Saturn and The Trump Trial: March 4, 2024

Karma's Principle of Cause and Effect: Reaping What's Been Sown

by Jude Cowell, posting on behalf of the common good

With the (J6 Coup Attempt Trial), aka, the 'Election Interference' Trial of Mr. Donald Trump scheduled today by Judge Tanya Chutkan for March 4, 2024, major flurries of investigative activity by astrologers are now in motion including by yours truly. Yet studies of any horoscope take time so today this post focuses on a curious detail affecting America's entire Trump saga and that's the solar eclipse cycle in which the turmoil of Inauguration 2017 took place, manifested as the 19 North Eclipse of September 1, 2016 @9Vir21.

Note that March 4, 2024 is a day prior to Super Tuesday 2024.

Karmic Saturn = Realism, Accountability, Restriction, Loss, and Demands for Corrective Action

And so my focus today is because, during the trial of March 4, 2024, transit Saturn @10Pis21, planet of legal affairs, lawyers, courts, and trials that intend to hold miscreants accountable for their illegal behavior, will conjunct the position of Neptune in the 19 North Eclipse Horoscope of 2016 - the gaslighting planet of fraud, deception, and overblown schemes which by transit opposed the 19 North Eclipse with its themes of: 'realism; good time to tackle the truth; seeing old situations for what they really are; coming down to earth' (paraphrasing B. Brady).

Therefore, from the beginning of America's Trump/'POTUS' saga, this requires that thousands more lies should be revealed and addressed in court! For who can forget that an unelected Trump touted that the 2020 Election would be a "continuation" of (his) power instead of a (peaceful) transfer to Joe Biden? And Trump's sore loser resentment (and instructions from his foreign and domestic handlers) brought our country his violent coup attempt of January 6, 2021 against the US Congress in process of certifying our traditional peaceful transfer of power. Yet thanks to participants who upheld the US Constitution, Donald's anti-constitutional power grab failed, and Joe Biden's victory was certified hours later. Better late than never!

The Virgo-Pisces Polarity: Facts vs Fiction on the Victim-Savior Axis

Because as you know, the opposition to the eclipse from Neptune interfered with 19 North themes by challenging 19 North's call for facing reality with chaos, confusion, deception - and what became Trump's "Big Lie" that forms the basis of agent orange's and the Republican Party's scam of deception and gaslighting upon the American people - and US society has suffered from these Neptunian energies ever since.

Yet 'Trump Trial' circumstances are even more complex for on March 4, 2024, Saturn @10Pis21 actually activates the 19 North Saturn-Neptune square, the self-defeatist aspect (A. Oken) for simultaneously this is a Saturn-square-Saturn transit (2024 to 2016) when formal restrictions can be imposed and there's little if any flexibility in (Trump's) circumstances. Sounds like a court case to me.

And yes, the 2016 Mars-Saturn conjunction (10--15 Sag) is involved with March 4, 2024 Saturn as well which suggests potentials for frustration, anger, resentment, and an urge to take shortcuts around laws, rules, and regulations which is a negative path that ultimately leads to failure more often than not. Then I would have to call Trump's J6 coup attempt his reckless way of taking a major shortcut back to the White House, wouldn't you?

Will We Come Down to Earth in March 2024?

So in March 2024, when Trump is scheduled to be held legally accountable for his seditious J6 coup attempt by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and his team, we might take comfort in the Saturn-to-Neptune transit which indicates "the grim face of reality" for Trump, his comrades, his subversive coup attempt congressional comrades of the 'maga' persuasion (ongoing!), and hopefully for any of his cult followers who still 'believe' by then in the orange scofflaw con-man's fantasy world where he becomes a dictator - exactly the kind of government our Founding Fathers escaped from in Europe! Certainly, a 'coming down to earth' and 'seeing situations for what they really are' are long overdue in the US for a certain percentage of our population who continue to act under the spell of mass delusion promoted by Mr. Trump.

Then when it comes to the 19 North Eclipse of 2016 that heralded the Trump "presidency," the exhange of oppositional planets from Neptune to Saturn makes an important difference - from Neptunian fantasy to Saturnian reality. Here's the original 19 North Horoscope as previously published to SO'W with the fantasy-to-reality exchange info added below; study notes penned onthe chart are from my original post:

Neptune opposite the 19 North Solar Eclipse: chaos and confusion as people are pulled between truth and fallacy, reality and illusion/delusion.

Saturn opposite the 19 North Solar Eclipse: those who refuse to face up to their responsibilities while placing blame upon anyone but themselves (R. Lineman); denial of guilt by the guilty (jc).

Karma Knocks Upon Trump's Door

Then in closing, the rounded-up Sabian Symbols of the 19 North Eclipse and 2016 Neptune/2024 Saturn are quite interesting, see if you agree:

Eclipse "10Virgo" = "Two Heads Looking Out and Beyond the Shadows" vs "11Pisces" = "Men Seeking Illumination."

My hope for American democracy is that bringing seditionsist Trump, career criminal, to Justice via legal eagle Saturn and the DOJ will finally wake up those asleep within their white supremacist delusions and anti-democratic dreams of regressing our country back to the 1800s.

More of today's news: All Trump and Co-Defendants To Be Arraigned in Georgia on September 6, 2023 under a quarter Moon @15Gemini that points toward Mr. Trump's 10th house Uranus, his guiding planet of chaos, disruption, unpredictability, and radical politics.

DC Horoscope: Saturn Perigee 2023

Aug 27, 2023: Bright Saturn Shines Opposite the Sun

by Jude Cowell

Tropically speaking, in Mundane Astrology, because karmic Saturn, lord of many realms such as: Time, reality, authority, responsibility, accountability, maturity, wisdom, restriction, control, limits, borders, form, structure, consolidation, old age, conservatism, blockages or obstacles, loss, the status quo, The Establishment, the system, and laws, opposes the Virgo Sun on August 27, 2023, we can be certain that the word perigee will pop up all over the internet any minute now. Already has done, in fact!

For on that day, the Earth passes between Saturn and the Sun, a cosmic event that contains all manner of advantages for astronomers, but for Stars Over Washington's purposes, let's settle for a DC Horoscope set for August 27, 2023 4:28 am edt which is when my astrology program calculates an exact opposition between Sun and Saturn. Chart factors and astro-notes are thus generated, some of which are typed below the following Horoscope with astro-notes scribbled upon the image for your consideration.

The notes include the 'PE' in the 7 North Saros Series during which the Saturn perigee 2023 occurs, highlighted in orange, in 10th house @29Ari50 - conjunct the January 6, 2021 insurrection's Mars position and, as I've noted in previous posts, this lunation also times a "birthday eclipse" for Herr Adolf. Then will bunker boy sit up or merely roll over?

Meanwhile, the 7 North eclipse's throwback to J6 Mars increases potentials in August 2023 for zealotry, violence, and/or criminal actions - hopefully blocked by Saturnian forces! - such as those perpetrated on that day when the US Congress was assaulted and its work of certifying the 2020 Electoral College Vote for Joe Biden was disrupted for a few hours.

So to me it seems significant that the Vertex ('VX') in the August Horoscope @23Sag37 (5th house) points toward a fated encounter of some kind, perhaps legal, which concerns the 4 South Solar Eclipse of December 14, 2020 @23Sag08 as what I've termed the Electoral College Vote 2020 Eclipse which 'justified' in the delusional Geminian mind of the orange albatross the 'Big Lie' he has used to aggravate his followers and certain politicians into storming the Capitol Building and the US government - strong feelings which Herr Trump continues to use for what he considers to be his financial, legal, and political advantage (see lower right corner). For as everyone knows, he is a desperate man determined to 'get away with it'.

Yet we should take heart for there is a bright note (perigee Saturn will be bright and large so close to Earth!) because Astraea, asteroid of Justice, directly opposes the Vertex and the 4 South Eclipse, as you see. Come on Justice Department, put on your Saturn cap and do the right thing! And if a Trump indictment is to be, then let it be:

Note: Sabian Symbols for the Sun-Saturn opposition (4Virgo/4Pisces) are messily penned on the chart. And if you wish, feel free to enlarge and/or print the image for better viewing.

Also of interest, is that the Sun @3Vir50 conjuncts the Progressed New Moon ('SP') of Herr Trump, a symbolic life passage timed by his SP New Moon which perfected on September 16, 2019 @3Virgo with its "white power" implications (see above chart, upper right).

Then remembering that America was founded under Sun-Saturn square energies which in part describe the need to develope maturity as the US ages rather than relying on the superficiality and unreliability that our institutions have often been accused of - plus, our 'worship' of youth and disrespect for wisdom - general potentials within the Hegelian form of the Sun-Saturn duo include:

Thesis: Form and definition in an enterprise; the will of the people as defined in the principal founding documents; the checks and balances within enterprises as implemented by various administrations.

Antithesis: Pessimism and gloom as a center focus of policy; unreasonable centralization of authority in one location; a leadership preoccupied with the various forms of law enforcement; older and more distanced leaders.

(Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets, Michael Munkasey #ad); my italics.

Among other topics, perhaps the ongoing campaign by Republicans to tinker under the hood of the US Constitution will be part of the scrutiny as the Sun and Saturn oppose one another in August 2023.

Previously on SO'W: Shadow into Light: an Esoteric Department of Justice showing its Dedication Horoscope of 1934 (by FDR) where we find DOJ Uranus Rx @29Ari21 conjunct its Syzygy Moon (28:31), and DOJ Mars @4Virgo. Now as you know, these create cosmic time links to the above positions particularly to the karmic 7 North Eclipse for when Uranus is involved, the karma attached to eclipse themes is intensified, positively or negatively, while adding a touch of 'brotherhood' to the cosmic mix. Major karmic progress can be made!

A final thought: Therefore, it seems the time has come for the DOJ to spear the snake as depicted on the building's outside panel which is why my reference to an "esoteric" Department of Justice. And we both know exactly who the snake really is. jc

On Saturn's Authority, Accountability, Control, Restriction, and Misrule

A Look at Ole Man Trump's Saturn Return in Progress

by Jude Cowell

Natal Saturn in watery Cancer: hypersensivity, feelings of discontent, neurosis, financial struggles, domestic strains.

When considering planets that affect Politics, politicians, and society, mundane Saturn is prominent on many levels. The karmic planet's restrictive function activates within many realms of life including financial matters and lawmaking, with Saturnian reality and what should be maturity undergirding it all as Saturn the taskmaster demands that rules be upheld. Either positively or negatively, lessons will be forthcoming and a Saturn Return times such life lessons for us all, even for a scofflaw like Trump.

Jettisoned from the White House on January 20, 2021, Saturnian folk now attempt to hold the out-of-control Herr T accountable for his past actions, which now must include his brazen theft of items and records from the White House as he skulked out the door, records which belong in our National Archives where Saturnian presidential records are traditionally kept. Predictably, it's always with the retaliation and revenge by ace grudge-holder, Trump, with his natal Mars rising opposing the US Moon of We The People!

Meanwhile, America's enduring of a Trump regime with all its scofflaw effects upon Saturnian laws and traditions compelled yours truly in 2018 to take a look at the man's Saturn Return and its influences as he ran and grabbed the White House (2015--2017), then exhibited his clumsy, kleptocratic form of Saturnian control and responsibility while playing a thespian's role as "POTUS" (2017--2021). And while he may deny it, you and I both know that accountability must come along with Saturn's authority figure and manager roles yet Mr. Trump 'doesn't do so well' on those scores, as a majority of Americans can agree. Then his resounding political loss in November 2020 told the tale even though he has yet to admit his election drubbing, with 'loss' as another Saturnian concept along with flaws, blockages and obstacles.

We may also note that the Sabian Symbol of his Saturn degree ('24Cancer') when negatively expressed is, "a devastating sense of ineptitude and estrangement from reality" (Jones). Trump's natal Mercury-Neptune square with its fantasy-world spinning and tendency toward deception and malicious scheming aids him mightily in his drive to escape reality. However --

Will Legal Eagle Saturn Have the Final Smirk?

So! All this to say that in September 2018, I published here The Saturn Return of Mr. Trump: Authority Challenged which displayed the third of three of his Saturn Return Horoscopes of May 24, 2005. 'Good for' 28 to 30 years, we can divide the three-fer time frame into approximately 9-to-10-year increments in relation to life phases, his starting in 2004. Doing this suggests that he's now acting within the second decan (10 years) of his current Saturn Return until sometime during election year 2024. Then the third phase begins and contains influences from the YOD pattern, see below.

Now in 2022, a determined (and desperate to escape accountability) Herr Trump continues to have trouble with his Saturnian functions and refuses to give up what he deems to be a continuation of his 'authority' and 'control' of the White House as he expresses from way down in Mar-A-Lago what he considers to be his political power. Cultishly, minions and thugs continue to do his will though some of the smarter ones have dropped away.

Oh Look! It's a Plutonian YOD Pattern

So to me, this absurd, engineered condition of authoritarianism within the US power structure points out the critical importance of Mr. Trump's Saturn Return which was actually a three-fer affair that became exact on September 4, 2004, *January 14, 2005 (Rx; see below), and, as noted in the 2018 horoscope linked above, May 24, 2005. Then if we consider recent events such as the Electoral College Vote for his rival Joe Biden on December 14, 2020, the day of a difficult 4 South Solar Eclipse @23Sag08 ('strong emotions over money and/or relationships' - B. Brady), plus, the violent events of January 6, 2021 intended to keep power in his tiny, grabby hands, it seems more than a little interesting that Trump's third return chart of May 24, 2005 shows a YOD pattern (crisis, turning point, crossroads, special task, and/or karmic/spiritual opportunity) with a Mercury-Saturn sextile at its base. Note that a Mercury-Saturn sextile suggests setting priorities, managing resources, and/or chafing against restrictions (which he does so well). Of course, this marks a Mercury-sextile-natal-Saturn transit for Trump indicating a favorable time to prepare future plans, and - a warning here - perhaps an opportunity to receive recognition of his authority and experience.

So which is the third planet sitting at apex of the YOD? Why, power-craving Pluto Rx @23Sag41 in Trump's Return 2nd hou$e. And significantly, this happens to be the degree of the 4 South Electoral College Vote Eclipse of December 14, 2020. Negatively speaking, such a plutonian/eclipse influence represents serious karmic setbacks and criminal offenses. Well, yes. We've noticed.

Now my suspicion is that the Mercury-Saturn-Pluto vibrations of the YOD pattern within the realms of Saturnian authority and accountability are what Mr. Trump can expect going forward and its potentials could very well affect him in the 2024 Election, if the 'flight risk' runs for office at all. For if legal eagle Saturn has his way, by 2024 or before Trump may be running in the opposite direction from Washington DC.

So let's read the YOD's trio of planets as a midpoint picture to see what possibilities are suggested:

Mercury-Saturn = Pluto: 'brooding over one's destiny; grappling with unusual problems' (R. Ebertin); 'serious incidents provoke questioning official communications'; 'ending business with others due to communications breakdowns' (M. Munkasey); 'contemplating loss; fearing wipe-out; abandonment; feeling resourceless' (N. Tyl).

Well, I don't know about you, dear reader, but I can think of more than one of these potentials which apply to the authoritarian Mr. Trump, a fellow who can hardly be described as representing the ideal of a man who takes karmic Saturn's demands seriously enough to satisfy them - but perhaps we should count the fact that, at the ripe old age of 75 going-on-76, he is most definitely, and not very much more than, an old man.

A Related Post: DC Horoscope: The Predictive New Moon Prior to Election 2024.

*An Additional Time Lord Saturn Note: now affecting Trump's current phase of action timed by the second of his three Saturn Return/s (exact on January 14, 2005) is what can be considered a YOD if we choose to count the Return Ascendant, but instead let's simply read it as a midpoint picture which might just apply on various levels:

Saturn-ASC = Pluto (Saturn Return Pluto again @23Sag12 in Return 8th hou$e): 'easily dismissing information that does not fit your world view' (like Election 2020?); 'a need to accumulate and control data and facts about perceptions of others' (M. Munkasey); 'violent upset; deep anguish; being put down by others' (N. Tyl); and perhaps most interesting of all: 'suffering through violent or brutal suppression; compulsory confinement or retention' (R. Ebertin). Nuff said! Please Share if you dare! jc

Republic of Texas 1836 Horoscope with Storm 2021

Republic of Texas in 2021: independence at what cost?

by Jude Cowell

February 19, 2021: Before annexation by the United States on February 19, 1846, the Republic of Texas was proclaimed independent from the Spanish Empire as part of Mexico on March 2, 1836 (N. Campion, p. 376) and independence was established by victory at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. The battle's date was selected as the anniversary that opened a Texas Commission in London in 1986 so this is the date of the Republic of Texas Horoscope, below. Follow the Battle's Wikipedia link for more historical details.

February 2021

Since the dire conditions in Texas are directly due to the winter storm ravaging the region, much blame for the people's suffering and loss falls upon the state's privatized energy sources (independent of the rest of the country as they so proudly are and echoing the sentiments of the 1836 Republic), current transits are penned round the Horoscope of the Republic of Texas. And perhaps it's curious to note that at noon on March 2, 1836 (independence proclaimed), a YOD of crisis had formed between Moon in Virgo sextile Jupiter in Cancer pointing toward watery Neptune in Aquarius; the trio as midpoint picture: bad social conditions (Ebertin). Yet as you see in the chart, below, by April 21st, the Moon @5Can49 (conjunct Mirzam: to have one's say) was nearing Jupiter (The General, exalted in Cancer) with both still inconjunct Neptune and thus echoing the YOD's portents. Naturally, any battle creates 'bad social conditions' before things can hopefully be improved. Otherwise, what was the fighting for?

So as you see, planets penned around the 1836 chart are for the monster winter storm system that hit the state on Sunday February 7, 2021 (highlighted in green). As of today's date, power is being restored even as a boil water advisory remains in place for millions across the region. See Families regain power in Texas, food and water shortages continue (ABC News, February 18).

And if there's one major transit that can describe current conditions in Texas and the surrounding region, it's 2021 Saturn @6AQ00 conjunct the Republic of Texas' 1836 Neptune, the 'grim face of reality' transit which also contains potentials for disillusionment and the misinterpretation of responsibilities. Hint: power outages from the storm have not been caused by "windmills" or by the as-yet unimplemented Green New Deal, but by the state's privatized energy grid kept separate from the rest of the country and therefore unable to ask for needed assistance in times of crisis as a regular state could do. Texans may not agree with me on this and of course that's their right! (Note that in 1836, independent Uranus, the rebel, rises with fixed star Alpheratz = 'wanting freedom and movement'!)

Now there's a whole lot going on in the 1836 Horoscope as you see by my many study notes penned upon the chart. Significantly, the Sun-Saturn opposition (strength, endurance; obstacles); Saturn in Scorpio adds 'skill and obstinacy') is essential as the Sun's closest applying aspect and forms a dynamic T-Square with nebulous Neptune (crisis; depressing circumstances via Saturn-MC = Neptune). Plus, note the importance of Saturn Rx @1Sco59 for, besides the T-Square, the karmic planet of restriction acts as the tail of a high-flying KITE pattern of success (highlighted in turquoise). In addition (!), Saturn is also the handle of a BUCKET shape denoting the old devil as the point of application for all the planetary energies (actors) similar to the lead planet in a Locomotive shape (ruthlessly determined on success):

As you see, warrior planet Mars is strong in its own sign of Aries, Pluto in Aries (craving power; extraordinary energy) conjuncts gold-loving MIDA$, and the Aries-Libra axis of war and diplomacy is intercepted across the 3/9 house polarity which to me suggests the karmic conditions leading up to the Battle of San Jacinto, the involvement of the Spanish Empire and Mexico (9th house), and its outcome of an independent Republic. As notated in 4th house, the Battle occurred within the difficult 18 South Saros Series @27Sco25 which contains themes of 'high stress level, taxing of strength, physical concerns and/or injury/illness/obsessive worry' (Brady's Predictive Astrology) #ad.

One further factor from 1836 which may be operative today: Pluto-NN = Sun = Saturn suggests flavors of rebellion and imposing one's will on others, plus, the Pluto-NN midpoint = 'common destiny of a large mass of people' (Ebertin).

So with this post, my hope is that the good people of Texas receive relief from all their troubles very soon.

As always, your on-topic yet courteous comments and observations are invited as long as your name is attached (No 'Anonymous' and No 'Unknown' commenters will be published - and No all-CAPS please for it comes across as shouting and I'm not deaf!). jc

Update March 2, 2021: an interesting comment has turned up which cannot be published because it's signed "Unknown." It seems that corrections are warranted on my use of the Battle's coordinates and on the timing of the Battle of San Jacinto which, Unknown asserts, was fought "around 2-2:30" pm. The Battle horoscope will be updated in my files and those who care may wish to do the same but for this post I'll stick with the Nicholas Campion horoscope set for noon, Republic of Texas. jc

Aug 21, 2018 Sun and Saturn affect Trump legal matters

As Above, So Below for Donald Trump

August 21, 2018: Today in Alexandria, Virginia, jurors found Paul Manafort guilty of 8 out of 18 counts of felonious activities while Trump fixer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in his many-faceted case and pointed a finger at Donald Trump ('candidate') as the co-conspirator who directed him to pay Trump amours Karen MacDougal and Stephanie Clifford in order to protect Trump's 2016 campaign for the presidency. Campaign finance violations may attach.

But predictably, GOP lawmakers try to distance Trump from Manafort and Cohen as democrats pounce what with the 2018 midterms upon us and Mr. Trump's legal exposure from these outcomes remains to be seen in the coming days and weeks.

That was on Earth. Overhead in the starry firmament, today's Sun returned to its degree at last summer's Great American Eclipse (28Leo52) which precisely conjoined the natal Ascendant of Mr. Trump (remember he took off his safety glasses to stare directly at the eclipsed orb?)--and perfected not far from his rising Mars @27Leo. Rounded up to 29Leo, the eclipsed Sun's degree one year ago today and therefore, today's Sun position, are at a critical-crisis 29th degree.

Even starker is that royal 'kingmaker' star Regulus is in the solar mix and rises in the natal chart of Mr. Trump as we recently discussed. All the Royal Stars of Persia contain great gifts but include serious cautions which, if neglected or ignored, are not so forgiving. In fact, this sounds a bit like karmic Saturn who rewards only those who honestly deserve it. He will not be trifled with!

Yet there's another factor in the 2017 eclipse chart that tells a difficult tale in line with today's legal events--that 2017 Saturn @21Sag11 precisely conjoined the sensitive natal Moon of Donald Trump and very soon went on to oppose his natal Sun (22Gemini), either of which condition represents sobering times. His having the Nodes involved with his natal Sun-Moon opposition only adds more karmic flavor to these transits and spotlights the legal events that, as of today, will begin to threaten Mr. Trump in earnest.

Because we know that Saturn's realm includes the legal system, lawyers, judges, karmic decisions, restrictions, limits, scrutiny, and--perhaps most importantly--accountability, something Mr. Trump has already attempted to distance himself from (today's Manafort convictions "have nothing to do with me," he says). To natal Moon, harsh Saturn tends to bring feelings of emotional deprivation and turmoil and can even herald a forced change of residence if other factors agree. The family isn't faring very well either. Opposing natal Sun, one's ego and sense of pride are affected negatively by authoritative Saturn so that goals are delayed, hindered, or blocked while failure to accept responsibilities will not satisfy the rightful demands of taskmaster Saturn. Leadership, integrity, and honesty are challenged and if one has broken (Saturnian) rules or laws in the past, it can mean the eventual loss of something even more valuable. Such difficulties and worries might also signal a health breakdown approaching especially if the recipient of Saturn's rays has reached a ripe old age, or if chronic conditions exist.

2017 Saturn Returns to the 'Black Tuesday' 1929 Horoscope

In various posts here and there a horoscope of the 'Black Tuesday' Crash of 1929 may be found--mine is set for Sun to Midheaven/MC, the Goal Point of any chart. However, when I recalculated the chart with fresher Solar Fire Gold v9 software, results were slightly changed and Sun to MC occurred (NYC) at 11:51:55 am with karmic Saturn @26Sag48 in the 12th house of Karma, Politics, and Back Room Deals. Knowing that transit Saturn still stomps through Sagittarius, I checked to see when the old man would return to his natal degree in the 'Black Tuesday' horoscope. Of course, black is one of Saturn's best colors. Slimming, y'know.

So here are the three dates of the current trail of transit Saturn as Mr. Accountability revisits his 1929 'Black Tuesday' position (26Sag48) with two conjunctions already past and one yet to come in the resolution phase:

1. March 2, 2017: with Saturn rising and a veiling Sun-Neptune conjunction @11Pisces+;

2. May 11, 2017: Saturn Rx in Return 2nd house of the National Treasury;

3. November 22, 2017: banker Jupiter @9Scorpio rises with asteroid Hopi (ambush; prejudice) and there is a YOD pattern (turning point; crossroads; special task; crisis; illness; karmic opportunity) with a wobbly Moon-Neptune sextile at its base, pointing toward MC (12Leo+) for a few flickering moments.

Together, shady, confused, psychic Moon-Neptune = instability, weakness, exploitation, and/or a sense of dread (Ebertin).

Related: Are We on An Eclipse Path to another Great Depression?.

August 2017 full of Mr. Trump's Karmic Returns

Image: The August 30, 2017 Lunar Return of Donald Trump set for the White House (although who stays in DC in any given August?) showing transit Saturn, a planet of karma (reaping what's been sown) hitting his natal Moon for the third and final time @21Sag12 in Return 2nd house of Money, Values, and Self-Worth; in Mundane Astrology 2nd house represents the National Treasury. Note also that Saturn is within range of conjoining his natal South Node, a separative point, and has opposed Mr. Trump's natal Sun (22Gem55) on July 7, 2017.

During this transit, Saturn has conjoined natal Moon twice before: December 30, 2016 and August 3, 2017. Considering Saturn's 28-30-year cycle, the last (previous) Saturn transit to natal Moon occurred once on November 25, 1987, a year when transit Jupiter opposed his natal Jupiter in Libra, a period of overblown enterprises and unflattering comparisons when resources may be lacking.

Rolling Stone's Timeline of Donald Trump's life and career replete with Saturnian events. Exs: 1987 publication The Art of the Deal via a ghost writer to do the actual work of putting Trump's ideas into Saturnian form; January 1989 - first appears on the cover of TIME--and Saturn rules Time; separation from wife Ivana in 1990, divorce (official ending of relationship) in 1992; also in 1990 - Trump is deleted from the Forbes 400 list; 1991 losses result in first bankruptcy filing; March 2000 The Simpsons airs 'Bart to the Future' in which Donald Trump takes on the job of US president (age 53), etc.

Now as you know, when transit Saturn hits natal Moon, it tends to bring feelings of loneliness, rejection, privation and denial of the usual comforts, and family/relationship issues so now that Mr. Trump is somewhat isolated in the White House with weightier responsibilities on his menu (and more open to hurtful criticism), such lowering feelings may be more difficult to handle to the point of his physical and/or mental health being affected (as some have noted--other astro-charts show an erosion of thought processes and disrupted communications but that's a brainy topic beyond the scope of this meager post). Plus, he is, after all, no spring chicken--and was a mere 41 years old in 1987, wasn't noticeably forgetful, and spoke more clearly in complete sentences.

But he just had to play president and thought it would be easier! (He expected the easy Jupiterian side of the White House, not the hard Saturnian side). So with curious synchronicity, the Universe sees fit to pile a Lunar Return onto his noggin on the same day that transit Saturn stomps upon that very Moon position--and in a calendar month when two Saturn-infused Lunar Returns occur (August 3rd and 30th). Will Saturn's imperative lessons of maturity, accountability, soberness, authenticity, honesty, concentration on tasks at hand, and serious efforts 'get through' to Mr. Trump in his role as leader of the 'free world'? Or will he continue to brood and chafe under the presidential work load that universal task master and lesson bringer, Saturn, demands?

Well, we know that he and the American people must make it through a long hot summer and navigate whatever comes via The Great American Eclipse of August 21, 2017 @28Leo52, visible from West Coast to East. Its degree conjoins Mr. Trump's natal Ascendant, as we've discussed previously, and affects his natal Mars as well (26Leo46). In fact, on August 31, the day after this Lunar Return, Mr. Trump has a Mars Return, signifying the start of an energizing two-year cycle of new activities and projects. Yet even a Mars Return can have some negativity attached because fever, inflammation, infection, or even surgery may follow if other planetary and health factors agree.

And yet 2017 is, on some levels, a year of Jupiterian protection for Mr. Trump via the third of his current Jupiter Return, a three-fer which perfects for a final conjunction on August 4, 2017 (@17Lib27). But even this rewarding Return chart shows an ongoing difficulty in effect all year--transit Pluto squares natal Jupiter (0A04 on August 4th!) denoting a time when over exaggeration, bombast, and the overestimation of self-importance is unacceptable to the powers-behind-the-throne. Frustration mars politics, diplomacy, financial projects, and other Jupiterian expansion areas which must on some level include the granting of funds for the building of a Saturnian border wall.