The troublesome transit of Mars in Gemini

In early 2008, the planet Mars will lose its strength in transit, as it moves in retrograde motion into the early degrees of Gemini of the sidereal zodiac and under the close and adverse aspect of the shadow planet, Rahu. This situation suggests setbacks for industry and in military and police matters. Anti-social elements may become prominent at this time.

"Mundane astrology deals with the planetary influences through signs and planetary periods in the charts of nations, cities, organizations, corporations, business organizations" Professor V. K. Choudhry in The Systems' Approach for Interpreting Horoscopes. The interpretation of the transits of the planets in the sky is also important to understand global trends.

In mundane astrology, Mars is the ruler of the army, police, athletes and captains of industry. Mars is an indication of the motivation to control by the application of physical force. It is also a key indicator of industrial activities.

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It is good to keep in mind that the other planets will continue to have an impact as per their nature and transit condition during this time. For example, Saturn rules low-tech and mining industries; Mercury rules high-tech industries, commerce and transportation while Venus rules luxury goods, design, airline and leisure industries. By comparison, the Sun and Moon rule the government and currency and Jupiter rules banking activities. The conditions of the other planets in early 2008 are intermittently strong or weak. Importantly, the transit position of Jupiter and Venus will mostly be strong and their indications expected to do well during this time.

Due to the aspect of Rahu in early 2008, Mars becomes a temporary indicator of anti-social elements. This is because Rahu rules deceit and manipulations. Rahu is an indicator of sales people focused on a one-time gain, smuggling and diplomatic activities.

As the attached graph shows, Mars loses strength in transit as it moves in retrograde motion into a state of infancy in the first five degrees of a sign. In early January 2008, Mars comes under the exact trinal aspect of Rahu at 4° 45' Aquarius. In this state the power of Mars is reduced and its indications are afflicted.

On January 1, 2008, Professor Choudhry made the following prediction on the SAMVA list: "Transit Mars is going to be under continuous affliction of transit Rahu for next couple of weeks. This close affliction, in general, gives rise to infections, allergies, distress to police and security forces, accidents, volatility to financial markets and stress to executives. For various ascendants it causes stress to the significations of the house where the sign Aries is placed. Health and movements need care."

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In regards to volatility to financial markets we could note that the US stock market has had its worst start of the year in 2008 since the year 2000. The share prices of industrial firms have been affected and the concerns about the likelihood of an economic recession have recently increased linked to disappointing data on manufacturing activity.

In late January and early February 2008, Mars will be at almost 0° in Gemini where it is utterly powerless. Hence, the dynamism of the indications of Mars will be at a low ebb. Fortunately, the aspect of Rahu is not as close at these times, but felt nonetheless. However, when Mars turns direct and advances back into Gemini, it will come under the aspect of Rahu again at 3° 42' around February 25, 2008. At that time, the disruption in the stock market could again be felt more strongly.

In the SAMVA USA chart, the transit of Mars in Gemini is especially difficult as this sign falls in the 12th house of the chart. The 12th house is one of the three malefic houses, ruling "financial losses, expenditure, mishaps, group hospitalizations, foreign debt, wars and smuggling." Hence, US industrial firms, the police and military are being affected by these influences. Moreover, the aspect to Mars from Rahu is aggravated by the fact that Rahu is transiting through the 8th house, the most malefic house, which rules "beliefs of the masses, [bureaucratic red-tape], speed of execution of works, delays and obstructions, accidents, fatal accidents, epidemics, gold and precious stones, legacies, capital gains, floods, earthquakes, cyclones and storms."

Setbacks to these indications abroad, in some cases involving deception, are likely to be pronounced at this time. The recent killing of US troops by an Iraqi soldier because of his hidden loyalty to the Sunni cause of the late Saddam Hussein, is clearly in line with the transit condition of Mars.

As discussed in the article The year ahead for the USA, war and foreign policy are likely to become highly unsettling issues in the US political debate and disruptive of the collective harmony in 2008.