The U.S. economic expansion in 2017 and most of 2018 was truly remarkable, even though the influence of Uranus/Neptune semi-square, which commenced in June 2016, brought about economic problems in many areas of the globe, including many nations of the EU, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Venezuela and China. Why wasn’t the U.S. economy affected by this semi-square?

The main reasons of the stellar performance of the U.S. economy in 2017-18 were favorable planetary aspects from Saturn, Chiron, Uranus and Neptune to the astrological chart of the United States. (To read more, go to Planetary Aspects in 2017-18.)

Astrological Formula of Inequality

The influence of Uranus/Neptune semi-square has widened a political divide in the U.S., and almost every public discussion on any subject became highly politicized. As a result, prominent U.S. economists widely differ in their assessment of the U.S. economy. Some of them—usually supporters of President Trump—forecast that this economic expansion will continue for many more years if not decades, and no recession is in sight. Others—usually Trump’s critics—point out that the current economic expansion benefitted only the wealthy, and due to the astronomic rise of real estate prices as well as of rent, food, healthcare and education, the middle class and the poor are worse off now than during the Obama era. They also point out that the real inflation rate in not 1.7% shown in the official statistical reports, but 10% when counting the constant rise of food prices. As a result, the buying power of the American consumer is rapidly diminishing, which makes a forthcoming recession inevitable.

Astrological analysis supports the position of the latter due to the planetary aspects formed by Uranus, Chiron and Neptune.

Uranusis associated with technological and social innovations and creative thinkers who create and promote them. It symbolizes the best and brightest. In recent decades, a disproportionally large percentage of them work in the area of finance.

Chironstands for problems that cannot be solved. It reflects upon the cyclical nature of our economy, its vacillation between boom and bust, which cannot be changed, but only adapted to. Chiron may also reflect upon the wisdom gained by overcoming adversity.

Neptune in political astrology represents the people. It reflects upon the moods and aspirations of the masses and how they may produce wars, revolutions and economic calamities under stressful planetary aspects, including the current Uranus/Neptune semi-square.

Uranus/Chiron semi-sextile is a harmonious aspect. Its influence allows the most intelligent and computer savvy (Uranus), many of them from the upper middle class and super wealthy, benefit from the current economy the most. It appears that the best and brightest from the financial elite (Uranus) have learned the lessons of previous economic contractions and have overcome the inherent flaws of the world economy (Chiron). As a result, they are able to apply creative innovations in creating money out of thin air while perpetuating the current economic expansion indefinitely. Or so they think.

Unfortunately, Chiron is not forming any aspect to Neptune, which stands for the people. As a result, the majority of Americans has not benefited from the current economic boom caused by Chiron/Uranus semi-sextile. Instead, they have experienced the stressful influence of Uranus/Neptune semi-square. 

Neptune is a planet of Hollywood. Under stressful aspects, its influence is smoke and mirrors. It can only provide the symbols of prosperity, such as the stock market rise and low unemployment figures, but not the prosperity itself. This is especially relevant for the U.S. in 2017-18 when Uranus and Neptune were forming stressful aspects to Pluto and Mercury located in the Houses of Money and Investment in the U.S. chart. These aspects points out that the U.S. economic progress in the last two years may not have been as great as it appeared.

In 2019 we will have the same Uranus/Neptune semi-square and the same Chiron/Uranus semi-sextile as occurred in 2017-18. Should we expect the U.S. economy to continue expanding in 2019 as it did for the previous two years? Unfortunately, it will not be the case. (To read more, go to U.S. Economy in 2019.)