#59

Winter/Spring Shifts Of The Major Planets

January 4, 2005

     The March 30, 2004 Forecast, #46 The Times They Are A Changin, identified thirteen bunched-up astronomical events, promising to shake up the world later this spring and summer.  That listing was then applied in later Forecasts to track world events and also suggest periods of change in your personal charts. 

     This winter and spring brings another interval of karmic intensity with shifts of the major planets -- Saturn, Jupiter, Rahu and Ketu, listed and described below.  A Mercury retrograde, smack in the middle of these shifting planetary heavyweights, is included.  Again, we'll use this information in future forecasting  -- both in in-depth Forecasts such as this, and in the daily Celestial Wheel.

     During the process of writing and publishing this forecasting library since July 2002, I've assembled over twenty charts of leaders and celebrities and half a dozen charts for nations.  These supplement and add detail to the World Chart, which uses the natural zodiac beginning with Aries.  (Note: without a birth time and place for the planet, this chart can only measure general trends and lacks the predictive Dasas  -- planetary cycles.  However, by displaying the relative planetary dispositions in transit, the World Chart also provides some insight into our personal charts.)  While having all these charts certainly expands available information, this blizzard of data needs to be selected, condensed and integrated in order to sketch a meaningful and understandable drawing of the karmic ebbs and flows.

     For this Forecast, I chose a macro to micro approach, selecting charts for: the World, the U.S., Iraq and G.W. Bush.  I offer summary comments for the next month or so.

Saturn Retrograde  November 8, 2004 to March 22, 2005

     Retrogrades back into Gemini January 13

     Turns forward March 22 at 26:27 Gemini

     Reenters Cancer May 25

Jupiter Retrograde  February 2 to June 5

     All in Virgo

Rahu and Ketu change signs on February 22

     Rahu shifts from Aries to Pisces

     Ketu shifts from Libra to Virgo

Mercury retrograde March 20 to April 12

     (all in Pisces, its fallen sign)

     Saturn's current weakness is also negative for organization and duty, both worldwide and personally.  Adding to this focusing difficulty is the ongoing conjunction of Venus and Mercury, which I described in the December 29 Celestial Wheel, Venus conjoined Mercury in Scorpio at Christmas, and they continue in tandem until about January 20, when Mercury finally begins to pull away from Venus in Sagittarius.  ...Venus's creativity and sensitivity with Mercury's light and variable intellect and communications stimulates for charm, fun, creativity and playfulness.  However, the mind is not serious enough, its difficult to plan ahead and people dodge duty and responsibility.  Further, Saturn in Cancer, the sign of emotions, is depressing and stimulates for feeling powerless.  This not only negative for spiritual citizenship but also stimulates escapism via Mercury/Venus enjoyments.

     So, if you've had a difficult time jump-starting 2005, you're not alone.  However, the latter part of January will see a rejuvenation in motivated responsibility as Venus and Mercury separate and Saturn gains some strength in the third house of desires.

     We saw this separative Saturn influence begin in August, 2002, when Saturn first entered the seventh house, and Bush pushed away allies to invade Iraq.

     While the Venus cycle may appear to be beneficial, keep in mind that the U.S. Through Its Planetary Cycles Forecast demonstrated this Venus is destructive for ruling the sixth house of enemies and being conjunct a vicious Mars.  (The second Venus cycle, 1972 -- 1992 displayed its good intentions but often failed results.)

     Whether the neoconservative/fundamentalist alliance can maintain its stranglehold on America in this, its second Gilded Age, is the big question, of course.  The 1886 Haymarket Square Labor Riot naturally occurred during the Moon/Ketu cycle, and the U.S. enters its second Moon/Ketu cycle March 1, 2006.  However, Saturn was similarly transiting through the seventh house in the mid 1880's as it has been the past few years, and continues still.  So, the influence for separative protest, which could be more effective than 120 years ago, operates now and can only increase.

     Saturn transits back into Iraq's eleventh house of friends and groups beginning January 13.  As the eleventh is the the U.S. friend, Saturn's influence there must stimulate separation from the U.S. occupation, even as the U.S. attempts to control Iraq.  Because the eleventh is also groups, transit Saturn there will also separate and pits Iraqi groups against each other.  If the election does occur, it will only further polarize Iraqi groups, both against each other and against the U.S.

     As Saturn transits back into Bush's twelfth house of loss beginning January 13, he will be again confronted with setbacks, as he was in the fall of 2003 and spring of 2004.

     This sets a difficult stage this month as the new Congress convenes.  It will immediately addresses the election controversy, confirmation of Mr. Torture Gonzales, federal judge appointments, Iraq (with the impending election) and Bush's campaign platform disassembling the New Deal programs.

     I believe that Bush is a manifestation of a movement, not the movement itself, which is why he stole the election a second time.  It was this new Gilded Age, not Bush, that persevered.  Yet, as the flag bearer, his failures must also be those of the neoconservative movement.  This then, is a time to renew our commitments as spiritual citizens.  Taking advantage of Bush's vulnerabilities this January can begin to reverse the tide.