Weekly column: Pluto's return and the transformation of the stock market

Review

The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated on Friday as investors followed the latest news about a potential government shutdown and ended what has been a tough month for stocks. – Alex Harring, Sarah Min, and Pia Singh, “S&P 500 and Nasdaq Wrap Worst Month in 2023,” www.cnbc.com, September 29, 2023.

This was the week that Venus made its third and final square to Uranus (Friday, September 29). One of the outcomes of a hard aspect between Venus and Uranus can be either a breakout of multi-month support/resistance, or a reversal. In this passage, it is coinciding with breakouts so far. Last week witnessed several global stock indices break one support after another. The same happened with Gold, which fell to a low of 1862.30 on Friday, its lowest price since early March.

In terms of the stock market, this column and the MMA subscription reports forecasted that once this current primary cycle tops out, the largest decline of the year would likely commence. So far, the sharpest decline of the year in the DJIA has been nearly 3000 points from the high of January 14 (34,342) to March  15 (31,429). The reason for our forecast was based on the idea that this is the third primary cycle since the longer-term cycle trough of October 13, 2022, and third primary cycles often correlate with 50-week cycle lows. This is also the time band of the “Pre-Presidential Election-Year Cycle Trough” that we introduced to readers of our annual Forecast Books several years ago, where the market exhibits a pronounced decline into September-March the year before the U.S. election.

Additionally, there is a Sun/Mars conjunction approaching on November 18. As discussed in our last MMA Cycles Reports, this aspect has a strong correlation to 8% or greater declines in many global stock indices when it is within 8° of exactness. It is within 15° now, and so far, the decline has been 6.6%. It will enter this degree range in about 3 weeks and last well into December. In other words, the decline now underway isn’t likely to end very soon. However, the good news is that once it does end, the strongest rally in over a year is likely to commence.

There is a similar pattern setting up in the Gold market. I discussed this setup in our “X” (formerly Twitter) feed last week. If you don’t follow us on Twitter, I suggest you do so because that is where I discuss many ideas in real time as I see markets behave. Soon, these alerts may be offered as a special subscription service via ‘X’ as they arise and not only when a report is scheduled to be released. You can locate us on ‘X’ as Merriman Market Analyst(@mmacycles).

SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS

 The breakouts associated with the Venus/Uranus square generally end within two weeks. This fits well with the fact that there are no other major aspects unfolding until the week beginning October 9, when Mars will square Pluto, which can be an intense, war-like, threatening dynamic. That might be especially intense this time because Pluto will also turn direct the next day (October 10), while Venus is also in opposition to Saturn. Just as important, Mars will enter Scorpio on October 12, lasting through November 24, likely an equally intense period since Scorpio is the natural home to both Mars and Pluto.

Pluto and Scorpio share many psychological characteristics: intensity, relentlessness, exposures, and revelations, the urge to transform and change. And this can lead to violence. Additionally, both relate to the 4 D’s of the financial world: debt, deficits, downgrades, and defaults. Taxes are also included in its arsenal of possible changes in laws related to the economy.

Pluto and Scorpio give no ground based on the mercy principle. It’s all or nothing. You are either all in or out. This will be a period when one needs to be strong and focused. Complacency or inattention can lead to losses, whereas focus and concentration can lead to great gains. Make the choice and go for it.

Longer-term thoughts

 Joe Biden is old, but policy is his problem. I believe the majority of Americans don’t like current Democratic policies on major issues. They don’t like the party’s position on crime, which comes down to the idea that crime is bad, but we can’t just arrest people and throw them in prison if they’re convicted, it’s more societally nuanced than that. – Peggy Noonan, “Biden’s Trend Line Points Downward: Voters Don’t Miss Trump, but They Miss 2019, and They Worry About Crime, Immigration, and Inflation,” Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2023.

Donald Trump has portrayed every campaign of his short political career in one of two ways: He either won, or the election was stolen. – Scott Patterson, “For Trump, ‘Stop the Steal’ Campaign Never Gets Old,” Wall Street Journal, September 25, 2023.

I am in Los Angeles, California, this week, and I am stunned by the rapid increase of violence and theft in both residences and businesses here. My son has a friend whose aunt and uncle own a home in a supposedly safe section of Los Angeles (Brentwood). Their movements were being tracked by a group of people. When they went out on errands recently, the group broke into their home, burglarized it in daylight in a short time, destroyed many items, and then sped off with many valuables. It was all recorded on a home security system. Nothing was done. I was told this is a common occurrence now in L.A.

The travails of San Francisco and Oakland’s crime spree have been well publicized, too. Looters break into a retail business and take whatever they want, destroying property and products along the way with no consequences afterward unless the owner beats them with a stick – and then the owner has to pay the consequences for defending his/her property or that of their boss.

So, I was thinking: what is the astrological correlation to this trend of violence and destruction/robbery of businesses and residences in major cities in California, New York, Illinois, and elsewhere? I was wondering how can California’s Governor Newsom be a serious candidate for the presidency. If the basic responsibility of a state or national leader is the protection of its citizens then in regards to that duty, he and other leaders seem to be failing. And when will this trend of violence and disregard for another’s property end? I have some thoughts to share on this national phenomenon.

First, how does this show up in astrological charts? I think it shows in the founding chart of the U.S., which is not only still undergoing its Pluto return (violence and crime wave), but also in the July 2, 1776 chart that I prefer. Pluto is still within orb of influence to its founding Moon in Capricorn, which conjoins natal Pluto. The Moon is the home, the small businesses, and the personal property of citizens. In Capricorn, these violations can connote fear for one’s safety, which in turn produces anxiety and stress. Pluto, as a transit, also has an incubation effect. The problems are established as the aspect begins, but they don’t reach their height as serious issues requiring dramatic reform until 1-3 years later. The aspect is exact in 2021-2023, but the manifestation of the events (crimes) may not peak until 2024-2026. Then, solutions that work to reduce this trend significantly may be introduced and put into action.

What indicates a possible solution to this trend of destruction and theft? I think it will be the “Aries Vortex” (thanks to Astro researcher Daniel Gordon for helping to come up with a term to describe this forthcoming astrological pattern). This is when Uranus trines Pluto, and the midpoint will be at 0° Aries, which is also where the Saturn/Neptune conjunction takes place in 2025-2026. Uranus, in trine to a planet, represents innovative solutions to problems. Pluto pertains to the problem of crime, such as burglaries and destruction of property. So, this issue will likely be addressed with a greater sense of urgency, which is to protect American citizens and make cities and their business communities safer in 2025-2026.

Saturn/Neptune can also represent efforts to enact harsher laws, increase security forces, and actively create an environment of safety, which is something Neptune dearly wants (peace, not fear and anxiety). Saturn/Neptune can also suggest an increase of new jails, prisons, and security forces under the banner of increasing safety. But if not monitored well by people of trust, it can also indicate corruption and theft of funds raised that were designed to address the crime wave. Hopefully, given the cosmic potency of the “Aries Vortex,” the choice will be to solve the problem, rather than to use the problem as an excuse to embezzle or misuse the funds for other illegal activities. Politically-speaking, I believe this will be a major issue in the 2024 election: which candidate can best make people feel safe again in their cities?

I’m going for the positive solution because the Saturn/Neptune conjunction also makes a favorable sextile to the Uranus/Pluto trine in 2025-2026. I think leaders will take crime seriously and implement new, innovative efforts to reduce crime in large American cities. Once that happens, I also think a positive trend in national economics and the small business sector can begin. Cities will be reborn, and people will feel safe visiting and supporting their local businesses. Until then, many may seem like ghost towns as businesses leave and people have nowhere to purchase goods conveniently and safely as they used to.