The solar eclipse of 8/21/17 in astrology

The solar eclipse occurs on August 21, 2017 at 2:14 PM EDT. It is at 28 degrees Leo, a fire sign. An eclipse in a fixed sign (Leo being fixed) will have a long lasting effect, especially in the United States where it is visible.

An eclipse in a fire sign is destructive to cattle; threatens the ruler, and causes dissension among the people. It can trigger the movement of armies, fighting, fires; and possible scarcity of fruits of the earth especially in areas ruled by Leo, i.e. California and Hawaii.
By resonance with Leo, the following countries and cities could also be effected: France, Italy, and the Alps; and the following cities: Philadelphia, Rome, and Prague. Philadelphia could experience an uptick in violent crimes.

How negative or positive this eclipse is is shown by aspects of the Sun, the ruler of the eclipse. The Sun is exactly trine Uranus at 28 degrees Aries. The Sun, in the Aries decanate of Leo, also points to Mars. Mars is 20 degrees Leo (conjunct the Sun) exactly trine Saturn, 21 Sagittarius (trine the Sun), and exactly sextile Jupiter, 20 degrees Libra (sextile the Sun). In short, Uranus and Mars give the Sun good support. This eclipse, despite all, ultimately proves more positive than negative in effect.

This eclipse is also conjunct the star Regulus, one of the 4 Royal Stars. With the Sun, Regulus gives power, authority, great influence over friends, honor and riches, but danger of violence and ultimate ruin. With the Moon, as the Moon is eclipsing the Sun, it gives powerful friends but danger from false friends and enemies. This could be taken as a warning to the President.

A solar eclipse in the 3rd decanate of Leo (between 20 and 30 degrees Leo) is said to cause profanation of holy places, churches, and sacred edifices, monuments, also rioting and destruction of towns. We have already seen this happening in the days leading up to the eclipse; there will be more following.

It is possible that this eclipse will also set off earthquakes. It is interesting to note that the maximum eclipse appears to happen near the New Madrid fault, but points as well to Oregon. There are a number of areas that may be touched off within a year.
Where the eclipse appears at the zenith, in MDT, is also where there could be earthquakes.

The eclipse taken at the Washington DC, the capitol, is in the 9th house. In the 9th house we find Mars, the North Node, Moon, Sun, and Mercury, retrograde. The eclipse is trine Uranus, Mars is exactly sextile Jupiter and Saturn. So, the 9th house stands out as very important. The 9th house is the law courts, legal matters, religion and clergy, foreign trade, science, invention, etc.
There will be important, far reaching developments in the area of foreign trade, as shown by this eclipse. Mars, the ruler of the 5th house, involves diplomacy, and Moon, the ruler of the 8th house, speaks of finances.

The eclipse is 28 degrees Leo exactly trine Uranus, 28 Aries. Uranus is in the 10th house of the New York Stock Exchange chart. This is indicative of growth.

The Washington chart shows the following about the President. He is ruled by Mercury, as Mercury rules the 10th house. Mercury is in Virgo in the 9th house retrograde in orb of opposition Neptune in the 3rd, also retrograde. Mercury in Virgo is in his best place and strong. Retrograde in the 9th is shying away from public notice. Opposite Neptune is subject to many false rumors. The media and press, ruled by the 3rd house, promotes false rumors. Mercury and Neptune, both retrograde, will repeat and repeat. There is a terribly dysfunctional relationship between the President and the media.

Mercury retrograde shows some plans falling through or being postponed. The President changes his mind and backs out of whatever he's planning. Mercury is zodiac square to the Ascendant showing his changes of mind disadvantageous to some, but is mundane trine to the Ascendant, showing the opposite. Some will like him and some won't is what it boils down to.

Donald Trump's birth chart, Ascendant is at 29:58 degrees Leo, and his Mars is at 26:47 Leo. The eclipse, at 28:52 Leo is midpoint his Ascendant and Mars. This will impel him to take some very strongly assertive actions. Nothing about war is shown.
If the eclipse were exactly conjunct his Ascendant or Mars, which it isn't, there would be reason to predict Trump's demise. However, it is unlikely. It is clear, nonetheless, that he has serious challenges coming up.

Early repercussions of the eclipse are shown on September 2nd and 3rd when Mars passes over the eclipse degree. Also on September 4th when Moon comes to opposition the eclipse degree. Also September 3rd through 7th Mercury stations conjunct the eclipse degree. Mercury turns direct on September 5th. So, the entire 1st week in September will be interesting to watch.
There will be a number of other times of repercussion; the coming solar eclipse on February 15, 2018 at 27 degrees Aquarius, opposite this eclipse, for example.
Stay out of trouble.

Raphael gives in-depth personal astrological readings. For information, go to  www.raphaelsimons.com

An astrological picture of the GOP in 2016

The Republican party, or GOP, was born on March 20, 1854 at 6:30 PM LMT, in Ripon, Wisconsin, its main objective at that time being the abolition of slavery. Because of the current turmoil in that party, I drew up its natal and progressed charts to see how it shows up and how it might resolve.

The natal Ascendant of the GOP is 4 degrees Libra. There is a lunar eclipse coming on March 9, 2016 at 3 degrees Libra. The eclipse is not visible in the US, therefore won't act destructively on the GOP chart, but, it will signify an important development in the GOP's outlook this coming spring.

The outstanding transits on the GOP's birthday, March 20, 2016 are Venus conjunct Neptune at 14 Pisces, both conjunct the GOP's natal Neptune, and these opposite the transiting Moon, and transiting Jupiter. This shows the party not in the happiest of moods, in a state of confusion, and laboring under no small degree of underhandedness.
It is very significant to note that 2016 - 2017 marks the GOP's Neptune Return. Not exact this year, Neptune returns to its original degree and minute, 14:02 Pisces, in May, 2017. Because Neptune in the natal chart is in the 6th house, the Neptune return brings out the critical question, who are you serving?

In the progressed chart, we find the progressed Mars trine to natal Venus. When the party was born, Venus, the ruler of the Ascendant, was in tight opposition with Mars, foreshadowing the coming Civil War. This year, 2016, we find Mars trine the natal Venus. It gives the party the ability to go forward into new territory, to have success with the public, to make new agreements and deals, accept challenges, take a stand, and profit by using dynamic energy.

In the converse progressed chart, we find the converse progressed Ascendant, conjunct converse progressed and natal Uranus, square converse progressed Mars. These are potentially disastrous aspects that demand revolutionizing, and can break up the party.
Converse progressed Saturn is square natal Venus warning of serious errors of judgment, unfavorable publicity, harsh criticism, and huge losses of money, The old guard appears to be killing the party.
Converse progressed Venus is sextile natal Jupiter to tell us that all is not doom and gloom, and that the party will do well to expand its vision.

In the Directed chart we find the Ascendant conjunct the natal Neptune, and the Descendant, conjunct Mercury opposite the natal Neptune, pointing out, yet again, the underhandedness of unscrupulous people causing chaotic conditions to undermine the party's better interests.
The directed Mid Heaven is square natal Neptune. This gives very bad publicity to the party. The worst things are being said.
The directed Mars is square natal Uranus. The factions of the party champion lost causes, and many in the party are upset and angry.
The solar arc directed Moon is sextile the natal Sun and square the natal Mars showing opportunity born out of conflict.

The party is being crippled, and needs to be revolutionized.
Transiting Uranus comes to trine the natal Moon this April 2 - 18, and then again next November 27 - January 29, 2017. This does bring new ideas.
Another hopeful sign is that Jupiter enters the 1st house of the natal chart in later September. This will give the party a more hopeful outlook.

Come November, the progressed Moon forms no aspect; the converse progressed Moon forms square to converse progressed Sun; the directed Moon form trine to natal Sun and Mercury, and square to Natal Venus. The party is struggling.

All in all, it looks like tremendous conflict through which the party has a good chance of being renovated, reorganized, revolutionized, and/or regrouped. There is the danger that it will fragment, and it will be very difficult for the party to get a handle on the treacherous elements that are undermining its better interests at this time. The party is in turmoil. And it is not the fault of Trump. He didn't invent the heavens, nor did he found the GOP. He's sailing on rough seas. And the country is in turmoil.

This article in no way offers to predict who will win the upcoming election.

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Raphael gives in-depth personal astrological and psychic readings. For information, visit  www.raphaelsimons.com