STAR TRENDS

Star Trends / Current Events

Vedic Astrology Predictions for Spring and Summer 2013

As we conclude the month of May, the planets are emerging from a difficult series of eclipses which started on the lunar eclipse of April 25th in the constellation of Libra. The month of May featured a solar eclipse on the 9th in the constellation of Aries, and concluded with a lunar eclipse in Scorpio on May 24th. The norm for eclipse patterns is two in a row, so this pattern of three has presented more challenges than usual. Further, the angry red planet Mars has been closely aligned with each of the eclipses resulting in a driven vitriolic anger, couple with scandalous, violent behavior, and extreme weather. For those of you born between mid-April to mid-May and mid-October to mid-November it has been a difficult time. Even though the eclipses have ended, it will be prudent to be prepared, as it is still a volatile, uneasy time, until the New Moon of June 8th. After that date the challenges that Mars represents will begin to diminish in intensity.

The stellar event of this year is the largest and brightest of the planets: Jupiter. It will leave the constellation of Taurus and enter the constellation of Gemini the last day of May. Jupiter is considered the best of the natural benefic planets in Vedic astrology due to its lucent presence in the night sky. Venus also shares that natural lucent benefic status, as does a bright Moon, as well as the planet Mercury when associated with the natural planets of light. Jupiter's grand entrance into the constellation of Gemini will follow in the celestial footsteps of both Venus and Mercury, having arrived days earlier. This triumvirate of light will grace all who are born from mid-June to mid-July, as well as those who were born with the Moon in the air constellations of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.

Although Venus leaves the constellation of Gemini a couple days after the Summer Solstice, the planet Mercury will remain in Gemini until August 4th due to his retrogression. Planets such as Mercury and Venus come close to the earth during retrogression and therefore become brighter and more visible once they move beyond the effulgence of the Sun. Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will be visible in the evening sky in early June. Do not miss this spectacular Gemini light show right before the New Moon of June 8th. Later in the month, as the Moon becomes full on June 23rd, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter will be astronomically opposite the Moon. This will again create a delightful celebration of celestial light right around the Summer Solstice. June is time to plan a party, to travel with your most luminous friends. It will be one of the best months of the year — a jubilee. Under such light, the dark shadows of the April and May eclipses will become a mere memory.

When all three benefic planets — Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter— align in their own constellations, or align together in one constellation, they form the auspicious planetary pattern known as Saraswati Yoga. The Hindu Goddess Saraswati is a deity of education, learning, and the fine arts. During the month of June, Saraswati’s Yoga in Gemini promises inspirational thinking and creativity, and a resurgent interest in the arts, especially the literary arts. It will be inspirational and educational for those people who were born with planets in the air constellations of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. In fact, Jupiter's yearlong sojourn in Gemini promises advancements in journalism, broadcasting, technology, travel and education. It portends to be a progressive time for writing, reporting and advances in journalism; the true spirit of sharing knowledge. Forget about the embedded reporting of special interest, as well as the deep commercial pockets of infomercials, and just plain planted stories. Forget about the ephemeral, contrived sound bites and blogs of talk radio and the entertainment industry. This is not journalism, but rather marketing. Remember that marketing is the bastard child of education, and education is the true mother of all knowledge and journalism. Look to Jupiter to revitalize the field and to return the pursuit of knowledge to a rightful place in the profession as a whole. Do yourselves and your favorite struggling periodical a favor by subscribing online, as well as in print, to a couple of reputable journals to expand your horizons, and listen to more public radio to transcend the days' stale talking points. After a good listen and a good read you are instantly transported back 20 years to a time when you were excited to listen and learn. You are connected to others through these activities of knowledge and learning, not isolated and dumbed down in ignorance. This connection to others through knowledge, through the airy world of ideas, is the quintessential quality of youth that stokes the imagination of the constellation of Gemini.

The social nature of Jupiter in Gemini portends a time of learning and sporting under the joyful summer Sun, as Gemini occurs in the bright part of the year, north of the equator. The constellation is ruled by the changeable planet Mercury. The celestial energy of Gemini represents a dynamic time of change and growth, associated with the abundance of summer light. The social, playful and competitive spirit of learning based connectivity is found at the heart of Gemini through such activities as traveling, debating, and all forms of playing, and, yes, partying and entertaining. The social context of playing games, music, and sports with like-minded people in the summer light increases the confidence, along with the consciousness, of all those who wish to remain very young at heart. Change is inevitable, and Gemini readily welcomes it, regardless of age.

Gemini has a fast forward orientation. It favors the future, and does not look to the past. The constellation is dual in its approach, not fixed. There is always another innovative idea to solving the day's problems as we connect and evolve through learning. The grand genius, Albert Einstein, had the constellation of Gemini rising. He explained that no problem could be solved by the same level of consciousness that created it. He held the progressive view that problems were just solutions dressed up in the work cloths of consciousness, for as the light of the conscious process evolves, the darkness of today's pressing problems cease to exist. Gemini represents the youthful eternal student, ever eager to grow, innovate, diversify, and solve today's problems in the spirit of continuing education.

The United States was born during the bright light of the summer on July 4, 1776. The chart features several planets in the constellation of Gemini, including Jupiter, the greatest planet of light. It is no wonder that The American experience has been defined by such colloquial expressions as American ingenuity, land of opportunity, and the American dream. Part and parcel of the American dream of upward social mobility has been a cultural focus on continuing education. This cultural focus on getting an education has led to the development of a plethora of prestigious public and private world class colleges and universities, from the state to the national level, that dramatically draw both national and international enrollments.

However, as Jupiter makes his glorious return to Gemini at the end of May, all is not well with our nation's educational system. Noted economist Joseph Sitglitz reveals the root of the problem in his scathing article, Student Debt and the Crushing of the American Dream. In this timely piece, Stiglitz tells the astounded reader that total national student debt has now surpassed total national credit card debt! The average tuition is just under $22,000 a year including room and board! In the growing inequality of our times Stiglitz grouses, "Everyone recognizes that education is the only way up, but as a college degree becomes increasingly essential to making one's way in a 21st century economy, education for those not to the manner born is increasingly unaffordable." He further states, "What economists call human capital— investing in people — is a key to long-term growth. To be competitive in the 21st century is to have a highly educated labor force, one with college and advanced degrees. Instead, we are foreclosing on our future as a nation." According to Stiglitz the average student debt upon graduation now exceeds $26,000, with over 10 percent of students owing double that. Students baring the burden of such debt cannot spur the economy forward through consumer spending. They will not purchase homes, or start a family, until their debt has been lessened. Stiglitz rightly says that dire student debt is already becoming a drag on the national economic recovery.

So what is Congress doing to address the student debt issue? Believe it or not, Federal Student Stafford loans were set to double this July to 6.8 percent! Stiglitz summarizes the essentials in an ironic statement: "If the Federal Reserve is willing to lend to the banks that caused the crises at just 0.75 percent, shouldn't it be willing to lend to the students, who will be crucial to our long-term recovery, at an appropriate rate?" Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, has taken Stiglitz literally and she is actually proposing letting students borrow at the 0.75 favored rate to ease the increasing financial burden. Stiglitz has many insights into our educational pay-to-play, winner–take-all game, where the wealthiest are assured of a spot, and the rest are compelled to take a gamble on huge debts. He lambasts the pay-to-play predatory schools and their bank cohorts for student debt extortion. Educational articles such as this are just beginning to shed light on the financial parasites feeding off our nation's promising students. How can today's Millennials lead us to a better economy tomorrow in light of this crushing debt burden?

Jupiter's return to Gemini this summer will continue to shine a light on the shameful plight of our students, and hopefully start a meaningful dialogue about government's role in sponsoring education to restore the promise of the Land of Opportunity. Back in his natal position, Jupiter will reinforce theAmerican Dream of equal educational opportunity, the same opportunities we extend to the banks.

I still remember the pop group Jay and the Americans espousing this ideal in their 1963 pop hit Only In America. The lyrics alluded to this dream of opportunity: "Only in America ... land of opportunity ... can a kid without a cent ... grow up to be President." Barack Obama was two years old when that song was penned, and he lived the lyrics of that song, as a kid without a cent who grew up to be President. The federal grant programs and public support through scholarships played no small part in completing his equal educational opportunity. I am not so sure my children, or your children for that matter, will be able to hold that dream, or that opportunity much longer, until as a nation we restore the hope of equal education in the "Land of Opportunity." Jay Black of Jay and the Americans declared bankruptcy in 2006. Unlike credit card debt, and unlike Jay Black, students cannot bankrupt on their student loans. They will pay them, or we will pay them, or we will all carry them to our graves.

So, welcome Jupiter this summer as he returns to the constellation of Gemini, where he reigned during the birth of our nation. Jupiter is the ruler of America's chart and the expansive American dream. As the largest of the planets, he represents all things expansive and uplifting in nature. He will always be up to the task — never too big to fail. Pay him homage this 4th of July, and as you look up on this auspicious evening, try to find him in the night sky amidst the rocket's red glare and the firework displays bursting in air. When the night's celebration has ended, he will still be there, shining his light through the constellation of Gemini, eternally same as ever; the brightest light of hope we all have in the dark night of ignorance.