MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 8, 2025

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 U.S. job growth continued to slow down in August, a sign that the labor market is deteriorating markedly.

The government also revised its numbers from earlier in the summer, and said that the economy lost a net 13,000 jobs in June. It was the first such decline since December 2020. The U.S. added 22,000 jobs in August, the Labor Department reported Friday, below the gain of 75,000 jobs economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected to see.

—Rachel Louis Ensign and Justin Lahart, “Hiring Stalled in August, With 22,000 New Jobs,” www.wsj.com, September 5, 2025.

 Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level since October 2024. Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Thursday, showed the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.5% from last week’s reading of 6.56%.

—Matthew Kazin, Daniella Genovese, “Mortgage Rates Tumble,” www.foxbusiness.com, September 4, 2025.

It was an interesting week for global financial markets as we approach the end of the current TUMDI period, which began on August 22 and ends on Monday, September 8. TUMDI highlights strong, disruptive Uranus signatures, which we often observe correlate with surprising and unexpected remarks by President Trump that are followed by sharp price movements in financial markets. Or maybe the market turns were going to happen anyway, regardless of the president’s words and acts. Maybe there is no correlation. We will have to wait and see. The observations have only been in effect since he took office 8 months ago.

The current slew of Uranus signatures was most notable from August 22 to 25 and is now again from September 5 to 8. During this time, many global stock indices made new all-time or multi-year highs in the August 22-25 time band and then declined briefly but somewhat sharply into early last week, before beginning another rally to challenge or make a new round of highs by Friday. But following the US employment numbers, which were released Friday morning, US stocks once again started a sudden retreat southward.

Twists and turns were also observable in Bitcoin and Ethereum. Both fell hard to lows on August 29-September 2, following their all-time highs of August 14 in BTC and August 24 in Ethereum. However, the most exciting moves during this TUMDI time band transpired with Gold and Silver. On Friday, Gold exploded to another new All-Time High (ATH), with the spot market testing $3600, while Silver soared above $42.00 (December contract) for the first time in 14 years, probably headed for a new ATH shortly.

SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS AND LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS

 Why does history matter? “History shows us how to behave,” Author David McCullough writes. “History teaches, reinforces what we believe in, what we stand for, and what we ought to be willing to stand up for.” It is not only the dry recording of facts, it has a moral quotient. “Indifference to history isn’t just ignorant, it’s rude.” Bluntly put, ignorance is a form of ingratitude. Peggy Noonan, “We Need to Know History, Especially Now,” www.wsj.com, September 5, 2025.

The short-term TUMDI period ends this weekend as Uranus turns retrograde at 1° Gemini. It follows the Sun/Uranus square of August 24, which was further highlighted by Jupiter at the midpoint of both the Sun and Uranus, forming a double semi-square. It was a volatile period for many markets. But it was unusual in the case of global stock markets, which were bullish at both the start and end of Uranus-highlighted times. The DJIA, for instance, made a new ATH on August 22, followed by a modest decline into a major cycle low on September 2. On Friday, both the DJIA and S&P made another new ATH (but not NASDAQ), only to suddenly reverse downwards again. Typical Uranus behavior, much like Mercury retrograde, the Trickster. Perhaps this is not surprising, given that Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury.

With Uranus, you usually get either breakouts to new highs or lows or sudden reversals of trend. In this case, stocks appear to have rallied to highs in each instance. The new highs suggest a breakout. But in each case, the breakout is soon followed by a pullback, so it ends up being more of a reversal, albeit only short-term until now. Will this Uranus zone be more of a reversal for the US stock market? If so, it could be a multi-week decline. A break below last week’s low would suggest it is, and this would fit the true reversal character of Uranus.

Market reversals are possible not only because powerful Uranus is changing directions, but also because there is a very tight-orb lunar eclipse on Sunday in mutable signs. Disruptive events or announcements could still strike financial markets by Monday if they didn’t just begin on Friday, September 5. It wouldn’t be surprising to astrologers, but the specific nature of the event or announcement would not be easily known. For instance, Uranus periods are vulnerable to natural calamities, like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and electrical blackouts. They can also coincide with terrorist acts. These types of events may be heightened by the intense lunar eclipse unfolding in changeable, mutable signs on Sunday and Monday.

The next critical geocosmic reversal is not that far away. It takes place with the new moon of September 21, which is also an eclipse, but a rather wide solar eclipse in this case. But that is not what makes that period so important from a cosmic perspective. There are two other factors that stand out. The first is that Mars will enter Scorpio one day later, on September 22. The other is that the New Moon takes place within a degree of the Autumnal Equinox, at 29° 05’ Virgo, in opposition to the Saturn/Neptune conjunction.

Mars in Scorpio has a high correlation to bullish trends in commodity markets, especially Gold, which we will discuss in our September 14 micro-webinar. The 36-year conjunction of Saturn and Neptune is a long-term planetary-pair cycle, which has particular importance from spring 2025 through February 2026 because it takes place on the Vernal Equinox point of 0° Aries. Furthermore, the long-term Uranus/Pluto trine is also taking place, and its midpoint also activates  0° Aries. This creates a funnel in the solar system, or a vortex, with the Earth at the apex. Hence, this is the basis for the extraordinary celestial configuration we call the “Aries Vortex.” The last time Saturn and Neptune conjoined in early Aries was over 3000 years ago, and it probably didn’t involve the midpoint of Uranus and Pluto. A configuration this rare involving all four of the outermost planets is a harbinger of a radical change in the arc of civilization, which the world is visibly undergoing now.

Hence, as Peggy Noonan writes in her weekly column for the Wall Street Journal, this is a time in which it is worth knowing history. Knowledge and appreciation of history cannot and should not be ignored, except by those who may be ignorant and/or ungrateful. This is also why astrology is so valuable to society, because students and researchers of this study can observe these rare cosmic configurations, and look back on history and see what types of events, transformations, and new eras unfolded in the human experience. Similar themes and even events repeat under similar cosmic patterns. Astrology is one of the finest studies involving pattern-matching, and history provides the data for that research.

The Aries Vortex is already manifesting as a challenging and grueling period, for it represents a vastly new and different path for humanity. It is not easy to adjust to this magnitude of a new world order. But it is necessary, and it helps when one understands that these very rare cosmic periods also represent outstanding opportunities, particularly to those who can adjust quickly, as associated with Uranus in Gemini.

Yes, Saturn in Aries coincides with coercion and bullying, as written in last week’s column. But that’s only one of several expressions possible under this combination. Another is to recognize that any time Mars and Saturn, or the signs they rule, interact with one another (like Saturn in Aries, where Aries is the ruling sign of Mars), it is a time of building – building new structures, systems, rules, laws, and guidelines by which we interact with one another. Building new structures and systems is what Saturn does so well. But this activity works best—potentially achieves greatness—when all are on board, and not when it is demanded or forced onto the collective by one or just a few. When that happens, there is much resistance (Saturn) against the force (Aries). But when it is a team, or a “we” effort instead of a “me” effort, great things can be built that last for a very long time. This could be a time likened to the period in which the Great Pyramids were built. That type of herculean effort is a classic example of the constructive principles of Saturn and Aries working towards manifesting an enduring mutual goal with a view to the far-distant future. Our world leaders might try for something like that.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTE 1: ONE MORE WEEK!!! A MICRO-WEBINAR BY RAY MERRIMAN ON BITCOIN, GOLD, AND SILVER will be presented on Sunday, September 14, at noon EDT. Mars is about to enter Scorpio, a sign that has historically been volatile for each of these markets. And each is in the latter stages of its long-term cycle when reversals are due. This micro-webinar (only 60-90 minutes) will update Ray’s latest cycles and geocosmic timing projections. We will also present Wyatt Fellows’ latest research studies on Gold related to both Mars in Libra and Scorpio — the time band for lows and highs. This is an exciting and critical time for each of these markets. You won’t want to miss this special 90-minute micro-webinar on September 14! Click here to register now! ~250908

 NOTE 2: JUST THREE MORE WEEKS TO REGISTER!!! THE TWO-YEAR MERRIMAN MARKET TIMING ACADEMY (MMTA4) BEGINS SEPTEMBER 27!!!

 For anyone serious about learning the MMA Market Timing methodology for analysis, trading, or investing, now is the time to apply. The two-year MMTA program begins September 27 and will be only the fourth offering since 2013. It is a rigorous training program because exceptional market timing and trading skills are not as simple as many would like to think. But it is rewarding on so many levels — even beyond the financial.

If you have a passion for financial markets, trading, and investing, and wish to develop this skill — and if you are strong with numbers and pattern matching — this training could meet and even exceed your goals. Fifty new students will be accepted. Approximately 10 slots remain open as of this week, while 30 potential students have already been interviewed and expressed interest. Registration closes on September 26, or sooner if the final slots are filled.

 This highly valuable two-year educational program, created by Raymond Merriman (CTA), is an experience that will change your life and the way you view financial markets.

Classes will meet on Zoom, approximately 20 times per year, at noon Eastern Time on Saturdays. Each course includes 6-8 meetings, with one-month breaks between courses and a three-month summer break between Courses 4 and 5. These eight courses cover MMA’s market timing methodology for long- and intermediate-term investing, as well as position trading and aggressive short-term trading. There is nothing else as comprehensive in the field of market timing as MMTA’s two-year program!

Acceptance into MMTA requires a 20-minute interview prior to enrollment. If you are interested in exploring whether MMTA is right for you, schedule your interview now.

The cost for the entire two-year program is $25,000, with registration discounts available for those enrolling in the full program or one year at a time. A tuition payment plan is also available for those who prefer to take Course 1 first (at full price) and decide later whether to commit to the remaining seven courses, which will then be offered at a substantial discount.

To register or inquire about the MMTA4 program, click here.

Here are just a few of the many very positive reviews from graduates of prior MMTA programs:

I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for generously sharing your knowledge and teaching it. As you know, I am fairly new to trading and joined MMTA3 to learn a system to approach the stock market. Starting the year, I set myself the goal of doubling the money that I had in my trading account, thinking at the time that this was impossible to do. Thanks to the knowledge and tools MMTA3 teaches, I was actually able to accomplish this goal! In fact, I even exceeded it. —W.H., Germany

 Thank you, Ray and Gianni, for the fantastic course material and support. I have made money, and every dollar for the courses was paid back and more! — J.L., Netherlands

 This course was truly mind-blowing! I learnt in abundance. Thank you all for sharing the excellent trading data and knowledge. This course is worth more than a college degree — and at a fraction of the price, too. — K.L., Australia

My perspective on the markets — and perhaps life — has changed dramatically since taking MMTA. I am extremely grateful for having been given the opportunity to learn directly from you. — K.M., USA

Doing these research projects and really dissecting the markets during this course has allowed me to trade very successfully over the past year. It is extremely rewarding to do the work and then watch it unfold according to plan. — W.F., USA

 NOTE 3: IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! The ANNUAL MMA FORECAST 2026 PRE-PUBLICATION SALE is now underway through October 31 and features our once-a-year discounts on both the annual forecast book and MMA subscription reports. Become a subscriber today for as little as $35 to secure the best price available. Check out this video to learn how to lock in the lowest price on Forecast 2026 by becoming a subscriber this month!

During this pre-order period, the Forecast 2026 print edition is available at the discounted price of $55, and the eBook version at $45. And 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 2026. After the pre-publication period ends on November 1, the retail price of the Forecast 2026 print edition will increase to $66, and the eBook 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 who wish to order both the eBook and printed editions of Forecast 2026 for $75. The eBook typically becomes available one to two weeks before the print edition and avoids delays caused by the postal system — especially for those living overseas. However, many readers prefer the print edition, so ordering both through the Forecast 2026 Bundle makes sense. You will receive the Forecast 2026 eBook on December 15, and your print copy will be mailed in mid-December.

MMA’s annual forecast book is a cycles and astrology-themed almanac that has served students of cycles and markets since 1976. It provides a cyclical outlook on the collective world psychology, the national economy, geopolitical developments, socio-cultural trends, and timing of potential weather and natural disasters — as well as financial market projections for the U.S. stock market, U.S. Treasury market, interest rates, Gold and Silver, currencies (the Euro, U.S. Dollar, Swiss Franc, and Japanese Yen), Bitcoin, Crude Oil, and Grain markets (Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans). A scorecard of the 2025 forecasts is posted on the MMA website as of August 27. Of note is that the eight critical reversal dates (CRDs) for the U.S. stock market, and nine CRDs for the Soybean market, have all been accurate within three trading days — most within only one day!

The print version of the book is approximately 225 pages, 8.5″ x 11″, including several charts, and has set the standard for all astrological almanacs over the past 50 years.

The pre-publication ordering period just began mid-August, and one of the first orders we received came with this note of gratitude:

I ordered the Forecast 2026 book — this time in print — as I would like to have this 50th edition as a souvenir to remind me of the great insights I’ve received since reading your analysis and, more importantly for me, your view on life. — R.D., Netherlands

To pre-order this year’s special 50^th-year edition, click here.

NOTE 4: RECORDINGS OF MMA’S SPECIAL SIX-WEEK COURSE ON “THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GEOCOSMIC STUDIES FOR FINANCIAL MARKET TIMING” ARE NOW AVAILABLE!!! Led by Gianni Di Poce and backed up by Ray Merriman, this course is designed to teach students the basic principles of planets, signs, and aspects (including retrograde and direct stations) as used in MMA’s market timing methodology — one of its most important tools. The course explains which planets and signs rule the various sectors of the economy and financial markets. In addition, it covers how to use an ephemeris and astrological software (Solar Fire) for important routines such as calculating charts, generating transit “hit lists,” and identifying signs, ingresses, planetary stations, and aspects — the essential cosmic features necessary for determining market reversal periods.

The course is especially useful for those interested in taking the MMTA4 program, which begins on September 27, or for anyone wishing to deepen their astrological knowledge. The cost for these six introductory lessons, which last about two hours each, is $300. This is a great opportunity to learn basic astrology from a master economic astrologer! Click here to order now!

 NOTE 5: THE JUPITER REPORT — YOUR MOMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY — IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR UPDATES. This 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 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 when 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 and losses?

The Jupiter Report was first introduced one year ago, in September 2024. If you were one of the first to order then, it may be time to update your outlook for the next year. The cost for your 14-month Jupiter Report remains $69. Click here to order!!!

 Here is a recent letter from our options expert, Derek Panaia, to the Options+ group, which just closed out exceptional gains on five option trades presented in the July 13 webinar:

On a side note, I started using MMA’s Jupiter Report this year, so I only have a few months of history with it. But my first positive Jupiter aspects came in March/April this year. I was trading copper and had made a nice long trade and started buying puts for a dip. The puts did nothing for a week or so, then copper prices collapsed, and my puts went up sharply in one week. This started exactly on the same day my Jupiter Report showed a positive aspect. Well, fast forward a few months, and I have copper put spreads (the same put spreads you guys bought), and yesterday copper prices collapsed, and the puts made a lot of money. And guess what? This was one day before my Jupiter aspects started positive again. For me, it is amazing how accurate this report has been. I just wanted to share this, FWIW. The Jupiter Report from MMA is not very expensive, so if you guys use astrology in your trading, you might want to check it out.

 NOTE 6: The MMA Solar-Lunar App now offers reversal signals on 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. The app is currently available only on Apple devices (iPhone and iPad). To learn more about the MMA App, click here. To order it, go to the Apple App Store and search for Merriman Solar/Lunar Reversals.

 EVENTS

 SEPTEMBER 14, 2025: A MICRO-WEBINAR BY RAY MERRIMAN ON BITCOIN, GOLD, AND SILVER

We are preparing for big moves in Bitcoin, Gold, and Silver this fall, according to our cycle studies — and we want to be ready. This micro-webinar (only 60-90 minutes) will provide an update on our latest cycle and geocosmic timing projections related to Bitcoin, Gold, and Silver, which are entering historical time bands when long-term cycles are due. This means new cycles (trends) are likely to follow. Be prepared! These cycle turns are expected to unfold between September and November. Click here to register! The cost is $55 and includes a recording (ready by Monday) with a PDF copy of the PPT slides.

 NOTE: THE CHINESE VERSION OF THIS MICRO-WEBINAR ON BITCOIN, GOLD, AND SILVER WILL BE PRESENTED ON SEPTEMBER 11, AT 8 PM BEIJING TIME AND 1:00 PM CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME. It will be delivered in English by Raymond Merriman and translated into Chinese, so the event will last approximately 2-3 hours. For more information and registration, visit https://www.nodoor.com.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2025. MMA Analyst Gianni Di Poce will join crypto expert Crypto Damus for a special webinar discussion on Bitcoin and the U.S. stock market on September 20 at 1 PM EDT. The cost is $95. For more information, click here. If you use the coupon code “Gianni,” you will save 10%. This is not a repeat of MMA’s September 14 micro-webinar. It is projected to last 2.5 hours.

 SEPTEMBER 27, 2025: CYCLES AND PATTERNS IN FINANCIAL MARKETS. This is a comprehensive eight-week course taught by Wiebke Held and Ray Merriman, with special presentations featuring various MMA market analysts. It also serves as Course 1 of the 2025-2026 MMTA market timing program, but it is a valuable standalone course in its own right and will be open to a limited number of non-MMTA students as well. The course will be conducted live via Zoom every Saturday at noon Eastern Time for eight weeks, and each class will last approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. All sessions will be recorded and made available by the following Monday for those unable to attend live. The cost is $3600, which may be applied toward registration (with further discounts) for Courses 2-8 of the MMTA program that will follow.

Cycle studies are the foundation upon which MMA’s market timing methodology is built. Once you know where a market is within its primary or longer-term cycles, you’ll also know which investment and trading strategies to apply. Understanding when a cycle (or one of its phases) is due is essential to recognizing both the strength and narrowing of a cycle time band, especially when correlated with geocosmic signatures. However, without first understanding cycles and their patterns, the effective use of geocosmics is limited. Together, these tools offer a powerful method for timing significant tradable lows and highs in financial markets. If you are truly interested in becoming proficient in market timing skills for the purpose of trading or investing success, this course is essential to begin that journey.

Registration details for signing up for this course will only be available shortly. You may also contact us at customerservice@mmacycles.com or call 248-626-3034.

 SEPTEMBER 27, 2025: MMTA4 begins!! Click here for details.

 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 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 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 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.