Happy Full Moon and a very warm welcome again to the very many people who have signed up for this newsletter following the highly successful AstroSummit earlier this month.

We live in extraordinary times! As their name suggests, solar flares usually last just a few minutes. Yet just a few days ago, on Oct 22^nd, one lasted for over 3 hours. This extra-long explosion sent out a coronal mass ejection initially expected to reach Earth just ahead of this Full Moon. In fact, that CME arrived on Saturday.

Whether the approach of the CME boosted the strength of Hurricane Patricia it’s worth noting that both anticipated sunspot activity and aberrant behaviour on the Sun have effect on terrestrial weather.

It’s quite likely that solar activity has effect on human behaviour. Certainly it seems that those born when the Sun is relatively quiet appear to act out of character when the Sun is extra ‘busy’ whilst the opposite also seems to be the case. Thousands of charts would have to be studied to arrive at definite conclusion, but it would probably be worth the effort to analyse links between solar  and human activity.

What causes the Sun to act as it does is not yet confirmed, though it may be that the distribution of the planets around the Sun has effect on its internal systems.

As we know, Jupiter, the largest of all the known planets is presently at one side of the Sun whilst Neptune and Chiron are at the other. With Jupiter, and, (as viewed from Earth), Venus and Mars with Mercury also on that same ‘side’ of the Sun whilst Saturn has been at right angle to the Venus-Mars combination, the Sun may have been ‘pulled’ in three directions and ‘blown its top’!

No less important is the position of the Moon relative to Earth. Just twenty-three hours ahead of today’s Full Moon, the Moon arrives at perigee (closest to Earth). The combination often brings stormy weather. With Mars arrival at the exact position of the recent solar eclipse (September 13^th at 20 Virgo), coinciding with the Full Moon, it’s not hard to imagine a few days of seriously troublesome weather systems even post Hurricane Patricia.

As anticipated in the last newsletter, there was indeed a change in trend for a few days on October 12^th. I still feel that large scale equity moves are most likely around this Full Moon however when both Mercury and Mars cross the degree held by the Sun at the recent solar eclipse.

When Mercury passed this degree (prior to recent retrograde motion) in August, markets slumped. October 27-28 could see a repetition. You may remember that in one of the summer newsletters I pointed out the similarities between the present time and the early 1930s (what is known as the Great Depression). Planetary coincidences continue and I now wonder if the Fed will raise rates this week. (There is a meeting on 28th). This would surely have effect on prices.

Jupiter is headed toward a critical point in the NYSE chart. With Jupiter usually comes expansion.  Yet, Chiron, ‘the corrector’ opposes Jupiter in early November. From the geocentric perspective this happens three times however. If stocks do slide this week, that downward slide could continue into the early days of November. 

It is perhaps also worth while flagging up the long-recognised  ‘Mars-Uranus’ crash cycle. These two planets arrive at their Full Moon (geocentric) phase at the December New Moon (11th) and yes, it is possible that this will mark a significant top. We should perhaps be more concerned about their heliocentric opposition in late February.

It is always possible that even if there are difficulties this week, that markets will recover though I do have concerns both about the end of November and then that mid-December period. 

Those who have heard me speak will know of my concern about the bond markets. Pluto is only now at the half-way point in its journey through Capricorn. Recall that the recent global crisis began at Pluto’s entry into this sign. In the course of the next few years, Pluto will conjoin a major Black Hole. If history repeats, then another crisis – but this time involving the bond market – is probable.

The planetary configurations for mid October suggested a turning point for gold. It is interesting that gold did indeed peak on cue on October 14^th. Since then the price has fallen back. This I feel sure is temporary. As I stated last month, gold should have a long way to climb in the coming years.

Bearing in mind solar activity and the high probability of a cold spell toward the end of this decade, I fully expect oil prices to rise in 2018.

The December Solstice Webinar will take place on December 20^th at 15.00 GMT. The cost is 36GBP and content will cover an in-depth look at the period December 20 – March 21^st and also an overview of 2016. The webinar will be recorded for those unavailable attend at that time. You can secure your place by clicking here.

Is almost ready – delayed by the arrival of Monty, my new grand-son. Those who have already expressed interest will hear from me soon.

I will be speaking at the Astrological Lodge in London mid February. Dates for Florida are almost agreed: Fort Lauderdale early February. I am also thrilled to have been asked to give the Carter Memorial Lecture at the Astrological Association Conference next September. This is just a few weeks ahead of speaking at the ISAR conference in California in October. The only date not quite agreed – yet – is Toronto, Canada which look as though it will be late July. A busy year ahead – though hopefully with the book completed I can enjoy the trips.

For now, wishing you all happy investing - in family, friends and health foremost

Yours from the Stars

Christeen