Astrology for Trumpworld

Oh, how I long for the good old days — like, maybe 4-5 months ago — when I could only worry about one catastrophe at a time! So many nightmares now, so little energy to properly fret over just one. Let’s see…Killer pandemic? Nosediving economy? Social Justice protests and demands sweeping the nation? Not enough toilet paper?

Like most people, I’m getting so overwhelmed by all these stressors that I end up worrying about EVERYTHING. I’ve tried and tried to worry about just one thing at a time… But I can’t. It feels a lot like going to a salad bar for a healthy lite lunch, only to end up with a mountain of greens, croutons, veggies, sunflower seeds, and cheese chunks. Sure, you tried to get good nutrition. But in the end, you only got more calories and more apres-lunch bloat. Not a good thing. But what can you do?

Here’s an idea out of left field that you’ve probably never thought of: ASTROLOGY.

Instead of stewing in your stress, look to the stars for a different perspective. Go online and read Susan Miller’s forecasts and words of wisdom at www.astrologyzone.com. Go to Minnesota’s own www.Llewellyn.com(or call the toll-free number) and order a Daily Planetary Guide(calendar + ephemeris). Take a peek at Debbie Kempton-Smith’s landmark book Secrets From A Stargazer’s Notebook. Any one of these options will help you get a feel for an unorthodox but fascinating stressbuster.

Please understand, I am NOT recommending Astrology as a substitute for personal safety and government guidelines on how to best handle COVID-19. Keep on using your masks and practicing safe distancing and self-isolation. Don’t rush into crowded places and naively think you won’t get infected. I’m merely offering a suggestion here for you to learn something new and to see things in a new way, that’s all. Do it and you’ll get over the biggest hangup most detractors have when they start to read about astrology. That is, you could look at it with “beginners mind” and see that astrology is not about cause and effect; it’s more about synchronicity — meaningful coincidences.

With astrology, it’s about looking at geometric configurations of heavenly bodies and understanding that, with certain aspects, there’s a tendency for certain things to happen. Take Uranus in Taurus, for example. On May 15, 2018, it left the sign of Aries and entered Taurus. The last time Uranus entered Taurus? On June 6, 1934 — during the time of America’s Great Depression. Coincidence? That’s what it’s all about. It’s not that Uranus actually CAUSED our country’s economic woes at that time. It’s that when Uranus was in the sign of Taurus, there was a greater probability that America would experience economic struggles and challenges.

That’s what Carl Jung, eminent founder of modern psychology, might have said, anyway. He coined the term synchronicity and even went so far as to use astrology and tarot cards in treating his patients. I’m not sure what he would have told Trump about his upcoming June 20th rally in Tulsa. As a physician, Jung probably would have discouraged him from holding such a huge event during this pandemic. As an advocate of synchronicity, though, Jung would have also advised Trump not to schedule his rally so close to the solar eclipse.

No, we won’t be able to get a good view of it in the United States. But we’re going to feel this eclipse here on Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st. Exactly which day depends on which time zone you’re in. More importantly, this eclipse will take place during the Summer Solstice, when the Sun moves from Gemini into Cancer — the Sun sign of America’s natal chart.

Understanding astrology is like getting a bus schedule from the Universe. So when I hear that Trump — a Gemini — is going to hold a rally during a pandemic, around the time of a solar eclipse that involves America’s natal sun, I can only worry even more. Trump’s timing is bad, real bad. As in, he’s not just going to miss the bus. There’s a real tendency or higher probability than usual that he might get run over by a semi. Or maybe get zapped by lightening. With such challenging planetary aspects, there’s a greater chance than normal that this rally will NOT bode well for him. At all.

Although I’m not a professional astrologer, these aspects concern me. At the time of this writing, it’s Wednesday afternoon — hours before Mercury goes retrograde at 11:59 P.M., CST. So this rally not only will take place during a solar eclipse but also when Mercury goes retrograde. Mercury rules travel and communication: two things that Trump needs to go well when he flies over to Tulsa, Oklahoma, then speaks at his rally. Unfortunately, Mercury isn’t going to provide much help for him. Whenever a planet goes retrograde, it appears to stand still or seems to go backwards — and its helpful powers are greatly reduced.

I’m not even going to list all the other planets that are retrograde, because they’re too numerous to mention here. But that many planets in retrograde won’t be helpful to Trump, either. So let’s just say Trump scheduled his rally at a most inauspicious time and should cancel it within the next 2 days. And let’s all pray to God that he actually does cancel this big event.

No, you don’t need an astrologer to tell you that. It’s just common sense. But when you consider how the stars have aligned to reinforce what doctors, epidemiologists, and concerned citizens have kept saying about the rally, it truly is a meaningful coincidence. If the scheduled event goes on as planned, it will prove disastrous for him(and everyone else there).

But there IS hope for our country. Outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto(especially Pluto) are all in Capricorn, the sign that opposes America’s natal sun. That means there isn’t just an opportunity for change. That means that there’s a very real possibility that this country will undergo far-reaching and lasting changes. Why? Because these planets have set the stage to make it easier and more accessible for us all to transform our lives.

I’m closing this op-ed with excerpts from an article written in Vanity Fair(from the January 2007 issue). The magazine’s then astrologer Michael Lutin wrote “Special Alert: Horoscope U.S.A.” His article dealt with Pluto’s entry into Capricorn, one that would take place on January 26, 2008, and then remain until it moved into Aquarius on November 19, 2024. Like a witty Nostradamus, he gave his predictions and reminded readers the last time this “planet” entered Capricorn was around the time of The American Revolution.

Any skepticism I had melted at the following passage:
“…America, which was born on July 4, 1776, is a Cancer nation. Cancer is the sign of fertility, and America sees herself as the world’s nurturing mother. But because of the hostile presence of Mars and Uranus in our solar 12th house, we’re the kind of nurturer that can bomb the hell out of a country one day and send sandwiches and coffee the next. That makes the rest of the world love us and hate us…”

What impressed me more was his take on how Pluto could help our country change. Yeah, I know, I know, it does seem goofy. And yet, it’s also fun to read. Maybe it’s just another thing we all need to think about during these troubling times. Lutin wrote this fascinating article 13 years ago and ended it on a note of hope:
“…The period of turmoil that lies before us is a necessary step in the evolution of this country that will result in a reworking of the Constitution in the last half of the 2020s. It will mark the rebirth of the United States as a more global nation — a member of the world, if not its leader. This is an affront to our Cancer nation’s cherished ideas about wealth, security, and supremacy. Luckily for us, however, the horoscope of the U.S.A. is strongly influenced by Venus and Jupiter, so we’ll never go totally broke or hungry. America is a fabulous place to live, but we’ve gotten fat and we’ve gotten lazy. So don’t blame anyone in Washington for this crisis. A country gets the leaders it deserves, and when we’re ready to rise from the ruins of empire, we will find the leaders to help us do so. It will happen, but not in 2008. We have to through the Pluto transit first.”