REVIEW AND PREVIEW
The U.S. economy shed 140,000 jobs in December, the first decline in seven months as a surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide triggered a fresh wave of shutdowns, reversing the labor market’s recovery. The unemployment rate held steady at 6.7%. Economists surveyed by Refinitiv expected the report to show that unemployment edged higher to 6.8% and the economy added 71,000 jobs. – Megan Henney, “U.S. Economy Slashes 140,000 jobs in December,” www.foxbusiness.com, January 8, 2021.
“We signed up for making America great again. We signed up for lower taxes and less regulation. The president has a long list of successes that we can be proud of. But all that went away yesterday.” Mick Mulvaney, one-time Trump Chief of Staff, Amanda Macias, “ ‘I Can’t Stay Here’ – Mick Mulvaney Resigns from Trump Administration,” January 7, 2021.
We said it before, and we will say it again. No one escapes a hard Pluto transit unscathed, even the president of the United States, considered by some to be the greatest political escape artist ever. No more. This past week he crossed a line that he cannot retract. President Trump will not likely be forgiven by Americans or populations throughout the world, and for which he probably will not be treated well by historians. He has severely damaged his legacy (Pluto in Capricorn opposite his natal Saturn), not to mention the disillusionment and disappointment he has wrought on many of his supporters who had placed their faith and trust in him (Neptune squaring his Sun and Moon). It is utterly stunning. It is also reflective of Jupiter and Saturn both square to Uranus in today’s sky. The midpoint is January 2021. We are here.
However, there are positive implications here as well, in both the mundane and cosmic realms. The Constitution of the United States has held up (Saturn in Libra), preserving the democratic principles of the Republic for which it was created. These recent events also affirm that the United States founding chart was built to last and withstand the types of fierce forces seeking to undermine this nation during a time in which hard transiting aspects to its chart are congruent with efforts to undermine it, and that could be underway, 2020-2023. This is what a Pluto return begins to look like in a nation’s chart. It may not be over.
Despite the insurrection last week incited by the president himself and carried out by extremists who do not represent the values of most Trump supporters and who do not support Rudy Giuliani’s (Trump’s own lawyer) misguided admonition to protesters to conduct a “trial by combat,” the stock markets of the United States and several other nations soared to new multi-year or all-time highs. It is actually quite remarkable, in lieu of the political instability unfolding. But equity markets are forward-looking, and investors believe these events will be short-lived.
But will they be short-lived? And how long could this explosion to new highs in global equity indices last? Given that the incoming Biden administration plans on enacting further stimulus packages, it could last quite a while, perhaps until the same administration’s plans to raise taxes start chipping away at corporate profits and that would eventually lead to a slowdown in consumer spending and an increase in unemployment It could also reverse much sooner. A slew of powerful Uranus transits come into play in the next two weeks.
In other markets, Bitcoin has now exceeded 40,000; a correlate to Uranus in Taurus about to be squared by Jupiter in Aquarius. Gold shot up to a new multi-week high, testing 1960, and Silver to a new 4-month high as it tested 28.00, both on January 6 as Mars rolled into Taurus. However, both got hit hard on Friday, with Silver falling over 2.60 intraday (nearly 10%) and Gold over 80.00. Surprising reversals such as these large, unexpected price moves are also characteristics of Uranus coming into an orb of influence.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS
Another reason why the rally in global equity markets might encounter resistance shortly is that Mars left its ruling sign of Aries for the next sign of Taurus on January 6, where it will be stationed until March 4. As stated last week, “Mars, in its ruling sign of Aries, has been very bullish for world stock markets. It started June 28, 2020, which coincided with the primary cycle low of 24,971 in the DJIA.” It reached a new all-time high of 31,193 on Thursday, January 7.
But the bigger fireworks (at least in the cosmic realm) is about to begin this week and will last through the end of the month. This will include Uranus turning direct, Jupiter square Uranus, Mars conjunct Uranus and square Jupiter, the Sun conjunct Jupiter and Saturn, and both square to Uranus. Historically, hard aspects involving Mars (action), Jupiter (exaggeration), and Uranus (violation of anything expected, like support or resistance) have correlated with large price moves in financial markets. It can be a period of euphoria or hysteria, excitement or panic. It is arguably the most potent geocosmic time band of 2021.
Brace yourself. It can be an opportunity for a traders’ ultimate wish: maximum profits with minimal market exposure. It can also be a trader’s or investor’s greatest fear: maximum risk leading to unexpected losses due to an inability or unreadiness to react fast enough to sudden events.
LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS
In concise summary, the leader of the executive branch incited a crowd to march on the legislative branch. The express goal was to demand Congress and Vice-President Mike Pence to reject electors from enough states to deny Mr. Biden an Electoral College victory. This was an assault on the constitutional process of transferring power after an election. This goes beyond merely refusing to concede defeat. In our view, it crosses a constitutional line that Mr. Trump hasn’t previously crossed. It is impeachable. – “Donald Trump’s Final Days,” Wall Street Journal Opinion Page, January 8, 2021.
If Mr. Trump didn’t find a way to prevail in the world we actually live in, the blame starts with him. His outsider act was central to his appeal, but that hardly required coming up short on political calculation, discipline, and patience. Mr. Trump plays checkers. The game is chess. His slim loss in the Electoral College should rankle, all right, because it shows how different the outcome might have been if he had done a few things differently – including listening to advice. – Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., “Trump Threw It Away,” Wall Street Journal, January 6, 2021.
Checkmate! Crossing the line! These are the very images related to the Grand Conjunctions in 2020 and the Saturn/Uranus waning square of 2021, as outlined in the Forecast 2020 and 2021 books. Both portrayals were in full evidence in last week’s storming of the U.S. Capitol by extremist supporters and believers of President Trump’s unproven allegation that the election had been stolen from him, as he and they set about to steal the election from Joe Biden.
In the end, the President’s ulterior motives and his “crossing of the line” were “checkmated” by the processes outlined in the Constitution of the United States. There is no need to reiterate the geocosmic correlations to these events as they have been covered in great detail in several of these columns and the last three years of the annual Forecast Book.
If you are interested in how the study of geocosmic signatures foretold the events of the past week, and even past two months, as well as the next few months to come, you may wish to view a recent interview conducted on December 21, 2020, that addresses these very issues at www.mmacycles.com > Events and Articles. Or click Here to taken to a link to the interview and a letter that was sent out to MMA subscribers at the end of last month, well before the storming of the Capitol.
It was an ugly week. It could have a negative impact on worldwide equity markets sooner rather than later, given that one of the most highly charged outer planet configurations for this year is taking place in January.
Please use these current Uranus aspects as sources for inspiration and innovation. That is the positive correspondence of Uranus to personal behavior and attitude. As far as markets are concerned, it tends to correspond with sudden reversals and volatility. It is not conducive to short-term trading unless we are talking possibly about day trading. Holding a position overnight – whether market or attitudinal – may be hazardous to one’s psychological well-being. Be nimble, flexible, and open-minded, and avoid attaching yourself to any position that is turning against you.
Once again, we share this mantra from the “Calm” app with everyone:
May you be happy.
May you be safe.
May you be healthy.
May you be at peace.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: The first issue of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report for 2021 will be released this week, Tuesday, January 11. With the stock market making new all-time highs, this is a very important time for financial markets. Every issue provides MMA’s intermediate-term outlook for the U.S. stock market, Gold and Silver, Treasuries, Euro Currency, Crude Oil, and Soybeans. Each issue also contains MMA’s original geocosmic critical reversal dates (CRDs) and Solar/Lunar reversal dates over the next several weeks for DJIA, Gold, and Silver, complete with trading strategies for position traders during the next month. If you are not a subscriber to the monthly MMA Cycles Report and wish a copy of our outlook for financial markets, consider trying the January issue for only $35.
NOTE 2: THE MERRIMAN MARKET TIMING ACADEMY (MMTA) is now filled. There are no openings left as we begin the two-year program of courses starting January 16, 2021! The next 2-year course will be offered in two years.
If you are interested in being placed on a waiting list in the event of any cancellations, let us know. A waiting list has now started.
To learn more about MMTA, check out the 45-minute video discussion with Raymond Merriman and Gianni Di Poce. Click here. For more information on registration and requirements for enrollment, please visit our MMTA page to learn more about this opportunity to learn market timing the MMA way.
NOTE 3: February 14, 2021, 12:00 PM MST: MMA’S FORECAST 2021 WORLD WEBINAR will take place on Sunday, February 14, 2021, 2:00 PM EST (that’s 11:00 AM PST, 7 PM, GMT, 8 PM CET. 1 AM Mumbai, 4 AM Tokyo, 6 AM Sydney). In the comfort of your own home or office, you can tune into Raymond Merriman’s annual worldwide Forecast 2021 Webinar. This broadcast will address subjects from this year’s Forecast 2021 book, with updates on financial markets since the book was written in November 2020. The focus will be on the Saturn/Uranus squares of 2021 and their relationship to national and international politics, economy, and financial markets, including the U.S. stock market, Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, Bitcoin, the Euro and U.S. Dollar currency. Under Saturn/Uranus, things do not usually go as expected. It is shaping up to be “The Year of the Contrarian.” Cost is $55.00, and includes the slides of the presentation, plus access to the video recording of the event. If unable to attend live, you can still sign up, as everyone who orders the Webinar will receive the video recording, following the live event. For more information and registration, go to https://www.mmacycles.com/product/forecast-2021-webinar/ or www.mmacycles.com, Shop> Webinars> Forecast 2021 Webinar.
NOTE 4: The print edition of the Forecast 2021 book is now out. The e-Book English version has been out for three weeks.
If you have not ordered this year’s book and want a printed copy, you are advised to order ASAP. They will sell out this year. There is only one printing of copies based on preordered copies prior to December 7. Once they sell out, you may be able to get used copies on Amazon for $100-150. The cost while supplies last is $55.00 plus postage for the print edition (no postage, of course, for the eBook edition, and they will remain available indefinitely).
This year’s printed and/or e-Book versions of Forecast 2021 are also available in these languages:
German: www.mma-europe.ch/ or email at info@mma-europe.ch
Japanese: https://www.toushinippou.co.jp/
Chinese: www.nodoor.com/
In addition to this year’s Forecast book, we are offering a separate publication for those who enjoy the yearly trends for the twelve individual signs. It is titled Trends for the Twelve Signs 2021, and written by Antonia Langsdorf-Merriman and Ray Merriman. It, too, is now available in print (approximately 50 copies left). The eBook version is also now available and has been sent out! The cost of Trends for the Twelve Signs is $25, with a further discount if ordered with the Forecast 2021 book.
NOTE 5: MMA is pleased to announce that it is publishing a new book entitled Great Conjunctions: Shifting Times, by one of the world’s leading Mundane Astrologers – Chris McRae of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This a fascinating book on the history of Great Conjunctions involving the outer planets throughout history. It is especially appropriate today because 2020 was such a year exhibiting Great Conjunctions. In fact, the grandest of all outer planet conjunctions – the Jupiter/Saturn synodic cycle – took place on December 21, 2020, so this book is timely. The insights that McRae provides on these rare but remarkable configurations will make this one of the most valuable additions to the field of Mundane Astrology. The book is due to be released by the end of this month, January 2021. It is now in print production. The cost will be $24.95 plus postage.
EVENTS
January 16, 2021: The first six-week course of the 2-year program of the Merriman Market Timing Academy (MMTA) begins! This course is titled Cycles and Their Patterns in the Financial Markets and is recommended for everyone. It does not require a background or knowledge of astrology. The emphasis will be on long-, intermediate-, and short-term cycles in stock indices plus Gold, but will also cover currencies, treasuries, Crude Oil, and grain markets for investors and traders. It is the best way to learn the language of cycles as it pertains to financial markets, and with this course, you will understand where you are in any given cycle and the trading/investment strategy that goes with that phase of the cycle. Once you take this course, you will look at price charts with a completely different set of eyes. Charts will make sense to you.
Entrance into the live portion of this course is now filled. However, recordings will be available for sale after the third week. A waiting list is also being constructed in the event that any student cancels. If you are still interested in taking Course 1, let us know. The cost of this six-week course is $1800. The course comes with a workbook and PowerPoint slides along with MP4 recordings of the live classes. For details, see the above announcement, or visit MMTA.
February 14, 2021: The Annual MMA Forecast 2021 Webinar. Noon, MST. See announcement above.
Disclaimer and statement of purpose: The purpose of this column is not to forecast the future movement of various financial markets. However, that is the purpose of the MMA (Merriman Market Analyst) subscription services. This column is not a subscription service. It is a free service, except in those cases where a fee may be assessed to cover the cost of translating this column from English into a non-English language. This weekly report is written with the intent to educate the reader on the relationship between astrological factors and collective human activities as they are happening. In this regard, this report will often cite what happened in various stock and financial markets throughout the world in the past week and discuss that movement in light of the geocosmic signatures that were in effect. It will then identify the geocosmic factors that will be in effect in the next week, or even month, or even years, and the author’s understanding of how these signatures may affect human activity in the times to come. The author (Merriman) will do this from the perspective of a cycles’ analyst looking at the military, political, economic, and even financial markets of the world. It is possible that some forecasts will be made based on these factors. However, the primary goal is to both educate and alert the reader as to the psychological climate we are in, from an astrological perspective. The hope is that it will help the reader understand the psychological dynamics that underlie (or coincide with) the news events and hence potentially affect financial markets.
No guarantee as to the accuracy of this report is being made here. Any decisions in financial markets are solely the responsibility of the reader, and neither the author nor the publishers of this column assume any responsibility whatsoever for anyone’s trading or investment decisions. Readers of this report should understand that commodity futures and options trading are considered high risk.