April  2020

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While the coronavirus is obviously paramount, it's critical to remember other serious events result from Mars approaching, then crashing into, Saturn March 31.

The March 25 Countdown stated, ...during the next 6 days world events will continue to build to a crescendo of destruction that will have long term consequences.

The March 13 Jittery, stated about Mars attacking Saturn with exact conjunction March 31,

     March 29 Large, destructive tornado strikes Jonesboro, Ark., leaving behind ‘severe’ damage

     March 31 Largest earthquake in decades strikes Idaho

There have been other tornadoes, earthquakes and other disasters in the U.S. recently, but the above are the major ones, occurring during the final week before exact conjunction.

And remember, as the March 13 Jittery also informed Further, although Mars/Saturn destructions may peak at the conjunction March 31, their harmful karma will continue as they remain conjunct in Capricorn until May 4.

So, even as Trump pushed the coronavirus panic button yesterday -- declaring hundreds of thousands will die -- other issues persist, new ones will pop up, and we still don't have a clear view of how the pandemic will unfold over the upcoming seasons.

It's also pertinent to comment further on Jupiter in its fallen (weak) sign of Capricorn, where he is further harmed by Mars and Saturn. Jupiter's wealth, luck and wisdom are so beleaguered, his benefits evaporate into deprivations. Economic harms must escalate for Capricorn being the U.S. chart's second house of income, and the second house signification for domestic harmony is also beleaguered. Again for Trump, Capricorn is his sixth house of enemies and also disease. It's hard to imagine he won't fall to the virus, as would his close associates, even family.

Again, this is all Rahu energy -- unexpected and uncontrollable. It's best to look beyond current and upcoming travails to these stimulating Second Gilded Age rebalancing shared democratic values. While we all must deal with today, we must also plan for the future. As Peter Paul and Mary sang over half century ago in 1964, when strife brought protest, then hope and a better America resulted, The Times, They Are A Changin

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

There's a certain irony in this entry's title, as the term affliction is applied here astrologically but more typically is medical for illness.

There are three issues.  Use the below transit chart showing global karmas for April 8 to see them.

First, remember the destructive Mars/Saturn combination.  As stated in the March 25 Countdown, ...although Mars/Saturn destructions may peak at the conjunction March 31, their harmful karma will continue as they remain conjunct in Capricorn until May 4.  As the two great malefics of acute (Mars) and chronic (Saturn) illness, their being in the same sign means they afflict each other -- much like two enraged fighters in a cage who continue to slug it out until one leaves the ring.  This suggests the virus raging globally for at least another month.  Remember too that Mars is infections, which means we should follow his movements to track the pandemic.

Transits April 8, 2020

Second, April 8 was chosen for this chart for being the day Mercury enters its fallen (weak) sign of Pisces.  This is troublesome, not just because Mercury is communications, essential to combat the virus, but also because this is the planet of the respiratory system and a second planetary indicator for acute illness.  Mercury will stay in Pisces until April 24.  So, we have an overlap of serious health afflictions from Mars/Saturn until May 4 and fallen Mercury April 8 to 24.

Third, you can see in the chart the red arrow pointing to Capricorn with the label U.S. Ketu 16.51.  This is the U.S.'s Vedic chart Ketu (tail-of-the-dragon eclipse point), which is in the second house of income, domestic harmony and the head.  The first two qualities relate to economics and politics and the third to the upper area of the virus infections.  Mars will run over the U.S. Ketu April 15.  As Mars begins attacking when he is four degrees away from his target, effects of this conjunction will begin April 9. (Mars and Saturn being in Capricorn together now, the affliction is already underway, however.)   They remain in conjunction until May 4, when Mar moves into Aquarius to escape Ketu, and Saturn as well.  (Recall the exact conjunction of these planets in transit occurred February 25 -- when its seething anger saw the virus escalate and stock markets crash.  We know, then, this is a deadly combination.)  So there's another affliction overlap -- since Mercury enters Pisces April 8 and the Mars/Saturn conjunction runs then as well.

Here's a summary listing:
Mars/Saturn conjunction -- to May 4
Mercury fallen -- April 8 to 24
Mars/Ketu conjunction -- April 9 to May 4

In Vedic Astrology, planetary karmas are cumulative.  If a karma (influence) occurs once, a result is possible, twice then its likely and three times makes it inescapable.  These thrice serious planetary afflictions, all indicating illness, suffering and loss, are thereby a witches brew coming to boil.

The timing, then, for these afflictions matches up well with CDC and other health officials' beliefs the virus will become more pervasive and challenging this coming week, even as they are not as alarmed (yet) about following weeks and months.  They could be right, of course, but the planetary dispositions suggest the virus will spread and infections build, for another month.  The economy will be reeling and public protests raging as money runs out, and we're trapped in our homes.

In checking radar, I came upon this coronavirus interactive map from Accuweather.  There are several of these visual aids on the web, but this one is very easy to read and apply.  You can zoom in and out and click on individual counties.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

The April 5 Upcoming Afflictions examined three planetary afflictions that point toward worsening virus and economic conditions. Here's the summary of those,

Mars/Saturn conjunction -- to May 4
Mercury fallen -- April 8 to 24
Mars/Ketu conjunction -- April 9 to May 4

The first two are global karmas resulting from transits -- where the planets are in today's skies.  April 15.The last, however, is for the U.S. chart.  There, transit Mars crosses over U.S. birth chart Ketu.  The exact conjunction will be April 15.

This prediction for worsening virus and stock markets has a lot to do with the results of the below map, from today's NY Times. The U.S. is now the world leader.  In fact, infections here are higher than the rest of the globe.

This virus tabulation is a proof for the toxicity already coming in from the February (infectious disease) Mars crossing over the U.S. chart's otherworldly and dissolving Ketu -- the tail-of-the-dragon eclipse point.  Remember that transit Mars crossed transit Ketu February 25.  The days leading up to this conjunction saw dramatic increases in virus infections -- and the stock markets began dropping February 19 and then crashing February 24 and 25.  The April 5 entry stated, (Recall the exact conjunction of these planets in transit occurred February 25 -- when its seething anger saw the virus escalate and stock markets crash. We know, then, this is a deadly combination.)

That markets have moved back up since the bottom March 23, anticipating a quick recovery, certainly seems delusional.  Although stock market listings are for large companies, financially capable of weathering economic storms, all businesses only exist to sell products and services.  All business sales must plummet with the rising unemployment numbers.  And these seem likely to persist, even increase, over this season and the next, which must continue to depress sales.*

Further, this table, from the same NY Times article, clearly shows investors in U.S. stocks are ignoring the fact that U.S. virus infections lead the globe -- with stock price increases that blow past international stock market gains.  Let's see how the cheerleader in chief explains that!

(*Although this is a Vedic Astrology publication, the astrologer's knowledge base is valid here -- BS in economics and political science from Bucknell, MS in condominium hotels from Cornell, real estate sales and broker licenses in Florida and 20 years of business experience in corporate, entrepreneurial and consulting venues.)

Below is the transit chart for today.  You can clearly see the destructive Mars/Saturn conjunction and Mercury fallen.  (Not shown is transit Mars conjoining the U.S. chart Ketu.) 

This brings us to Mercury fallen In Pisces.  Mercury was recently retrograde-- February 20 to March 10.  So now its moving fast, going through Pisces in just over 2 weeks. 

I've used the natural zodiac beginning with Aries, for that house/sign choice shows otherwise hidden health issues.  Mercury fallen means it's weak and thereby vulnerable.  Mercury's rulership of Gemini and Virgo bring its significations for third house respiratory system and sixth house acute illness.  As Mercury is also communications, its current weakness must thwart effective and efficient response to the virus, as well, perhaps, as continued failure to understand the stock markets -- for a while longer, until the former ballooning must make the latter crash.

It thus seems inescapable that this weak Mercury must aggravate respiratory infections that are acute -- the virus.  Watch then, for continued escalation of virus infections and an inevitable reckoning with stock market prices that have risen, instead of falling.

April 10, 2020

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

The Celestial Wheel typically references back to previous forecasting to both provide continuity and check predictions.  Most recently, the April 5 Upcoming Afflictions identified three such issues,

Mars/Saturn conjunction -- to May 4
Mercury fallen -- April 8 to 24
Mars/Ketu conjunction -- April 9 to May 4

Predictions were,

the virus will become more pervasive and challenging
the virus will spread and infections build, for another month.
The economy will be reeling and public protests raging as money runs out.

Here are a few more,

March 13 Jittery -- spring storms -- and earth crust events as well. ...heavy tornado activity.

March 18 Planetary Karmas Coming Forward -- Jupiter entered Capricorn, where he is fallen.  Wealth is challenged when the planet of abundance, luck, fortune and expansion is in his fallen sign.

March 25 Countdown --

stocks must slide again as business closings, unemployment claims
and business sales declines become visible and worsen.

world events will continue to build to a crescendo of
destruction that will have long term consequences.

no quick fix to this one. no making a deal with the virus to reopen the economy

an increasingly insane Trump is attempting in his latest attempt to
deceive -- and causing even more harms by doing so.

No financial bailout will help as currency is not a bandage for the virus

To limit loss of life and wealth, everyone must surrender
their individual desires for the benefit of society

These predictions are largely actualizing.  Noteworthy are,

yesterday's tornado assault -- Storms that spawned tornadoes and killed 18
people in the South are taking aim on the East Coast.  (This was 34 tornadoes.)

After an apparent easing of infections, China Reports 169 New
Coronavirus Cases— Highest In 5 Weeks

Although the stock markets moved up after the low March 23, they are
down again today -- the DOW is down over 550 points, so far.

The title of this entry, Mars To Ketu -- Again is pertinent now because their exact conjunction is April 15 -- just two days away. (Remember the havoc this combination by these planets in transit brought in February -- especially February 24 and 25 as the conjunction peaked when the virus jumped and stock markets crashed.)

This astronomy article from EarthSky.org also shows the Vedic Astrology -- Watch the moon sweep near 3 morning planets. This is important because the Moon is the primary planet in Vedic Astrology, ruling the benefits in life and consciousness.

Transit Mars will be exactly conjunct the U.S. birth chart chart Ketu April 15 (not shown here), which seething anger energy has been building since about April 9.  The Moon traveling across malefics Saturn and Mars at the same time must actuate material disasters and mental stresses.  Tomorrow, Tuesday, could be the worst since that is Mars' day of the week.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

Last Monday morning's April 13 Mars To Ketu -- Again was essentially a prediction-check for ills resulting from these afflictions,

Mars/Saturn conjunction -- to May 4
Mercury fallen -- April 8 to 24
Mars/Ketu conjunction -- April 9 to May 4

Today's entry is another review.  The purpose here is to validate the ongoing strife so you may be more aware of the realities facing society -- and yourself.  Also, as verifying past forecasting suggests unfolding and upcoming predictions are also valid, prediction checks are obviously useful.  At the very least, correctly predicted events and circumstances this month to date indicate these will continue until about May 4, when the above afflictions caused by Mars end.  We thereby have two more weeks before the disturbances even begin to subside.

This entry thereby further serves the ongoing process of separating the wheat from the chaff in public claims by the media, government and private sectors.

Four predictions have proven to be headliners in the cacophony of noise -- windy storms, popular protests, increasing virus infections and economic setbacks.

Windy Storms  Last Monday afternoon saw the continued barrage of high winds and tornadoes across the Midwest and Mid Atlantic states that had begun on Sunday.  Yesterday and today are a repeat of those destructions -- Outbreak of tornadoes and severe storms slams South for second straight Sunday. While it seems oddly coincidental, the affected area is the beating heart of Trump's base, and these deep south to Midwest regions are also most vulnerable to the virus.

Popular protests and increasing virus infections.  Given the strife the pandemic has caused, popular protests are expected.  It's amazing anti-lockdown protests appear,* and they are mostly from the right in red states, where virus infections seem* to be still increasing.   Certainly the left has more reason to complain about lifestyle restrictions because the virus infections are now decreasing in blue states.  Even more astounding is Trump supporting these anti-lockdown protests, which are against the lockdown he has advocated!  That certainly speaks to the long-standing prediction for Trump losing his mind and his reputation.

(*Google searches for maps on these didn't yield useful information -- ideally maps. The findings here reflect trends reporting by government agencies and universities.)

Economic setbacks are obvious.  The cogent observation here is that with Jupiter, the planet of wealth, in its fallen sign of Capricorn, afflicted by Saturn and Mars, job losses and business incomes must be harmed more than reported.  Jupiter stays in a sign for a year, which is a further negative.

Given the situation by May 4, below is a look-ahead for the next few months.

On May 4, Mars will move out of Capricorn and into Aquarius -- away from depleting Jupiter's wealth and end its harms and losses by conjoining Saturn.  This is basically good news.  The bad news is that by then the country will have been beset by even more storms, popular protests, virus infections and economic losses.  As stated above, that's another two full weeks of Mars afflicting Jupiter and Saturn.  Below is the transit chart for May 4, where you can easily see Mars has entered Aquarius.

May 4, 2020

It will be difficult for the country -- indeed the globe -- to move ahead out of this hole because on May 10 Saturn will turn retrograde, closely followed by Jupiter's retrograde May 14.  Below is a chart for that date, with an R next to each.

Retrograde motion makes a planet passive. It loses its power to advance -- like a marathon runner who runs out of steam. First, this harms Jupiter even more, and thus is negative for the economy. Second, Jupiter and Saturn are the big planets. They protect and steer the solar system. When both are retrograde, there's a loss of capability for positive action in the entire zodiac. So, recovery from the virus, as well as economic rebuilding, will be hampered. This continues through the summer into mid September.

May 14, 2020

The next major transit will be Mars going into Pisces June 18 -- chart below.  This is a potent negative, especially for hurricanes, which season begins in earnest then anyway.  Pisces is a water sign, and Mars as the god of storms stimulates water storms there. Also, Saturn throws a mean aspect -- glance -- to Mars.  And Mars throws a mean aspect to Gemini, where three planets -- Sun, Rahu and Mercury -- are sitting ducks.  This is a further hurricane negative but also one for the economy and government.  (Note, while other planetary significations are not included in this forecast, it is important to note that a penumbral eclipse of the Sun occurs June 21.  That will destabilize everything.)

June 18

So, it's gonna be rough for the rest of this spring, and then the summer will be arduous.  What happens to society during this test is uncertain -- except that the country, actually the globe, will definitely be a different place come the fall.  Certainly this will be fertile ground for Second Gilded Age reforms to take hold.  And come November, U.S. voters will have the choice to break away from the stranglehold the 1% and their hard right allies have had on society for far too long.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

The April 20 Further Predictions Proofing suggested Covid-19 is spreading to red states,

While it seems oddly coincidental, the affected (tornado) area is the beating heart of Trump's base,
and these deep south to Midwest regions are also most vulnerable to the virus.

It's amazing anti-lockdown protests appear,* and they are mostly from the right in red states,
where virus infections seem* to be still increasing.

(*Google searches for maps on these didn't yield useful information -- ideally maps.

Below is a map that popped up in yesterday's news that shows just that!  The article is Coronavirus is invading Red America, new data show. That’s ominous for Trump. And the cogent excerpt is,

I'm not being a psychic here in figuring this out.  Here in conservative Gulf Coast Florida, it's nearly impossible not to notice that many folks in two major groups are not social distancing -- the rednecks in pickup trucks the size of airliners and the red state retirees.  The former think they are invulnerable and the latter have lost ability to think.  (Both traits, of course, are basic to cults.)   So I've believed for months now that Florida will blossom into a major hotspot, and with it, Trump's voter base must be reduced. That could flip this fall's election to the Democrats.

But then there's this idea,Voting after death.  Although the thought may seem radical, even crazy, perhaps it's not.  Florida has a well-earned reputation for political shenanigans, and Republicans in control all levels of government. They could allow after death voting, perhaps via a stipulation in a living will or trust document.

Yes, it sounds bizarre, and America doesn't do that, right?  Well, no.  Didn't the President suggest yesterday Covid-19 treatment could include injecting disinfectants into the lungs and using light inside the body?

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer