THE SOOTHESAYER INTERNET

January 2009

Happy New Year!

The Big Event of this month is the inauguration of Barak Obama as President of the U.S. on Jan. 20^th.  Before the election, astrologers were concerned that this chart contained a retrograde Mercury and a void-of-course Moon at a critical 29 degrees of Scorpio.  Now we know why. The stock market crash, the banking crisis leading us into a depression, the terror attack in India, and Israel and Hamas going into an all-out war is forcing Pres. Elect Obama to take charge and make decisions prior to his inauguration!  No president since Franklin Roosevelt has been confronted with a meltdown of this magnitude.  This time, it is much worse than the 1930s because 1) the government is mired in gigantic budget deficits, 2) families are burdened with historically unprecedented debt, 3) a healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, and 4) the financial crisis is global in nature, moving entire nations into insolvency.  Add to this a climate crisis due to global warming that is beyond conception and major oil fields throughout the world reaching “peak oil”.   All this was predicted in my book “What Next”, but the reality is far scarier than the forecast. 

The inauguration chart lends itself to cautious optimism that the new administration, as previously promised,  will step up to the plate immediately, launching an infrastructure reconstruction stimulus plan with both Mercury and Jupiter ruling the money houses conjunct the Sun in the 10^th house.  Mars in the 9th House, (foreign nations) points to continued military engagements abroad.   However, it is sextile both Uranus and Venus in Pisces in the 11^th house of friends and allies pushing for more cooperation toward creating peace treaties.  Since these planets rule the 1^st and 7^th houses, it would suggest that both U.S. citizens and foreign nations will actually attempt to cooperate with this president.  Jupiter in the 10^th house in Aquarius is an optimist, pointing to an inspiring speech, and projecting hope that we can work together for the greater good.  Aquarius is also a sign of scientific and technological breakthroughs, such as information we may glean from the new “super collider” in Switzerland, altering our view of physical reality.  New energy technologies may be unveiled during the term of this administration and worked into the infrastructure projects.

With both Venus and Uranus opposed to Saturn in Virgo, there will be significant obstacles to reforming the healthcare system.  If I were the president, this is the first thing I would do – propose and fight for universal federal healthcare.  The insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists will still have enough power to get in the way of this badly needed reform.  There will likely be some reform on a “piece meal” basis.

There is a solar eclipse on the 26^th of this month in the 7^th degree of Aquarius.  In “The Zodiac by Degrees” by Martin Goldsmith, this degree is described as: “After a dangerous journey, a youthful aviator lands in front of a crowd of exuberant well-wishers and waves to his parents in the front row”.  This certainly points to a willingness to launch a new era and the courage to go with it.  Young people will be enlisted and inspired to embrace innovation.

The degree on the Midheaven (the ultimate goal) of this chart signifies “conquering the mountain” and that is exactly what this president will try to do.  He has his work cut out for him.

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The Economy:

This month will likely continue a downward economic momentum as more bad news surfaces.  The banking industry’s failure to lend (instead holding onto the bailout money) is partly due to the credit swap derivatives issue.  These were ways the banks could bet against themselves and were looked at as a kind of insurance against the mortgage debacle.  What may happen is the people who were on the other side of these bets simply can’t pay up.  Thus these losses magnify the march toward insolvency.  In addition, more people will default on loans that were not questionable at the time.  Job losses, home value losses, credit card defaults will all come home to roost this month.  The money we are still spending in Iraq and Afghanistan will hurt this month as less tax revenue is coming in. 

Gold will move up again this month, will likely move downward in Feb. and reach a low in March.  Because of Venus (currency) retrograde between March and April, gold may surge later.  Distrust of the value of currency, especially the dollar, will factor into this.  Powerful interests will still make a monumental effort to keep gold down to prevent a currency collapse.  Values on the Comex do not show the true value of gold which is much higher if you buy actual gold bullion.  There is a global shortage.  The important thing during this period is to put your money into a place where you do not sustain losses.    Gold is a good place to go.    

Foreign Relations:

Conflicts between governments and their people are escalating this month, following the violence we saw last month.

Israel has an election coming up in November and each candidate wants to look “tough” against Hamas.  I do not have the charts of the candidates so I cannot comment on who might win.  Their problems are severe and ongoing.  The U.S. must set up discussions offering a new approach.  The planets in Aquarius offer hope in this direction.

China may move away from investing in the U.S. and remove some of their support of our debt.  As the American consumers have been their greatest sources of profit, their economy will head downward.  In the Fall of this year, there will likely be civil unrest in this nation.

India’s rigid economic class system, religious and ethnic battles, and confusing direction for domestic policies all conspire to stir the populace up and point to more rebellion.

Pakistan has nothing left but its military and will likely increase hostilities toward India, whose policies have frequently persecuted their Muslim citizens.  The Obama administration needs to offer economic help and be less militant in its approach to this nation.

The Czech Republic and Hungary are nations in severe financial trouble.  They are likely to have a meltdown this month. 

Russia’s response to the economic crises is mixed.  They hold old resentments against the U.S. and can say “I told you so” with regard to our unregulated Capitalist system.  However, they need to us buy oil from them.  Oil prices are low and they are in trouble.  They can no longer see themselves as apart from the rest of the world.  Putin is still very much in control.  His astrological chart, with a large grouping of planets in Libra, is getting stressed by Pluto and Mars in Capricorn.

Weather & Travel:

I see continued cold, wet, and stormy weather in the U.S. this month.  Mercury goes retrograde Jan. 11^th through Feb. 2^nd.  This is not a good time to travel, sign documents, or start new projects.  Stay home and review your income tax returns.  Mid February will be a better time to travel.

Final Thoughts:

In the face of the great economic, environmental, and military crises, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the time has come for a great paradigm shift in human consciousness.  We simply cannot survive unless we open up to what is greater than our historic responses in past eras.  Urgency of this magnitude may shake us “awake” and we may tackle our problems from an entirely new perspective.

In May/June of this year, Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron all conjunct in Aquarius, semi-sextile Uranus.  Old systems and ways of perceiving will simply fall apart.  Out of the ashes of these ancient animosities and failures will likely rise a new human civilization; one that has been promised by wise men and women through the ages. 

The stars light the way so that our pathway may be seen.  The choice to take this path is up to each and every one of us.  Once the choice has been made, the inspiration and love waiting for us in the universe will truly reveal itself.

May the New Year present this special gift to all of you.

LINDA

Linda Schurman