I was asked by one of my followers on my Facebook page what Uranus turning direct would hold for the US. In answering this question posed to me I had a look back into history and found an astrological trend that is due to continue in the year 2014, one that the general public, politicians, financial officials and indeed those in the highest offices of power in the United States might not want to hear, but one that they should take heed of and prepare for.
Late yesterday, the Cyprus Government dropped a bombshell that not only upset their own population but might also send shockwaves right across the European Union. The Greek controlled part of the divided island has been in a financial crisis in the past year, and as part of an agreed bail out from the EU it has decided to tax people’s savings and bank accounts. Not just the wealthy are affected, this is a blanket tax charging 6% on the ordinary Cypriots and up to 10% on the wealthy. It not only applies to the local population, it extends to foreign nationals too. This has caused consternation and people have rushed to banks to withdraw their money to avoid any penalties. The worry across the continent is that other financially struggling European nations might consider passing similar laws.
This summer in the UK has been dominated by two themes so far; a complete and total washout weather wise and news of complacent bankers illegally setting interest rates. Since records began, never has so much rain fallen and so consistently with both April and now June posting records of total rainfall and July has started off in the same vein. Why? Is it down to global warming or are we in the UK just simply unlucky? In the city of London, a scandal broke after it emerged that Barclays Bank had been manipulating the Libor rate, the interbank interest rates so that they could make millions more on interest payments. American Bob Diamond, the CEO of Barclays promptly fell on his sword after increasing pressure from members of Parliament and the press, however he hinted that Barclays had not been the only bank carrying out this dubious practice.
Tomorrow will be the 2nd month since the beginning of the Occupy Wall Street movement, a rolling protest that has gathered in steam and size as it’s effects and influence have spread around the world. As I write the main focus site for the group Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, has been cleared by the New York police, however this will only enliven the protest yet further. It is a direct reflection of the current Pluto/Uranus square which is still in operation and will be for the next 3 years.
I’ve been trying to work out over the past few weeks how all this American debt crisis was going to pan out. Finally late last night the lawmakers in the Republican lead House of Representatives and Democratic Senate finally thrashed out some sort of deal, raising the already sky high debt ceiling in the US another $2.4 trillion dollars to an almighty $14.3 trillion. In return, the US government deficit will be cut by the same amount over a 10 year period in a plan to be cut by a unified Republican and Democratic committee. By finally biting the bullet, but delaying the deep cuts that the US does need, somebody somewhere is going to pay a heavy price and the people are going to get rather upset by it all.
The outer planets always have a major effect on national charts, but because they move so slowly, you don’t see the results of what have been going on for some considerable time, effectively until the damage has firmly been done and a crisis point comes along. This is especially true of Neptune, who I feel is the real culprit for the financial crisis which has been going on. From 1992 Neptune has been transiting through the US second house, the house of money and national finance. Neptune in the second gives one artificial financial optimism, a false sense of security as danger and financial meltdown lurks around the corner. Neptune here is so deceptive, allowing illegal or wholly inappropriate practises to go on while covering up the truth. The first signs of Neptune’s rather nasty effects came with the dot com crash. At the time Neptune was making it’s way through the early stages of the 2nd house, Uranus, the planet of technology, also entered the 2nd in 1995 for a 6-7 year stay. In that time, dot com investment was on a free for all surge until finally in 2000 the market peaked. As Uranus ended it’s stay in the 2nd house finally exiting in Feb 2002, the markets crashed wiping off in total $5 trillion from the value of US companies. Admittedly the 9/11 attack did not help matters, but the jitters in the markets had started way before that incident.
In 1997, as transiting Neptune conjunct the US natal Pluto in the 2nd house that the present crisis started to form. Now 14 years on, you can see it so clearly. Excessive (Pluto) dodgy dealing and false optimism (Neptune) in the housing market (2nd house of personal possessions). The US house prices and speculation on them went out of control – the dot com bubble, the housing bubble – bubbles are so Neptunian in form, they float away looking all pretty and perfect, then suddenly “bang” they burst, and reality really hits home.
That bang in the US chart was created by transiting Pluto which entered administrative Capricorn in October 2008 (I use the US Sibly chart with a free and easy expansive Sagittarius ascendant). In life when you make a mess, you need the dustman (or garbage man for my American readers) to come along to clean things up. In astrology, we have Pluto to do that job. When Neptune makes a proper mess of things, Pluto comes along afterwards, chucks away what is rotten and not needed and then cleans up so that one can start afresh. Pluto restricts, destroys & reforms everything in it’s path, creating space for new growth to form.
Back to recent history. Pluto entering in Capricorn from the first house began to square the US Midheaven at 1 Libra, to oppose the US Venus at 3 Cancer and to have an immediate effect. The US national reputation went through the floor and the effect on Venus was devastating. Venus more than any planet is associated with possessions and personal money; the US Venus sits in the 7th house of dealings with other countries and that Venus squares the US Midheaven – there is a inherent link. We can say for sure that the state of the US finances affects not only the national reputation of the country as a whole, but also affects the world around the US too. The old saying goes that when the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. As Pluto moved closer and closer to natal Venus, the financial crisis deepened, culminating in early 2009 as Pluto hit 3 Capricorn when the full extent of the housing crash was exposed. That contagion spread not only through the US, but through the world too. It is interesting also to note that the crash was caused by speculation on the housing market and the exposure of the dirty dealings due to the influence of Pluto. Speculation is seen through Jupiter, Sagittarius and also the 5th house and Venus through Taurus just rules the cusp of the 5th house. Venus is itself conjunct Jupiter on the natal chart and with a Sagittarian ascendant, an inextricable link and weakness in the US natal chart between financial problems and speculation. These problems have happened before and they will surface again.
Now, if the people of America think that the problems are now over, they’d better think twice. The budget agreement was passed as transiting Saturn (which rules the US financial 2nd house with Capricorn on the cusp) was exactly sextile to the US ascendant. A plan (Saturn) to restrict the growth of the US (Sagittarius on Ascendant) and in so doing cut the debt (Capricorn on cusp of 2nd). Transiting Saturn is going to conjunct it’s own position towards the end of this month, which I fear will bring even more gloomy financial news to the fore, and to top this Pluto has not yet done with it’s opposition to natal Jupiter. Jupiter as we know rules the US chart and by November Pluto will be making it’s last pass over 5:56 Capricorn in exactly opposing it. At that time, the cuts plan will be implemented but will they be hitting the right areas of the American economy? One thing I do know is that Pluto does not do half measures. These cuts are going to hurt ending probably with substantial tax raises on the way for many Americans, and with Uranus having recently entered the 4th house of opposition, watch out for disputes and action on a scale not seen in the US for a long time. The free market rebels (Uranus) to the administration will be out in force. This Uranus is going to cause a lot of discontent.
Moving back to Pluto, she will then move on to approach her next target, to oppose the US Sun in 2014. The Sun represents the President of the United States – now that’s a interesting subject for a future post!!!
**** Update 21st Nov 11****
Didn’t quite call this one right. Time wise I was spot on, but Pluto can mean restriction and blockage as well as transformation, and in this case the so called super committee pulled together to implement a cuts plan could not agree and thus blockage and deadlock has ensued. Uranus is showing it’s hand via the Occupy Wall Street protest, and I can see this escalating as the ineptitude of lawmakers yet exacerbate the financial problems in America. Looks like Obama is going to have to put his foot down and force the issue. It’s gonna be a long hard winter in Washington…
Over the pond in America, the debt debate is raiding it's ugly head as well as in Europe. As I understand it, the federal budget runs out on 2nd August and unless they lawmakers in America and the President agree a new budget or the President signs an extension to the current agreements in place, then the US will effectively run out of cash and will be defaulting on it’s current debts. Obama and his Democratic lead Senate wants to introduce a package which include $4 trillion of cuts but if the Republican lead house of Representatives does not play ball, then the President may be forced to raise the government’s debt ceiling as a temporary measure, obviously something he does not wish to do.
This debate goes back to 30th November last year when Obama forced through a pay freeze for federal workers, a measure to trim the huge federal deficit. Astrologically at that time Saturn was almost exactly conjunct the US natal Saturn. Saturn on the US natal chart is found at 14 degrees Libra in the 10th house of government and Capricorn (ruled by Saturn) sits on the cusp of the 2nd house of finance indicating that movements of Saturn will directly affect the US money supply. Saturn natally squares the natal Sun, showing the constant battles between the Government (Saturn) and the President (Sun). This aspect will always be a thorn in the side of both, no matter what parties or persuasions of the two factions. This conflict is inbuilt into the US chart and forever the animosity will be.
Moving onto April 1st and a raging debate over spending cuts and disagreements over a new budget pushed the US to within two hours of a government shutdown. Saturn, now moving retrograde had returned to 14 degrees Libra conjunct the US natal Saturn. This time Saturn is approaching it’s final pass of 14 degrees Libra before moving through for a final time as it continues it’s journey around the zodiac, returning back to this spot in 28 years time. Yet again, disagreements between the President and the Senate have flared up, and this time Saturn will hit 14 Libra towards the end of August. This says to me that the President will have to raise debt levels before an agreement will finally be thrashed out towards the end of next month. This agreement will have a lasting impact on the US economy, and we will see the ramifications of what they agree in around 7 years time when transiting Saturn squares it’s natal position.
I’ve looked at both Greece and Ireland in previous months and the problems their debts are causing, and the spectre of Portugal defaulting their debts, even Spain and Italy possibly in the future is building up pressure on the Euro currency. It stands to reason that Germany and France, who are shouldering the burden of propping up their weaker neighbours are at some point going to say “non, nein, no more”, unless these countries find a solution to paying their own way and not relying on others. Trying to get everyone into a “one size fits all club” was never going to be easy, was it?
The Euro as a currency was born on midnight Jan 1st 2002 in Brussels, Belgium. There was great fanfare I remember with fireworks going off in Brussels to celebrate, however from an astrological point of view one would have immediately noticed a most overly optimistic chart with very stressful undertones. Those stresses are now starting to come firmly into view. On the chart we have a Sun/Venus conjunction in Capricorn opposite Jupiter in Cancer. Sun Venus is optimistic and ambitious and Jupiter in Cancer is inclusive, making everyone feel welcome and comfortable. This is a huge feeling of goodwill about this aspect. Yet Jupiter is retrograde and somewhat inwards looking. Were the celebrations felt more deeply within those who created the project than the population of Europe who were going to use the currency – was this a currency to satisfy the needs of the bureaucrats rather than that of the public? The security nature of Jupiter in Cancer seems to suggest that it was an “in-house” creation. Jupiter trines to Mars in Pisces which smacks of “over-confidence”, not worrying about the details, blithely going ahead and not being able to see potential pitfalls along the road. Mercury is quindecile to Jupiter suggesting that biased overblown ideas were behind the creation of the Euro. Idealism was present, idealism that the Euro was a huge step on the way to creating the United States of Europe. The Moon sits in proud showy Leo in the 10th house, this is the centrepiece of the whole grand project.
Below all these big aims and lofty ideals were stresses and strains on the chart. The Moon is subject to two oppositions from Mercury and from subversive Neptune and is at the point of a very stressful Thor’s Hammer formation, with a controlling heavyweight Pluto/Mars square at the base. A Pluto Mars square hints at great control and secrecy with veiled intentions. It also shows of internal power struggles and fights for ascendancy. As I see it, when the pressure is on and this aspect is activated by transit, or when one of the elements of the square (Mars or Pluto) makes a stressful connection by transit of progression themselves somewhere on the chart, then there must be a creative resolution of the problem through the apex planet, otherwise the result could be wholly destructive. That fact that the apex planet Moon is in fixed Leo means that a creative solution may not be so easily implemented. The fact that both Neptune and Mercury oppose the Moon suggests that some sticking plaster solution may be tried, trying to keep emotion down by misinforming (Neptune/Mercury) and giving out optimistic signs (Jupiter) that everything is alright and all the partners of the Euro are in agreement, whereas behind the scenes there is a fierce battle going on (Moon/Pluto) in how to proceed and keep the Euro stable. At the moment, Ireland has had one bail-out and Greece two keeping the markets at bay and keeping the Euro steady, however how long can this last?
There are a couple of aspects I have yet to touch upon. Uranus is peregrine in Aquarius showing that this was a social project which in truth was a bit of a creative gamble, Uranus is reckless by nature. It is sitting in the 5th house of speculation, and with all bets there are two outcomes, you can win or lose. You can’t sit on the fence. Saturn trine to Neptune is interesting as this is very conservative, you cling on rigidly to your beliefs. Those who created the Euro will fight tooth and nail to preserve it, until it is too late, that is. Then of course, Neptune being the stronger planet (the slower moving of the two will always prevail) will start to disintegrate all that belief causing confusion and ultimately a shift in strategy. That shift in strategy is also highlighted by a very stressful Saturn/Pluto opposition. Saturn and Pluto can show huge success when well aspected, but when confronted by pressure it is a combination that can completely destruct. Remember when the Euro had lift off, for the first few years of it’s existence the Euro surged ahead in value against all currencies. Now that the financial problems of Europe are coming to light, how long is it before the markets see the currency as hugely overrated? There is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off on this chart. Pluto destroys before things are rebuilt (Saturn).
The horoscope of the Euro suggests to me the scenario of a beautiful house built in an earthquake zone. At the moment we have the tremors going on shaking the house, but the foundations (the Pluto/Mars square, the Neptune/Saturn trine and the Saturn/Pluto opposition) are holding firm. The only thing is the big one is on it’s way and when it hits, the whole house may come crashing down.
So when is this time bomb going to go off? Well this bomb has a long slow fuse. Pluto, part of that stressful Saturn/Pluto opposition is approaching the nadir (bottom) of the Euro chart, by Solar Arc progression. At the same time by transit it is approaching a conjunction with the Euro’s natal Sun. Pluto has already made contact with the natal Venus at 7 degrees Capricorn and will return to hit exactly in January and finally in November next year. This connection is already starting to send shockwaves through the European community (Venus has social connotations). In 2013 as I see it, the deconstruction of the Euro will begin. Transiting Pluto hits the natal Sun 3 times through out 2013 making final exact contact in December of that year but the effects will continue for a year or two afterwards. In 2013, transiting Uranus will also be making a square to the natal Sun. Remember Pluto destroys so that new growth can begin and Uranus will add shock value. Uranus hits from the 7th house, so will the relationships (7th house) between the European countries which host the Euro start to splinter? Maybe the Euro will be dropped by some countries or it will mutate into a different form completely? One can only but speculate right now. At the same time Solar Arc Pluto will oppose the natal Midheaven and square the Natal Ascendant in the summer of 2015, although the effect will be start to be felt a year or two ahead. This is changing the public face of the currency, entering a new era, possibly the destruction of the old model to be replaced by something new; perhaps the currency will cease to be at all? In the autumn of 2014 Solar Arc Mars squares the Ascendant and Midheaven too, this sounds like decisive and forceful action being taken to change the face of the Euro & Saturn trines natal Uranus so radical progressive new ideas and structures will be forming. Change will come quickly at this time and not without pain.
One thing I can categorically say is that in 4-5 years time, the Euro will have a different look or structure to it. The European Union will also being facing a crisis or three as well in late 2014 as transiting Saturn connects with the European Pluto/Mars conjunction in Scorpio – now that’s an explosive connection to look forward to, which has the potential for the European Union to explode completely!!
A topic I will return to at another time…
