REVIEW AND PREVIEW
Our economy, they (Democrats and Republicans) say is broken… that the wealth gains of recent years have gone entirely to the top 1% of earners, that real wages for the middle class have stagnated and the “game is rigged.”(But) in a study published by the Brookings Institution, Stephen Rose found that the number of Americans in the upper-middle class increased from 6% in 1967 to 33% in 2016… Michael Strain’s new book “The American Dream is Not Dead” (shows) that inequality has decreased by 7% between 2007 and 2016… The populists of right and left have agreed on something that just isn’t so. The death of the American Dream has been vastly exaggerated. – Mona Charen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, “The American Dream is Not Dead,” Arizona Republic, August 21, 2020.
By refusing to normalize monetary policy after the financial panic ended, (the Fed) inflated asset bubbles on stock exchanges, in corporate debt markets, urban property markets, and other parts of the world. These booms benefitted mainly asset owners at the expense of wage earners and entrepreneurs. The result was a damaging form of inequality, new in America, that rewarded asset ownership or political connections instead of innovation and hard work. This helped Donald Trump make the case that the Obama expansion had left behind working people. – “The Obama-Biden Economy Redux,” Wall Street Journal Opinion Page, August 21, 2020.
“The reason I am here is because of President Obama and Joe Biden, because if they did a good job I wouldn’t be here…” President Donald Trump, August 20, 2020, after Obama’s speech to the DNC.
Obama pleaded with voters Wednesday night to “embrace your own responsibility as citizens – to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure. Because that is what is at stake right now. Our democracy.” – Steve People’s, Michelle L. Price, and Aleksandra Jaffe, “Dems’ Message: Trump is a Threat,” Associated Press, August 20, 2020.
It was a mixed week for world equity markets, following the station of Uranus turning retrograde last weekend, August 12. Several world stock indices posted new post-crash highs nearby and started to decline. Others posted secondary highs early last week, then declined into the end of the week. Others yet were down into the middle of last week and then rallied. The NASDAQ made another new all-time high on Friday, August 21. The Shanghai Composite tested its yearly high on August 18. In Europe, secondary highs were made August 12 and then fell most of last week. The same was true in Japan and the DJIA in the United States. India and Australia made new post-crash highs on August 19. It was that kind of a week for stock markets around the world. It may have been a high from which markets have started to reverse, or it may be the start of a breakout to more new highs. We could know this week.
The more interesting developments were in the U.S. Dollar and Bitcoin. The former dropped to its lowest level since May 2018 on August 18, while at the same time the Euro currency rose to its highest mark since May 2018. Bitcoin soared to a new yearly high on August 17 at 12,489. On August 19, Crude Oil rallied to make a double top to its post-crash high of 43.52 made on August 5. Gold and Silver made lower highs on August 18 than their highs of August 7, but higher lows than their lows of August 12.
It appears that most markets, including equities and metals, are trying to decide if they want to continue breaking out to new multi-month, multi-year, and/or new all-time highs, or reverse down. With a series of powerful Venus aspects starting up this week, it fits because Venus (and Libra, a sign it rules) is known to wonder if it is indecisive or not.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS
The Dow Jones Industrial Average made its post-crash high on August 11. The S&P is knocking at the door of making a new all-time high as of Friday, August 21, and the NASDAQ has in fact made a new all-time high on August 21. From a geocosmic point of view, this is all very interesting because the bottom of the Coronavirus stock market panic was March 18-23, when Mars made its conjunction to the Capricorn stellium of Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn, March 20-31.
The conjunction of planets begins the geocosmic cycle of those planets. After the conjunction, the first quarter cycle becomes very important, which in the study of astrology is known as a waxing square. Due to its retrograde motion, Mars will make its first quarter cycle (waxing square) to these same three planets three times, and the first is happening now, August 4-24. It is interesting because the start of the cycle was an important cycle low in world stock markets, and the first passage of this first quarter square is coinciding with the market’s highest price since then. Given that the major correlation between geocosmic aspects and financial markets has to do with reversals of trends, one wonders if the highs that have been unfolding between August 4, and now will represent a significant crest from which equity markets will reverse to the downside? Or will that happen September 29-October 19 when Mars is retrograde and makes this same waxing square aspect to the Capricorn stellium? Or both?
Mars is in Aries now and will remain there through January 6. Mars rules Aries. Or said another way, Mars is in its ruling sign of Aries where it is strong. One astrological theory holds that positive things happen in the world (like stock markets) when planets are in their ruling sign, except when they go retrograde in their ruling sign, during which time matters turn more difficult. It is not only Mars that is in its ruling sign right now. So is the Sun (in Leo), but that ends this weekend, August 22. Mercury is also in its ruling sign of Virgo until September 5, just before Mars turns retrograde. Saturn and Neptune are also in their ruling signs, but Saturn will move out on December 17 and Neptune will remain there for another five more years. Saturn and Neptune, by the way, are both retrograde now. So as astrologers, we have to be concerned about what will happen after September 9, when Mars, Saturn, and Neptune are all retrograde in their ruling signs, and both the Sun and Mercury are no longer in their ruling signs. Not to mention, of course, that the U.S. election season will be in full force then.
There is nothing easy or smooth transpiring in the heavens between now and the election. Leading up to the Mars retrograde in Aries on September 9, we find Venus in Cancer in opposition to the Capricorn stellium (Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn) August 25-September 4, and in a T-square aspect to the stationary Mars in Aries. This can indicate many possibilities, but the key with Venus pertains to issues of fairness, equality, and women. These aspects can correlate with changes of trend in financial markets. But so too do the geocosmic signatures that follow right after that, September 9-17, and the ones that unfold right after that (September 28-October 19). These are not your run-of-the-mill type of geocosmic signatures, especially in the last grouping. I could speculate on the possibilities implied here, but they are complex and would require a lengthy description, which I will do as we get closer to the time period. For now, just imagine that we are building up to another “maximum pressure’ period where it will be necessary to apply one’s capacity for discernment of truth and accuracy of information, and the ability to detach from one’s impulsive, emotional reaction to situations of surprise. This would not be a favorable time to be complacent in regard to positions in financial markets, especially if new yearly or longer-term highs are forming between now and late September.
On a personal note, someone must have heard my lament in a recent column about not being able to see my wife who lives in Germany due to the travel ban between the U.S. and Germany. Germany has just announced that they will now allow spouses of German citizens to visit with proper documentation. I do not need to be there on “essential business” (although for me with Venus conjunct Jupiter in Scorpio, this is “essential business”). I am leaving next week. It must be transiting Jupiter (travel and good fortune) passing over my natal Moon (family) and her Venus (partner). Perhaps my magnificent humor will return to these writings. I am already smiling broadly, another symbol of a transiting Jupiter to a natal planet. See you next week as I write this column from the Rhineland!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: The ICR (International Cycles Reports) will be released this week, August 28. The ICR Financials includes analysis on ASX (Australian Stock Index), RUT (Russell 2000), SSE (Chinese Shanghai Stock Composite), HSI (Hang Seng Index), AUD (Australian Dollar), DXY (US Dollar), and GBP (British Pound). The ICR Commodities Report includes analysis on LC (Live Cattle), MJ (Cannabis), XAU (Gold and Silver), KT (Coffee), KA (Sugar), C (Corn), and W (Wheat). These reports are written by MMA Analyst and editor Mark Shyterman (metals, stock indices, and soft commodities), MMA President Raymond Merriman (China’s Shanghai Composite Index), MMA Analysts Ken Liao (Hang Seng) Ulric Aspegren (Currencies), Isabella Suleymanov (Grains), and Gianni Di Poce (Australian ASX and Dollar, Cannabis (MJ), and Live Cattle). Order now to make sure you get this month’s report! Consider a one-month trial for only $35.
NOTE 2: The Annual Forecast Pre-Order Event is now underway. The Forecast 2021 Book may now be pre-ordered! Our preliminary outlook is that 2021 will be another very important year with the long-term Saturn/Uranus square aspect taking place. Although 2020 is not yet over, several forecasts made in the 2020 book have already unfolded. For a review of the Forecast 2020 Book so far, please visit our Scorecard.
This pre-publication period will be in effect through October 31 and will include our once-a-year sale discounts on both the annual Forecast Book and MMA Subscription Reports. You may pre-order Forecast 2021 at the discounted rate of $45. After the pre-order event ends, the price will increase to $55 on November 1st. Order both an eBook and print book (Forecast 2021 Bundle) for only $65, a savings of $45 off the standard rates. Save 10% off any subscription ($275+) with purchase of Forecast 2021. Use code SALE2021 at checkout to receive the subscription discount.
This year’s Forecast book will no longer include the individual Sun Signs forecasts. Instead, there will be 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 will be written by Antonia Langsdorf-Merriman and Raymond Merriman. Antonia is one of Europe’s most renowned astrologers and has written an annual Sun Sign book in German for the past several years, based on interviews conducted with Ray Merriman beforehand. That same format will be followed for the “Trends for the Twelve Signs 2021” book. The cost of this book will be $25, with a further discount if ordered with the Forecast 2021 Book.
NOTE 3: The start date of the second 2-year program of the Merriman Market Timing Academy will take place January 16, 2021! This is the rare opportunity (only the second time in 7 years) to learn the MMA Methodology of financial market timing and financial market analysis. The first course took place 2013-2015 and graduated 20 apprentices, many of whom are now professional market analysts. Several of the graduates now serve as analysts of specific markets for various MMA subscription reports. This second 2-year program will be offered online and will be led by MMTA graduate Gianni Di Poce and founder Raymond Merriman. There will be 6-7 classes per course, 8 courses in all. Each class will last 2 hours each. These will take place live on Saturdays, and MP4 recordings will be available the following Monday to those who register. There will be a one-month break between each course. The cost for the 2-year program in 2013-2014 was $20,000 and required students to spend 3-4 day courses onsite in at the Michigan State University Management Center in Troy, Michigan. This second series of courses will be online, and will cost $12,000, with a 10% discount for those who register by December 14, 2020. To those who enroll for the “MMTA Apprentice,” designation, you will need to know how to read an ephemeris and/or take a pre-entrance exam to demonstrate this aptitude before beginning Course 2. If you don’t know how to “Read an Ephemeris,” a link to an MP4 presentation will be provided at no cost to those who sign up for at least the first year. An “MMTA Certificate of Graduation” (as an MMTA apprentice) will be awarded for those who take and pass exams at the end of each course and complete a research project with teams of up to three members each between courses. However, courses may be taken separately, without an entrance exam, course exams, or research papers if one only wishes the knowledge without the certificate of graduation as an “MMTA Apprentice.” For more information and schedule, please visit MMTA and find out how you can become a financial market timer and analyst, the MMA way.
NOTE 4: MMA is pleased to announce that it will be publishing a new book titled The Grand Conjunctions, by one of the world’s leading Mundane Astrologers – Chris McRae of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This a fascinating book on the history of Grand Conjunctions involving the outer planets. It is especially appropriate today because the grandest of all outer planet conjunctions – the Jupiter/Saturn synodic cycle – will take place on December 21, 2020. 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. It is our intention to have this book in print by that time. In the next coupe of weeks, we will provide more information and details on how to order.
EVENTS
Three weeks to go! September 13, 2020, 1 PM, EDT. “The USA 2020 Presidential Election: An Astrological Perspective” featuring an online analysis on the charts of the election, between world class astrologers Lynn Bell (Paris), Caroline Casey (Washington D.C.), Lee Lehman, Ph.D. (Asheville, NC), Christeen Skinner (London), and emceed by Raymond Merriman. The cost for this event is $55. For more information and reservation, please visit the ISAR website at https://isar2020.org/ and prepare to be amazed! If you are interested in this election, this is an event not to be missed!
October 11, 2020: Special Q&A webinar for MMA Subscribers with Raymond Merriman! 4:30 PM, EDT or 1:30 PM PDT 9:30 PM GMDT). This webinar is free to those who subscribe to any MMA subscription reports, or $55 if not a subscriber. Subscribers may send in a question they wish Merriman to address ahead of time. The only requirement is that the questions be of general interest to everyone attending the Q&A. Questions about a specific market are fine. It is possible that there may not be enough time to address all questions, so they will be answered on a first come, first serve basis. This event will last 90 minutes. You must register to attend at least two days before the event and a link to enter the meeting will be sent to all registrants that week.
January 16, 2021: The first class of the 2-year program of the Merriman Market Timing Academy begins! For details, see the above announcement, or visit MMTA.
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 a 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.