STARFIRE

October 2009

October 2009 - Fall Equinox and the Little Engine that Could, Maybe
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Fall Equinox and the Little Engine that Could, Maybe

Ben Bernanke says the recession is over–probably, technically. The fall equinox chart set for Washington, D.C., agrees with the technical analysts. The chart shows a locomotive pattern, an energetic pattern that just keeps moving, but it also shows lots of resistance. Astrologically, we see resistance in retrogrades and hard aspects; economically, we see it in the numbers of people waiting to go back to work, the home with foreclosures pending.

But the numbers are changing, and we shouldn’t be alarmed when they swing back and forth a bit for the next two years. Remember the little engine that could as our economy struggles and huffs and puffs and pulls itself slowly up the grade from now until February 2011.

From February 2011 until September 2012, while the Moon’s north node is in Sagittarius, we can expect the economy to reach a plateau and gather energy for a sudden sharp rise that will peak in 2018 and 2019.

I say probably because this is a cycle related to the United States economy, and our economy is more and more an international economy. Nevertheless, this recession followed the United States dominant economic cycle. The first time our economy fails to follow our own cycle will, unfortunately, indicate that we are no longer the dominant national economy in that international economy.

Retail sales figures have been driving government confidence, but retail sales are unlikely to meet current expectations in the final quarter. Mercury (ruling commercial transactions of all kinds) and Jupiter (ruling promotion, marketing and expansion) are both retrograde in the equinox chart. With Mercury retrograde in the chart that shows trends for the quarter, you can expect delays in shipping and deliveries to affect holiday sales. Shop early and ship early and get holiday cards in the mail early. With potential delivery problems, it’s wise to use 9-digit zip codes this season.

Leadership of all kinds may falter this quarter, and leadership questions on a chart set in Washington do suggest problems in federal programs and legislation. There are no planets in fire signs in this chart, and that means real vision and future planning is just not there. Neptune rules ideals, especially those ideals that lack tangible action plans. Fire is the vision for an effective future. No fire, no promises worthy of a handshake (regardless of the good intentions of the visionaries making the promises).

The Moon’s motion is fast, suggesting that decision makers can make fast, accurate decisions. Implementation is slow (Sun, Saturn and Mercury conjunct with the Sun in a sign that weakens it, Mercury retrograde, and all three opposing Uranus, the planet of ideas and innovation.) So old-fashioned ideas dominate, and even the health reform programs aren’t likely to include the innovation that’s required for real difference.

Expect lots of pork in current legislation, especially heavily contended legislation like health reform and economy stimulus. Pork is the bargaining chip for legislative votes, and social reform bills of all kinds will needs lots of pork to grease the skids. Some of the pork the public will never know about–or only the beneficiaries will hear about it, which is sometimes almost as bad because that means each group only hears about a small percentage of pork and misses the news about the rest.

When it comes to health reform, there’s a good indication the secrets will come out and that the public will end up (regardless of the final bill) with more information than we’ve had in the past to take into the off-year elections. Serious think tanks are sharing information now in ways the rest of us can understand, and the next congressional races are likely to put that information on our TV screens and front door knobs.

So what should individuals do now?

1. Recognize that change is coming and that it’s time to plan for better times. Go back to school or develop business plans in detail now. Do the homework. Clean out and cash in on whatever’s been cluttering your life or standing in the way of the changes you most want to make. It’s preparation time, but too soon for the risks involved in implementing major turnarounds.
   
   
2. Expect delays in receiving economic benefits. Promised raises may be delayed, grant funding may be delayed, and it may take longer than expected for investments and new businesses to show a profit. The promise is real; you just need to allow more time than usual for results. What you don’t receive now will appear in 2010.
   
   
3. It’s time to take a good look at your own long-term goals, to reocgnize changes and prepare to work on your new goals, not the old ones, as the economy makes changes possible. New industries in fields like solar power will be hiring as the economy improves, and you may want to leave your old industry for one with more promise. Or, you may want to take advantage of shorter hours for family time or to fulfill personal dreams. Decide now what wall your personal ladder-to-climb will rest on.
   
   
4. Buy what you need, but hold off on major investments until the new year if you can. If you must buy now, bargain for good prices while the market is still soft.
   
   
5. Explore your own creativity. Make holiday gifts. Have family-and-friend talent nights. Write your own poems for cards. Instead of a vacation, buy some paints or a musical instrument and develop a creative ability. Paper and sketchpads and journals and watercolors are engrossing, but inexpensive, entertainment.
   
   
6. Or build your own blog and develop your audience now. Next year, use that audience as the platform to launch a new business or project.
   
   
7. Use your creative talents to serve others. Donate a painting to a holiday sale to benefit a homeless shelter. Put your time and tools to work for Habits for Humanity or another worthwhile program in your community. Knit prayer shawls and lap robes. Help package food at the local food bank or pack gifts for soldiers with the Blue Star mothers. Ring bells for the Salvation Army. Find something to do that expands your heart and doesn’t just come from your pocketbook.
   
   
8. And finally, take time for yourself. Rest and renew now so you’ll be ready to risk and grow in the new year. Even if 2010 is an uphill struggle, it’s at least not the downslope of recent years.

By Halloween, Saturn will have moved out of Virgo (at last) and into Libra. Saturn is exalted in Libra, so that should be a relief for all of us. Saturn in Libra will be the topic for the next column, available here November 1st.

Until then, don’t let the economy spook you.

Mary O’Gara, Ph.D.