I must admit to having a soft spot for Argentina, (as well as South America generally) both astrologically and otherwise. I won’t bore you with the otherwise, except to note that my choice of painting, EC2, although in the Buenos Aires Museum des belles Artes and by an Argentinian artist, Fernando Maza, does not represent anything particular Argentinian in itself, but I include it because I love it. The photographic representation does not however do justice to the perspective or the sheer energy and unadulterated happiness of the original.

My astrological soft spot, on the other hand, was engendered by the fact that Argentina and the Peso were the source of my first successful forecast. This I did in November 2000, and identified the likelihood of a crisis the following winter and even pinpointed to within a week the credit downgrade that happened in July 2001.

Enough of me, let’s get back to the economy. Although the Argentineans are Spanish speakers, the country has more in common with Italy business-wise. I am not surprised, therefore, that the country shares with Italy the astrological signature of Neptune on the IC. That in itself isn’t a particularly good aspect in the long run, but what matters is whether it is significantly in play now or not.

The situation in the early 2000 was very bad astrologically, but those who would still condemn Argentina by extrapolation should note that many of those configurations have move away or are in the process of reducing, notably the separating progressed Sun/Saturn conjunction. Indeed the Argentinean chart is notable at the moment for its lack of Pluto aspects.

The Peso chart we are dealing with dates from 1881. It is an especially noteworthy chart with a large conjunction involving Pluto, Saturn, and the moon as well as our 2009 trio Jupiter Neptune and Chiron ( although within much wider orbs than this year), and opposing the Sun and Mercury across the MC/IC axis. With such a chart one would expect dramatic effects and sure enough wikipedia reports that at the beginning of the 20th century, the Argentine peso was one of the most traded currencies in the world. Indeed it has occurred to me that the Peso, picking up this chart, although 10 years before the true Pluto Neptune conjunction of 1891/2, put Argentina and the Peso ahead of its time and that some of what it experiences will be experienced by the rest of the western consumer society later on. In Argentina this stuff was done and dusted almost a decade ago, now its the US’s turn.

2009
Tomorrow’s eclipse makes few aspects to the Argentinean chart. But the February 9th lunar eclipse is more active, like the corresponding summer eclipse it lies on the Descendant axis, squaring progressed Jupiter and trining Venus. Uranus opposite Saturn conjoins the progressed Ascendant. The first aspect suggests precisely what one would expect, economic effects deriving from partners. The second is more mixed and suggests some instability within the country as a result.

The aspects for March are again mixed, Jupiter makes a lovely sextile to the progressed Sun/Saturn/Mercury conjunction, but Saturn squares it. Some of what the government is doing is favourable some of it is not. Rather, like the nationalisation of the pension funds in October, it rather depends on from whose perspective you are viewing things.

A Pluto trine to the Moon in the Argentian country chart is accelerated in the Peso, it is already in process now. In the background we also have a progressed Venus sextile Pluto aspect, generally positive. As in the country chart the 26th Jan eclipse has little effect but the 9th Feb full moon is square Jupiter, suggesting magnified currency effects, and of course these have been in place globally since August. The Saturn Uranus opposition is also trine Jupiter and Uranus on the progressed Sun. All of which confirm the themes of the country chart.

In March retrograde Saturn returns to conjoin the Pso Uranus, where it was in October, so expect some similar issues to arise unexpectedly then, the start of the path towards the May Neptune conjunction.

Obviously, then, comes April and May and the Neptune/Jupiter conjunction. Whilst the conjunction squares the Argentina Jupiter and trines Mercury, Uranus squares Mercury and sextiles Jupiter. That’s again rather a mixed bag. A little inflationary but broadly positive. On the other hand, at the same time Saturn makes its final opposition to Pluto but trines progressed Venus and Jupiter. There are issues around debt and money but they are coming to an end and the overall influence is definitely one of financial stability.

The conjunction does square the Peso Pluto, opposes the progressed MC and conjoins Mercury, whilst the corresponding Uranus aspects are a sextile to Pluto and a conjunction with progressed Venus. At a guess this relates to the value of the country’s debt in foreign currency such as dollars. The question is does it increase or decrease? The conflicting aspects between Uranus and Neptune sum up the problem; a depreciation of the dollar vs. the Peso is good for debt but bad for exports and vice versa.

In the country chart, there is a final Saturn square to the progressed Sun etc in July, accompanied by an opposition from the progressed moon, which suggests that there may be some obstacles for the government at that time. In August Saturn squares Venus, the progressed MC and opposes the Ascendant and when coupled with the expansive Jupiter on the Descendant, this suggests forced repositioning (due to external events) with a net change in policy.

In the Peso chart, June sees Saturn complete its conjunction with Uranus and move forward, starting to change the picture. There is a tricky aspect of the progressed Moon and Sun in July mirroring the country issues, but with Pluto trine the natal Moon it is unlikely to be significant. Saturn returns to its January aspect in August, but this does not seem to be a particularly difficult aspect.

And in the Argentine chart, by October and November, Uranus is again on the progressed Ascendant square Venus and the progressed Moon but sextile Jupiter. Another surprising step in terms of reorganising the economic position might be taken by the government then, but again the effect is broadly positive. There is a congressional election then so that might impact on policy. September and October also see more excitement with the Saturn/Uranus oppsition on the Peso progressed Mercury/MC axis, which is further picked up by the Moon and magnified by a Jupiter square.

Jupiter makes its final transit of the country Descendant in December squaring Jupiter, more external influences stir the pot and create some instability but this is not heavy depression or anything remotely similar. Finally, November /December sees the beginning of a two year long transit of Pluto in sextile to the Argentinean moon and a quincunx to the Sun. Now as this position is picked up by the 2010 cardinal cross it is most important. But a Pluto sextile is a relatively easy Pluto transit, suggesting growing power. The people are beginning to feel empowered by economic and political events in the country, probably for the first time in many years: maybe they see the impact of the last two years in other countries and are relieved to be where they are. The relations with the government are less comfortable, but there is a will to work towards some sort of mutual outcome in some way – just not too easily.

In the Peso chart thinsg also seem broadly positive at the end of the year, with Uranus again conjoining the progressed Sun and sextile Jupiter, and the Neptune square Jupiter of earlier in the year repeating. However we should note that the Pluto Saturn square that is developing then is in hard aspect to the currency’s progressed Mars; This Mars is at 4 degrees Cancer, conjoining the US Venus/Jupiter and sextile the US$ Ascendant – we should expect there to be some tricky effects between the two currencies at this time.

2010
The configurations of November and December remain in place through January and February. But by February transiting Jupiter has moved into Pisces and makes a whole series of positive aspects in the country chart; a conjunction to the Moon, a square to the Sun, MC and Mars ( over zealous but generally good) and a trine to Jupiter. It really does appear that everything will feel good in Argentina by the end of their summer. In February there are again some dramatic changes as Uranus again opposes the Peso MC. But in the background we have an exact progressed Sun sextile Jupiter aspect. This on balance must strenthen the currency.

March has another positive Jupiter aspect in the country chart, this time to Pluto and the progressed Venus, this is a really good financial aspect- difficult to see how any economic problems could ensue from it; it is good but real- i.e. it doesn’t suffer from Neptunian bubble effects, just fundamental well being. In April Jupiter crosses the progressed Ascendant and although this is accompanied by a square to Venus and the progressed MC, it probably isn’t going to negate the overall effects of wellbeing- merely change the pace a bit. May is a bit strange though with Jupiter and Uranus and Saturn square the progressed Moon. But this is a temporary upset, and in June is calmed by the Neptune trine.

In the Peso chart, Neptune squares Pluto again in March and April, arepeating the effects of May 2009, Uranus sextiling Pluto and conjoining Venus offsets this, it is now trine the Peso Ascendant too. The impact of these aspects last through to July. However, the issues in the counrty chart are again mirrored here, with Saturn conjoining the progressed MC and opposing Venus in May, and there is a bit of a negative effect on the value of the currency.

Incredibly the only real major aspect in the Argentine country chart in July and August (when the rest of the world will be on tenterhooks) is the Pluto trine to the Moon. Maybe I will take a holiday in Argentina that August – shame it is their winter really. Even in the Peso chart, the only planet affected by the cardinal cross in July and August is the progressed Mars. As mentioned this picks up the US charts. Expect issues relating to the trade in the two currencies to accelerate over these months, but for the ground-level effects in Argentina to be minimal at this time.

As a result of the fact that in September the Uranus Jupiter conjunction is retrograde on Venus, sextile Pluto and trine the Ascendant it appears that the Peso is going to be looking pretty good by then. This aspect continues to be within orb for the rest of 2011 and even the possibility of some restrictions imposed in October November when Uranus opposes the progressed Mc and Saturn squares the progressed Ascendant don’t seem to offset the positive effects.

In the country chart, September sees yet another stream of positive aspects in the country chart, this time stabilising ones from Saturn, to Neptune, the Sun Mars and MC. October is a bit more mixed with Jupiter and Uranus back on the progressed Ascendant- something to do with those restrictions that are identified in the Peso chart no doubt, but lets not be too picky – indeed a bit of excitement would do them good – else all this positive stuff would get boring.

November is just another series of broadly pleasant aspects in the country chart; Saturn sextile Saturn, Jupiter Sextile Jupiter, Neptune sextile Mercury. It’s all broadly stable and growing steadily. And in December with a nice trine between the Moon and progressed Moon, the people are pretty happy. However, Saturn does makes a conjunction with Mars and a square to Venus and some quincunxes this month- obviously some pressures on budgets and pay but it’s not been a bad year.

2011
The slight discontent is over by end of January when Saturn sextiles progressed Saturn and February and March are more nice months of Jupiterian sextiles and trines. In the Peso chart, Neptune is still in square to Pluto and Saturn stations on Venus in January suggesting more restrictions, but with Uranus continuing its aspects to the progressed MC and natal Ascendant, and then again to progressed Venus, and with the progressed Moon crossing the progressed Ascendant and opposing progressed Mars and trining Neptune in the coming month there is really no let up in the overall themes. Indeed when Jupiter forms a square to Mars and the progressed Moon in March things really come to a head.

For the country, April is yet another stable month, with Saturn stationing trine Mars, often a military aspect in this case it is more likely to be a serious drive to work hard and achieve rewards. It is not surprising that Uranus sextiles the Sun (leadership) in June, and Jupiter sextiles the Moon, there might be distrust of government but when all is going relatively well differences can be put aside.

For the peso, April to July 2011 sees a series of Jupiter aspects, opposing Venus in April, a sextile to Mercury in May, a conjunction with the Moon in June and sextile to progressed Mars in July. None of which is particularly negative. The Pluto Uranus square to progressed Mars repeats in the period but with Jupiter there it is close to resolution.

In August and September Jupiter conjoins the Peso Saturn, and the progressed Moon trines Jupiter, we are definitely coming to a point where things will settle down.

Pluto’s last aspect to the Peso progressed Mars is in October, accompanied by a Saturn transit to Venus. The value of the Peso is, not exactly fixed but determined with more confidence than in the past two years. A sextile of the progressed Moon and Sun in November with a Jupiter conjunction to the Moon and Uranus to prog. Venus are all positive signs despite the fact that the currency is a bit tied by the square of Saturn to the Ascendant in December.

As a result, in the Argentine chart, September sees a repeat of themes form earlier in the year, and October more stability in the administration. November sees another month of comfort, and financial balance. December is a bit more mixed with a Pluto quincunx to the MC and Mars, but it is not surprising that some resentment occurs when the positive effects slow down even though compared to other countries things aren’t too bad.

2012
In the Argentine chart, a quiet summer is followed by some tricky moments in March. Similarly in the peso chart, January 2012 is all positive with Jupiter conjoining the Moon and a trine between the progressed Mc and Pluto. There is strength in the currency and a positive debt profile. February is characterised by the beginnings of a long Pluto trine to Saturn, a mixed blessing but probably in this case indicating a secure debt position. It seems to be a turning point in the relations with other currencies as the progressed Moon crosses the Descendant.

By April and May though there is a broadly pleasant environment in the country again. Uranus sextile the Sun and MC leads to some surprises re the leadership but Saturn trine Venus still keeps the economy balanced throughout the period to July. What follows for the Peso, in those months, are more gently positive aspects from Neptune and Jupiter, as Jupiter crosses the chart’s major stellium in Taurus for the first time since before 2001. This time rather than emphasising the flaws in the peg, it is likely to be highlighting the benefits that have come from the depreciation of the early 2000s and the revaluations of the recent couple of years.

Nothing is perfect and Saturn quincunxes in the Peso chart in July and August create some concern, and even discontent in September, but the overriding trines from the progressed Ascendant to Neptune and from Pluto to Saturn seem to suggest that we have a fair valuation now.

As a result things are a bit less straightforward in August and September politically and economically, based on the country chart. The Pluto Uranus square picks up the MC and Mars and Neptune – perhaps some older issues come back to haunt the country then. But not for long as Saturn in positive aspect to the Moon, and Uranus to the Sun in November suggest some resolution of any such matters by the end of the year.

Chart sources
Argentina. 25 May 1810, Buenos Aires. 12.15pm local time
Date of change of power following the revolution. The events took place in the morning and it is not clear exactly what time the new administration took power, N Campion therefore uses noon. I have attempted a rectification which puts the time at somewhere around 12.15pm. As always with rectifications, caveat emptor and preferably do your own.

Peso: moneda nacional. 5 November 1881, 0.00 local time. Source: Law 1130
The progressed Sun appears at 4 degrees Pisces in 1992, opposite the dollar Ascendant, when the dollar peg started so I am happy with this choice. An alternative chart is one for 1 Jan 1992, 0.00 local time for the new Peso currency. This also shows links to the dollar in its ascendant and Saturn positions.
Since both work and since there was a mathematical relationship between the various series of currencies since 1881 I have stuck with the older one

2009 - A summary of currency forecasts

2009-01-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

Part 1 :Introduction

Having reviewed the outcomes for 2008 in my last post, I now move on to 2009. Obviously I have already made predictions for each of the main markets, but they were made more or less in isolation. More information might be revealed if we take all those pieces together and complete the jigsaw puzzle, giving us a better picture of the unfolding of events.

Let’s first just recap on the planetary configurations we will see in 2009.

We still have Saturn opposing Uranus until March, and this will be further activated by eclipses in late January and early February – the latter notably close to Neptune again.

Saturn retrograde will move away temporarily from March. In April to July we will experience the full impact of the triple Jupiter Neptune Chiron conjunction (in semi-sextile to Uranus), still at similar degrees to last summer’s lunar eclipse. This takes us up to the eclipses of July/August – which are at new degrees and will shift things on for the coming months.

Saturn returns to oppose Uranus in August through October but takes a back seat when compared to the Saturn Pluto Square of November December.

I did cover most of these broader astrological themes in my Background Part 1 post. However I touched only in outline on the Neptune/Jupiter/Chiron conjunction with the intention to return to it after more research.

So, before, I summarise how I think things may play out in 2009, I would like to analyse how this conjunction might manifest in more depth; financially or otherwise. Those not interested in the astrological logic, but only in the market outcome, are advised to skip to Part iii.

Part II: The players.

Unlimited growth or misplaced confidence? The faces of Jupiter/Neptune

Jupiter’s fundamental correspondences relate to heat, expansion and growth in all fields, and thus indirectly to optimism, searching and abundance.

Neptune is associated with multiple possibilities and anything that lacks substance and thus includes anything that is unstructured such as liquids, wave functions in general and both the unconscious and the supernatural as well as drug induced states.

Scientific
When combined, we have heat plus liquids transforming into gas, other chemical and alchemical actions,( although the exact form of these will be indicated by other planets). Indeed anything that exists in an amorphous/en-mass state can be associated with Jupiter and Neptune together are also characteristic of the combination such as the spread of peoples and other species including viruses etc through migration. Because of the connection with liquids, floods and tsunamis are also indicated.

Economic
Financially, we have optimism plus multiple possibilities equalling speculation, we have optimism with lack of substance equalling irrational exuberance and bubbles and growth together with lack of structure giving inflation. Anything which has the potential to multiply infinitely is also represented by this combination so it also to some extent represents all types of derivatives.

Beliefs
And we have searching together with lack of substance giving belief systems such as those involving religion/gods - the ultimate irrationality. (I am not passing judgement on the validity of any particular belief system here, merely using the word irrationality in its literal sense- that which cannot objectively and logically be proved: indeed faith would cease to be faith without it). A related area is the potential to transcend boundaries by peace or union or the ability to transcend the material world. Examples of the conjunction corresponding with such events are, the formation of the Olympic committee, the Treaty of Versailles, the end of WW2 and formation of the UN, prominent events related to Ghandi, the development of Esperanto and the electronic Freedom of information acts and more literally the discovery of the transcendence of Pi.

Finally, then, it is clear that when we combine the financial manifestations of the Neptune/Jupiter partnership with the belief system ones, we have the faith based system known as money and in the wider sense the currency markets.

However, Jupiter and Neptune move in a approximately 13 year cycle, which means that not only do they reach conjunction every 13 years but they form a major aspect of some sort every 1-2 years. Clearly one cycle of these two planets, by itself, is not going to be responsible for major global shifts in anything.

Nevertheless, together, they are also part of a larger cycle. Neptune takes 14 years to transit every sign, so consecutive conjunctions with Jupiter move forward in the zodiac by one sign almost every time. The last Aquarius conjunction occurred in 1843. So we should expect to see recurring themes throughout such a cycle of conjunctions.

And, of course, Neptune and Jupiter do not exist in a vacuum. Each cycle is accompanied by transits to the other outer planets. It can be difficult to isolate the pure Neptune Jupiter influences from those of Pluto, Uranus and Saturn, as they interact in turn. Indeed in this case we must incorporate the impact of Uranus as it is in almost exact semi-sextile with the Neptune conjunction in May.

Uranus throws invention, technological advances, change of direction, and creative disruption into the mix. It makes species evolution more likely as well as human led discoveries.

We can expect this year to herald some major breakthroughs in such areas. However we won’t see the real returns from these breakthroughs until later on in some of these cycles ( perhaps, on a grander scale when Neptune is sextile Uranus in the mid 2020s, or to a lesser extent when Jupiter makes aspects to the planets.). From an economic perspective it is a chance to make long term investment decisions, although not necessarily the investments themselves, in terms of the technologies to be followed in areas such as biotech/nanotech etc. Look at what is being started now to see what will bear fruit at those later cycle points.

On the other hand developments or investments in such areas from previous cycles may be maturing now. Look at what was started for example in 1997 (when Jupiter Uranus and Neptune were all within orb of conjunction), breakthroughs are likely, drugs started then may go mass market in 2009 etc. This would be a whole study in itself for which we don’t have the resources just now, but it is an indicator about what to look out for.

Adding Chiron to the equation: The awaited saviour or the fundamental flaw?

So how, if at all, does Chiron impact on this conjunction? I am not on such solid ground with Chiron ( although Neptune isn’t exactly the poster kid for solid ground either). I haven’t studied its effects other than in one or two extreme cases, even in personal charts, and can find little worthwhile commentary on its activity in mundane/financial charts.

The consensus view on Chiron in personal astrology is that it represents the “wounded-healer”- whatever that may mean. Furthermore the majority of astrological views imply that, despite the wounding element, this body is all about a more elevated and thus elated level of consciousness; i.e it can only result in a happy spiritual outcome.

Now even assuming that the wounded healer theory is correct, how on earth would something to do with physical or psychological wounds have any bearing on economics other than, at a stretch, that relating to medicine? And, even if we buy into the spiritual fulfilment theory, how does this play out for the vast majority of people in the practical material sense that business and finance demands?

A variation of the healer view is that Chiron, with an orbit overlapping that of Saturn and Uranus, acts as a bridge between the material and spiritual. Actually I do buy this option and believe that Chiron represents our ability to play God by tinkering with genetics etc – a view which is further supported by the birth of the company Genetech, one of the pioneers in this area in the year of Chiron’s discovery. However in this I don’t really see Chiron acting alone, but with Uranus ( which it opposed from 1952 to 1989) and Saturn (which it opposed both in 1965-66 and from 1986-2006). So we might be able to deduce at an economic level something more about the biotech industry from Chiron, (e.g cloning may become more significant since the 1996/7 Neptune/ Jupiter/Uranus conjunction brought Dolly the sheep), but perhaps not much else.

Finally there is some evidence to suggest a connection between Chiron and the software industry too, perhaps because software can be considered the creation of an artificial intelligence. Though, again, I would be inclined to say that Chiron does not act alone here but in concert with other outer planets. So with Neptune Jupiter and Uranus in the mix we are more likely to encounter advancements in this area, unfortunately including some intelligent and widespread software viruses.

But the above aside, perhaps we should ignore Chiron altogether in financial astrology unless we are considering these few specific industries?

And yet…. and yet…. the triple conjunction of Chiron Neptune and Jupiter at such a critical time in economic history can’t be a co-incidence. It must merit further investigation.

Of the few astrological writers that I have read who have expressed an opinion on Chiron’s impact on the 2009 conjunction in a market or global political sense, almost all have been positive in their expectations.( See note 1)

As I write this, Obama has been inaugurated president in the US, and many recent commentaries have high expectations of his ability to unite and change that country, and even the world. Certainly he does represent a possible manifestation of these aspects, and their persistence throughout 2009 suggests that people will maintain their expectations of his almost divinity for the whole year.

However, economically, I think the optimism in the forecasts I read represents too much extrapolation (enough to get jobs as quants modelling new derivatives perhaps….?).

Fortunately from the point of view of this post (but unfortunately for me in a personal sense), I have Chiron conjoining my natal Jupiter, and in Pisces which, even if we discount modern rulerships in general, does have some affinity with Neptune. My experience of this is not positive- the combination can completely destroy optimism and faith in the future. No doubt if I were to employ a personal astrologer myself they would counsel me on how to rise above this “wound”. But we don’t need to worry about whether I could or would; we merely need to appreciate that nations and markets can’t rise above their wounds in the way that people might be able to.

My view is that in financial terms the wound may equal a flaw in the system. To understand how Chiron relates to this, imagine a parallel to evolution where a mutation or “flaw” is what determines the nature of the next generations; a wound to one’s makeup, depending on the environmental factors, may turn out to be a strength or a weakness.

So let’s recap. Neptune and Jupiter together symbolise currencies and inflation in general. With Chiron in the mix we have the failure of some of these currencies to adapt and with Uranus sextile the conjunction we have the potential for evolution to the next level. What we will see in 2009 is a conjunction that highlights the flaw in the financial system, and in this case in money/currencies and furthermore in how differential inflation creates imbalances.

Part III: 2009 a synopsis

So we return to my forecasts. I have reviewed the 2009 content of my posts last year, and actually don’t have too much more to add or change. I will leave the stock market forecasts as they are. Nevertheless it is worth summarising and consolidating the main expectations for the currencies.

As of next Tuesday, 26th January, we have the first of the 2009 eclipses, the corresponding lunar eclipse is on the 9th February, ( I’ve sometimes have referred to them as the February eclipses though the former is in late January). As I have stated elsewhere these eclipses are close to the degrees of the Neptune related August 2008 eclipses and, other things equal, would tend to bring to an end the cycle that started then. –In 2007 year the similar eclipse cycle saw Northern Rock run into trouble with the summer eclipses and then be nationalised 6 months later with the spring ones close to the same degree. We should not be surprised then to see the headlines of this week “another round of bank bailouts.” We should also note that while the effects of the eclipses are fading, the Neptune Jupiter conjunction is not that far from the same degrees. The bailouts might be coming to an end but the impact of them on currency and government bonds most definitely is not.

Given the events of the last week in the UK we should not be surprised that the eclipses make almost all negative aspects to the BOE and UK charts. The first eclipse is slap bang on the BOE Jupiter ( core to its main Pluto Sun Jupiter conjunction- its fundamental purpose). The full moon eclipse aspects progressed Jupiter, the progressed Ascendant and progressed Moon as the risk gets dumped on the tax-payer, not without a lot of rhetoric as it is accompanied by the challenge of a Mars square. The Pluto opposition to Venus in the chart does not exactly help the financial position either. The UK chart is not quite so rocked by the first eclipse- Again Jupiter is aspected with an opposition to the Sun ( government – oh what a pity!), but a trine to the Ascendant – because there is still a belief in many circles that something had to be done. The full moon eclipse, in opposition to Saturn however, damns sterling and house prices further. We are already seeing something of the impact on sterling. I expect more.

In the US both eclipses throw up a lot of quincunx aspects – adjustment but not so much action. Of course with the new president it will take longer for things to play out there. The first eclipse is actually trine the US Uranus – as everyone embraces the change of leader. But the full moon square the MC will begin to demand more concrete response rather than spoken commitments. Pluto makes a mix of aspects in the US chart, positive for the president but not exactly uplifting for the economy. The latter February eclipse also repeats some of the previous summer’s aspects in the dollar chart. With Neptune conjunct Pluto and opposing Uranus. In the summer the dollar turned up against the Euro, and soon after down against the Yen, we will, post 9th February either see a marked increase in those trends or a change of direction. And Pluto is once more square the chart’s progressed Ascendant, it is still challenged currency for some while yet. It is also worth noting that over the coming years Neptune will transit first the MC/IC axis then the Ascendant/descendant axis of the dollar chart. The last 4 times it did so were 1848-50 ( Gold rush), 1888-1891, 1929-1932ish- needs no explanation, and 1971-1973, Bretton Woods and the subsequent oil crisis. So, on the whole I wouldn’t be positive about the dollar in the medium term, but the Obama factor might just save it for the moment.

The Euro chart sees the new moon eclipse conjoining progressed Venus, and the full moon eclipse trining the moon and progressed Mars. Overall this is positive. But Pluto square the chart angles is threatening the structure that binds the currency. Still value looks to be preserved better than Sterling for the minute at least.

Turning to China and the Renminbi, things don’t look too bad. Again the eclipse is slap bang on important parts of the chart- in this case the new moon next week ( incidentally the start of Chinese New Year as well) conjoins the Ascendant and the Moon and sextiles the progressed Sun and trines the natal sun. All extremely positive- so the internal propaganda will be for a good year to come. The full moon is widely opposite progressed Saturn though –indicating the shadow of recession in the background. In the Renminbi chart things look mixed. A 26th January conjunction with the progressed Sun and sextile to the Sun & moon and IC confirms the positives of the China chart, but an opposition to the progressed MC suggests difficulty. However there is little impact from the 9th February eclipse, so it is tempting to conclude that there won’t be much change in this currency for another couple of months at least.

Looking at Japan, next week’s eclipse is trine the country’s Pluto Neptune conjunction. That is not bad: deep seated change but not with too much difficulty. The Full moon eclipse conjoins the Sun – a repeat of leadership uncertainties which occurred in August is likely (then it led to a resignation), but it is trine the progressed Sun Mars and Uranus – they may get change and more strength. Still not too bad at all for the country as a whole. Even Pluto makes some nice aspects to the progressed Ascendant and Jupiter suggesting there is an opportunity to consolidate the financial strength of the country despite the global recession. The 26th January eclipse makes only favourable aspects to the yen. We’ve already seen much of the impact of this in the months coming up to this. The Full moon also makes some favourable aspects, despite a wide square to the Sun. It is possible as I mentioned for the dollar that we see a turning point after this time. Pluto in the Yen chart conjoins Saturn and squares progressed Venus and the Sun. That is quite challenging and will become more important post during the lunations of the coming months.

Finally in Russia, we have some aspects that are comparable in difficulty to those of the UK. The new moon conjoins the moon and widely Venus– but opposes the Ascendant and squares Pluto. Obviously we have seen some of the effect of this in the gas pipeline problem – having an eclipse on your point of relationships with partners tends to get a bit tricky for the best of us. The full moon is more mixed though with squares to Venus and a quincunx to Jupiter being offset by trines to Uranus and progressed Jupiter- economic challenges, there may be, yet changes are not hampered. The Pluto aspect confirms that times are tough but not insurmountable.

Moving on then we look at April to June and the conjunction we have already explored the broader meaning of. We can expect that between now and then the trend will run from the above eclipse manifestations to those that follow:

In the UK the conjunction makes just one major aspect, to Saturn. Recovery of sterling and houses are not on the cars. In the Bank of England chart a square to Mars suggests a weakened position and weakened resistance to events. An opposition to the progressed Ascendant activated by the progressed Moon suggests challenges from the people and the rest of the world
The progressed Sun is well aspected though- so the blame isn’t on the BOE leadership.

In the US chart the conjunction almost sits on the US moon. The people. This suggests the continuation of the Obama factor for some time. The American dream, in the absence of economic substance, is being replaced by a focus on the American saviour. The opposition is also close to being on the progressed Descendant though, suggesting paralysis due to the economic forces though quincunxes to Mercury and Neptune.

In the dollar chart, though things are still not too bad. The conjunction is trine the US Neptune Jupiter conjunction and sextile its progressed Saturn and its progressed Mars, printing continues unabated but value does not look to be too much further damaged, yet. Uranus is trickily positioned though so things will still be rocky.

The Euro chart looks very similar to the dollar one. The conjunction sextiles Saturn and trines progressed Mars and sextiles the progressed Moon. It is a similar picture but without such radical inflation of money. Uranus conjoining Jupiter and sextiling Venus actually looks unexpectedly positive for the currency’s value. However Pluto is still square the Ascendant, which puts a lot of pressure on its image.

In China, the main conjunction aspects are to the midheaven of the chart. It is not all bad but expect more Tibet issues and similar. In the Renminbi there is only one planet significantly aspected; Uranus. It is a curved ball, and upsets the status quo, but the trine from the conjunction to Uranus suggests it is viewed in a positive light. I would be inclined to interpret this as a sudden loosening of the reins on the currency- if not a free float, certainly a much more widely moving one. There are some hard Pluto aspects to this chart developing however in the medium term and this is no doubt meant to mitigate some of the difficult trading issues.

In Japan the conjunction makes a trine to the Moon, but a square to the MC. The country looks bad to the outside world but the people are ok with the economic developments – well let’s be honest they are used to economic difficulties after 2 decades. In the Yen chart the effect of the conjunction is mixed. There is a trine to the Jupiter Venus conjunction, and a continued sextile to natal Neptune. Uranus makes a trine to progressed Jupiter and the MC. There are some tricky aspects, e.g a Neptune square to the MC and Mercury, but the balance is still positive.

Finally we turn again to Russia. As in the case of the Renminbi, the conjunction trines Uranus, and makes quincunxes to Neptune and the Moon suggesting unexpected developments regarding the economic state of the people and currency. Uranus opposes the country’s Jupiter Neptune conjunction (yeah they keep cropping up don’t they- anyone would think these country’s set themselves up for economic disaster hundreds of years ago…. ), but trines the Moon. It is subject to radical shifts and is not cut and dried but it looks a little better than the last few months.

So it looks as if the current trends are set to continue through to the summer at least. It does not look to be as dramatic as I though when I wrote last spring, but that is because the eclipses have brought much of the action forward and essentially there is a currency crisis at the moment : all of them need to fall, the question on everyone’s lips is “against what?” My analysis here is only a relative comparison of those currencies, and soft commodities and other assets really need to be taken into account.

With that proviso, the Yen still looks strongest, although the speed of gains will be less dramatic. The Dollar/Euro is harder to read with the Obama factor seeming to lead to a marginal preference for the Dollar over the Euro, despite the former currency being multiplied at speeds that would make bird flu virus proud. The Renminbi won’t do much till April or so but then it might get a much longer leash. The Rouble is subject to shifts either way and is likely to improve for a while as the Obama effect on the US keeps commodity prices off their bottoms. Sterling remains a bad choice for all but the most masochistic investor.

I’ll keep an eye on whether this is being borne out and update accordingly. Otherwise the next global currency update will be in the summer for the second half of the year.

In the meantime I will be moving to South America. Analysis-wise, not physically.

Charts: As described in my individual posts on each currency.

Note 1 : A typical astrological view of the coming conjunction:

When Neptune and Chiron are in conjunction, we can expect any and all of a whole sea of possibilities, all swirling at the same time. We may hear profound mystical guidance that may resonate with the highest compassionate aims of the healer -- or may be wasted on the perpetual victim who can't see anything beyond his own need for attention. There may be inspired plays and dances that bring our communities together in celebrations of beauty, provided the players are not too stoned to remember their entrances, or too troubled by bad dreams to stay brave. We may feel more clearly than ever before the awakening of humanity toward the coming moment of our ascent into galactic consciousness, as we see at last that the same universal heart beats in each one of us. Or . . . the years ahead may be a field day for scam artists and quacks who pass for "channels" and "healers," and offer effortless remedies to those who still will not imagine the pivotal truth: all the medicine they really need is within the capacity of their love and intention to attract to themselves, and to the widening circle of the ones they love.

http://www.hermes3.net/chirnep.htm

And the only practical economic example I could find:
We are getting a big lesson in the commons and the vital importance of the people as a whole. When the workers are left out of the economic equation, the true wealth leaves the society. We are relearning that wealth must be distributed to the lowest levels of society and allowed to waft up the economic chimney to those at the top [ rather than the reverse trickle down process]
Through Chiron and Neptune, we have painfully identified the flaw in the culture’s perception of the role of the worker and the economic model currently in favor. This is prompting a refocusing process that can result in an increased emphasis in the commons in our value and our regulatory system. October 2008 Forecast by Terry Lamb

2008: A review of my forecasts

2009-01-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

I did review my forecasts to the end of August in early September so in general I won’t repeat that analysis, except where it is part of an ongoing trend. So we are looking at what I forecast for September to December 2008, which as we know was a very quiet and boring time in the world financial markets!!

General – In background part 1
My overall forecast was for interventions which would “keep the plates spinning” etc, which in effect they did. Though even I did not expect quite such a Herculanean task in order to do so.

My greatest fault here and in all my analyses was putting a positive spin on the impact of Jupiter and thus failing to see how bad the situation could get with Uranus opposing Saturn and the lunations on Neptune. I should have remembered from personal experience that Jupiter is not always a benefic, sometimes it just makes bad things even worse!

One of my best forecasts was Iceland, but I posted that after the events so can’t prove conclusively when I did the work.

Oil
Another of my greatest successes was also certainly my greatest single failure. I called the top at the time of the eclipses correctly but failed abysmally to identify the subsequent huge decline. A/E

Currencies
In order that I might get out my country and currency forecasts one by one, I did not do currency pairs, but relied on the overall individual forecasts to get a feel for relative strength. It makes the review harder but overall it is possible to see where I was most negative or positive.

USA/US$
I certainly forecast activity from the August eclipse onwards. But I didn’t get the direction right against the Euro in particular, (and to a lesser extent the Renminbi) though I did vs Yen etc. Interestingly I did spot that the Fed would be quiet over the summer –though the US chart was not, though I did not manage to identify this would be because Paulson at the Treasury was doing all the work. I didn’t really write anything about September in the dollar chart, though I was right that the major rate cuts would not take place then, but later. Also the events did not affect any of the longer term trends so it would be easy to miss. I did spot that November was not too bad but that December might see further challenges to dollar values.
B

UK/Sterling
My forecast for the UK was generally bad – so that was pretty much correct. And I did emphasise September in this case.
A

Euro and Euro countries
I identified that the benign effects of recent years had ended and that it might be undermined in August and thereafter ( though again I failed to spot the dollar strength against the Euro), but overall did not expect much action until 2009.

I also looked at France and Ireland in the summer and correctly noticed that France would not be in crisis mode in 2008, and that Ireland would not have any notable changes in policy or public dissatisfaction until around December despite the property price falls.

Overall that is not bad for the Euro forecast. It has been somewhat mixed, with the real impact economic impacts on the Eurozone yet to be identified
B-

Swiss Franc
I did not look at this until October so only a few months of forecast to look at. I did foresee the split between Swiss safehaven status and fears for its banking industry which led to the Franc stopping tracking the Euro so closely in mid October to mid December. I was uncertain about this chart when I did the forecast as I couldn’t see themes clearly but that does seem to be borne out by the mixed impact so far.
B

Japan/Yen
This was my greatest success. Not only did I spot the leadership issues in August, I correctly forecast that stimulus would not be effective but that the Yen would regain its strength of March from September/October on, yet its gains would be less in December.
A

China/Renminbi
I managed to identify that the patterns of the previous few years were changing and that there would be negative financial effects on the people and influence from the rest of the world, and even the inflationary measures. But I totally failed to identify how exactly this would all play out and the extent that it would dampen currency appreciation. I was not nearly negative enough on China as a whole for this period.
D

Hong Kong $
Given the peg my forecast for this in 2008 was merely introductory.

Markets
Although I did my forecasts for each market individually they show a lot of common themes, which were borne out, but in no case did I manage to identify the extent of the falls that were to come.

Dow
I spotted the importance of 15th September in this forecast but what I called merely volatility turned out to be a one way decline. I underestimated the impact of Saturn square the Dow Pluto. I also expected a boost in November , and though that was true in the sense that a bottom was reached in the month, I was talking as if this was from a higher level. Nevertheless I did head my analysis “bi-polar bear” so I must have been picking up the trends in some way.
C+

Nasdaq
I correctly forsaw the two markets continuing in tandem with the flurry of activity mid September and that some stability would ensue during November, but again the magnitude of events escaped me.
C

FTSE
I wrote “Saturn on the Ascendant is never a sign of optimism” for September October- a bit of an understatement and again saw November as a bit of a turning point in terms of stability, which it was in the end.
B+

Nikkei
This is actually funny to read. I correctly forecast that a recovery in the index in August would fail to get off the ground and that there would be continued nervousness to October and that maybe it was because the focus was events elsewhere. All reasonable predictions. But I wrote it off as potentially being a bit dull. Nothing could be further from the truth. So my forecast that things would be better in December seems a bit redundant even if correct.
C-

Shanghai Composite
The Asian markets are a little different because the extent of the declines post August were not as great as those in the year preceding. Indeed looking at a chart of the index for calendar year 2008 the period September to December looks relatively flat! Indeed it does not track the Western markets. As a result I did quite well on this index. I correctly picked a short term bottom in August followed by rise in September . I then forecast a rally in October but it was later than I expected in early November ( though as I have said before these are long term forecasts and accuracy of that degree can’t be expected given the fact that I ignore inner planet movements for trends), I did suggest profit taking in December which would have worked just fine.
A-

Hang Seng
The Hang Seng pretty much mirrored the Shanghai Comp during this period. Although I identified some difficult aspects, I expected no major change in direction, which proved wrong – the market fell in September/October. However I forecast a positive turning point 12 months on from the October 2007 peak which was pretty much spot on when the market turned up in late October 2008. I thus forecast rises to the end of the year but urged caution as the indicators were a little mixed. That proved fairly accurate too.

Overall I give myself a B+ for this one – getting a turning point within a couple of days when doing a long term forecast is very very satisfying.

Others
Most of my other forecasts took place too late in the year to be worth reviewing. I was pleased with my Sensex assessment though. When I did it I couldn’t work out what would close the market – but close it did.

I am also interested in the Russian forecast as it shows Russia most severely impacted of the countries I surveyed. Currency wise so far that has been so. Now we need to see what happens in 2009. More of the same or a reversal?

On balance then I am both pleased and disappointed. I got the timings right better than I expected and on balance had more successes than failures. But I missed the almost universal market fall in September and the fall in the oil price – the latter is almost forgivable since I did call the top of the bubble, but the former is a completely unforgivable mistake- particularly since I picked up that the charts were shouting Mid September.

Overall then “B-. Some good work but must try harder to make connections between elements of the course-work!”

Germany : 2009-2012

2009-01-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

I’ve been delayed in positing this, and indeed in conducting my end of year review, due to catching one of the many cold/flu viruses that seem to be circulating. I shall be catching up over the next few weeks.

In keeping with my theme for the European countries in December, I am illustrating this post with an artwork. In this case a picture of a section from the window of Cologne Cathedral designed by Gerhard Richter.

Because for much of its history Germany was not a country but a selection of independent states, picking a first chart is not so easy. The chart used here for Germany is the chart for the formation of the empire as effective in 1871, and fulfilling the spirit of a nation, although it should be noted that legally it was still not a fully centralised state.

The chart is interestingly similar to that of the UK, with the same angles and the same position of the Sun. Germany is however more Capricornian with Saturn conjoining the Sun and IC and Venus also part of the stellium. Pluto is trine Venus in the chart, and thus indirectly the Saturn Sun conjunction, indicating the enormous strength that the nation can muster when the people are acting together as well as the well known strength in engineering and industry as a whole. The chart also contains a configuration between Uranus Jupiter and Neptune, something that will be activated in 2009 when these planets form a mundane aspect. In the German chart Neptune is square Uranus and sextile Jupiter, which confirm the potential for major inflation that was realised in the early 1920s, but also potential challenges in terms of integration and communication. The other key element of the chart is the square between Mars in early Libra, a Mars which conjoins the UK Uranus and the Mars of the Bank of England chart –linking the three. So how is this playing out in the current economic climate?

During 2008, the progressed Moon transited progressed Pluto in late summer, as the debt crisis came to a head across the globe. However Neptune is sextile progressed Neptune, which will generally lighten the effect of any difficult circumstances, although Germany and its banks have been affected along with everyone, the impact until now has not been as great as in some other countries.

We have also seen Uranus opposing the progressed Mars during the year, which implies opposition and even possibly violence and it should be noted that this theme will reoccur again over the next four years.

Now (20th December) as 2008 draws to a close Pluto squares Mars, indicating major “surgery” in the economy. At the same time Saturn conjoins progressed Mars and quincunxes Neptune but trines the progressed ascendant, suggesting that a lid is being kept on some of the economic problems and that the country is a least prepared to deal with them rather than practice denial. Furthermore Jupiter is trine the progressed Sun and sextile the progressed MC, suggesting that the government is well regarded at the moment. We will see whether this changes later.

2009
In January 2009 Jupiter trines Mars briefly, as Saturn continues to conjoin the progressed Mars. There may be some policy actions taken to shift the impact of some of the global economic difficulties between sectors. In February when Uranus opposes progressed Mars and Pluto conjoins Saturn, it is possible that there may be internal opposition to the government although it is more likely that there will be disputes about policy with other countries. In March Saturn trines Pluto and squares Jupiter and Jupiter squares natal Pluto. This is by itself quite a positive aspect, suggesting slow transformation, but as it occurs when Pluto is conjoining Saturn, the effect becomes very depressing - it suggests much more deep seated transformation in the industrial sector. However there is some evidence that this will not all be bad. Neptune quincunxes Uranus, but Uranus is trine Uranus, there is a real opportunity here for the development of new and improved technology. The progressed Moon sextile Uranus in April further emphasises this. Given the upcoming mundane Pluto Uranus square post 2010, which highlights the need to have harnessed the right technological developments, the aspects in Germany suggest that appropriately targeted policies at this time will bear longer term fruit.

The Neptune/Jupiter/Chiron conjunction in May and through the summer is not highly activated in the German chart. The impact on Uranus has been mentioned and the Neptune conjunction is within 1 degree square the progressed Sun and picks up the progressed Moon too. So the government is likely to be affected and even the people albeit briefly. This tallies with the likely currency adjustments expected then. Germany itself, as part of the Euro, is indirectly affected by events but probably for much of the country life will continue as usual through any such adjustments.

The double effect of Saturn trine Pluto and Pluto conjoining Saturn repeats in July, and the aspects to Mars repeat in August. There is no let up in the underlying changes to the industrial sector, and it is also possible that there are other undercurrents of aggression from some elements of the population at this time which have to be quelled. September, when the progressed Moon also trines Mars represents a particularly sensitive time.

October and November are somewhat mixed. With evidence of renewed strength in the leadership in October implied by a trine between Saturn and the progressed Sun, and a square to progressed Jupiter. In November and December we see a return of the Neptune conjunction effect, which should again favour technological change and on balance probably benefits from any external changes in currency strength.

2010

There are other background forces at work in the country . Germany is experiencing the effects of an approaching conjunction between progressed Uranus and the progressed Descendant, which may be interpreted both as the impact of new methods and immigrant populations within the country and the effect of external events in partner countries on the German economy. Just how this will play out depends on the other aspects at play in the coming 2 years.

January opens with a Jupiter aspect to the progressed Sun, natal Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, This is an interesting aspect which on balance suggests strength although accompanied with some adjustments. February is predominantly positive too, despite the background changes. Jupiter trine the progressed Venus and Uranus trine Uranus suggests increased comfort, certainly enough to relieve any challenges produced by the Saturn square which accompanies it.

April and May see the beginnings of the impact of the cardinal square. At this point Uranus and Jupiter are still in Pisces and square progressed Jupiter and trine the progressed Sun, On the other hand the somewhat explosive effect of those planets are dampened by the trine of Neptune to the Jupiter and Square to the Sun that happens at the same time. But the period will be one of transition and possibly seizing opportunities. By June, Jupiter and Uranus are in Aries and square Mars. This is definitely the sort of aspect that precipitates dramatic changes - some of them opposed. Neptune continues its May aspects and Saturn reinforces them with a trine to the progressed Sun so there is still an offset at work that may break up the sparks from the other aspect- It is still a dramatic time though. Essentially by the time the cardinal cross is at its peak in August many of the events will already be set in process.

In August itself the cross has Saturn conjoining Mars, Pluto conjoining Saturn and Uranus/Jupiter in aspect to both. Now the Saturn/Mars square is core to the German psyche so this square is likely to activate old tensions and the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction to demand a change of both political and economic style which is definitely likely to upset the traditions.

In September, Saturn moves forward to square progressed Venus and conjoin the Ascendant. It was last crossing this point in 1981 so is likely to reactivate issues occurring then. Uranus and Jupiter retrograde to reactivate the Sun and Jupiter aspects - a more positive effect, change through the proper channels rather than through protest and activism.

The latter months of 2010 are likely to be characterised by some problems with the leadership as Saturn reaches a square to the IC and squares both progressed Saturn, Venus and the Sun. On the other hand the Jupiter Uranus conjunction will again highlight positive changes and take any developments to the next level.

2011
The background theme of 2011 is an approaching trine between the progressed Sun and natal Mars, a very strong and dynamic aspect. We would not expect this to be accompanied by passive behaviour. Germany will face any problems head on and with the ability to surmount them.

January 2011 shows little change from late 2010 and in February Jupiter’s position back at 2 degrees Aries reactivates the summer 2010 themes. But now Jupiter moves on and will cross the Descendant by the end of the month. This is likely to mark a turning point, especially with regard to German’s relations with the outer world – perhaps the EU or perhaps even broader than just Europe. Jupiter is also square progressed Venus at the same time, and with progressed Venus in Cancer opposite the natal Sun, we might see internal political divisions regarding such external relations where they are seen to reduce the national spirit. The aspects of Uranus and Neptune to the progressed Sun and Jupiter continue at this time further suggesting that there is continued dichotomy.

After March, when the progressed Moon conjoining natal Jupiter brings things further to a head, April sees a conjunction between Jupiter and Neptune sextile natal Jupiter. This is highly optimistic, it suggests faith to the point of possible irrationalism, and could be accompanied by overvaluations and overestimations of success. Neptune and Uranus will have moved into aspect with Mars. Neptune will, to some extent, dampen the fervour of Mars, but Uranus in opposition to it may lead to outright violence. Nevertheless the aspect can be very productive and lead to a consolidation of trade. It does look increasingly as if there are too moods in the country at this time, those that are happy to go along with the existing government policies and those that believe that a more radical approach is appropriate.

As a result, the period around May is mixed. Saturn square the Sun, implies that the government faces obstacles, Jupiter square Uranus implies continued instability, and Pluto square the Descendant and opposing progressed Venus, suggests growing deep seated threats to the external relationships that were the focus of the early months of 2011.

Although Neptune is square to the progressed Sun throughout the summer, continuing the theme of weakness or deception regarding the leadership, June through August are relatively easy times. Jupiter conjoins the country’s Moon and Pluto trines it, gently harnessing the power of the people but not accompanied by any action. Even September, though a little less comfortable, is not especially dramatic. Nevertheless the potential of this amount of power is enormous and needs watching else it hijacks the political or economic agenda for the wrong ends.

However, by this time, Uranus is square Saturn which tend to upset the status quo and, in October, Saturn reaches an opposition with Neptune- this is a recession/depression type aspect suggesting inertia for the last 3 month of the year. But with Uranus again opposing Mars and sextiling the progressed Sun, we have the antithesis of inertia. It looks increasingly as if there are two country’s- one which is unable to move forward due to economic difficulties and another which is forging ahead, although whether in a constructive or destructive manner is less clear.

2012
The year 2012 starts with a trine between Neptune and Saturn forming a grand trine with Germany’s progressed Jupiter and Moon. This is a rather odd aspect, as Neptune Saturn in trine is not unpleasant but nor is it particularly constructive. In aspect to expansive Jupiter the two suggest that it may be difficult to get new initiatives off the ground due to a lack of momentum. The spirit is willing but the flesh weak, so to speak. The quincunx of Neptune to natal Mars further suggests this.

At the same time Pluto is again opposing progressed Venus and approaching Saturn and the Descendant, continuing the theme of gradually accumulating power.

By March/April Pluto ( once more trined by Jupiter) reaches the IC. With just Pluto alone we might assume that the country would undergo an extremely difficult time of transformation, but with the trine from Jupiter the overall balance is less negative and more constructive- suggesting the financing of new industry and growth. In late April, Jupiter has moved away but it is now conjoining natal Pluto and trining natal Venus, passing the baton, as it were, of these positive wealth effects. It is possible that the apparent dichotomy mentioned represents the areas which are benefiting from finance and development versus those which are suffering from global recession.

However, while Pluto continues to transit Saturn and the IC, by May Jupiter has moved on. Furthermore Uranus crosses the Descendant. If Jupiter crossing the Descendant was a small turning point in international relations, then this looks to be a much bigger one. Essentially by June of 2012 we have the Pluto Uranus mundane square across the angles of the German chart. (It will be recalled that these are also the UK chart angles too and that in its own way the UK is experiencing similar effects). With these two planets at play we can assume that it is Germany’s industrial economy that is most impacted and that only those areas which have adapted to changes in technology, but not to the extent that they are reliant on others, will come out of this well. It also implies that there may be levels of economic protectionism put into effect at this time.

The latter part of the summer and Autumn of 2012, sees, via Neptune square the progressed Sun and quincunx Mars again, a repeat of the themes of weakness in direction of the leadership and, for a while, a rather mixed economic outlook with no real clear direction. December, however sees a reactivation of the Pluto Uranus aspect, as the progressed Moon reaches the MC and transiting Saturn trines it. It is likely to see the birth of a whole new cycle in German political and economic trends.

Chart source:
Germany : 1 January 1871 0.00 local time Berlin. N Campion; Book of World Horoscopes