The Destroyer of Ignorance and Confusion – Aum Namo KAlarAtreya NamAhA (Source: Wikipedia, Devi Kalratri, Sanghasri, Kalighat, Kolkata, 2010)
By Jayant Kalawar, January 4th 2021
From Jyotish perspective, December 31st is an arbitrary date to end one phase and begin another. But then we are living in the Anthropocene age, disconnected and alienated from the great planetary energies that are coursing through us and all around us. We are lost in the ignorance of our disconnections.
So, we will pause for a bit on this January 4th 2021 and take a brief look at where we are. I am speaking of the USA here, which is where I am based.
First let’s look at what is happening with Covid-19 pandemic. It seems to be tracking pretty much along the lines of what I had predicted in my post of April 22nd 2020: second wave to begin mid October 2020, peak in December 2020 and recede beginning February 2021. It may be somewhat more impactful than the first wave of spring-summer 2020, it will be nowhere near the extreme death laden second wave of the Spanish flu of the Fall of 1918.
In that article I also predicted that there may likely be no third wave of Covid-19 in the spring-summer of 2021 (unlike the 3rd wave of the Spanish Flu in the spring-summer of 1919). With vaccines being administered, it would seem that the third leg of the pandemic may be subdued, if at all.
When you go back and read the article you will notice that I had put a caveat: “IF at all there is a second wave….”. The reason for such caveats is two fold:
– Personally I do not wish to predict potential for deeply negative futures using Jyotish modeling tools.
– When I do, I do so in context of what can be done to overcome or surmount such negative scenarios. This is possible with individuals who are open to counseling, not for large social groups.
The rationale for making the prediction of the pandemic waves was to document the power of Jyotish in making such predictions involving complex social processes. And in this case, I think it may be seen to be perhaps better than other prediction models that have been used to predict the breadth and depth of pandemic waves in 2020-2021.
So that was about Covid-19, the pandemic caused by the virus which is said to have originated from Wuhan, China.
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The other aspect I will briefly touch on in this post is the political situation in the USA as I write and post this on January 4th 2021.
I had predicted that Trump may win on November 3rd 2020. I had based it on his birth chart (based on a birth certificate), when compared to Biden’s (tentative, his birth date / time are available only from memory of relatives, not on a birth certificate). That has not turned out to be a correct prediction. If December 14th was taken as the decisive election date (when electoral certifications were finalized), his chart predicts a most severe set-back. And that is indeed what happened.
Meanwhile, USA is going through a transformative Ketu sub-period spanning December 10th 2020 to about mid April 2021. The Ketu property of unexpected separativeness in current structures may likely to course through public institutions of the USA during this period. The mists will clear after April 15th 2021. I have begun writing drafts in more detail about modeling USA political history from a Jyotish perspective, but that will take time to think through and then present in ways that make sense for non-astrologers. So, I decided in the meanwhile I should post this short term view today to give some pointers for the next few months.
So, in summary, the pandemic situation in USA may seem to be pretty much in control after early February 2021. The political climate in USA may likely begin stabilizing after mid-April 2021.
It’s a late August morning in New Jersey, in 2020. It has started cooling already. Nights are touching 60 deg F and a bit of windchill is making its presence felt. I just finished listening to Vishnu Sahasranaam. I listen to Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakshmi. When it is not raining, a morning walk helps to energize oneself and let the Sahasranaam percolate through.
I often wonder whether this particular Sahasranaam was composed during the Mahabharata War and then refined and finalized. I imagine there were wise men and women who were aghast as the best of people of those times decided to go to war, with deathly destructive consequences all around.
But then we always seem to be living in the field of confusion and conflict at so many levels. As I write this the Republican National Convention is its 3rd day. The media is focusing on polarization. And the political leaders seem to be stoking the fires. Perhaps they gain warmth from those fires. On the ground, that can turn deadly. Not only in terms of the fires that have been rampaging in Northern California last week or the monster Hurricane Laura that just made landfall in Louisiana. But especially in terms of polarization of communities, with one more incident in Kenosha, Wisconsin, of police killing a Black man. The centuries of frustration of the Black community showing through reaction on the streets, as it sees no systemic way to ensure its protection, gain redress and have a path for flourishing and well-being.
I contemplate on the Sahasranaam to remind myself once again of how this state of being in continual confusion and conflict can begin to make sense. The cosmology that the Sahasranaam helps visualize is certainly uplifting and calming. It does help to begin focusing on how to best act in the material theater of the day that I find myself in.
And to help understand the configuration of my current kshetra, field of activity, I use Jyotisha (and specifically Systems Approach to Vedic Astrology[2] ). The USA SAMVA[3] chart reliably gives me a map of the astro weather that is unfolding in the USA: what pleasant sunny days and rough weather to expect. As you know, a map is not the territory. It is a guide to help us get through the day and make some sense of it, so to speak. Currently in the last week of August 2020, I see one of the peaks in the state of communal disharmony in the USA. I say one of the peaks, because communal disharmony is an inherent ongoing characteristic in the space-time map for USA that the USA SAMVA chart provides us. For the Cancer rising USA SAMVA chart, Venus rules the 4th house of domestic well-being. It is placed in the 6th house of conflicts, debt and disease (which for USA is ruled by the expansive Jupiter). The flip side of conflict is competition (a bedrock of how Americans go about through their life), flip side of debt is financial engineering systems (aka Wall Street) and of disease is large scale efforts to discover ways of managing it (giving rise the pharmaceutical research and manufacturing industry along with the ways of managing and delivering its products). As you will note, you start to see a wide swath of US social and economic domestic territory mapped here – and being ruled by expansive Jupiter, makes them assume large spectacular proportions, which seem to continually surprise the rest of the world. Predicting these peaks in communal disharmony in the USA becomes quite routine for someone practicing Systems Approach to Mundane Vedic Astrology consistently over time. As of August 2020, for example, tr Jupiter, ruling the 6th house is stationed at about 24 degrees in Sagittarius (you can confirm this if you have access to NASA ephemeris database, for example, and search for specific dates). In this position, Jupiter is giving its energy to natal Venus and generally pumping up all aspects of the domestic components that I described here: communal disharmony appears to be at one of its peaks, Wall Street is around its peak and the pharma industry is getting major funding and attention in its quest to manage Covid-19 (called the China Virus by quite a few in America).
What can one do to change these inherent characteristics on the US space-time map shown to us by Jyotish? That hopefully is something I can write about some time in the future. My sense now is that I have to contemplate and write about Jyotish as a way of helping us design our futures. Perhaps through that process I may get some insights. My first attempt at doing that has been by constructing a Covid 19 prediction model . The intention of such attempts is to find ways that make Jyotish an integral tool in the tool set of many Americans to navigate their life as they aspire for liberty and happiness. By doing so, they will begin to pay attention to astro weather, just as they do to meteorological weather. People then will be able to figure out strategies (just as they board up and evacuate in advance of a hurricane warning) on how to best manage oncoming astro weather peaks that may potentially impact their emotional and rational functioning. I hope to share these with you if, as and when, I get such insights.
Similar to the domestic social and economic characteristics that are baked into the USA Jyotish map represented by Venus, there are characteristics of playing politics in America that are also baked into its map. A combination of Rahu in the 10th house ruled by Mars, which is placed in the 5th house of creativity makes for US political scene to have a tendency for alternate narratives to be produced (Rahu), which are then expressed passionately and creatively (Mars). Rahu and Ketu point to the two interplanetary spaces where the flow of Sun’s energies to Earth are disturbed due to the orbiting Moon. The Rahu disturbance space appears to amplify and distort Sun’s energies (like when you see your face in a concave mirror) and the Ketu disturbance space appears to minimize the transmission of Sun’s energies. I hope to keep bringing up the roles of these different flag posts in the US Jyotish map – including those of the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn in future blog posts.
But for now I want to focus on the role of Rahu and Mars in the context of how US politics is unfolding at the time of this writing in late August 2020 – as we head towards the November 2020 elections (I first predicted the following, in December 2019, about the November 2020 elections: So, my bet would be that if Senator Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic nominee (which seems most likely among the slate of Democratic candidates at the moment), then the chances are that President Trump is likely to be re-elected on November 3, 2020. On the other hand, perhaps the Democratic Party may come up with a nominee that is not one of the four I have discussed in some detail above, who may stand a better chance to win the November elections. I will re-visit the November 2020 election possibilities in June-July 2020, if that is the case.)
The USA Jyotish stage setting for the November 2020 Elections
In the next ten weeks (from late August) leading up to the November 2020 elections, the USA Jyotish stage is set in Sun major period with Mercury sub period. Which means two key actors in this upcoming drama are going to be Mercury mostly and then the Sun. Sun is shining bright in Leo right now and will continue to do so until mid-September[4], giving its positive energy towards stabilizing and trying to revive the US economy. From then on to mid-October, Sun will travel through Virgo. That is positive too. Mercury, meanwhile will be traveling through Leo until early September and then through September 22nd. Mercury then moves into Libra and until about October 3rd it may continue to be positive. So, about until October 3rd there may be a general sense of well-being and optimism (Sun) and the financial markets stable (Mercury). That is one part of the stage.
Then there is the dark part of the stage setting that is being played out at this time. Enter Jupiter as key stage background in the next few months. It is currently is stationed at about 24 deg in Sagittarius. On the US Jyotish map you will find that Venus is located at the same degree. Jupiter will begin moving, from that Venus degree, very slowly and take up to November 5th to reach about 27 deg (so a 3 deg movement). So, in the Fall of 2020 all the way to the November elections and beyond, Jupiter may likely keep triggering expansive communal disharmony (which we have already seen in action through the summer of 2020).
Another dark stage setting for the theater unfolding over the next 10 weeks is Mars being closely aspected by Ketu from mid-August, all the way to December 25th. This stage setting brings forth potential for engagement and losses for armed forces all over the world. This includes police forces domestically and whole range of armed forces internationally. This sets the stage for potential for armed tensions and skirmishes between USA, China, India and Iran, for example.
And then a key Astral stage component will slide into place on to the US Jyotish stage to play a major role. On September 20th the Rahu-Ketu axis will move from Gemini-Sagittarius to Taurus- Scorpio. Rahu will be exalted in Taurus. It will refract (some say distort) Sun’s energies, creating an amplified sense of alternative realities. On the US Jyotish Map Rahu will be in the 11th house of aspirations: calls to move voters to high aspirations may be heard after September 20th, even in the midst of the ongoing communal disharmony.
This stage setting works well until October 17th. Then there is a change in the lighting effect on the stage, so to speak. October 17th onwards Sun debilitated. October 23rd onwards Venus debilitated. Which means Mercury gets weak as well. So from October 17th and especially from October 23rd, the chances are that the signals from the economy and financial markets (which were stable to positive so far) may turn negative. That will add to the background noise of sound and light. At the same time, Jupiter will begin distancing itself from Venus starting mid-October, so there may be some relief in the manifestation of communal disharmony. By the time November 3rd arrives, the voters may have a challenging time to make out constructive signals from the confusing cross between communal and financial noise that may be reaching them.
So visualize this. When the curtain rises in the week of September 21st, there will be loud confusion and noise in the background as a full throated (and sometimes physical) arguments are going on. There may be news (and arguments) about confrontations with police domestically and between armed forces internationally (“are we now at war, or about to get into a war” arguments). And along the way, the stock market in particular, and the economy in general, may be posting stable to positive news up to about mid-October. Overall, as the curtain rises, it is a pretty raucous stage that you are looking at. And then past October 17th, there may be added noise and uncertainty from the economy and financial markets.
Ok, so that is the Jyotish stage setting we have. We are now ready to bring in the 4 main actors on to the stage: Donald Trump & Mike Spence and Joe Biden & Kamala Harris. Let’s see what personal Jyotish scripts they may perform on this USA Jyotish stage setting we are visualizing. And how this scene may end for each of them early November (we will come back with the sequel to this after the November elections).
On the USA Jyotish Stage: Election Season 2020
Donald Trump
Donald Trump brings a strong set of cards on to the stage with his birth chart. He was born with strong Mercury and Jupiter, giving him analytical and communication ability with big picture capacity, as well as support from his children. He also brings along luck with his Mars. He also carries with him exalted Rahu and Ketu on 10th / 4th axis – gives him high ability to spin narratives and make great deals, that help him in his career and gain social status (Rahu in 10th). His Ketu in 4th allows him to give up his assets, especially real estate (Ketu in 4th) which he would have gained through his Rahu deal making. Those are all the positive cards that Trump brings with him on to the stage.
He also brings his share of weak cards, with their potential vulnerabilities. Trump’s weak cards include Sun, Saturn, Venus and Moon. The weak Sun, which rules his ascendant, gives him an overall weak moral in the eyes of those around him, which he balances by his Rahu strength of narratives spinning. Weak Saturn makes having loyal advisers a big challenge for Trump. Weak Venus translates into less ability to have a trusting long term relationship marriage and with women in general. His weak Moon shows up in losses in real estate, but also in another way: wanting to separate from current estate and establishment, even though he is from it. It is this characteristic of the Moon that drives him towards the narrative of “cleaning the swamp” in Washington DC, for example.
So the current scenario post September 20th, as Trump walks on to the stage, you will recognize and visualize, fits him quite well. While he may be bereft of loyal advisers around him, the strong Jupiter (which while being inimical on USA stage setting acts positively for him) and Mercury in the next 2 months gives him mental stamina of combining intuitive analysis with big picture views, to get through a tough campaign, supported by his children. And the Rahu-Ketu axis moving into exaltation and his 10th / 4th axis gives him much ability to spin positive aspirational narratives that the American voters may be looking for. This positive unfolding is the first part of the Election scene that is likely to unfold for Trump from September 20th to October 17th. O! So then what happens after October 17th to November 3rd?
Remember from October 17th onwards Sun is debilitated as it enters Libra. And after October 23rd Venus is debilitated, as it enters Virgo. Which means Mercury gets weak as well. May maintain ability to spin aspirational narratives and be anti-establishment – but may be increasingly seen as being less trustworthy (weak Sun) and not able to deliver his narrative in a coherent manner due to weak Mercury. Jupiter will go from being strong to moderately strong by late October , which means his grasp of big picture may be a little less firm and his children’s support, while still very much there, may be a little less valuable.
We will come back to what all this means to the possible outcomes of the November 3rd election. Lets go on to the next player we will bring on our Jyotish stage, Joe Biden.
Joe Biden
Unlike Donald Trump, for whom we have a birth date and time from birth records, Joe Biden’s birth details are available from family memory. There are two versions of his birth chart available for the same date (November 11, 1942) but two different times. One makes his chart Scorpio rising and the other makes it Libra rising. Here I will use the 22 degree Libra rising chart. Biden does not have any strong cards to bring to the stage. His 10th L (of career and status) Moon in 7th directly afflicted by Rahu enables him to come across as a friendly empathetic person to the general public. It is this attribute that may be his main career driver. This chart does not show strengths in connecting to intuitive big picture or in communicating the big picture.
When Biden comes on stage, we will see him being perform better until September 20th, while Rahu is still in his 9th house, giving a sense of good fortune, which is really temporary. When Rahu moves into Taurus, which is 8th house for Biden’s Libra rising chart, on September 20th it may begin impacting his health. Ketu moving in tandem on September 20th to Scorpio, his second house, may impact his career possibilities. His health challenges may further come to the fore once ascendant ruler Venus moves into debilitation in Virgo after October 23rd.
Overall, this chart does not show the vitality that may be required to get the signal through high levels of noise that we will be observing on the USA Jyotish stage in the last two weeks to November 3rd.
Mike Pence
We do not have a birth records based birth chart for Mike Pence. There are three alternate charts on offer for the birth date of June 7, 1959 in Columbus, Indiana. I am using one of them: a 4 deg Libra rising chart for Columbus, Indiana (suggested for exploration by Cosmologer). Pence comes on stage with a strong 10th L Moon in 9th and moderately strong 1st L Venus and 7th L Mars in 10th H of career and status. This has given Pence a rise in career, with support from his wife. 3rd L Jupiter in second house gives him an inclination to explore religion. 5th L Saturn in 3rd H positively aspected by 10th L Moon gives him ability to communicate as a way to support career.
Pence has been in his Mars major period and Rahu sub-period since late August 2019 and will be there up to March 2022. When he comes on stage after September 20th, he will have his sub-period lord Rahu moving into his 8th house. The indications are that he may potentially experience obstructions and health challenges. Ketu would have moved into his second may give difficulties in communicating Trump’s aspirational narratives in this key period. November 3rd sees his Ascendant Lord debilitated in 12th house of losses.
We bring in one more actor on to the stage before we sum it all together for November 3rd. So bear with me.
Kamala Harris
We have a birth record based chart for Kamala Harris. A Gemini rising with Rahu on her ascendant degree. That gives Harris capacity to position in different roles for different situations. Harris’s also has strong 9th L (of good fortune) Saturn aspecting strong 2nd L (of family well-being, career and communications) Moon in the 11th H. This indicates natural support and good fortune flowing to Harris from established older individuals. So Harris comes to the stage equipped well for the role of raising funds and developing and communicating aspirational narratives to different audiences.
However, the stage setting for Harris post September 20th does not bode well. Saturn is weak in 8th, so is unable to give the level of support it has in the past. Rahu will be in 12th and her aspirational articulations may become loss making. Ketu in her 6th may give her health issues and financial difficulties. The last two weeks to November 3rd sees her Asc L (Sun for Gemini) being debilitated in 5th H Libra, while 5th L Venus is debilitated in Virgo. Creativity and ability to project a positive image may not be easy for Harris in the last few weeks.
The Finale on November 3rd
On November 3rd we have all the four actors on the stage waiting to see how the audience will be voting for them. They would have given their best in propagating a range of aspirational narratives, amplified on the stage by an exalted Rahu post September 20th . It will be up to the voters to try and sift through a rising cacophony of noise caused by communal disharmony domestically (including attacks on police) and signals of potential armed conflict internationally. And the last few weeks may potentially see signals of rising uncertainty from the economy in general and the financial markets in particular.
Jyotish perspective tells me that the actor best positioned to provide the strongest aspirational signals, by far in this very noisy stage setting, is Trump – especially between September 20th and October 17th.
So, from a Jyotish perspective, my guess is that voters may likely respond to the signals from Trump and vote Trump back in.
It is possible that the noise levels are so high that the voters are unable to resonate with any aspirational signal coming out of this stage. In which case we may be left with an episode ending that is divisive and waiting for a sequel to bring to a resolution.
From Jyotish perspective, there are signs of a period of intensifying difficulties discord period from first week of November all the way through April 2021, with peak from mid-November 2020 to early February 2021. I hope to write a sequel to this post after November 3rd. In the meanwhile, you may can visit this post specifically raising the question of whether there will be a COVID-19 wave in the November 2020 to February 2021 time period.
Closing thoughts for this post
I started out with Vishnu Sahasranaam at the top of this post. That was almost a week ago. As I read through the post and cleaned it up a bit, I began to think about the kshetra, the field of action and conflict, that is described in the Mahabharata. Many questions come to mind about how best to act in this present field of conflict. And I begin to remind myself of the Bhagavad Gita, also emerging out of the Mahabharata, with many similar questions. I remind myself specifically of one guidance given in the Bhagavad Gita: that I have the capacity to act intentionally. But that the results of those actions are uncertain at best. So do not have expectations of what may come back of the seeds I sow through my actions.
In 21st century terms I interpret it as follows: I am in a highly complex environment. My well thought out intentional actions will enter that highly complex environment. How my action may change that environment and how it may impact me is something I cannot realistically assess. However, I can make use of some of the tools that my ancestors have used for millennia to begin to understand some contours of this highly complex environment that I find myself in. Jyotish is one such tool. And it is in that spirit on inquiry to begin to understand this complex environment that I offer this post. Hope you enjoy it.
[4] Note that positions of Sun, Moon and the planets in the background sky referenced here are according to NASA ephemeris, not Western Tropical Almanac used by many Western Astrologers.
The memes in social media may begin to see some positive shoots after April 7th and a little more after April 14th, but we may have to wait until after April 25th for clarity on how and when people would be able to go back to work and school.
The active Wuhan Virus cases in USA may likely peak between April 18th and 25th. Sharp declines may follow between April 25th and May 9th.
Wuhan Virus related deaths in USA are likely to peak some time between April 25th and May 7th.
In this update I am posting graphics showing Jyotish Model projections for Active USA cases and total USA Deaths (first two graphics), followed by actuals up to April 13th (next two graphics). If you go back to my April 6th post and compare to what I have posted here, you will notice I have not tweaked my model projections at all. I am not looking to track levels / numbers of Active cases with my Jyotish model. What I am interested in tracking is how well this Jyotish based model is able to predict when the Active cases peak and when the declines start in Active Cases in USA. I notice a beginning of a slow down in the Active cases graph. Your constructive comments and suggestions are welcome on this post are welcome.
Jyotish Model Predicted Current Active Wuhan Virus Cases in USA March – May 2020
Jyotish Model Predicted Total Wuhan Virus Deaths in USA March – May 2020
Actual Active Wuhan Virus Cases USA to April 13th 2020
Actual Total Wuhan Virus Deaths in USA to April 13th 2020
WIth the Devi’s Blessings. Cover art by Jayant Kalawar 2018.
Most of us are already familiar with the genetic pandemic that is sweeping through USA, at the time of this writing, in 2020. It is known variously as the Wuhan Virus, Covid – 19 and Corona Virus pandemic. I call it the Wuhan Virus RNA genetic pandemic, since it is driven by RNA, a basic genetic component of living cells. That way I can more clearly articulate the proposition that in parallel a memetic pandemic took place in USA in the February to April 2020 time frame. This memetic pandemic worked its way through the Global Social Mind that I began referring to in my previous post. The impact of this memetic pandemic may have been to temporarily amplify fears and cause confusion, and therefore lower the ability to effectively to respond to the genetic pandemic. From Jyotish perspective, the memetic pandemic is set to begin abating from April 7th 2020 on wards. And with that the Global Social Mind is likely to begin coming together to positively resolve the genetic pandemic.
Living in New Jersey I am currently experiencing (again at the time of this writing) the isolation and fears that arises from this Wuhan Virus pandemic. I know of people in my friends and family network who have been impacted from mild to critical to the ultimate price that this virus extracts. I write this analytical essay keeping those in mind. I hope I have nuanced it, so that it does not come across as cold and calculating. Hopefully the short term nature and order of magnitude lower numbers that this Jyotish based model projects comes true.
Viewing the 2020 USA Memetic Pandemic from the Jyotish Lens
On January 31st 2020, President Trump placed severe restrictions on airplane flights from China to USA. That was the beginning of USA memetic pandemic around the Wuhan Virus. It was the day that transit Mercury, which especially for USA governs analysis, communication, initiatives and short-term travel (Mercury thus ends up being a key significator of memes generated in USA), entered Aquarius, which happens to be the 8th House of death like experiences for USA according to SAMVA chart. This particular transit of Mercury through 30 degrees of Aquarius was longer than usual. Mercury went from 0 degrees Aquarius to almost 30 degrees, slowed down and came back to about 4 deg Aquarius and then trudged back to 30 deg by April 7th. Mercury usually crosses a zodiac sign in 18 to 21 days. This time it stayed in Aquarius for 68 days[i]. Additionally, both natal Ketu and transit Ketu aspects were present in Aquarius at about 10 degrees and 16 degrees. Ketu gives isolation, distance and general material loss (and spiritual gain).
Thus, this transit of Mercury from January 31st to April 7th , manifested as memes of death like behavior, woven in with memes of isolation and distance. The Global Social Mind which has come into existence in the last 25 years, amplifies these memes and motivates individuals to according to the memes it propagates. We experienced the push towards social distancing and isolation after February 15th when Mercury began to slow down and retrace back from 20 deg Aquarius, in the shadow of natal Ketu. The Wuhan virus outbreak in Kirkland, Washington, had begun to unfold then and the first of the deaths in USA began to be counted.
From April 8th to April 25th, Mercury transits Pisces, the 9th house of good fortune and openness to direction from advanced research. We may likely see a different set of memes arise in this period. They are, however, likely to be over all weakly positive (and especially so up to August 14th): the memes in this period will likely begin giving information about how the pandemic is being mitigated and calling to action and getting back to work.
Mercury enters Aries on April 26th 2020. It will be able to manifest positive memes especially up to May 6th. Memes calling for action to get the economy moving may get stronger in this period. This may potentially effectively move the Global Social Mind out of the dark memetic pandemic, at least in the USA. May 8th on wards there are other Jyotish impacts seen from the political and economic frames that may not fully enable the positive memes trend to continue. We may talk about that in a later post.
Jyotish Perspective of Triggers for the RNA Pandemic in USA
In my continued attempts to make Jyotish a relevant tool in the modern world, I have used Jyotish based prediction as a driver of Covid-19 reproduction rate in US in the late March – early May time frame to forecast current cases, total deaths and total recoveries. I used actuals for March 21st as a starting point and then applied changing reproduction rates (using Excel spread sheet) as follows:
Jyotish Model Driving COVID 19 Reproduction Rate in USA March – May 2020 Using USA SAMVA CHART
Dates
March 31st
April 8th
April 14th
April 25th
Significant Astro Dates (Used as Drivers to change Reproduction Rate R in Table below)
USA SAMVA tr Mars afflicted by tr Saturn Peak March 31st Gives Peak R=4.5)
April 8th: tr Mars no longer afflicted. Tr 3rd L Mercury out of 8th H, but debilitated so only few openings for movement and communication opened up. Drives R down to 3.2 and then to 1.1)
April 14th: Tr 2nd L Sun exalted in Aries bringing leadership and sense of well being to country. Drives R to 0.7.
April 25th: Mercury moves into Aries. Movement, communication and innovation opens up. Drives R to 0.4 and lower in following weeks.
Following Charts present the Jyotish Model Forecasts and Actuals to Date (March 28th 2020)
Jyotish Model Predicted Current Wuhan Virus Cases
Jyotish Model Predicted Total Deaths
Actual Total Cases
Actual Total Deaths
I expect the numbers predicted will differ from actuals. My predictions are for total current cases net recoveries. Actuals are for total cases to date (not netted for recoveries). More important is when the actual cases and actual deaths peak and decelerate (and at what rate). So, what I would be looking for is whether the actuals begin to slope downwards as per prediction based on my Jyotish based model, between April 18th and April 25th and then slope downwards even further after between April 25th – May 2nd and accelerate downwards between May 2nd – May 9th. And whether total number of deaths stabilize around April 25th on wards. Lets see.
I use the Systems Approach To Vedic Astrology (SATVA) as propounded by Professor V. K. Chaudhry in the 1990s. Current SATVA practice is led by esteemed astrologer Mr. Rajesh K. Chaudhary. The USA chart that I refer to in this post was formulated after over a decade of detailed of historical research by Cosmologer.
[i] I hasten to add, that this description of Mercury’s travel through Aquarius is from a Earth positional astronomy perspective i.e. this is how we see Mercury’s motion in the sky from the Earth. Helio (Sun) centric astronomy teaches us that is not actually happens in space. Jyotish uses sidereal positional astronomy, with positions of planets and stars as they are seen from a point on Earth to cast sky maps (charts) and then interpret them using heuristics developed over millennia of observations.
We are at the beginning of a new year and a new decade. In this post, I cover what 2020 may look like.
For those who may have missed it, I posted my 2019 retrospective a few weeks ago. So the context is set for jumping into forecasting for the decade of the 20s! In this Part 1 of a two part post, I will cover the year 2020 may bring for US politics, presidential election, economy, culture war, technology. In the next (Part 2) post, a few weeks from now in about mid-January 2020, I will (bravely) speculate on the decade.
For those who read my posts, you already know of this, so skip to the next paragraph, if you would like. I post on a range of topics, from strategy in the modern world using the lens of science and technology, to spiritual quest using the lens of India traditions. Jyotish is one technique from Indian traditions that is reviled by most educated modern people and, on the other hand, is used extensively by many people who include the ways of Indian traditions in their day to day life. In this and other posts I apply Systems Approach to Vedic Astrology[2] to the dense information, analysis and forecasts that are already available to us through corporate, government and social media. I find Jyotish gives me a way of examining the world and making a somewhat better practical sense of it, than what the modern media pundits would have us believe. Over the years, I have found it is helpful in managing the ups and downs in life. Jyotish indeed shines a beam of light, which can be used to bridge between the material and the spiritual. Those of you who have made (or would like to make) the cognitive shift to experience the Devas as real and active in this world are best able to make use of the Jyotish lens. I think 2020 has the hallmark of being a positive year, compared to 2019, which may have been stressful in different ways for most of us. Let’s talk politics, economics and culture, to see whether we can get a sense of what to expect in 2020, so that we may have some sense of how to navigate it.
US Politics 2020
First, lets cover politics (as many of you may know already, I cover mostly US and sometimes India and then, once in a while, the ageing original colonizer country, the UK).
In the US, 2020 is an election year.
As I write this in mid to late December 2019, the US politicians in the capital are embroiled in the impeachment proceedings against President Trump. At the same time, the Democrats are playing out the 2020 primary drama. So, the three questions for US politics in 2020 are set: will President Trump be acquitted or removed by the US Senate in the early months of the year? Who is likely to be the Democratic candidate to win the primaries and contest the presidential elections? Who will be sworn in as president of the US in 2021?
US Politics up to June 2020
Let’s look at the first six months of 2020. With Republicans controlling the US Senate, will there be an acquittal or removal of the sitting president? In this post I assume President Trump will be acquitted of the impeachment charges. The rest of the post reflects that impeachment acquittal scenario. However, his birth chart indicates that he may be in conflict with quite a few close advisors soon after such an acquittal. The major indicator here is Saturn, which moves into Capricorn in the last week of January 2020 and remains in his 6th house of conflict, Capricorn, for the next 3 years. President Trump’s birth chart has a very weak natal 7th L Saturn placed in his 12th of losses in his natal chart, which implies he has not had much support from his advisors and partners in his life, in any case. That in turn implies that President Trump is used to working things through major crises in his life without much guidance or help from his advisors or partners. So the three year post January 2020 phase of his 7th L Saturn transiting in his 6th house of conflict, while it may give rise to conflicts, may not have much of a negative impact on his career track. But there is something else that might: transit Jupiter will be in his 6th house for 3 months from April to June of 2020. He is likely to have some losses potentially driven by actions by his close family involved in his career: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. At this time, they appear to be leading the trade talks with China. At the same time, the nodal (Rahu-Ketu) axis will be slowing and afflicting his 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th houses in June – and that may contribute to potential set-backs in the trade-talks area and also increase tensions with foreign powers. To sum an answer to the first question: yes, President Trump may likely be acquitted of the impeachment charges, but his ability to maneuver may be weakened in the first six months of 2020.
Democratic Nominee?
On to the second question: who will be the Democratic nominee? There are so many factors that are likely to play out in the crowded Democratic primaries, at the time of this writing in mid- December. So what I write here is speculative, more directional than a pinpoint prediction. Based on available birth charts and estimate of their accuracy, I am giving a low to high probability for who may be the democratic nominee as things stand in late 2019:
Mr. Michael Bloomberg (MB): high quality birth chart based on birth certificate (February 14, 1942, 3:40 pm, Brighton, MA). Cancer rising at 3 deg. Currently in Ketu/Sun from December 21st 2019 to April 27th 2020 and then followed by Ketu/Moon up to Nov 26th 2020, with natal Sun at 2 deg in 8thand natal Ketu at 20 deg also in 8th. MB may get a boost in the primary race between now and mid-April and then may not make much headway, as 1st L Moon (combust and slightly afflicted by 10th aspect of natal 8th L Saturn does not enable very positive projection of self-image required for a winning presidential candidate) bhukti sets in, while in Ketu mahadasha. I give MB a low probability of being nominee.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (EW): low quality birth chart (date, without time. June 22, 1949, Oklahoma City). Based on EW’s key life events as described in her Wikipedia bio, I have estimated a 2 deg Leo rising chart, with Ascendant lord Sun at 7 deg in the 11th. This chart shows Saturn / Venus period running up to November 25th 2021. Natal Saturn is at 8 deg in the 1st and Venus at 25 deg in the 11th. Both natal Saturn and Venus may be seen to be weak due to their mooltrikona houses being weakened by the natal Rahu-Ketu nodal axis. EW has a strong 2nd L Mercury, the prime determinant of her career, in the 10th house, alongside Mars the 9th L of good fortune (which is weak due to 9th H being afflicted by natal nodal axis). Her Jupiter, planet of creative intelligence, is badly placed in the 6th and its mooltrikona house is afflicted making it weak. Overall, the chart shows a strong career with keen analytical abilities, marred by not having good fortune. If I come across a better rectification of EW’s chart, I will revisit EW’s chances. With the estimated chart that I currently have, I give EW a moderate chance of being the nominee.
Mr. Andrew Yang (AY): We have a date and time from memory for AY’s birth chart (January 13, 1975, 6:20 am, Schenectady, NY). Rising at 11 deg in Sagittarius, it has natal Jupiter strong and un-afflicted at 22 deg in 3rd H, with dispositor Saturn at 25 deg in 1st H. The chart is currently running Jupiter / Venus until Feb 8th 2020 and thereafter Jupiter / Sun up to Nov 26th 2020. Natal Venus at 15 deg in 2nd H is directly afflicted by debilitated natal Ketu from the 6th, with its 9th aspect. Natal Sun is very weak in 1st H at 29 deg. Jupiter dasha gives AY push in his new endeavors (he is stepping into politics at a presidential level without any political experience is an entirely new endeavor). However, bhuktis of afflicted Venus and then weak Sun are likely not allow fruition of AY’s endeavors in 2020. I give AY a low probability of being a nominee.
Vice President Joseph Biden (JB): We have a date and time from memory of JB’s birth chart (November 20, 1942, 8:30 am, Scranton, PA). Rising at 10 deg in Scorpio, it has 10th L natal Sun in 1st and directly afflicted by natal 12th L Venus. Natal 9th L Moon is directly afflicted by 9th aspect of natal Rahu. Natal 2nd L Jupiter at 2 deg in 9th is rendered weak due to dispositor natal Moon being weak and afflicted. Natal 11th L Mercury is weak in the 12th at 28 deg. All these natal positions indicate that JB may have communication challenges especially in the context of Global Social Mind (which I have described in my 2019 retrospective post). JB is currently running Jupiter/Mars until April 30th and thereafter Jupiter / Rahu until September 30th 2023. This combination of dasha and bhuktis and an overall weak chart lead me to give JB a low probability of being a Democratic Party nominee for the November 2020 elections.
I do not have enough birth details and life events to construct rectified charts for Senator Bernie Sanders, Mayor Peter Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar.
Of the four candidates in the Democratic primaries I have analyzed above, only Senator Elizabeth Warren rises above low probability level in my view. Additionally let’s say Senator Bernie Sanders (I do not have enough information to have a view) may be her top competitor, based on current surveys. However, politics at the ground level may favor Senator Warren over Senator Sanders as a better bet as Democratic nominee to attract centrist independents and therefore to have a close contest with President Trump in November 2020. So overall, EW rises to the top as potential Democratic Party nominee.
US Politics in November 2020
So, let’s say President Trump gets past the impeachment trial in the US Senate with an acquittal. The first six to seven months of the year are not likely to be favorable for him, with his advisors distancing themselves for a range of reasons. However, there is a shift in September 2020. The nodal axis moves into Taurus-Scorpio where it is exalted. The transit nodal axis will now aspect President Trump’s natal Sun and natal nodal axis, especially in October-November at between 29 deg and 25 deg Taurus-Scorpio. This transit nodal axis configuration may further enable President Trump to be even more effective than usual in influencing the Global Social Mind and therefore the elections.
During the last two months leading to the elections on November 3rd 2020, President Trump appears to have the following pluses on his side:
Jupiter, his planet of creative intelligence will be strong in its own house especially from August through to mid-November,
Mercury will be in its own sign Virgo most of September giving him keen analytical ability post Labor day as the election campaign gathers momentum,
Mars, his planet of good fortune, will be in Aries from mid-August to beginning of October and
Exalted Rahu will be aspecting his natal Sun from September 20th through to December, enabling his ability to accomplish his goals in the material world.
At the same time for the USA SAMVA chart, transit 6th L Jupiter will be hovering around natal Venus in Sagittarius from August through to end of October 2020. This is likely to show in intense divisiveness of the US polity as it heads into the November 3rd presidential election.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (my assumed Democratic nominee) does have a strong 2nd L natal Mercury, which reflects in her strong communication and analytical ability. But a weak, debilitated 5th L Jupiter in 6th may not enable the strong influencer role that this age of the Global Social Mind seems to require as a key success factor for winning US presidential elections.
So, my bet would be that if Senator Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic nominee (which seems most likely among the slate of Democratic candidates at the moment), then the chances are that PresidentTrump is likely to be re-elected on November 3, 2020. On the other hand, perhaps the Democratic Party may come up with a nominee that is not one of the four I have discussed in some detail above, who may stand a better chance to win the November elections. I will re-visit the November 2020 election possibilities in June-July 2020, if that is the case.
US Culture and Society in 2020
I did not talk about the topic of US culture and society in my 2019 retrospective. It was a divisive year in the US, a culmination some may say of a divisive decade. There were divisions in politics for sure, with the House being controlled by Democrats after their win in November 2018 and Senate remaining in firm Republican control with an increased majority. The gender divisiveness seemed to widen with the #MeToo movement, bringing down multiple media and corporate personalities in its wake. The culture wars took to the streets, with Neo Nazis and Confederate supporters going head to head with Anti-Fa supporters. There were many reports of divide even within families driven by such culture war factors. All this divisiveness was in line with the SMAVA USA 4th Lord natal Venus in 6th, the planet signifying communal harmony for the US[3], being almost continually being afflicted from April onwards by the transit nodal axis and by the transit 8th L Saturn. While the nodal axis affliction abated after September, the 8th L Saturn transit affliction of natal Venus continues until January 14th 2020 (given that the 4th Lord Venus of communal harmony is in the 6th house of conflict in the USA chart indicates that there is always an underlying tension within and among US communities. It is a question of higher degree of such conflicts and their outcomes at times of malefic afflictions that become interesting to note from year to year).
In most of 2020, transit Venus will coast through without major afflictions, except for a brief time in August. Natal Venus will be afflicted by transit 6th L Jupiter in the August-October 2020 time frame, which we already noted above.
Compared to 2019, however, the divisiveness in the US may wind down when transit 8th L Saturn moves to 7th H in the last week of January, followed by US SAMVA chart running the Sun / Mercury period beginning first week of February 2020, which lasts all the way to December 10th 2020. There is a chance that this a period when communication and media interests (signified by Mercury) may be less provocative in their reporting, than in the recent past.
US Economy 2020
The US economy seems to have been well managed and stabilized by the US Federal Reserve, through a difficult period in 2019. Some say the Fed has achieved a soft landing and steered the US economy away from a recession. Potential for growth in 2020 appears to depend on how the trade war with China is resolved. There appears to be no clear map charted out at this stage (in late 2019) in the negotiations between US and China.
The SAMVA USA chart, however, provides clearer guidance for the US economy. Currently running the Sun dasha giving general economic well-being (from 2016), with the Mercury bhukti giving positive interactions with Canada and Mexico, from February to December 2020, the SAMVA USA chart is signaling a positive time for US economy. Foreign trade signified by its 10th H L Mars is also giving positive signals for 2020. Mars transits in Aries and Pisces (10th and 9 th houses) most of the second half of 2020. August through October may see positive movement in trade agreements.
US Tech 2020
Technology has been the great disruptive change agent in the US over the last 30 years. It has brought about rapid productivity gains and growth on one hand. At the same time digital technology has increased inequality both in terms of income and wealth distribution.
The current Sun dasha running in the USA SAMVA chart since 2016 has begun changing that direction, providing more attention to raising employment and income for the masses. That will continue in 2020. There may be more moves towards regulating the large tech companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple.
Mars plays a key role as the 10th L strongly placed in the creative 5th house in the USA SAMVA chart. This gives US the creative tech drive that ends up leading the world. In 2020 Mars will be in 9th house of academia and research from June 18th to August 15th and then again from October 4th to December 23rd. News of research breakthroughs from Universities and research labs may be expected during these periods. Mars will be in its own house Aries (and therefore stronger) from August 16th to October 3rd . News about new tech initiatives launched in commercial and defense arena may be likely during this time period. Second half of 2020 may see a few major new tech announcements in the US, after a 2019 that had raised doubts about whether tech world had reached a plateau with the big tech monopolies and non-transparency no longer enabling innovation.
Summing Up
The probability of Senator Elizabeth Warren being the Democratic Party nominee is high.
The probability of President Trump being re-elected, with Senator Elizabeth Warren as his competitor in November 2020, is high.
Social-cultural divisiveness / tensions in the US may tone down (relative to 2019) in 2020, except for the August-November time frame.
US economy is likely to do better in 2020 than in 2019, which is saying a lot.
US Tech is likely to make new breakthroughs in research as well as commercial and defense applications in the second half of 2020.
Have an enjoyable 2020 and may you achieve whatever you set out to achieve during the course of the year!!
That’s it for now. As you may have noted, in these posts I write about the general world we interact with. If you would like to have a personal reading for 2020, connect with me at jayantkalawar@gmail.com . I also give one on one tutorials on set up and interpret your own birth chart, so that you may begin to use it as one more ongoing tool to help you navigate your life’s journey.
The Devi Waiting For Her Children (c) Jayant Kalawar 2019
by Jayant Kalawar
Most areas of the globe seem to have gone through the ups and downs of 2019 quite nicely. The planets in 2019 were aligned to provide a theater for quite some fire and light show this year, but collectively we were able to hold back from the brink. What changed the direction? I speculate on a new dynamic that has arisen that may be helping balance negative global patterns triggered by planetary forces.
In the USA, the year started with the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives. That laid the ground for a year-long theater of conflict between the President and the Speaker of the House. The Mueller report proved to be much milder than anticipated by the Democrats in implicating President Trump in any wrong doing. The report did point to key role of foreign powers, such as Russia, and of global digital platforms, such Facebook and Twitter, in the 2016 presidential election. This was seen by President Trump as an assault on the credibility of his victory in that election, adding fuel to the fire in the Trump-Pelosi script. The result is the impeachment process, which is continuing at the time of this writing, in early December 2019.
The trade war with China did not escalate to a physical war. And while negotiations with North Korea may be seen to have had a setback, they may have bought time in the potential escalation to war in the Korean peninsula. With Iran, the escalation of economic sanctions almost seemed to be on the brink of an all-out war mid-September 2019. But President Trump seems to have called it off at the last minute – and we may be all the better for it.
Venezuela went through some of the roughest times this year. Again the US held back from direct intervention and let Russia and China play into it as well.
I made two major macro level predictions in early 2019 based on a very rare long lasting conjunction of transit Saturn with transit Ketu in Sagittarius between April and October 2019.
One was that the US stock market may make a sharp downturn over 6 months between May and October 2019, before beginning to rise again. Well, it did not make a sharp down turn, instead it stagnated around DJI 26000. And then resumed its upward move in November 2019. The reason it held steady was intervention by the Fed, which began decreasing interest rates and increasing money supply beginning June, in anticipation of a downturn in the economy. The Fed had been increasing rates in the previous year and the expectation, based on past cycles, was that it would continue to do so in 2019 or at least hold it steady. It may have been due to President Trump’s direct and public call for the Fed to begin decreasing interest rates that the Fed responded.
The other major prediction was about general elections in India, earlier this year. The prediction was that the BJP government may lose their majority unless they moved rapidly to correct the negative impact of demonetization and GST implementations. BJP did move to overcome the impact of demonetization by providing welfare benefits directly to those who needed them, through electronic transfers. The GST implementation was also modified to decrease impact on small and medium sized businesses. The BJP returned to form a government with a bigger majority in the Lok Sabha, independent of any coalition partners.
What I notice, from the deviation of actual from the predicted, is that large public institutions in USA and India appear to be showing capacity to respond much faster to rapid feedback, when compared to the past. So what has changed? My guess is that it is the Internet: very deep and broad data with interactive capability of social media apps. With billions of people the world over interacting to continually refresh intelligence (=meaning making connected data), the Internet has become an active and very influential Global Social Mind (GSM). Each one of us who is active on the Internet influences the GSM in perhaps a very small way and is influenced by GSM greatly. The pulses, of tangled interweaving web of global connections between ever refreshing data, zaps us on the mental plane each time we interact on the Internet. World leaders, such as President Trump and PM Modi, are able to not only monitor these signals, but also respond to them and many times influence them. Some narratives and predictions made on the Internet gain traction. That gives an opportunity to these leaders to respond and try to influence the signals, coming out of GSM, to be in their favor.
So how do I see the impact of the GSM in terms of Jyotish[1] framework of Karma and PurushArtha? Let me take up a standard example first, to set the context. A birth chart gives us insight into Karma from past lives that we are born with: it points to different sets of potential actions that are most likely to be triggered through us at different times in our life cycle. This is described by Dashas and Bhuktis and the prevailing astral energies, at any given time, due to planetary configurations (aka transits in technical Astrologese). For example, if the astrologer notices that for an individual the transit ascendant lord is going to be stationary in 8th house while conjunct with stationary transit Rahu-Ketu, she / he may point out that the chances of an accident may increase during that time (= actions triggered by Karma). If the individual is in a city such as New Delhi, the recommendation may be to minimize being on the road as much as possible (= PurushArtha, action based on awareness of self in the environment of action, Karma Bhumi) to reduce chances of an accident.
While a busy city with challenging traffic patterns may pose risk to humans on a physical plane, GSM is likely to impact humans on the mental plane. General significations of Mercury, as well as the lords of the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 11th houses would need to be considered, while assessing the impact of GSM. In President Trump’s chart for example, 2nd L Mercury is strong, as is his 5th house Lord Jupiter. His native Sun and Moon are strongly influenced by exalted Rahu and Ketu respectively (he was born during a Lunar eclipse). This gives him sharp mental capability and hence an ability to navigate GSM (as well on TV, with shows such as the Apprentice) to his advantage. I do not have PM Modi’s chart (it is not publicly known). However his ability to perform well both on social media and on radio (Man Ki Baat), makes me believe that his chart may have a strong Mercury (which is not a du-sthAnA lord) and have at least one of 3rd, 5th, 11th H Ls strong.
Learnings from 2019
Making predictions and then reviewing them enables a learning loop. Reviewing my 2019 predictions point me to some interesting learnings, which I will continue to test through future predictions.
Global Social Mind is real and an integral part of our lives now. We are greatly influenced by it each time we touch it and in return we influence it a just a very tiny little bit. So if a prediction of dire straits is channeled to you through the GSM, you begin positioning and taking actions to remedy that potential situation. The GSM accelerates and amplifies PurushArtha potential so as to minimize Karma impact. Such PurushArtha acceleration and amplification potential may be strongly positive during those times when transit Mercury is strong and un-afflicted. The GSM may trigger strongly negative results when transit Mercury is very weak and directly afflicted (for example the Christchurch mosque massacre took place in New Zealand, on March 15th 2019, when tr Mercury was very weak at 29 deg in Aquarius, while being combust by tr Sun at 1 deg Pisces and directly afflicted by 5th aspect of tr Rahu at 0:44 deg Cancer).
In general, individuals with strong un-afflicted Mercury as a benefic and at least one of the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 11th house lords as un-afflicted and strong, in their chart, may be best positioned to be influencers on GSM. Those with weak and afflicted Mercury in their chart, with weak and / or afflicted 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 11th Lords may be prone to be triggered to act negatively due to their interaction with GSM.
To sum up, the rise of the GSM in the last two decades now has a presence in our world in which it plays a significant role in all our lives. On the positive side, it may be helping us to stabilize global society on the physical plane through rapid feedback loops which enable better strategic positioning and thus curb the need for large scale, mass physical aggression. On the mental plane, some may say the ability of individual human mind to think and act autonomously may be more circumscribed as the presence of GSM keeps growing and we become very tiny players in that amorphous every refreshing, ever present, intelligence. Jyotish may be in the unique position to provide tools to be able to step back and become aware of the larger dynamics that are playing in our lives in the age of the Global Social Mind. Perhaps more individuals may wish to take advantage of this powerful traditional framework as one of the tools to view and chart out their course in the world in the 2020s. Especially when the practicing Jyotishis are aware of the powerful tangled intelligent web that now girds the globe and are at least attempt to contextualize their readings and guidance.
[1]In my life coaching practice, I use Jyotish as only one of many modalities to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a client as they go about attempting to achieve life goals that they have set for themselves. Specifically, I follow Systems Approach to Vedic Astrology as propounded by Professor V.K. Choudhry.
The Destroyer of Ignorance and Confusion – Aum Namo KAlarAtreya NamAhA (Source: Wikipedia, Devi Kalratri, Sanghasri, Kalighat, Kolkata, 2010)
By Jayant Kalawar March 23rd 2019
For those who have not followed my predictions for 2019, made back in September 2018, please consider going back and taking a look here and then the follow up post here . The rest of the post may make more sense with that background. Those who are not interested in the astrology analysis that I go through in this post, I have bolded out sections that may be more relevant.
As Ketu began afflicting Saturn transiting in Sagittarius at a little over 25 deg a few days ago (today at the time of this writing is March 23, 2019, Ketu transited into Sagittarius), warning signs of the economy suddenly began flashing in the USA and political turmoil was on the horizon with the submission of the Special Counsel report and President Trump verbally attacking the Late Senator John McCain. Before that the Dow Jones Index was merrily going along posting gains in early 2019. Many investors seemed to be like frogs in a slowly heating pot of water, unable to heed the signs of the approaching planetary storm. Now they ask, is 2019 going to be similar to the 1930s for the USA, when the Dow lost 90% of its value in a little over two and a half years (from October 1929 to June 1932)?
The short answer is no: the depression of the 1930s was a prolonged event, beginning with onset of Ketu Bhukti on October 16th 1929 during RAhu MAhAdashA in the USA SAMVA Chart.[1] Dow Jones Index peaked at 343 in September 1929, was at 286 in March 1930, down to 183 in October 1930 and then bottomed out at 42 in June 1932. RAhu MAhAdashA was followed by the 6th L Jupiter MahAdashA from 1937 to 1953, during which the USA was in two major conflicts (6th L signification): WW II and the Korean War. It was only after 1953 that the Dow recovered back to its peak of 342 in September 1929. While the 8th L Saturn MAhAdashA gave death like experiences (Cuban missile crisis for example and continual threat of nuclear war with Americans preparing for nuclear threat) from 1953 to 1972, it also gave relatively easy gains (another signification of the 8th L) to the USA in economic terms with the Dow crossing the 1000 mark in November 1972
To sum up: In 1930, transit Saturn was in 6th H Sagittarius of the USA SAMVA chart. However, it was not afflicted by transit Ketu which was in Libra at that time. Ketu affliction of Saturn was not the driver of the 1930s economic turmoil.
In 2019, the USA is in Sun MAhAdashA and Saturn Bhukti. The protection of the Sun will be cushion for the effect of the prolonged 7 month (April to October) conjunction of transit Ketu with transit Saturn in Sagittarius, the 6th house of conflict in the USA SAMVA chart. The transits of 8th L turn and Ketu will be in turn giving long periods of affliction to natal Venus, the 4th L of domestic prosperity and communal harmony.
What USA may experience in this particular planetary storm from April to October 2019 is 7 months of sharp economic down turn, physical losses through disasters whether natural or manmade and also communal disharmony. A slow recovery may begin in February 2020 when 3rd L Mercury Bhukti comes into play. The pace of such a recovery is likely to be contingent upon the degree of physical losses to infrastructure and life experienced in 2019.
So how to position to get through this 7 month long planetary storm? Those invested in the financial markets may consider moving to as much cash position as one can. Do not start any new initiatives. Slow down as much as you can and be careful and watchful on a daily basis. And most importantly, if you are culturally blessed to have access to your IshTa DevatA and to Sri GaneshA, connect with them daily through your practices. They can and do provide protection and blessings. Many more individuals practicing such connections may likely result in lowering the level of losses that this planetary storm can leave behind.
[1]Please note: I follow Systems Approach to Vedic Astrology propounded by the Late Professor V.K. Choudhry (www.yournetastrologer.com). In this article, I have used chart for USA developed using Systems Approach to Mundane Vedic Astrology (see http://yournetastrologer.com/mundane_astrology.htm ). I also follow the work done by Cosmologer, who discovered the SAMVA USA chart in 2006 with the help of J.T.W. Battalana. He developed the chart based on extensive historical research and predictions for over a decade based on the Systems’ Approach and with guidance from the late Professor Choudhry (see http://cosmologer.blogspot.com/2007/12/samva-usa-chart.html
ॐ श्री मात्रे नमः (Photo by Soumik Dey on Unsplash)
The terrorist attack in Kashmir on February 14th 2019 appears to have led to deep and widespread angst in India. One of the questions being asked is whether and when India may strike back with a military operation, as a response to the terror attack.
Here is my assessment in that context, based on Systems Approach to Mundane Vedic Astrology[1].
India Independence chart (August 15th 1947 12 am Delhi, India) is going through Jupiter (8th L) Bhukti currently. Transit Jupiter was at 25:59 on Jan 14th, afflicting within 2 deg with 9th aspect of natal Sun at 27:59 in Cancer, when the terror attack took place. Sun rules 4th house of domestic and communal harmony in the India Indep chart. natal Sun by the 8th L Jupiter gives death like experiences in domestic arena. This affliction will peak on Feb 27th, implying need for more caution for domestic events which may result in death like experiences, whether man made or natural, in the next 10 days. Let us hope no further violent loss of life is experienced.
Tr 6th L Venus transiting 8th H of obstructions and death will directly afflict Tr 10th L Saturn Feb 16th-18th, indicating potential for increased impact on emotional and physical well-being of the masses of people during those days.
Is there potential of a military response from India to the terrorist attack on February 14th? Tr 12th L in Mars is currently strong as it is transiting in its home base Aries and will be directly aspecting most effective points in 12th, 6th and 7th houses for the next 5 days. This indicates potential for military operations between now (Feb 15th) and Feb 20th. Operations launched within this date range from a distance from home base (12th H) e.g. air or sea borne may be carried out in a distant land (7th H) and have the potential for success in conflict situations (6th H).
NOT RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME (Photo by Jeremy Dorrough on Unsplash)
January 14th 2019
By Jayant Kalawar
A few weeks ago I had pointed out in an article here that India could be headed for an anti-incumbency wave in a May 2019 election. There were two suggestions made at the end of that Vedic Astrology[1] based analysis on how to manage such a potential wave: one was to ease the GST burden on small businesses and the other was to provide relief for all the micro businesses and individuals in the unorganized sector who got really badly hit by the demonetization.
The government of India moved last week to exempt many small businesses from GST. That would be a welcome step for many.
Now to wait and see whether the government will put on the Chaiwaalaa hat to understand how the micro unorganized sector was hurt by demonetization. They are the ones who will come out to vote in numbers and that may feel like a big wave indeed.
Meanwhile, Tr 8th L Jupiter is at 20 deg Scorpio now. It is afflicting natal 10th L Saturn and natal 6th L Venus. The next few weeks may be tough as Tr 6th L Venus conjuncts with Tr Jupiter in Scorpio and Tr Mars comes into the 5th aspect affliction of Tr Jupiter. There may be financial impact in general and especially on FX reserves position. FX reserves have stabilized in the $395 bill range after reaching a high of $425 bill in early 2018. This may see some downward pressure in the next few weeks. The USD INR rate had improved as Tr Ju was relatively out of affliction / afflicting zones in the last few weeks. It has now begun slipping back into the 70s range.
The Devi Waiting For Her Children To Come Back Home (c) Jayant Kalawar 2019
Aum Sri MAtre NamahA
By Jayant Kalawar
The planetary patterns for 2019 beginning March and especially in the May – October 2019 period are quite rough.
Many of us have encountered such rough terrains before in our lives. Those of us who connect with their IshTa DevatA on a daily basis know that this connection gives them more chances to flourish through these rough terrains.
In a September 2018 article on my website, Calm Before the Storm, I had made the specific prediction that the November 6th 2018 mid-term election in USA may likely weaken the ability of the current president of the USA to provide leadership and implement his agenda and that it may likely translate into a sense of political weakness in the USA:
All this points to chances that the November 6th mid-term elections in USA may end up giving a weak result for the current US president.
On January 10th 2019 when the newly elected US Congress convenes the Rahu-Ketu field will be at its peak intensity. The result of the mid-term elections will likely be amplified and may likely begin impacting the ability of the current US president to carry out strong positive leadership actions in 2019.
So by end of January 2019 we may have a sense of how 2019 may likely unfold. Any sense of political weakness in the USA may translate into financial and economic weakness not only in the USA but throughout the globe.
As I write in this on January 11th 2019, these predictions are being borne out. The Democrats have taken over the House of Representatives with Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. President Trump has shut down parts of the United States government, in response to the US Congress not funding his agenda. While still early in January, this situation already signals political weakness in the US. Planetary patterns are pointing to the period between January 11th and 23rd as likely to be most vulnerable to misunderstandings and disputes between and among political parties in the US. So by the last week of January we may be better able to assess how well positioned USA is to respond to the disturbances that emerging planetary patterns are signaling for later in 2019.
The first signs of potential for physical and economic distress are likely to emerge from March 22nd on wards and become somewhat intensive after April 8th. The most intense period distress is likely to be between mid-May and mid-October 2019, with peak in July 2019. The source of the disturbances may be a combination of natural and man made triggers and likely impact both economic and physical areas of life.
Each of us may experience disturbances in different areas of life
The planetary patterns also give us indications of how they may impact each of us differently, within a range of possibilities. Approximately 15% of people may directly experience such impacts. That is about 1 in 6 of us. The rest of us will likely have one or more people in our family and friends circle going through some direct experience of distress and many of us may choose to step in to help them through their situations.
Here are likely high stress area for each of the ascendant signs between about mid-May to mid-October 2019:
Aries: Income, especially investment or rental income, may be stressed, which may have secondary impact on father figures, advanced studies and ability to travel long distance for business purposes.
Taurus: Career and social status areas may be stressed and that may impact intimate relationships.
Gemini: Health of father, performance in graduate or specialized studies and long distance business travel may be stressed and that may impact personal and business partnerships.
Cancer: Conjugal relationship may be stressed and that may give rise to disputes and trigger emotional and physical health issues.
Leo: Emotional and physical health of personal and business partners may be stressed and that may in turn stress children and creative activities.
Virgo: Work place stress and stress on physical and emotional health may have secondary impact on home life and mother.
Libra: Children and creative activities may be stressed and show up as impact on your initiatives, ventures and in the way you communicate.
Scorpio: Home life and mother’s emotional and physical health may be stressed and this may impact overall family well-being.
Sagittarius: New initiatives, ventures, younger siblings / colleagues, ability to communicate may be impacted and in turn result in stress on personal emotional and physical health.
Capricorn: Over all family well-being may be stressed and result in losses and separations.
Aquarius: Emotional and physical health may be stressed, resulting in losses in income and relationship with mentors.
Pisces: There may be losses and separations, which may in turn impact career and social status.
How to manage this potentially rough terrain and flourish
If you have reached this part of this article, I am assuming you have experienced the power of observing patterns presented by planetary configurations using Vedic Astrology and also know about the power of connecting with your IshTa DevatA.
For those who connect with their Ishta Devata on a daily basis, there may be a unique date and time on January 20th – 21st to connect and meditate, to seek guidance on how to navigate through this rough terrain. There will be a relatively long lunar eclipse between 9:36 pm on Sunday January 20th to 2:48 am Monday January 21st (New York time zone). The total eclipse is from 11:41 pm to 12:43 am. Sitting in a meditative pose and silently chanting your IshtA DevatA mantra from about 10:30 pm to 1:45 am may give you a channel to strengthen your connection with the DevetA to ask for blessings for yourself and your family, friends and community to help go through the rough planetary terrain forming between late March and late October of 2019.
Aum Sri MAtre NamahA
Please note: I follow Systems Approach to Vedic Astrology propounded by the Late Professor V.K. Choudhry (www.yournetastrologer.com). In this article, I have used chart for USA developed using Systems Approach to Mundane Vedic Astrology (see http://yournetastrologer.com/mundane_astrology.htm ). I also follow the work done by Cosmologer, who discovered the SAMVA USA chart in 2006 with the help of J.T.W. Battalana. He developed the chart based on extensive historical research and predictions for over a decade based on the Systems’ Approach and with guidance from the late Professor Choudhry (see http://cosmologer.blogspot.com/2007/12/samva-usa-chart.html )
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