The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

As stated in earlier January entries, the January 3 Trepidation identified the emerging great stellium in Capricorn, where Saturn, the planet of loss and death, lurks.  From January 5 to the end of February all three inner planets -- Sun, Mercury and Venus -- are together in Capricorn.  Well, Trump sent his thugs to invade the Capital January 6.  But, the most intense interval is today to February 12 -- during this confusing Mercury retrograde and while all three inner planets remain in Capricorn.  Jupiter is there as well, but because this is his fallen (weakest) sign, and he's afflicted by Saturn, he's pretty well squelched.  The total planets, then, is five in Capricorn, which sign, in Vedic Astrology called is Makara, ...a Sanskrit word which means "sea dragon" or "water-monster". It is the origin of the Hindi word for crocodile.

This fits for being a sign owned by Saturn -- not exactly cuddly like my back yard wild bunnies.  Crocodiles naturally attack and crush the bones of any animal.  This gives you a sense of the primitive killer energy for this five planet Capricorn Conjunction.

Here is the transit chart for today showing this five planet conjunction is complete in this sign of the cold blooded Crocodile.  Again, it lasts until February 12, when the Sun escapes into Aquarius.

Transits February 4, 2021

But the title of this entry, Then There Were Six, indicates another planet must be on its way to the croc's gaping maw.  That's the Moon, which is already getting close in Libra.  She will enter Makara sign Tuesday, February 9 and leave two days later.  That's a very tough day because warrior Mars' owns Tuesday and Trump's second impeachment trial begins then. It's also tough on the U.S. chart because Capricorn is the second house of communications and domestic harmony.

But, while Saturn is death and destruction, he moves slowly -- like a glacier.  The faster-acting malefics -- Mars and Rahu -- that bring great and sudden violences, are not involved.  This suggests harms to light weight inner planets -- communications (Mercury), government (Sun) social nature (Venus and Moon) -- societal change.  Consider that even the January 6 Capitol invasion resulted in little physical harm, especially when one considers U.S. virus deaths are now over 450,000.  Still, this is serious stuff, which is why I published the short (above) February 1 Burn The White House.  Calling your Senators would be a good idea.

However, there is also some weirdness in the U.S. chart from Ketu -- the otherworld tail-of-the-dragon eclipse point.  That results because Ketu is in the middle of Makara, which means all six transiting planets are passing over its strange otherworldly energy that is Pitta -- fire.  That's out-of-the-blue karma striking fast, without logic and throwing worldly endeavors into disarray.  Q Anon is like the fair godmother compared with Ketu!  So don't make any bets on what will be transpiring during Trump's impeachment trial, for you won't be able to even begin to imagine what will transpire and how the participants will behave.  But certainly there's a huge societal change coming, and it will hit faster than one could imagine.

Here's the transit wheel for today for the U.S. chart.  The inner wheel is the birth chart and the outer wheel transits -- where the planets are in today's skies.  Ke is Ketu.  Being in the middle of the sign, all six planets either pass over it or are close-by.

There is one really interesting astronomical study that uplifts.  It gives some hope for the future, shows there is indeed order in the universe and is a proof of sorts for Vedic Astrology.   This lasts reads the language of the planets and stars. EarthSky.org published this about a week ago, Hear the strange music of distant planetary system Toi-178.

https://youtu.be/-WevvRG9ysY

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

Celestial Wheel entries this calendar year have projected increased virus infections due to Mercury -- respiratory system -- being weak and afflicted.  The January 3 Trepidation introduced this finding in the now familiar analysis of the inner planets,

However, this disregards the dictum that confluence -- repetition of karma -- is needed to accurately predict events and trends.  That is, Mercury conjunct Saturn alone wouldn't cause the virus to spread faster and more widely -- even as it makes the virus persist.  As it takes at least two to tango, when an influence is found once, it's possible, twice, likely and three times its inescapable.  So, virus counts have settled down since the second week in January but remain at a high level.  That is a cause for concern because it misleads, giving people a false sense of safety.

That forecast, however, continued with the second and actually third negative virus karmas,

So Mars is the second virus karma to tango and Rahu the third.  Thus, the virus ballooning up again February 21 to the end of March looks inescapable.

Because these are transits -- where the planets are in global skies -- the karma is similarly global.  To see how the U.S. chart's virus karma will impact, we need to consider it's planetary cycles -- Dasas. (There are 5 levels of these, each in descending influence.)

Recall that Dasas are the primary and underlying karma and transits are secondary, modifying the Dasas.  And when Dasas and transits match or coincide, events can be very accurately predicted.  The U.S. Dasas are not favorable for being Rahu/Saturn/Saturn January 5 to June 19.  This Rahu/Saturn combination is onerous, for Saturn's death signification inflames Rahu's toxicity, and Rahu's intensifying influence stimulates Saturn's death.  Thereby, the Dasas' and transits' virus infection karmas are both negative and actually match up with Rahu and Saturn in each.

Too, I believe we understand the vaccination process is just that, a process, and will take many months before population immunity is acquired.  Plus, scientists don't know yet if vaccination stops the virus from being spread. Finally, the virus mutations are a wild card here. Actually, it's the mutations that have aroused scientists to claim the virus will get worse again, probably March. That fits with the analysis in this forecast.  Certainly Mars/Rahu signals that.

So take it easy and double-down on following Dr. Fauci, not Dr. Trump.  I'm only mask free at home, alone.  When I got outside, I put a mask on and pull it under my mouth.  When I see anyone outside, I pull the mask up.  When I go inside anywhere, I pull the mask up. This cannot be bad advice -- if you want to live.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

Thursday's (above) At Least Two To Tango  was perhaps implicit about when the virus karmas would start peaking again.  That is, when exactly will Mercury's respiratory system continue to be harmed while Mars' infections and Rahu's toxicity also are active -- due to these two being conjunct in Taurus?

Today's entry makes that karmic repetition explicit.

That forecast stated,

Thereby, these two virus karmas for respiratory sensitivity and infections overlap February 21 to March 11.

Note, At Least Two To Tango  may have created some confusion in stating, So Mars is the second virus karma to tango and Rahu the third.  In a way, these two planets afflicting each other create two karmas because there are two planets.  However, it is these two planets together in a sign that creates the karma.  On balance ,then, the Mars/Rahu conjunction is actually one karma -- just a very potent one.  (Mars/Rahu will bring major violences beyond the virus raging.)  Arising unbidden from the unconscious came the term dirty Tango,

So, we have coming up a karmic duplicity of Mercury retrograde (conjoined Saturn) and Mars/Rahu February 21 to March 11.

Another implicit fact is exactly when Mercury is retrograde, which beyond harming its respiratory signification, creates all kinds of communications problems, including the confusions we're seeing in the impeachment trial.  The January 29 Mercury Turns Retrograde Tomorrow did mention that, but not emphatically.  Here's that statement again, Mercury has a retrograde this winter -- January 30 to February 21.

It's naturally important to keep this in mind due to both the virus respiratory weakness and the communications issues -- in the public sphere and in our own lives.  Also, with the Moon and Sun now clear of Capricorn -- into Aquarius -- the now four-planet stellium includes only two of the inner planets -- Mercury and Venus.  That makes Mercury more important in measuring and judging the energetic derangement we're experiencing.

Notice too that Mercury ends its three week retrograde February 21, the same day Mars enters Taurus, where Rahu, the dragon, lurks.  So, we'll be no sooner done with Mercury retrograde, then the Mars/Rahu conjunction begins.  Nantucket Sleigh-ride comes to mind.

Yes, this is all pretty confusing, and and can chalk part of that up to Mercury retrograde.  The rest of the mental challenge comes from quite a lot of complexity in the several planets involved.   Believe me, it's not easy offering Celestial Wheel observations!  The best way to grasp the information is to understand the planets are really afflicted now, and will continue to be so, until mid March.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

The (above) February 4 Then There Were Six discussed the peak of the great stellium in Capricorn, the Vedic Makara (crocodile) sign, where Saturn lurks.  Five planets -- the Sun, Venus, Mercury (retrograde), Jupiter and Saturn -- were joined by the Moon to make six.  The Moon will enter Makara sign Tuesday, February 9 and leave two days later. That's a very tough day because warrior Mars' owns Tuesday and Trump's second impeachment trial begins then.

That entry also noted that tail-of-the-dragon eclipse point Ketu is in Capricorn in the U.S. chart, which means all these six transiting planets

Well, the trial certainly was bizarre, follow-up politics have been like Alice In Wonderland and now we're in the grip of a historic winter storm.  We're also seeing the initial impacts of the new Biden administration.  Dollars to donuts huge societal change is here -- especially since the Republicans internecine warfare -- a bitter and destructive feud within a group.

Coming up next, in just three days, on February 21, Mercury will turn forward, and Mars will enter Taurus.  As discussed, this is negative for the virus because, although Mercury is stronger now being forward, this planet of the respiratory system remains afflicted by a very strong Saturn -- chronic disease and death.  The other partner in this tango of disease is infectious Mars being conjunct in Taurus with toxic Rahu, the head-of-the-dragon eclipse point.  That would seem to signal when the virus variants sweep across the globe. You can see these dispositions clearly in this transit chart for today. (Note: Mars will be in Taurus until February 21 to April 13.)

World Transits February 21, 2021

This dual influence for a virus surge (Mercury and Mars) will continue until March 11, when Mercury finally escapes Saturn and slips into Aquarius.  Thus, and I'm repeating myself on purpose here, the sensitive dates of February 21 to March 11 -- so that you can pay maximum attention to your own health, and those around you.

On the plus side, there are always some positives to the multiple effects from this nine sided polygon (called a nonagon or ennegon), of the nine planets.  The incredibly intense Capricorn stellium is gradually breaking up.  The Sun left mid month, and Venus will also clear out of Capricorn February 21.  You can see these placements in the above chart for today.   You can also see that Mercury, now forward, is past Saturn and moving away from this planet of death.  As mentioned, Mercury will leave Capricorn March 11. Mercury's returning mental clarity and calming nervous system will be welcome.

It's certainly been rough with such intense energy in Capricorn.  With the peak at six planets, there were only Mars and Rahu/Ketu left!  So life will settle a little, or at least we'll have a chance to slow down and catch our breath.  BTW, one way of understanding how intense this has been, think about putting six cats in a bag!  The word yowling isn't even close to a descriptor.  I'm sure you've noticed people acting even more strangely -- some jolting around, others catatonic.

That leaves us with Mars in Taurus, which certainly will bring many more violences and destructions (beyond the virus) as it approaches toxic Rahu.  Mid March until the end of the month is the most difficult as Mars approaches Rahu for an exact conjunction March 26.  As the god of storms, we should expect Mars will signal all kinds of heavy winter storms, big floods and perhaps even early season tornadoes.  It's probably not a good idea to go fishing in the Ozarks!  Remember Mars will be in Taurus February 21 to April 13.

For Trump, Mars in Taurus will find him shouting in the wind, braying like a donkey or even tilting at windmills -- a favorite conspiracy.  That influence will naturally begin as transit Mars approaches transit Rahu in mid March but then truly erupt in early April when transit Rahu crosses his birth chart Sun (career) and intensifying toxic Rahu.  How much he influences America is naturally unknown, but generally when demagogues leave the arena, they are soon enough abandoned.  This can result from the legal and business setbacks he experiences with Mars in Taurus -- or just that his endless attacks lose their punch with the country focused on recovering from the virus and its manifold impacts upon society.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

Celestial Wheels this calendar year have focused upon the gathering Great Capricorn (Makara the crocodile) stellium, which maxed out at six planets.

The virus raging again is a karmically ordained result here because respiratory system Mercury, afflicted by Saturn, together with infectious Mars in Taurus with toxic Rahu makes a dirty tango of disease. ... the dates for increasing virus infections are February 21 to March 11.  After that, Mercury escapes Saturn by shifting into Aquarius.

We're a few days into this dangerous interval, which still has two weeks to go.

[Note that these are strictly transits -- where the planets are in today's skies.  So, the karma is global.  As the earth rotates through its twenty four hour day/night cycle, every continent, region and nation, state, city.... fall under these celestial transits and are thereby impacted by them.  And when these transits are overhead for any part of the globe, their karmas (influences) come to bear.]

This global dirty tango karma suggests the virus mutates and circulates all over the world voraciously until March 11.  We may not see results right away as the interval has just begun and runs for two more weeks.  There are also issues of when infection increases spread and take hold and then when health agencies begin to report the escalation.  The important factor for us all is to not let our guards down with the virus having dissipated somewhat but rather increasing our self protection, and safeguarding others through masks, at least until this interval has passed.

On the left is the transit chart for today.  You can clearly see Mercury remains conjoined Saturn in Capricorn and Mars now well into Taurus, where he joins Rahu.  There's a blue arrow showing Saturn's aspect (glance) to Cancer, which seems innocent since there are no transiting planets in that sign.

However this Saturn aspect to Cancer becomes deadly when the U.S. chart is considered -- right side above.  See how that aspect, now at just over 14 degrees, is both in Cancer and closely approaching Rahu -- the toxic-head-of-the-dragon eclipse point - - at just under 17 degrees.  This has yet to be discussed, but transit Saturn sitting on the U.S. Ketu was previously discussed in the above February 4 And Then There Were Six,

Of these six planets, Saturn is the most consequential for its: organization, structure, duty, responsibility suffering, loss, restriction, death, delays, obstructions, decomposition, detachment, chronic illness and unequaled ability to enforce reality karma. (Wishful thinking just doesn't work with Saturn.)  Because it's Saturn's essential duty to temper the soul, it attacks the weak points to broaden and define the scope of our character driving us to maturity.  And that statement works in any chart.  Another way of understanding Saturn is that Saturn destroys that which is no longer useful to make room for the new.  And finally, Saturn is the kind of pressure that turns coal into diamonds.

Transit Saturn passing over a birth chart Ketu -- as in the U.S. chart now -- is a very difficult combination, especially since the U.S. charts Dasas (planetary cycles that form the underlying karma like a building's foundation) are Rahu major now and Saturn minor since January 5, 2021.

Remember, when Dasas and transits match up, karma is confirmed and predictions can be made

Saturn's organization and plans are thrown into disarray, and fiery Ketu's dissolving energy spurs big projects that collapse. Disintegration is a good word here.  (One very interesting quality of this combination is that because Saturn is detachment from the world and spiritual Ketu is disinterested in the world, it gives the ability to remain perfectly still.)

As the second house in the U.S. chart is domestic harmony, learning/knowledge and income, all grievously suffer during this Saturn over Ketu transit.  Certainly we've seen societal dissatisfaction in many ways.  Learning and knowledge are seriously challenged with conspiracy theories, delusions of grandeur and also the schools being closed.  And lastly, income has suffered.  Saturn has been in Capricorn since last January and will keep bringing these influences until it leaves for Aquarius in early 2023.  But, of course, Saturn's crossing Ketu is the most intense -- which is happening right now!

The final Saturn/Ketu observation here is that due to an upcoming Saturn retrograde starting in late May of this year, Saturn will go backward over Ketu this summer and then cross Ketu one last time at the end of this year and into early 2022.  So, this current dose of Saturn/Ketu disintegration in the U.S. is just the first of three within the next year.

Well, that's Saturn/Ketu but recall the blue Saturn aspect arrow to the U.S. eighth house and Rahu?  Rahu is not just toxic but also has insatiable reptilian (cold blooded) desires.  In the deep, dark and mysterious eighth house, Rahu the serpent dives to dredge up the lowest qualities of society -- drug addicts, alcoholics, insanity, insanity, delusion, poison, heinous crimes.   It is ultimately destructive -- like pouring bleach on a shirt.  Saturn's aspect there serves to drive Rahu harder in his quest for the very worst in society, which he pursues in a remorseless, selfish, even violent ways with victimizing a primary technique.

Add in mental Mercury being subjected to Rahu, the respiratory system, and another virus karma emerges.  Also, as Mercury in this chart is the social nature, the public and government officials, these all suffer.  Feeling under attack and distrusting authority figures results in a mystical paranoia, which the Celestial Wheel has written about for many years.  Finally, as Rahu is foreigners, there's what I call FHR -- fear, hate and racism -- bubbling up from the eighth house's murky depths.

Well, with Saturn's aspect driving Rahu to do his worst, the country rages with anger, fear, even paranoia, as we've seen with Trumpism.  And since Rahu and Ketu are always opposite each other in the zodiac, Saturn is crossing Rahu now and will similarly again do so this summer again and again late this year.

Remembering that Saturn destroys that which is no longer useful to make room for the new, these Saturn/Ketu and Saturn/Rahu tribulations are how that is happening, and will continue to happen, in society -- in an accelerated way.  Rahu/Ketu, as eclipse points, are very difficult to understand but one word, intensify, describes them well, notably here with their supercharging Saturn's influences.

Finally, remember that warrior and infectious transit Mars is approaching transit Rahu now.   This brings destructive desires and all kinds of exaggerated Mars influences.  Let's just hope the upcoming virus increase will end March 11 -- though it could continue.

The bottom line is that when the malefics, Saturn and Mars, are associated with Rahu/Ketu that tremendous energy for destructions results -- like a hurricane hitting land or a volcano blowing its top.

This all sounds like terrible news, but truly it's not -- if we take care of ourselves and others.  The result of destroying the no longer useful old truly does make room for the new -- just as a forest fire burns the old forest so that new growth can begin, and even the worst hurricane drenches parched soil.

As for Trumpism and all the craziness that has brought, well, here's his statue at the newly convened CPAC conservative conference. Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words, though maybe a million words in this case.