Dear Fellow Star Gazers,

Mercury is definitely retrograde and I am facing technical issues so sending this a day early.

​​​​​​​Nevertheless.....

Happy Full and Blue Moon,

Yes, this is the second Full Moon of the month and what a month it’s proved to be: so many scandals including the horrific poisoning in Salisbury (which occurred as Mercury, Venus and Chiron were in exact conjunction in Pisces – the sign most associated with drugs and altered reality). We may never know what happened exactly. What we do know is that this event has had enormous repercussions in the world of espionage (Jupiter flexing its muscles in Scorpio?) and that diplomatic tensions have risen.

Yet there have been signs of positive diplomatic moves: the meeting between the Presidents of China and North Korea, though shrouded in secrecy (Scorpio),  appears to have marked  the start of dialogue with other leaders. It is astrologically fascinating that the meeting between the North and South Korean leaders is scheduled for April 27^th. Just hours earlier, Mars and Pluto conjoin in Capricorn. Saturn is already in this sign. This is the first time these three planets have been together in Capricorn (the sign associated with leaders and governments since 1282).

The political sands are clearly shifting: as might be expected given that both Chiron and Uranus are also about to change signs. Major ingresses are often accompanied by change in political direction.

Economic ripples will also be felt. And yes, at a personal level we will surely all be faced with new challenges. (If you are born under either Aries or Taurus you could feel these acutely).

MARKETS

Though many markets in the West are closed to mark Easter and so will miss the direct effect of the Mars-Saturn conjunction on Monday 2nd, I am not inclined to think that next week will be positive for trading. In the run into the Last Quarter Moon (Sunday April 8^th, and which picks up a highly sensitive market degree), the lunar node returns to the eclipse position at the end of January. That event marked a significant turning point (S&P has yet to return anywhere near this). It may be that another significant level will be reached.

More volatile conditions are likely after the New Moon on April 15^th. That same day Mercury arrives at direct station in Aries with Chiron moving into that sign just two days later (first visit since 1968) and all within a few days of Saturn’s station and the Sun’s alignment (but this time last for eight decades) with Uranus in Aries: not to mention Venus’ opposition to Jupiter and trine to Pluto. That third week of April may well see highly unusual behaviour in the market place and elsewhere: as will surely be mid-May. I won’t list the cluster of planetary activity for that period: suffice it to say that I am looking for a correction – more on this in the next letter.

COMMODITIES

Pluto stations at the first quarter Moon on April 22^nd and within days of the Capricorn stellium mentioned above. It’s reasonable to expect sharp moves in the price of precious metals around this date. It may be that the price falls before moving in the opposite direction a month later.

POLITICS

President Trump’s chart is significantly challenged in the coming months with Mars (a key player in his horoscope) strongly active through the year and especially through the summer months and again in early November. We have got used to his presidential style but could yet be astounded by his decisions mid April. As we have seen, he seems to thrive on competition but, on this occasion, may find that he has met his match: a contributing factor to market volatility mid April.

President Putin’s chart is no less challenged. Mars, unsurprisingly, plays key role here too: conjoined the Galactic centre at birth with both EXACTLY 45 degrees from Venus in Scorpio – within a degree of its station on October 5^th 2018. Not only does this imply his war-like status, it also signals the importance of 2018 in his life.

There are two solar eclipses this summer: the first, In July, highlights Uranus in his chart and the second, in August, his nodal axis and Midheaven. His recent re-election and the shock he must have felt at the expelling of so many diplomats from Russian embassies across the world is indicated in both. I suspect though that this is just the start and that there will be more political (Uranus) developments to come before his solar return on October 7^th. Decisions announced by him at the start of April further cement the high probability of volatile times ahead.

CHIRON

Chiron is a planetoid orbiting between Saturn (last planet to be seen with the naked eye) and Uranus (discovered in 1781). It has a reputation as ‘The Wounded Healer’. Whilst correlation between medical breakthroughs and Chiron’s move from one sign to another can be found, this planetoid – which also has a reputation as a ‘maverick’ – seems to have influence in other spheres too.

It last moved from Pisces to Aries in 1968 but thanks to a retrograde period crossed this boundary again in 1969. That the first crossing occurred within days of the murder of Martin Luther King which set of an extra-ordinary chain of events may be important. It is entirely possible that events in mid April will be similarly shocking.

What goes on in the wider world is perhaps only a reflection of what is going on within each and every one of us. We should all now be prepared for fast-moving developments and a very bumpy ride between now and early November.

Priority – as always – must surely be to maintaining good health and friendships. Everything else is a bonus.

This contact with you each month is one of my great pleasures. Better still is meeting up at conferences and events: see list below

Please let me know if you will be attending an event - it would be nice to say 'hello' in person

For now,

Yours from the stars

Christeen

The Beginner’s Guide to Financial Astrology (February 2017) is now available through Amazon as is ‘Exploring the Financial Universe’ (October 2016)