2018 Saturn to Trump natal Mercury-Neptune Square

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.

Republican Party's Neptune Return continues in 2018

January 4, 2018: Having published so far only the five dates of the Republican Party's current Neptune Return/s (a five-fer), below is the horoscope set for the Capitol Building of number 3 Return of the 5 which perfects on March 6, 2018. I post #3 because March 6 is the next date that transit Neptune returns to the GOP's natal Neptune degree of 14Pis01 (by sign inconjunct Mr. Trump's natal Neptune in early Libra so allegedly adjustments of ideals and dreams have been made).

As you see, the party's Neptune has just been spotlighted by the Sun, here @16Pis31, and since US POTUS Sun (13Can19 in 1776) has progressed to 13Pis23, the veiling and masking (or protecting!) by Republicans of the current POTUS actor-in-the-White-House continues as do their making excuses for him to the extent that they can or will sacrifice credibility for the sake of their own political purposes. That's if Mr. Trump manages to remain in the Venusian Oval Office until March 2018 as I suspect he may:

Above Image: GOP Neptune Return #3 of 5; March 6, 2018 11:00:23 pm est Capitol Building Washington DC USA; Hour of Venus (conjunct the Aries Point) in 5th house of Gambling; all planets hidden, BOWL shape lead by a rising Moon @20Sco39; chart-ruler Mars @23Sag53 (just passed Trump natal Moon and South Node) makes one applying Ptolemaic aspect, a trine to 6th house Uranus (26Ari11) denoting 'unusual or unexpected outcomes' and/or 'new methods or procedures being tried' (from 2nd house of Money to 6th house of Employment, Police, Military, and/or Civil Service). US natal Moon in late Aquarius conjoins the IC (Endings and Separations) with the transiting Pluto-Chiron midpoint almost directly upon us (Plutocracy).

Around the chart are penned in aqua Mr. Trump's natal planets with his natal Mars rising atop the chart at Midheaven, the Career and Goal Point. Please enlarge the image for a closer view for not all chart factors are in this text.

Yes, we are now mired within the five dates of the Republican Party's Neptune Return/s and note that natal Neptune, plus natal Moon and Uranus, are unaspected in the party's natal horoscope--and GOP natal Moon @20Sag37, though out-of-bounds, conjoins Mr. Trump's natal Moon and South Node by degree (so therefore GOP natal Moon opposes Trump's natal Sun-NN). Apparently theirs is a match made in...well, somewhere other than here:

Neptune Returns to 14Pis01: 1. May 17, 2017; 2. July 16, 2017 Rx; 3. March 6, 2018 (this chart); 4. October 20, 2018 Rx; and, 5. December 29, 2018. It will be interesting if disturbing to monitor the condition of the Republican Party by the end of 2018 into 2019 for astrological Neptune, a karmic planet with a 164-year cycle, represents idealism and spiritualism but may also signify fraud, dissolution, and/or loss.

Natal data for the Republican Party and Donald Trump are listed on the chart, upper right.

An Astro-Peek at the Furious Trump-Bannon Battle!

With fiery Mars-rising Donald Trump's upcoming medical examination on January 12, he really needs to keep his blood pressure under control by avoiding furious rage-outs. But what are the chances of that for Mr. Retaliation, the resident-in-chief, born not only with Mars rising in proud Leo but asteroid Tisiphone--retaliation--at his MC 24Taurus along with enraged star of violent fury Algol?

Well, expert astrologer Marjorie Orr has just published a piece on the Fire and Fury controversy of Mr. Bannon's criticism of Trump and Family that the book reveals if you wish to read her assessment (scroll past the Prince Harry-Meghan Markle charts which you may also wish to check out). An Amazon link to Michael Wollfe's book is linked, below.

Now previously, I've posted on Steve Bannon's natal Jupiter (with a nod to his conscience-free Saturn) and today I'll add a link to a previous post showing the natal chart of Julian Assange with Bannon's 'noon' natal chart around it. (And note Bannon's natal Venus (vengeful when scorned) is @19Scorpio which is traditionally an 'evil degree' and has two nasty fixed stars there. Devore says it's "the crucial point between the Ego and the Supreme Will".)

Transit Mars to Natal Mercury: Time for a Fuss

Looking at Mr. Bannon's planets, you can see that the current position of transit Mars (quarrels, fights, fires, activism, motives) conjoins Bannon's natal Mercury, planet of quotes and opinions, in mid-degrees of Scorpio, sign of betrayal and the need for self-control. And when transit Mars conjoins natal Mercury, verbal combat as he speaks his mind is a likely outcome and with subsequent chaos involved. Certainly another major bump on the Trump-Mercer-Koch-GOP road to chaos and government collapse has occurred.

Plus as you know, transit Mars and Jupiter are about to conjoin in Scorpio so the Trump-Bannon battle may be affected by this pair which in Politics and Business suggests potentials for: advice which angers or inflames others, action taken in response to legal judgments (also a hint concerning Paul Manafort's just-filed lawsuit against Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation?), and/or judgment of enemies or those who seek to do battle (Munkasey).

An so it seems (unless this is only another fascinating Trump distraction from what's really going on), a Trump-Bannon battle is now enjoined and with Mars and Jupiter about to meet, book sales of Michael Wolffe's Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House are already proving to be brisk and furious!

Jan 2 2018 Uranus Direct and a Double Promise Revealed

Tuesday January 2, 2018: This morning at 9:10:54 am est, Uranus turned Direct @24Ari34:13 on its projected path toward Taurus which it reaches on May 15, 2018 for a temporary stay. In Mars-ruled Aries, Uranus tends to behave like the Utopian reformer or blind zealot intent on anarchy (Ebertin) while in Venus-ruled Taurus there's more of a speculation, risking all in one go, and premature action leads to failure vibe, plus, resourcefulness in earning money may become necessary.

Transit Uranus has been retrograde since the first week of August 2017 (28Ari31) so the change of direction of the Sky God's quirky, unpredictable, sometimes shocking energy marks a major shift in many areas of life, no less in Washington DC's halls of power. You've heard that bipartisanship has been called for by the GOP and by Mr. Trump, and Democrats seem to be on board the bipartisan train as 2018 begins with Uranian derailment an obvious potential.

'Wild Card' Eclipses Can Bring Uranian Disruption

Looking ahead, some personal and societal unexpected developments may occur under Donald Trump's 2 Old North Prenatal Eclipse which manifested prior to his birth @9Gemini--conjunct US natal Uranus (8Gem55). 2 Old North repeats on July 13, 2018 @21Cancer (Castor-Pollux territory) in Trump's natal 11th house of Groups and Associations with its separation and unfortunate news concerning relationships themes although fast action can bring positive results (Brady). Because he's in the White House, 2 Old North themes relate to the American people as well as to Mr. Trump, his administration, and his family. (More 2018 eclipse info is linked, below).

And with 2 Old North's initial eclipse occurring June 24, 792 (OS) @5Can49, we may wonder if finances, banks, or Wall Street's bubbly stock market are uppermost for bad news and fluctuations since this points toward a conjunction with US natal Jupiter @5Can56. Of course, Congress, our official purse-strings holder-- reconvening tomorrow, January 3--figures into the eclipse picture with another partial government shutdown set for January 19, and other budgetary and funding issues up for resolution in 2018. And all this business and monkey business set to affect Midterms 2018 in November! However, it's the themes of The Tower Solar Eclipse in August 2018 that are most influential as the Prenatal Eclipse of the 2018 Midterm Elections manifests. Yes, 'collapse' themes are on the 2018 cosmic menu.

As for today's Uranus Direct Station, the difficult Cardinal Uranus-Pluto square of revolution is back (protests and revolt in Iran are again in the news as in 2010) and the Uranus Direct Station emphasizes the degree it seems to pause upon, so let's take a brief look at the Sabian Symbols involved--"24 Aries" as the karmic confrontation degree, and "25 Aries" for the exact station degree:

"24 Aries" = "An Open Window and a Net Curtain Blowing into a Cornucopia" which sounds to me like (more) theft via Internet hacking by Uranian techies, plus, leaks of info or intell meant to damage political opponents--or to steal money. Its keyword is MUNIFICENCE. Positive expression: irrepressible genius for capturing the richer rewards of life and providing a wider distribution for the higher realities. Negative (unconscious/shadow side) expression: a smug or petty self-importance in dispensing favors to others. Sound like anyone you know in politics?

"25 Aries" = "A Double Promise Reveals Its Inner and Outer Meanings"...Keyword: SENSIBILITY. Positive: a facility of adjustment by which everything in a given situation may be brought into the fullest cooperation with everything else (bipartisanship?). Negative: a lean to chicanery in all human relationships. Quite curious since 'chicanery' usually describes politics in general so I suppose all sorts of chicanery may now go forward with direct Uranus as it inches toward money sign Taurus. Yet to "25 Aries" Rudhyar adds, "The implied message is one of faith."

Now in my preferred realm of common-good politics, restoring faith in our government is possible if we can jettison the politicians who are in breach of the public contract--and elect those dedicated to the best interests of We The People! Of course, persuading honest people to run for office is the next challenge.

For more details see The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones, or An Astrological Mandala, Dane Rudhyar.

Another note is that today's Uranus Direct Station occurs in Mr. Trump's natal 9th house of Philosophy and Foreign Lands and considering electric Uranus's association with air travel, we may soon see him jet off and leave his domestic troubles behind temporarily. Perhaps we'll even hear--gasp!--a change of ideology or belief tweeted from the ever-changing Uranian Mr. Trump with his natal Sun and North Node in 10th house along with his guiding planet Uranus in the lead, all three in changeable Gemini.

Now here's some good news! Fortunately for those of us who feel a need for guidance under the newly direct rays of the rebel planet, Julie Demboski addresses effects within the social order and how we can best handle the pressure and the 'blindspots' affecting relationships and/or finances in today's AstroEssence message 2 January 2018 Uranus Direct, Everybody Else in Trouble!.

A Related Post: Eclipses and a Few Other Cosmic Events of 2018.

Above image: my drawing Uranian Road (2010).

Stars Over Washington's Top Ten Posts of 2017

Well, this is a sort of post never published here before! In order of popularity, below is a most-viewed year-end list of SO'W's Top Ten Posts of 2017 for your consideration.

Unsurprisingly, the topic of The Great American Eclipse takes first honors as it does in most year-end polls on news sites and elsewhere:

1. Horoscope: August 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse Across America

2. Solar Eclipse Notes on Trump's Current Saturn Return

3. May 15, 2018 Uranus Enters Taurus; 2023 Pluto into Aquarius

4. Horoscope: Roy Moore Feb 11, 1947

5. Winter Solstice 2017: a Neptune and Sun-Saturn Season

6. DC Horoscope: February 2017 Solar and Lunar Eclipses ("with murky cosmic conditions")

7. 2017 Neptune Hits American Revolution's Prenatal Eclipse in Pisces

8. DC Horoscope: The Saturn-Pluto Conjunction January 2020

9. DC Horoscope: Spring Equinox 2017 (Aries Ingress)

10. Horoscope: Donald Trump with VP Mike Pence's natal planets.

Somehow, with all the 2017 SO'W posts concerning Donald Trump, my post on the natal chart of Alabama's losing contender for US Senate, Roy Moore, ranks higher than all but one post (#2) involving Mr. Trump who belatedly championed Judge Roy Moore in Alabama's December 12th race and got his preening political feathers singed to a crisp for his meager robo-call effort and speech delivered from Florida.

Now I don't know about your neighborhood, but around these parts this merits a hearty end-of-year bwa-ha-ha and a bubbly toast to a Happy New Year for Everyone!

You may also wish to check out The Top Trending News Stories for 2017 according to Google.

Overweight Trump's Medical Exam Jan 12, 2018

Update Jan 17, 2018: in spite of any glowing reports you've heard, it turns out that Mr. Trump is borderline obese and has a common form of heart disease according to Dr. Sanjay Gupta. For some of us, this is no surprise just from gazing upon His Heftiness.

Original post begins here:

It has been announced that on January 12 2018, Donald Trump is scheduled to undergo an official medical examination at the Walter Reed Military Hospital in Maryland as required for anyone who plays the role of US president.

Considering Mr. Trump's age and his widened girth, metabolic syndrome and the health conditions it threatens is a potential. However, whether an honest "read out" of the examining physician's assessment of Trump's health will be publicly forthcoming remains to be seen but the spread of his middle via fast food consumption is disturbingly on display for all the world to see especially when golfing. As you can tell in the photo (which may soon be deleted from this post), the infamous #TrumpRump cannot be hidden by baggy golf pants!

So on January 12, 2018, what's the cosmic weather forecast?, you may ask. The hour of his doctor appointment has not surfaced so I peeked at the planets of the day and found that the Moon enters Sagittarius at 2:04 am est and the Sun is, of course, in Saturn-ruled Capricorn. Chances are Trump's exam will not take place with the Moon is Scorpio (between midnight and 2:04 am) so let's consider a few details for the Sun Cap-Moon Sagittarius blend in effect on January 12, 2018. These energies tend toward verbosity, pomposity, exhibiting intellectual pretension when feeling insecure, and a fixation on narrow, rigid views that can become moralistic. (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Charles and Suzi Harvey). Does this sound like anyone we know?

Plus, Sun Cap-Moon Sag is an Earth-Fire blend of strong, compelling energies. This is the 'bulldozer' combo that goes for the main chance, has enormous certitude about its beliefs, and has a deep need for power and the freedom to express it. Earth-Fire is the natal blend of mogul financier J.P. Morgan Sr who asserted that, "I don't want a lawyer to tell me what I cannot do; I hire him to tell me how to do what I want to do." This arrogant attitude also applies in the case of Mr. Trump, as you may agree. So if exam results are too revealing, will Trump attempt to override the examining physician's assessment?

But wait! Here's what may be an even more appropriate quote from a Sun Cap-Moon Sag native, journalist and critic Alexander Woolcott:

"All the things I like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening."

Well, considering the physical exam the girth-widened Mr. Trump has scheduled for January 12, 2018 (plus, his administration's ongoing scandals and legal troubles), how perfect a quote is that?

So perhaps we'll hear of the senior Mr. Trump's health condition by the eerie light of the January 31, 2018 Leo Lunar Eclipse, a second-in-the-month 'blue moon' at that, which perfects about 1.5 degrees from Donald Trump's natal Pluto (10Leo02)...because We The People have a right to know!

Dec 28 2017 Doug Jones Certified to Take Senate Seat

Although loser Roy Moore filed a lawsuit yesterday to block the certification of Doug Jones for the Alabama seat in the US Senate, the certification of Doug Jones is scheduled for today at 1:00 pm CST in Montgomery, the capital city.

Update Dec 29, 2017: MSNBC reports that Doug Moore was certified yesterday at 2:10 pm Eastern Time. At 1:10 pm CST in Alabama, the horoscope remains basically the same with Taurus Moon and Jones's natal Mercury rising.

Original post begins here:

A quick peek at a December 28, 2017 1:00 pm cst Montgomery, Alabama horoscope of the certification reveals the natal Mercury in Taurus of Mr. Jones rising just after the transiting Moon in Taurus @7Tau21. The natal Sun of Doug Jones @13Taurus rises soon after.

At MC, the Goal and Career Point of the certification chart (24Cap14), in 10th house is the natal Chiron Station Retrograde of Doug Jones and at 28Cap39, his Chiron conjoins US natal Pluto. As you know, the Pluto-Chiron pair is a marker for Plutocracy and the oppression and primal violence it tends to use in order to get its way. With Senator Jones it remains to be seen if or how he will favor plutocratic actions for he is joining Plutocracy's politicians on Capitol Hill. Plus, Jones's natal North Node @16Cap42, has recently been conjoined by transit Pluto today @18Cap40. With Chiron in 10th today at certification and his natal NN in Capricorn, Mr. Jones may be feeling somewhat insecure as to his position--even after his certification.

This degree of governmental, legal Capricorn (18Cap) activates the 1993 Great Conjunctions of Uranus and Neptune with the trio's 'the big picture must be followed, very little option to do otherwise' (Tyl) demands which Senator Jones will surely deal with in the US Congress and be forced to vote as party leadership dictates. The natal Pluto @22Leo32 of Doug Jones is extra strong for it's Station Direct in his natal chart. Of course, his Pluto on one level relates to his legal profession and the criminality it necessarily involves.

And with US natal Pluto at the top of the certification chart, US natal Mercury is placed at the IC (24Can14) with 1776 Mercury's very interesting Sabian Symbol, "A Man Wrapped in an Invisible Cloak of Power," a cosmic shout-out to manipulating Pluto, planet of power, wealth, and the cape of invisibility that plutocrats in charge prefer to conceal themselves behind. And it seems that they want Doug Jones seated in the US Senate which does, of course, lessen the Republican majority there. Maybe one day we'll find out other reasons why Jones is their choice though it may be due in part to the cantankerousness and 'independent' thinking of the very controversial Alabaman, Roy Moore.

Related Posts Include: Astro-Notes on Doug Jones ('noon' chart shown) and a 'noon' Horoscope of Roy Moore.

January 30, 2018 Horoscope: Trump SOTU Address

January 19, 2018 UPDATE: just adding a link to the Lunar Eclipse in Leo which perfects near Trump's natal Pluto at 8:26 am est January 31st--the morning after Mr. Trump's SOTU Address.

Original post begins here:

On November 30, 2017, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan sent Mr. Trump the traditional invitation to address a Joint Session of Congress on January 30, 2018 which technically will be Mr. Trump's first State of the Union Address, or, SOTU.

Most SOTU Addresses have begun at 9:00 pm est in the House Chamber of the Capitol Building so if the unconventional Uranian Donald Trump follows suit (and for broadcasting purposes, why wouldn't the limelight hog?), we can set up a horoscope for January 30, 2018 9:00 pm est Capitol Hill and see what we see. Just such a horoscope is pictured here, plus, a dual chart of SOTUS 2015 and 2016 is shown below for the sake of comparison:

Hour of the Sun; chart-ruler Mercury (planet of speeches and SOTUs) makes no applying aspects and is at a critical 29th degree (Capricorn) in 5th house of Risk-Taking, Gambling, and Creative Pursuits. On this day, Mercury rises with a difficult fixed star, Scheat, which usually acts as a malefic so if I were you, I wouldn't expect a sunny SOTU from Mr. Trump whose Inaugural 2017 Address described a bleak America. Under one year of his administration, bleakness has certainly arrived if it wasn't here before.

Now the SOTU 2018 Sun AQ-Moon Leo blend is penned on the chart, upper right, and imho closely fits Mr. Trump's personality. This blend is shared by astrologer Evangeline Adams and by despot Frederick the Great (see a quote from Freddy, lower left, which quite describes the state of the union under Donald Trump.

As you see, the recent Solar Eclipse influences remain in force and for SOTU 2018 at 9:00 pm est conjoins the cusp of the 12th house of Politics, Karma, and Self-Undoing. This is the 1 North (aka, 'the Mother of all Eclipses') Total Eclipse of August 21, 2017 @29Leo conjunct royal Regulus and Donald Trump's natal Ascendant--The Great American Eclipse, so-called. Have you felt Mr. Trump and his minions eclipsing America yet? Why not?

Below: SOTU 2015 (lower left, with cyber issues) and SOTU 2016 (upper right, realism, tackling the truth):