Predictions for the USA in 2021

Despite a pronounced shift to progressive reforms in the Sun major period from 2016, the past few years have been difficult for Americans. In January 2020, all hell broke lose in the USA and the whole world due to a potentially lethal pandemic. As reviewed below, such a development was predicted in 2012 for the year 2019. In the event, grave challenges were seen during 2019, with social turmoil and a political crisis, but these were quickly transcended by the Covid pandemic and related deep recession as the year 2020 opened. The Presidential election, fought during a pandemic, added division to the national life. 

The tensions that arose in the national life in recent years are expected to be worked out with a more hopeful path forged going forward. However, the positive results are expected more in the Moon major period of the SAMVA USA chart, that runs from April 2022 to April 2032. In fact, efforts to change the direction of the country in 2021, such as easing of border or trade restrictions, may give rise to renewed social turmoil during the summer months. A fight over jobs as the economy returns to normal is also possible, but which leaves behind disadvantaged groups. As the year closes, confusion over the identity of the country, may result in a crisis, which would have the effect of preparing the nation for a greater sense of unity in the coming Moon major period, from 2022.

A retrospective

In 2012, a prediction was made for great difficulty in March-October 2019, such as a pandemic, "war like conditions" in many countries with "large number of fatalities  likely" and "a far reaching economic reversal". All of this has now transpired.

However, the impact was felt more in 2020, which is explained by the following combination of sub-periods and transits of functional malefic (FM) planets.

In the SAMVA USA chart, there was the following sequence of sub-periods of FM planets in recent years.

• June 10, 2017 - May 5, 2018: Sun - Rahu
• May 5, 2018 - February 21, 2019: Sun - Jupiter
• February 21, 2019 - February 3, 2020: Sun - Saturn
• February 3, 2020 - December 10, 2020: Sun - Mercury
• December 10, 2020 - April 16, 2021: Sun - Ketu

No less important were the following transits of slow-moving FM planets in the 6th house of the national horoscope.

• January 27, 2017 - January 24, 2020: transit 8th lord Saturn in Sagittarius and 6th house. This transit was predicted in late 2016 to be likely to "bring an energy of obstacles and endings to conflict, financial stability and health matters."
• March 23, 2019 - September 19, 2020: transit FM Ketu in Sagittarius and 6th house, and transit FM Rahu in Gemini and 12th house. In late 2018, this transit was predicted to bring "a difficult time for people experiencing separation or isolation in the national life", as was realised at the peak of the border crisis in mid 2019 involving family separations.
• November 4, 2019 - 30 March, 2020, and June 30 - November 19, 2020: transit 6th lord Jupiter in Sagittarius and 6th house ruling illness. This transit coincided with the development of the pandemic in China and its spread to the USA at the end of 2019.

The crisis unfolded when three FM planets were together in the 6th house from November 4, 2019 to January 24, 2020. Scientific studies suggest the Coronavirus outbreak developed in stages in China from September 2019. The studies also suggest it made landfall in the USA in late December 2019. Interestingly, on December 25, 2019, a very rare stellium of six planets took place in Sagittarius and the 6th house, supporting such a finding! However, as the disease was not yet on the radar at that time, due to China's refusal to acknowledge human-to-human transmission, the first reported case in the USA was on January 20, 2020. The unfolding crisis is seen to have peaked in January 2020. Indeed, the sudden outbreak of a potentially lethal virus caused tremendous fear. 

The end of the Sun-Saturn period on February 4, 2020 coincided with the end of the Impeachment Trial against Donald Trump, with his complete acquittal. The pandemic continued as 6th lord Jupiter and FM Ketu remained in this house until September 19 and November 19, 2020, respectively. However, with better life saving treatments, the ratio of deaths to cases began to fall already in the Spring of 2020. 

The Trump administration also pushed ahead with efforts to end the pandemic, notably the development of a vaccine. The first large scale financial support to a pharmaceutical company was reported on March 30, 2020. Operation Warp Speed was then announced on May 15, 2020 and the successful conclusion of vaccine trials was reported on October 28, 2020. The vaccine had been developed years ahead of a normal schedule. On November 21, 2020, the USFDA issued permits for new advanced therapeutic drugs, further easing concerns. On December 14, 2020, vaccine immunization was reported to have been given to a million people, with a twenty million goal before years' end. 

Indeed, while this adverse combination, involving also conjunctions of these FM planets as well as contacts with the most effective point of the 6th house and natal 4th lord Venus placed there took place during the beneficial major period of the Sun, as the FM influences abated, a resolution took place. The challenges began to be overcome as the year advanced and proved successful as the transits of FM planets in bad houses ended. 

However, difficult transit combinations continued in December 2020,  albeit in good houses. A political crisis is therefore still raging as the year closes. In particular, there are grave concerns regarding the legitimacy of the election on November 3, 2020, where Joe Biden emerged with a far bigger vote tally nationally than the incumbent President Trump. However, Trump might still have won the Electoral College vote if late arriving votes in six battleground states had not overwhelmingly gone to his opponent. This was followed by allegations of widespread election fraud. However, due to scant evidence, numerous such legal challenges did not make it to the Supreme Court. The Electoral College vote making Joe Biden President-elect is to be ratified by the US Congress in early 2021, followed by his inauguration as President in Washington D.C. at noon on January 20, 2021. At the same time, Donald Trump is experiencing the transit of upto five planets in his 6th house from January 3 - 16, 2021, indicating that he becomes embroiled in still more conflict. However, as the planets become weak in this house, his efforts are not seen to succeed. 

Continued political struggle

In 2019, President Trump was challenged with the 'Russia Collusion' narrative, a border crisis, growing foreign policy tensions, and the beginnings of the House Impeachment trial. The year 2020 opened with the US bombing of an influential Iranian General, the acquittal of President Trump and the frightening spread of the pandemic. A battle has raged about shaping the future direction of the country as well as people's sense of reality about it. Reforms to the economy and foreign policy were met with concerns that the country was drifting into isolationism and and illiberality. The revolutionary policies of President Donald Trump were met with constant criticism from the Democrats and monopolistic information tactics of media corporations.

In 2021, efforts to contain the monopolistic power of the legacy and social media giants may begin, but not gather steam until the Moon major period has begun. The same is likely with respect to policies that reduce the inequality, by e.g. taxing more the wealthy. That said, the political establishment is likely to find it difficult to reverse changes that President Trump made to foreign policy and trade. Indeed, President Trump spent over five years educating the American public about the harmful trade, immigration and foreign policies of recent decades, also as he then boldly acted to change them in the face of enormous political opposition from the Democrats, but also within his own party, from the so-called RINOs. 

A major trend change beginning

The year 2021 is likely to mark a transition between the different trends of two major periods, with the Sun major period coming to an end in April 2022 and the Moon major period beginning. As a result, the focus on a economic and political resurgence in President Trump's term, including more fairness in economic outcomes through bold changes to economic and foreign policies, will likely wind down. At the same time, efforts to unite the country under the banner of inclusiveness and liberality, strengthen international alliances and increase the fairness in the distribution of income and wealth, may thus also begin. As both the Sun and Moon are strong in the horoscope, such reforms were seen in the 1896-1912 period, now known as the Progressive Era.

In one sense, the Democrats are expected to come around to some of the fundamental policy changes that President Trump made, if only for the sake of national unity. In another, the Republicans are likely to make it hard for the Democrats to shift gears to enact their earlier priorities. However, both parties are likely to agree to take up the battle to break up monopolies, which will nevertheless also be difficult, as was the case in the prior Moon major period. 

Astrology of 2021

In 2021, there will be a sequence of two sub-periods that are likely to again arouse the tender communal harmony. Moreover, there are some transit challenges seen during the year. A notable feature of this year is that the domestic conditions involving the media and political class greeting the incoming President are expected to be a lot easier, than those facing and following President Trump during his term in office. However, problems involving American workers, protesting e.g. the resumption of globalist policies, are to be expected.

Sun-Ketu period

Ketu periods in the SAMVA USA chart, especially the major periods, have been associated with race riots, terrorits attacks involving large scale deaths and damage to prominent buildings, such as the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, the Waco stand-off and fire in 1993 and the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in 1995. The recent bombing of the AT&T building in Nashville on Christmas Day 2020, did not involve any deaths of innocents but eight people were injured. Moreover, the damage was likely less. However, we may note that the Sun-Ketu period began on December 10, 2020, when transit Ketu was stationary conjunct natal 8th lord Saturn in the 5th house of the chart. Accordingly, the prediction last year noted that this was "a violence inducing aspect, but with a focus on foreign policy or leisure activities." Interestingly, the car containing the bomb was a Recreational Vehichle (RV). 

Transit stationary Ketu will be within a 2° orb of its conjunction with natal 8th lord Saturn through January 2021, and transit Saturn will also continue conjunct transit debilitated 6th lord Jupiter in the 7th house during the month. This suggests that the crisis of legitimacy will continue in January 2021, but that it will wind down as the month advances. 

The aspects also suggest there is scope for some violent events in the new year. In particular, some foreign hostilities, with links to the US military abroad, are possible at that time. As these FM planets move over natal 3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn, and transit 3rd lord Mercury also joins the fray on January 3, 2021, some obstacles and conflict involving American's sense of freedom is likely in January 2021. Fortunately, the aspects are all occurring at normal speed, and hence the difficulties these aspects bring are thus expected to be short lived.

As for the unresolved political conflict involving a peaceful transfer of power following elections, some political fireworks and protests are possible as the new year opens. However, a lot depends on the messaging of the outgoing President to his supporters. According to the transits, the matters are expected to be fairly tense during January 14-16, 2021, when five planets transit the sign Capricorn and 7th house of foreign policy in the 20° Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart. In Donald Trump's 7° Leo rising horoscope, this stellium is in the 6th house of conflict. Tension between these areas of national and individual life are likely, as Trump remains President until noon time, January 20, 2021.

Already, there are news emerging that members of the GOP in both the House and Senate are willing to object to the certification of the Electoral College vote from December 14, 2020 due to the concerns of "millions of voters about election integrity". This will force a debate of the matter, postponing the certification. However, it is not considered likely to overturn it. 

Regarding Trump's chances to win

Last year it was predicted that President Trump would win reelection despite adverse conditions in his chart at election time, notably his weak Saturn sub-period from early 2019 until mid 2021 along with the weak transit of 7th lord Saturn in Capricorn and his 6th house from January 2020 until mid 2022. Moreover, he underwent the transit-to-natal conjunction of the nodal axis in the fall of 2020. This is considered one of the most difficult aspects known. However as the nodes are exalted and separating from the natal counterparts, this was seen to be within his scope to manage. These adverse period - transit combinations were seen to impart a sense of weakness to his life at election time, but not to prevent him from overcoming them in order to have a resurgence by late summer 2021 to continue with his reform agenda. 

The argument for Trump to win was supported by the advantage of his incumbency and the strong Sun major period of the SAMVA USA chart. Indeed, given Joe Biden's age-related cognitive problems and political "pay to play" corruption, he is not considered a credible leader for carrying on the mantle of progressive reforms seen in the national horoscope. 

In view of the outcome in both the popular and Elector College elections, the above thinking was recalibrated such that another person could unexpectedly be pulled in to lead the country into the Moon major period. Such was the case when Vice President Theodore Roosevelt replaced President William McKinley, upon the latter's assassination in September 1901, half a year before the start of the second Moon major period. In the case of Joe Biden being inaugurated, his VP, Kamala Harris, could become President. In that case, Trump would be expected to find success in another area as a private citizen, possibly related to his 2nd lord Mercury in the 11th house, and thus involving his status, wealth, family, high tech, the media and his aspirations for the country. 

Alternatively, Trump still retains some chance of overturning the election. In this case the astrology of his chart suggests a greater spring in his step from the spring of 2021, when Trump's major period lord, 5th lord Jupiter, strong in the 2nd house of his chart, emerges from its transit of the malefic 6th house. As July 2021 ends, his strong sub-period of 2nd lord Mercury in the 11th house then begins, when his communicative and strategic visualizing powers are expected to return in full. It would be no mean feat to accomplish but has to be judged as a less likely outcome.

Sun-Venus period

The Sun-Venus period begins on April 16, 2021 and runs for one year. Venus periods have normally involved a sense of weakness in the national life. It is likely to be partially off-set by the strong Sun major period. However, any transit influences, ranging from a few days to months, tend to supersede the period influences, for better or for worse.

The transits during the end of the Ketu sub-period and beginning of the Venus sub-period, from late March 2021 until end of the year, involving transit 8th lord Saturn will also be difficult. At that time, transit Saturn will be moving forward and backwards between 12° and 19° Capricorn and 7th house. While in the MEP of the 7th house during the summer, obstacles and endings, including death-like experiences, in the fields of foreign policy and leisure activities are possible. 

From there, Saturn will aspect natal Ketu at 17° 47' Libra and most effective point (MEP) of the 4th house. This aspect, which becomes exact in early April 2021, will likely involve disadvantaged socio-economic groups in obstacles and endings. 

During the summer of 2021 transit FM Rahu will become stationary at around 16° 30' Taurus and 11th house. The stationary placement in the MEP of the 11th house suggests manipulations involving the aspirations, incomes and alliances of the American people. 

From there Rahu will aspect transit 8th lord Saturn in the 7th house MEP, with the aspect also becoming exact in early April 2021. One result is that this contact adversely affect the beliefs of the people, notably involving foreign policy as well as incomes. 

One possible expression of this combined energy -- the aspect to natal Ketu in 4th house by transit 8th lord Saturn in 7th house, while it receives in turn an aspect from transit Rahu in the 11th house -- would be for the government to begin to roll back the tighter border security measures enacted by the Trump administration. This could result in a resurgence of inflows by "political refugees", putting renewed strain on communities near the border, with the inflow of drugs, rise in human trafficking and the intensification of general crime. Alternatively, efforts to roll back tariffs in order to boost overseas business, could also incite workers to protest the adverse impact on their jobs and income. Moreover, as the aspect of 8th lord Saturn falls on FM Ketu, it is disadvantaged people that are likely to bear the brunt of it, stirring up communal disharmony.

Battle over the national identity

In the fourth quarter of 2021, transit Rahu will go stationary at 7° 30' Taurus and the 11th house, where it becomes conjunct the exalted Moon as 1st lord of the chart. This aspect is likely to place great strain on the self-identity of the American nation. 

Such an exact stationary transit of Rahu was seen in the fourth quarter of 1928, during the Rahu-Mercury period, when Herbert Hoover was elected President based on a platform favouring religion and prohibition.

Possibly, the 'cancel culture' will reassert itself in the fall of 2021, to remove vestiges of homage to the nations exploitative past. This is likely to impel a strong reaction from those happy with their historical past. Alternatively, there may be a reaction to the debasement of American life, which is on constant display from Hollywood. 

At the same time, transit Ketu will be conjunct but not afflicting natal 6th lord Jupiter and natal 10th lord Mars in  Scorpio and 5th house of morals of the people. Hence, some adamancy of the views may be brought into play, as well as martial qualities or the fundamental laws of the nation. 

As 2022 opens, this crisis of identity should abate, with more agreement about the national identity likely to follow as the Moon major period begins.

Note: This article is written on the 14th anniversary of the discovery of the SAMVA USA chart. It's purpose is to continue the effort to apply Systems' Approach astrology to the mundane sphere, based on the SAMVA USA chart. In the article, the focus is on analysing mainly the sub-period and transit influences of the slow moving planets and what it implies for the national life. Given this limitation, the article may overlook significant events that are propelled by faster moving transits, which entail more research than the author, unfortunately, has time for. That said, other Systems' Approach astrologers are invited to do such further research of the transits in the chart and publish it either here, as a comment below, or on the SAMVA list on Groups Io.

America's Date with Destiny - Revisited

"The Squad II"

America's destiny has been of unrelenting interest to the rest of the world due to the country's contribution to the world and its status as a global power. The United States of America has a dynamic economy traditionally rooted in private initiative. However, due to political corruption, allowing corporations to run roughshod over the interests of the American people, they have attained power that is now a threat to the democratic underpinnings of the Republic itself. One effect of that is that the nation has become burdened with excessive inequality generating large scale human misery, but which has resulted in social turmoil and radical ideas for reform. 

Rich get richer, poor poorer

Despite efforts to reform the political culture (Drain the Swamp), the Presidency of Donald Trump was marked by his bitter struggle with a corporate owned media that was unhappy with his policies to circumscribe their owner's profits from globalisation. It didn't matter that the outward rush of corporations had impoverished millions of Americans. The corporate-owned media  simply nodded "Thy Will be Done" as they found any and every reason to attack Trump's personality. Even "world renowned" economists, like Paul Krugman, held dear to their outdated assumptions about the benefits of "foreign trade" and the "perfect" condition of competition while vehemently opposing Trump's reforms. For the media and their corporate overlords, the American worker had become the equivalent to the troops of yore who were marched to their deaths in endless military campaigns; they had become acceptable "collateral damage." 

Trump vs press

In 2016 an outsider businessman, Donald Trump, who promised to end the merciless economic onslaught on American workers, shocked the "establishment" by becoming elected as President. As 2020 closes, it seems he has lost the battle to continue the fight on their behalf. However, all hope may not be lost yet. For one, it is within the realm of the possible that Trump will pull a white rabbit out of the hat and be inaugurated on January 21, 2021, and thus continue the reforms. 

Corrupt establishment

However, a second and possibly more likely outcome is that the corrupt establishment politician Joe Biden, will get inaugurated. He was actively promoted by the corporations. They used to full extent their monopolistic position in their legacy and social media outlets, to censor and suppress information to advance their candidate. Due to the media's influence on the election, in addition to possible election fraud, and despite his minimal presence on the campaign trail, Biden emerged victorious. On December 14, 2020, the Electoral College voted him President-elect. Yet, Trump is seeking to have the U.S. Congress select new "electors" for the disputed "Battleground States" on January 6, 2021. It is seen as a long shot.

Kamala Harris

As President, Biden has indicated during his campaign, he may step down sooner than later, to enable a relative unknown, Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris, to take the helm. Interestingly, Harris seems to be to the left of most Democrats, and may in fact be closer to the politics of the far-left "Squad" than most people realise. As such, and if she becomes President, the unthinkable may happen; she may turn on the very globalised corporations that brought her to power. Indeed, while the Democrat Party avoided reforming itself during Trump's Presidency, the far-left core of the party has continued to grow. Interestingly, it may, through Harris, represent the next stage in the evolution of the Democratic Party. A notable feature of that could be a revolution against its earlier allegiance to the corporate powers and their unlimited coffers. Time will tell, but it is not something to ignore, because the Democrat Party has been so corrupt, just like the Republican Party before Trump.

CHALLENGE OF MUNDANE ASTROLOGY

In mundane astrology, the challenge is ever to reconcile two things.

1. what is seen in the national horoscope.
2. what is seen in the national life.

On October 20, 2015, I wrote the article America's Date with Destiny. In the article, I suggested that two things would dominate the national landscape in the Sun major period:

I.  The return of greatness

II. Policies that reduce inequality and social injustice

The following prediction was further made:

"It is clear the situation is grave and the politicians know about it. However, it will not necessarily be the Democrats who bring in the change. They are more the party of taxation and expenditure, associated with big government. It is likelier that a Republican, favouring free enterprise and limited government, will be the one to address these problems, by increasing competition and restoring industrial production, consistent with the period influences seen in the SAMVA USA chart." 

While the above prediction has been realised with Trump's election and policies, the reforms are far from over to accomplish the second of the above goals.

Moreover, the Moon major period is nearing, to run from April 2022 - April 2032. The Moon is the 1st lord of the 20° Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart. It is exalted in the 11H, under aspect from both 6L Jupiter and 10L Mars in 5H. At that time, the identity or self-image of the Americans, linked to their collective aspirations, incomes and friendship alliances, involving also their firm beliefs and constitutional laws, will come to the fore. President Trump has really shocked the American psyche into focusing more on success than victimhood. However, many Americans are still not in alignment with his emphasis. As a result, more efforts are likely needed for Americans to revisit such issues going forward. 

Even after many positive reforms during Trump's Presidential term, the USA is still dealing with inequality and social injustice. In addition to reforming US foreign policy in a fundamental way, Trump managed to liberate economic activity and focus the benefits on the low income segment of society. However, the wealthy are still living in a stratosphere completely separated from the reality of life for most Americans. Now, liberal politicians, who have also been deeply involved in identity politics, are arguing for more profound reforms to end this sharp divide.

Here is what a new Congressman, who is considered a part of the "Squad", has to say about the situation.

"I believe our current system of capitalism is slavery by another name," said [Jamaal] Bowman, a new member of the progressive "Squad" [in Congress]. He told The Root that "[w]e’ve moved from physical chattel enslavement and physical racial segregation to a plantation economic system. One that keeps the majority of Americans unemployed, or underemployed and struggling just to survive, while the power elite continues to concentrate wealth in the hands of a few, and allow large corporations to pretty much run the world as multinational corporations."

In other words, it is not necessarily so that President Trump's firm hand is the one guiding the next stage of the march towards a more widely shared prosperity, rooted in America's deep sense of fairness. In fact, in September 1901, Theodore Roosevelt replaced William McKinley as President. This was on the eve of the prior Moon period (April 1902 - April 1912). Roosevelt's Presidency is considered one of the greatest in the country's history. Due to McKinley's sad passing, his legacy is considered by many historians as gravely undervalued. Indeed, during his reign (1896-1901) there was a big resurgence in the national life. Together, McKinley and Roosevelt engineered the Progressive Era. It now seems more likely that Trump will share in such a destiny. While a very successful President, Trump's successor may well eclipse him in the hearts and minds of all the people. Of course, a lot depends on the transits and such time-consuming analysis has not yet been performed.

So, it is possible that the Democrats will gain the Presidency, and as such reform themselves under Kamala Harris' leadership. She will then be the one to align the economic reality with the identity Americans hold of themselves as a dynamic but also egalitarian society. Indeed, the Democrats seem better aligned with the identity issue, which is a feature of the Moon major period. They could do so by taxing sharply the wealthy and enforce existing competition laws. It is another long standing prediction, that we will see the monopolies again split up, also due to support from the Democrat Party, especially during the Moon major period. Time will tell.