MMA COMMENTS FOR WEEK BEGINNING JULY 21, 2008

Raymond A. Merriman ©
Review and Preview
It was a bit unusual. It waited until the very end. But a bottom of significance in equity markets around the world finally formed at the very end of the time band containing an abundance of geocosmic signatures. As stated in last week’s column, “We are now at the very end of this huge time band of geocosmic signatures extending from June 12 through July 14. The midpoint of June 28 did not correlate with a lasting major reversal in stock indices. There is still a possibility it could coincide with a reversal at the very end, for there are three Level One (strongest correlates to reversals) signatures in effect July 9-14.” Most of these stock markets bottomed July 15 or 16, and then rallied sharply into the end of the week. This is within the allowable orb of three trading days from a midpoint of that tight geocosmic cluster (July 11-12).
In Europe, all four equity markets we track made their multi-month lows early Wednesday. Of most interest to us was the 5999.32 low in German DAX. As stated in the SOS Report that went out July 8, “The idea now is that the DAX will fall to yet another lower low, below the 6167 low of March 17, to complete the fifth point of this (Lorusso 5-point reversal) pattern. Then a multi-month bull market will begin, assuming the low for point #5 is somewhat proportionate to point #3 and #3 was to point #1 (i.e. generally around 5950). In fact, a normal price target zone for this low would be 6026.78 +/- 166.91.” This pattern is named after one of the finest chartist I know, Rick Lorusso of Citibank Corp, and when this pattern unfolds into a major geocosmic time, it can be very valuable signal in picking important turns in the market.
In Asia and the Pacific Rim, the All Ordinaries of Australia and the NIFTY stock index of India also made new multi-month lows on Wednesday. In the case of the NIFTY, another powerful rally followed into Friday. The Nikkei of Japan and Hang Seng of Hong Kong also made their weekly lows on Wednesday, but they held their previous lows of March 17. In fact the Nikkei’s low of 12,671 was well above the 11,691 low of March 17, for a continued case of Intermarket bullish divergence in this region of the world.
The Intermarket bullish divergence pattern also continued in the United States. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell to 10,827 on Tuesday, July 15, well below it prior low of January 22 at 11,634. By Friday, it was up to 11,510 intraday, a rally of nearly 700 points. In fact it had two consecutive +200 point up days Wednesday and Thursday, following a -200 point down day the prior week on July 9. This all relates to the Sun-Jupiter opposition of July 9, of which was previously stated, “The Sun-Jupiter opposition is particularly interesting because it has a 75% correlation to primary or greater cycles within 10 trading days. It can correlate with powerful price moves, like 200+ point up or down days within only 4 trading days in the DJIA.”
In other markets, Crude Oil fell sharply last week, falling from an all-time high of 147.27 on July 11 to a low of 128.23 on Friday, July 18. Crude Oil is co-ruled by Jupiter, and that high was just two days after the opposition to the Sun. Gold and Silver also fell sharply last week after posting new cycle highs on the Sagittarius Factor days of last Monday and Tuesday. All in all, it was noteworthy week that supported the market timing principles of Financial Astrology.
Short-Term Geocosmics
The challenge now will be whether or not these conventional geocosmic studies will lead to a continued rebound as one would normally suggest. Or will the specter of the forthcoming 45-year Saturn-Uranus opposition again thwart any long-lasting ane meaningful advance? As written last week, and still a concern, “But there is another geocosmic pattern that has now begun... That is the transit of Mars, which is now in a “translation” position between the conjunction to Saturn (July 10) and opposition to Uranus (August 6). A “translation” to this long-term planetary signature is a preview of what to expect during the time that the major signature is in effect... Therefore we are in between two conflicting signals: cycles say a primary cycle trough is now due, to be followed by a strong 2-5 week or greater rally. Some geocosmic signatures support this view if the low forms by Tuesday. But the Mars translation to Saturn-Uranus allows a possibility of a further decline into early August, and maybe even longer, as Venus and then the Sun does the same thing over the following month (August 13-23, and September 3-12). Each of these periods may be fraught with several triple digits daily declines.” There are no major geocosmic reversal signatures in effect this week, according to the studies presented in “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing Volume 3: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles.” The next series of geocosmic signatures pertaining to market reversal don’t commence until July 26. But the next “big one” is the Mars-Uranus opposition of August 6. It will be interesting to see if this rally can continue until then, or if will abort early this week and start another plunge into August 6.
Longer-Term Thoughts
In the past three weeks I have given two arguments why Barack Obama could be the next president of the United States, and one why John McCain could be, according to the relationship of long-term geocosmic cycles to the themes of their platforms and/or the likely outcome of their expected policies. This week I would like to present another reason why John McCain might be the next president, based on this same method of astrological and geopolitical analysis.
My argument begins with an understanding of the birth chart of the United States of America. It doesn’t matter whether you use the conventional birth date of July 4, 1776, when the Revolutionary War officially began, or the one I prefer, which acknowledges the vote to declare Independence and commence the War. That vote culminated late on the afternoon of July 2. In either chart, one will note a square between Mars and Neptune at approximately 20-22 degrees of Gemini and Virgo respectively. In the study of astrology, this is known as a square aspect, a quarter distance of the circle away from one another. A square is considered one of the “hard aspects” in astrology. The opposition, like the forthcoming Saturn-Uranus relationship November 2008 through July 2010, is also considered a “hard aspect.”
In Mundane Astrology, Mars is the known as the planet of combat and wars. If a President’s own birth chart has planets in hard aspect to the USA Mars-Neptune square, it is assumed (usually correctly) that this President will lead the country into war and combat. If major transits of Saturn and planets beyond its orbit make a hard aspect to the USA Mars-Neptune square, it points to period of time when the threat – or actuality – of war is heightened.
The 45-year Saturn-Uranus opposition will cross 20-22 degrees of Virgo and Pisces respectively over the next two years, in exact hard aspect to the USA Mars-Neptune square. This implies an increase in military combat, and an escalation of war-like tensions for the United States. If we look at the charts of the two candidates, we will see that each has aspects to this critical square in the USA chart. In fact, Obama has Mars at 22 Virgo, exactly on the USA Neptune and square its Mars (his birth certificate, on his website, shows he is born Aug 4, 1961, at 7:24 PM, in Honolulu, Hi). The Mars-Mars contact suggests conflict, but his natal Mars on USA Neptune is worrisome as a Commander-in-Chief, for Neptune suggests passivity in the relationship and/or the effort for peace. I believe Senator Obama’s platform is built more upon the idea of engaged dialogue with the goal of achieving world peace. But as suggested by his critics, and I think indicated by this synastry between his and the USA’s chart, this approach could be seen as a sign of weakness for other nations to exploit. And if that is the case, he may feel compelled to act tough, and/or overreact with aggression himself to prove he is not weak.
Senator McCain’s chart has a whole different dynamic to this Mars-Neptune square in the USA chart. Born Aug 29, 1936 in Panama City, Panama (time unknown, but believed to be between 9:00-11:00 AM), we see his natal Venus and Neptune conjunct at 16-22 Virgo, opposite Saturn at 20 Pisces, and in a T-square with Jupiter at 15 Sagittarius. In other words, four of the ten planets on the day of his birth were making a hard aspect to the USA Mars-Neptune square. The Venus-Neptune on the USA Neptune is a signature of playing nice, trying to be gentle and compassionate. But the Saturn in opposition, and square to the USA Mars, is not usually indicative of one who bends or moves away from his stance. He takes a stand, and holds it. He may try to gently convince others that he is listening and open to their views, but it is for the purpose of getting others to see – and agree to - things his way. He probably has little interest in veering off his course or goals at all. And with Jupiter in the mix, if things aren’t going the way he wants, he may be more inclined to overwhelm. This is the signature indicating his support for – and willingness to continue – the “troop surge.” He believes that “more force” is the way to win, and perhaps the only way to win.
Obama’s platform is to bring the troops home and strive for peace through open dialogue with potential antagonists. McCain’s position is more of a “shock and awe,” and “troop surge” to win the war, first and foremost. Because the USA is about to go through the transit of both Saturn and Uranus in hard aspect to its Mars-Neptune hard aspect, it implies a time of increased war threats, military tensions, and a heightened probability of greater combat, late 2008 through 2010. The transit of Uranus falls right on Senator McCain’s natal Saturn, and opposite Senator Obama’s natal Mars. As a conjunction in the case of Mr. McCain, it shows him the likely initiator of military actions. As an opposition in the case Mr. Obama, it shows him the likely object of other’s aggressions, and then being reactive to these forces. Both could fit with the next president. But because of the pre-dominance of natal planets (4) in McCain’s chart in aspect to the USA’s Mars-Neptune square, it seems that this issue would be an edge towards him as the next USA president.