Beatles Break Up

Astrology speaks to us of the immutable laws of nature. The law of karma that compels our evolution as conscious human beings. The Biblical story of Cain and Abel speaks of a fateful blow of one brother against another, followed by a life altering reaction. 

The story is symbolic of our actions in life and reactions to them. The wrongful actions may cause us to encounter the pain of separation. Over time such actions purify us, and alter our understanding of the goal of life. The sages have long understood that only the purest actions will propel us ever higher towards the penultimate spiritual goal of unity with the God consciousness. 

The astrological birth chart is the blueprint for our karma. It signals what challenges we need to overcome in life in order to grow as human beings.

When the Beatles broke up, it was principally due to a falling out between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the alternating leaders of the band. After creating some of the most beautiful music of their or any time, the two friends had a falling out, using their musical craft to clear out their heads. Due to their high profile partnership, once they broke up, each felt compelled to work out his own issues in the context of the other.

In this article we explore the dynamics of their personalities, as seen in their horoscopes, resulting in a 12 year long creative partnership that ended in a way that surprised Paul, resulting in a public exchange of acrimony in 1971. Fortunately, they were able to recover their friendship before John Lennon's untimely death in December 1980.

CREATIVE PARTNERS

The creative partnership of the two leading Beatles was forged from July 1957, resulting in the groups rise to world fame by February 1964. 

John Lennon has Aries rising making him a natural leader.  Not only did he bring the nascent Beatles together, but he was their original manager, lead singer and played the rhythm guitar to drive their music forward. Paul McCartney, two years his junior, has a Leo ascendant, and is thus also seen to be a born leader. As fire signs, their strong spirits produced a creative explosion. Their output was so prodigious that many songs were handed out to other artists, bringing them fame.

Over time, Lennon conceded a lot of creative leadership to McCartney. In the beginning it was only natural, as the result of their collaboration was so magnificent. Songs like If I Fell, composed by Lennon and McCartney, and recorded at that pinnacle moment of February 1964, embody the enduring beauty of the Beatles melodies, lyrics and vocal harmonies. The compositions of Lennon and McCartney likely served as a huge inspiration for George Harrison and Ring Starr. For instance, the song I Need You, written by George Harrisons, and recorded a year later, fully matches the bands other output. 

However, over time things changed. Following the death of Brian Epstein, the manager of the Beatles, in August 1967, tensions had begun to develop between John and Paul over the creative direction of the band. George Harrison also felt his songs were left out by their artistic control of the band. Meanwhile, it fell increasingly up to the congenial Ringo Starr to hold things together in the studio. The Beatles experimentation with drugs, the burden of fame, and growing creative differences seem to have come to head in August 1969 when the Beatles were recording Paul's Maxwell's Silver Hammer, John, George and Ringo had seemingly had enough. In particular, John was no longer feeling the musical spark that had propelled the band. 

But perhaps the decisive thing was the fact that John had earlier met and married Japanese artist Yoko Ono, who had begun to show him a new outlook on life. In his chart, it is the 7th lord Venus, the ruler of art and partnership that is in the 5th house of creativity, romance and children. John only had room for one such partner in his life, and John's decision to quit the Beatles, to devote his life to his new partner, was more uniquely felt by  Paul, his prior creative partner, than the other Beatles. As Paul later said, John's decision set him off on a spiral into depression.

Yoko, John, Allen Klein, Paul & Ringo on 20/9 1969

In the event, it was at a Beatles business meeting on 20 September 1969 that things came to a head as John Lennon announced he was leaving the Beatles.  The photo, taken at this meeting, reveals a confident John, who has just reclaimed his leadership role, by deciding to end their creative partnership, while Paul and Ringo are visibly shaken by the announcement. 

An agreement was reached with John to keep the decision secret until their recording projects had been finalised. On 10 April, 1970, a week prior to the release of his first own solo album, Paul publicly announced the end of the Beatles. In some way, it was his way to reclaim his sense of leadership over the decision. Understandably, there was a public outcry of disappointment. In May 1970, the Beatles final studio album, Let It Be, was released. Many projected their hurt feelings at Yoko Ono, blaming her for the break up the band. In reality, as John later explained, it is normal for a man to leave his gang after getting married. 

FEUD

In the fall of 1969, Paul went to his remote farm with his wife Linda and their children. After a few months of drink, drugs and depression, Linda coaxed Paul back into their home-made studio, where he began work on his first solo album. It was his effort to reassert his dignity after the painful ending of his partnership with John. While Paul slowly emerged from under the weight of the Beatles legacy, he wasn't quite over the split.

John and Yoko issued in December, the Live Peace in Toronto 1969 album. Later they formed The Plastic Ono Band, which released an album by that name in December 1970.

That said, Paul's announcement of the end of the Beatles irked John. In the May 14, 1970 issue of Rolling Stone, he lashed out at Paul in a way he’d never done publicly: 

“He can’t have his own way, so he’s causing chaos,” John said. “I put out four albums last year, and I didn’t say a f***ing word about quitting.”

The stage was set.

In November 1970s, Paul and Linda had begun work on his second solo album.  "Ram" was a studio album that would be released on 17 May 1971 by Apple Records. During the November recording sessions, Paul had penned lyrics to the song "Too many people" that contained criticism of John and Yoko. In some sense, Paul was echoing the public disappointment with the break up of the Beatles. As Paul later observed:

"I was looking at my second solo album, Ram, the other day and I remember there was one tiny little reference to John in the whole thing. He'd been doing a lot of preaching, and it got up my nose a little bit. In one song, I wrote, "Too many people preaching practices", I think is the line. I mean, that was a little dig at John and Yoko. There wasn't anything else on it that was about them. Oh, there was "You took your lucky break and broke it in two".

It didn't take John Lennon long to react, with a much more stinging, hurtful song, "How Do You Sleep?" which was recorded between 26 May and 5 July 1971 and released on 9 September 1971. The song appeared on the legendary Imagine album. The song makes angry and scathing remarks aimed at his former Beatles bandmate and songwriting partner, Paul McCartney. Indeed, Lennon piled it on thick. The song begins with the ambient sounds evocative sounds of those heard at the beginning of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, followed by the line "So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise." John then refers to the "Paul is dead" rumour by observing "Those freaks was right when they said you was dead".  He then adds "The only thing you done was yesterday / And since you've gone you're just another day" are directed at McCartney, referencing the Beatles' 1965 song "Yesterday" and McCartney's hit single "Another Day", released in February 1971. Adding insult to injury, Lennon had a photo of himself made holding a pig with its ears, making fun of Paul's photo holding a ram with its horns.

ASTROLOGY OF GENIUS

The saying "There's a fine line between genius and insanity" fortunately did not apply to these artists. Neither succumbed to mental problems. However, both men were marked with emotional hurt, including loss of mother. That said, John's upbringing was likely more difficult and he is said to have had anger management issues.

In Paul's 28° Leo rising chart, there is not much that involves anger, except the placement of his 12th lord Moon of losses in the MEP of its own 12th house, which signifies the loss of his mother at a tender age. The placement suggests Paul can lash out when hurt, creating conflict. 

However, at the recording of Too Many People, he was enjoying a Venus/Saturn period. His 3rd lord Venus is strongly and well placed in the most effective point (MEP) of the 9th house, giving luck and preferment to his activities. Moreover, his 7th lord Saturn, representing partner, is strong and well placed in the 10th house, suggesting a publicly visible partner.

The transits on that day were generally very good, with 3rd lord Venus in conjunction with his 5th lord Jupiter and 11th lord Sun in the MEP of the 3rd house, in opposition to his 7th lord Saturn in the MEP of the 9th house. 

In short, a lot of good karma is seen at that time. The song Too Many People is generally rated quite high in the McCartney panetheon of songs. However, transit Rahu was in the 7th house of partners in close aspect to his 5th lord Jupiter and 11th lord Sun in the 11th house of friends. Paul couldn't help but express his hurt in a veiled but not hard to read criticism of John, his immensely significant creative partner and friend.

In the case of John Lennon's Aries rising chart, shortcomings are seen related to anger. His 1st lord Mars is badly placed in Virgo and MEP of the 6th house of conflict. Aries can make the person aggressive, especially with such a placement of the ascendant lord. It makes the person carry emphatic sentiments and tend to react aggressively to perceived slights. 

In the article John Lennon's divine gift it says:

"As 1st lord Mars is placed in the 6th house, John Lennon, tended to have strong views, making him controversial. This is more so as the 6th lord Mercury is placed in the MEP of the 7th house, contributing to Lennon's strong personality." 

It also made Lennon confrontational, sometimes harsh. Importantly, at the time of the writing of this song, John was running the Rahu/Venus period. It puts emphasis on the planet Venus in his chart. As it is 7th lord of partnership, those matters come to the fore. At that time, transit 7th lord Venus was in the 1st house conjunct transit 6th lord Mercury, in opposition to John's natal 6th lord Mercury in the 7th house MEP. This dual affliction of Venus likely made Lennon's anger over Pauls more veiled criticism blow up. Moreover, his transit 5th lord Sun in the 6th house, was afflicted by transit Rahu in the 10th house, while transit 7th lord Mars was in the 10th house under aspect from his natal Rahu in the 6th house. It certainly was a time when his patience would have served both men better. In any event, the event helps students of astrology to better understand the role of ascendant signs, the placement of ascendant lord, and other influences.

George Harrison, who also had 1st lord Venus exalted in Pisces and 6th house, and had sided with Lennon in the dispute over manager Allen Klein, lent his guitar talents to the recording. His conflictual issues were, however seen to be less in his chart, as Pisces is a non-Moolatrikona sign, and hence there is no MT ruler to complicate matters as was the case for John Lennon, including having other planets in the 6th house.

EPILOGUE

When John increasingly pulled back in the Beatles in 1968/69, Paul gladly assumed creative control. As a Leo ascendant, Paul was willing to serve as primus motor of the Beatles. However, he likely didn't realise the onerous demands he was making of the others in the studio. In his mind, the Beatles were a permanent institution. However, John, didn't feel that way. He was becoming ready to move on. Moreover, he was courageous to declare his independence to the others, in order to chart his destiny as an artist with his new wife, despite what the public may have wanted. Paul was both hurt by the decision, as much as he was surprised by it. In coming to terms with it, he declared his own independence, but also his hurt. John, being who he was, hit back twice as hard. Fortunately, the two Beatles had reconciled before John Lennon's untimely death. As such, the pain of their separation was partially overcome, to give way for the heartfelt expression of their love and respect for each other. More than anything, these two artists have given so much to the world. Their immense good karma is undoubtedly lifting their souls towards the  loving God at the time of death. 

Beware Caesar! Hail Caesar!

A curious development took place in the astrology of Rome as the strife-torn Republic was convulsed into an orderly Empire at the close of 1st century B.C.E. This article explains how two very different events, separated by 164 years, shed light on the now evident shift from a sidereal zodiac, reflecting the visible constellations in the sky, to the tropical zodiac, with its ceaseless drift away from its visible moorings. This articles purports to explain the underpinnings of the shift. 

Beware Caesar!

Julius Caesar's stunning military successes in Gallia made him suspect among the landowning Senatorial class in Rome. While they prized civic duty of leading a Roman army, they abhored any man that usurped too much power in so doing, as he thereby created a threat to their ability to manage the delicate balance of power the Republic relied on. The example of dictatorial rule by the early Roman kings had made republicans afraid of a relapse into it. While their own Senatorial rule had devolved into an indefensible exploitation of the Roman masses, that was secondary for most of them. Making things more delicate, Caesar was a professed 'populares'. Upon his long awaited return to Rome, the Senators demanded that Caesar relinquish his military power and submit to a trial over his actions in Gallia. Rather than comply, Caesar violated a cardinal rule and entered Rome with his troops, setting off a bloody civil war. After handily winning that war, Caesar tried to placate his surviving enemies, but his actions, including to declare himself Dictator for life in 46. B.C.E., made them only more adamant to secretly conspire to "kill the tyrant".

According to Suetonius (69 A.D. – 122 A.D.), the Roman historian, it was Spurinna, alternatingly referred to as a haruspex, seer or soothsayer, who warned Julius Caesar of danger to his person leading up to the Ides of March [1]. "Beware the Ides of March, Caesar!" is a phrase forever etched in the collective memory. A haruspex was the term for those who studied the entrails of animals as a form of divination. However, it is more than likely Spurinna knew astrology, as the practice was already established in Rome at that time, and Spurinna used an astrological concept, Eidus, or Ides, to warn Caesar. The Ides are imbued with astrological meaning, as they represents the time when the Sun passes from one sign to another. Indeed, the word means "divide," as between two signs and the month itself, as the Ides took place in the middle of the month. Thus, on March 15, the Sun moved from Pisces to Aries. In the Systems' Approach astrology, the Sun becomes weak as it passes from old age of one sign to infancy in another, much like the journey of a soul from a frail body at the close of one earthly existence, to the birth in a small and dependent new one.

Importantly, the Eidus Martiae" coin, seen above, which was commissioned by Brutus in 42 B.C.E. to celebrate Caesar´s death and the restoration of "freedom" in Rome, is clear evidence of the importance of the Ides of March legend in the death of Caesar. For archeologists there is no better proof.

The famous interaction between Caesar and Spurinna is reported as follows.

"In grave tones, Spurinna warned the dictator that his life would be in danger for a period of 30 days, which would expire on the 15th of March. Caesar dismissed the concerns. [...] As the 30 days passed, nothing whatsoever happened. Yet when the 15th of March dawned, Caesar’s wife awoke distressed after dreaming she held his bloodied body. Fearing for his life, she begged him not to leave the house. His dreams, too, had also been unsettling. He had been flying through the air, and shaken hands with Jupiter. But he pushed any concerns aside. The day was an important annual celebration in Rome’s religious calendar, and he had called a special meeting of the Senate. His first appointment of the day was a quick sacrifice at a friend’s house. Spurinna the seer was also there. Caesar joked that his prophecies must be off as nothing had happened. Spurinna muttered that the day was not yet over." 

 This exchange suggests that Spurinna considered the 30 day threat over once the Sun moved out of Pisces and into Aries, it's exaltation sign. Indeed, it takes the Sun 30 days to move through one sign. By comparison, the weakness from old age to infancy only lasts for 10 days. This interpretation gains more credence when we consider a possible horoscope for Caesar. 

Spurinna may have had knowledge of Caesar's birth information. What we know of Caesar, the sign Libra could fit his tall and impressive appearance and conduct. Here is a speculative natal chart for him. In it, Caesar has 12th lord Mercury conjunct 1st lord Venus in the MEP of the 10th house, suggesting public efforts abroad, in aspect to 5th lord Saturn, suggesting intelligent execution giving satisfaction. However, problems are also for self (1) and mind (5) from the most malefic planet (MMP) Mercury. Caesar is said to have suffered from epilepsy. 

Caesar's tall height would be explained by 5th lord Saturn, which rules tall height, being in the MEP of the 4th house from where it aspects the 1st house of self and 1st lord Venus in the 10th house MEP. An additional influence is that, 3rd lord Jupiter, ruling growth, is in the 8th house MEP from where it aspects Saturn.

The placement of 3rd lord Jupiter in the 8th house also gives obstacles for Caesars initiatives and actions, as well as easy gains. Meanwhile, Ketu in the 2nd house aspects his 2nd lord Sun in the 10th house, suggesting spiritual or misunderstood efforts on behalf of the downtrodden, but also sudden, explosive setbacks to his authority and status. Indeed, as a young man he was marked for death by Sulla, fled Rome, only to be captured by pirates, requiring a ransom, which arrived at the last minute, saving him from certain death. All his conquests in Gallia added enormously to the Roman coffers, but these contributions were overlooked by the Senators, who had grown fearful of him. Caesar, who had made generous offerings to the plebeians in his lifetime, also in his will bequeathed a big part of his estate to them.

In any event, on March 15, 44 B.C.E. the Sun as 11th lord for Librans was in late Pisces, where it was conjunct a debilitated 12th lord Mercury. Functional malefic (FM) planets become more malefic when weak. Importantly, Pisces becomes the 6th house of enemies for Librans. At that time it was possibly in the most effective point of the 6th house, or near Caesar's rising degree, where it has more influence, conjunct the MMP ruling losses. Influential Senators, whom Caesar treated as friends, especially Brutus, betrayed his trust and killed him. Other things, like planetary periods would likely have been involved in such a dramatic event.

The transition from sidereal to tropical astrology

Roman astrology came from Greece. The link between Hellenic and Roman astrology is made clear by Wray (2001): 

"Every emperor's biography seems to have featured some omen or prediction of future greatness, so on one level there's no reason to attach any truth value to this story about Augustus and a Greek astrologer. On the other hand, there is nothing impossible or unlikely about an astrologer making a prediction of future greatness and power to Augustus as early as 44 BCE. Astrology was a part of Greek learning and culture, with a high prestige value. And more importantly, individual natal horoscopes tended to be associated in the Hellenistic world with individual power, and specifically with claims to kingship. Publishing your horoscope, in other words, could be read as a way of making a bid for royal power without having to say openly that you were making such a bid. The first "published" horoscope we possess dates from 62 BCE. It is preserved in the form of a relief carved into a rock on the top of Nimrudh Dagh in the Tarsus mountains, and it represents the coronation horoscope of King Antiochus I of Commagene".

There is also an established earlier link between Indian and Hellenic astrology, involving the transmission of ideas associated with the conquest of Alexander the Great in India, in the 4th century B.C.E. It is known that proto-astrology was a part of the ancient Vedas, and that much later, in the 7th century B.C.E., there was a precursor of horoscopic astrology in India. Moreover, later, the Indians were known to use only the sidereal zodiac.

What matters most is that the original Greek horoscopic astrology emphasised the rising sign and related house placements of the planets. The evidence points to the Greeks having also used the sidereal zodiac, and hence the early practice of astrology in Rome did the same. We can see this from the placement of the Sun during the Ides of March in 44 B.C.E., with the Sun at 29° Pisces in the sidereal zodiac, while it was at 24° Pisces in the tropical zodia and outside the old age/infancy zone. Hence, it was clearly the sidereal zodiac Spurinna was basing his astrology on.

We can also see how the placement of the Sun, on this day, have changed over time for each respective zodiac.

15 March, 44 B.C.E.: Sidereal Sun:  28° 52' Pisces; Tropical Sun 24° 19' Pisces.

15 March, 1000 A.D.: Sidereal Sun: 14° 37' Pisces; Tropical Sun 24° 34' Pisces.

15 March 2021 A.D.: Sidereal Sun:   0° 53' Pisces; Tropical Sun 25° 02' Pisces.

Today, the Sun has moved further back in Pisces on March 15 in the sidereal zodiac, in line with the travel of the visible zodical constellations in the sky, due to the precession of the equinoxes. However, the Sun still appears in late Pisces, but not old age, in the tropical zodiac, far out of synch with its constellational moorings. 

In the event, it was Augustus, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, who won the second civil war, following Caesar's murder, besting also his ally Marc Anthony, to usher in the new order, the rule of the emperors, the Caesars.

At the same time, it is in this transformation we can also see how the sidereal zodiac faded out of view in the Roman Empire, to be replaced by a default zodiac, rooted in non-astrological dictates, and which later became known as the tropical zodiac.

Hail Caesar!

One aspect of the Roman empire was the central role of the Emperor himself. His person became the nucleus of the social order and his place in the firmament was that of a divine being. History has witnessed many such kings, who commanded or demanded the absolute acquiescence of all the citizens to not only their rule but to their undisputed greatness. The madness of Caligula and Nero serve as reminders. The modern term for this mental condition and behaviour is megalomania. It was nevertheless an accepted feature of life in Rome at that time, and it was in fact required for the good functioning of the state itself.

In 120 A.D., the Pantheon as we know it today was built by Emperor Hadrian. He seems to have been a good emperor, as they go. An interesting insight concerning the Pantheon is that he was so passionate about its architecture that he had Apollodorus of Damascus, a famous Greek architect of the time, executed due to an argument about the design of the temple. Perhaps the most stunning feature of the Pantheon is its spherical roof with an opening at the top, the Oculus, and its relationship to the huge entrance.

The design had the singular purpose on the day when the Romans celebrated April 21 as the founding date of the city, for the sunlight at noon to enter the Oculus and strike a metal grille above the doorway, saturating the courtyard outside with light, as well as bathe the Emperor standing in the entrance of the Pantheon in light. For the ancients, as moderns, the Sun in mundane astrology rules the leader. The effect was to raise the new Emperor to the level of the gods; affirm his divinity.

The importance of astrology to Hadrian is well known. His horoscope that survives from the 4th century A.D. was cast in the tropical zodiac. More importantly, Hadrian knew its symbolism, deriving only from the tropical placements, as these became a part of the Pantheon's design. Joost-Gaugier (1998) describes it thus:

"By counting the essential parts of the building and relating those numbers to its shape and function, the structure clearly 'reads' as the Marriage of the Sun and the Moon. Hadrian's horoscope, well known to scholars of classical astrology, sets forth the time of his birth as occurring at a moment of 'coincidence' of the Sun and the Moon. His earliest biographers underline his special interest in the Sun and the Moon which corresponded with his Pythagorean interests."

Moreover, on April 21, 120 A.D. in the uncorrected zodiac, the Sun entered the sign Taurus, a fruitful and earthy sign, fitting the sensible nature and practical philosophy of Hadrian. Perhaps it was to preserve this degree of 'beginning' on that day that a decision, involving the court astrologers, was effectively made to follow the tropical zodiac. Interestingly, this would also place Hadrian's own Sun, Moon and ascendant, all in Aquarius, in the auspicious rulership oriented 10th house. Hence, the Pantheon likely reflects his own horoscope, which is fascinating.

The decision to build with this horoscopic interpretation, based on the tropical zodiac becomes perhaps more understandable as it was only in the 3rd century A.D., with the sideral zodiac having moved 2° with reference to the calendar, that the two zodiacs became identical, the so-called zero point. So, the change to a new zodiac may have been seen as fairly inconsequential at the time.

The tropical zodiac may have been known by the Greek astrologers in the 2nd or 1st centuries B.C.E., however, it was then not widely used. Astrology was still sidereal as is shown above in the time of Julius Caesar, and Augustus. The key to the sidereal zodiac was to keep 0° Libra on the fixed star Spica (Chitra). It is more likely that for the above reason that the correction for the precession of the equinoxes, in order to keep the constellations and signs aligned given the 1° movement every 73 years, was abandoned in casting horoscopes in the Roman Empire. The Pantheon codified the tropical zodiac. Even the ascendant shifted from the top of the horoscope, as is still the case for vedic astrology, to the left, as is still the case for western astrology, and thus reflecting the crimson dawn of the rising Sun in the East. Indeed, the Sun gained primacy in western astrology, while the rising sign remains the focus of horoscopic astrology. Interestingly, the Sun and sign Leo, and sun-like planets, ruling Moolatrikona signs falling in the 2nd, 3rd and 9th houses, have a special power in the modern vedic Systems' Approach astrology. In any event, these changes also ensured that the Emperor could count on being reaffirmed as a divine ruler on this important day, especially, as it ensured the astrology was consistent with the optimal optical effect on April 21 for posterity. 

However, the result for astrology was a sad one. It ensured that western astrology continued to devolve from its sidereal horoscopic basis as practiced by the Roman's, with the difference between the zodiacs increasing from the 3rd century A.D. into the Middle Ages and beyond. Today, tropical astrology has become so shorn of its earlier accurate sign placements, that it is almost one sign removed from the original constellations. Moreover, its distorted emphasis on the Sun placed in an imaginary sign, ensures that it misses out on the critical ingredient of the accurate house-based horoscopic astrology. Fortunately, vedic astrology, the original fountain of this knowledge, both in the East and the West, has continued to this day, with the correct zodiac based on the visible constellations, and its true horoscopic approach.

References

1) Suetonius, Divus Julius 81.

2) Holford-Strevens, Leofranc (2020) The History of Time: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.  Aug 30.  

https://issuu.com/376746/docs/the_history_of_time__a_very_short_introduction__ve

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."