If you were expecting some kind of sun sign nonsense, forget about it. This is real astrology for the real world. If it's real astrology for yourself that you want, you can get it by phone or in print. And if you need help deciphering the astrological glyphs in the graphics accompanying this article, see Astroglyphs: Astrological Symbols Guide. Please note: this forecast is expressed in terms of Universal Time (UT).
Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.
-- African Proverb
 

Still bearing up under the customary heavy client work load . . . still haven't had time to update the forecast results; although there's a partial summary below.

The July 3 SuperMoon alignment will be the last for several months (until November 13), and looks hugely potent as an indicator of geophysical stress. That's because this particular new moon occurs just over 24 hours after a virtually simultaneous lunar perigee (closest approach to Earth) and lunar north declination peak. This means a far bigger than usual upsurge in severe storms with damaging winds and heavy precipitation (bringing the customary amplified risk of flooding, landslides and the like); also abnormally high tidal maximums, as well as a bigger than usual batch of moderate to severe earthquakes (magnitude 5+) and volcanic eruptions. Get used to it: the total solar eclipse on August 1 is another triple threat combination, so Mother Nature's restlessness continues for the next couple of months.

I know it's been a long stretch already, from the February eclipses through the string of SuperMoons that started in May. What has already transpired in the eclipse and SuperMoon months so far may give you some indication of what to expect going forward. Let me see, we had the heavy snowstorms that paralyzed China early in February, as well as the killer floods and severe quakes in South America and the killer quakes in Africa at the same time; the powerful killer quake that hit Indonesia later in the month and the major tremor that shook northeast Nevada on the very day of the February lunar eclipse. Then came the May SuperMoon, and the killer storms in the US, the killer volcano eruption in Chile, and the horrific Cyclone Nargis that took at least 100,000 lives in Burma; later in the month came the devastating earthquake that left tens of thousands dead in Sichuan, China (within a couple days of that month's southward lunar equatorial crossing); while throughout the month and into June there were the storms that deluged the US Midwest and gave rise to the worst Mississippi River flooding in fifteen years. And then there were the powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in various (mostly South Pacific) locations around the world within days of the early June SuperMoon . . . the shape of things to come.

SuperMoon alignments are cosmic in scale, and planet-wide in scope. Therefore, there's pretty much no place on Earth that isn't at risk from the geophysical stresses associated with this month's alignment. Obviously, tidal flooding requires a coast, seismic disturbances require some proximity to a fault, etc. But the sky is everywhere, so severe weather is at least possible anywhere on Planet Earth during the SuperMoon risk window that runs from late June on through to July 10. Be ready, be prepared to the extent possible and reasonable, wherever you are during this time period. And maybe especially if you find yourself in one of the special risk zones suggested by SuperMoon alignments are cosmic in scale, and planet-wide in scope. Therefore, there's pretty much no place on Earth that isn't at risk from the geophysical stresses associated with this month's alignment. That said, astro-mapping may indicate some areas of special vulnerability. Obviously, tidal flooding requires a coast, seismic disturbances require some proximity to a fault, etc. But the sky is everywhere, so severe weather is at least possible anywhere on Planet Earth during the SuperMoon risk window that runs from late June on through to July 10. Be ready, be prepared to the extent possible and reasonable, wherever you are during this time period. And maybe especially if you find yourself in one of the special risk zones suggested by astro-mapping the July 3 SuperMoon. Eastern Brazil and Greenland fall under the western end of a longitudinal risk zone associated with the July 3 SuperMoon. The eastern end of that same line runs east of Japan down through New Guinea and eastern Australia. The horizon arc for this SuperMoon sweeps across northern Mexico northeasterly through the northern Plains into eastern Canada, across northern Europe and down through the Middle East. The Aleutians and Hawaii fall in a longitudinal Mars-Saturn risk zone associated with this SuperMoon, while those same two planets are on a horizon arc that cuts across northwestern South America, out into the Caribbean and the Atlantic, across southern Greenland and down through central Asia and Indochina to cross Indonesia and western Australia.

The SuperMoon early in July is one of two major geophysical indicators of powerful storms, tidal flooding and seismic upheaval this month. Due to a combination of factors, the entire second half of the month looks threatening in this regard. It starts on the 14th, as the Moon comes up on its south declination extreme (exact on the 15th). The stress momentum is picked up by the full moon on the 18th, and carried forward past the northward lunar crossing of the celestial equator on the 22nd. From there, the August 1 total solar eclipse takes hold and stretches the risk window well into August. Not since February and May have so many factors combined to stir up Planet Earth's crust, oceans and atmosphere. Not a bad time to double-check your emergency supplies and plans!

Nobody makes a mess like Mother Nature, but that's not the only emergency on hand this month. There's major Red Planet action in the heavens in effect just about all month, from July 4 (Mars conjunct Saturn as well as the degree of the February 21 lunar eclipse) to July 9 and 31 (Mars conjunct Saturn and opposing the location of the August 28, 2007 lunar eclipse in the first instance, and at the degree of the September 11, 2007 solar eclipse in the second). This carries on well into August, what with the Mars opposition to Uranus on the 6th of that month.

Mars action of this sort is a solid indication of a period of elevated tension and conflict, the kind of atmosphere that cultivates recklessness, inflamed passions, hot tempers and rash, even violent action - of the criminal and military type, even. The fires, clashes, crashes and explosions that are par for the course at times like this can be horrific enough in their own right. But to compound the damages, some such incidents can raise the possibility of a disruption in the oil and natural gas supply chain - which in turn can shock the financial markets and put investors and institutions in a mad dash for the exits. Not that the markets need much in the way of downdrafts now anyway, but pipeline and shipping attacks and military threats and even strikes in the Middle East are all it takes to shake down the house of cards big time. In this regard, it's probably not a good sign that Mars and Saturn are on the horizon in the Middle East as they align: from the Horn of Africa across Saudi Arabia and Iran, this is unsettling. (Those two planets are overhead along the longitude of Rio de Janeiro and at the midnight point across central Australia, Indonesia and Japan, as well.)

Geopolitics aside, the Red Planet trigger dates mentioned above represent periods, give or take about a week, when you want to keep your wits about you, your focus on your immediate situation. No daydreaming - this is a time to stay aware and safety-conscious! These are periods of elevated tension and conflict, the kind of atmosphere that cultivates inflamed passions, hot tempers, dangerous carelessness and rash, even violent action.

Mind you, it doesn't take major Mars action to trigger panic in the financial markets these days - which you'd know, if you've read my 2008 World Forecast Highlights. Lots of people are asking me when the US Dow Industrials will get back up to 14,000. I don't know, but I'm pretty sure they'll have to get back up to 11,000 first. Yes, I meant that: they'll have to get back up to eleven thousand. (Speaking of bear markets, have you been following the news from Shanghai?) With that in mind, it hardly matters when the next leg down in the bear market happens. Meanwhile, if you read my 2008 World Forecast Highlights, you pretty well know what to do: buy gold and silver on the pullbacks; and if you must invest in stocks, look at shares issued by good sound companies that take wealth out of the ground - the ones that produce commodities, from foodstuffs to energy to metals to minerals. Just remember that stocks - and currency, for that matter - are a promise to pay, while precious metals are payment in hand. You can't eat 'em, but they'll buy you stuff to eat when no one will exchange food for a promise to pay.

SPECIAL FEATURE: This month's birthdays of the famous and infamous (with astrological birth charts)