Important Points of Reference (for astrologers):
May 4 New Moon at 14 degrees of Taurus sextile Neptune; May 1 Mercury is sextile Mars and is trine Jupiter May 2; May 5 Mars is opposition Jupiter; May 8 Mercury is conjunct Uranus while Venus is square Pluto May 9; May 14 Venus is sextile Mars and is conjunct Uranus May, 18 during which there is a Full Moon at 27 degrees Scorpio; Mars goes into Cancer May 16 through June 30) and is sextile Uranus May 22; May 29 Mercury in Gemini is square Neptune.
Saturn in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces – Jan. 2019 through Nov. 2019.
Authority embraces Fantasy or . . .
Is the Holy Grail filled with Poisoned Kool Aid or Spiritual Enlightenment?
As astrologers looked ahead at this planetary picture in 2018, we theorized that the pleasant aspect between Saturn (authority and structure) and Neptune (creativity, compassion, fantasy) has some very nice possibilities. We hypothesized that both government and business backed structures (Saturn) could be put into place that would implement our highest ideals (Neptune) and help people who need help the most – the working poor, the abandoned children and elderly, the disabled, the disenfranchised, immigrants fleeing starvation and death, those racially and religiously discriminated against, and those who are dying rapidly of drug addictions.
I have to admit that Neptune has both seduced and confused my sensibilities throughout my life with his promises of blissful solutions to complex issues. Like most Americans, I watch a lot of television, with multiple dramatically loud presentations from politicians and economists, after which I escape into the movies with their simple heroes and heroines and villains and then – fall asleep consoled that, somehow, the “good” will prevail.
I honestly think that all the ads that appear about every 10 minutes on every televised program, “pop-up” on our emails and face book pages that tell us we “deserve” the miracle cosmetic, the drug we should “push” our doctor to prescribe for our various and growing chronic illnesses, the fancy arrayed- with- electronics car, the newest complex app for our smart phones, the high-end renovated house, the filled- with- sugar- and- fat fast food, and that even our deserving cat should have the high priced vegan cat vittles – all inundate (Neptune) us to the point we are willing to make the billionaires even richer and move most of the rest of us deeper into a self-absorbed fantasy, so to speak!
Will the real Saturn stand up?
The structure (Saturn) of our society is most frequently ruled by the “established” rich, whose wealth depends upon fantasy (Neptune) to convince us that we should join the “cult” that we ‘deserve” to buy anything we desire and that those who do not have the wealth to buy anything they desire should be put in ghettos, sanctuary cities, barbed wire, homeless shelters, and, even as many of the mentally ill emerge in the streets, in jail. A badly presented Saturn tells us that our race, religion, association with elites, or income level makes us “superior” to everybody else. This system operates both at the corporate level and within the hierarchy of the government itself. Historically, this was entrenched within the old monarchies and, presently, lies in the outlying frameworks of both political parties.
I am reminded of an extreme example of the consequences of this pathway. The infamous Jim Jones cult of the 1970s gathered vulnerable disenchanted people together to “worship” Jones, hate everybody outside their community, and immigrate to Guyana to separate themselves from the rest of society, and live a fantasy life. In reality, Jones was a narcissistic psychopath who asserted such fear and intimidation over his followers, they were afraid to leave. He finally, and tragically, led them to commit mass suicide that included their babies and small children, drinking poisoned laced Kool Aid and were found dead by Americans who flew there to find them.
The present administration in the White house, at this time, has convinced its ‘base” that all these people of color, immigrants, and the marginalized in society have “stolen” their jobs and should be subject to the cruelest treatments while those presently in power will “make America great again.” The passing of a tax break for the richest Americans suggests that these are the people who ‘deserve” it. The “relaxing” of government regulations of the oil and gas industries promotes the notion that they deserve to continue their massive global warming and polluting, even as we enter the point of no return for the survival of life on earth. The Mueller Report has revealed that Russia has launched sweeping systematic cyber attacks on the U.S. and, although the president is not accused of collusion, he was aware of all this and tried to get his staff to “fire” Mueller, as they testified.
The political “spin” behind all this promotes an economy and a way of life that is no longer relevant in the world as it is today– in which considerable wealth and a specific ethnic background gives them the privilege of superiority and the “right” to suppress everyone else. It leaves out the fact that American corporations themselves moved factories and jobs out of our country to avoid environmental restrictions and hired cheap labor from abroad. It ignores the rise of technology that is automating jobs out of existence and increasing stock values for the very wealthy who already have billions in giant hedge funds. It ignores the giant banks have been “complicit” in all this. It deviates people’s attention away from the very “real” issues we face today: oncoming climate and environmental devastation, failed states all over the world that are giving birth to mass migrations throughout the globe, dictators taking military control over multiple nations, an economic model that rewards about 1% of the human population, entrenched poverty, and an overwhelmed health care system that is leading to the sickness and death of hundreds of millions of people.
International Repercussions:
Terrible failed states and civil wars are ongoing at the present time in Syria, Algeria, Libya, Mali, Yemen, and the Sudan, steeped in religious tribalism and threatened by military dictators. In the UK, it has ignited, through the BREXIT movement, the divisions in Northern and Southern Ireland. It has reactivated the old division in Spain with the Catalan people. No. Korea’s Kim, an absolute dictator, is back to increasing his nuclear capabilities. Putin is in absolute control of Russia while we are currently moving backward in our relationship with this nation to the era of the Cold War. The two dictators recently had a summit with each other, releasing essentially no information about what they discussed. Egypt has voted in a referendum aimed at extending their current military President’s rule until 2030. Venezuela is in shambles and many nations in Central and South America are under the control of drug lords, dictators, and street gangs while their economies are failing. This accounts for the mass migration of these people, running for their lives, coming over the borders of the U.S. to escape death.
Saturn, Neptune and the Roman Catholic Church:
Through the centuries, the promise of “salvation” for the faithful (Neptune) has been contained within the structure (Saturn) of the Catholic Church. It has been controlled by an unassailably rigid male hierarchy of unmarried popes and priests. It has been historically encompassed by layers of secrecy and unaccountability. Some historians see the church as an ‘extension of the old Roman Empire” and many millions are leaving, declaring themselves independent of any affiliation. The sexual assault scandals that have haunted the church for the past 30 years are now being revealed and too many excuses have been contrived to try to cover up what has now been undeniably uncovered. On top of everything else, the great Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was accidentally set on fire and burned last month, a tragic symbol of the loss of its former magnificence. Sadly, the Catholic Church, that has brought a profound spiritual solace to billions for nearly 2000 years, is at risk. I am of the opinion that The Church must dramatically transform itself into a more all- inclusive and publicly accountable and more democratic institution or it will go down “in flames” as the Age of Pisces ends and a new Aquarian Age dawns.
Terrorism, Neptune, and Religious Fundamentalism:
In the U.S., we have witnessed attacks on synagogues, the most recent in Poway, California where a shooter killed a woman who was shielding the Rabbi of the temple on the last day of Passover. In New Zealand, it was the mass murders of Muslims in midst of their religious services. In Sri Lanka, the attacks by ISIS on Christian churches and hotels killing over 400 people on Easter Sunday are continuing as we speak. All of these are part of a long list tragically playing out in our world today. The rise of globalism, the breakup of societies’ institutions, and millions of young people who have lost a sense of identity and purpose have resulted in a hatred and blaming of what they see as “the other”. Religion as “tribe” has filled the gap for people whose economies no longer serve them and whose communities are threatened. The rise of the internet and hate mongering websites and chat rooms throw fuel on the fire.
Choices:
A destructive Neptune whispers into our ears the lie that we can “escape” all this through self-absorption, addiction, and ignorance. However, a more positive Saturn may be finally stepping up to the plate as many people running for president, environmental organizations, and even some powerful corporate heads are presenting and framing viable possibilities and inspiring (positive Neptune) solutions that, if incorporated, can change the trajectory of this civilization, and lead the way to saving and elevating the human presence on planet earth.
It is all about choice. Which pathway will we choose? Time will tell.
The Economy:
There are very mixed signals about the economy this month. Mars in Gemini is square the Neptune of the U.S.A., is opposed Jupiter, and inconjunct Pluto between May 1st and May 6th and Venus is square Saturn and Pluto between the 6th and the 8th, all which suggest that comprehensive truths about the financial markets are absent or confusing. In the second half of the month, Mercury in Taurus will trine Saturn and Pluto and Mars will sextile Uranus leaning toward a more optimistic projection, especially in the job market.
There is a lot of talk about 5G – or the monumental increase in the speed and scope of the internet. Right now, and in the immediate future, China is considerably ahead of the US in this effort and we need to scramble to catch up. The Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in Aquarius on the ascendant of China’s astrological chart in December 2020 points them squarely at the future. There is likely some kind of trade deal between the US and China unfolding at this time. In spite of China’s “stealing” our technology through the years and their hacking practices, we must have an ongoing and constructive relationship with both our economies that includes environmental solutions, or march toward irrelevance and continued ignoring of global climate emergencies.
There will be a pickup in construction (Taurus) of roads and housing that will look positive for that sector for now, but, overall, the housing market is going into a decline that will be very clear by the Fall of this year. Under last month’s positive planetary connections, April was a big month for IPOs including Lyft, Zoom, Levi-Strauss, and Pinterest. I expect more to be announced this month. As I have posted many times in this newsletter, I am of the opinion that this stock market will grow bigger through August and begin a decline September through December.
The harsh facts about the economy include the fact that US debt now is greater than the annual GDP and is expected to grow by 8% in 2019. The majority of U.S. citizens struggle just to survive paycheck to paycheck. and the healthcare system is in trouble. Homelessness in the major cities throughout the U.S. is finally starting to get attention. It was recently reported that Medicare and Social Security are in fiscal jeopardy and new legislation will be necessary to correct this.
Foreign Relations:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected in a close contest last month, after a very public endorsement by Pres. Trump. Between his ongoing declarations that Iran is a terrorist threat and Trump’s trashing the nuclear disarmament treaty negotiated by the Obama Administration, I am of the opinion that the possibility exists that these two may engage in a war with Iran in 2020. Mars will retrograde back and forth in Aries in 2020 from June 28 through January 6, 2021. When our nation goes to war, the president tends to regain support politically and this may be involved, in a recessionary economy, with Trump’s attempt to get reelected. I sincerely hope that this possibility does not play out.
Weather and The Environment:
On spaceweather.com news for April 11th, it was reported: “Solar Cycle update: An international panel of researchers led by NASA and NOAA has released a new prediction for the solar cycle. According to their analysis, the current solar minimum is going to deepen, potentially reaching a century-class low in the next year or so. This will be followed by a new Solar Max in the years 2023-2026.”
As many of you already know, I have quoted experts in solar cycles in this newsletter. Many of them think that this Solar Minimum may last much longer, as it did in the Mini-Ice Age in the 18th Century.
In an article published on April 3rd on www.commondreams.org, writer Jessica Corbett reported: “A group of activists, experts, and writers on Wednesday launched a bold new campaign calling for the ‘thrilling but neglected approach’ of embracing nature’s awesome restorative powers to battle the existential crises of climate and ecological breakdown. Averting catastrophic global warming and devastating declines in biodiversity, scientists warn, requires… by not only rapidly decarbonizing economies, but also by ‘drawing carbon dioxide out of the air by protecting and restoring ecosystems. By defending, restoring and re-establishing forests, peatlands, mangroves, salt marshes, natural sea beds, and other crucial ecosystems, very large amounts of carbon can be removed from the air and stored.” This information is encouraging and will require huge economic and political commitments. It may be our only hope.
Young people throughout the world are launching movements and demonstrations for humanity to save the ecological system. Sadly, too many are presently saying that they do not want to have children, who would be forced to face the climate devastation that lies ahead if we do little or nothing.
Southern Africa was hit last month by another cyclone, as I predicted in last month’s newsletter. High winds and flooding will likely continue this month. Mars is going into the sign of Cancer May 15th and will transit there through June 30th, opposing both Saturn and Pluto in June. These placements may be associated with earthquakes and massive flooding.
The Mueller Report & Politics:
It is amazing how the Trump administration, especially Attorney General Barr, have “spun” this document to say the President is innocent of all charges. In fact, Mueller specifically said that it “does not exonerate the President.” What we know about the report (even though much of it is redacted) is that Trump wanted Mueller fired and ordered his staff to do so, even though they refused. It outlines a White House in angry disarray, confusion, and lies, pointing out four times when Trump ordered “false records”. The document has substantiated Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and, although it stopped short of trump’s “collusion” with them, it pointed to the stamp of his approval. It is not within the framework of the law for Mueller to indict a sitting president. It was his job to bring this before the Congress and the American people and for them to decide.
I do not think the Congress will impeach Pres. Trump. Instead, I think they will focus on defeating him in Nov. of 2020 and they have their work cut out for them, since he has a lot of planetary support at that time. The Democrats will have to unite behind a candidate who can win this election and a key will be not just the presidential candidate, but an attractive vice- presidential candidate. So far, the two best announcement charts are Sen. Kamala Harris and Mayor Pete Buttigieg. The announcement chart for Vice President Joe Biden has some positives, but with the Moon conjunct Saturn, is getting him off to a late and slow start.
Final Thoughts:
As I stroll along our streets and navigate our landscapes, I often feel like I am in a movie entitled: “The Jetsons meet the Apocalypse”. Crowds are standing on corners and walking across the streets with their faces buried in their smart phones completely detached from each other and the natural environment around them. I enter a restaurant where couples and friends are gathered together and notice they are hardly having a conversation as their eyes are glued to their screens and their fingers are texting somebody remote from their present location. Most of their companions seated there have adapted, as they are also busy on their laptops.
At home, people walk in the door to talk to “Alexa”, while they have their giant flat screen television sets on in each room tuned to different stations. The Jetson kids are eating the pizza they ordered out on their cell phones and are now back to texting their friends again or accessing multiple crazy websites so they can avoid doing their homework or even having a conversation with any of the members of their family.
There are those exceptional people who have traveled around the country and, indeed, the world, enchanted by the amazing beauty of the oceans, the mountains, and the magnificence of the natural world, teeming with life. Some persons are truly devoted to salvaging all this and have chosen professions in which they are trying to stave off disaster from the melting of glaciers at the poles, the plastic filled dead zones in the seas, the toxic pollution from radioactivity and chemicals deposited on every continent by humans motivated only by personal profit and the accumulation of wealth. These persons are gathering together in communities and actually making friends with each other, sharing ideas, constructing green buildings and spaces. These are the curious and contemplative humans who use technology wisely and carefully. Many take the time for meditation each day to “tune in” to the places in the universal consciousness that may bring them to the “peace that passeth understanding.”
The Jetsons will not solve the mysteries of life itself, nor will they stop the Apocalypse that we have already set in motion. The answers will come from the deepest part of our being – the universal soul of humanity itself. And we will find it together.
