Weekly column: Why Jupiter in Leo suggests the Iran war isn't over yet

REVIEW

It’s not the technology that looks like the bubble. It’s the spending… AI-related stocks make up a larger share of the S&P 500 than tech did at the peak of the dot-com era, and the scale of capital expenditure now underway has few historical parallels.—Spencer Jakab, “It’s Looking an Awful Lot Like the Tech Bubble,” The Wall Street Journal, May 8, 2026.

As part of the chapter I wrote on the transit of Jupiter through the zodiac sign of Leo in the Forecast 2026 book, I noticed that 7 of the last 10 transits resulted in a 4-year or greater cyclical trough in the DJIA. Of the 7 cases, 2 were the 18-year troughs of 1932 (the Great Depression) and 2002 (the Dot-com crash). In these 7 cases, the market crest never formed during Jupiter’s transit through Cancer, which led me to conclude that, given we were making new all-time highs (ATH) with the transit of Jupiter in Cancer, the crest was not going to form until Jupiter enters Leo. This ingress will take place on June 30, 2026, and will be accompanied by a euphoric trine between Jupiter and Neptune. Jupiter will also be in sextile to Uranus, further indicating a tech-related high. However, the opposition of Jupiter to Pluto in early Leo is also indicative of an abrupt bursting event. Therefore, I am looking for the 18-year market crest and trough to occur within the upcoming transit of Jupiter through Leo. This could also be a further sign that the decline will be sharp and quick. Since World War II, the declines into the 18-year troughs from the crest have averaged 1 to 2 years.

We are now seeing U.S. equity markets continue their euphoric rallies, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq forming new ATHs this week, whilst the DJIA lags—a case of bearish intermarket divergence. This divergence is also present across global markets, with Japan and China rallying to new ATHs, whilst the European, Australian, and Indian equity markets are all below their respective highs before the recent escalation involving Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Clearly, these economies are being impacted more negatively by the inflationary pressures of the war.

Gold and Silver saw a strong bid, whilst Crude Oil had a sharp drop as news broke of progress on the US-Iran peace deal during the Pluto station. My concern, however, is another important correlation to conflict that was highlighted with Jupiter’s transit through Leo. In all 10 prior instances examined in my study, the United States was involved in some form of geopolitical conflict. Since World War II, this cycle has shown a particularly notable correlation with heightened conflict and instability in the Middle East during Jupiter’s transit through Leo. The Gulf War and the Iraq War both took place during this transit. Therefore, I still do not see this war ending. Another interesting correlation was a notable risk of pandemics or epidemics during this transit; more on this below.

Short-term geocosmics

Over the past week, the main signature was Pluto stationing retrograde, which was accompanied by positive news that the United States and Iran are getting closer to a potential deal. This news was met with a healthy rally in equity markets and precious metals, and a sharp move down in Crude Oil. Next week will be relatively calm from a geocosmic perspective. Therefore, I am not expecting any significant reversals in market sentiment.

There is, however, a Mars transit affecting the Buttonwood founding chart of the New York Stock Exchange, founded on May 17, 1792. The red planet will be conjoining the NYSE natal Saturn at 26 Aries and in opposition to the NYSE Jupiter/Neptune conjunction at 22-26° Libra, May 8-16. With the S&P and the Nasdaq making new all-time highs as we start into the time band, it is possible a crest could form, followed by a corrective decline. However, I am not expecting any change in the longer-term bullish trend yet.

Longer-term thoughts and opinion

In the Forecast 2026 book, Ray made the following forecast in relation to the Saturn–Neptune Conjunction:

“Health and possible epidemics/pandemics: A study I conducted and published in Forecast 2021 revealed that the dominant geocosmic correlation to the ten deadliest pandemics in history involved major signatures between Saturn and Neptune. In 1918, this aspect coincided with the Spanish flu—the deadliest pandemic in human history. Saturn will conjoin Neptune again soon. Thus, it is crucial for the world’s population to closely monitor the development of any diseases or viruses that may attack the immune systems of large segments of the global population. Individuals with weakened immune systems must take extra precautions, such as avoiding gatherings where contagion may spread quickly and making lifestyle choices that strengthen rather than stress the immune system (for example, taking nutritional supplements and getting extra rest). This aspect can also indicate blood disorders or the growth of tumors if not addressed in time.”

The astrocartography map for the Spring Ingress was equally striking. It showed the Sun, Saturn, and Neptune all conjunct on the Midheaven over Greenland, Brazil, and large portions of the Atlantic Ocean.

With the recent outbreak of hantavirus aboard the 33-day Atlantic Odyssey voyage of the MV Hondius, this symbolism appears to be manifesting in a remarkably literal way. Once again, we are seeing an important geocosmic forecast correlate not only with the nature of the event itself, but also with its timing and geographic emphasis.

What makes this especially compelling is the symbolism’s precision. Saturn–Neptune combinations have long been associated with illness, weakened immunity, contagion, uncertainty, and collective health concerns. Yet here we also find the event unfolding at sea, across the Atlantic, directly under the regions emphasized in the ingress map. Whilst astrology does not always predict events with mechanical certainty, I like to highlight cases like this as they demonstrate the true value of astrology.

Another relevant and interesting forecast in relation to the Saturn–Neptune conjunction:

“Crisis on the seas: Neptune rules the oceans and seas, while Saturn pertains to government. Together, they can signify naval or maritime incidents that require government intervention.”

This symbolism now appears to be emerging on multiple fronts. It can be seen in the heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding U.S. naval blockades in Cuba and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in the international health response and containment measures connected to the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius.

Ultimately, events such as these remind us that astrology is not simply about predicting isolated incidents, but about recognizing the recurring archetypal patterns that move through history. The symbolism of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction involving illness, uncertainty, the seas, and collective vulnerability now appears to be manifesting with remarkable clarity across both timing and geography. For further insight into the year’s most important geocosmic signatures, I highly recommend the Forecast 2026 book, now available as an audiobook as well.