Dear Fellow Stargazers,

Happy Full Moon!

Where to start? The markets? Gold? The EU? The refugee crisis? The US Presidential nomination and election?  The Pisces solar eclipse (March 9^th)?

Perhaps easiest to go through the list:

THE MARKETS:

Last month’s forecast was not so wide of the mark. There are parallels with 1970 which, if they were to continue would mean that indices have yet further to fall: perhaps bottoming in late May before recovering. The next testing period comes in early March post the heliocentric opposition of Mars to Uranus. Add to that another opposition of Jupiter to Chiron (Feb. 23^rd) and it seems that there will be more down than up in the coming days.

True, there is a positive aspect between Jupiter and Pluto mid-March and the days leading into this could see an upturn (possibly from the solar eclipse on March 9^th). That trend is unlikely to last however - with decline most likely led by ‘bad’ news from the banking sector. It’s cracks in this area that are most likely to be major contributors to sharp falls between March and May.

THE EU and the UK

Prime Minister David Cameron has returned from talks with, apparently, a special deal in place. I am not sure that this deal has ‘stickiness’ and suspect that it might dissolve sooner rather than later. That aside, the date for the referendum is set for three days after the Full Moon and the Summer Solstice. The chart for close of polls suggests that there will be no ambiguity with the outcome. My reading of the chart suggests that the decision to stay ‘in’ will win – though I would understand and respect a different reading of the outcome.

What is clear is that the 1801 chart for the United Kingdom (a sort of UK PLC chart), which has been reliable for so long, now needs replacement: it has gone past its sell-by date (coinciding with the recent referendum in Scotland). A re-formation of the kingdoms of the British Isles is now over-due and is likely to be on the political agenda for much of the coming decade.

The Euro, though its value might well rise in 2018 – 2019, could yet come unstuck: most probably by 2025. Whilst some might see this as positive for sterling I am not so sure. The nature of currencies and the working of present day forex arrangements may well come under great change post the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of 2020. I suspect that emphasis then will be on the emergence of a new currency altogether (perhaps not Bitcoin but something similar)

For now, the status quo could be preserved with the UK voting to stay in the EU – though whether the EU will continue is another matter. A hastening into a new age is probable in 2017 when what I am calling Phase 2 of the Global Financial Crisis could yet get underway.

GOLD

Indices fell and gold rose. No real surprise there. I suspect that we will see sharp moves in its price between April 17^th and 19^th. Riding these trades is probably not for the small investor however – especially as the dates involved cover a weekend. Those invested in this area are perhaps more likely to realise profits in October 2017 or April 2020. After the latter date I am not so sure that gold is the place to be.

THE REFUGEE CRISIS and the EU:

On-going, awful, complex and with no solution likely to be found for many months yet. The EU’s next meeting is on March 6^th as Mars makes geocentric entry into Sagittarius conjoining with Saturn in that same sign on August 24^th. The refugee situation is likely to get worse and worse with battles for rights in late summer.

The role of the Sun in this is not to be underestimated.  Sunspot cycle 24 should reach minimum in approximately 4 years. Sunspot Cycle 25 may yet be the ‘quietest’ of our lifetimes. With these developments in solar output and related terrestrial weather disturbance it is probable that many will move in the hope of avoiding droughts etc. I doubt that there is end in sight to the displacement of peoples for some years yet.

THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Months of this yet to go. As I see it, I doubt that Hilary Clinton will be the first female president. For me her chart is full of disappointment and unrealised dreams though I would agree that some of the Saturn transits she faces could also bring responsibility. Even so, for an out and out win one would look for excess and joy – and I can’t see that.

For now, newsfeeds suggests that Donald Trump is unstoppable. I still don’t rule out the possibility of another hopeful entering the race. Mr Trump’s chart around the time of the Inauguration of the next President on January 20^th, 2017 certainly contains excess responsibility and issues of power. Significantly, there is also one of the aspects often present when an individual experiences a cash flow crisis.

I intend to do close study of the charts involved over the summer months ahead of making my contribution to the forecasting team at the ISAR event in Costa Mesa in October http://www.isarastrology.com/2016-conference By then we will know exactly who the candidates are.

PISCES SOLAR ECLIPSE

The next New Moon is also a Solar Eclipse: on March 9^th which traders might recall marked the start of an upturn in world markets back in 2009 following a bruising period. Anniversary dates often carry with them similar sentiment. Certainly it would make sense if markets turned on this date and then rose into the Jupiter-Pluto trine on March 16th.

As mentioned, the more troubling period comes a week later and in the days leading into the next Full Moon (March 23^rd). This could be an extremely treacherous period.

AND FINALLY

I am back at my desk after the most out-of-the-world trip to both the Bahamas and Florida where I spent time with some very fine astrologers: a truly enriching time. I also met with my publisher and had some publicity photos taken alongside Priscilla Costello whose book, ‘Shakespeare and the Stars’ is now out and is WONDERFUL. (You can see an example of her writing at www.uraniatrust.orgwhere her article on Gemini and Romeo and Juliet is a brilliant read.

As I am leaving for another writing break on March 17^th (St Patrick’s Day!), I plan to give the next webinar on Sunday March 13^th. If you would like to attend, the cost is £36 and can be booked and paid for through PayPal via www.financialuniverse.co.uk

For now,

Yours from the Stars

Christeen