June  2020

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The United States' history and development has always been a roller coaster -- people and culture evolving in fits and starts as the country progressed through advances in technology, science, economy, philosophy, social welfare, education... continuously enriched by immigration.  There has always been, however, a dynamic tension between the rich and the rest of us.  Society's progress can even be measured by the pitched battles of the people asserting their will over the rich when the latter grab too much income and wealth.  Note progress is the root word for progressivism.

Thereby term progressivism most basically means rebalancing to shared democratic values.

There are multiple time frames during which progressivism is applied.  Many say the 1930s New Deal was progressivism.  While that was progressive in its efforts and results, it was Teddy Roosevelt beginning in 1901 who launched the First Progressive Age.   TR fought the First Gilded Age Robber Barons.  FDR built upon that progress some thirty years later to rescue the country from the Great Depression.  Similarly Lyndon Johnson's Great Society in the 1960s another 3 decades later improved the quality of life with programs like Medicare, Medicaid, the war on poverty, desegregation, voting rights and environmental efforts.  As stated above, this was a roller coaster, but the long term trend was upward toward a more fair and inclusive society -- a more perfect union.

But then the rich came up with two great new ideas.  The first was shareholders use their ownership to direct profits only to them! The argument was We own it and thereby deserve it all.  The other stakeholders, were cut out of the loop -- workers, unions, communities and public programs of all stripes.  The second evil twin idea was tax rates, notably for the rich, were cut in half on the theory of trickle down economics.  This perverse conservatism began in the late 1970s and took off under Reagan.  Remember President Reagan declaring, Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem. 

These concepts of shareholders as sole beneficiaries business income and wealth and low taxes has since gobbled up a huge share of the economy -- and much of its growth.  Since 1980, the top 1% expanded their 10% share of all income to 20%, and their 20% of all wealth ballooned to 40%.  The rest of us meanwhile, have tread water -- and that's with newly working women adding theirs to the family pot!  The middle class that emerged after the New Deal and the ending of WW2 found its gains slowed, then stopped and lastly reversed.

The stock market and GDP show this shift clearly.

The Dow Jones chart from below the DOW average reached 1000 in 1980.  Then, with shareholders seizing complete control and taxes dropping, stock prices shot up -- via dividends, stock buybacks, short term profits, holding down wages, battling unions, cutting taxes, eliminating regulations.... to 24,000 in 2017. That's a multiple of 24.   Wow.

Now look at this graph of GDP -- Gross Domestic Product.  It marched steadily along after WW2. From $3 trillion in 1980 to $20 trillion in 2017. That's a 7 fold increase.

But 7 fold GDP growth is dwarfed by the stock market's 24 times increase. That is, the stock market increased in value 3 1/2 times faster than GDP.  And where did all this investor wealth go?  We already know the 1% grabbed a lot of the growth, but now we know how much they took, and are taking, compared with the rest of us.

There are alternative interpretations and many variations on the theme of income and wealth inequality fueling inequities in society.   But this one fits the basics, and with its genesis in the U.S. chart's Vedic Dasas (planetary cycles), further insights can be gleaned.

The Celestial Wheel has long predicted the U.S. chart's 18 year Rahu (head-of-the-dragon eclipse point) would so stimulate change through the turmoil by its larger than life unanticipated and uncontrollable events.  That change will emerge into the Second Progressive Age.  This is not a movement, as is environmentalism, women's rights, ending racism....  It is rather an era -- a collection of these, and many other areas of progress, coming from separate sectors of society -- some independent agendas and others that are related.  Those who seek free public universities, for example, also applaud the higher taxes that requires.  Those groups are natural allies.  But increased minimum wages don't require boosting tax rates.  Yet, affordable public universities will increase worker skill levels, stimulating higher pay.  So even as free public universities are being pushed by different folks who want wages, their efforts are complementary.

Rahu's 18 year cycle began in late 2015 and lasts until 2033.  It takes a while for a Dasa to express itself, and obviously we're still early into Rahu.  But then Rahu's alien serpent energy comes in massive strikes.  As stated, sometimes there are unrelated, sometimes pieces of a puzzle.  We can see in 2020 that Rahu has thrust upon the U.S. three tremendous events -- the coronavirus, economic collapse and riots.  This last is basically about racism, but that term encompasses all the unfairness's from which people of color suffer.

The astrologer's old Macbook Pro, with the astrology programs, remains in the shop.  So, I'm flying a little blind about the current strife.  The May 2 Mars Into Aquarius included this about the Moon, which goes a long way to explaining the rioting -- and why the virus and the economy will suffer further,

There are, of course, upsides to any Dasa, no matter how malefic the planet is and where it is placed.  Here again is the U.S. Vedic chart.  Rahu is in the eighth house, which is not just calamity but also hidden things.  As the dragon's thirst is endless, and he symbolizes science, especially flying machines, it's a great position for aeronautical advances.  That Mercury, the calculating mind, communications and business planet for this chart, is also in the eighth gives Rahu the demon the brain needed for research with effective applied results -- like the SpaceX launch this past weekend.  (Note: the age of flight began during the last Rahu Dasa in 1903, which transformed much of society.)

Note that the manned space capsule is named dragon -- which fits with Rahu the dragon.  And here's the stuffed glittery dragon they took on the spacecraft.

In closing, the turmoil Rahu Dasa is subjecting us to fits with he being the destroyer of today and creator of tomorrow.  While we see this in world events, our individual experiences are also affected -- by both world events and the turmoil we face in other areas of our lives.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

Following the successful computer repair June 11, it took a few days to post the several emailed forecasts to the web.

Not only was it time-consuming to post four forecasts, but the weakness of the planets -- due to retrogrades and this eclipse season -- has slowed everything down.  Further, getting even ordinary tasks done during Covid-19 and the shutdown takes so much time and energy, these push aside publishing tasks -- leaving depleted energy to devote to those.  Just a trip to the grocery store is difficult for dodging those without masks and scrounging around for staples like paper goods -- not to mention sanitary items like wet wipes, alcohol....  And, of course, it took nearly a month to have a simple computer repair done. The first shop failed because the owner mentally crashed, and the second shop took a week due to being backed up.  Undoubtedly you too have found life literally exhausting due to planetary energies being weakened and daily tasks so challenged.

This past spring's travails have been a useful object lesson in understanding what all of society is experiencing in one way, or actually many ways.  The spring serves witness to everyone taking seriously challenges this upcoming summer.  We have all adapted to minimize health risks, cut expenses, deal with reduced income and be productive in a society with limited functionality.  Now we look ahead to tough times no one doubts lie ahead, considering temporary strategies for the short term and permanent ones for the long term horizon.  That's both concerning, even frightening, by itself, and the resulting energy drain exhausts even more.  Is today really Monday, and what have I forgotten to do, or address with others...?  Which is correct -- confusion or confusions?

Yet, if we keep our heads down, plan ahead and execute carefully, we'll be able to weather this triple karmic storm of virus, economic decline and popular protests.  Actually, we don't have any choice, for the turmoil this Rahu Dasa (planetary cycle) in the U.S. chart is both unavoidable and necessary for the cleansing that is already coming-- to rid the country of the Second Gilded Age and embrace the Second Progressive Age.

The four forecasts finally now posted to the web are: May 17 A Perfect Beach Day, May 23 Mars Through The Summer, May 27 Summer Eclipse Season Is Here and June 2 Progressivism Is An Era -- Not A Movement.  These are truly informative in furthering and uplifting your level of consciousness and can be easily viewed by clicking on World Events Forecasting.  There you'll find links to, and summaries of, each forecast.  Noteworthy to today's forecast's above observation about the Second Progressive Age is the progressivism forecast.

There are many ways to analyze the planetary dispositions and movements in the zodiac.  The key that unlocks the door to understanding what they signify in total is to find a pattern.  Remember, a signification that occurs once is possible, twice is likely and three times inescapable.  Below is a pattern that is literally all-encompassing -- and thereby undeniable.

These newly posted forecasts reveal and address three issues that have brought, and continue to bring, the triple-hit of the covid-19 virus, the economic depression and popular protests.  These three issues are Mars the wrecking ball dominating the planetary system, weakness from several retrogrades and the eclipse season.  Note these are transits -- where the planets are in today's skies -- which is a global influence.

Let's consider each.

Mars the wrecking ball.  The May 23 Mars Through The Summer explained that warrior Mars is the prominent, even dominant, planet now.  As such, his position and aspects (glances) determine his harms.  Mars is in Aquarius May 4 to June 17. Here's that chart.

Mars then shifts into Pisces June 18 to August 18.  And here's that chart.  (Note: beyond the triple-hit of the virus, the economy and protests continuing, destructive hurricanes are predicted.)

Weakness from several retrogrades.  The above charts have the retrograde R next to four planets -- Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mercury.  Beyond Mars being dominant, these other planets, which would balance his aggressive malefic Pita (hot) energy, cannot do so because retrograde renders their assertive forward motion latent -- like V8 car engine running on only four cylinders.  (My girlfriend has three retrograde planets and wins the award for taking an hour to make a twenty minute frozen pizza.)  Below are the retrograde dates -- which were not recited in these four recent forecasts.

Saturn May 10 to September 29
Jupiter May 14 to September 13
Venus May 13 to June 25
Mercury June 18 to July 12

The eclipse season was addressed in the May 27 Summer Eclipse Season Is Here.  The emailed forecast did not include the degrees and minutes, but this web version has. Here they are again,

partial lunar on June 5 at 21:25 degrees Scorpio
penumbral solar June 21 at 6:13 degrees Gemini
partial lunar July 4 at 19:29 degrees in Sagittarius

As retrograde weakens planets by reversing their positive forward motion, eclipses weaken planets by blocking them.  Eclipse blocking effects are different in also encompassing the period about two weeks before the first eclipse and another two weeks following the eclipse.  So, the eclipse blocks and Sun and Moon from about May 22 to July 18.

With four planets retrograde, plus the Sun and Moon blocked, the total number of planets disarmed is six.  That leaves the Moon's Nodes -- Rahu and Ketu -- which are not involved with these variables and while potent, are not actually planets but shadows.  As such, they do not impact the solar system like planets do.

This makes Mars, already the star planet this year, as the sole planetary force in the solar system.  An analogy is a soccer player running the ball downfield, and all the defenders fall behind or even fall down.

Putting this all together, Mars in Pisces June 18 to August 18 is an interval during which four planets are retrograde and the eclipse season impacts two more planets.

Mars is the planet of aggression, war, infections, storms, fires, explosions, discords...  He portends a summer of destruction -- continuing, and even amplifying, the triple hit of the virus, economic debacle and popular protests -- plus hurricanes.  As these are Second Progressive Age issues, expect that era to tremendously advance this summer.

This forecast, then, is the big picture.  Upcoming forecasts will consider these influences upon the U.S. chart, Trump's chart and likely others.  Note for now the U.S. chart is hammered with four planets in Gemini.

The Celestial Wheel 2002-2020©
Doug Riemer

If you've paid attention to recent Celestial Wheel entries, you know that today is a big day for the planets.

The above June 15 Triple Hit summarized the situation,

Today Mars transits into Pisces, where he will cause major harms for two months -- until August 18.  As discussed, the virus, economic depression and popular protests are major areas, but don't forget hurricanes!  This is also the day Mercury turns retrograde, which by bringing mental confusions and communications problems, interferes with understanding and dealing with challenges.

Also, by being just 3 days away from the annular eclipse, that blocking and revealing energy is gathering.  The revealing quality of eclipses results from, by darkening the skies, the stars are revealed.

While there's a chart to today on the June 15 entry, here's another one -- without any arrows showing aspects to and by Mars.

You can see Mars has entered Pisces at 00:01 -- degrees and minutes.

You can also see the retrograde R next to Mercury, which actually started late last night.

Finally, note the fast-moving Moon is in Taurus.  Her next sign is Gemini, where she will do the ring of fire eclipse of the Sun June 21.

We haven't yet addressed how this afflicted Gemini affects the U.S. and Trump's chart, except to mention the U.S. is hit hard with 4 planets there.  The word pandemonium comes to mind.  A hint of these numerous and challenging afflictions to the U.S. chart is to note Gemini is its seventh house of relationships.  Thus, watch for how associations, alliances and belief systems clash and are remolded.

As for Trump, Gemini is his eleventh house of friends and groups, where his mental Mercury resides.  Expect these to be a sea of turmoil.  Also, Mars in Pisces is tremendously dangerous for Trump, as that is the eighth house of calamity in his chart.  All kinds of ills can befall him -- accidents, illness, enemies and revealed secrets.

So again, hold your hat. But don't panic.