Here are some astro-financial predictions for May 2013. Since transits to the USA natal chart appear to strongly correlate with market moves, a few related observations are included as well, mainly to note whether transits to the US chart support the market direction I would predict based on the general planetary positions alone. Beginning in May, I have also started incorporating heliocentric transits into the analytical process. The predictions are based on simple reading of the ephemeris, no other methods were considered. The direction is my best guess based on previous market direction changes under similar conditions; I included some approximate percentages to indicate how likely I think that the market will move in a particular direction. The work is done by hand, rather than with statistical software, and for fun only, so I would caution all readers to do their own research to detect any potential astro-financial trends with higher precision. [All calculations are for NYC, times are in EST; by “market” I mean mainly DJI and entities with similar trading pattern.]
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MAY: With several planets transiting through the sign of Taurus (banks, finances etc.), along with the Solar eclipse in the sign on May 9 (19.5 degrees of Taurus), the month will likely see a heightened focus on the financial system. The strongest emphasis will likely be on May 8-10, when 5 celestial bodies will be in the sign. May 16 and 23 could see some related highlights/events as well (possibly in follow-up to the events on May 9), when transiting Mars and Moon aspect the degree of the eclipse. [Note that the degree will remain sensitive for at least a year.]
There could also be some tensions related to the new leadership on the level of governments and/or large corporations—these tensions will be slowly intensifying all month, especially from May 13-14, to peak around May 20-21. There could be a clash between some new/unique/independent approach to doing something or new leaders and the old leaders/old restrictive/overly controlling approach to running large entities, such as corporations, countries, blocks of countries, etc. The tensions may manifest as some protests where people are demanding freedom from the old leaders who are perceived as dictatorial and too restrictive/inflexible.
May 27-28 may see some excitement & positive mood over the perceived abundance of money. Good days for new communication devices to come out—appetite for luxury [communication] items may be high on these 2 days (if I had a store, I’d keep it open longer & make sure to stock up on cute colorful phones & accessories).
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May 6 (Mon): Weak influence; market may possibly go down (55%). There could be some news about bank/financial group leaders [leaving?] or about some old financial business approach being discarded. There could also be some unexpected news about new leaders (of a large corporation or government), either late pm or after trading hours.
May 7 (Tue): Weak influence; market may possibly go up (55%). There will likely be positive mood during pre-open hours. There may also be increased talks about all things related to banks and their financing (e.g., about bank leaders or where to find money for the banks), and/or the discussions/news could be about military spending. Transits to the US chart support an UP move as well.
USA: There may be some positive developments/increased funding of programs related to healthcare/elderly care and/or programs designed to fight “hidden enemies” (e.g., hackers, spies, etc.).
May 8 (Wed): Weak influence; market may possibly go up (55%). The up influence is stronger in the morning; the market may go down late pm on concerns about some financial restrictions (e.g., related to bank loans). Transits to the US chart support an UP move as well.
USA: The day is favorable for taking actions (e.g., passing laws) that would boost international relationships, higher education, and/or travel industry.
May 9 (Th): Medium influence; market may possibly go down (55%). Focus on the news about banks/financial sector is strong today. There could be some news at the open related to a push for banks to change old ways of doing business (e.g., how they raise money or how the money flows into the banks).
May 10 (Fr): Weak influence; market may possibly go up (55%).
May 13 (Mon): Strong influence; market will probably go down (65-70%). Transits to the US chart are slightly supportive of an UP move, but the overall mood will likely be too negative for the market to rally today. Likely, a strong focus on healthcare/drugs-related issues today (globally and in the US). Also, increased probability of discussions about clean water, dealing with floods, and/or deception in the news (e.g., whether something was sugar-coated).
May 14 (Tue): Weak influence; market may possibly go up (55%). Transits to the US chart also mostly support an UP move. There could be some tensions/concerns over the new leadership (on the level of governments and/or large corporations)—these tensions will continue to intensify to peak around May 20-21. The tension will be between the new/unique/independent approach to doing something or new leaders and the old leaders/old restrictive/overly controlling approach to managing [a country, corporation, group of countries, etc.].
USA: There could be some positive news related to healthcare/elderly care and/or programs designed to fight “hidden enemies” [or “open enemies” through secretive means].
May 15 (Wed): Medium influence; market may possibly go up (55-60%).
May 16 (Th): Medium influence; market may possibly go up (55%). My original prediction was down, but since transits to the US chart are mostly positive, I changed it to UP. Could be an important day for banking/financial system—some action may be taken to let go of the old way of doing something and/or change the value of something and/or an approach to how something is valued.
USA: Potential for positive developments (e.g., increase in profits) in the area of communications, travel (incl. airlines), IT, and/or retail sales.
May 17 (Fr): Medium influence; market may possibly go down (60%). There could be some news related to healthcare or pharma-industry, esp. in the late afternoon. Transits to the US chart also mostly support a DOWN move.
USA: Possible tensions related to the financial system, taxes, or mining—mostly early am.
May 20 (Mon): Medium influence; market may possibly go down (55-60%). May 20-21: Strong tensions over leadership (governmental or corporate); possibility of protests demanding independence or new [unstructured] approach/leader and against perceived oppression or old [structured] approach/leader.
May 21 (Tue): Weak influence; market may possibly go up (55%). My original prediction was down, but since transits to the US chart are a bit more in favor of an UP move, I changed it to up.
USA: Some events or news will likely instill a mood that financial system is doing well and/or is stable, that country’s finances/revenue/income are in good state and will remain that way.
May 22 (Wed): Weak influence; market may possibly go up (55%). Transits to the US chart also support an UP move.
USA: There could be some positive news about the financial system/banks; also, a good day for joint actions/partnerships with other countries.
May 23 (Th): Strong influence; market may possibly go up (55-60%). Transits to the US chart also support an UP move.
USA: May 22-23 – Possible euphoria over some domestic issue related to improvements of the lives of the citizens (housing?); likely a time of feeling expansive and generous; happy overspending (inspired by some higher/noble cause, such as ensuring citizens’ needs are met).
May 24 (Fr): Medium-strong influence; market may possibly go down (60%). Although transits to the US chart show some support for an UP move, heliocentric transits (Venus in opposition to Pluto) strongly support a down move, so I kept the original down prediction.
May 27 (Mon): Strong mixed influence; market may possibly go up (60-65%). There could be a brief upset early am about the leadership (government/large corporation) or its management approach, but the influence should pass quickly. Increased probability of some positive news related to IT, communications, travel, and/or retail sales. May 27-28: Likely good news about some international developments; happy and upbeat mood about the perceived abundance of money and/or increased profits (esp. in the area of IT, communications, travel, and retail sales).
USA: Mixed influence – either continuing euphoria over some domestic issue (housing?), or, concerns about where to find the money to pay for what may have been over-done/over-promised on May 22-23.
May 28 (Tue): Strong-mixed influence; market may possibly go up (65-70%). Likely, a continuation of the happy exuberant mood from the 27th, esp. early am. Many people may find themselves feeling optimistic about their finances (and/or confident that the economy is doing well) and may even feel like splurging on some luxury items (esp. related to IT, communications, and travel). May 27-28 would be great couple of days to introduce and/or put up for sale some new communication device (such as a phone)—it would likely be perceived very favorably & sell like hot cakes.
May 29 (Wed): Weak influence; market may possibly go up (55%). Transits to the US chart also mostly support an UP move.
May 30 (Th): Medium mixed influence; market may possibly go up (55%). Transits to the US chart are mixed as well.
May 31 (Fr): Weak-medium influence; market may possibly go up (55%). My original prediction [prior to looking at the US chart], was down, but since transits to the US chart are mostly in favor of an UP move, I changed it to up.
USA: Positive news about income/revenue (esp. through taxes). Good day for introducing some responsible approach or structure/limitations to ensure that economic expansion occurs in a responsible manner without going overboard or over-promising. Another possibility involves introducing controls to keep leadership accountable. [This could be related to international affairs/immigration reform and/or country’s leadership in general.]
Just checked Bloomberg economic calendar for May 22-23 (http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/economic-calendar/) and lo and behold, there will be US housing-related reports coming out on those 2 dates [I honestly didn’t know; in fact, I wasn’t feeling well over the weekend and barely mastered the energy to put the predictions together].
Astrologically, Jupiter will square Neptune in the US chart (exact on the morning of 23rd). In the US chart, Neptune rules the 4th house of home, land, farming, real estate, housing, etc. Jupiter = excess, optimism, going overboard; square = tension, break/going overboard [to release tension]. Neptune, generally, tends to be associated with illusions and dissolving of boundaries. In sum, it sure looks like there will be some major euphoria over the housing reports in the US on May 22-23.
More on housing (globally): Jupiter (increase/expansion/abundance) will be transiting through Cancer (home/real estate/land/etc.) from Jun 25, 2013 till Jul 16, 2014. This indeed favors increase in housing prices (w/o taking into account any aspects Jupiter may form w/other planets).
As expected, right after we had a solar eclipse in Taurus (banks/finances) on May 9, there was a development associated with a move away from some old practices related to the financial system. Specifically, in the US, Fed announced plans to “scale back its $85-billion-a-month bond-buying program.” The report about the “exit” from stimulus came out on May 10 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-maps-exit-from-stimulus-2013-05-10-191031815).
To time when this may unfold, one would want to look at when transiting planets will aspect the sensitive degree (19.5 Taurus), especially by conjunction, opposition, and square. For ex., there may be related news coming out on May 16 (± 1 day), when Mars conjuncts that degree. A more significant development will likely occur around December 16-24, when Saturn will oppose that degree; Saturn is associated with limitations/structure, so some cut-back/restructuring will likely be announced. Additionally, Mars will oppose Uranus on Dec 20-24, increasing the likelihood that those days will be somewhat stressful or, at least, significant.
May 15, 2013: “Steven Miller, the acting IRS commissioner, will step down” (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/acting-irs-chief-first-to-go-as-obama-vows-change-2013-05-15?link=MW_pulse). This is clearly one of the manifestations of the slowly unfolding Uranus-Pluto square (exact on May 20-21); probably also fueled by the transiting Mars (action/anger) passing over the recent Solar eclipse degree in Taurus (banks/financial system)–exact on May 16.
Uranus (innovation, sudden change, freedom, rebellion, etc.) is currently in Aries (new beginnings, leaders, [military] actions, etc.), while Pluto (power, death, underworld, suppression, secrecy, control, etc.) is in Capricorn (government, large corporations, structures, mountains, limitations, stability, etc.). Note that Pluto rules Scorpio, which is associated with 8th house and things like taxes, debt, loans, investments, etc. Tax reform and shake-up in IRS leadership fit these archetypes nicely.
On May 16, 2013, “Danny Werfel [was] Tapped By Obama To Lead IRS” (http://www.ibtimes.com/danny-werfel-tapped-obama-lead-irs-following-bosss-firing-1265343). He starts on May 22–good day for the US financial system (see above).
The next time Uranus & Pluto square will be approaching exact will be in late Oct 2013; we may see similar tension around new leadership (government/large corporation-level) again. In particular, Fr. Oct 18, 2013 looks stressful–very likely a down day for the market (news may be especially bad for healthcare/pharma-related stocks or issues; weather-wise, there may be flooding or some problems with water).
May 28, 2013: As expected, with transiting Venus (money) conjunct Jupiter (abundance) and Mercury (news) [not exact, but only 2 degrees away] in Gemini (communication/news), there is an abundance of positive headlines today:
~U.S. stocks jump; optimism ‘as high as a kite’ http://on.mktw.net/19j7FOx
~Americans most confident in five years http://on.mktw.net/12LBTo6
Also, Jupiter squared US Neptune a few days ago (Neptune rules the 4th house of housing/real estate in the US chart) and we see:
~U.S. home-price growth fastest in nearly 7 years http://on.mktw.net/10EkJHG