Weekly column: Planetary patterns and market panic

Review

The Nikkei stock index recorded last week its first new high in 34 years, a fitting tribute to Japan’s re-emergence as a genuinely exciting economy. It also comes amid mounting evidence that Japan has finally broken the hold of deflation. — Greg Ip, “Japan Is Back. Is Inflation the Reason?” Wall Street Journal, February 29, 2024.

The prelude to the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction of April 21 is already working out as we expected. Uranus is excitement and breakouts to new long-term highs, and Jupiter is the principle of abundance, optimism, and exaggeration. Last week, several global stock indices soared to new all-time highs, including Japan’s Nikkei (after 34 years of being in the financial “Dark Ages”), the U.S.’s S&P and Nasdaq, the German DAX, Australia’s ASX, and India’s NIFTY index. And the DJIA hit its high the previous week on Friday, February 23rd.

Yet, it is not just equity markets that are soaring. Gold is on the brink of making a new all-time high, as is Bitcoin. Crude Oil broke above $80.00 during the day on Friday for the first time in four months. And the Dollar/Yen is flirting with its highest price in 34 years, too.

The thing about Jupiter/Uranus is that it has a history of breaking to new all-time highs in various financial markets, oftentimes slightly before the aspect and sometimes lasting a few months afterward. It would be welcomed if there was a sharp decline in these markets sometime before the aspect is exact. But as Jupiter/Uranus is already exhibiting its powerful force to new highs, there is little to suggest this freight train will stop before reaching its next station, scheduled for April 20.

Short-term geocosmics

 The technology might finally bend copyright past the breaking point, upending what it means to have a creative society in the process. Who would spend all that time and emotional energy writing a book if anyone could rip the thing off without consequence? This is the sentiment behind at least nine recent copyright-infringement lawsuits against companies that are using tens of thousands of copyrighted books—at least—to train generative-AI systems. One of the suits alleges “systematic theft on a mass scale.” — Alex Reisner, “Generative AI Is Challenging a 234-Year-Old Law,” The Atlantic, February 29, 2024

Elon Musk sued OpenAI and its Chief Executive Sam Altman, alleging they broke the artificial-intelligence company’s founding agreement by giving priority to profit over the benefits to humanity. — Gareth Vipers and Sam Schechner, “Elon Musk Sues OpenAI, Sam Altman, Saying They Abandoned Founding Mission,” Wall Street Journal Online, March 1, 2024.

Thanks to rapidly changing demographics, U.S. companies are facing a historic talent drain. The solution is to move past ageism and invest in older employees. — Michael Clinton, “The Seismic Shift That’s About to Change the American Workplace,” Esquire, February 13, 2024.

Well, actually, there are shorter-term planetary aspects that could coincide with a sudden and sharp decline before April 20. One of these periods of intense geocosmic activity will be in effect March 3-9. These aspects are not as powerful as the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, which could easily dominate the market psychology to the point that everyone just continues to rush in and buy the breakouts. Yet the aspects in effect next week contain the same planets that will be active on April 20: Jupiter and Uranus. So the question is: Will these lesser aspects together be strong enough to produce a short but sharp reversal? Or will the Jupiter/Uranus dynamic just continue to overwhelm any effort to pause, let alone pull back, until it reaches April 20? With Uranus, you never know if it will continue its wild ascent or if it will suddenly reverse. With Jupiter, you know that whatever it does, it won’t be in a measured, gradual way. Everything is exaggerated, which means if the rise continues without pause, the decline to follow will likely be vicious. The higher they go, the harder they fall.

The geocosmic possibility of a reversal this week rests on Venus square Uranus on March 3, Jupiter semi-square Neptune on March 4, and Mars square Uranus on March 9. The semi-square of Jupiter and Neptune brings the return of “irrational exuberance” to the psychology of the investment world. Everyone wants to get aboard this blast-off. But if and when it ends, the exuberance may transform into a mini-panic (or maybe even a full-blown panic) as those holding shares cannot get out (sell) fast enough.

What could cause panic? Well, Uranus, the Disruptor, who — like a moth to the flame — cannot stay away from chaos. When it’s not breaking resistance or support to new highs or lows, it can suddenly reverse direction as unexpected events erupt. It can be like an earthquake. The narrative suddenly changes from “going to the moon” to hysteria and shock. Any break of support this week could lead to an exaggerated decline that reflects the amplitude of the rise.

The Lunar North Node is also conjoining Chiron now. Someone will get hurt. Lives have already been lost in the mobs and chaos unfolding with the humanitarian efforts in Gaza. But it could also manifest in the trading of financial markets that are out of control. I would think by the time Mars squares Uranus next weekend, we will know if the danger is in the financial realm as well as in the realm of human safety.

Bottom line: no one knows for sure if the markets will continue soaring to new highs or suddenly reverse. But the possibility of a sudden reversal this week is real (via geocosmic studies) given the three major aspects unfolding this next week, March 3-9. Be alert. Don’t be complacent.

Longer-term geocosmics and thoughts

“The Medici family has always known that art is the highest form of power.” — Christopher Hibbert, The House of Medici, Harper Collins, 1999.

“A man who desires revenge should dig two graves.’ – Confucius.” Hrvoje Milakovic, 22 Best Shogun Quotes Every Fan Needs to Know, www.fictionhorizon.com, February 27, 2024.

I like to watch movies, especially epic historical dramas. I just finished one and am now beginning another that I will share with readers who also like large, historical, epic movies. The reason I like these movies or TV series is because of 1) their historical themes that tie into long-term planetary cycles and 2) their ability to transform my awareness to another emotional and spiritual level when produced well, as these two productions do.

The series that I just finished is called “Medici,” a TV series on Netflix that was first shown in 2016-2019. I am not sure why I missed it when it came out. But upon returning from a vacation a couple of weeks ago, I saw that my house sitter had been watching it. I was always intrigued by the Medici history, and I even gave a presentation on their legacy to the banking world at a conference held in Florence in 2006. The Netflix version is grand, and if you like politics, romance, power, and intrigue, this is not to be missed.

For that matter, neither is the newly released version of “Shōgun,” which is being aired weekly on FX. I read the book by James Clavell every decade, just to remind myself of the wisdom of Japanese Buddhism, as portrayed by the powerful characters Toranaga (Shōgun) and Mariko-San. Like Medici and even more, this series takes me to another level of awareness on a spiritual/emotional level that I can only describe as “deeply moving.”

Medici takes place during the 1400s Italian Renaissance. During this unique time, there were planetary patterns involving Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, similar to today’s alignments. The series Shōgun takes place in the early 1600s. It was during this time that the element signage of the Jupiter/Saturn cycle made a 200-year switch from the element of Water to Fire. In December 2020, we made another element switchover from Earth to Air for the Great Mutation. These are reminders that we are living in a time of great historical importance when the arc of humanity is leaving one era behind and starting a vastly different one. It helps to have a long view of history to remind us of these things and, more so, to help guide the world through these epic times of turbulence and transformation.

It makes you wonder who history will judge as the leaders of this new modern-day renaissance: Elon Musk or Sam Altman. Or someone else. Maybe someone born during the “Capricorn Climax,” when Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all cojoined in 1988-1993. Their time is coming by the next Saturn/Uranus conjunction in 2032.