(10 March 2025)  US markets tumbled again Monday after President Trump suggested in an interview that a recession was possible this year.  Markets have responded negatively to Trump’s tariffs as investors anticipate higher prices and lower consumer demand.  The uncertainty surrounding the tariffs seems to be undermining investment and damaging sentiment.  So far, the S&P 500 has fallen about 8% from its February 19 peak while the NASDAQ has declined by 13%.

The pullback has occurred against the backdrop of the Venus retrograde cycle which began on March 1.  Actually, stocks began to decline while Venus was merely slowing well before it reversed its direction.  Based on a study of previous Venus retrograde cycles, I thought there was a chance that sentiment could improve after March 1 but this clearly has not been the case.  We now have to look elsewhere for clues about where and when a possible bottom may occur.

Another angle on the problem is to focus on the natal charts of the stock exchanges and their main indexes.  Key among these is the chart of the New York Stock Exchange which was founded May 17, 1792.  While the precise time is a matter of some dispute, the chart is still useful.  I currently use the 8.52 a.m. time, although the current position of Mars at 24 Gemini is an argument for using 7.52 a.m. which has 23 Gemini rising.  (All positions are sidereal/Krishnamurti)

We can see that Saturn (27 Aquarius) is exactly opposite natal Mars (27 Leo).  This is a clear affliction that is likely manifesting strongly right now because the Sun is approaching its exact conjunction with Saturn tomorrow (March 11).  This may be seen as a point of maximum short-term affliction.  It is possible it may even mark an interim bottom, although transits are only one piece of the puzzle.

Another aspect of the natal chart is the derived progressed chart.  While precise timing is difficult with these charts due to relatively slow planetary speed (tertiary progressed inner planets move about 1 degree/month; minor progressed inner planets move about 1 degree/week), they are worth tracking when the market is making a big move.

The tertiary progressed NYSE chart now shows Mercury (2Sg58) is an exact 120 degree alignment with bearish Saturn (2Le56).  While the 120 degree alignment is not considered as bearish as the 90 or 180 degree alignments, any alignment with Saturn is problematic.  What is noteworthy here is that Mercury has only just past its exact alignment on Monday.  It moves very slowly and thus could stay in range for a while yet.  On the other hand, it’s possible Monday’s exact alignment is very close to the bottom.

The other thing that stands out in the tertiary progressed chart is that both the Sun (11 Scorpio) and Venus (9 Sagittarius) will align with progressed Jupiter (13 Cancer) over the next couple of months, assuming about one degree per month of motion for the Sun and Venus.  As a rule, alignments involving Jupiter are usually bullish.  This suggests that wherever and whenever stocks bottom, a strong and durable rally is likely to follow.

Now let’s consider the minor progressed chart.  Derived planetary speeds are faster here (about 1 degree/week for the Sun, Mercury and Venus) and thus this chart can offer more finely tuned information.  There is clearly a bearish alignment in force at the moment as the Sun conjoins malefic Rahu (2 Libra) and is aligned with malefic Mars (2 Sagittarius).  This is a bearish set up that is also aligned with the natal Mercury-Jupiter alignment.  We should also note that progressed Venus is closely conjunct bearish Mars at 27 Leo.

Since the Sun and Venus are moving at a rate about 1 degree per week — and Mars about 1 degree every 2 weeks — the negative impact of this minor progressed alignment should dissipate quickly, perhaps as soon as this week.

This improvement in the minor progressed chart may not be sufficient to end this current market correction but it does provide some evidence for a bounce in the coming days.  And given the March 11 Sun-Saturn conjunction, I would not be surprised if it happened perhaps as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday.  But we shall see.