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MMA FREE WEEKLY COMMENTS
FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JUNE 8, 2015 ©
REVIEW AND PREVIEW
Last week was so Mercury retrograde (May 19-June 11). Last Friday, May 29, the U.S.
Department of Commerce announced, “Real gross domestic product (GDP) -- the value of the
production of goods and services in the United States, adjusted for price changes -- decreased at
an annual rate of 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2015…” That’s right, the economy contracted,
as in … the first step towards a formal recession.
But then this Friday. June 5, the U.S. Department of Labor reported, “Total nonfarm payroll
employment increased by 280,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged
at 5.5 percent.” That’s right, more and more people are working, and on top of that wages
Now how is that? The labor market improves, but the economy contracted? Perhaps it lies in
a report by The National Employment Labor Project, which points out: “Fast food industry
jobs have set the pace since 2000, rising 23.3 percent, against a 5.1 percent overall gain
in private sector job growth. In New York City specifically, fast food jobs exploded by 87
percent…” (Jeff Cox, CNBC. June 5). Or maybe the contradictory messages are just the
typical Mercury retrograde information cycle. One report is bullish, the other bearish.
Or, how about this? The strong jobs numbers has caused many analysts to now (once again)
believe that the Fed will raise interest rates sooner than later. “Sooner” now means September
instead of December or early 2016. Remember, just a month ago they were predicting rates would
rise in June, contrary to our year-long forecasts that they would not rise before last quarter of
2015 and maybe even 2016 based on the chart of the Federal Reserve Board (December 23, 1913
– see annual Forecast Books). Yet, in Friday’s (June 5) Wall Street blares the headline: “IMF to
Fed: Wait Until ’16 to Start Rate Rise,” by Ian Talley. The article states, “… the IMF warned that
the increase could trigger ‘significant and abrupt rebalancing of international portfolios with
market volatility and financial stability.’” Do you ever get the feeling that the news you read
today is the same material you wrote about – forecasted - before? It’s not like living in the now.
It’s a combination of living in both the past and the future on the same day. It’s like living in a
time when Mercury and Neptune are both stationary in the skies, but about to change directions,
which just happens to be the case June 11-12, depending on where you live (not to mention the
reality you live in - now, then, or tomorrow).
Well, it doesn’t matter what I think… err, wait a minute, it does matter what I think, to those
who are interested in what others might think and do in the future, like tomorrow, next week or
next year. You see, I spend more time there than here, and if I know my readers well, they enjoy
– they find value in - this reality that I provide, which can be best described in one word: Next.
In any event, neither stock nor bond markets are enjoying this particular Mercury retrograde
in air signs period. Both were down quite hard last week, especially in the USA. Stocks in the
USA (DJIA and S&P) have been down since they peaked on May 19, the day Mercury turned
retrograde. Treasuries (Ten-Year Notes at least) peaked out January 29, shortly after the previous
Mercury retrograde got underway. But now, after a recovery crest on May 29 – the middle of the
current Mercury retrograde period – T-Notes have fallen sharply to their lowest level since
October. There is a sense of panic erupting in the Treasury market.
But you know how I look at it through this cosmic lens that seems attached to my third eye?
I am glad you asked (well, OK, I was the one who asked myself this question… the I of the now,
as Mercury and Neptune change directions, asking the I of the future, who has this cosmic lens
attached to his third eye…). I see it like this. All this talk – all this obsession and conviction -
about the Fed raising rates sooner than later, really took off on this last round about the time that
Mercury turned retrograde, May 19. And this week, Mercury turns direct on June 11 (did I say
Neptune also changes directions then)? With a week, I would not be surprised if the Fed says or
does something that completely changes the direction of the market’s recent conviction about
raising rates sooner than later. And with that, markets can reverse again.
Everyone is crazy or in denial. It’s Mercury retrograde in air signs, square Neptune and in
opposition to Saturn. But not to fear: temporary help is on the way.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS
As mentioned, Mercury ends its retrograde motion of June 11, while Neptune begins its own
course backwards through the zodiac, as seen from Earth. Thus, the principles of Mercury
(communications) and Neptune (misinformation, misunderstanding, or idealism) are highlighted
in the collective mind this week and next. Be careful not believe everything you read, see, or
hear. Be careful about joining the herd of lemmings as they give up their positions and jump over
the cliff because they are following a path of fear, rather than seeing a new path of light, a new
path representing a possible reversal.
June is a very interesting month. There are so many planetary cycles changing, and so many
different dynamics to cope with. We have the Sun and Mars coming up June 14, which can be
war-like and rather threatening rhetoric from world leaders (or their enemies). We have Jupiter
trine Uranus in fire signs on June 22, which offers hope to investors on the possibilities of news
that takes the worries off for a moment. Given that both of these signatures (Sun/Mars and
Jupiter/Uranus) fall on degrees that highlight positive positions in the chart of the founding of the
New York Stock Exchange (“Buttonwood Chart,” as pointed out by Rob Robinson in the ISAR
financial markets ezine… www.isarastrology.com), don’t rule out another new high soon.
However, as Jupiter is involved, we can’t totally rule out a crushing decline first either. We
discuss these things in greater detail in our weekly subscription reports, along with Gold and
Silver, which are also entering a very important period as Neptune changes direction this week.
LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS
“Greece will do everything it can to remain part of the Eurozone, a government minister has
said, after the debt-laden country missed a €300m (£220m) debt repayment to the International
Monetary Fund and raised fears about the future of Europe’s single currency… The economy
minister, George Stathakis, gave the first official confirmation that Greece could have made the
repayment to the Washington-based fund but chose not to do so in the face of demands to
overhaul its economy by its lenders, which also include the EU and European Central Bank.” –
Jill Treanor, “Greece Determined to Stay in Eurozone, Says Economy Minister,”
www.theguardian.com, June 5, 2015.
It seems that I may have muddled the distinction between the “Eurozone” and “European
Union” in last week’s column in my reasoning as to why there would be no Grexis – Greece Exit
– from the Union (so very much like Mercury and Neptune dynamics). I think my conclusion was
correct, but my definitions may not have been accurate. Blame it on my chart (Mercury and
Neptune need someone – something – to blame their errors on… and you will see a lot of that
dynamic too this week). When you have planets in detriment signs (weak), but the same planets
are strong by their house placements, it is an indication of achieving a successful result but not
necessarily by acceptable means, according to well-known astrology teacher Robert Corre of
New York City. Thus, in my case, I have Venus, Mercury, and the Moon strong in my natal 2nd,
3rd, and 4th houses respectively. That is where each is strongest naturally. But they are in Scorpio,
Sagittarius, and Capricorn respectively, which is their detriment signs. I experience success in
these areas (financial, communications, and family), but not by the usual or “acceptable” means.
It means I am “edgy,” but I usually get what I go for.
But enough about me and back to the Euro and my thoughts on the Euro versus the
Eurozone. According to www.democraticunderground.com, “The Eurozone… is an economic
and monetary union (EMU) of 17 European Union (EU) member states that have adopted the
euro (€) as their common currency and legal tender.” There are actually 19 countries now in the
Eurozone according to Wikipedia, with Lithuania joining in January 2015. Greece is one of those
The European Union (EU), on the other hand, is “… an economic and political union of 27
(28 now, according to Wikipedia) member states which are located primarily in Europe… The
latest amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU, the Treaty of Lisbon, came into force in
2009… The Eurozone is mostly about currency, whereas the European Union is a social cause,
trade, and free movement of people, goods, and services.” All members of the Eurozone are also
members of the Euro Union, but not the other way around.
Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty states, “Any Member State (of the EU) may decide to
withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements,” according to
So it is like this: no one can kick Greece out of the Euro Union. However, Greece (or any
member) can choose to leave the Euro Union on its own, and if it does so, it will also leave the
Eurozone (currency). But why would Greece choose to do that? They won’t. And according to a
Friday report by Reuters, “Close to one in two Greeks is in favor of the government reaching a
deal with the country's lenders, and three out of four want to stay in the euro zone, an opinion
poll showed on Friday.” (www.reuters.com/subject/euro-zone). Thus, it is also no surprise that
Greece missed its €300B debt payment due to IMF on Friday, and it is still in the zone.
When Neptune is standing still in the skies, it is strong. When Neptune is strong, no one
knows what to do. It is like trying to get from point A to B in a dense fog. No one can see the
path. All you can do is wait for the fog to lift, and hope the path is still there and you - or your
subject – have not wandered too far off from it. You are better off watching the “Big Bang
Theory,” and at least enjoying the absurdity of the situation and the leaders who are trying so hard
to push a string - in a fog, no less.
No guarantee as to the accuracy of this report is being made here. Any decisions in financial markets are solely the responsibility of the reader, and neither the author nor the publishers assume any responsibility at all for those individual decisions. Reader should understand that futures and options trading are considered high risk.