Predictions for the USA in 2020

In 2016, Trump came, saw, conquered

The year 2019 was enormously difficult for Americans, due to domestic political conflict, which came to a head in the autumn when the Democrat majority of Congress commenced impeachment proceedings against President Trump. As 2020 opens, these tensions are likely to flare up again before beginning to de-escalate from January 24. 

Donald Trump is expected to survive the impeachment trial in the Senate, which will likely take place in January 2020. His own chart suggests difficulty for close partnerships during most of 2020 and into mid 2021. However, transit-to-natal contacts will be easier after February 2020. It is therefore not straight forward to predict that he retains his office. However, based on the national horoscope, such an outcome becomes quite likely. Aside from the fact that he enjoys the advantages of being an incumbent, potentially being able to incur the goodwill of his voters by doing things they agree with, a more important rationale is the fact that the tensions in national affairs are seen to wind down for the country as a whole in early 2020. Such an outcome would be unlikely if Congress removed him from office, as that would be expected to create intense unhappiness among his political base. Accordingly, he will likely prevail and the political revolution he ushered in a few years ago will likely continue after the elections on November 3, 2020. However, the transit influences on election night suggest a subdued sense of victory, reflecting the weariness associated with the domestic rancor during most of his first term. Moreover, difficulty is foreseen for the country as the year ends, possibly linked to an adverse foreign policy development, or a setback for the economy.

Sub-periods

The Sun-Saturn period from February 21, 2019 has been attended by tremendous obstruction in the political life of America, not least due to the transit Saturn, as 8th lord of obstacles and endings, in Sagittarius and 6th house of political conflict from January 26, 2017. During this period, the political process became severely obstructed as the political opponents of President Trump devoted all of their energy to end prematurely his term as President. During this period there have also been international tensions over trade, notably with China, conflict, notably with Iran and immigration, notably with Mexico.

This adverse period ends on February 3, 2020, when the more favourable Sun-Mercury period begins. A week earlier, transit Saturn, as 8th lord, will have moved into its own sign, Capricorn, and the 7th house. Moreover, as the new sub-period begins, transit Venus, which rules communal harmony, moves into its exaltation sign, Pisces and the 9th house. These two transits add to the favourable change in the national mood. During the Mercury sub-period the focus will likely shift to initiatives in foreign policy, to ensure the freedom of action and speech in the world, as well as to secure the peace, including for international commerce. The US media may begin to recalibrate their messaging during this period, after four years of hounding Donald Trump at every step. The period also puts an emphasis on high tech, transportation and communication developments in the national life for most of 2020. However, as the sub-period begins, transit Mercury will be in Aquarius and the 8th house of obstruction and endings until April 6, while transit 2nd lord Sun will be in Aquarius and 8th house until March 15. Hence, the above noted improvement in national affairs is made more gradual by these transits. After transit Mercury moves into Pisces and the 9th house, there could be some lucky change, even if  the quantum of this positive influence is reduced by the fact that Pisces is the debilitation sign of Mercury. On April 15, transit Sun will become exalted in Aries and 10th house until May 15 and transit Mercury will enter this sign and house on April 25 until May 10. These transits could result in improved conditions for the indications of Sun and Mercury and the 2nd and 3rd houses, and in relation to the foreign trade, the government, legislature and the military. 

As the year ends, the Sun-Ketu period will begin on December 10, 2020. Often, this period has been associated with the eruption of repressed rage associated with the marginalisation of disadvantaged groups. At this time, there may therefore be increased difficulty for communal harmony, especially as transit Ketu will then be stationary at 25° 46' Scorpio where it will be conjunct natal 8th lord Saturn at 26° 45' Scorpio, suggesting sudden explosive events, involving death like experiences focused on the indications of the 5th house, notably young people and university life. It could also involve an upset for the easy gains of speculators. At that time, transit 6th lord Jupiter at 3° 48' Capricorn and 7th house will also be conjunct transit 8th lord Saturn at 5° 03' Capricorn and 7th house, a violence inducing aspect, but with a focus on foreign policy or leisure activities. 

Slow moving transits

The year begins with a transit station of the nodes, with Rahu at 14° 15‘ Gemini and 12th house, and Ketu at 14° 15‘ Sagittarius and 6th house of the SAMVA USA chart. The station ends in mid February 2020, when the nodes resume their normal movements. As the transit nodes are in wide aspect to the natal nodes, some problems related to manipulations, corruption, alienation and powerlessness may arise. Charges of corruption involving the family members of leading politicians, like Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, could be highlighted. The tension is greater when other planets cross the stationary nodal axis. On January 3, transit 3rd lord Mercury passes over transit Ketu. At that time, there could be short lived transportation or communication problems. 

Jupiter begins the year at 12° 32' Sagittarius and 6th house. It will remain in this house until March 29, 2020. On January 8, 2020, transit 6th lord Jupiter will cross transit stationary Ketu. It is likely this transit will be accompanied by the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, and reflect the associated tensions. As Ketu rules powerlessness, it is possible the trial will involve a standoff or powerlessness of one side, more likely the Democrats. Outright conflict is also possible at this time, especially if the USA is challenged by another power. Traditionally, the USA does not back down from provocations. As Jupiter is the moolatrikona lord of the sign Sagittarius, it is in full strength in the 6th house when not severely afflicted. Hence, it is expected to regain its strength in mid January and retain it until mid March, when it becomes old age. It will again become strong from mid July through October, when its general and functional indications are also protected. However, from mid March to mid July, Jupiter will be in old age in Sagittarius, and hence weakened. Moreover, from April to June, Jupiter will be in infancy and debilitation in the sign of Capricorn and the 7th house, while also briefly in a wide conjunction aspect with 8th lord Saturn there. As a result, its 6th house indications will become weak and slightly vulnerable to setbacks. After Jupiter re-enters Sagittarius on June 30, where it remains until November 19, its indications regain strength. However, it will become conjunct natal 4th lord Venus from late July to early November -- stationary conjunct in August and September -- which is expected to be associated with a marked reduction in the communal harmony. Likely, this will be linked to divisiveness during the Presidential election. Possibly, it may also be linked to US military involvement abroad, especially, after the nodal axis enters an applying conjunction with natal 8th lord Saturn from late September. Finally, in November and December, transit 6th lord Jupiter will fist be in old age and then infancy and debilitation, suggesting weakness. Moreover, after entering Capricorn on November 20, it will also become conjunct transit 8th lord Saturn, suggesting increased scope for violent events and setbacks to its indications.

Saturn is in old age in Sagittarius and 6th house as the year opens. As such, it is in separating conjunction with natal 4th lord Venus at 24° Sagittarius. This suggests that the obstructive energy that is undermining the communal harmony, as well as the crisis on the southern border, are diminishing. On January 25, 2020, Saturn will enter its own sign Capricorn and 7th house. As a result, the energy of obstruction and endings will move to the area of foreign policy and leisure activities. During the year, Saturn will not be aspecting in the SAMVA USA chart, hence its energy of obstruction and endings, but also easy gains, which was a front and center influence in 2019, will not be so strongly felt by Americans in 2020. One possible influence in 2020 may be that Americans will travel less abroad while foreign tourists flock to the USA. 

Rahu remains in Gemini and Ketu in Sagittarius until September 20, 2020. From May to July 2020, the transit nodes will become stationary at 5° Gemini and 12th house and Sagittarius and 6th house. As the nodes will not form aspects in the SAMVA USA chart, its effect will likely be less. However, after the Rahu enters Taurus, its sign of exaltation, and the 11th house, and transit Ketu enters Scorpio, its exaltation sign, and the 5th house, the transit nodes will become stationary from November 2020 to January 2021 at 26° Taurus and 11th house and Scorpio and 5th house – on top of natal 8th lord Saturn at 26° 46‘ Scorpio and 5th house. As this transit coincides with the transit conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter at around 6° Capricorn, some military involvement is possible. Financial markets could also become spooked at that time, resulting in a correction.

Mars, the general indicator of astronauts, the military and police, and the functional lord of the 10th house, ruling foreign trade, the government, legislature, will alternate between Pisces and the 9th house and Aries and the 10th house during the second half of the year. It will be in Pisces from June 19 to August 16 and again from October 4 to December 23, when its indication will tend to have fortunate developments, and it will be in Aries from August 17 to October 3 and again from December 24 to February 22, 2021, when its indications will tend to be more prominent.

Summary of predictions for 2020

Advances in flight likely

Overall, the year is expected to be far more pleasant than the prior year. The economy should continue to grow, with an emphasis on high tech, transportation and communication activities. There could even be dramatic revelations with regard to new technology, in the above areas. The Boeing 737 MAX crisis could well be resolved by Spring 2020. The Space Force could become a visible and exciting aspect of the military. Communal harmony will likely be significantly reduced in the lead up to the election. Moreover, as the year ends, some challenges are likely, possibly for foreign policy or the economy.

A hopeful new decade

As the year opens, the decade of the 2010s ends and the 2020s begin. In the past decade the reality has focused on the stunning divide between the super rich and very poor, as residual of the weak Venus major period in the SAMVA USA chart. Indeed, during this decade the number of billionaires tripled in the world. Prosperity was spread around the planet, transforming the lives of billions of people. However, the number of forgotten Americans, those left behind in the march to prosperity, also increased. A positive change has been unfolding since 2016, when the strong Sun major period began, with employment increasing and wages rising, especially at the lower end of the spectrum. In 2022, the Moon period will run for ten years, heralding continued improvement for the USA, with a focus on the realisation of the ideals of America as a nation. The US economy has been weighed down by heavy debts and desperate government policies to enable the economy to grow out of the debt doldrums while also boosting pay for the low earners. As the new decade opens, the US has taken steps to correct flaws in the economic management, as well as increase the focus on space exploration. In December 2019, the Space Force, as the 6th branch of the US military was created. President Trump has also championed a manned mission to Mars by 2032, when the Mars major period begins. Underlying this focus is the accelerating technological change, in such areas as AI, quantum computers, robotics, batteries and automation. While this is causing a disruption for production, exchange, jobs and living standards, the new capabilities in transportation and communication will create plenty of opportunities for new jobs and life styles. More effort will undoubtedly be put into pollution abatement. The accelerating arms race is leading to stunning new destructive capabilities, making arms control and peaceful relations all the more important.

Epilogue for 2019 Prediction

The transits of 2019 were phenomenal, with three slow moving malefics transiting bad houses in the SAMVA USA chart. The prediction for the year 2019 was realised, in terms of the primary nature of events, with the consistent focus of the political opposition, including the corporate media, to obstruct and bring an end to the presidency of Donald Trump with impeachment proceedings. An Impeachment Inquiry was formally launched on September 24. Two Articles of Impeachment were then passed by the Congressional Democrats on December 18. These developments were predicted based on transit Saturn, as 8th lord in the most effective point of the 6th house, bringing an energy of obstruction and endings to political conflict. Indeed, the political opposition sought to end the Presidency of Donald Trump.

The crisis on the US-Mexico border, in terms of the powerlessness of the President and Congress to stop or allow the disorderly flow of illegal immigrants into the USA, was partially predicted. The abject powerlessness of all involved was due to Ketu becoming exactly stationary conjunct natal Venus as 4th lord of homeland in the 6th house of conflict of the SAMVA USA chart. In the fall of 2019, after Ketu had moved off its station in the summer and it had also moved away from the 6th house MEP, the crisis was gradually brought under control through an agreement with the Mexican government.

That said, the quantum of disaster expected was fortunately not realised in 2019, in terms of the potential seen for mass casualties. While new records were broken in terms of number of fatalities in the country associated with mass shootings, especially during the summer months, the milder outcome may be explained with two key factors:

1. the conjunction of the malefics occurred in the least malefic 6th house, lessening the scope for serious setback, even if involving transit 8th lord Saturn, the lord of obstacles and endings, and Ketu, the lord of sudden and explosive events.
2. the actions of the US President Trump, indicated by the Sun in the chart, by backing away from the precipice of war with Iran on June 20, 2019, and again, by removing US troops from Syria in October, may have prevented unknown horrors. While the sub-period of Saturn was operating, it was likely the influence of the major period of Sun that reduced the scope for major adverse events in the country. The President also showed strength in the face of a determined opposition, lessening the political upheaval in the country during the tense times.

This would also explain why the late astrologer and author, V. K. Choudhry, predicted in March 2017, based on his reading of the SAMVA USA chart, that there was no expectation of major violence in the USA associated with the conflict over President Trump, in the next couple of years.

Political obstructionism in the USA

Nancy Pelosi, Donald Trump, William Barr & military leaders

As predicted many years ago, the year 2016 marked a revolutionary change in the national life of Americans. A strong leader appeared on the political scene in 2015 intent on righting decades of harmful policies by a corrupt class of ‘establishment‘ politicians benefiting global corporations. After the new President made his agenda clear, the establishment politicians in his own party began to retire from public service.  Meanwhile, the other party, saw this development as an existential threat to its own electoral basis. Rather than undergo its own reform, the leaders decided to defend the organised political corruption, whereby elected officials use their position to become wealthy in exchange for passing legislation benefiting their donors. They did this by uniting with the anti-democratic media owned by the global corporations in attacking the President, and working with them to find any reason that could be used to remove him from office. As a result, President Trump‘s term has been marked by great political obstructionism, reaching a climax in the decision to impeach him the fall of 2019.

Political corruption in the USA

The cause of the political discontent may be traced to the free trade and immigration policies of past decades. As Dr. Ravi Batra first showed in the early 1990s, these policies have proved injurious to millions if not a hundred million ordinary Americans. This is best seen in the increased inequality and poverty in the USA since the early 1970s. While the 1970s and 1980s, the Mercury major period, saw an increase in the liberalisation of the economy, gradually resulting in better economic performance. However, this progress masked an ugly reality of the outsourcing of well-paying US manufacturing jobs to the rest of the world, such that the US became a post-industrial economy, based on a growing share of lower-paying service sector jobs. While free trade was a benefit for the world as a whole, and even brought cheaper goods to American shores, it was a disaster for millions of ordinary Americans who saw their incomes fall precipitously. On the upside, corporate profits and the stock market surged from the early 1980s.  

By the time the Ketu period rolled around in 1989, Soviet Communism collapsed, and the US economic model was perceived as the righteous victor. However, the period was one of social tumult and growing discontent. The shift to the weak Venus major period in 1996, resulted in a new credit driven housing boom that burst in the banking crisis of 2007-2008. Importantly, the ordinary Americans made up for the income shortfall by borrowing more. When housing prices fell and jobs began to evaporate, a disaster befell millions of households. In the wake of deep recession that followed, there was the Tea Party revolt of 2009-2010 aimed a government profligacy and corruption, and the Occupy Wall Street protest of 2011-2012 focused on the surging inequality between the 1 percent of the wealthiest and the worse off rest. In fact, corporate welfare surged when the government saved Wall Street in 2008, while the Main Street had to sink or swim. As the political causes of the mal-distribution were becoming increasingly well-known, despite the best efforts of the corporate media to suppress this information, once the strong Sun period in the SAMVA USA chart arrived, a new vision for the future of the country had emerged. It was to end these policies and political corruption in Washington DC, known as "Drain the Swamp".

  

Prediction of a US resurgence

In April 2008, when the prediction for a resurgence in America‘s political life was first made, little could be said about who this new leader might be. Nor was there time to consider the transit influences of the slow moving planets, as the work on testing the chart was aimed at the more immediate future. On October 20, 2015, however, it was predicted on this blog that a Republican would win the Presidency in 2016. As it turns out, the new leader was a highly controversial business magnate, Donald Trump, from New York. Once he had emerged on the scene, on June 16, 2015 and his horoscope was known, the late astrologer and author, Vinod Kumar Choudhry, predicted on October 22, 2015 that “He has a fairly good chance of political success and becoming President.“ The achievement of this prediction is greater as most astrologers predicted his opponent Hillary Clinton would win. Mr. Choudhry also accurately predicted George W. Bush would win in 2000 and 2004. As an authentic horoscope for Barack Obama was not available, a plausible prediction could not be made for the election outcomes in 2008 and 2012.

Difficult sub-periods and transits

Returning to the Sun major period, it became clear in late 2016, that the transits would be adverse for most of President Trump's first term. Amazingly, President Trump took office on January 21, 2017, coinciding with the entry of Saturn into the sign Sagittarius. In the 20° Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart, Saturn, is lord of the 8th house, whose indications are obstacles and endings, as well as easy gains. As transit Saturn was thus placed in the 6th house, whose indications include political opposition and conflict, the annual prediction for the USA in 2017, made in late 2016, was that this two and a half year transit would bring a more divisive time to the national life. 

“On January 27, transit Saturn will enter Sagittarius and the 6th house, which is expected to bring an energy of obstacles and endings to conflict, financial stability and health matters.”

Trump's mannerisms were unique

The Sun major period, which began on April 19, 2016, had for the first year and two months a sequence of three favourable sub-periods of functional benefic planets, Sun as 2nd lord of status and wealth, Moon as 1st lord of self and Mars as 10th lord of government and legislature. Hence, the trend life was favourable, but adverse significant events were likely to cast a shadow, especially, when the transiting malefic planets were afflicting in the chart. Trump was quickly ridiculed for his mannerisms and communications, which were not considered Presidential.

Dark clouds on the horizon

Critic of Trump: Brian Stelter of CNN.

The situation became even more adverse after June 10 2017, when the Rahu sub-period began. In August 2017, transit Sun passed over a nodal station, resulting in a huge uproar over protests in Charlotte and Trump's poor reaction to it. As Rahu is a functional malefic planet afflicting the 10th house of government, the focus was on manipulation in government, by secretive interests. The corporate media also took center stage in making the case that Donald Trump was not a capable leader. The Russian Collusion investigation was launched that spring by intelligence officials, ostensibly more loyal to former President Obama than President Trump. When Trump fired the duplicitous FBI Director James Comey, it was considered a grave threat to the establishment.

Peak difficulties in 2019

On May 5, 2018, the Jupiter sub-period began. Jupiter is 6th lord of conflict, including the political opposition. Hence, this is when the Democrats became more prominent in the political life, based on their political obstruction. Half a year later, they gained a majority in the House of Representatives, and the controversial legislative progress of the Trump administration ground to a halt. However, it was in the sub-period of Saturn, which began on February 21, 2019, that the obstruction kicked into high gear. 

Immigrant Convoy

The domestic political climate became extremely difficult when the seven month conjunction of transit Ketu and Saturn in the MEP of the 6th house began in March 2019, with these malefic also becoming conjunct 4th lord Venus. At that time, the “Border Crisis“ developed, whereby the administration became powerless to stem a growing tide of illegal immigrants, with large convoys emerging in central America. Incarceration of families with children became a flash point in the debate. After 70 miles of the new border wall replaced lower fences by October 2019, especially on the porous California border, did the border crisis begin to abate. Several deadly mass shootings also took place in late July, shocking the nation, amplifying calls for effective gun controls. 

Foreign policy tensions

Iran-US military tension in June 2019

Meanwhile, the President was engaged in a trade war with China, and trying to stop Iran‘s export of terror in the Middle East. A potentially deadly war was averted after Iran‘s military downed a US drone on June 20, 2019. At that time, President Trump decided, at the last minute, not to retaliate. In September, he again reminded of his campaign promise to withdraw US forces from endless wars, and announced the removal of US troops from Syria. This caused great consternation in the military-industrial complex that thrives on such involvement. A brief crisis involving US allies but bitter foes, Turkey and Kurds, also followed. President Trump was quickly able to arrange a cease fire, after warning the autocratic Turkish leader, Recep Erdogan, in a forceful and blunt letter “Don´t be a tough guy. Don´t be a fool“. In these tense foreign policy engagemments, the US President acted with power and wisdom, consistent with the Sun‘s placement in the national horoscope. Indeed, it is a lesson from this year, that despite the sub-periods and transits of functional malefic planets in bad houses, the influence of the powerful Sun major period in the chart has reduced the difficulty.

Russia Collusion

However, in line with the malefic influences in the chart, all the while the President was trying to do the people's work, the US Congress was looking for ways to impeach him. In April 2019, the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller issued a report investigating allegations that President Trump engaged in collusion with the Russian government to influence the 2016 Presidential Election. However, the report did not present any evidence of it. Mueller also gave testimony to the US Congress on July 24, to the same effect: there was no evidence of collusion by Trump and the Russians. 

Ukraine Scandal

On July 25, 2019, President Trump made a call to Ukraine‘s newly elected President, Volodymyr Zelensky. In the call, Trump asked the Zelensky to do us [read: the USA] a favour and root out corruption in the country. He mentioned former Vice President Biden and his son, Hunter, as cases in point. Trump‘s stated concern was that it was not defensible to give hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to a country rife with corruption, as it only resulted in its misuse. However, the Democrats interpreted the call, based on a whistleblower account, as sign of President Trump‘s political corruption, to pressure a foreign power to harm a US citizen for his own political gain. On September 24, 2019, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, announced an Impeachment Inquiry into President Trump‘s dealings in Ukraine. This is a continuation of efforts by the Democrats, especially after they gained the majority in November 2018, to remove the President from Office. The following was predicted for 2019:

"A likely scenario for the expression of this conflictual and disturbing energy would be the political conflict over the revolutionary policies of President Trump. ... After being denied the Presidency at the ballot box in 2016, the Democrats appear intent on wresting back control of the political domain in 2020, possibly by seeking to impeach a President they perceive as "lawless" or "out of control"."

The Future of American Democracy

In November 2019, Attorney General, William Barr, claimed that the Democrats were undermining political norms through their constant obstructionism. Barr also suggests that the legislative and judicial branches were now undermining the efficacy of the executive branch. He sees such developments as threatening to the very fabric of American democracy. There is some truth in this astounding statement, but the understanding of such national developments must transcend the personalities leading the mundane play. While an intensifying political conflict can destabilise the US democracy, it may also set it on a new and more hopeful path. As the Sun major period is still operating, it is likely the executive branch is in the process of reasserting its place in the constitutional scheme. As such, a US President can then better temper the power of corporations and tendency of corrupt politicians to undermine the integrity of the nation by allowing the exploitation of American workers for their own gain and that of their donors, as has been the case in past decades. The US may currently only be undergoing a rather painful transition to a more citizen-oriented democracy. As such, signs of a more hopeful tenor in the national life may begin to emerge as early next year.

A Path to War?

Oil tanker attacks of May 13, 2019.

The signs of war, involving the USA, are ever increasing at this time, as predicted at the end of last year. European and Asian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have in recent months been repeatedly attacked. The US government has presented clear evidence that Iran (or its proxies) orchestrated the attacks. The USA is now ratcheting up pressure on Iran, by effectively threatening war if Iran does not cease threatening its neighbours by funding terrorism in the region and trying to acquire nuclear weapons. On June 20, 2019, Iran shot down a US Navy spy drone, which it claims entered its airspace.  The US refuted the claim, saying the drone was in international airspace. The situation is therefore rapidly becoming more tense. China and Russia have criticised the USA for provoking Iran, while France and Germany, which are more dependent on oil from the Middle East, have urged caution. The UK, like the USA, has reinforced its military assets in the region, while Israel has begun "war games".

Iran has been under ever tighter economic sanctions since May 2018, when President Trump pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan for Action). Trump said that Iran's long standing efforts to export terror and instability to various countries in the region, involving Hezbollah in Palestine, Hamas in the Gaza strip (Israel) and various terror groups in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, needed to stop. Only then can a durable agreement be signed and upheld, allowing Iran to sell oil on international markets. The Iranians have steadfastly denied the US and Israeli allegations.

Iran's Rev. Guards downed US drone on June 20.

Evidently, Iran's recent acts of war are attempts by the leadership in Tehran to force the USA to call off ever tightening sanctions. The Iranians are fully aware of the vulnerability of oil-dependent countries in Europe and Asia, which is seen in the reluctance of the European's to leave the nuclear agreement. It is also seen in Japanese Prime Minister Abe's trip to Tehran in mid June to seek a resumption of negotiations between the USA and Iran, which Iran flatly refused, saying it was a waste of time to talk to the Americans. Based on huge advances in the extraction of shale oil, the USA has become energy independent and thus has more degrees of freedom in dealing with Iran. Meanwhile, America's allies in Europe and Asia have a bigger stake in how the conflict is resolved. A war that stops oil from reaching Europe and Asia would be a worst case scenario. These countries are therefore trying to persuade the USA to peacefully resolve the situation. The Mullah´s have flesh in the game too. Their popular support in the country has been steadily dwindling as the ever tighter sanctions continue to bite. Public discontent with the regime was on international display in the election uprising of mid 2009, which was accurately predicted on this blog. 

ASTROLOGY OF 2019

Astrologically, this situation is reflected in the transit conjunction of Saturn and Ketu at 26°-20° Sagittarius from February to October 2019, which is already being reflected in worldwide events, but more so in countries with national horoscopes that connect with the transit, such as the USA and Iran, but also the EU,  Germany and the UK. 

The difficult transit conjunction of 2019.

This rare stationary and long standing transit conjunction took place at 12° Capricorn during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Interestingly, it was active in the SAMVA USA chart then, as it is now. The transit conjunction, highlights that the authorities and the public do not always know what is going on in the shadowy world of international intrigue, where things can suddenly escalate with horrifying repercussions. In 1962, the two sides were in the end willing to negotiate a solution. This time around it does not look likely and the Iranian's may just as well want to welcome the twelfth Mahdi in a final battle between good and evil.

With the benefit of astrology and an authentic horoscope for the USA, we can say that the transit and period influences today are, if anything, suggestive of a more difficult situation than at that time of the Cuban missile crisis, even if it may not become clear until later this month. On the upside, the SAMVA USA chart is undergoing a more propitious major period now, with Sun as 2nd lord in 7th house MEP, compared to the 1950s and 1960s, with Saturn as 8th lord in the 5th house.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

The Soviets placed nuclear missiles in Cuba

The Cuban MissileCrisis was a 13-day confrontation -- from October 16 to October 28, 1962 -- between the United States and the Soviet Union. The crisis began with the American discovery of Soviet ballistic missile deployment in Cuba. The confrontation is often considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war. After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961, the Soviets began in July 1962 to move troops and missile batteries to Cuba. The Saturn-Venus period was operating.

•     August 1962: CIA Director John McCone becomes suspicious and writes a memorandum to the President recommending surveillance flights over Cuba.
•      September 11, 1962: Transit 8L Saturn moved in retrograde motion over natal 3L Mercury at 12° 05‘ Capricorn and 7H. At that time, tr Ketu was at 15° 00‘ Capricorn. The Soviet Union, which were busy building a missile battery in Cuba, publicly warned on this day that a US attack on Cuba or on Soviet ships carrying supplies to the island would mean war.
•      October 15, 1962: Start of the Crisis in the USA. Transit Ketu became exactly conjunct natal 3L Mercury. Transit 8L Saturn was at 11° 38‘ Capricorn, with an orb of 0° 27‘ from these two planets. On this day, President Kennedy was shown photos proving the presence of Soviet medium range nuclear tipped missiles on Cuba.
•      October 22, 1962: President Kennedy delivers a nationwide television broadcast to inform the public about the crisis. The public becomes alarmed.
•      October 25, 1962: Transit Ketu became conjunct tr 8L Saturn at 11° 36‘ Capricorn. The crisis peaks but at the same time begins to be defused with a Security Council meeting at the UN and secret negotiations between Premier Kruischev and President Kennedy.
•      October 28, 1962: The crisis is considered to have effectively ended on this day.

The strength of 3th lord Mercury is considered to have avoided any major setback to the USA on this day. However, the Soviet-US negotiations resulted in comparable Jupiter medium range nuclear tipped missiles being secretly removed from Turkey within six months. Some viewed this a setback for the USA, but it also paved the way for sharply improved relations with the Soviets ten years later.

IRAN WAR CRISIS

Trump is dealing with a well equipped adversary.

The Sun-Saturn period is operating in the SAMVA USA chart between February 2019 and February 2020, with transit 8th lord Saturn becoming conjunct transit Ketu from March until October 2019. Astrologers can never know exactly how the karma seen in a chart will be expressed, in terms of what will happen. However, this transit involves three functional malefic planets in malefic houses, afflicting a sensitive natal planet, which is a recipe for disaster. So far, there have been significant tensions in USA - Chinese commercial relations as well as the fear of a war breaking out between the USA and Iran around oil shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Domestic terrorism or a natural disaster are also possibilities.

•      May 10, 2019: USA raises tariffs on $200 billion of goods from China.
•       May 12, 2019: Two oil tankers attacked, likely by Iran or its proxy, near the Straits of Hormuz.
•       May 13, 2019: USA places Chinese company, Huawei, on a list banning it from purchasing US companies.
•       June 1, 2919: China raises tariffs on $60 billion of US goods.
•       June 3, 2019: Transit Ketu moved over natal 4L Venus at 23° 50‘ Sagittarius and 6th house.
•       June 4, 2019: Massacre at Virginia Beach, 13 dead and 4 injured.
•       June 13, 2019: Two more oil tankers attacked in Straits of Hormuz, likely by Iran or its proxy.
•       June 20, 2019: Iran downs a US Navy spy drone outside/inside its international airspace.
• .......
•       June 29, 2019: Transit 8th lord Saturn becomes exactly conjunct natal 4th lord Venus.
•       July 4, 2019: Transit 8th lord Saturn and transit stationary Ketu become exactly conjunct at 23° 29‘ Sagittarius and 6th house.
•       July 10, 2019: Transit 2nd lord Sun becomes conjunct transit stationary Rahu at 23° 30' Gemini and 12th house most effective point (MEP) and opposite transit 8th lord Saturn at 23° 01' Sagittarius and 6th house MEP.

As natal 4th lord Venus is weak in the SAMVA USA chart, the setbacks from these severe afflictions are expected to be greater than during the October 1962 period. At that time, the leadership and the nation resolutely faced a death-like fear but without any real harm. This time, the discontent of the public over another costly war is likely to surge. Moreover, as the transits continue difficult for the USA into the fall, there will likely not be a quick resolution if the situation comes to blows. The Iranian regime may also resort to terrorist attacks in the USA. As transit Saturn moves into Capricorn and 7th house of the SAMVA USA chart in January 2020, it is likely the communal strife seen from the onset of Trump's term will then begin to ease. 

As for Iran, the difficulty seen in the horoscope for the Islamic Revolution, suggest the theorcratic regime may collapse. If so, this would pave the way for a new chapter in the Middle East, based on increased commercial prosperity and peaceful relations among Shia and Sunni factions.

Rebirth of Israel

The Behistun rock inscription is evidence of early Israel.

The search by Cosmologer for an authentic horoscope for Israel has been long standing, It has been discussed on the earlier SAMVA discussion list on Yahoo (2000-2018) and more recently on the new SAMVA Group on Facebook.* Three earlier candidate charts have been considered, but eventually they all encountered major failiures in prediction, necessitating their rejection as tentative charts for Israel. The premise of the search is that there is a single horoscope that represents the karmic destiny of the Jewish people, in terms of the creation of the modern collective entity of Israel. Sustaining the search effort have been the numerous successful or accurate predictions based on other proven mundane charts, such as the horoscopes for the USA, UK and India, as well as the accurate method of interpretation and prediction, the Systems' Approach. The venerable astrologer, the late V. K. Choudhry, citing the SAMVA USA chart discovered by Cosmologer and John T.W. Battalana, also predicted that other authentic mundane horoscopes would be discovered based on the System's Approach. Even if there have been false starts on a number of horoscopes, much progress has been made in the rectification work since. Indeed, as brought out in this article, a new horoscope for Israel is presented. It is based on the study of the events surrounding the adoption of the UN Partition Plan in late 1947, seen to be the signal moment or the veritable rebirth of Israel as a state. The events following this international decision, including the agreement of the top leaders of Israel on May 13, 1948 to declare independence on May 14 and their announcment to that effect coinciding with the ending of the British Mandate for Palestine, are not seen to be the basis of the authentic horoscopes. 

Historical background

Jewish traders in Egypt (19th cent. B.C.E.) 

The push for the creation of the modern state of Israel began a long time before the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, the end of the British Mandate or the formal declaration of statehood by the leaders of the Jewish homeland at midnight on May 14, 1948. The Jews established the original state of Israel in Canaan around 1.200 B.C.E.. The decline of Israel began when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70. A.D.. After the Bar Kochba revolt of 136 A.D., the Jews were exiled from Judea. It was in the 8th century A.D. in Assyria that the population began to scatter around the world, as the twelve tribes of Israel. As the Jews settled elsewhere, they retained their cultural heritage, identity and memory, including the dream of a Jewish homeland, the "Promised Land" or "Holy Land".

Return of the Jews to their "Promised Land"

After centuries of dispersion, wandering and persecution, the idea of moving back to Palestine was again raised at the close of the 19th century. The First Zionist Congress sent a fact finding mission to Palestine in 1897. It reported back that “the bride is beautiful, but unfortunately she is married to another.“ Efforts by Jews to settle in Palestine led to the foundation of the Palestine Office in 1908. Its role was to import and assimilate Jews in Palestine. David Ben-Gurion became its leader in the 1920s. The organisation got the name the Jewish Agency for Palestine under the League of Nations Mandate in 1929. Its role increasingly turned to the effort of creating a Jewish state in Palestine. Zionism was the guiding vision of the Jews, to create a Jewish state in Palestine. The efforts accelerated in the 1930s, to create a new life in this ancient land and to reclaim the ancestral heritage of the ancient state of Israel. This was not an easy task as the indigenous Arabs were vehemently opposed to their efforts.

Immigrants arrive in Haifa, early 1948

As World War II approached, the British tried to bring the Arabs into the fight against Hitler by limiting Jewish settlement of Israel. In May 1939, a British White Paper limited Jewish immigration to Palestine to 75.000 per year until 1944. After that, the Arabs would have to acquiesce to further settlement. In 1939, thirty two thousand Jews in Palestine joined the British army to fight Hitler, but also to get military training to later fight the Arabs and the British. After the “Holocaust“ the determination increased among the Jews that the only viable future for them was to have their own state, with the same rights as any other state. After the war, there was a push to bring 100.000 Jewish survivors of the holocaust to Palestine. The British authorities opposed it as they worried it would unleash a civil war in Palestine and destroy their relationship with the Arabs. Armed conflict ensued between Jewish freedom fighters in Palestine and British armed forces stationed there, with the Jewish freedom fighters also engaging in terrorist acts. Meanwhile, the British navy stopped ships with Jewish immigrants headed for Palestine. Under the growing strain of the situation, the British were forced in February 1947 to turn the problem over to the United Nations. Their hope was that a bi-national state would be formed, and on 29 November 1947, the UN plan for the partition of Palestinian land into two states, one Jewish and the other Arab, was presented.

The U.N. votes on the Partition Plan, 1947.

The UN meeting was held in the General Assembly Hall at Flushing Meadow, New York on Saturday, 29 November 1947. It began at 4 p.m. (EST) and ended at 7 p.m.. Midway through the meeting a roll-call vote on the resolution was taken, with 33 in favour, 13 against and 10 abstaining. The resolution was then adopted, likely around 5:18 p.m., or around 12:18 a.m. on November 30 in Jerusalem. 

"In favour: Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Canada, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Liberia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of South Africa, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela. Against: Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen. Abstained: Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Mexico, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia."[1,2]

Israelis celebrate in Tel Aviv, after midnight, Nov. 30, 1947.

This time is corroborated by reports of the reaction in Israel. It was after midnight that news arrived by telegram in Tel Aviv. Even if very late, the Israelis stayed up for the news, then upon hearing it, they rushed into the streets in a joyful state, with the celebration lasting until the morning hours. The Jews, which were half the population of Palestine got half the land. While the Arab territory was populated mostly with Arabs, the Jewish territory had only a slight majority of Jews, with many Arabs as well. The Arabs rejected this diplomatic solution straight away, and did not consider the UN decision acceptable. For the Israels, the UN decision allowed the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. It was a long awaited dream come true, a signal event in their long search to reclaim a place in their ancient homeland. Meanwhile, their leaders knew that they would have to fight for their new state. Importantly, the Partition Plan also stipulated that the British Mandate for Palestine should end no later than 1 August 1948.

Soldiers raise "ink" flag at war's end

Britain had abstained from the vote and opposed the partition plan, as it had favoured a two state solution. In early 1948, the British government declared that the British Mandate would end on midnight 15th of May. The leaders of the Jewish homeland decided in a day long meeting that ended shortly after midnight on 13th of May, that they would proclaim a Jewish state on 14th of May, to coincide with the termination of the British mandate over Palestine at midnight on that day. During this meeting, the choice to not do so was tabled and discussed but quickly pushed aside in favour of making a ceremonial proclamation. In the event, the meeting to make the announcement began at 4:00 p.m. on 14th of May in Tel Aviv. The proforma declaration of the establishment the State of Israel (Eretz-Israel) by Ben Gurion, the leader of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, the World Zionist Organisation, and soon to become the first Prime Minister of Israel, was completed at 4:37 p.m. The meeting then adjourned in observance of the Sabbath. The British commander of Palestine sailed from Haifa at 11:30 p.m. signalling the end of the British mandate. Shortly after midnight (E02) on 15th of May, President Harry Truman sent a wire to Tel Aviv congratulating Ben Gurion on the proclamation. Several hours later, Iraq and the neighboring Arab states, Egypt, Jordan and Syria, invaded and attacked Jewish settlements. Israel had prepared well and was able to stop the advance. The war was waged in three phases interrupted only by short periods of truce, or until 10th of March 1949, with Israel signing armistice agreements with the belligerents. Israel suffered over 6,000 casualties and the Arabs between 7,000-20,000, including thousands of civilians on both sides. Israel had survived its first existential challenge.

The new horoscope for Israel

Earlier charts studied and tested, based on Jerusalem**, Israel (Time Zone: E02).

• 04.00 p.m., 14th of May 1948 giving 29° 54' Virgo rising, 
• 04.37 p.m .,14th of May 1948 giving 7° 44' Libra rising, and 
• 00.00 a.m., 15th of May 1948 giving 20° 56' Capricorn rising.

As none of these charts was found to either fit the natal potential, significant events in terms of periods and transits or yield repeat accurate predictions, we now consider the following data:

• 00:18 a.m., 30th of November 1947, Jerusalem, Israel, giving 25° 55' Leo rising.

The 26° Leo rising horoscope at the time of the closure of the UN vote has the requisite natal strength but also reflects the evident challenges facing the state of Israel in the seventy years of its recorded history. Importantly, the chart is relocated to Israel for the moment the UN plan was adopted (30 November 1947, 00:18 a.m., Jerusalem, Israel). Based on long research and testing of horoscopes for Israel, it is the contention of this writer that Israel took its birth with the adoption of the UN of the Partition Plan for Israel. The decision by the international community effectively gave birth to the new state, even if the apparatus and circumstances for operating it were not yet in place. While its name was declared as Israel, the name surprised few. Planning by the Israeli's had been ongoing for this eventuality and its repercussions for a very long time. The early termination of the Mandate by Britain partly reflects this reality.

The major feature of the 26° Leo rising horoscope is the placement of the Sun, as 1st lord of self, in the 4th house of communal harmony, land and natural resources. It suggests that the nation identifies strongly with its land. For Leo's, the Sun becomes a significator of vitality, intelligence, status, royalty and magnificence. The Sun is strong and well placed at 14° Scorpio and 4th house, giving the Israeli people noble hearts, character, good discrimination, plenty of will power and a well functioning state. As a Leo with a strong Sun, the Israeli government and people are likely to be aware of their power, dominant, decisive and relish any positive attention they get. Sun is conjunct and combust 5th lord Jupiter in this house. This yoga (aspect) confers great intelligence, good discrimination, creativity, fortune, expansiveness and a pronounced religious sense to the nation. This strong and benevolent aspect strengthens and protects the office of the leader of the country. Functional malefic (FM) moon's north node, Rahu, at 0° Taurus and 10th house, gives material benefits involving international life, but as Rahu is also in the most effective point (MEP) of the 9th house, with an orb of 4° 37', it gives the potential for crisis involving the indications of the 9th house, including luck and the judiciary. From this place Rahu aspects the 1st house, adding an element of manipulation and diplomacy to the self image, and the 5th house of creativity and management. FM moon's south node, Ketu, is at 0° Scorpio and the 4th house but is also conjunct the MEP of the 3rd house. This placement reduces the strength of the 3rd house, as well as the 7th house of foreign policy and 11th house of income, goals and friends. Sudden setbacks are possible in these areas of life. Importantly, the nodes dually afflict the 9th and 3rd houses, straining further such indications as fortune, judiciary, transportation and communication. Mars as 9th lord of luck and foreign matters, is strong and well placed in the 1st house, giving an energetic quality to the self identity. The military and police are strong. Mercury as 2nd lord, a sun like planet, is well placed at 26° Libra and 3rd house, a sun like house. Israeli men take pride in their masculine traits. This placement also gives status from words and actions. However, the conjunction of Ketu adds an energy of isolation and separation to this area of national life. Venus, as 3rd lord, is well placed in the 5th house, suggesting intelligent communication, a good art scene and creative women. With Moon, as a FM planet due to its lordship of the 12th house of losses in the 11th house in opposition aspect to Venus in the 5th house, there is also scope for the actions and proclamations of Israel to result in losses and even conflict, as well as in isolation and sudden explosive events due to the conjunction of Ketu with the MEP of the 3rd house. The aspects of Rahu to the 5th house and Ketu to the 11th house are likely to amplify such problems. Moreover, Saturn, as 7th lord of foreign policy and leisure activities, is badly placed and weak at 30° Cancer and MEP of the 12th house, suggesting losses to foreign policy. The chart thus paints a picuture of an entity that is inherently strong, but tends to do things assertively that provoke opposition and create problems in relation to other countries

At the birth of the state of Israel, the period of Mars-Sun period was operating. Both planets are in full strength, hence the UN decision represented a tremendous victory for the people of Israel associated with their deep desire to have their own homeland in the part of the world where they originated and their history was made. As 9th lord Mars is in the 1st house of self, and 1st lord Sun is in the 4th house, where it is conjunct 5th lord Jupiter, there is a great fortune seen in terms of connecting the self of the national identity with the land, and much resilience of the people tied to both Sun and Jupiter being religious planets. At the same time, there have been great challenges for Israel to develop, given the hostility of their neighbours, linked to 2nd lord Mercury being in 3rd house Libra, which is afflicted by the nodal axis and with 3rd lord Venus in the 5th house being afflicted by 12th lord Moon.  

Major periods

The sequence of major periods from the outset suggest the trend emphasis in the history. In the Rahu major period, Israel was embroiled in problems involving its outlook on life, so different from its neighbors. However, in the following  strong and well placed and aspected Jupiter major period, Israel won the six day war of June 1966 as well as the Yom Kippur War of October 1973, seing an expansion of its territory. The Saturn period, however, was attended by difficulty. The Mercury period has also saw its share of challenges. Now the Ketu major period has started and it suggests concern by the Israelis linked to their land and actions, and relations with neighbors. The Venus major period could also be contentious, but divine grace is seen associated with its auspicious dispositor Jupiter. The Sun major period would also be very good, given reasonable transits.

• Rahu period began on November 2, 1948
• Jupiter period began on November 2, 1966
• Saturn period began on  November 2, 1982
• Mercury period began on November 2, 2001
• Ketu period began on November 2, 2018
• Venus period begins on November 2, 2025
• Sun period begins on November 2, 2045
• Moon period begins on November 2, 2051
• Mars period begins on November 2, 2062

Israel has been running the Ketu major period since November 2, 2018, suggesting that the country is experiencing increasing isolation at this time, even if it has the staunch support of the US Trump administration. Perhaps the sense of isolation is due to the strong support of the USA, which itself is in a disagreement with regional powerhouse Iran over its nuclear weapons development and export of terrorism in the region. The Ketu - Venus period has been operating since April 1, 2019. At 9:45 p.m. on May 4, 2019, Hamas on Gaza launched a major attack on Israel, with over 600 missiles launched, killing 4 Israelis and causing property damage and grave concerns. Israel Defense Forces launched retaliatory strikes, including at the Hamas leadership, killing 23 people. The transits seem compelling for the crisis, with sub-period lord 3rd lord Venus in the 8th house of obstacles. The fact that it is natally in the 5th house under aspect from 12th lord Moon in the 11th house, suggest losses during the operation of its period. Morevoer, transit Rahu in the 11th house MEP is in aspect to natal 2nd lord Mercury in the 3rd house MEP, brining out the manipulations involving close neighbors. Indeed, Hamas launched a sudden attack on Israel. Finally, transit 7th lord Saturn is closely conjunct transit Ketu, suggesting sudden, even explosive upsets for foreign relations. 

An analysis of other significant historical events will be covered at a later date.

References

[1] U.N. (1947). Proceeds of the General Assembly meeting on November 29, New York.

https://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/46815f76b9d9270085256ce600522c9e?OpenDocument

[2] Three minutes, a documentary of the U.N. vote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEGUPlhtMWQ

*) In memory of Jo Cohen

The rectification of this chart by Cosmologer is performed in honour of the contribution of French Systems' Approach astrologer Jo Cohen (1948-2018) who believed that an earlier 21° Capricorn rising horoscope discussed here was not suitable as it indicated greater challenges but less innate strength of the collective entity under study. In the event, the 21° Capricorn rising horoscope failed in prediction linked to the onset of its Rahu major period in mid 2016 during a transit-to-natal conjunction of the nodes, expected to bring tremendous suffering. The work of mundane astrologers is predicated on the use of the scientific method to the extent possible, e.g. by emphasizing accurate predictions as a basis of chart verification.

**) Jerusalem is the historic capital of Israel and following its recreation, it was again declared as the national capital on 13 December 1949. On December 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump affirmed the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and on 14 May 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Israel was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, on the 70 anniversary of Israel's establishment.