The Stars This Week — March 14th v. 2/10

Reflections on Japan; Mercury-Jupiter lines up against Saturn

I’ll admit to being quite distracted these days as the emerging disaster in Japan has rendered discussions of the possible psychological effects of weekly transits seem pretty secondary.   The amount of destruction wrought by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami is almost unfathomable.  And now the prospect of possible nuclear meltdowns only adds insult to injury.  While I have written a full analysis of the quake on my website, I’ll just mention a couple of things here.

Astrology may have something to say in this latest human drama as there were reports in the mainstream media about a so-called ‘supermoon’ in the days preceding the March 11 earthquake.  Astrologer Richard Nolle and others had noted that the Moon was due to make its closest approach to Earth in 18 years at the next Full Moon on March 19.  Some astrologers were therefore predicting a major natural disaster as the increased gravitational pull from this supermoon might be sufficient to release pent-up seismic or volcanic energy.   Reputable Wall Street analysts such as Paul Montgomery and Dennis Gartman had also made mention of the approaching supermoon and its potentially destructive effects and how it might therefore correlate with declines on the stock market.  It’s noteworthy that neither of these analysts were financial astrologers, but merely acknowledged the possible real world significance of such a ‘wild card’ factor.

While I think the supermoon phenomenon is worth studying, I’m not sure it can explain this disaster.  After all, scientists who have investigated the possible correlation between the Moon and earthquakes have found very little evidence to support this notion.  While the correlation is there, it is tiny and not large enough to have practical use.   Perhaps the take away here is that it is only one factor out of many and therefore we should be careful to not ascribe too much importance to it.   And for what it’s worth, I have been expecting the stock market to decline, but due to the approaching Jupiter-Saturn aspect rather than any presumed lunar influence.

Instead, I tend to think that major events such as this are better explained in terms of the respective positions of the planets.  I have previously noted how the recent square 90 degree angle between Rahu (the North Lunar Node) and Uranus generated a lot of disruption and instability that has manifested in the revolutions in the Middle East.  This aspect is still quite close — just two degrees from exact — and so that is a problematic energy that is still out there.  As I mention in my article on the earthquake, the Rahu-Uranus aspect hit the national horoscope of Japan in a very vulnerable place and therefore it played a key astrological role in the current devastation.

We are also approaching a Jupiter-Saturn opposition that is due on March 28-29 and this may have also have been a factor in the Sendai quake.  The squaring off of the solar system’s two largest planets is definitely a significant event in symbolic terms and represents a clash between the optimism and expansionary nature of Jupiter and the pessimism and constraining character of Saturn.  The resulting stress and tension from such confrontations of Jupiter and Saturn can be formidable and they often mark a rise in uncertainty and duress.  The previous opposition occurred in May 2010 and corresponded with the outbreak of the European debt crisis and the subsequent Flash Crash in the stock market. 

The probability for such major negative events is perhaps greater when these tense aspects between planets occur simultaneously.  This also applies to the key snapshots I like to use for forecasting such as eclipses and the New Year’s chart.  Actually, I did mention in my analysis of the January 1, 2011 chart that the planets suggested a higher than average number of natural disasters.  Mars was in bad aspect with Saturn, while Mars, Pluto and Rahu all lined up together in the 4th house of land and population.  Since all three planets are considered naturally malefic, it was not hard to extrapolate that there would a significant amount of seismic and volcanic activity in 2011.   The January 4 solar eclipse was also a very afflicted eclipse since the Sun-Moon conjunction (19 Sagittarius) was closely square to Saturn
(22 Virgo).  Anytime you have a close aspect between the depressing and destructive power of Saturn with the eclipse point, there is an increased likelihood of unpleasant consequences, whether they be economic, political or natural. 

But back to the stars this week.  This week is something of a good news/bad news scenario.  The good news is that Mercury, the planet of the intellect and communication, will conjoin Jupiter, the planet of wisdom and good fortune, on Tuesday.  This is a very favourable pairing for most endeavours, especially those that involve rational action and sharing the results of deliberate study and analysis.  If last week’s Mercury-Uranus conjunction focused on ingenuity and quick thinking, Mercury-Jupiter describes an intelligence that occurs at a more calculated pace.  This is a more reasoned approach that incorporates the idea of exhibiting accomplished skills and knowledge that is capable of delivering a respected opinion or advice to those in need.  Since the conjunction occurs in Pisces, there may be greater interest in humanitarian or spiritual matters.  Helping or guiding Japan comes to mind here. 

But the bad news is that this conjunction will occur in opposition to grumpy, old Saturn. Since there is still almost two weeks until the opposition is exact, it is quite possible that we will not have to grapple with the full effects for a while.  Nonetheless, Saturn introduces a more distorting or sober influence on the proceedings.  Saturn is all about denial and delay so there is an increased likelihood that progress may be somewhat slower than expected.  Sometimes, this is just what we need as progress is perhaps more long-lasting if it has been planned correctly and we adhere to rules and methods.  Saturn likes to keep things routine and orderly so there may be a focus on organizing and adding structure to one’s life over the coming days.  The emphasis may be more on scheduling tasks and activities rather than spontaneity.  Saturn can also distort thinking so that we become immune to facts and fall victim to bias.  There is a greater risk of one-sided perceptions here that emerge from deep-seated prejudices.  Perhaps that isn’t good news for the ongoing protests in Wisconsin or the strife Middle East.

So the trick may be to learn to work with the limitations imposed by Saturn as we harness Mercury’s powers of discrimination and Jupiter’s ability to render sound judgment.  As long as we don’t succumb to Saturn’s heaviness, we can still move forward using the best of our intelligence in a structured way.   So be creative, but maybe only between 4 and 5 p.m. after your other work is done and the boss has gone home.

Have a great week,
Chris