STARFIRE

December 2008

December 2008 - Mars Gives the Economy a Quick Kick
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Mars Gives the Economy a Quick Kick

What we’ve all known became official on December 1st: The Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research announced that the United States has been in a recession since December 2007. Manufacturing output in November, 2008, was the lowest since 1982.

While it may be premature for virtual champagne and celebrations, there is a silver lining or two in that dark cloud.

The long-term most reliable astrological indicator of the United States economy is the cycle of the nodes through the signs, lasting approximately 19.2 years. Since 1776, in spite of our changing forms of government and monetary systems, the cycle has been reliable. It’s not a precise cycle. The economy peaks as the notes are moving from Leo to Cancer (retrograde movement through the signs). The last peak was the summer of 2000, giving President Clinton credit for the boom and President Bush credit for the bust. The nodes are now at 9 Aquarius, in the last decanate of Aquarius before their shift into Capricorn in July 2009.

Tops and bottoms don’t have precise dates in this system. The monetary system in a national economy (let alone a global economy) is cumbersome and moves as slowly as a bureaucracy. The daily ups and downs in the markets reflect our feelings about the economy and change as quickly as the Moon does, but the economy itself is huge and moves like in a slow flow of millions of small incidents. Even a jump start is going to show up in the economic indicators about as quickly as hitting a cold refrigerated molasses bottle generates a flow.

Nevertheless, Mars joining five other planets in Capricorn on December 27th is the best economic news around. The recession took place before Pluto moved into Capricorn. The market’s jittery, looking for good news and moving with every flirtatious signal. Capricorn’s the sign of bureaucracy, major corporations, changes that show up in the physical world. With five planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Pluto) already in place, Mars should shake things up with a series of quick jolts to the economy:

• Mars will be in Capricorn until February 4, motivating movement and change on a daily basis. Notice it begins now and remains in Capricorn through the first weeks of the 2009 Congressional session and past the Presidential Inauguration.
  
  
• While Mars is in Capricorn, it will be conjunct and give an extra shot of energy to Pluto (massive irreversible change) on December 28th, just one day after Mars enters Capricorn.
  
  
• On February 15th, Mars will be conjunct the North Node in Capricorn. While Mars to the nodes isn’t usually good news, Jupiter will only be a degree away. The markets may take a hit, or there may be an economic crisis–but it may be of the nature of a healing crisis rather than a true disaster.
  
  Mars is the planet of initiative, and it is especially the planet of personal action and initiative. Economic turnarounds don’t just happen. So what initiatives can all of us take while we’re waiting for better conditions?
  

• Plan for a better future. Change begins with written plans and goals. For decades I’ve been proving to clients that change begins with a vision and a plan. The resources are usually available within three feet of where we’re standing (or four levels of networking), but we don’t recognize them until we have a plan on paper.
  
  
• Use what you have. It’s your inventory. Part of the turnaround for businesses is using up old inventory. Part of the turnaround for individuals and families is using what’s available.
  
  
• Shop for raw materials. Make your own gift baskets, for example. You’ll save money–but what you do spend will help the economy recover.
  
  
• Clean out your closets. Give what you don’t need so other families can sleep under warm blankets and have appropriate clothing for job hunting. Anticipate better times and contribute to them.
  
  
• Give your time if you can’t give money. In Albuquerque, the Salvation Army needs volunteer bell-ringer to reduce their fundraising costs and increase their ability to help those in need. In this case, the gift of timeis a gift of money.
  
  
• Make things with your own two hands. One of the striking things about geniuses in business is that they often have hobbies that involve working with their hands. Whether it’s making or repairing, working with your hands brings the mental and emotional and physical sides of you together, integrates ideas and improves the quality of your planning.
  
  
• Practice walking meditation, taking your ideas out for a quiet walk–but focusing your attention moment by moment on what you see during the walk. Take a notebook along to capture new ideas, but walk in the moment.
  
  
• Drink lots of water. Mars is fiery and Capricorn is cool and dry. Water’s what’s missing, so extra water now will help integrate the energies smoothly.
  
  
• Remember the tortoise and the hare. The hare darts around everywhere. And while Mars is a hare, you want to be a tortoise and make steady headway with whatever kindling Mars ignites for you.

Mary O’Gara, Ph.D.