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.

A leader for peace

In a recent article on CNN, Angela Dewan declares that "America's role as global leader all but died under Trump". It is a common presumption of Democrats that Trump's foreign policy of "retreat" has effectively ended the USA's position as a "unipolar" superpower in the world. The position was gained with the fall of Soviet Communism 30 years ago, but in recent years Russia and China have increasingly asserted their power. As a result, the USA is no longer seen as the single superpower. Moreover, its leadership position in the world is now also being brought into question. Such a conclusion seems to be at jarring odds with the historical trajectory as well as major works that survey the history but also explore American's impetus for greatness, whether pragmatic or idealistic. Cases in point are Carroll Quigley's Tragedy and Hope (1966), Henry Kissinger's Diplomacy (1994), John Steele Gordon's An Empire of Wealth (2004), George Herring's From Colony to Superpower (2008), or Daniel Immerwahr's How to Hide an Empire (2019).

In this article, mundane horoscopic astrology, as applied to the national horoscope for the USA, is brought into the picture, to leverage off its insights. The method is to include a historical analysis of the 120 year Vimsottari cycle of major periods in the SAMVA USA horoscope. In doing so, it hopefully becomes clearer how an examination of the surface of the ocean may overlook currents traveling long distances below the surface only to crest suddenly. 

References are made to insights developed in dozens of articles on this blog. Importantly, the analysis shows that it is helpful to recognise the strengths and weaknesses of potentialities in the national psyche that arise in different periods. Transits in combination with sub-periods within the major periods, result in highly irregular cycles, that however reveal an amazing pattern when surveyed over a sufficiently long stretch of history. In other words, as the great Mark Twain is said to have observed, "history does not repeat itself, but it rhymes."

The USA is now in its third Sun major period (2016-2022), so it is fitting that we start the analysis with an overview of the second Sun major period (1896-1902), as themes at that time are expected to reappear at the present time. An analysis of earlier periods may be seen here.

In 1896, William McKinley was elected President, serving until his assassination in September 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt, then Vice President, continued with his second term and went on to serve one more term. The massive realignment of the policies from the preceding Gilded Age to what has now been called the Progressive Era, but also his display of manly virtues, made Roosevelt a beloved figure in the pantheon of Great American Presidents. 

A remarkable change also took place in foreign policy, as described by Kissinger (1994):

"Until early in [the 20th] century, the isolationist tendency prevailed in American foreign policy. Then, two factors projected America into world affairs: its rapdily expanding power, and the gradual collapse of the international system centered in Europe. Two watershed presidencies marked this progression: Theodore Roosevelt's and Woodrow Wilson's. Both recognised that America had a crucial role to play in world affairs though they justified its emergence from isolation with opposite philosophies." 

The USA won the Spanish-American War of 1898 and gained a global reach. The war was waged on ethical grounds, to lift the burden of colonial exploitation. Indeed, as President McKinley declared in the 1900 election: 

"The USA has not planted its flag on foreign soil for its own sake, but for humanity's sake." 

McKinley issued the "Open Door" policy on equal access of all trading nations with China, which "stands as one of the most important policy statements ever issued by the U.S. State Department" (Lewis Gould's The Presidency of William McKinley, 1981). It ended the international scramble in the 1890s for 'spheres of influence' in the country.

Protective tariffs in the USA were also raised, heralding a boom in industrial production, which in the coming years increasingly diversified from the earlier and heavy reliance on steel, petroleum and railroads (Gordon Steele, 2008). As a result, employment and living standards rose in the cities, while prices remained stable following the adoption of the Gold Standard. 

President Roosevelt pursued a protectionist trade policy, but he also projected American power based on his assessment that America was needed to balance the power in the world.

In the Moon period (1902-1912) the battle against monopolies accelerated, making Roosevelt famous as a "Trust buster." Independent journalists, so-called muckrakers, aided Roosevelt's effort to win public support for the reforms, overcoming the opposition of the Hearst press and Rockerfeller's minions (Doris Kearns Goodwin's The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and the Golden Age of Journalism, 2013). 

In the Mars period (1912-1919), Henry Ford revolutionised automobile production and, following Wilson's initiative, the USA joined the allies to defeat Germany in WW 1. The importance of the military is also seen in the prior Mars period, when George Washington was brought out of retirement in 1794 to lead a military force to end the Whiskey Rebellion and thus assert the full taxing power of the Federal government.

In the Rahu period (1919-1937), corruption and misunderstandings in the national life came to light. The period began with USA enjoying its WW 1 success, followed by President Harding being charged with corruption. A battle opened up between religious and secular forces, that led to a prohibition, which in turn gave rise to criminal activity of the Mafia. Growing imbalances in the economy and financial system caused a pronounced boom and then a burst, resulting in the Great Depression of the 1930s. The depression led to a painful contraction of US foreign trade as tariffs were raised. The poverty created bank robbers that became idolised. As Quiqley (1966) points out, the international system that evolved from 1919 to 1929 proved faulty and the world wide depression saw it break down quickly as anti-democratic strong men rose to power in some European countries.

In the Jupiter major period (1937-1953) the "isolated" USA was gradually pulled into WW 2 in order to safeguard the world, first against fascism and then against communism. The Pax Brittannica was replaced by Pax America as international organisations settled their headquarters in the USA. The USA became the hegemon for the free world, expressed through its leadership of the free world in United Nations bodies, notably the IMF/World Bank.

As the Saturn major period (1953-1972) rolled around, a deadly nuclear stand-off had developed between the Soviet Union and the USA, peaking in the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962, and ending with the Vietnam War of 1964-1973. John F. Kennedy, who inspired his countrymen to greatness, was assassinated in 1963. The USA bested the Soviets in the "Space race," by landing men on the Moon and bringing them safely back to earth from 1969 to 1972.

In the Mercury major period (1972-1989) several developments occurred that resulted in the collapse of soviet style communism, notably technological changes, supply-side revolution, market liberalisation, increased commercial relationship of the USA with China, and de-industrialisation in the USA. The top-heavy, illiberal, and militarily expensive Soviet Union wanted in on the party with "Glasnost" and "Perestroika," but the move collapsed the regime under its own oppressive weight in 1989-1990. 

In the Ketu major period (1989-1996), the most painful placement in the SAMVA USA chart, the USA experienced relative isolation as a super-power and hegemon of the international system of commerce and finance, with its dominant military system. This has been described as a "unipolar" moment in history. With this system, which had developed in the cold war, the US had a responsibility to run trade and budget deficits (from the mid 1980s) that provided liquidity (US dollars) to the rest of the world. It also spent its "treasure and blood" by stationing troops abroad and fighting local wars as the "world's policeman". Race relations experienced a new nadir, expressed in violent race riots. Alarming terrorist attacks took place against the country.

In the Venus major period (1996-2016), the weakest planet in the SAMVA USA chart, the focus shifted to the unhappiness of Americans with foreign wars, notably the Iraq war of 2003 and then dealing with a resurgent islamo-fascism, bankrolled by Iran. At the same time, inequality grew and a huge housing bubble burst, that would have collapsed the banking system if the government had not indebted itself to save it. There was pronounced corruption involved, as Rahu aspects the 6th house. The USA was allowed to bleed through foreign trade deficits, defense expenditures and illegal immigration, in a sense by becoming the world, rather than being a constructive force in the world.

In the Sun major period (2016-2022) a dynamic leader arrived as predicted and began to clean house. While the Coronavirus pandemic has been huge setback for the USA in 2020, Trump has re-energised the US economy with tax cuts and deregulation and this is resulting in a resurgence in economic activity. Tariffs on China are reducing the trade deficit. He has worked to close down the illegal immigration. It harmed millions of ordinary Americans while the corporate sponsored elite in Washington D.C. blossomed. 

Trump has shifted more of the burden of the international financial system and defense spending on other thriving economies. He is working to reduce the US international deficits and debts, through revised trade and defense agreements. He has also avoided the "victim" mentality of prior periods, where everybody is defined as a transgressor or victim. Instead, he has focused on reviving the American spirit of success, and a "winner" mentality. The nation is to be united through shared success.

In the meantime, the US foreign policy is aimed at preserving freedom in the world by pushing back on expansionist (China, Russia) or rouge actors (Iran, North Korea), while helping oppressed nations (Israel, Taiwan). Trump has pulled the USA out of the globalist NAFTA accord, the Paris Environment Treaty, the Trans Pacific Partnership Trade deal, etc. because he considered them not to be in the interest of the American people. He has renegotiated better deals, like the USMCA trade agreement. In this sense, there has been a resurgence of US power at home and abroad. He has criticised EU leaders for failing their people and destroying the Single Market project, resulting in e.g. Brexit and the eastern EU block closing its borders. Trump has confounded his critics and advanced the cause of peace in the Middle East, Korean Peninsula and the Balkans. All told, the USA has a stronger and more credible voice than before. Independent journalists have rallied around Trump, such as Glenn Greenwald, Tucker Carlson, Steve Hilton and news sites like Breitbart and One American Network News. They help to counter the corporate propaganda of CNN, Washington Post, New York Times, The Atlantic, etc.

Conclusion

Donald Trump has adopted an America First policy, limiting the hegemonic role of the USA for the international commercial and finance system. He has also pulled the US out of foreign wars, where possible, while constraining the ability of rouge states to wage war. He has also remained invested in establishing peace and a viable global order. This resonates strongly with the foreign policy of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

Trump is derided by his political opponents at home and abroad. Yet he is likely to win reelection a few days from now, because he is popular among the people. He is unpopular in Europe due to his fearlessness in speaking up about their unfair burden sharing practices of the common defense (NATO). To equate this with USA having less power or influence in the world, does not hold up to scrutiny. The USA is no longer taken for granted, but it is far from being inactive or ignored. In fact, Trump has shown decisive leadership in all parts of the world in a far more effective way than his predecessors. In short, he is in the McKinley-Roosevelt tradition of preserving a balance of the international order. In doing so, he may not "speak softly" but he does "carry a big stick."

On communal harmony

The concept of communal harmony, the internal peace of a nation, is a unique and important feature of Systems' Approach astrology in the mundane sphere.

In the life of a nation, either the domestic affairs tend to be harmonious, such that the population is contented, or there is something that disturbs the peace, with conflict weighing on the citizens.

The national horoscope reveals the overall situation, based the condition of several astrological indicators. Even then, the evolving periods and transits can bring peace or turmoil.

Communal disharmony
A political revolution, to right many wrongs, began in the USA with the election of Donald Trump in 2016. The mega corporations, that have for decades benefited from the "China trade" while immiserising millions of American workers, immediately reacted by using their media corporations to delegitimise Trump and remove from him from power post haste. The Democrats, reeling from the 2016 loss at the ballot box, have refrained from reforming themselves and have chosen as their leader, Joe Biden, who is alleged for decades to have made his family members rich by enabling crony capitalism. The Democratic leaders in the House, like Nancy Pelosy and Adam Schiff, have been eager participants in the US corporations scheme to nullify the 2016 election. Meanwhile, President Trump, while in business, is alleged to have avoided paying his fair share of taxes and misrepresented the size of his business. The political turmoil has sharply divided the nation.

Things came to a head in 2019, when the USA went through several events that disturbed the communal harmony, including a border crisis, the publication of the Mueller report and the impeachment of President Trump. All of these developments disrupted the communal harmony, and indeed there were protests and a lot of anger over the treatment of illegal immigrants at the border.

In early February 2020, President Trump was acquitted of the impeachment charges. However, he was immediately caught up dealing with in the Covid-19 pandemic from China. In March, the disease quickly reached pandemic levels, and began to paralyse the economy as millions of people were thrown out of work. The majority of people followed guidelines to self isolate. After weeks of this, tensions were building up.

In an election year, the Democrats sought to undermine Trump's legitimacy and popularity, criticising his handling of the crisis. However, it was the shocking broadcast of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May 2020, that unleashed a torrent of rage on the streets of America, that has only recently begun to subside. Young people refused to accept further cop killings of black people.

Below these developments are explained in terms of the astrological indications seen in the national horoscope for the USA, the SAMVA USA chart.

Astrology of communal harmony
The astrology of communal harmony involves mainly three houses and their lords in the horoscope. The most important is the 4th house, traditionally linked to the soothing embrace of the mother.  The 6th house is linked to opposition due to e.g. unyielding views or non-payment of debts, and the 2nd house is linked to close relations and wealth.

SAMVA USA horoscope
In the USA national horoscope, the 4th and 6th houses are seen to be vulnerable. Indeed, these have been strongly affected in recent years, especially in 2019 and 2020.

"Venus rules the 4th house whose indications include "nation's natural resources, agriculture, mines, minerals, the land, landed properties, peace, general and political stability, natural calamities, educational institutions, law and order, housing and communal harmony."

"Jupiter rules the 6th house, whose indications include public amity, relations with neighbors, general health of the public, political stability, financial solvency of the nation, management of debts, litigations, judicial functioning, communal harmony in the country and labor relations." 

A sequence of sub-periods of functional malefic planets.

• 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

Transits of slow-moving malefic planets in the 6th house.

• January 27, 2017 - January 24, 2020: transit 8th lord Saturn in Sagittarius and 6th house.
• March 23, 2019 - September 19, 2020: transit FM Ketu in Sagittarius and 6th house.
• November 4, 2019 - November 19, 2020: transit 6th lord Jupiter in Sagittarius and 6th house.

In addition to this combination of sub-periods of malefic planets and their transits in the bad 6th house, there were conjunctions of the malefic planets there, but also with the most effective part (MEP) of the house at 20° 00' Sagittarius, and 4th lord Venus placed at 23° 50' Sagittarius and 6th house MEP.

Again, the 4th lord Venus is important for the sense of well being in the nation. As Venus is badly placed in the 6th house, the nation is very sensitive to conflict. The Vietnam War protests of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the Iraq War protests in the early 2000s, are cases in point.

The 20° Cancer rising SAMVA USA horoscope is shown above with the transits set for December 25, 2019. At the time, the Covid-19 pandemic is said to have reached the USA, while the US Congress was busy preparing for the Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump in the Senate. Three functional malefic planets, along with some faster moving functional benefic planets, were in the 6th house. All were weak by bad placement, except Jupiter, which owns Sagittarius and hence the 6th house.

The recent experience

The past few years have been burdensome, because of the political fight in the USA which has become the most brutal one in living memory. As such, the Mueller investigation and impeachment were major events disturbing the national psyche in 2019 and into early 2020. These events were followed by the deadly and highly contagious Covid-19 pandemic and deep recession that followed and unsettled the mental peace of Americans in 2020. These events are easily explained by the sub-period of 8th lord Saturn, its transit in Sagittarius and the 6th house of the SAMVA USA chart, accompanied by Ketu, and then 6th lord Jupiter. However, let's look at other more specific expressions of the disturbing energy in the national life in these two years.

Uproar over family separations: Transit Ketu became stationary at around 24° Sagittarius, where it was conjunct Venus as 4th lord in the 6th house of the SAMVA USA chart, from May to August 2019. This transit was associated with the border crisis (4th house) involving disadvantaged people (Ketu) trying to get into the USA. Family "separations" (Ketu) became a major flash point. 

Fight over the Wall: In his campaign, Trump promised to build a wall on the southern border. When transit 8th lord Saturn became conjunct 4th lord Venus the border crisis also involved a battle over building the "wall" (Saturn). Such a wall will serve as an "obstacle or end" (8th house) to the inflows. During the summer of 2019, the President seemed powerless (Ketu) to gain control of the situation. In the fall, he got the funds to build the wall and reached an agreement with the Mexican government to put 26,000 troops on the border. The crisis then began to abate. These developments served to disturb the communal harmony (4th lord, 6th house).

Anti-racism/anti-capitalism riots: During the summer and fall of 2020, transit 6th lord Jupiter has been conjunct 4th lord Venus. It has involved young people (Jupiter) who are aligned with the political opposition (6th lord/6th house) that are disturbing the communal harmony (4th lord) with protests that tend to get out of hand and involve some violence but more the destruction of property (4th house).

Multivalence of indications
When making predictions, we can mention the many possibilities, based on a reading of the indications affected. However, it all becomes so much clearer after the fact.

Conclusion
These developments are strongly reaffirming the SAMVA USA chart.

Currency strength revisited

In March of 2010, the issue of currency strength was explored on this blog with reference to what a Systems' Approach astrology reading of the 20° Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart and the UK 16° Virgo rising charts indicated. A prediction was made that the US dollar would appreciate (or strengthen) relative to the British pound from April 2016, when the Sun major period in the SAMVA USA chart began. Almost five years into this period, we can say that this prediction has been realised, given the nominal 20 percent appreciation in the value of the dollar over the pound since April 2016. This appreciation holds true with respect to the three prior major periods of Mercury, Ketu and Venus, for which data is available. Moreover, despite threats made or implied about the role of the dollar as an international reserve currency in 2009, it has continued, also as predicted. These predictions offer yet more stunning evidence for SA astrology and the national charts.

Let's revisit the thesis of the late great Indian astrologer and author, Vinod Kumar Choudhry, about currency strength:

“It is the power of the state which is shown through the strength of the currency. The authority is first vested in the Sun and then in the Moon. The good financial strength of the nation/wealth is seen through the second house and the regular flow of income is seen through the eleventh house. Taken all these four together they show the real strength of the currency of a particular country.”

Indeed, the Sun as 2nd lord becomes a dual indicator of currency strength for the USA. With the Sun on the most effective point (MEP) of the 7th house of foreign agreements, relations and policy, the US state and its leader, are very powerful. This has been seen most vividly in the first (?) term of President Trump. As the Sun receives the aspect, but not severely, from 8th lord Saturn in Scorpio and 5th house, easy gains may be realised, but also obstacles and endings. Meanwhile, Rahu aspects the 2nd house (non-severly), suggesting that manipulations concerning trade influence currency value. This has been seen as early in the War of 1812 and as recently in the efforts to gain competitive devaluations against the dollar to boost trade at US expense. At the same time, we should keep in mind, as shown in the earlier article, From Weakness to Strength, that other factors, involving US legislation in the area of Free Trade, have manufactured a trade deficit for decades, which even the weakness of the dollar was unable to correct. The other indicator of currency strength, 1st lord Moon is exalted in Taurus  and 1th house, is also a dual indicator of currency strength. Indeed, the incomes of Americans are high and this supports the economy, and the confidence of foreigners in the US Dollar. Indeed, the above noted placements suggest that the USA enjoys a very strong currency.

Ten years ago, in the article Currency strength, the following prediction was made. At that time the US dollar : GB pound exchange rate  was at 1.50. Today, it is at 1.28. So, the dollar has appreciated (strengthened) viz-a-viz the pound, but that is not the whole story. But first, let's revisit the 2010 prediction.

Recent and future developments

Following the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in the early 1970s, the dollar has continued to gain on the Pound. While there has been volatility, reflecting the period and transit influences in both charts, the trend line has clearly been lower, such that those buying a pound with dollars now pay less than they did some forty years ago. Moreover, while there have been concerns about the long term viability of the dollar, given the debt of the US government and during the recent adverse planetary periods, it is expected that when the Sun major period rolls around in 2016, the integrity of the US dollar will be boosted. In the interim period, given the even more adverse major period of Mars in the UK horoscope until 2012, the UK pound may experience a further trend decline relative to the US dollar.

The data point suggests the prediction has proved accurate, but it is not enough. As the graph below shows, the average value during the respective planetary major periods offers an even more convincing confirmation of the prediction. However, we should also consider the bigger picture.

Additional factors

The strength should not be interpreted too narrowly, in terms of the ever greater appreciation of the exchange rate, as currency value cuts both ways.

• If too strong, a currency chokes off exports and expands imports, undermining the balance of payments, which tends to depreciate the currency exchange rate over time. 
• If too weak, exports expand strongly but imports are throttled down, creating a surplus on the balance of payments, which tends to appreciate the exchange rate. 

A broader, complementary perspective

Moreover, the following statement by Dutch economist Willem Buiter, recently the Chief Economist at Citigroup in New York City, is of interest with regard to the US dollar's role as an international reserve currency.

"Global demand for the US dollar – which remains the world’s only serious reserve currency – is robust enough to prevent a sharp, destabilizing currency depreciation."     -- Willem Buiter, 9/21/2020

The legitimacy and acceptability of a currency in foreign exchange markets are also elements that affect the strength of a currency, and these would tend to be associated with greater long run balance in the international payments. 

Indeed, the US has an international reserve currency and can borrow from foreigners in its own currency, which suggests it is an exceptionally strong currency, even if its value at any given time may fluctuate.

Foreign trade is indicated by the 10th house, which is afflicted by Rahu, but its lord, Mars is strong in Scorpio and 5th house, where it receives an aspect from 1st lord Moon. The foreign trade may be influenced by manipulations and vested interests, but it is not a burden on the national economy. Hence, there is the pheonomenon of "benign neglect" by US policy makers when it comes to the exchange rate value of the US dollar. Not surprisingly, in the Sun major period, President Trump objected to other countries attempting to obtain "competitive devaluations" of their currencies, in order to get their moribund economies to grow through exports to the USA. This applied to Japan and the EU, but also China, which, as a BOP surplus nation, has tried to prevent the appreciation of the juan by pegging it to the US dollar and buying long dated US government securities.

A related prediction

In September 2009, another prediction was made with regard to the dollar's role as an international reserve currency:

"During 2009, the Russian and Chinese governments have publicly expressed grave concerns about risks to the international financial system from the issuance of enormous debt by the US government to shore up its financial system. In particular, the role of the US dollar as an international currency has been questioned. The Russians and Chinese have also suggested the creation of a truly global currency is needed to reduce risks and share more evenly the benefits of an international currency. Problems with regard to the debt of the US government have earlier been foreseen on the basis of the SAMVA USA chart (Perpetual Union). It has been suggested that while the situation is likely to place strains on e.g. the President of the USA, the dollar, interest rates on the debt and concerns for inflation, the situation will remain manageable."

Indeed, despite threats made or implied, the dollar has sailed through the recent turbulent decade with its role as an international reserve currency intact - as predicted.

The evidence

We can now compare the currency strength of the dollar and pound across a longer period, and then examine its value during individual major periods in the SAMVA USA chart. We find that in the 1981 - 2020 period, the average value is 1.60 USD for 1 GBP. In the respective planetary periods, the average during the Mercury period was 1.61; 1.64 in the Ketu period, 1.65 in the Venus period, and then 1.30 in the Sun period. This is a rather stunning finding, as it includes all the shorter run influences involving sub-periods and transits of slow moving planets.

Conclusion

During the Sun major period, the US dollar has been over 20 percent stronger than in the two previous major periods of Ketu and Venus and 19 percent stronger than in the Mercury period. This is significant statistical and scientific evidence in support of Professor Choudhry's astrological theory and what has been predicted based on the USA and UK charts. The other features involving currency strength are also in evidence, as the quote by the respected international economist, Dr. Buiter indicates.