9 replies to this topic

[tradermama]

I thought I would just post Merriman's columns here from now on. The FF board seems to get too egotiscal on their trades which do result to poo pooing anything associated with the planets. I feel there is no benefit when we attach to ego in any way. There are only a few people on FF that are worth reading imo. Here, I enjoy this thread because people are civil and open minded. This is one reason I sometimes wish not to post because of the distraction posting can bring. I want to thank all of you for your civility.

As I have mentioned before, astrology does not predict but gives you a roadmap of what you can expect. If you decide to ignore it life will go on. But if you can keep your mind open, and just pay attention, you may learn something ..that there is something bigger out there than we think. I am not looking for arguments on whether there is validity to astrology. I'm only sharing. It's just one tool that can be used and even the best astrologers can be wrong. It's an art in interpretation. That said, this is for those who wish to keep an open mind and follow what is being said. I would mark these dates on my calendar..especially the Venus Retrograde Oct 8th. I remember it clearly when Merriman mentioned in one of his columns several weeks before in Feb 2009 to keep an eye on the Venus Retro that would be coming up March 6, 2009. Bingo!...and this is not a one time fluke. The time before was Oct 10,2002. Go check your charts...that particular one was when it signaled the end of the bear cycle (from late 2002-2002 when spx hit 776.76 around that time.) He makes a point to pay attention because if we are going down into it, chances are great we see a good reversal..how long that lasts cannot be predicted...just that there should be a reversal. This goes in line with his webcast I listened to where he says as long as 9484 holds...because that is major support. By the way, Merriman has a big following and it's not because he's wrong a lot..although he does reserve the right to be wrong..LOL!

By the way, July 26th as he mentions below is the last and final hard aspect of Saturn to Uranus. He mentions this has gone in line with tops and most likely why in his webcast besides the full moon on that same day, we would rally into it..gold and markets. The very first one was Nov 4th the day of the election and that was a top and the others that followed. Just something to remember because next week it will be volatile. I do point and figure along with other TA, and it's been flip flopping back and forth within weeks..something I had seen back in Dec 2008 which kept me conservative and nimble. This is contributing to many traders confusion and why you see so much flip flopping posting on the FF board, yet no one wishes to admit to it that they were wrong in their interpretation because eventually they were right again. LOL!

I don't believe you always have to be in the market. When the market is like this, sometimes it's best to stand back and watch. There will be clearer setups coming. Cash preservation sometimes is better than trying to make money. Uranus knows that. LOL!

Take a break from the market, kiss your love ones, and enjoy nature if you feel stress...It's not always about making money!

Peace!


MMA Ciomments for the Week Beginning July 19, 2010
Written by Raymond Merriman
Review and Preview
We never said it would easy. And we always stated that this would be volatile time and markets would be difficult to trade.

Last week started out positive for equity markets around the world. After making a new low for 2010 the previous week (July 2-6), many stock markets soared into last Wednesday, July 14. Then, just when it looked like they were about to explode to the upside, they sold off again sharply on Friday. Welcome to this next layer of the Cardinal Climax, a new portal of reality where the old rules no longer work, and no one knows for sure what the new rules are. For the past few weeks, it’s been all about Uranus.

Yet despite the fact that technical levels of support and resistance seem to get violated at least once a week now, one factor remains the same. Since the yearly high of April 26, when Saturn made its fourth of five oppositions to Uranus, every decline has been to a lower low, and every rally to a lower high. Lower lows and lower highs of the same cycle type is the very definition of a bear market. Yet the rallies are always more than the normal corrective variety. They are stronger than most analysts would expect in a bear market. This is Uranus in action.

For example, after the low of June 8, when Jupiter and Uranus made their first of three conjunctions at 9757 in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the index rallied over 800 points in just a few days to nearly 10,600 on June 21 That was when the summer solstice squared Uranus and made a grand square to all the planets in the Cardinal Climax. It broke important resistance areas along the way, suggesting it was a new bull market. But then in the next two weeks, it lost all that and more as prices sank to a new low of 9614 on July 2 (July 6 in the S&P) as Uranus then changed directions from direct to retrograde. This created a resistance area around 10,250-10,350. That was easily broken last Wednesday as prices traded above 10,400, creating a new support zone around 10,250. That was then broken on Friday as prices plunged over 260 points. And now we head into the fifth and final Saturn-Uranus opposition next week. Uranus obeys no rules and has no respect for any support or resistance level. It can exceed both in quick fashion, and after doing that, it can either reverse or accelerate its downside breakout, since every cycle low and high are lower than the preceding one.

The extremes of price swings through support and resistance were also noticeable in precious metals. Both Gold and Silver rallied nicely from lows of the first week of July into the middle of last week. But by Friday, they too (like stocks) sold off sharply – even though currencies rallied strongly and the Dollar fell. This too is typical Uranus breaking the rules, for when the Dollar falls, isn’t Gold suppose to rally? About the only sectors that kept rallying were Treasuries, as investors are frightened of risk, and the grain markets, in accordance with our forecast for hot and dry weather. The drought is not only starting here in the USA, but very much so in Russia. That too is part of this Cardinal Climax, especially as Mars heads into its conjunction with Saturn on July 31.

Short-Term Geocosmics

We are now entering the fifth and deepest layer of the Cardinal Climax, July 21-August 21, and maybe lasting into early October when Venus turns retrograde. You remember the last Venus retrograde, right? That was on March 6, 2009, which was one of the two potential dates for the 18-year cycle trough. The other possibility was October 10, 2002. That was also a Venus retrograde, and every eight years, it repeats it’s retrograde from the same sector of the zodiac (this time Scorpio, as in 2002). It is a good time to look for this current bear market to end if the DJIA cannot exceed 10,800 first.

But this week is important for many other reasons as well. On July 23-24, Jupiter will go stationary retrograde, in exact square to Pluto. Pluto rules debt and the potential of loss through destruction (i.e. drought, for example), and Jupiter exaggeration. On Monday, July 26, Saturn will make its fifth and final opposition to Uranus, a 45-year cycle that coincides with sudden, unexpected events and a possible crisis. Uranus with Saturn also rules things like earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and natural acts of destruction when Pluto is also involved – as it is in this case. I would love to tell you with confidence that this means the market will be wildly up or down. But with Uranus, you never know which, and oftentimes it is both in a short amount of time, as we have already witnessed as of late. Anyone who thinks they really know, simply doesn’t know. There are far too may scenarios possible to make this a high confidence trading environment. Sometimes the most valuable thing an analyst can advise is step aside, avoid the risk, and wait it out. But no one wants to pay to hear that.

So let me say it really simply. We are entering a time band of perhaps the most powerful geocosmics signatures of a lifetime. We’ve never seen anything quite like what we are about to witness in the next month. So we don’t really know what to expect, except the unexpected. Normally we might think the Saturn-Uranus opposition would be a crash, and it might be. The previous four times in this series, it has correlated with a crest (not a trough), and after three of those times, the DJIA fell over 1500 points within the next 3-6 weeks. If you want to trade, you have to be nimble and ready to reverse quickly, perhaps on an almost daily schedule. If you cannot handle the stress of risk, stay out and watch this cosmically historical pattern unfold, and watch with amazement at the types of human activities and financial market movements that will likely unfold – assuming they don’t do the unexpected and absolutely nothing of note happens.

Longer-Term Thoughts
“One of (Nikolai) Kondratieff’s principle conclusions was that capitalism was self-correcting and not headed for destruction, a view that should dispel some of the gloom coming from arch-pessimists of today.”

-J. Anthony Boeckh, “The Great Reflation,” 2010, published by John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey.

Is Pluto in Capricorn (2008-2023) the start of a death march for capitalism? Many people think that the system of capitalism that was the root cause of the recent Panic (2008-2009). And therefore the “old” system of capitalism must be retired and replaced by a “new” economic system in order to prevent these types of painful panics in the future. But as Nikolai Kondratieff - the world’s most noted cycles’ analyst – suggests, the problem is not the economic system of capitalism, and the solution to cyclical downturns is not to replace capitalism. Capitalism is self-correcting, and downturns are cyclical, reoccurring, characteristics pertaining to human activity.

The cause behind all financial collapses is seldom the “system.” More often it is the abuse, neglect, or corruption of the system or its rules by individuals who are more driven with taking advantage of systems for personal gain than operating with integrity under basic principles that benefits the greater society. For instance, anti-capitalists tend to believe it is capitalists – especially leaders of big businesses – that corrupt society by buying favors from the regulators or administrators of the federal, state, or local governments. They believe these large firms will bribe – or lobby – in order to get around these barriers to greater profits. This may be true and certainly fits into the themes of Pluto in Capricorn, especially as it is being squared by Uranus in Aries through 2015. Only the strong and aggressive (and perhaps corrupt) will prosper.

But business leaders – especially of small businesses – don’t willingly pay bribes (or anything) in order to escape the rules and regulations of the community’s laws. Just as often it is the rogue regulator or administrator of the government who expects to be paid a fee in order to allow the enterprise to carry on business without a hassle. The corruption isn’t initiated by the entrepreneur (capitalist) anymore than it is by the government administrator, and in order to keep his business alive, the businessperson has to pay this additional “tax” to the regulator, or he will be found in defiance of a law he never knew existed. He will soon be out of business.

This is not to say that many government workers are corrupt, anymore than it is right to say that many - if not all – business leaders are corrupt. Most government workers and business leaders are honest. But when an economic crisis hits, people look for scapegoats, and the first place they look to is business and all enterprises that come under the banner of capitalism. Many look to government too as a cause, but government has the advantage of being able to divert attention to the evils of business over government, especially when the government leader him/herself attacks business as an evil empire. That’s news, it gets air time, and it affects the collective attitude towards business.

This is the poison that Pluto in Capricorn is rooting out over this 15-year period. Society won’t function efficiently unless business, banks, and the government all work in tandem with one another, and according to basic Capricorn rules of honesty and integrity. It doesn’t help when violations are ignored and become part of the accepted way of “doing business.” That leads to excesses and debts which finally topple the structure. It leads to sharp economic downturns, with the accompanying panics and loss of confidence in the government, banks, and businesses.

As Jupiter will soon be stationary and in exact square twice to Pluto (July 24-August 3), the destructive effects of debts and corruption may come more fully into view. Yes, this may have an orb of up to 6 months (we are already in the period of influence, and we see this already manifesting). But as these revelations come to light, the opportunity for corrections can be applied. That is the “self-correcting” nature of capitalism, and not necessarily its death.

[johngeorge]

tradermama Thanks for sharing. Best to you.

[dharma]

arch crawfords take
http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded
dharma

[Echo]

So let me say it really simply. We are entering a time band of perhaps the most powerful geocosmics signatures of a lifetime. We’ve never seen anything quite like what we are about to witness in the next month. So we don’t really know what to expect, except the unexpected. Normally we might think the Saturn-Uranus opposition would be a crash, and it might be. The previous four times in this series, it has correlated with a crest (not a trough), and after three of those times, the DJIA fell over 1500 points within the next 3-6 weeks. If you want to trade, you have to be nimble and ready to reverse quickly, perhaps on an almost daily schedule. If you cannot handle the stress of risk, stay out and watch this cosmically historical pattern unfold, and watch with amazement at the types of human activities and financial market movements that will likely unfold – assuming they don’t do the unexpected and absolutely nothing of note happens.

Thanks for the post TM, I don't follow astrology, but always good to keep an open mind about what might affect human mass psychology, even if its just enough human mass following the thoughts of a famous astrologer to make a difference. I like the last line, especially the ultimate hedge at the end. We all do it, especially those that come to realize how tough the job of predicting the markets can be. Then there are those who haven't figured it out yet.
Peace. Doc

[tradermama]

arch crawfords take
http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded
dharma

Hi Dharma,
I just listened to him. Yea, I believe since 2001 it's been the end of the world as we know it. I believe every astrologer realizes the intensity of this Cardinal Climax that we are coming up to. Last year, I believe he called for a major crash at this time, and something awful was going to happen, and it didn't but the market was choppy yet going up. I would just love to know what his precentage is for being right vs wrong because I seem to catch his calls that are wrong or partially right. For me, I prefer balance in a forecast, letting us know both sides because there is always both sides to signatures imo. I'm not a professional like you but that's how I feel..that we do have choices to stop things that might happen from happening. We'll soon find out.

Wouldn't it be a hoot, if nothing happened? That could be the ultimate joke Uranus plays on us.

Thanks for Crawford's interpretation. Let's just send out some positive energy and hope for the best!

TM

[tradermama]

So let me say it really simply. We are entering a time band of perhaps the most powerful geocosmics signatures of a lifetime. We’ve never seen anything quite like what we are about to witness in the next month. So we don’t really know what to expect, except the unexpected. Normally we might think the Saturn-Uranus opposition would be a crash, and it might be. The previous four times in this series, it has correlated with a crest (not a trough), and after three of those times, the DJIA fell over 1500 points within the next 3-6 weeks. If you want to trade, you have to be nimble and ready to reverse quickly, perhaps on an almost daily schedule. If you cannot handle the stress of risk, stay out and watch this cosmically historical pattern unfold, and watch with amazement at the types of human activities and financial market movements that will likely unfold – assuming they don’t do the unexpected and absolutely nothing of note happens.

Thanks for the post TM, I don't follow astrology, but always good to keep an open mind about what might affect human mass psychology, even if its just enough human mass following the thoughts of a famous astrologer to make a difference. I like the last line, especially the ultimate hedge at the end. We all do it, especially those that come to realize how tough the job of predicting the markets can be. Then there are those who haven't figured it out yet.
Peace. Doc

Echo,
Yes, I noticed that too ..the ultimate hedge...LOL! Although, he gives himself an out, sometimes nothing really does happens with signatures that appear to be intense. I remember when I first followed Merriman and was allowing astrology to overtake my TA...giving me caution where there was bullish setups...and realizing you can't do it that way. That's why I mentioned it's just another tool for trading and let TA do the talking. But in this case, TA is talking both sides of its mouth...LOL! That's why I'm mostly in cash except a small position in slv. I noticed Friday something really weird with slv. IT dropped on the open but held 17.45-17.50 most of the day testing it's 200 day on the daily which is 17.30. The low was 17.34 and after the first 1/2 hr of selling, it was mostly all accumulating..even while the market was continuing going down to 200 pts ..that area wasn't budging. You can see it on the 60 minute chart. But one thing with silver it can fool you like Uranus and drop quickly even though you saw a bullish divergence. I know it has a sell on it but something tells me that Merriman could be right with a rise going into the July 26th Uranus/Saturn Opposition with a full moon.

I watch slv a lot because it's fun to trade. It's been really odd this year compared to gld. Merriman pointed out the interbearshness silver had to gold in his 2010 forecast book which was printed in the fall. And silver couldn't make a new hi from it's 2006 peak like gold did. But in his webcast it just so happens he says it could happen this time where it does break out as long as 17 holds and getting past 19.50, it can get to 22 by the first week of August..this goes in line with the gold rise that is possible too as long as 1185 holds which Friday it tested but tomorrow we could find out if it breaks down. One thing he says that could happen if silver does break its high that later in August/Sept, it could quickly drop...50% from the peak...to maybe $10...or both gold and silver could just go down from here. Is he hedging? Sure, but based on what I'm watching as long as gold doesn't break down with silver this week, it's something worth watching. Typically, it's not this wishy washy in his forecasts, but again, I think he's just as human as the rest of us based on the latest emotions in this market we are seeing. With silver, he's expecting a 111 week cycle low due within 19 weeks of Dec 17th. Yes, these are hedges and how can you trade on this. I guess that's when one's intuition comes into play. I always do my own work and just read those that I feel have good records but ultimately, it's my decision.

Echo, don't you have an 80 week low coming in?..something like that? You are one of those I do read.

Thanks

TM

[tradermama]

The Next Leg Of Eurocrisis 2010? The Hungary Wolfpack Cometh As IMF, EU Cancel $25 Billion Rescue Loan Access

http://www.zerohedge...escue-loan-acce


Above was taken from the FF board posted by Dcenger...and below is what I said Merrman said in his webcast...we shall see if he is correct.



As I mentioned on that thread, , his gut thinks we are going up in gold into the July 23-Aug 10th period which includes (some planet, sorry, missed that) entering the helio Saggitarius on Jul 30-31...that's when he says typically gold skyrockets during a period like that...usually 6-9 days afterwards. And then fall after that could fall $200-300 from that top. The reason for the parabolic rise is he suspects another default in August for Europe.

[Echo]

Hello TM, good luck on your slv trade. Phasing the markets with Hurst methodology has been difficult of late but yes an 80wk low is due this summer. Based on the 20wk cycles, it came in July 1, but maybe 5-6wk early compared to other 80wk cycles, so us Hurst practicianers have our own hedges, LOL. Make note that com's have their own cycle different than the equities and Silent One is the master at phasing gold, oil, natgas, wheat, etc. He might have one on silver. My work shows us to be at an important crossroad that could determine the next year and a half for the indicies on a cyclical basis so stay tuned and being in cash is not a bad choice for a position right now. Doc

[cgnx]

It seems when your trying to trade according to stars and such you are really reaching. All I know about this, is that you better cover Ur-Anus.

[tradermama]

I thought I'd use this headline to post another one of his weekly columns for the week ahead. TM MMA Comments for the Week Beginning July 26, 2010 Written by Raymond Merriman Review and Preview So this is how it is going to be. Wild. If you are a trader in the trenches every day, you know its wild. It is every bit as wild as Financial Astrologers feared and hoped. We feared it would be wild because if it lived up to its potential, there would be sudden and large price moves in many markets, causing this to be a very difficult market environment. It is the nature of Saturn opposition Uranus (July 26). It is the nature of Jupiter stationary retrograde in a waxing square to Pluto (July 23-August 3), as it is also remains in conjunction with Uranus in Aries. We also hoped it would be wild, for we wanted to see Astrology live - in real time - correlating with market movements reflecting these hugely diverse geocosmic dynamics. We may have also had a bit of sinister desire to see this market behavior mess with the minds of the world’s smartest people too, hopefully leading them to a little humility. Markets have a way of doing that. So does life. Whether you are a political leader, economist, Central Banker, trader, or unemployed worker trying to find a job that five other people want at the same time as you… it doesn’t matter. You are not in control now. You are deep within this “Twilight Zone” type of a portal known as the Cardinal Climax. It’s a different kind of reality. To navigate successfully in this terrain, one better be humble and admit, as the song “Tarrango” by Club des Belugas, croons, “I am not master of my senses. Therefore I cannot be guilty.” But you can be master of your senses. It’s just harder when Jupiter and Uranus are in Aries because you want it all and you want it now. And Saturn in opposition to both says “no.” Last week’s start of this fifth and deepest layer of the Cardinal Climax (July 21-August 21) began with an announcement by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) that six more banks have been seized by government regulators, bringing the total closed this year to 96. According to the Wall Street Journal, “The pace of failures has nearly doubled that of 2009 when 140 banks were shuttered by regulators.” The Cardinal Climax stories of today are signs of things to come. In many cases they reflect trends already in force, some of which started around the time Pluto entered Capricorn in January 2008. This is a celestial condition that will be in force through 2023, but is especially strong 2008-2015, and even more especially strong this month with Jupiter square Pluto twice in the next two weeks. Early last week, there were other leading articles of interest, given the nature of the Cardinal Climax. One headlined blared, “China Tops U.S. in Energy.” A day later, China actually tried to refute the report of their new world status. The same day, another article was titled, “New Gel Cuts Risk of HIV Infection.” Pluto is also healing. Yet other articles reflected the out-of-control world debt situation implied by Jupiter (exaggeration) square Pluto (debt), such as “Ireland’s Debt Rating is Downgraded” and “Hungary Battles IMF Plan” to put it on a tight budget, creating excessive risks via “excessive austerity measures.” Austerity becomes chic with Saturn entering Libra last Wednesday, July 21. Get used to it. This set up lasts until the election season of 2012. Then the debt and its attendant problems could increase dramatically once again as Saturn enters Scorpio, and Uranus begins its three-year dance of “The Waxing Square Tango” with Pluto. On July 21, the headlines proclaimed, “Housing Market Stumbles.” The article starts out by reporting, “In major markets across the country, home sales are deteriorating… and builders are cutting back construction plans.” That’s not just Saturn entering Libra, but the Moon’s North Node in Capricorn, headed for the extremely sensitive 0 degree Capricorn point in February-March 2011. That is technically (per principles of the Nodal Cycle) the bottom of the real estate market, give or take two years either side (15 Aquarius through 15 Scorpio, or September 2008 – July 2013). Maybe the bottom is when that lunar node in Capricorn squares Saturn (ruler of Capricorn) in Libra (September-October 2010), or conjuncts Pluto (all of November 2010). July 21 also had a headline titled, “U.S. Forces Set Up Pakistan Presence.” Shades of Uranus in Aries (2010-2019) and especially Mars conjunct Saturn, opposite Uranus (July 30-31)! Is there a big battle brewing? These are aspects of possible hostility and threats, especially as Mars squares Pluto on August 3, the same day Jupiter squares Pluto. That’s a lot of Mars and a lot of Aries energy. Mars and Aries have association with wars and military conflicts. Let’s hope leaders (and others) are in control of their senses, and don’t give in to impulse, for with Pluto in Capricorn, you are guilty and you will be held accountable for whatever you do on impulse. On Thursday, July 22, “Barack Obama signed into law the most sweeping overhaul of lending and financial rules (on Wednesday) since the Great Depression,” stated the Wall Street Journal. More regulations and more governmental agencies with regulatory powers to seize more banks. “Regulators will have to be vigilant,” Obama warned. You betcha! So will bankers. Pluto is in Capricorn! And on Friday, July 23, the Wall Street Journal hit on two other hot topics due to create a stir. The first was “Senate Halts Effort to Cap Emissions.” The second article was about the expiring Bush tax cuts coming up. Secretary of Treasury Geithner and the White House want the tax cuts to continue for everyone except the wealthiest of Americans. But several members of Congress, including many within the President’s own party, are now taking a stand to permit the tax cuts to continue for everyone. A big fight over taxes is yet another Pluto theme. And how did stock markets react? Well, the previous Friday, July 16, the DJIA was down 261 points. On Monday July 19, it was up 57 points. On Tuesday it was down nearly 150 points early on, but rallied to close up 75 points. On Wednesday it continued higher until Fed Chair Ben Bernanke testified before Congress that the economy is “unusually uncertain.” Bingo! Big Ben gets it. The DJIA fell 200 points following his remarks. Is Congress listening? Yet the next day, Thursday, it opened with a bang and closed up over 200 points. Friday was up another 102 points, to its highest level in a month, as European Banks passed their version of the “stress test.” You think you are in control? Not in this new portal of reality where things change at “Uranus-in-Aries” lightning warp speed. You can only survive if you are humble. And I didn’t even mention the Shirley Sherrod story. Google her. You better be humble, because if you blog, speak, or fire someone too impulsively about something like “racism” (now there is a hot Uranus-Pluto topic) before getting the facts straight, you will be forced to learn humility fast. In other markets, grain prices continued to soar as hot weather helped drive prices to their highest levels in months. Gold and Silver were down to the lowest level in several weeks through early Tuesday, but then staged impressive rallies into the Sagittarius Factor of Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday, everyone was weary and ready for the weekend break, and they sold off. Welcome to the first week of the deepest month of the Cardinal Climax. Short-Term Geocosmics This is the time band Financial Astrologers have been waiting for. We are in it now. It is unlike anything we have ever experienced. During this one month period (sign of Leo), there are four major planetary cycles unfolding that have a cyclical periodicity of 13-45 years. On Saturday, July 24, the 13-year waxing square of Jupiter and Pluto takes place. Since Jupiter turns retrograde at this time too, it will square Pluto a second time just ten days later on August 3. This is a signature that implies exploding world debt (again), as well as the potential for large losses due to natural or man-induced disasters (it has an orb of a few months, but could relate to the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as a drought). On July 26, the fifth and final passage of the 45-year Saturn opposition Uranus aspect will take place. You may remember the first time this happened on November 4, 2008 (the USA Presidential election). You may also remember the last passage of this same aspect on April 26, which still stands as the yearly high in many world stock indices, including the USA. On August 16, the second passage of the 20-year Jupiter-Saturn opposition will take place, which also refers to major changes in the direction many world governments. And finally, the third and last passage of the 32-37 year waning square between Saturn and Pluto takes place on August 21, which has correspondence to world-wide government debt, much like Jupiter square Pluto does. The difference between Jupiter-Pluto square versus Saturn-Pluto square is that the former wants to attack debt by increasing spending (i.e. economic stimulus programs, ala Keynesian economic principles), whereas the later wants to attack the exploding debt by cutting back on spending programs (i.e. austerity measures and economic contraction). Most of this period is contained within the boundaries of the tropical zodiac sign Leo (July 21-August 21). It will thus have a geocosmic impact upon all Leo-born natives (like President Obama) because this Cardinal T-square (the “Cardinal Climax”) will be in effect on their birthdates. In the study of astrology, the chart of the planets on your birthdate each year is known as a “solar return chart”, and describes the nature of conditions one is likely to experience for the year. But it will also affect every individual who is born around the first four days of each season (approximately March 21-25, June 21-25, September 21-25, and December 21-25). Why? Because their natal sun will be in the very degrees that these major planets are crossing in the next month (0-3 degrees of cardinal signs). For many of these individuals, this will probably be a powerfully transformative period of life. Be humble, think clearly, and avoid impulsive decisions. But what does it mean for financial markets? Long-term cycle tops and/or bottoms may take place now. Perhaps we will see the high or low of the year in some markets, or at least a reversal from a multi-week cycle crest or trough that will quickly lead to new highs or lows for the year. We can identify 14 separate and important geocosmic signatures unfolding July 23-August 9. Many of these have contradictory themes. Thus this period is likely to continue being fraught with sudden and sharp rallies, and just as sudden and sharp declines. Now stocks are rising into this time band, which fits the most likely geocosmic scenario issued to MMA Cycles subscribers in a special report early this week. We may witness huge ranges on some days, perhaps 500-1000 points in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and maybe 200-500 points in Silver. This possibility could even extend into the second passage of Jupiter conjunct Uranus in mid-September. Longer-Term Thoughts I have run out of room to say much in this section. But I do note with interest that I received some very fine letters regarding my thoughts on Capitalism last week. All these letters were from people on the West Coast (Oregon and Washington), which probably don’t know one another. All suggested that Capitalism ended in 1913-1914, probably with the passage of the Federal income tax bill. All mentioned that instead of Capitalism, we have been practicing a type of economy that is more like “Corporatism.” And one person suggested that Pluto in Capricorn is not the “death march of Capitalism,” as I questioned last week, but rather the “death march for Socialism.” Did I mention that during the Cardinal Climax there may be instances of brilliant, out-of-the-box, ideas? Especially with Uranus in Aries? Let’s get through this month… this portal… “Don’t stop just yet. We got the world looking in. Our window.” Morcheeba ("World Looking In").