January 3-February 16 correlates with extreme behaviors and actions

NOTE: Due to my speaking duties, and preparations for the international Saturn/Pluto conference in Zurich this weekend, this week’s column will be abbreviated. I apologize for that as I know this is a very important time, both in terms of geocosmic factors and world events.

REVIEW

U.S. hiring cooled in December, as the economy added 145,000 jobs, ending the decade on a weaker-than-expected note. The final payroll number of 2019 missed the estimate of 164,000 from economists surveyed by Refinitiv. Unemployment remained at 3.5 percent, a half-century low, as more people were looking for work, the Labor Department said Friday. Average hourly earnings, meanwhile, rose by 2.9 percent over the past year to $28.32. – Megan Henney, US Job Growth Slows in December, Ending 2019 on Weaker-Than-Expected Note,” www.foxbusiness.com, January 10, 2020.

Advanced economies were facing a tough year, the World Bank predicted, with the US growth rate slipping from 2.3% in 2019 to 1.8% in 2020, undermining Mr. Trump’s hope of re-election on the back of an economic expansion rate of over 3% per year. The US outlook has “decelerated” with rising tariffs, “increasing trade costs,” and uncertainty about economic relations abroad weighing “on investment and confidence.”– Chris Giles, “World Bank Gloomy Despite US-China Hopes,” Financial Times, January 9, 2020.

We are here. This is the weekend of the 32-37-year Saturn/Pluto conjunction. It is also the time of a powerful lunar eclipse with the Sun exactly conjoining Saturn and Pluto, as well as Uranus changing directions. We got a glimpse of what these powerful geocosmic signatures are about in the last week as this Capricorn Stellium approached.

It was a volatile week, dominated first by the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, ordered by the U.S. President late the prior week, and then followed by Iranian missile strikes on American forces based in Iraq early last week, followed by reports of no casualties and then a “stand down in tensions” as both sides elected to finally exhibit restraint. On those rapidly changing news stories, the world stock markets first sold off sharply into January 6-8, then rose sharply right afterwards. On the decline, several markets of the world made primary cycle lows, and on the rally right afterwards, several markets made new all-time highs, such as in the U.S. It was that kind of week. But then again, these are not just any ordinary geocosmic signatures unfolding in the heavens. They are very extraordinary, as discussed in detail in the Forecast 2020 Book.

These events had exactly the opposite effect on Gold, which soared above $1600 for the first time in over 6 years, but then fell sharply right afterwards. The same pattern as Gold was noted in Crude Oil and Silver. Both exploded to new multi-month highs on the retaliatory attack by Iran on American bases in Iraq, but quickly retreated the very next day, Thursday, January 9.

LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS – THE U.S. ELECTION

World War I began with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914… Once again, we see that during the 1914-1915 period there were uprisings and a political assassination in an effort to affect a regime change. In this case, it led to World War I… Throughout the world, including in the U.S., there are groups whose goal is to start uprisings and/or major changes in governments. These could become more visible, and perhaps more active, in 2020. Will their efforts result in attempted or actual political assassinations? It is possible under the Saturn and Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, for Pluto can express itself in violent acts in an effort to remove perceived enemies, and both Saturn and Capricorn pertain to government and its leaders. – excerpt from the Forecast 2020 Book, written in November 2019, regarding the Saturn/Pluto conjunction of January 12, 2020.

The idea of an increase in political (or even underworld) assassinations goes along with one set of dynamics symbolized by the Saturn and Pluto conjunction in Capricorn. This is a 32-27-year long-term planetary cycle that is exact this weekend, but which has an orb of influence up to two years either side of its occurrence. And so, this means of dealing with one’s enemies – assassinations – is rising again. But who would have thought the initiator of an assassination of a political enemy on foreign soil (Iraq) would be the United States of America?

This is one side of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn. It’s like you can commit an assassination, justify it as an act of national security (or deny it and begin a coverup), and believe it will soon disappear, as it has in other cases of assassinations recently (think Russia, think Saudi Arabia). The problem is that is now justifies similar acts by other world leaders. If the U.S. can do it, why can’t other nations do it under the same pretext?

However, there is another layer (in fact, many layers) to Saturn and Pluto that can also evolve here. Saturn and Pluto together represent the urge to investigate, to dig deeply, and reveal the truth behind acts that are committed. This may be an age of assassinations, but it is also the age of relentless investigations, as the layers of coverups are slowly peeled away, revealing a truth that is stunning, and causes the populace to demand accountability and a consequence. That too is Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn. Anyone who thinks they can outwit accountability under Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn is likely to be unpleasantly surprised. They will try, of course, for that is the nature of one side of Pluto – to coverup and make disappear those things, those people, that threaten you. But the other side of Pluto in Capricorn – especially with Saturn there too – is to get to the bottom of the issue and find the truth. Capricorn wants justice, but with transparency and accountability. Hence, we continue living in the period of investigations – of the president (leader) and of the president’s (leader’s) enemies. And slowly but steadily the truth comes out as the coverups and the untruths are exposed.

But how do these dynamics affect markets? The world economy has continued to expand and grow, in spite of these “walls of worry and anxiety” indicated by Saturn in Capricorn. As stated several times in this column, the greatest risk to world equity markets, the world economy, is the political risk. The events of the past week just underscore this point. When political tensions reach a breaking point and leaders take dramatic and unexpected action, the markets sell off. But when the tensions recede, equity markets soar again. How long can this continue? That is hard to predict, but geocosmics suggest that a major reversal of this long-term, record-breaking bullish trend will end sometime around the first quarter of 2021, when Saturn squares Uranus, or possibly within 5 months of the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in December 2020. But a reversal before those two periods, even in the next the months, is also a possibility, based on Jupiter’s transit of the first two decants (20°) of Capricorn, and natural cycle studies related to the history of stock markets. Typically, the rate of change in a rising market is very strong with Jupiter in Sagittarius (2019). But that rate of change usually slows down when it enters Capricorn, and the ultimate high mark in price is just as often in the last 20° Sagittarius as the first 20° of Capricorn, which will end by October 2020.

Short-term, the next few market days may be dominated by reactions to the Iran-U.S. conflict of the last week. But keep in mind that Mars is still in Sagittarius, January 3-February 16, which correlates with extreme behaviors and actions. Readers will want to pay special attention to January 27-February 11, when Mars will transit President Trump’s natal lunar eclipse (Sun/Uranus in Gemini oppose his natal Moon in Sagittarius), which also activates the Mars/Neptune squares in the charts of both the U.S. and Iran. If the greatest risk to this record economic expansion and all-time high in stock markets is in the political arena, then we have to pay attention to such periods.

The tensions created in the past week are receding right now. Let’s hope this continues. But let’s not be so naïve as to think that the impulsive and “over-the-top” nature of Mars in Sagittarius is done. Mars in Sagittarius may have a bullish correlation to equity markets, but it isn’t historically correlated with a period of calm and peace, which some world leaders are now declaring.

LATE BREAKING PERSONAL NEWS

It is with great sadness that I report that a giant in Financial Astrology, Jeanne Long, has made her transition to the cloud. Jeanne was very instrumental in the burgeoning of Financial Astrology as a valuable market timing tool, and worked closely with me in this pioneering work. She did more to correlate the methods of legendary trader W.D. Gann with modern-day astrology than any other person, ever. Her books on Astro Tec and The Universal Clock are classics. I will miss her dearly. She was also instrumental in helping me to build ISAR, the International Society for Astrological Research, into one of the (if not the very) top astrological associations in the world today when we both asked to join the Board of Directors in 1992. She was a classic throughout her own life, one of a kind, and the godmother of my youngest daughter, Alie. And her daughter, Linda, who runs PAS (Jeanne’s financial astrology service), continues to be a close affiliate of MMA, as has been the case for over 30 years. A truly stunning, intelligent, and wonderful person.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTE 1: NEW MMA CRUDE OIL REPORT-SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE! MMA is launching a new Crude Oil Report by MMA Analyst and MMTA Graduate Gianni Di Poce. And for those who sign up before February 10th, an introductory rate will apply. Crude Oil is once again becoming a very hot market. This is no surprise to readers of MMA reports over the past several years, for Mars is now entering Sagittarius and Capricorn, a time when our studies have shown Crude Oil prices tend to be most volatile and vulnerable to large price swings. This time band began again on January 3, concurrent with the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani that sent Crude Oil to a new multi-month high. We see more steep price changes coming up in the next three months while Mars transits these two signs.

This new report by Gianni di Poce replaces the former report, “A Time for Crude Oil,” written by MMTA Graduate Nitin Bhandari of India. In this new report, Gianni will analyze Crude Oil from a daily, weekly and monthly perspective, and each report will conclude with trading strategies for each type of trader or investor. For those who don’t know Gianni Di Poce, we have posted an interview with him, conducted by MMA President Raymond Merriman on our website HERE.

And one of the best parts of this is the new rate for this report. We have reduced the price from $2,500/ Year to $1,800/ Year. AND WE ARE OFFERING A 20% SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY DISCOUNT ON THE NEW RATE! Sign up now – before February 10 – for a 20% discount. For a sample of the Daily MMA Crude Oil Report, click HERE.

NOTE 2: The MMA Forecast 2020 Webinar will take place on Sunday February 9, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST (that’s 11:00 AM PST and 7:00 PM GMT). Start the New Year, 2020, by saving $20 on a January Monthly Report of your choice + Forecast 2020 Webinar. Chose from the MMA Monthly Cycles + Webinar Bundle, ICR: Financials + Webinar Bundle, or ICR: Commodities + Webinar Bundle.

NOTE 3: MMA’S DAILY AND WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION REPORTS CONTINUE TO BE HOT! Especially the daily reports! If you are an active short-term trader, or even if you are an investor who likes to keep up with our current thoughts on financial markets, you will be interested in MMA’s Weekly or Daily Market reports. The weekly reports give an in-depth analysis of the DJIA, S&P and NASDAQ futures, Euro currency (cash and futures), Dollar/Yen cash and Yen futures, Euro/Yen cash, T-Notes, Soybeans, Gold and Silver, and Crude Oil, and Bitcoin. The daily reports cover all stock indices listed above, as well as the Euro Currency, Japanese Yen, Bitcoin, T-Notes, Gold and Silver, plus GLD and SLV (the Gold and Silver ETF’s). Both reports provide trading strategies and recommendations for position traders and shorter-term aggressive traders. Subscription to the Daily report also includes the Weekly report.

NOTE 4: The Forecast 2020 Book is now printed and distribution was completed last month to those who have pre-ordered. As always, we print an additional 10% of books to the number of orders received by the end of the pre-publication period. This year’s printing looks like it will sell out again, so if you wish a copy of this year’s book, please order before they are gone. The cost is $55.00 plus postage for the printed edition (no postage for the eBook edition). Order both an eBook and print book (Forecast 2020 Bundle) for only $75! This year’s Forecast Book will cover: The Saturn/Pluto 32-37-year cycle, the Jupiter/Saturn 20- and 200- and 800-year cycle, and the 13-year Jupiter/Pluto cycle, and their correspondence to historical events that relate top themes present in today’s world. Also covered will be The USA and the 2020 Presidential Election, the potential for the next financial crisis, and the outlook for financial markets in 2020, including interest rates, treasuries, stock market, Gold and Silver, currencies (U.S. Dollar, Dollar/Yen, Swiss Franc, Euro, and British Pound), Crude Oil, Grains, Bitcoin, and Live Cattle. This will be the largest Forecast Book ever written- over 250 pages! Order now before they are gone.

This year’s printed version of Forecast 2020 is also available in four other languages, as follows:

Italian: https://ilmiolibro.kataweb.it/utenti/79533/market-timing/
German: www.mma-europe.ch/
Japanese: https://www.toushinippou.co.jp/
Chinese: www.nodoor.com/

EVENTS

February 9, 2020: MMA’S FORECAST 2020 WEBINAR will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2020, 2:00 PM EST (note the date has changed to Sunday from Saturday). In the comfort of your own home or office, you can tune into Raymond Merriman’s annual worldwide Forecast 2020 Webinar. This broadcast will address subjects from next year’s Forecast 2020 Book, with updates on financial markets since the book was written in November 2019. Outlooks for the U.S. stock market, Gold and Silver, crude oil, and currencies will be discussed. Cost is $55.00, and includes the slides of the presentation, plus a downloadable MP4 recording of the event. If unable to attend live, you can still sign up, as everyone who orders the Webinar will receive the MP4 recording, on the next day following the live event.

September 9-14, 2020: The ISAR 2020 Conference in Colorado on “Reimagining the Future.” The largest and most exciting international astrological conference taking place in 2020. With a faculty of over 100 of the world’s top astrologers from 25 different countries, and very dynamic tracks on Financial Astrology, Mundane and Political Astrology, and other topics, this is an event you will not want to miss. On Wednesday, September 9, Ray Merriman will be conducting a 4-hour workshop on “Astrology and the Art of Financial Market Timing: How to Forecast Market Trends and Market Reversals.” This course will provide research studies showing the correlation of astrological factors to short- and longer-term financial market timing in stock markets, precious metals, and Bitcoin. It is the only workshop Ray plans to conduct in 2020.

Saturday, September 12, Ray Merriman will be presenting a lecture on “The Times, They Are a Changin’ – The Political, Economic, and Monetary Revolution.” It’s not just the convergence of the 20-, 200-, and 800-year long-term Jupiter/Saturn cycles. It is also Saturn in Aquarius, squaring its ruler, Uranus, in Taurus. The convergence of the Jupiter/Saturn cycle in air sign Aquarius symbolizes the dawn of a new socio-economic-political era; the waning Saturn/Uranus square, the demise of an older order. What does this bode for financial markets of the world, and what can you do? We will discuss that in this lecture.

Sign up by January 19 and receive a pre-registration special discount price of under $400 for the Main Conference. A discount for pre- and post-conference workshops is also in effect until January 19. To register or see more information on this spectacular event, go to https://isar2020.org and be prepared to be amazed!