Weekly column: Uranus and Aries vortex set the stage for market volatility

Review

The S&P 500 closed lower after hitting new records on Friday, as investors took some profit to end a solid week centered on President Donald Trump’s return to the White House…. Despite Friday’s retreat, excitement toward Trump’s pro-business policies has largely pushed risk assets higher this week as investors focused on his inauguration. Traders were also relieved that there have only been threats on the tariff front from Trump — instead of formal action.

—Alex Harring and Yun Li, “S&P 500 Slides on Friday as Rally Pauses, But Stocks Notch Back-to-Back Weekly Gains,” www.cnbc.com, January 24, 2025.

The “Trump Bump” continued to propel global stock indices higher last week. S&P futures made a new all-time high (ATH), but the DJIA and NASDAQ fell slightly short. It was also a positive but bumpy ride up for Bitcoin, which actually made a new all-time high last Monday. Gold is also closing in on its all-time high, whereas the rally in Silver was even bumpier and fell well short of making even a high for the current primary cycle. Thus, many markets are looking very positive as the second Trump Era gets underway. Still, there are developing signs of intermarket bearish divergence as we approach next week’s New Moon and powerful Uranus station.

Short-term geocosmics

The difference between intelligence and stupidity is that intelligence has its limits.

—Adage quoted by Eric Nagler in “Letters to the Editor” section of the Wall Street Journal, January 23, 2025.

The week begins with Mercury ingressing into Aquarius on Monday-Tuesday, January 27-28. A New Moon will occur in Aquarius on Wednesday, January 29, followed by Uranus turning direct the next day, January 30. Uranus rules Aquarius and is considered the higher octave of Mercury (intellect), so the themes of both the planet Uranus and the sign of Aquarius will be highlighted.

What should we expect? Nothing. That’s because Uranus and Aquarius pertain to the unexpected or surprises that no one expects. Perhaps it is a shock, a symbolic or literal earthquake. On the one hand, it can signify brilliance, inspiration, and original thought. On the other hand, these cosmic entities can signify a lack of common sense, as the intent is often to disrupt rather than make things work better.

Both Aquarius and Uranus rule technology, innovation, and space exploration, so it should not be a surprise to see increased attention on the NASDAQ, which has been on a tear recently. Silver, however, is vulnerable to sudden declines when the Sun and Moon are both in air signs, like Aquarius. There will be three air-air solar/lunar combinations through February 17. This is the first.

Whenever Uranus is highlighted, we must also be aware of either a sudden reversal or a breakout to new multi-month highs or lows in markets. The stock market, Bitcoin, and Gold come to mind as they are near their yearly highs again. In the case of stocks, they are also in the early stages of their primary cycle. Markets in the early stages of cycles are usually bullish, too. Markets in their later stages are more prone to sudden declines. Bitcoin is entering the latter stage of its primary cycle, where its low is due in about 6-12 weeks. The high will likely occur any time before then.

On top of these factors, we also note that the Sun will form a harmonious trine to Jupiter in Gemini on January 30, followed by Jupiter turning direct on February 4. Jupiter is the optimist and likes things large and positive. This highlights the possibility of seeing new all-time highs in equity markets. The only cosmic drawback is the 1/8 semi-square cycle of Saturn and Pluto on Sunday, January 26. This may represent the resistance to the changes in power structures taking place in world leadership, as well as the severe and life-threatening weather conditions currently unfolding (extreme cold plus damaging wildfires in the U.S.). With Pluto, the fear of violence and/or retribution may also exist by those who felt mistreated.

Longer-term thoughts and opinions

Maybe you are in the habit of applying a hefty discount to claims by Donald Trump; no one could blame you. But he really does have the chance to lead America into the golden age he proclaimed in his second inaugural address. Historic circumstances, political dynamics and his own audacity could also enable him to achieve the legacy he wants as “a peacemaker and a unifier.” Mr. Trump has battled for ten years against anyone he perceived to have crossed him. His most formidable adversary still standing is probably himself.

—Lexington, “America Really Could Enter a Golden Age,” The Economist, January 21, 2025.

Democracy – a: a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions, policies, laws, etc., according to law; b: political, social, or economic equality, the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges.

—Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

It was an exciting week highlighted by the U.S. Presidential Inauguration ceremony on Monday, January 20. As noted above, this kicked off strong rallies in many financial and commodity markets.

However, it was also disappointing (to me) to see both the outgoing and incoming presidents’ apparent lack of sincerity regarding their campaign promises of valuing the principles of democracy. Both issued pardons to several people that very day (and recently) who have broken laws and were 1) close associates and even family members, in the case of President Biden, or 2) supporters of President Trump’s election denial claim that led to violence against police officers he claimed to support, as well as threats to kill Vice President Pence, on January 6, 2021. This is not an example of democracy in action but rather the granting of special privileges based on hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions. As newly inaugurated Vice-President Vance stated recently regarding the matter of pardoning the January 6 violent protesters, “If you committed violence on that day, you shouldn’t be pardoned.” Or even President Trump’s own promise that “I’m going to do case-by-case. We’re going to look at each individual case.” Obviously, that was not the case, as he sprung everyone (or almost everyone) involved with no review. So, the inauguration was both a day of excitement and disappointment for many who value democracy and truthfulness, including this writer.

This is the type of conundrum represented by the approaching Saturn/Neptune conjunction in Aries, 2025-2026, that will either make or break the dream of a “Golden Age” for the U.S. If you want a “Golden Age” under Saturn/Neptune, you have to be a person of your word. Deception is the downside of this aspect.

While I am editorializing, let me take the opportunity to agree with those who insist that President Trump ran a brilliant campaign. I would also agree he is a brilliant deal-maker and has a gift for raising revenues, personally and for the nation. However, as gifted as he is at making money, little in his personal history indicates that he is gifted at managing money. To think that he is angling for a voice/influence on decisions that the Federal Reserve Board, or even the U.S. Treasury Secretary, should not give anyone comfort. This is especially true given the Saturn/Neptune conjunctions of 2025-2026, making a T-square to the Federal Reserve Board’s natal Sun/Pluto opposition (power struggles) and square to the U.S. natal Venus/Jupiter conjunction. The latter is one of the classical bankruptcy aspects if not attended to with a talent to control the expense side of the ledger.

Yet we are now entering the powerful “Aries Vortex” this spring (Saturn and Neptune crossing from Pisces to Aries, which is also the midpoint of Uranus and Pluto). This unusual cosmic alignment offers the possibility of the very “Golden Age” President Trump promises. It will be turbulent, at least at first. And with all the personal planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars) retrograde back-to-back between December 7, 2024, and April 12, 2025, chaos is probably the dominant theme of this period of such sweeping changes being enacted. I will discuss this on Saturday’s just-announced webinar.

New and bold initiatives will begin, executive orders will be pronounced, and promises will be made. However, the implementation will likely be fraught with confusion and misjudgments initially. This could lead to volatility in the world stock markets. How long this lasts depends on the flexibility of the decision-makers to recognize a bad trade or decision as quickly as possible and make revisions. This time band of uncertainty and volatility might end by spring, or it could last into 2027. The planets are not entirely causal, but they do correspond to the nature of choices before us, and those choices will determine the outcome.

With Saturn/Neptune entering Aries (i.e., the “Aries Vortex”), it is imperative to be truthful, honest, and transparent and consciously avoid behaviors that may be construed as corrupt, deceptive, or undemocratic if you claim to run a democratic enterprise. If our leaders can do that, then yes, the U.S. (and other nations of the world, too) can be on the verge of a new “Golden Age,” one that we have been anticipating over the past three years as a “Techno Renaissance.”