Important Points of Reference (for Astrologers):
Full Moon Feb. 9 at 20 degrees Leo trine Mars; New Moon Feb. 23 at 4 degrees Pisces sextile Mars and trine and sextile the lunar nodes with Venus square Jupiter; Mercury is sextile Uranus Feb. 4; Mercury goes retrograde Feb. 16 at 12 degrees Pisces (going direct at 28 degrees Aquarius on March 9); Jupiter is sextile Neptune at 17 degrees Capricorn on Feb. 20; Venus is square the lunar nodes Feb. 15; Mars is conjunct the South Node Feb. 25.
The 2020 Presidential Election, the US Pluto Return, and the Imminent Entry into the Age of Aquarius:
In the January/February 2020 Issue of Dell Horoscope, a favorite astrologer of mine, Michael O’Reilly, wrote an article entitled ‘How Close are we to The Age of Aquarius?’ As I have proposed in my previous newsletters, the author feels that the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in Aquarius in December of this year, is a “marker” for entry into this great age whose events and characteristics have been preceding its gateway for many years.
The mind-boggling scientific breakthroughs and space age technologies that were dreamed of in the science fiction novels of the 20th Century are coming into our collective sights so quickly, we are having serious difficulties determining whether or not they are helpful or harmful to human existence. Fossil fuel induced climate catastrophes, the development of weapons of mass destruction, unhealthy mass produced foods, addictions not only to drugs but to electronic “screens”, and toxic environmental conditions are leading us to a precipice that, if crossed, could herald the collapse of most of the currently known life on earth. Jobs being replaced by computers and robots and the movement of most of the world’s vast wealth into the accounts of the now infamous one percent are in the process of destroying the fundamental structures of our economies. Mass corporate-owned media systematically “dumbing down” and erasing any semblance of critical thinking, endangers democracy itself which depends upon an educated and well informed public.
I recall the concerns of Mary Shelley, who wrote her famous epic novel “Frankenstein” when Pluto was transiting Aquarius not long after the American Revolution and at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. She laid out the dangers of technology that, without careful thought, could become monumentally evil and destructive. I also think of great 19th Century Aquarians Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin – born on the same date of February 12th. Lincoln, by ending slavery, was, arguably, one of the greatest proponents of true democracy, equality of opportunity and the legal rights for all citizens. Darwin, whose breakthrough in biological science and “Theory of Evolution” transformed the world of biological science forever. The contributions of these two men could give us a clue about what potential genius lies in this age that could lead us to unlock the secrets of the universe and human civilization’s highest expression.
The US Moon is located in 27 degrees of Aquarius. This placement through the years has characterized us as having a love of freedom, democracy, and self-determination. It has also helped us to lead the way into the Space Age and develop and sell our inventions and technologies all over the world. All this is being challenged as we are experiencing our Pluto return at 27 degrees of Capricorn between now and 2022. This could signal a new American Revolution, this time, between what we perceive as “the elites” vs the “masses,” similar to 1776 when the British colonists were rebelling against the monopoly corporations of the British Empire ruled by Mad King George. In Michael O’Reilly’s article, he publishes the astrological chart of Mad King George. Startlingly, it is nearly a duplicate of the chart of our current president, Donald Trump! They both have their Sun in Gemini, Mars on their angles and Leo rising. Their charts are obviously not identical but are remarkably similar. King George was thought to have had a genetic problem that was due to inbreeding of royal families, and caused severe problems with his mental health. Many commentators, including a number of psychologists, have suggested that Trump has a mental defect as demonstrated by his chaotic behavior, serial lying, and narcissism. All of this is a reminder that “history rhymes.”
Another great transformation that is likely to take place concerns the existence and power of the Federal reserve as this year’s planetary patterns are highly stressful in the Fed’s astrological chart established in Dec. 1913. Currently, the Feds have been taking dictation from corporate America by dramatically lowering interest rates and “printing” more money in order to prop up the “bubble” stock market, which devalues our currency, our treasury bonds, and increases our sovereign debt. This cannot continue indefinitely and will be challenged between February and March. However, I do not see a real visible economic decline until the end of this year.
We need to ponder the fact that early in our nation’s history, Thomas Jefferson warned that if the banks and corporations were allowed to take over, our democracy would be finished! There could be a case made that at the time the US was conceived, there was a battle between Alexander Hamilton, who believed in the ascendancy of the big corporations and banks and Thomas Jefferson, who believed that going in that direction would defeat the ideal of equal opportunity inherent in democracy.
The stock market lies within a universe of its own, managed by a corporate/banking cartel that has bought out much of the elected government and wields nearly limitless power. There will likely be uncertainties this month as Mars in Sagittarius reaches a critical 29 degrees on the 15th and Mercury goes retrograde in Pisces on the 16th. The impeachment trial in the Senate will be so confusing, most people will understand little or nothing about the proceedings. The Jupiter sextile Neptune between the 17th and the 21st will continue the illusion of prosperity, while half of this nation will still be living at or below the poverty line, and homelessness will continue its spiral to epic highs.
Trade Agreements:
The recent new No. American Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico is mostly a rehash of NAFTA, with some labor and wage laws thrown in. This would seem to be an improvement, but Mexico has already stated it will not go along with wage hikes and the US auto companies have stated they will not move back to the US because it is too expensive. The China agreement is something of a “nothing-burger” with unenforceable protections for US technologies (China has been stealing our stuff through the years), and a decision to keep the present tariffs but not institute new ones. In short, Pres. Trump has “dropped out” of these treaties (which was a good thing) and then “dropped back in” with a few small alterations. Manufacturing is still declining in the US.
The Middle East:
Israel – Last month I predicted a change in leadership in this nation. Benjamin Netanyahu was officially indicted last month for fraud, bribery, and breach of trust. With a huge collection of planets in Capricorn in March, his position is in trouble.
Libya – The civil war there has gotten so destructive that the opposing parties met in Germany asking the Europeans to help them to negotiate some kind of settlement. This will be difficult to enforce.
Syria – supported by both Russia and Iran has been taken back by Assad, but is still fighting pockets of resistance. Russia will likely write the rules for the re-establishment of Assad, that will benefit them.
Iran – I predicted their leadership would be in trouble and the whole nation is in chaos and rebellion. However, the public does not know where to go, and the current power of the Islamic State has the military power. The Trump ordered assassination of Iran’s General Soleimani is a powerful blow to the government. I predicted last year that there would be some kind of war between the US and Iran. I think much of this will start in June and last through Jan. 2021.
Saudi Arabia – is the elephant in the room in the region. They are fully supported by the US and the Trump administration and have been involved in proxy wars in Yemen, Libya, and Syria. Currently, they are involved in the creation of a Sunni region in Iraq in the most prolific oil regions there. The current government there is furious about this, which will likely lead to another proxy war in Iraq. This will push buttons in Iran (a Shia nation) and lead them to increase military attacks there, upping the ante with the US. The current grouping of powerful planets in Capricorn are prominent in the chart of Saudi Arabia.
The Election:
I will be able to comment on the election until after the Democrats have a nominee. The members of the party are not “blown away” by any one of the candidates currently running and a lot will depend on whether their electorate “stays home” rather than voting if the one they like is not nominated. At this time, I believe the same people who brought in the Electoral College for Trump in 2016, will likely continue to support him in 2020. Mercury goes direct square Saturn on election day, assuring us that the winner will not be decided then, but postponed due to uncertainties around the process, quite similar to the 2000 election between Bush and Gore. Once again, one may win the electoral college and the other the general electorate.
Astrology does not contain forecasts that are “absolutes”. We describe the nature of cycles in human history and the challenges and opportunities presented to all of us. I think the biggest problem with our nation is that we pay little or no attention to the issues, legislation, and even the realities of our existence. Many people are simply trying to survive and have no energy or inclination to devote themselves to studies of history, politics, and the economy. We tend, instead, to vote for people with charisma, media savvy, and even those we cling to – like a religious figure in a cult who will “do our thinking for us.” This mass infantile behavior as opposed to adult critical thinking, as it has with other nations in other times, will likely be our undoing. For some, a pathway may open up for more of us to wake up and take responsibility for our collective fates. History has and can be changed by a few truly committed citizens if they organize and commit themselves to this change.
Climate and Natural Events:
A giant volcano is erupting in the Philippines, Australia is still burning, Puerto Rico has been devastated by huge earthquakes, Indonesia has record breaking floods and more will likely happen this month. The Pluto/Saturn conjunction in Capricorn that symbolizes earth changes will be felt throughout the year. In the 1990s, under the Uranus/Neptune conjunction in Capricorn, Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines for over two years and temporarily altered the global climate. 2019 was reported to be globally the second hottest year on record. Between natural events over which we have no control, and climate catastrophes that have been man-made, the consequences will play out in ways that are hard to predict.
The Corona Virus that is ravaging China and threatens to move around the world demonstrates how important public health systems are to all of us. The Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in Aquarius in December of this year that goes into 2021, points to a serious problem with epidemics to come of this nature and how important it is that scientific research into prevention and containment is backed and financed.
Final Thoughts:
Humans alive on earth today are engaged in a struggle that encompasses not only ourselves but is involving all life on earth. This planet is a miracle of fortunate events that occurred billions of years ago, when the solar system was formed and conditions made it possible for life to form here. Not only has life formed, but has evolved from tiny viruses and bacteria to exotic animals and an intelligent human presence. With the evolution of our technologies, we have been able to interfere with life everywhere, from the giant oceans to the high mountain peaks. We have created from science what would have thought to be, in previous ages, magical capabilities for us to accomplish things that were once only the stuff of dreams.
In this process, our selfishness, greed, and shortsightedness have led us down a path of possible destruction. Technology without morality and sensitivity to consequences is a ticket to Hell. The restoration and advancement of moral thinking and social caring is a pathway we must take.
This will require an evolutionary leap in consciousness that will lead us to create solutions to the serious problems we see on our collective horizon. This advancement will be a miracle within itself that goes beyond our current models of society, science and technology. We must claim our connection to a conscious universe out of which we were created in the first place. I feel our souls are yearning for this. It would seem to elude us, but we are simply getting in our own way.
Let us all open our windows and doors and welcome what has been waiting for us all along.
Linda
