Global: Sep 2015 – Dec 2017: Focus on oil, water, drugs, lies, religion, higher education, immigration, foreign connections, and long distance travel with a new sober/realistic perspective — the mood may be that these areas got out of hand, went over board, and need discipline/restrictions/regulation. Immigration control, control of religious ceremonies, structured approach to higher education, limitation on foreign currencies/connections/long distance travel, etc. This new perspective will strengthen over upcoming months and will remain till about the end of 2017.

USA: Feb 2015 — March 2016 (esp. late March/early April 2015, and Sep 2015 through Feb 2016) — Major changes in international relationships. This is a very slow gradual change with the ultimate effect of dissolving old ties and alliances. In the process, there will be a lot of confusion and possible deception and disillusion (e.g., partners fail to follow through on agreements). There will be a strong spiritual or religious element to these ties — some alliances may spring up or disappear because of similarities or differences in ideals and vision for the future. Other important areas that will affect partnerships are common views/goals related to oil, healthcare, and water/navy. This week, this influence will peak around Sep 7.

Astrologically, this influence relates to the transiting Neptune (religion) squaring US Descendent (marriage/partnerships). It is interesting that the Neptune transit to the US Descendent coincides with the first ever Pope’s visit to the USA. The last time this aspect was in effect was in 1851-52, which corresponded with important activities related to the LDS Church.

USA: Mar 2015 — Apr 2016 (esp. April 2015, mid-Aug 2015, and mid-Feb 2016) — Major changes in transportation and communication industries as well as retail sales (related mostly to web-based and electronic transactions, which require data transfers). This is a very slow gradual change with the ultimate effect of dissolving old ways of doing things (e.g., commuting, communicating, shipping, traveling, and buying/selling) and coming up with new ways. This is likely to involve dissolution and mergers of transportation and communication companies, incl. companies that process payments electronically (e.g., Western Union).

Other affected areas will be aerospace, telecoms, IT industry, electric engines, electronics, gadgets, and similar industries. The changes will likely have to do with oil (e.g., oil prices affect shipping and flights), healthcare (e.g., spread of some contagious disease affects travel), water (e.g., floods, rains, etc. affect transportation; travel by water becomes much more or less popular; new cable is laid under water; etc.), navy (e.g., there are some problems with or confusion about aerospace projects, island bases, submarines, ships that carry planes over water, etc.), chemicals/pollution (e.g., shipping accidents resulting in pollution or poisoning may increase), movies/music (e.g., developments in the entertainment industry will lead to reorganization of the media companies or push these companies to implement new hi-tech approaches for signal transmission), and spirituality/religion (e.g., some people’s beliefs will not agree with new technology like robots and autopilot). Ideological battles over new technology may manifest as increased arguments over what is healthy, spiritual, and how to prevent pollution. New controls to prevent infectious diseases from spreading through travel may be invented or implemented.

Astrologically, this influence relates to the transiting Neptune (religion) squaring US Uranus (high tech, sudden change) in the 7th house of partnerships, ruler of the 3rd house of transportation/communication. The last time this aspect was in effect was in 1851-52, which corresponded with outbreaks of cholera and flu.

USA: Nov 30 – Dec 15 (esp. Dec 3-4) — strong focus on military expansion and making risky moves because of feeling bold, optimistic, or inspired to help (e.g., to protect victims). Other areas of expansion and optimism include increased communication and data exchange with partners, expansion of air travel or transportation (incl. for military purposes), and increased focus on sports-related activities and events (e.g., greater number of events, larger scale, more sports-related gambling, etc.).

USA: Dec 2, 2015 – Feb 12, 2016 — strong focus on and increased news about oil, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, drugs, chemicals, water/navy, movies, music, and/or religion. The nature of the news will be increased optimism, hope, and expansion. The price or availability of the related products or services may increase, or, there may be more opportunities for expansion than usual. For ex., more oil is available, opportunities to develop oil increase, new source of oil is discovered, some drug is made available more easily, a drug sells incredibly well, a drug brings much more profit than expected, healthcare industry profits improve significantly, there is a major flooding or a snowstorm, profits from beverage/alcohol industries climb, new (likely alcoholic) beverage gains popularity, water sales increase, navy force is expanded (e.g., by adding equipment, sending ships to more locations, establishing more bases, etc.), and so on.

USA: As mentioned in March, 2013 (How long will the market rally last? A few long-term observations for US economy (2013-2023)), in mid to late Dec 2015 (esp. during 2 weeks before/after Dec 24th), I expect major developments regarding financial reforms. In late Dec 2015, Pluto will square US Saturn = major reform regarding finances/banks and how the country earns/saves its money—this could be very drastic (Pluto symbolizes death & total transformation). Moreover, Pluto is transiting Capricorn (government, large corporations, mines, solid structures, limitations, delays) and through the 2nd house of the US chart (2nd house = financial system/banks/accumulated wealth). Given the transit, rate increase announcement by the Federal Reserve is likely. Additionally, there will likely be other events (related or unrelated to the rate hike) that will have a significant transformative effect on the US financial system, which will last for years. The source of the transformation will likely be governmental regulations, some type of limiting influence, and/or corporate restructuring; mining industry and any related businesses (e.g., manufacturers of steel, minerals, chemicals that come from minerals excavated from the earth, etc.) will likely also be strongly affected/transformed. Curiously, China will be experiencing a transformation of its financial system or some important events affecting banks and/or accumulated wealth around the same time (peak influence also in the late Dec, esp. +- 2 weeks around Dec 19th) — so, there may either be global events that affect both countries at the same time, or, events in one country will affect the other.

China: Dec 7, 2015 – Feb 10, 2016 — increased focus on expansion or inventions related to healthcare; veterinary care; pharmaceuticals; chemicals; secretive/hidden activities; excavation or accumulation of materials used to produce drugs, chemicals, and various metals; and/or manufacturing of items/machinery made of such materials (e.g., for building railroads or treating diseases). Secret expansion or expansion of secret, unseen, or subtle influence.

China: Jan 2014 — Jan 2016 (esp., Mar-Jun 2014, Dec 2014 – Mar 2015, Jun-Dec 2015) — Major transformation of financial system, approaches to accumulating wealth, investments, rates, taxes, insurance, managing stock market and any gambling or risky activities. Some governmental or corporate controls will be placed to regulate matters so that they remain in balance. Dec 18-21 may see the peak of this influence (+- 2 weeks).

OIL: Given the relatively big drop in oil prices in the past week, it looks like the exact Neptune/Saturn square (2nd of the 3-part transit) in the early Dec produced an intermediate MAX/TOP reversal point. I was expecting oil prices to hit a LOW in Nov/Dec (Oil prices fluctuations and Neptune-Saturn cycle: Financial astrology insights), but was also expecting a significant up move shortly after the exact transit. It now looks like there may be a slow gradual rise instead or possibly even a slight drop till the next, and final, 3rd exact square in Sep 2016. If there is no sharp upward move in the next 2 weeks, I would wait until after the final exact square next Sep to see a major upward jump.

With the Neptune/Saturn aspect now slowly separating from the exact square, the down influence on oil will gradually lessen. So, Jan-Apr 2016 may see the prices rebound somewhat. Then, starting as early as May 2016 and especially in the summer through Sep of 2016 (with Aug 22 to Sep 23 being quite significant), we may see a major turmoil related to oil [production/sales/distribution/etc.] and a serious price depression. Once Neptune/Saturn square begins to separate for good, there should be a major price reversal in Sep or Oct 2016 (I believe from a BOTTOM/LOW to up) followed by a multi-year recovery (or at least a steady multi-year trend in the same direction; I believe it will be up). After that, I would look at the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune (2025-26; esp. late Jan-Feb 2026) for the next big top/bottom of the oil prices with related geopolitical turmoil. At that time, Neptune will also be leaving its own sign, Pisces, which will make that time period even more significant wrt oil prices and anything related to Neptune, including chemicals (esp. chemical weapons or weapons that work through affecting mind/mood/etc.), drugs/pharmaceuticals (esp. drugs used as weapons), water, spirituality, etc.

Given that Neptune also rules chemicals, alcohol, beverages, pharmaceuticals, navy, water, drugs, poisons, pollution (of water or with chemicals), music, movies, photography, spirituality, healing (with drugs or through alternative approaches), etc., and that Saturn rules big corporations and governments, businesses related to the areas above (esp. large corporations or governmental entities) will experience major changes in their structure, profit schemes, popularity of their products, and/or manufacturing technologies around the same times. For ex., the Dow Chemical and DuPont merger announced last week is a good representation of the Neptune/Saturn square —> Neptune=chemicals, Saturn=large corporations, square=forcibly breaking an old pattern. I expect we may hear more about other Neptunian businesses or products undergoing major changes as well around the times of hard Neptune/Saturn aspects (e.g., next 2-4 weeks, summer-Sep 2016, and then in 2025-26).

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WEEKLY OVERVIEW: In the next 2-3 weeks, there will be very strong focus on financial system, banks, investments, stock market, and accumulated wealth in the US and China. The influence will peak mid-week through early next week for China and around Christmas, for the US. The transformation will likely be related to governmental regulations, some type of limiting influence, restrictions, delays, long-term plans, older or senior established entities or individuals, and/or corporate restructuring that involves large corporations (or corporations with ties to government). In the US, mining industry and any related businesses (e.g., manufacturers of steel, minerals, chemicals that come from excavated minerals, etc.) will likely also be strongly affected. In China, there may be important news related to businesses, products, or projects that involve pharmaceuticals/healthcare/medicine (esp. as related to procreation, regeneration of tissues/organs/etc., and aging), as well as oil, mining, and chemicals. The nature of the news may be stressful and/or involve major changes, like breaking old agreements or entering into agreements that require a totally new way of doing business. The status quo being changed will be something that has been around for a while (years) and the changes will bring about effects that will be felt for years to come as well.
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DEC 14, 2015 (MON): Medium-strong influence; market may possibly go up (55%). The up influence is stronger in the afternoon and for the US than globally. The news will probably focus on foreign relations or travel to a great degree. The travel or foreign relations may somehow involve healthcare/pharmaceuticals, travel, higher education, need for [more exact] statistics/numbers, or animals (e.g., too many people traveling internationally may require changes in health screening or how individuals are accounted for, livestock shipment overseas is increased/decreased due to animals being sick or the need to move them to prevent decease, etc.).

USA: Today +-1-2 days we will experience the maximum of the influence described in the general/long-term predictions section at the top (see USA Dec 2, 2015 – Feb 12, 2016) — strong focus on and increased news about oil, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, drugs, chemicals, water/navy, movies, music, and/or religion. Stronger than usual price fluctuations of the related businesses and products are highly likely, esp. on the morning of Dec 14. Astrologically, this relates to Jupiter (expansion) conjuncting Neptune (e.g., oil, drugs, chemicals, etc.) in the US natal chart; on Mon morning, transiting Sun will square US Neptune as well.
DEC 15, 2015 (TUE): Medium-strong influence; market may possibly go up (60%). The up influence is stronger for the US.

USA: Increased probability of positive news about the stock market, investments (esp. foreign-related), taxes, insurance, international travel, and/or higher education. The news may be about increased profits (e.g., of insurance companies or from investments in foreign markets), improved ease of financing something (e.g., college), or improved conditions for investing overseas or traveling abroad.

DEC 16, 2015 (WED): Medium-strong influence; market may possibly go down (55%). The down influence is stronger in the late afternoon and overnight into pre-open hours EST time (so on Thur morning for Asian/Australian markets). The down influence may not even manifest for the US market on Wed and begin manifesting in Asia on Thur morning instead, possibly due to some stressful news from China.

China: Dec 16-17 — In addition to the news about foreign investments, profits from foreign lands (esp. mining or oil/chemicals), financial system, etc., there may also be important news about currency, monetary policy, communication/transportation businesses, or retail sales. We may hear about decreased profits, an abrupt change in value (likely down), or some abrupt action to prevent change in value (along the lines of cutting losses to avoid losing more). The action(s) may involve foreign partnerships or overseas travel, incl. any military alliances or travel for military-related purposes.

DEC 17, 2015 (TH): Strong influence; market may possibly go down (55-60%). The down influence is stronger in the morning and may be related to news about investments/banks in China and/or US.

USA: Dec 17-18 — Increased focus on sports, military, weapons, racing, gambling, and stock market. The news may be positive and/or involve an authority figure or government somehow improving conditions (making things easier) for businesses and products related to the areas listed earlier. For ex., government makes it easier to provide military support to international partners; military support is requested and received easily; an action movie about someone who races, is an athlete, is a daredevil, or is in military becomes a success; etc.

DEC 18, 2015 (FR): Strong influence; market may possibly go down (65%). There may be increased focus in the news on governmental or large corporate rulings, agreements, restructuring, restrictions, or delays. Additionally, there will likely be increased news about mines, steel, chemicals, and possibly mudslides or earthquakes.

China: Increased and likely stressful news about banks, investments, and stock market (e.g., about losses, hidden problems, ending of some cycle, etc.). Agreements or communication may be broken or entered into somewhat abruptly or without proper communication. Another possibility is stressful news about weather and travel (e.g., due to water-related events, mudslides, chemical poisoning, missing or incorrect info, or ending of some cycle or agreement).