January 5, 2018: besides various positive and negative planetary transits to the natal chart and planets of Donald Trump, karmic taskmaster Saturn has difficulties in store for the current White House resident. In 2017, he and we lived through transit Saturn conjoining his natal Moon-South Node conjunction, bringing him separations galore and scrutiny of his past, then opposing his Sun-North Node and hampering his goals and undermining his ego. Trouble from authority in the forms of judges, lawmakers, and an Independent Counsel attempting to hold him accountable were prominent in 2017 and will continue to be so.
But now that 2018 has arrived, transit Saturn has more up his sleeve for Mr. Trump whose problematic Mercury-Neptune square will be targeted by cold Saturn's baleful glance.
And since we've discussed previously the Trump Mercury-Neptune square with its wrong perceptions, lack of discretion, and tendency toward fantasies and falsehoods, let's not step again into that wacky realm of his 'sneaky mind', as master astrologer Alan Oken calls this particular square. Plus, square aspects (90 degrees) contain a Saturnian quality anyway with his blocks and obstacles imperative.
Now by way of explanation, here's something I previously posted when comparing Donald Trump with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson: "...there are insinuating energies since both men were born with challenging Mercury-Neptune aspects in their natal charts, aspects which suggest stretched truths, distorted facts, indiscretion, and off-kilter perceptions, unintentional and unconscious though inaccuracies may be. Both the square (Trump) and opposition (Tillerson) between Mercury and Neptune denote strong tendencies to fantasize." Of course, one could easily add a reference to fake (Neptune) news (Mercury)! Meanwhile, Trump's fuzzy (Neptune) thinking (Mercury) seems, some say, to be degrading as he ages with dementia a regular suggestion by some talking heads. And lies are ever-present with his loose grasp of Truth.
As for 2018 Saturn's restrictive effect on Trump's Mercury-Neptune square, we might first wish to consider the trio as a midpoint picture with certain potentials. Natal Mercury-Neptune = tr Saturn: egoistic ideas, pessimism, dark or morbidly sensitive thoughts (Ebertin); and, looking at the downside of things which may not be valid, a gloomy reaction to real or imagined circumstances (Tyl). In Politics, Michael Munkasey gives the Mercury-Neptune pair - Thesis: a legislature which controls the excesses and dreams of its leaders; Antithesis: a leader who mesmerizes people with delusions of possible progress or growth. Add authoritative Saturn and you have increased restraint about the use of intuition vs logic, persons with psychic gifts are disappointing.
Well, if I had ever believed Trump's campaign promises I'd be feeling mighty deluded and disappointed well before now.
Of course, it's possible that a bunch of positive transits in 2018 will manage to lift him out of the Saturnine depths but we'll see. Perhaps the shadowy figures who wanted him in the White House will pull the right strings to keep him in office in spite of karmic Saturn's demands.
2018 Saturn in Capricorn to Donald Trump natal Mercury-Neptune (Cancer-Libra)
So when transit Saturn forms an opposition to natal Mercury the period tends to bring challenges to ideas and plans, (more) strong criticism, (more) quarrels, (more) hampered activities, slow sales, delays in, or cancellation of, travel, and one's self-confidence is shaken. For Mr. Trump, the opposition will occur across the natal 5/11 Self-Will axis of Groups, Associations, Hopes, Wishes, Risk-Taking, Gambling, Creative Pursuits, and Children. And of course, Mercury is the planet of youth and offspring as well as of commerce, trade, negotiations, thinking, mental abilities, the senses, and communications, and plays a major role in magic and hucksterism.
Transit Saturn square natal Neptune denotes a sobering time of depression, lethargy, pessimism, and confusion. For Mr. Trump, natal Neptune is posited in his 2nd house of Money, Values, and Self-Esteem so these areas will be most affected as transit Saturn treads through his natal 5th house where Capricorn is intercepted.
The interception of Cancer-Capricorn across his natal 5/11 polarity suggests karmic issues he must deal with involving his powerful self-will which is something responsible Saturn demands of us all for we must all reap what we sow (the law of karma). And of course, Trump's natal Mercury, Saturn, and Venus are in Cancer and intercepted in 11th house though transit Saturn won't opposes natal Saturn and Venus until 2020, energy made more powerful and fateful by transit Pluto in Capricorn opposing them as well. And of course, a major period for him and all of us will be the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Pluto @22Cap46 exact on January 12, 2020.
Now here is a list of the 2018 Saturn transits to Mr. Trump's Mercury and Neptune in order of occurrence, which as you see, covers the entire year of 2018 for his nibs, his administration, and thus, for the American people (tr = transit; n = natal) - even if he leaves the White House at some point:
1. February 11 tr Saturn square n Neptune
2. March 30 tr Saturn opposite n Mercury
3. May 6 tr Saturn opposite n Mercury
4. June 27 tr Saturn square n Neptune
5. November 11 tr Saturn square n Neptune
6. December 10 tr Saturn opposite n Mercury
Whew! That's a major load of Saturnine vibes for any man to withstand and all within one year.