The Privatization of America
Everything changed on November 8 when Donald Trump won the presidential election. The entire trajectory of the country shifted in a moment. Even the very definition of the United States of America seemed to morph – from a celebration of the melting pot, an ever-building respect for the civil rights of all, and an attempt to reckon with climate change and trade in a globalized world, to a land of corporate expansion unhindered by the petty complaints of citizens or a concern for their most basic needs. Although I am expecting resistance from the Democrats in Congress and eventually an outcry from the population as events and awareness unfold, there will be an increasing push from the coming administration and its cronies in Congress toward the corporatization, a.k.a. privatization, of everything, including Social Security, Medicare, Obamacare, prisons, education, infrastructure, etc., over this four-year term and beyond. Shrink the government and empower the private sector will be the unyielding motto of the newly-unshackled GOP.
In the US chart (using 5:13 PM, July 4, 1776, Philadelphia), Pluto, at 27Capricorn33, is in the second house, is opposed to Mercury, at 24Cancer12, in the 8th house, and is semisquare to the Ascendant, 12Sagittarius59. This second house Pluto is particularly important due to its position as the rising planet in the chart and its aspect to the Ascendant. Pluto in the second house describes an obsessive need to gather wealth and points additionally to the huge amassing of power by the financial elite. The compulsive materialism described by this position also colors the identity of the country itself due to Pluto’s minor hard aspect to the Ascendant.
As of the Inauguration of Donald Trump, transiting Pluto will move fully into a ten-degree orb of the US Pluto return, when Pluto for the first time will return to its natal position in the chart. The actual Pluto return will come in 2022, but the coming 6 years will see the buildup of this very potent focus on the second house Pluto position, as well as the transiting Pluto opposition of the US Mercury during 2020 and early 2021. These configurations, taken together, suggest that the push to concentrate huge amounts of wealth, while manipulating commerce and investments (Mercury) to that end, will be increasingly intense over the next few years.
Also of importance in this picture will be the Saturn transit opposing US Mercury and conjunct US Pluto during 2020, a transit likely to impede and restrict this Plutonian movement toward the accumulation of wealth and power by the financial elite. This Saturn transit, moreover, suggests some challenges and possibly a sharp contraction for the US economy in 2020, as well as a significant loss of support and extreme difficulties for President Trump, since Saturn will also be opposing his Venus (25Cancer44), while Pluto will station opposite his Saturn (23Cancer49) during much of that year.
The shock of the recent election and its complete reversal of the direction of the country may be seen in the US chart by the progression of the US Moon opposite natal Uranus (8Gemini55) in late October and November. Uranus is the planet of unexpected and powerful transformations and often points to a sudden change in direction. In December, the US tertiary Sun will be conjunct natal Uranus, continuing this sense of transformation. This progression will be set off significantly by the transit of Mars from December 29 through December 31 square to US Uranus. There may be some consequential, stressful, and possibly violent upsets that spike around that time.
One final point that is worth noting is that from November 20 through December 4, Trump is under the first crossing of his Jupiter return (17Libra27). He is looking particularly magnanimous, successful, and happy during this transit. Unsurprisingly, the Trump Vanity Tour is proceeding during this upbeat transit, with him likely to be deliriously happy while out in front of his big cheering crowds again. Some difficulties return that may bring severe stress from December 18 through January 15, as Saturn makes its first crossing conjunct his South Node, conjunct his Moon, and opposite his Sun. This will overlap with some shockwaves and stress in the US chart in late December and early January.
January will also bring some very positive indications for Trump, including progressed Moon conjunct Venus and transiting Jupiter trine the Sun (through February 19). The first really significant test will come from June through October 2017. More on those configurations later.
