To all my readers, students, colleagues, family and friends, I wish you a wonderful year full of excitement and accomplishments. May you always remember that “Your successes and failures in the next year will depend entirely on the choices you make dealing with the challenges of your own Karma reflected in your astrological chart, and Donald Trump, or anyone else for that matter, will not be able to do anything about it.”

In short, for most of the people living in the United States, the year 2018 will appear more prosperous and secure than the four previous years- 2014-17. Below are some of the specifics.

Gloom without Doom

During the presidential election in 2016, Uranus and Neptune entered their semi-square aspect (45°) in which they will remain through 2018, 2019 and most of 2020. The influence of this semi-square fueled the popular discontent that brought Donald Trump to presidency, while creating a sense of an inevitable disaster in half of the nation. This is what I posted in my article, Post Election Syndrome, on December 6, 2016: “In reality, this planetary aspect (Uranus/Neptune semi-square) cannot produce any great disaster.” “It can only invoke in some the false sense of forthcoming doom; this doom will never materialize, the wheel of time cannot be reversed, Trump will not start a nuclear war, and the U.S. will never become a racist or a fascist state.” Indeed, one year into Trump’s presidency this forecast is still valid. President Trump has not manifested our greatest fears. Neither has he fulfilled the unrealistic expectations of the other half of the Americans that elected him. America has not become “great again” with plenty of well-paying jobs and affordable health care. Both opposing halves of our nation were delusional. Fortunately, no real large-scale disaster has befallen us in 2017. Unfortunately, America has not become any greater last year than it was a year earlier.

Trump’s Fate

I spent about six months researching the correlation between impeachments and assassinations of the U.S. presidents and planetary cycles. The results of my research can be found in my books, Will the Congress Impeach President Trump? An Astrological Forecast and Will Donald Trump Survive his Presidency? An Astrological Forecast. They will be published by summer of 2018. For now, it is sufficing to say that Donald Trump will not be impeached next year, neither will he resign in 2018 to avoid impeachment, nor will he get assassinated or die from natural causes any time soon. However, from November 2018 through January 2019, it may appear that the President may be dangerously close to impeachment or worse. During this period, the South Node will form a conjunction to Pluto in the U.S. chart, while making a T-square to transiting Uranus and a sesqui-square to Neptune. Nothing significant will come out of it though.

Immigration

Marked by the fall of Berlin Wall, the new Globalization Era began in November 1989. It will last for more than eight centuries. Due to the combined influences of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, this new era will be characterized by the worldwide information exchange, mass migrations and easy transference of capital between the nations. This process is irreversible. However, the current administration will be able to slow it down just a bit, but only as long as Uranus/Neptune semi-square is in effect through the spring of 2021. Therefore, I do not expect any drastic reduction of immigration into the United States in 2018 compared with the previous year.

Job Outsourcing

In the Globalization Era, the notorious one percent will always find ways to relocate their production facilities where labor is cheaper and taxes are lower. They will also always find ways to invest where the return of their investment is higher. However, these two processes can be slowed down due to the reactionary influence of Uranus/Neptune semi-square. Nevertheless, I do not expect any greater return of manufacturing jobs nor the capital parked overseas returning back to the U.S. in 2018 than what occurred in 2017.

New Tax Law

The new tax law recently passed by the Congress and signed by the President inspired high expectations of huge profits in some, while disgusting or even terrifying most Americans. To the dismay of some and relief of most, this tax law will not change much. At the time of its passing, Neptune formed a semi-square to Pluto located in the Second House of Money in the U.S. chart. In the course of our history, Neptune formed twelve stressful aspects to the U.S. Pluto similar to the one taking place when Trump signed this new law in December 2017, and each time the influence of such aspects created bubbles in the stock market and unrealistic expectations of economic growth. The last time it occurred was in 1994-98, close to the end of the dot com bubble. We all know how it ended with the NASDAQ crash in 2000. I expect another crash in 2019-20, when transiting Saturn will form a conjunction to Pluto in the U.S. chart.

Income Inequality

While this new Globalization Era (1989-2857) will be more just, peaceful and prosperous than any other era in human history, it will not substantially change human nature. In spite of the obvious progress that humanity will make all over the globe, some problems of today will only get worse and income inequality is one of them.

Due to the planetary influences, the gap between rich and poor will continue growing for 839 more years. Therefore, do not expect any politician to impose a social solution that will magically resolve this problem. Instead, find your own personal path to prosperity. The influence of Uranus/Neptune semi-square, which inspires intuition, creativity and independent thinking, will make it easier than in the previous years. Want to know how? Visit my other website, www.psychologyofmoney.net. Also, consider my books, Psychology of Money, Psychology of Investing, Discover Your Life Purpose and Midlife Career Change. In-depth analysis of your unique astrological chart may also help you discover how the planetary influences will affect your life in the years to come.

Second Korean War?

We are not going to war against North Korea in 2018 or within a decade or two thereafter. I will publish an article on the subject in a month or two. Meanwhile, for more information, contact the author.

New Cold War

In spite of considerable worsening of our relations with Russia in 2017, I still stand by my previous forecast of August 29, 2014, stating that the New Cold War with Russia will end by the spring of 2021. As it occurred under similar Uranus/Neptune aspects in the past, a new government will emerge in Russia within the next three years, which will establish much friendlier relations with the West. Read more.

Acts of Terror

Obviously, the ISIS defeat in Syria and Iraq has not stopped senseless acts of terror around the world. Unfortunately, such acts will not abate in 2018 either. I expect a lower level of terrorist activity in this coming year compared to 2017. Read more.

Palestine

Two Oslo accords between Israel and PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) were signed in 1993 and 1995 during the very beginning of the Uranus/Neptune cycle. So far, no viable Palestinian State has emerged with the progression of this cycle, and no lasting peace is in sight in our lifetime. Instead, I expect waves of popular unrest called Intifadas to flare up during every Uranus/Neptune stressful aspect until the end of this cycle in 2164. So, expect to hear about “Days of Rage” of the Palestinian protests until the spring of 2021. Another war between Israel and Hamas or Hezbollah is also a possibility within next three years. Both sides in this conflict are involved in a mutually beneficial, even though highly dysfunctional relationship. As a result, this stalemate will not change any time soon. Look for my article on the subject to be published in a month or two. Meanwhile, for more information, contact the author.

Political Instability

As was the case in the beginning of Uranus/Neptune cycle in the 1990s, certain areas of the world will suffer from political instability, civil unrest and even civil wars. Here are the regions that will be most affected: Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Balkans, and the Caucasus. New civil wars may flare up at least in some of these regions in addition to those already being fought today.

Economy

During all aspects between Uranus and Neptune similar to the current semi-square in 2016-21, the U.S. economy experienced economic contractions. I am convinced that this time will not be any different. Previously, I expected the first signs of such a contraction to emerge in 2017. They have not. Praise our government that has been successfully managing our economy and stock market since the Great Recession and will continue to do so through most, if not all, of 2018. Nevertheless, I still expect the first signs of an economic slowdown to emerge after the midterm election in November, and in the spring of 2019 this recession will begin in earnest. I will publish a more detailed article on the subject in a month or two. Meanwhile, for more info contact the author.

Stock Market

The U.S. stock market will be quite boring in 2018 crawling up very slowly as if being pushed by a giant turtle. I expect an unremarkable rise of a few hundred Dow Industrials points from January 2018 until the beginning of March followed by a decline by about the same amount ending in mid-May. Then, the market will resume rising again very slowly until mid-October. After that, the market will experience a sharp decline of at least 1000 points through the end of the year. For more info, look into my article to be published in a month or two or contact the author.

Summary

Overall, 2018 will be a bit more prosperous and secure than 2017. The major planetary influences that shaped our politics and economy during the last year will continue doing so in 2018. Most Americans have already gotten used to outrageous statements by our President and his political opponents. We got used to “fake news” and do not pay much attention to sexual harassment scandals or news of the investigation into Russia’s interference in our presidential election. None of it has made substantial difference in our lives in 2017, and neither will it do so in the year that follows. So, enjoy a relatively quiet year of 2018. Save your energy for 2019 and 2020. They may prove to be a lot more exciting and alas challenging. The most important is to remember that “Your successes and failures in the next year will depend entirely on the choices you make dealing with the challenges of your own Karma reflected in your own astrological chart, and Donald Trump, or anyone else for that matter, will not be able to do anything about it.”