Summary Of Last Week’s Influences:
While the major indices continued to make gains last week, the Sun in Aries (leaders) opposing Saturn in Libra and squaring Pluto in Capricorn propelled President Obama to make history making gains despite the level of opposition by the status quo (Saturn) to transform (Pluto) the U.S. healthcare system that even his opponents agree is unsustainable.
The signing of the healthcare bill was followed up by Congress passing the healthcare reconciliation bill which included the Administration’s plan to return the student loan program back to a government program. This will save the government money while enabling more loans to be made by eliminating the middleman (the banks) that have been getting paid by the government to issue risk free student loans. This has the so-called free marketers and their friends at The Wall Street Journal in an absolute hissy fit.
In last week’s Forecast I mentioned that Pluto rules nuclear issues. By the end of the week, President Obama had reached a nuclear weapons reduction agreement with Russia that will reduce both country’s nuclear arsenals far below the levels of the 1991 START treaty that expired in December, as well as a 2002 treaty signed by Obama’s predecessor. The President and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev will sign the treaty on April 8 in Prague when Pluto’s energies are pronounced as Pluto appears to be stationary in the sky from Earth’s vantage point April 1-10 as it turns retrograde April 6 until September 14. (President Obama will host a major nuclear proliferation summit in Washington the following week.)
Just as the Vernal Equinox marks the birth of Spring and its promise of new beginnings, anything begun when major planetary alignments are at the beginning degrees of cardinal signs* reflects the first step of an evolving process.
News of the explosion of a South Korean naval ship near the disputed border with North Korea was a reason given for the market’s lackluster performance Friday. (With the Moon in Leo, I guess “profit taking” wasn’t a dramatic enough sounding reason.) While there has been no indication of North Korean involvement, Mars (aggression; military) in Leo turned direct March 10 on the natal Mercury of the Armistice agreement between North and South Korea and is now conjoining the chart’s natal Sun. Mercury was retrograde then signifying that agreeing to end the war left much unfinished business. N. Korea has always disputed the maritime boundaries established by the UN then reflected by Saturn (boundaries) conjoining Neptune (the sea) in diplomatic Libra.
The last two incidents when the North and South traded fire at sea was on November 10 and January 27; Friday’s incident occurred when Mars in Leo was transiting the same degree it was on those days. With Pluto prominent now and Mars in Leo transiting key planets in the Armistice chart, N. Korea’s chart and the chart of Kim Jong il, N. Korea will continue to be in the news through the spring and for most of the year. Mars will again be in Leo when Saturn returns to the natal position of the Armistice agreement in October 2011, which could bring a final act to this outworn drama.
Summary Of This Week’s Influences:
The end of one quarter and the starting of another within a shortened holiday week could skew market behavior.
Monday and Tuesday could generate choppy conditions and keep the indices restrained from making large up or down moves, as the Moon in indecisive Libra can make it difficult for the market to get a strong sense of which direction it wants to go.
The Full Moon in Libra occurs Monday at 10:25 PM EDT. This is a time of culmination, putting the spotlight on all types of partnerships and collaborative arrangements. The Full Moon squaring Pluto in Capricorn reflects the transformative nature that all types of relationships are undergoing. The atmosphere can get highly charged at the Full Moon as its light illuminates what might have not been fully realized or understood prior to this time.
In the USA, the Sun falls in its “home” sector of the chart representing self-expression and the speculative markets, opposing the Moon and Saturn in the sector representing Congress, and squaring Pluto in the sector of the economy and the banking system. The stock market is particularly influenced by actions and the legislative agenda of the President and Congress now. Uranus the planet of extremes and the unexpected, in the sector ruling the stock market opposing Saturn can bring increased volatility and greater potential for at least a temporary reversal as April progresses and with it an increase in activity in Washington and on the world stage.
The Full Moon conjoins China’s Sun, and Congress is pressuring the Treasury to declare China a “currency manipulator” for keeping the yuan’s value low to boost exports. While the U.S. might refrain from taking this action, Jupiter approaching opposition to Saturn (exact May 23; through March 2011) tends to bring a rise in nationalistic behavior that puts greater restraints on global trade.
Pluto energy is prominent over the next two weeks in Iran and North Korea. The Full Moon’s alignment and Pluto’s accentuated energies can bring greater potential for powerful storms with high winds and flash floods, as well as earthquakes/tsunamis. Additional areas in the world that could be particularly prominent in the news now are NY (NYC/L.I.), NJ, CA (areas surrounding San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento). Eastern Cuba, Haiti, eastern Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile. Russia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Somalia, Madagascar, Japan, Australia.
Pluto rules loans and debt and the Moon rules real estate, so it’s appropriate that the Moon moves into Pluto-ruled Scorpio Wednesday which is the deadline the Federal Reserve announced at its September 23 FOMC meeting to end its purchases of MBS and agency debt. While many believe the Fed could end up reneging on its commitment, I wrote at the time that Saturn in Libra squaring the Fed’s Sun/Pluto opposition (exact now and again in July/August) describes the Fed shrinking its $2+ billion balance sheet (which was about $800 billion pre crisis) as its debt purchases mature.
Venus enters its “home” sign Taurus Wednesday afternoon until April 25, during the time the banks will report quarterly earnings. Mercury enters Taurus Friday morning until June 10 due to Mercury being retrograde April 18 – May 11.**
The government will release the March employment report Friday morning while Wall St. takes the day off for Good Friday. Consensus estimates are projecting growth of 189,000 to 200,000 jobs in March. I think the report will show gains, but not as strong as projected. However, prior months’ reports could be revised more favorably.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Negative conditions improve to positive in late morning, then seesaws in afternoon before closing flat to slightly positive.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Choppy/mixed; to moderatelynegative trend bias.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Negative conditions could improve to turn choppy and close mixed to moderately positive.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Positive, especially in the afternoon.
*The cardinal (initiating) signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
**I will be writing a post about Mercury retrograde in Taurus. In the meantime, check out my post on the last time Mercury was retrograde to understand what it all means.
Armistice Agreement: July 27, 1953 10:00 AM JST, Panmunjom N. Korea
The Economic Implications Of The Healthcare Reform Bill
Published by WallStreetWeather.net
“For as we mark the turning of spring, we also mark a new season in America. In a few moments, when I sign this bill, all of the overheated rhetoric over reform will finally confront the reality of reform.” – President Obama before signing the healthcare bill into lawOn Tuesday Wall St. joined the White House and celebrated President Obama signing the healthcare bill with a triple digit Dow gain. The 17 month highs in the Dow and the S&P followed moderate gains made by the indices on Monday that were led by the healthcare sector.
Analysts attributed the gains to the prospect of the healthcare industry gaining an additional 32 million uninsured customers and the “relief” that the veil of uncertainty had been lifted. Or so the conventional wisdom goes. However, an examination of key charts and current and upcoming planetary influences describe a different reality than what Wall St. expects to unfold.
Far from being his “Waterloo,” President Obama not only completed a major campaign promise but achieved what remained elusive for several of his predecessors: success in removing the headlock that private insurers have over the U.S. healthcare system.
I had written that President Obama would have to sign healthcare reform into law by mid-March which was when the Administration got into high gear to pass the legislation. Powerful and transformative energies were particularly potent during this year’s Vernal Equinox, motivating the House to pass the Senate’s version of the healthcare reform bill on the first full day of Spring. President Obama signed the healthcare bill just hours after the First Quarter Moon. This marks the “crisis in action” phase* of the lunar cycle as past obstacles must be surmounted in order to set the foundation to create a new framework.
With the signing of “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” into law, President Obama ensured “the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care.” The zodiacal sign Cancer and its ruler the Moon represent the need for physical and emotional security.
Cancer was the sign rising on the eastern horizon the moment President Obama signed the bill into law and the Moon in Cancer conjoined the Ascendant. The first sector of the chart represents the nation and its feelings toward the legislation. The Moon located here in its “home” sign Cancer reinforces the bill will fulfill its objective as the final aspect the Moon makes in Cancer is a harmonious trine to Uranus in Pisces. The enormous complexities within the bill in order to maintain the private insurance framework and medical industrial complex could potentially dissolve even before the bill is fully implemented in 2014.
Despite the bill’s numerous flaws, the public will become attached to its overall protections. This is magnified as the chart’s Moon and Ascendant conjoin the USA’s natal Venus and expansive Jupiter in security conscious Cancer. Venus-ruled Taurus presides over the sector of the USA chart representing the nation’s healthcare system, describing the most expensive medical costs in the world due to excessive medical treatment which also serves as protection against litigation (Jupiter). With Cancer’s ruler the Moon in Aquarius in the USA chart, costs are increased due to overuse of technology and the “innovation” of costly treatments that prolong life by one month.
Healthcare is a hugely profitable business in America and stubborn Taurus ruling the USA’s healthcare sector describes an industry that is resistant to change and has been successful at convincing the “haves” that their healthcare security will be jeopardized if everyone had health insurance. With the USA Moon in Aquarius, the industry manages to cover large groups of people (employees and seniors) that have enabled the government to ignore the plight of those who do not qualify for “group” coverage.
The healthcare industry and its political friends certainly know how to push the right buttons to work the USA’s Moon in freedom loving Aquarius to their advantage. With the USA Moon in the sector representing communication, they know every time they use the word “freedom” in speeches this sets off an instinctive emotional reaction in a nation that reveres its revolutionary heritage of independence and has been subconsciously conditioned to frown upon the “socialism” of the motherland. Republicans can be hypocritical by filing frivolous lawsuits that waste taxpayer money to repeal the legislation. However, aside from extremist individuals and groups, the USA Moon conjoining Neptune in Aquarius in the sector of the healthcare bill chart representing the court system and the nation’s highest ideals, reflects the public is more interested in pushing the Administration to make the bill more inclusive than trying to destroy it.
The Moon represents women and mothers in particular as the Moon is nurturing. The Moon’s prominence in the healthcare bill chart reflects the major influence of women to enact healthcare reform. The healthcare bill chart conjoins President Obama’s natal Venus in Cancer. Obama dedicated the bill “on behalf of my mother who argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days.” Venus also signifies women and Venus in Aries in the sector representing Congress reflects that the bill passed under the leadership of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi whose natal Sun in Aries conjoins the bill chart's Sun.
The Ascendant and Moon in the early degrees of Cancer along with the Moon squaring Mercury in Aries reflects that this bill is a starting point, with implementation of the bill subject to interpretation by the Executive Branch. The chart’s Ascendant exactly conjoins the progressed** Mercury of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and the Moon exactly conjoins her natal Venus in Cancer. With her Sun in Taurus, the ruler of the USA’s healthcare sector and her progressed Sun in Cancer conjoining the USA Mercury, Sebelius will be in charge of developing rules and regulations to implement the legislation. Jupiter in Pisces conjoining the Midheaven, the apex of the chart representing the President and the Administration, along with Uranus conjoining the Sun in Aries reflects the high expectations of the President and the Administration to deliver what people believe they have been promised.
Besides being the overall ruler of the healthcare bill chart, the Moon rules the sector representing the nation’s economy. The Cancer Moon squares the Sun in Aries, Saturn in Libra, and Pluto in Capricorn. This describes the bold actions that will have to be taken by the Administration (Sun in Aries) to transform the current private system of rationing care through lack of access and affordability to a system supported by the government (Pluto in Capricorn) that rebalances (Saturn in Libra) everything from food and beverage consumption (Moon/Cancer) to the equitable payment for pharmaceuticals throughout the world which the U.S. will no longer subsidize. The U.S. will no longer have enough money to subsidize the level of healthcare required to combat bad behavior in this country. To quote the opponents of reform, this is the ultimate in taking “personal responsibility.”
The healthcare bill is structured so changes gradualy take place until full implementation in 2014 to satisfy budget requirements and pacify special interests. The First Quarter Moon represents a 90 degree relationship between the Moon (instinct) and the Sun (the will). This “crisis in action” phase will carry on as specific elements of the legislation begin to get phased in starting 90 days from the bill’s signing. Since President Obama signed the legislation a couple days after the Vernal Equinox, the first phase will begin just after the Summer Solstice.
On June 23 as the Sun conjoins the bill chart’s Ascendant, individuals without group coverage who have been rejected for an individual policy due to a pre-existing condition can get coverage under their state’s high risk pool providing they have been uninsured for at least six months. $5 billion total in grant money in the bill is allocated to states to operate high risk pools. The Sun in Cancer conjoining the bill’s Ascendant squared by Jupiter and Uranus in Aries, Saturn in Libra, and opposed by Pluto in Capricorn, raises the potential that even with these restrictions, enrollment could exceed capacity. What happens if a state does not set up a high risk pool by June 23? And what happens to the individuals on the high risk pool when the money runs out? There could be a lot of individuals upset that they have to wait to qualify for coverage and then cannot get in the pool. These and many more issues will have to quickly be resolved by HHS Secretary Sebelius.
The September 23 Harvest Full Moon’s energies are magnified as this date follows the Autumnal Equinox which acts as the “Full Moon” for the year and also the first “Full Moon” of the healthcare bill. The Full Moon in Aries conjoins Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces and opposes the Sun conjoining Saturn in Libra, and squares Pluto with the healthcare bill chart’s Cancer Moon creating a cardinal cross of dynamic action.
All of this Full Moon action reflects that several provisions of the bill are scheduled to take effect. The Sun conjoining Saturn reflects seniors with Part D Medicare who have reached the “doughnut hole” will get $250 toward the expense (provided the reconciliation bill passes Congress). Medicare seniors will get free preventative care that has yet to be determined. Insurance companies can no longer rescind policies unless fraud has been committed (which HHS will have to define). Annual and lifetime benefit limits are removed from policies. Children up to age 19 with a pre-existing condition are guaranteed coverage (with some caveats). And children up to age 26 can stay on their parents’ policy – maybe.
Pluto rules insurance, taxes, corporate welfare, and debt. With Pluto in Capricorn opposing the USA natal Venus and Jupiter in Cancer and the Ascendant and Moon of the healthcare bill chart during 2010-11, the government will be forced to put the squeeze on the entire healthcare industry in order to keep the deficit from spiraling out of control. Since HHS will have to interpret and implement the rules so loosely defined by Congress, the industry will have less ability to mold policy in their favor. Saturn in Libra squaring Pluto this year will put further pressure on profits. Jupiter conjoining Uranus in Pisces in the healthcare bill chart in May, October, and January will increase the call for expanding access to health insurance as healthcare inflation spikes further into the stratosphere. As Jupiter and Uranus briefly conjoin in Aries over the summer and again in 2011 and square the healthcare bill chart Ascendant and Moon, the public will become much more impatient and demand that the bill’s benefits start NOW. 2011 is when the health insurers must meet medical payout ratios or offer rebates to policyholders based on 85% for large groups and nonprofit insurers, and 80% for individuals and small groups.
Pisces rules drugs and hospitals. With Jupiter in Pisces, Wall St. is optimistic that as more people have access to insurance and additional insurance benefits, they will take more drugs and have more procedures. But that assumes millions more people get coverage now rather than in 2014 when no one can be rejected for a pre-existing condition. (Actually they can if the insurance company prefers to pay a $100 a day fine.) Pisces rules charity care and the government is already starting to tax nonprofit hospitals if they are found not providing enough charity care to justify their tax exempt status. Just because the pharmaceutical industry struck an $80 billion deal with the government doesn’t mean the government can’t change the rules along the way like they did during the height of the financial crisis.
It is highly likely that once the government starts paying out subsidies in 2014, they will likely squeeze all medical service providers. With Uranus the planet of change in impatient Aries squaring Pluto in Capricorn over the next five years, it’s unlikely that the public will be willing to wait until 2014 for the healthcare bill to be fully implemented. Wall St. and both political parties would be wise to take heed.
*As described by Dane Rudhyar in “The Lunation Cycle”
**A mathematical calculation that moves the planets forward in time as a method of prediction.
President Obama Signs Healthcare Bill: March 23, 2010 11:56 AM EDT Washington, DC. (HR3590 passed the House 219-212 on March 21, 2010 10:48 PM EDT Washington, DC. The Moon in Gemini reflected that a second “corrections” bill passed the House 220-211 at 11:37 PM and is currently being debated in the Senate.)
USA: July 4, 1776 5:10 PM Philadelphia, PA
Barack Obama: August 4, 1961 7:24 PM Honolulu, HI
Nancy Pelosi: March 26, 1940 time unknown Baltimore, MD
Kathleen Sebelius: May 15, 1948 time unknown Cincinnati, OH
WallStreetWeather.net Forecast For Week Of March 22, 2010
Summary Of Last Week’s Influences:
Perhaps St. Patrick dropped a bunch of four leaf clovers on Wall St. The March 15 New Moon conjoining Uranus in Pisces reflected the hope the S&P could break through the 1150 range. Combined with Pisces’ ruler Neptune in Aquarius squaring the NYSE’s Sun in Taurus for the first time in 148 years along with the enthusiasm of the Moon and Mercury entering Aries, the major indices sprang forward and reached 17 month highs last week before breaking their momentum on Friday.
Summary Of This Week’s Influences:
The Vernal Equinox marked the Sun’s entrance into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. The Sun represents leaders and Aries is eager to push new idead and endeavors forward, especially with the Sun conjoining Mercury in Aries. With the Sun, Mercury, and Venus in gung ho Aries and the Sun harmonizing with Mars in speculative Leo, the market’s enthusiasm could face a reality check this week as it witnesses an equally resurgent enthusiasm by government leaders to push major economic reforms.
The Sun opposing Saturn in Libra (March 21) and squaring Pluto in Capricorn (March 25) can find world leaders at least acting more assertively to address the issues raised by Saturn squaring Pluto. So far in most instances government leaders have chosen to express the downside of this planetary alignment by keeping most elements of the status quo structures frozen in place, choosing to keep and even resurrect the failed policies of the past that precipitated the financial crisis and the financial busts that preceded it.
Saturn in indecisive and need to please Libra can delay and diminish proposals as they are met with resistance from the plutocrats - the wealthy and influential interests working in the shadows. And as much as everyone fears (Saturn) the debt mountain (Pluto), most would rather keep spending for short term gain, fearing serious regulatory reforms would jeopardize economic recovery and curb speculation that has brought a rapid resurgence in financial markets.
Reflecting Saturn’s giant rings, the Sun opposing Saturn describes leaders seeking to set boundaries on structures that are out of balance. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was invoking some key words to describe Saturn over the weekend when she talked about wanting to get to the “roots” of the problem and impose greater budget “discipline” on Greece. Saturn in Venus-ruled Libra describes financial partnerships, and Merkel is none too eager to lend another EU partner a helping hand if Greece is not able to take strong enough austerity (another Saturn trait) measures.
Leo rules the Sun, and the Moon (sentiment) in Leo as the Sun squares Pluto can create friction amongst leaders regarding how to transform financial and government structures as no individual is willing to cede their authority. Since Pluto rules nuclear issues, this can bring more sabre rattling by Iran.
The Federal Reserve offers a more relevant example of these influences at work as the Vernal Equinox lineup of the Sun, Mercury, and Uranus in Pisces conjoins the sector of the Fed’s chart representing its status and reputation. The Sun in Aries and Saturn square Pluto are challenging the Fed’s Sun in Capricorn opposite Pluto in Cancer, reflecting Fed Chairman Bernanke’s aggressive efforts to keep the Fed’s structure and power intact. Addressing the Independent Community Bankers of America convention yesterday, Bernanke said what the world wanted to hear by stating that large bank bailouts were “unconscionable” and “we must ensure that we never again face such a situation.” And while the idea of endorsing a British government proposal that financial firms that pose systemic risk need to draw up “living wills” to help regulators make an orderly wind down in the event of the firm’s demise is part of Pluto’s domain, it serves no practical purpose. Bernanke used the speech to continue to lobby against any regulatory reforms that would help to prevent another crisis down the road.
Pluto rules secrets. The Sun, Saturn, and Pluto affecting the Fed’s natal Sun/Pluto continue to reflect the push to get the Fed to open up its secrets. Last Friday Bloomberg won its Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Fed when the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Fed must release its documents related to the special loans made to financial firms after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The Fed invoked “trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential” as its excuse for refusing to disclose the documents and has not decided whether it will appeal the appeal.
Another example of the transits to the Fed’s Sun/Pluto was Friday’s letter from House Oversight Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns to Bernanke. Towns has given the Fed until Thursday to turn over documents relating to whether the Fed knew that Stephen Friedman, the former chairman of the New York FRB and a director of Goldman Sachs, had purchased 37,000 additional shares to add to his 46,000 shares of Goldman stock one month after the Fed forced AIG to pay Goldman and other counterparties at par. Fed Board members are prohibited from owning shares in companies under Fed supervision which Goldman came under when the Fed allowed Goldman to save itself by granting it emergency approval to become a bank holding company. The Fed granted Friedman a special waiver in January 2009 so he could keep his Goldman shares as the Fed deemed Friedman too important to lose in searching for a replacement for Timothy Geithner. Towns is now requesting the Fed provide documentation of all waiver requests the Fed has granted since 2000 since the Fed has so far failed to provided the committee with sufficient information.
Aries is ruled by Mars which makes favorable aspects to the Sun and Saturn at the beginning of the week which can assist efforts of leaders (Sun) forging ahead with regulatory reform (Saturn) to curb risky financial speculation (Mars in Leo).
With the Moon in Mercury-ruled Gemini on Monday, news emanating from leaders will particularly influence market sentiment. Mercury and Gemini rule legislation and Gemini represents two types of legislation: the healthcare bill* and Sen. Dodd’s financial regulatory reform proposal that the Senate Banking Committee will begin to markup Monday. Dodd announced his proposal on March 15, and Wall St. was surprised that the “Volcker Rule” was contained in the bill, even though I wrote in the January 24 Forecast that Paul Volcker’s influence would be exerted at the March 15 Pisces New Moon.
The First Quarter Moon in Cancer occurs Tuesday at 7:00 AM EDT and the Moon remaining in Cancer until early Thursday morning puts the market’s focus on home sales, consumer issues and “Main St.” interests.
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Sun opposite Saturn can be a depressing influence on equity values while other influences today are positive, resulting in a day that is not as negative as it otherwise could be.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Negative conditions improve as the day progresses and might even turn positive by the close.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Choppy/mixed to moderately negative.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Negative conditions improve to choppy/mixed to moderately positive late in session.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Positive conditions could weaken and turn choppy to negative midsession before regaining strength.
*My next post will be on the healthcare legislation.
Perhaps St. Patrick dropped a bunch of four leaf clovers on Wall St. The March 15 New Moon conjoining Uranus in Pisces reflected the hope the S&P could break through the 1150 range. Combined with Pisces’ ruler Neptune in Aquarius squaring the NYSE’s Sun in Taurus for the first time in 148 years along with the enthusiasm of the Moon and Mercury entering Aries, the major indices sprang forward and reached 17 month highs last week before breaking their momentum on Friday.
Summary Of This Week’s Influences:
The Vernal Equinox marked the Sun’s entrance into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. The Sun represents leaders and Aries is eager to push new idead and endeavors forward, especially with the Sun conjoining Mercury in Aries. With the Sun, Mercury, and Venus in gung ho Aries and the Sun harmonizing with Mars in speculative Leo, the market’s enthusiasm could face a reality check this week as it witnesses an equally resurgent enthusiasm by government leaders to push major economic reforms.
The Sun opposing Saturn in Libra (March 21) and squaring Pluto in Capricorn (March 25) can find world leaders at least acting more assertively to address the issues raised by Saturn squaring Pluto. So far in most instances government leaders have chosen to express the downside of this planetary alignment by keeping most elements of the status quo structures frozen in place, choosing to keep and even resurrect the failed policies of the past that precipitated the financial crisis and the financial busts that preceded it.
Saturn in indecisive and need to please Libra can delay and diminish proposals as they are met with resistance from the plutocrats - the wealthy and influential interests working in the shadows. And as much as everyone fears (Saturn) the debt mountain (Pluto), most would rather keep spending for short term gain, fearing serious regulatory reforms would jeopardize economic recovery and curb speculation that has brought a rapid resurgence in financial markets.
Reflecting Saturn’s giant rings, the Sun opposing Saturn describes leaders seeking to set boundaries on structures that are out of balance. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was invoking some key words to describe Saturn over the weekend when she talked about wanting to get to the “roots” of the problem and impose greater budget “discipline” on Greece. Saturn in Venus-ruled Libra describes financial partnerships, and Merkel is none too eager to lend another EU partner a helping hand if Greece is not able to take strong enough austerity (another Saturn trait) measures.
Leo rules the Sun, and the Moon (sentiment) in Leo as the Sun squares Pluto can create friction amongst leaders regarding how to transform financial and government structures as no individual is willing to cede their authority. Since Pluto rules nuclear issues, this can bring more sabre rattling by Iran.
The Federal Reserve offers a more relevant example of these influences at work as the Vernal Equinox lineup of the Sun, Mercury, and Uranus in Pisces conjoins the sector of the Fed’s chart representing its status and reputation. The Sun in Aries and Saturn square Pluto are challenging the Fed’s Sun in Capricorn opposite Pluto in Cancer, reflecting Fed Chairman Bernanke’s aggressive efforts to keep the Fed’s structure and power intact. Addressing the Independent Community Bankers of America convention yesterday, Bernanke said what the world wanted to hear by stating that large bank bailouts were “unconscionable” and “we must ensure that we never again face such a situation.” And while the idea of endorsing a British government proposal that financial firms that pose systemic risk need to draw up “living wills” to help regulators make an orderly wind down in the event of the firm’s demise is part of Pluto’s domain, it serves no practical purpose. Bernanke used the speech to continue to lobby against any regulatory reforms that would help to prevent another crisis down the road.
Pluto rules secrets. The Sun, Saturn, and Pluto affecting the Fed’s natal Sun/Pluto continue to reflect the push to get the Fed to open up its secrets. Last Friday Bloomberg won its Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Fed when the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Fed must release its documents related to the special loans made to financial firms after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The Fed invoked “trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential” as its excuse for refusing to disclose the documents and has not decided whether it will appeal the appeal.
Another example of the transits to the Fed’s Sun/Pluto was Friday’s letter from House Oversight Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns to Bernanke. Towns has given the Fed until Thursday to turn over documents relating to whether the Fed knew that Stephen Friedman, the former chairman of the New York FRB and a director of Goldman Sachs, had purchased 37,000 additional shares to add to his 46,000 shares of Goldman stock one month after the Fed forced AIG to pay Goldman and other counterparties at par. Fed Board members are prohibited from owning shares in companies under Fed supervision which Goldman came under when the Fed allowed Goldman to save itself by granting it emergency approval to become a bank holding company. The Fed granted Friedman a special waiver in January 2009 so he could keep his Goldman shares as the Fed deemed Friedman too important to lose in searching for a replacement for Timothy Geithner. Towns is now requesting the Fed provide documentation of all waiver requests the Fed has granted since 2000 since the Fed has so far failed to provided the committee with sufficient information.
Aries is ruled by Mars which makes favorable aspects to the Sun and Saturn at the beginning of the week which can assist efforts of leaders (Sun) forging ahead with regulatory reform (Saturn) to curb risky financial speculation (Mars in Leo).
With the Moon in Mercury-ruled Gemini on Monday, news emanating from leaders will particularly influence market sentiment. Mercury and Gemini rule legislation and Gemini represents two types of legislation: the healthcare bill* and Sen. Dodd’s financial regulatory reform proposal that the Senate Banking Committee will begin to markup Monday. Dodd announced his proposal on March 15, and Wall St. was surprised that the “Volcker Rule” was contained in the bill, even though I wrote in the January 24 Forecast that Paul Volcker’s influence would be exerted at the March 15 Pisces New Moon.
The First Quarter Moon in Cancer occurs Tuesday at 7:00 AM EDT and the Moon remaining in Cancer until early Thursday morning puts the market’s focus on home sales, consumer issues and “Main St.” interests.
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Sun opposite Saturn can be a depressing influence on equity values while other influences today are positive, resulting in a day that is not as negative as it otherwise could be.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Negative conditions improve as the day progresses and might even turn positive by the close.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Choppy/mixed to moderately negative.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Negative conditions improve to choppy/mixed to moderately positive late in session.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Positive conditions could weaken and turn choppy to negative midsession before regaining strength.
*My next post will be on the healthcare legislation.
The General, Economic and Geopolitical Influences of the March 20, 2010 Vernal Equinox
Published by WallStreetWeather.net
The Sun is our life force; its movement into Aries on March 20 at 1:33 PM EDT marks the start of Spring in the northern hemisphere. At the Vernal Equinox the Sun shines directly on the equator and the hours of day and night are equal in length. Each day the Sun will move higher in the sky and the hours of daylight will increase until the June 21 Summer Solstice.As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries represents the start of something new. In ancient times the Vernal Equinox was celebrated as the New Year and is still celebrated as a national holiday in many countries, including Japan and Iran. Christianity created Easter and the resurrection of Jesus as a substitute for the ancient celebrations of nature’s rebirth. Rabbits and Easter eggs symbolize the fertility and abundance of spring and the opportunity to begin anew.
Aries is ruled by Mars, the planetary energy of action. The confidence and creativity of the Sun synergizes well with the courage and boldness of Aries to birth new initiatives. The Sun and Aries represent the self, and the Sun in Aries (March 20 – April 20), is a powerful time to take ownership of your life and initiate personal objectives.*
The Sun and Mars are the most important planets at the Vernal Equinox and they are particularly powerful for personal achievement as the Sun in Aries is harmonizing with Mars in Sun-ruled Leo (March 21). Aries energy can move too quickly and become impatient to see things through to completion, but Mars favorably aspecting Saturn in Libra (March 22) provides the discipline to structure an ambitious agenda into a realistic and manageable timetable of smaller goals.
The Sun represents leaders. As the Sun in Aries opposes Saturn (March 21) and squares Pluto (March 26), there will likely be instances of current and former leaders being held accountable under the law for their actions that kept a corrupted hierarchy in place in order to solidify their own power and influence. Uranus in Pisces (which will move into Aries May 27) and Mercury in Aries conjoining the Sun and squaring Pluto at the Vernal Equinox describe a growing vocal opposition against leaders who resist calls to transform economic, governmental, and societal structures that have failed to serve the majority outside the boundaries of the status quo.
The Moon represents the emotional mood of the public. Reinforcing the positive influences to enact transformative change at a personal and geopolitical level is that the Moon is waxing (increasing) in light at the Vernal Equinox. Like the Sun in Aries, the Moon functions well in Venus-ruled Taurus. The Moon in Taurus forming supportive aspects to Uranus and Saturn (after the Moon enters Mercury-ruled Gemini March 20) offers the opportunity for pragmatic solutions within the existing framework and laws to bring reform and innovation. As a fixed earth sign, the steady influence of Taurus will carry through to finish the work that Aries is too quick to abandon to something more exciting. The Taurus Moon reminds us to take time out to smell the flowers, as events will unfold rapidly over the next three months with half of the planets in initiating cardinal signs.
The Sun, Mercury, and Uranus conjoin at the apex of the chart set for Washington DC, indicating that President Obama will be signing legislation he actively campaigned Congress to enact. Sundays are ruled by the Sun which strengthens the powerful energies of the Vernal Equinox to take bold action and overcome tremendous obstacles to pass the healthcare bill for President Obama to sign just as the window of opportunity was about to close. The Sun opposite Saturn and square Pluto reflects the fear and delaying tactics used by opponents of the legislation. Aries is symbolized by the Ram, and all the endlessly repeated rhetoric of “ramming the bill through” is going to manifest the healthcare bill enacted into law at the Vernal Equinox! (And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was born with the Sun in Aries.**)
Pluto rules insurance, and in the sector representing healthcare and employment shows how transformative this legislation will become for the domestic economy and beyond as the U.S. in the next few years will no longer be subsidizing the world’s pharmaceuticals.
The Moon ruling the chart indicates that the nation’s mood and circumstances will fluctuate and be affected by what happens in Congress which is influenced by the Executive Branch. The Moon in Taurus puts the focus on the banking sector and valuations of all kinds. With the Moon squaring Neptune in Aquarius in the sector representing debt, there are likely to be more surprises about debt that had been camouflaged (off the books). Consumer credit costs will increase, along with the cost of goods and services needed for daily living.
Mars in Leo reflects the public wants Washington to take action to reform the financial sector. The Federal Reserve will probably utilize every creative maneuver it can think of to avoid having to raise the fed funds rate through raising the discount rate and contracting excess liquidity.
Venus ruling the sector representing real estate conjoined by Saturn reflects that home values are still under pressure. As more higher priced homes are being forced into distressed sales, average selling prices will deceptively increase. It is unlikely that the Fed will break its commitment to end GSE mortgage security purchases.
Mars and Pluto rule the sector of the chart representing the stock market. The enthusiasm of the Sun conjoining Mercury and Uranus, Venus in Aries, and Mars in speculative Leo will likely contribute to keeping the market for the most part in an uptrend over the next three months, helped by corporate earnings and merger speculation. The Moon in Taurus conjoins the NYSE’s Sun; market sentiment stubbornly resists the urge to sell or go short. The Moon’s square to Neptune in Aquarius conveys the hope that the market can make a steady retracement back to the record highs of October 2007, an unlikely fantasy.
Financial markets have a greater potential for more pronounced moves or a shift in direction on or around the following dates:
March 22, 25, 29
April 6-7, 14, 19-20, 23, 26, 28
May 3-4, 11-13, 17-20, 24, 26-27
June 3-11, 14-15
Hot and dry conditions reflected by the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars in the fire element are tempered by the moderating influence of the Moon in Taurus. Warm and dry weather unexpectedly shifts, bringing severe thunderstorms and flash floods, and the potential for hailstorms and tornadoes.
Areas with greater potential for increased news and weather activity include the entire U.S. East Coast (especially VT, NH, MA, NY, OH, PA, VA, NC, FL), Minnesota, Iowa, Arizona. Baja Peninsula, Cuba and Guantanamo. Earthquake potential for Cuba, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Georgia. Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Ethiopia, Somalia, Madagascar). Afghanistan, Pakistan. Social unrest and/or earthquake potential for Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, and central China.
Upcoming posts will describe the trends over the next three months in greater detail.
*The other powerful time of the year to do this is on your birthday.
**Nancy Pelosi: March 26, 1940 time unknown Baltimore, MD
Related Posts: “Anger Management as Mars Moves Forward” and “Time, Money, Politics, and the Body’s Solar Clock”
Anger Management as Mars Moves Forward
Published by WallStreetWeather.net.jpg)
Once again the “as above, so below” principle correlating planetary influences to human affairs is evident in “When Anger Is An Illness” by Melinda Beck in today’s Wall Street Journal.Mars represents anger and aggressive behavior. As described in this week’s Forecast, Mars energy is prominent now as from Earth’s vantage point Mars gives the appearance of being stationary in the sky as it begins to move forward again after being retrograde since December 20.
When a planet appears to be retrograde, its energies become more internally focused. Mars energy is action-oriented and moves quickly, but during its retrograde period about every two years frustration can result when embarking on new endeavors as the Mars retrograde period (December 20, 2009 – March 10, 2010) is best suited for acting on established issues.
With Mars in Leo (October 16, 2009 – June 8, 2010), anger and aggression can become a melodrama. Or the energy can be channeled productively into creative outlets that can enhance your career, investing, romantic relationships, children, and help to keep your heart healthy as these are all ruled by the Sun and Leo.
“Demand for anger management programs is exploding.” The Journal cites companies concerned about litigation (with some professions offering “pre-emptive anger management”), courts seeking alternatives to jail sentences, and “civility training” for lawyers renewing their licenses.
Mars rules war and the military, and the “war on terror” put I.E.D. (“improvised explosive device”) into the lexicon. I.E.D. also stands for something else: “intermittent explosive disorder,” defined as “episodes of aggression against people or property out of proportion to any provocation.” And now there’s “temper dysregulation disorder” (a disorder that has yet to be recognized by Microsoft Word).
With every passing year, studies surface showing greater numbers of the population falling under the label of some form of mental illness created by the medical industrial complex such as attention deficit and bipolar disorder which they preach drugs and psychotherapy could possibly cure. Neptune and Pisces rule mental illness, sleep, all types of addictions, hospitals, drugs, and the art of illusion. The Journal cites “2006 studies from Harvard and the University of Chicago estimating 1 in 20 Americans (mostly men) may fit the criteria for I.E.D.” (Bold emphasis mine.) While there are people who genuinely suffer from mental illness and require treatment, the vast majority of the population would be fine without psychiatric help and especially without drugs.
I.E.D. by either definition would describe a challenging alignment between Mars and Uranus, the planetary energy of explosions, shocks, and rebellious and unexpected behavior. On July 30, 2010, Mars in Libra will oppose Uranus in Mars-ruled Aries, kicking off an action-packed and volatile week on a global level as Mars conjoins Saturn in Libra (July 31) and opposes Jupiter in Aries and squares Pluto in Capricorn August 4. This could be a long, hot angry and violent summer that is as intense as the potential for more powerful earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, hurricanes, and severe storms that affect large geographic areas. Or these tensions can be reduced through cooperative action that benefits the greater good and not just the status quo as economic, physical, and societal infrastructures undergo massive transformation.
An “anger inventory quiz” and “Tips to Help Keep A Temper in Check” serve as an adjunct to the Journal article. One thing that’s missing amongst the tips is to avoid reading about topics that tend to make you angry. Replace the news and violent TV and movies with entertainment that will help to put a smile on your face and make you laugh.
While certain medical conditions can increase irritability, the article should have also noted that medications, medication interactions, and even antidepressants can intensify aggressive behavior. No drug or surgical procedure will prevent heart dis-ease if your heart is filled with rage rather than love and compassion towards yourself and others. The Journal quotes a 2004 Harvard study that estimates some 30,000 heart attacks each year are triggered by momentary anger. And if you have a heart attack, do you really want to be operated on by the surgeon described in the article who lost control of his anger and “reamed out someone via cell phone while performing open heart surgery”?! Hospitals are now required to have anger management programs for “disruptive” physicians as a condition of accreditation.
Since Mars is a highly physical and active energy, my favorite tip on the list is to “get physical without fists.” Exercise, step outside for a quick walk, do some cleaning or other physical task (refrain from working with sharp tools or equipment until you have sufficiently calmed down).
Mars is an impulsive energy; action taken too quickly can be regretted later. Invoke Saturn’s energy by having a “time-out” before any encounter or communication with the person or situation that raises your ire. Saturn is about taking a long term view; things that seem annoying right now could be less upsetting or even insignificant tomorrow morning. Anger is an expression born out of fear.
Mercury represents communication. Writing down when you get angry and what triggers it can help you identify and change the pattern. Replace negative self-talk with positive phrases and think how much better you feel when you are calm. Making excuses in order to give yourself “permission” to behave badly will only bring more people and situations into your life that make you angry. Free yourself from the illusion that you are a victim of your genetics and cannot control your behavior.
Although every day offers an opportunity to make a fresh start, the March 15 New Moon in Pisces, followed by the Sun conjoining Uranus in Pisces, along with the Moon in Aries and Mercury in Aries harmonizing with Mars in Leo on March 17 can make it easier to leave negative family patterns behind and set foot in a new direction.
The Sun moving into Aries and harmonizing with Mars in Leo on March 21 - the same time Mars makes a favorable aspect to Saturn in Libra offers the opportunity to let go of the past and take control of your anger. As more people are calm and in control of their emotions, the more peace we create in the world.
The image represents the symbol for Mars, depicted by the shield and the lance which represents male virility. This is also the ancient symbol for iron which is what most weaponry was made of. Mars also rules steel.
Related Posts:
“Guerrilla Warfare Is The Key To Win Afghanistan”
“Uranus, Mars and the Supreme Court’s Gun Control Ruling”
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WallStreetWeather.net Forecast For Week Of March 8, 2010
Summary Of Last Week’s Influences:
The Sun conjoining Jupiter in Pisces last Monday marked the start of a positive week for stocks and major commodities.
In last week’s Forecast I wrote that the Sun/Jupiter alignment could bring news relating to the drug industry. Jupiter reflects drug industry deals with foreign companies. Merck (of Germany) agreed to buy biotechnology equipment supplier Millipore (MIL) for $7.2 billion, and Japan’s Astellas Pharma made a $3.5 billion/$52 a share unsolicited bid for OSI Pharmaceuticals (OSIP). Monday’s Sun/Jupiter conjunction occurred at the same time OSIP’s stock chart was experiencing a Jupiter return, pushing the stock up $19.23 to $56.25. Pluto in Capricorn opposing OSIP’s Neptune now reflects the takeover bid and OSIP’s and the market’s belief that a higher offer could materialize. Jupiter rules legal issues, reflecting Astellas’ lawsuit that OSIP’s board is not acting in the best interests of its shareholders.
The week ended with the Dow at 10,566.20, posting its best one day point and percentage gain since February 16 - the day Venus conjoined Jupiter. The Nasdaq hit an 18 month high at 2,326.35; while the S&P closed at 1,138.70, slightly under its 52 week high of January 19. A better than expected February employment report and retail sales numbers got the market excited that there are starting to be signs of economic recovery.
Summary Of This Week’s Influences:
Venus enters Mars-ruled Aries today until March 31, and Mars begins moving forward again, releasing a lot of pent up energy after being retrograde since December 20.
Venus rules money, banking, financial arrangements/partnerships, copper, and sugar. Venus is the principle of attraction. Venus in Aries harmonizing with Mars in Leo now creates fiery enthusiasm for financial, artistic, and romantic pursuits.
Venus in Aries challenges the Federal Reserve’s natal Sun in Capricorn opposite Pluto in Cancer. Fed Governor Kevin Warsh (who was born with the Sun in Aries) will speak on “the Fed at a crossroads” at the Hedge Fund Institutional Forum Monday morning. (Another reason why the Fed should not be the nation’s banking and consumer finance regulator!)
Mercury (thoughts) conjoins expansive Jupiter in Pisces at the Last Quarter Moon (sentiment) in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius today. Jupiter and Sagittarius squarely put the focus on global issues and is likely to bring more news about a rescue (Pisces) package for Greece, particularly as the Sun conjoins Greece’s natal Jupiter in Pisces as Jupiter is about to return to where it was in the chart for the founding of modern Greece (this last occurred in 1998).
Mars in Leo stationing direct on Greece’s natal Sun reflects a central authority (EU, IMF) taking action to support Greece’s finances. Greece and other nations such as the US and UK with key natal planets in cardinal signs* could face their biggest crisis yet over the summer when Jupiter and Uranus in Aries oppose Saturn in Libra and square Pluto in Capricorn. This challenging planetary lineup could precipitate circumstances that force governments to take actions they have preferred to sidestep or postpone into the future in order to avoid making difficult decisions on matters relating to debt, taxes, spending, and financial regulatory reforms.
Mercury conjoining Jupiter in Pisces follows on the heels of the conjunctions of Venus and the Sun to Jupiter. These alignments were bullish for the stock market and Mercury/Jupiter is likely to also be positive but could be somewhat less enthusiastic.
Venus rules Libra, and the brash and impatient do it now attitude of Aries conflicts with Libra’s indecisive tendencies that result from a desire to accommodate all parties and viewpoints. Venus opposing Saturn in Libra on Tuesday could put pressure on valuations, especially with the Moon in Saturn-ruled Capricorn. Capricorn and Saturn rule government, and Pluto rules debt. As Venus in Aries opposes Saturn Tuesday and squares Pluto in Capricorn on Thursday, it could reinforce the caution and fear of Saturn squaring Pluto that began in November and was particularly prominent from the latter part of January to mid February.
When a planet from Earth’s vantage point appears to be stationary in the sky, its influence is more pronounced. Mars represents action and military matters. Mars retrograde periods tend to slow down trading volume, particularly with Mars in Leo, the sign of speculation that especially rules the stock market and gold. Planets changing direction can equate to at least a temporary reversal in market direction. Mars officially turns direct at 12:09 PM EST Wednesday but will not begin to slowly move forward until Friday. Trading volume should begin to increase along with volatility as the month progresses. Leo and the Sun represent leaders; their actions will drive the market now.
Mars represents aggression. As Mars turns direct on Toyota’s progressed** Pluto in Leo, Toyota “is planning an assault on its critics” by discrediting a study pinpointing the sudden acceleration problem as an electronics issue and attack a former Toyota lawyer who provided documents to Congress that he believes portray Toyota’s “culture of withholding crucial evidence” (Pluto) about vehicle problems, according to a Wall Street Journal article. As I predicted in my post about Toyota, customers are already reporting incidents of sudden acceleration after having the recall repairs done on their vehicles. Since Toyota’s problems are not going to go away anytime soon, it would be far better for Toyota to channel their energy and money into fixing the problem instead of fighting it.
Mars moving forward is a reminder for most of the USA to move clocks forward one hour on Sunday as Daylight Savings Time officially begins at 2:00 AM until November 7. (Neptune, the planetary ruler of dreams and the unconscious turns direct on November 7, so people will particularly savor getting back that extra hour of sleep!)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Positive: strongest in the morning, but could begin to lose steam in the afternoon.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Negative.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Negative.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Negative conditions improve as the day progresses, turning choppy/mixed to positive.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Choppy/mixed to negative as market weakens as the day progresses.
*The cardinal (action-oriented, initiating) signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
** A mathematical calculation that moves the planets forward in time as a method of prediction.
OSI Pharmaceuticals: April 3, 1986
No disclosures.
The Sun conjoining Jupiter in Pisces last Monday marked the start of a positive week for stocks and major commodities.
In last week’s Forecast I wrote that the Sun/Jupiter alignment could bring news relating to the drug industry. Jupiter reflects drug industry deals with foreign companies. Merck (of Germany) agreed to buy biotechnology equipment supplier Millipore (MIL) for $7.2 billion, and Japan’s Astellas Pharma made a $3.5 billion/$52 a share unsolicited bid for OSI Pharmaceuticals (OSIP). Monday’s Sun/Jupiter conjunction occurred at the same time OSIP’s stock chart was experiencing a Jupiter return, pushing the stock up $19.23 to $56.25. Pluto in Capricorn opposing OSIP’s Neptune now reflects the takeover bid and OSIP’s and the market’s belief that a higher offer could materialize. Jupiter rules legal issues, reflecting Astellas’ lawsuit that OSIP’s board is not acting in the best interests of its shareholders.
The week ended with the Dow at 10,566.20, posting its best one day point and percentage gain since February 16 - the day Venus conjoined Jupiter. The Nasdaq hit an 18 month high at 2,326.35; while the S&P closed at 1,138.70, slightly under its 52 week high of January 19. A better than expected February employment report and retail sales numbers got the market excited that there are starting to be signs of economic recovery.
Summary Of This Week’s Influences:
Venus enters Mars-ruled Aries today until March 31, and Mars begins moving forward again, releasing a lot of pent up energy after being retrograde since December 20.
Venus rules money, banking, financial arrangements/partnerships, copper, and sugar. Venus is the principle of attraction. Venus in Aries harmonizing with Mars in Leo now creates fiery enthusiasm for financial, artistic, and romantic pursuits.
Venus in Aries challenges the Federal Reserve’s natal Sun in Capricorn opposite Pluto in Cancer. Fed Governor Kevin Warsh (who was born with the Sun in Aries) will speak on “the Fed at a crossroads” at the Hedge Fund Institutional Forum Monday morning. (Another reason why the Fed should not be the nation’s banking and consumer finance regulator!)
Mercury (thoughts) conjoins expansive Jupiter in Pisces at the Last Quarter Moon (sentiment) in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius today. Jupiter and Sagittarius squarely put the focus on global issues and is likely to bring more news about a rescue (Pisces) package for Greece, particularly as the Sun conjoins Greece’s natal Jupiter in Pisces as Jupiter is about to return to where it was in the chart for the founding of modern Greece (this last occurred in 1998).
Mars in Leo stationing direct on Greece’s natal Sun reflects a central authority (EU, IMF) taking action to support Greece’s finances. Greece and other nations such as the US and UK with key natal planets in cardinal signs* could face their biggest crisis yet over the summer when Jupiter and Uranus in Aries oppose Saturn in Libra and square Pluto in Capricorn. This challenging planetary lineup could precipitate circumstances that force governments to take actions they have preferred to sidestep or postpone into the future in order to avoid making difficult decisions on matters relating to debt, taxes, spending, and financial regulatory reforms.
Mercury conjoining Jupiter in Pisces follows on the heels of the conjunctions of Venus and the Sun to Jupiter. These alignments were bullish for the stock market and Mercury/Jupiter is likely to also be positive but could be somewhat less enthusiastic.
Venus rules Libra, and the brash and impatient do it now attitude of Aries conflicts with Libra’s indecisive tendencies that result from a desire to accommodate all parties and viewpoints. Venus opposing Saturn in Libra on Tuesday could put pressure on valuations, especially with the Moon in Saturn-ruled Capricorn. Capricorn and Saturn rule government, and Pluto rules debt. As Venus in Aries opposes Saturn Tuesday and squares Pluto in Capricorn on Thursday, it could reinforce the caution and fear of Saturn squaring Pluto that began in November and was particularly prominent from the latter part of January to mid February.
When a planet from Earth’s vantage point appears to be stationary in the sky, its influence is more pronounced. Mars represents action and military matters. Mars retrograde periods tend to slow down trading volume, particularly with Mars in Leo, the sign of speculation that especially rules the stock market and gold. Planets changing direction can equate to at least a temporary reversal in market direction. Mars officially turns direct at 12:09 PM EST Wednesday but will not begin to slowly move forward until Friday. Trading volume should begin to increase along with volatility as the month progresses. Leo and the Sun represent leaders; their actions will drive the market now.
Mars represents aggression. As Mars turns direct on Toyota’s progressed** Pluto in Leo, Toyota “is planning an assault on its critics” by discrediting a study pinpointing the sudden acceleration problem as an electronics issue and attack a former Toyota lawyer who provided documents to Congress that he believes portray Toyota’s “culture of withholding crucial evidence” (Pluto) about vehicle problems, according to a Wall Street Journal article. As I predicted in my post about Toyota, customers are already reporting incidents of sudden acceleration after having the recall repairs done on their vehicles. Since Toyota’s problems are not going to go away anytime soon, it would be far better for Toyota to channel their energy and money into fixing the problem instead of fighting it.
Mars moving forward is a reminder for most of the USA to move clocks forward one hour on Sunday as Daylight Savings Time officially begins at 2:00 AM until November 7. (Neptune, the planetary ruler of dreams and the unconscious turns direct on November 7, so people will particularly savor getting back that extra hour of sleep!)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Positive: strongest in the morning, but could begin to lose steam in the afternoon.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Negative.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Negative.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Negative conditions improve as the day progresses, turning choppy/mixed to positive.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Choppy/mixed to negative as market weakens as the day progresses.
*The cardinal (action-oriented, initiating) signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
** A mathematical calculation that moves the planets forward in time as a method of prediction.
OSI Pharmaceuticals: April 3, 1986
No disclosures.
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