MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 28, 2026

 REVIEW by Guest Contributor Pouyan Zolfagharnia

“President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France plans to send troops to Saudi Arabia to help protect a refinery and crude oil pipeline in the Red Sea port of Yanbu, ramping up France’s military efforts to contain the impact of the Iran war.”

—By Noemie Bisserbe and Matthew Dalton, “France to Deploy Forces to Protect Saudi Red Sea Oil Port,” The Wall Street Journal, September 24, 2026.

As the conflict expands and more countries get dragged in, this is starting to look more like a world war. The bond markets are signaling monetary stress, whilst the technology stocks remain optimistic at the autumn ingress. As global leaders meet at the United Nations, there is once again a sense of hope as the Sun forms an optimistic kite pattern in the heavens with the grand air trine of the Sun, Uranus, and Pluto, and with the Sun also in opposition to Neptune. This has led to a retreat in Crude Oil prices (Neptune rules Crude Oil), and a rally in the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 to new all-time highs. This is not surprising, as the Sun/Neptune opposition is one of the most powerful geocosmics according to our research methods. However, a worrying bearish intermarket divergence is emerging with the Dow, which fell to a new low, with early signs of the soon-to-come retrograde cycles of both Venus and Mercury…

Global equity markets from Europe to Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America remain below their respective highs from earlier in the year. The U.S. Dollar index has been one of the week’s clearest winners, rallying above 100 earlier in the week, supported by rising Treasury yields and expectations of additional Fed tightening. This continues to place pressure on precious metals, which continue to consolidate.

Bitcoin managed to break an important resistance zone, taking out the May high, despite negative news concerning regulatory uncertainty after the U.S. Senate failed to advance comprehensive crypto legislation and news of another hack, in which $350 million was stolen from the Bitget crypto exchange. Momentum has shifted, and we could see further big moves next week as inflation data is released (September 30) and U.S. payroll (October 2). These reports may act as triggers, as they are happening in the orb of the September 29-30 and the October 2-5 critical reversal dates (CRD).

LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS AND OPINION

As we crossed the threshold into autumn this week, I was drawn back to what I had written about the coming quarter in the seasonal ingress section of Forecast 2026 based on the Washington, D.C., autumnal ingress chart (Figure 23, p. 200):

“It signals a quarter of reckoning, confrontation, and exposure following a year of illusions and spectacle. The chart has Aries on the ascendant, suggesting a volatile, martial, and assertive national temperament. The collective mood is combative, impatient, and ready for confrontation.

 With the ascendant near the end of the sign (26° Aries), we are approaching the culmination of an Aries cycle, suggestive of crisis or consequences from actions taken earlier in the year. The late degree further hints at exhaustion or battle weariness, as the nation enters the quarter already embroiled in issues that can no longer be deferred. This is an active ingress, so events are likely to erupt rather than unfold gradually.

 Mars, as ruler of the chart, is positioned in its fall at 26° Cancer, in exact square aspect to the ascendant from the fourth house. This depleted Mars is emotional, defensive, reactionary, and unstable. In its fall, its strength is compromised; it becomes reactive and erratic. The nation is suffering from some type of injury or attack and is responding—and likely overreacting—with emotion (anger) rather than decisive strategy. This placement could signify the misuse of power or retaliatory actions by leadership.”

With transiting Chiron sitting directly on the ascendant, I also warned of the possibility of a wound, perhaps even a self-inflicted one, arising from “Errors of judgment, past aggressive policies, or mismanagement now come home to roost.” In retrospect, that symbolism appears particularly striking following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran in February and the subsequent disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

There is an interesting astrological synchronicity hidden within the name itself. The name Hormuz derives from Hormozd, the ancient Persian name for Jupiter—making the Strait of Hormuz, symbolically, the Strait of Jupiter. It is difficult to imagine a more appropriate name for one of the most important commercial passageways on Earth, as Jupiter governs international trade and commerce and is the co-ruler of Crude Oil and shipping.

Autumn itself, however, does not begin beneath an obviously dark sky. Quite the opposite. The Sun moves into a grand trine with Uranus and Pluto, while Neptune at the apex transforms the configuration into a kite. It is an unusually harmonious signature between planets associated with power, technology, transformation, vision, and collective ideals. Such a configuration may initially coincide with optimism in financial markets and perhaps even a temporary thaw in geopolitics. It may also prove significant for the technology sector, where Uranus’s symbolism is particularly resonant, and could correlate with an important crest formation.

When a similar kite formed last year, President Trump was attempting to promote negotiations between European leaders and Putin. Could the heavens be describing another opening for diplomacy? Another attempt to suspend conflict?

Perhaps. But there is something deceptive about the serenity of the opening days of this quarter. Whatever progress is made beneath the grand trine may prove to be remarkably fragile. Mars, the ancient planet of warfare and conflict, quickly enters the picture and opposes Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, on October 3. On precisely the same day, Venus, ruler of peace, diplomacy, value and the markets, stations retrograde. The symbolism is difficult to ignore. Just as Venus appears to stop in the heavens and turn backward, Mars confronts Pluto. What appeared to be moving towards agreement is likely to reverse. Alliances may be reconsidered. Negotiations may unravel. Market confidence may falter. Matters thought to have been settled could suddenly return from beneath the surface. In that sense, the harmonious geometry at the beginning of autumn may not describe the resolution of the story at all. It may describe the calm before the storm. Given that this also coincides with the solar return of China, which has Mars/Pluto conjunct in its modern-day chart of October 1, 1949, and the fact that the Mars/Pluto opposition falls very close to China’s natal Moon in early Aquarius, a spotlight on confrontation, conflict, and threat (Mars/Pluto) may involve the sensitive status of Taiwan’s independence.

This makes the critical reversal dates spanning the end of September and beginning of October especially important. If markets, diplomacy, or geopolitical developments reach an apparent moment of optimism during this period, we should be alert to the possibility that the visible narrative is not yet the real one.

One piece of the autumn ingress continues to elude me. The astrocartography of the ingress repeatedly draws the eye towards Europe, and particularly towards London. The symbolism suggests that this region may become unusually important to whatever story unfolds during the quarter. Whether that manifests through financial markets, diplomacy, political developments, conflict, or something altogether less obvious remains uncertain. Perhaps it has to do with Russian submarines and surface vessels actively probing and mapping critical undersea infrastructure around the United Kingdom. These types of activities can clearly relate to the bold and aggressive themes of transiting Mars in Leo in opposition to the stealth and “submerged” nature of Pluto. Transparency is needed to make informed decisions, but as a voluntary choice, such an offer may be in short supply.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 NOTE 1: FIVE MORE WEEKS!!! IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! THE “ANNUAL MMA FORECAST 2027 PRE-PUBLICATION SALE” IS UNDERWAY!!! The sale runs through October 31 and features our once-a-year discounts on both the annual Forecast book and MMA subscription reports.~

This year’s book will have special importance because Ray will outline his view of the long-term stock market investment cycle and how to prepare for it. Do you want to be in cash and have liquidity, or lock your funds up in assets such as real estate that might not be liquid enough to take advantage of this cycle, which has an 80%+ historical record of presenting a generational wealth-building opportunity in stocks? The temptation to buy stocks and real estate at record highs will be strong, but doing so could end up being a timing mistake or result in a missed opportunity when the best “deals” arrive. But how will you know when the time is right? This will be the subject addressed at the beginning of this year’s book from the viewpoint of markets and geocosmic cycles.

During this pre-order period through October 31, the Forecast 2027 print edition by authors and analysts Ray Merriman and Pouyan Zolfagharnia, with additional market analysis by Gianni Di Poce, Wyatt Fellows, and Ulric Aspegrén, will be available at the discounted price of $55 (the retail price will be $66 after October 31), and the eBook version will be available for $45. The book is approximately 200 pages (last year’s was 240 pages), measures 8.5″ x 11″, is perfect bound with a glossy cover, and has set the standard for all astrological almanacs written today.

The best deal on MMA subscription reports is also offered at this time! Save 10% on any subscription of $275 or more with the purchase of Forecast 2027. After the pre-order event ends, the retail price of the Forecast 2027 print edition will increase to $66, and the price of the eBook will increase to $55. Subscription reports will also return to their regular prices. ORDER NOW AND SAVE BIG BUCKS!

MMA will also offer a special bundle discount for those ordering both the eBook and print editions of Forecast 2027 for $75. The eBook typically becomes available one to two weeks before the print edition and allows readers, especially those who live overseas, to avoid delays caused by the postal system. However, many readers prefer the print edition, so ordering both through the Forecast 2027 Bundle makes sense. You will receive the Forecast 2027 eBook on December 15, and your print copy will be mailed in mid-December.

MMA’s annual Forecast book has served students of cycles and markets since 1976. It provides a cyclical outlook on collective world psychology, the economy, geopolitical developments, socio-cultural trends, and potential weather events and natural disasters—as well as financial market projections for the U.S. stock market (DJIA and NASDAQ), U.S. Treasury market, interest rates, Gold and Silver, currencies (the Euro, British Pound, Swiss Franc, and Japanese Yen), Bitcoin, Crude Oil, and Grain markets. For a more personal overview of the Forecast 2027 book, see the recent video featuring Ray and Pouyan in an interview with Alie Schneider on MMA’s YouTube channel by clicking here. To pre-order the Forecast 2027 book at the special rate, click here.

Here are two reviews of the annual Forecast book:

 This will be the 11th consecutive year I’ve ordered Ray’s annual Forecast book. I read it immediately upon arrival and consult the book several times throughout the year. I consider it to be the most important planning tool for my personal trading/investing, not only for the coming year but also when looking several years ahead. For anyone serious about accurate market timing, Ray’s Forecast book is a must-read. —S. R., UT (USA), individual trader/investor and business owner with 26 years of experience trading stocks and futures

 Everything Ray touches turns to gold. Why is this? It is because he is relentless in his search for the truth. He is humble and honest. Those like me who have paid for his services for many years are the fortunate ones. —R. B., USA, individual trader/investor

 NOTE 2: THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF THE MMA MONTHLY CYCLES REPORT PLUS+, edited by Pouyan Zolfagharnia, will be issued this week. This market letter is a very popular addition to the MMA Cycles Report (it is less technical, more visual, and contains horoscopes of current importance, high-quality analysis, and updates on MMA Cycles Report markets). The mid-month addendum to the MMA Cycles Report covers Pouyan’s outlook on Gold, Silver, the NASDAQ, and Crude Oil. It has stunning graphics and charts (people love it!) and is very readable. It contains more illustrations and references to geocosmics than most MMA Cycles Reports and is only available by subscription to those who also subscribe to the MMA Monthly Cycles Report. If you wish to try this month’s addendum, along with the latest issue of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report, sign up online at the link above. A monthly subscription to both reports is $55. That will give you both the most recent September copy of the MMA Cycles Report and the monthly MMA Cycles Report Plus+ addendum coming out this week. For further information and ordering instructions, please click here.

NOTE 3: THE MONTHLY MMA GRAIN CYCLES REPORT BY WYATT FELLOWS WILL BE ISSUED THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. With grain prices recently breaking out to the upside while Saturn and Neptune are still within one year of their 36-year conjunction, this rally is expected to continue. Historically, Saturn–Neptune conjunctions and oppositions have correlated with large moves in grain prices, and Jupiter’s entry into the fire sign of Leo on June 30 reinforces this outlook, making this an excellent time to consider subscribing. Wyatt’s analysis has been very accurate, and his writing style is very clear. Truly, if you are a grain trader or producer, this is an exceptional monthly report for you to read. To order a copy of this excellent report, please click here.

NOTE 4: MMA CRYPTO WEBINAR ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, AT 4 PM EDT. Join Gianni Di Poce and Pouyan Zolfagharnia, editors of the new MMA Monthly Crypto Report, for an overview and outlook on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano from both a cyclical and geocosmic perspective, followed by a live Q&A with attendees. This webinar comes at an important juncture for crypto markets in terms of their long-term cycles. The cost is $35.00, but it will be free for those who have an active MMA Daily/Weekly or Monthly Crypto Report subscription at the time of the webinar. Registration links and presentation materials will be added to eligible subscribers’ accounts during the week of the webinar, and a recording along with the session’s slides will be available to all participants by the next day. To register for this special webinar, which includes the October 7 issue of the MMA Monthly Crypto Report and an update on crypto markets, please click here.

 NOTE 5: RAY MERRIMAN’S NEW BOOK, JUPITER AND SATURN TRANSITS: MASTERING THE CYCLES OF LIFE, IS OUT! This is Book One, the first of five books that will be written over the next four years on the outer planets as they transit the natal chart. Nothing like this has ever been done before in the history of astrology.

This first book, covering the transits of Jupiter and Saturn, is 420 pages, measures 6″ × 9”, has a glossy cover, costs $39.99, and includes all the major transits of Jupiter to one’s natal planets and angles, including interpretations of the opening and closing sextile, square, and trine aspects. The Saturn section also includes interpretations of the opening and closing semi-square and sesquiquadrate transits to all natal planets and angles, plus the “Business Cycle” of transiting Saturn through the natal chart. Each transiting aspect is also ranked on a scale of –3 to +3 in terms of its trading and investment potential, which alone is worth the price of the book.

Ray Merriman, one of the world’s great astrologers, possesses both an innate astrological wisdom and a gift for conveying that wisdom with clarity and accessibility. Jupiter and Saturn Transits: Mastering the Cycles of Life is a remarkably comprehensive book, unique in distinguishing between waning and waxing transits, while offering insightful advice throughout for navigating these transits with awareness. Mr. Merriman has given us a work that is a definitive treatment of the subject as well as an invaluable guidebook. What a great accomplishment this book is!

—Denise Cowing, lifelong student of astrology

To see other rave reviews by several leading professional astrologers, click here. To learn more about this new book, tune in to Ray’s recent podcast interview with Adam Sommer (click here) or his YouTube video interview with Thomas Miller (click here).

NOTE 6: THE JUPITER REPORT: YOUR MOMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY! The Jupiter Report is written by Raymond Merriman. It is a 30- to 40-page report that all traders (and even non-traders) will find highly valuable. It identifies the times during the year when Jupiter transits are highlighted in your natal chart and explains the meaning of Jupiter’s transits to your natal planets and angles over a 14-month period (including one month before your order date and one month after the year ends). As an added bonus, each transit is ranked on a scale from –3 to +3 in terms of favorability for trading. Traders may find this especially valuable! Would you like to know if you are under a +3 transit and therefore most likely to experience trading success? Or a –3 transit, with a stronger-than-usual potential for misjudgments that can be costly? The price for a personal 14-month Jupiter Report based on your birth data is $69.

NOTE 7: The MMA Weekly YouTube show, “Geocosmic Week in Review and Look Ahead,” with Gianni Di Poce, is conducted on Wednesday evenings! Each 5- to 20-minute FREE episode reviews the previous week’s market activity and the geocosmic signatures that will be in effect for the coming week and beyond.

NOTE 8: MMA’S FREE WEEKLY COLUMN PODCAST IS AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY, APPLE, and AMAZON! Now you can listen to a podcast of this weekly column by Thomas Miller on Saturdays! Thomas has an excellent voice and brings the weekly column to life in a personable and, at times, humorous fashion. Just follow Merriman Market Analyst on Spotify or Apple to listen to all our episodes. A new podcast episode will be released every weekend. This is a FREE service and is available to everyone. Check out our podcasts on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. It makes for great listening!

NOTE 9: THE MMA SOLAR-LUNAR APP OFFERS REVERSAL SIGNALS FOR THE DJIA, NASDAQ, GOLD, AND SILVER. It is an ideal tool to have in your back pocket if you are a short-term swing trader looking for high-probability dates that identify isolated lows and highs in these markets. Please note that this should not be used as a standalone system. It works best as an adjunct tool when cycle lows or highs are due, when a market is in a technically overbought or oversold condition, or when it is exhibiting bullish or bearish intermarket divergence relative to a related market. The app is currently available only on Apple devices (iPhone and iPad). HOWEVER, IT WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE BY SUBSCRIPTION ON THE NEW MMA WEBSITE TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING USERS OF ANDROID PHONES! To learn more about the MMA app, click here. To download it to your iPhone, go to the Apple App Store and search for Merriman Solar/Lunar Reversals.

EVENTS

 OCTOBER 8, 2026: CRYPTO WEBINAR. The webinar begins at 4:00 PM EDT and will last about 90 minutes. Details and reservation information are above. SAVE THE DATE!!!

 MAY 12–17, 2027: THE MMA INVESTMENT RETREAT IN LAKE BLED, SLOVENIA. Save the date and plan to attend! Yes, we are going back to beautiful Lake Bled one more time. If you have never seen this wonder of the world, this might be your last chance to experience it through an MMA retreat. Future MMA Investment Retreats are expected to alternate, beginning the following year, between the U.S. and Europe. More details and registration steps will be forthcoming by year-end, but plan to register early, as our room allotment has sold out in each of the past two years.

 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 of educating the reader on the relationship between astrological factors and collective human activities as they occur. 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 those movements 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, 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 cycle analyst looking at the military, political, economic, and 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 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) news events and their potential effect on 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.