February 2020

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The nine planets planets traveling through the twelve signs, plus changing planetary combinations, are the dramatic actors playing their roles in mundane astrology -- the study of world events.

However, the planets don't perform on an empty stage. They act to influence an existing state of affairs -- a stageset -- the reality of past and present conditions.  For example, the California drought was alleviated by dry Saturn weakening and wet Jupiter strengthening.  Without the stageset (context) of the drought, Jupiter would have caused flooding and landslides.

Vedic Astrology looks ahead at the planetary dispositions to make predictions that can be uncommonly true.  Vedic predictions are founded upon understanding the past and present plus how the planets operate in the present and future.  Because only God knows the past, present and future, and Vedic Astrologers are mere mortals with constrained awareness, predictions are not usually specific and accurate enough to qualify as bullseyes.  But sometimes predictions do hold substantial truth as the January 19 Bullseye explained.

For 2019, and 2020 so far, the eclipses points Rahu/Ketu, as well as eclipses themselves, have been the star players directing world events and trends.  This results from the U.S. running Rahu's 18 year Dasa -- planetary cycle -- and that transit Rahu and Ketu have been strong and potent in Gemini and Sagittarius.  Rahu as the destroyer of today and creator of tomorrow is certainly doing its job to end the Second Gilded Age and bring the Second Progressive Age.  However, because head-of-the-dragon Rahu is insanity and delusion, and tail-of-the-dragon Ketu is confusion and doubt, understanding the past and present is incomplete and distorted. And Rahu's actions being unanticipated and uncontrollable further contribute to making predictions less reliable.

So, it's natural to be uncertain, and worried about, the present and future.  It seems the only person with a firm grip on himself is Trump, and we know he's mentally damaged.  That, btw, was one of the 2019 predictions that came true -- he was losing his mind and his reputation.

However, there's more certainty and reality coming forward now, for Mars has moved to center stage.  We don't enjoy this malefic's destructions, but his logic and rational thinking are certainly welcome, indeed invaluable to regain understanding of the past and present and plan for the present and future.

Mars, the planet of action, has not been positioned since 2018 to dominate the celestial wheel.  Readers may recall that then Mars spent 6 months in his exalted sign of Capricorn, where he tore up the turf.  (See the July 2018 page. It's noteworthy that Mars brought violences on the earth but also to his namesake planet.)

Well, his entrance into Sagittarius begins a new Mars assault that will again torment the globe, but also advance history.  The below transit chart for today shows Mars having just entered Sagittarius.  Pitta (fiery) Mars will crash into Pitta Ketu February 25.  (Note, the next few days can be tumultuous for Mars' accidents as he is unstable at the edge of the sign.)  Expect Mars destructions to begin several days earlier, when he's close enough to fire his arrows.

World Transits February 8, 2020

This entry introduces the topic of warrior Mars on the attack again. Future entries will focus in on what, when, where may happen. In the meantime, below is a screen shot from the July 2018 page of the 9-11 chart. Notice the similarities.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

February 8 Now Comes Mars explained that the eclipse points, Rahu and Ketu, dominated the heavens for 2019 and 2020, so far. However, while history moves forward, their chaotic natures challenge our understanding and hinder predictions,

That entry continued by explaining about Mars,

Certainly Trump, who has a tremendous Mars in the first house of the self, has become even more Mars-aggressive now.  This article, Relentless corruption and sheer madness are Donald Trump’s super powers, covers the turf since the impeachment trial ended February 6 -- coincidentally one day after Mars entered Sagittarius, where he will collide with Ketu February 25.  Actually, vicious is a better word here than aggressive.

Here's the chart for today to display these dispositions,

Transits February 15, 2020

Beyond Mars being in Sagittarius -- fast approaching Ketu -- Jupiter is also transiting that sign.  Jupiter is the great benefic, brings expansion of all kinds and optimism.  For Trump, Sagittarius is his fifth house of kingship, which stimulates a belief in his invincible royalty -- in his own mind. The November 26, 2019 Subdued, explained,

Continuing about Trump's chart, put this Mars and Jupiter together, and we find a Mars type power-hungry and vicious combined with the Jupitarian invincible self proclaimed king.  Mars energy on higher mind Jupiter can be very good because it makes the person an advocate for a cause.  However, for Trump, Mars on Jupiter advocacy is solely for himself.  As stated above, overreaching is an issue.

As for the Coronavirus, yes, Mars is infections, and he throws an aspect to Rahu, which is toxic -- like a poisonous serpent.  And Ketu is weirdness, befitting his otherworldly nature.  So, the Mars' upcoming conjunction with Ketu February 25 certainly indicates the Coronavirus will spike -- or more likely, infections will continue to build toward pandemic level.

But certainly other challenges could occur.  The globe is large enough for more than one disaster at a time.  Too, as stated in the February 8 Now Comes Mars, the last time Mars collided with Ketu was 9-11 -- nineteen years ago, which is the time Ketu circles the zodiac.  Because Mars is Pitta (fire) as is mystical Ketu, this combination brings seething anger.  With religious Jupiter involved both for 9-11 (opposite in Gemini) and now in Sagittarius, the religious terrorist attack came.

The major reason for not making a specific prediction for the Mars/Ketu conjunction is due to Ketu's weirdness.  The globe is a big place.  One never knows events what the tail-of-the-dragon will bring.  A major terrorism attack could happen again.  The Coronavirus could spike -- or truly erupt.  Or another major disaster, or two or more, could hit as well.  Airplane, missile and rocket crashes are an option, for Rahu is flying machines, just like on 9-11.  Or, the stock markets could melt down -- either in response to disaster or just because investors' trust runs dry.  Consider what King Trump's response would be -- certainly not an effective one that will calm but rather an excessive one that only worsens the harms and wreck his presidency.  And that would make any disaster more dire.  Certainly Mars/Ketu seething anger on Trump's mind will bring reflexive and hypersensitive impulses.

It's difficult too, to pick an event date.  Here again is the 9-11 chart.  Notice the all-important Moon is with Rahu and receiving an aspect from Mars.  This is truly violent energy.  Too, 9-11 was a Tuesday, Mars' day of the week.

Another fly in the ointment is Mercury turning retrograde this coming Monday, February 17.  Mercury is a disease-causing planet for ruling Virgo, the sixth house of acute illness in the natural zodiac.  This retrograde could aggravate the Coronavirus.  Also, although Mercury by itself doesn't cause disasters, because it is communications, Mercury retrograde during a disaster aggravates harms.

We know from experience that Mars strikes before actual conjunctions -- when he's close enough to fire his arrows.  That was true of 9-11 and also nearly all other Mars/Ketu conjunctions.  Looking ahead from the above chart for today, we can see the Moon is approaching Sagittarius.  She will be with Mars and Ketu there this next Mars Tuesday, which is February 18 -- just a day after Mercury turns confusingly retrograde.  Mars will be 5 1/2 degrees separated from Ketu then -- a little too far away for him to strike, and Ketu to strike back.  But that could happen, or this Tuesday may be the day events begin that cascade out of control.

All this being said, there may be a link between SARS -- November 2002 through July 2003 -- which also originated in China.  It's possible SARS began in the fall of 2001, when Mars/Ketu also brought 9-11.  Now, the Corona virus erupts in China when Mars joined Ketu in Sagittarius beginning February 5.  It turns out Sagittarius is the twelfth house of loss and hospitalization for China's Vedic chart.  The timing isn't perfect, but it's close, especially since no one knows when these virus infections began jumping from animal hosts to humans.

Let's see what happens early this next week and take stock again.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

The November 11, 2019 Mercury Across The Sun discussed the upcoming conjunction of Mercury and the Sun -- unusual because then there was zero declination between these planets.  As conjunction is an East/West measurement of planets conjoining, declination is the other measurement -- North/South.

When planets conjoin with zero declination, one is actually behind the other, occulting it.  The word occult here is used as a verb and means to cover, or eclipse.  As a noun or adjective, occult means secret or mysterious, and also supernatural or supernormal powers or some secret knowledge of them -- like astrology!

The November 11, 2019 entry explained astrologers usually care only about the East/West measurement in determining a conjunction, although a true astronomical conjunction occurs only when both East/West and North/South (declination) measurements are used.  Then the noun occulation applies.

It was left open as to whether this true occultation of Mercury on the Sun would increase karma, bringing an event of magnitude. It turns out that wasn't the case.

Now, as discussed in the February 16 Mars And The Corona Virus, Mars will conjoin Ketu February 25.  But also, February 18 could be the date when a fiery Mars/Ketu event, or events occur because then the Moon will be in the midst of the Ketu/Mars energy. That entry stated,

It turns out the Moon will be conjunct both East/West and North/South directions -- occultating Mars.  Here's an article from EarthSky.org explaining, Watch Mars disappear behind the moon on February 18 -- Mars will slip behind the moon’s illuminated side and then reappear on the moon’s dark side. For many North American localities, the entire occultation will last for well over one hour.

Let's see if this additional karma of Moon occult Mars signals a violent, or at least destructive, Mars/Ketu event.

BTW, it's interesting The Celestial Wheel is an astrological occult publication writing about an astronomical occult.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

The ( above) February 16 and February 17 entries explained that Mars has become dominant again, taking the lead from Rahu/Ketu calling the shots in 2019 and 2020 so far.  There's more certainty and reality coming forward now.  His entrance into Sagittarius begins a new Mars assault that will again torment the globe, but also advance history.  Yes, Ketu is with Mars now, making things weird, but that's different from Ketu's weirdness and Rahu's tumult bringing uncertainty.

Those entries predicted a possible dramatic Mars event, or events, Tuesday, February 18 because the Moon joins Mars then.  In fact, the Moon occults Mars, although that doesn't necessarily increase the karma.  Mercury turning retrograde February 17 does, however, if only by bringing confusions.  However, Mars will be 5 1/2 degrees separated from Ketu then -- a little too far away for him to strike, and Ketu to strike back.  But that could happen, or this Tuesday may be the day events begin that cascade out of control.

Tuesday came and went without much happening, except Trump pandered 11 of his friends/associates, meddled in the Roger Stone sentencing and then declared Post-impeachment, Trump declares himself the ‘chief law enforcement officer’ of America.

Remember, Mars conjoins Ketu February 25.  Watch for more intense Roiling The Energetic Seas until then.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

The February 8 Now Comes Mars was the first entry to address the Mars/Ketu conjunction, which would be exact February 25. Recall the energy was similar to 9-11, and signifies seething anger -- Ketu's otherworldly fire and Mars' hostility.

That entry stated, We know from experience that Mars strikes before actual conjunctions -- when he's close enough to fire his arrows.  So, not much happened last week, and February 24 would begin the Mars harms, which would continue through February 25 -- and reverberate?

Here's the prediction paragraph -- emphasis added for predictions that have come true.

Now we consider the aftermath of this conjunction's impacts. One possibility is this, Donald Trump's administration might have just had its 'Mission Accomplished' moment with coronavirus.

Of course with this overly sensitive and angry energy, the Democratic candidates had a rough debate too, A 'messy, chaotic and embarrassing' night.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer