The summer is heating up fast, and offering so much grist for the astrological mill!
Before we dive in, a disclaimer: my interest in world politics lay solely in the Kabuki Theater spectacle it provides through which to explore astrology and collective human psychology. In choosing a country as a backdrop ⸺ I live in the U.S., ergo my viewpoint is through the U.S. astrology and chart ⸺ we can make accurate sociological predictions based on the country’s collective unconscious drives, actions, and reactions.
Astrology, in this respect then, is a perfected navigational tool. Why sail headlong into a storm when you can just as easily sail around it?
If you’re a citizen of (in this case, the U.S.) you will be affected by the collective unconscious of which you are a part, whether you agree with that collective consensus or not. The degree by which you are affected by the consensus is the only thing left for discussion. That you are in some way affected by it is not. The Sun shines and the rain falls on each within the collective in equal parts. Though the reaction to that can vary wildly between the individuals that form that collective.
In that sense, being aware of the prevailing astrological weather allows you to make an informed decision as to the degree by which you’ll allow yourself to be affected by that weather. That is, the degree by which you are affected by the collective is a matter of choice. The same astrological weather (astrological energy) is present in every member of the collective. Most will identify and merge with that energy and therefore be “controlled” by it. Functional Astrologers will see it for what it is, transmute it like electricity through a lightning rod, and carry on unaffected. Or better yet, profit from it.
Case in point: let’s look ahead to Saturday, June 14th, 2025, and to the roster of national showcase events and backlash protests planned for that day.
Below is the U.S. chart for the day.
Note: due to the limitations of this chart generator and the GMT to EDT time differential, a chart for June 15th at midnight (GMT) gives us a more accurate look for the afternoon of the 14th in the US.
As well, here’s the mundane chart for the approximately the same time. This allows for an easier transit-to-transit alignment identification.
A few things that immediately jump out:
The Lunar nodes have very recently shifted signs, and now occupy the Aquarius (Rahu, north node) / Leo (Ketu, south node) axis. Occupying the 9th (Ketu) and 3rd (Rahu) houses. This occurrence (and it’s a big deal) was discussed in detail in this article.
The Sun enters Gemini, conjunct the US natal Mars in the 6th house.
Transit Moon conjunct transit Pluto with the US Pluto return still in play. This alignment is exacerbated by the Kala Sarpa Yoga, and the fact that Pluto and the Moon are the only planets outside of that nodal “corral”.
Transit Mars in applying conjunction to the fixed star Regulus at 6 Leo, cusp of the US 9th house.
We’ll dive into how all of these puzzle-pieces fit together in just a moment. But for now I just want to highlight the major alignments. As we do piece this together, keep in mind the nation’s collective consciousness, and the cognitive/emotional whipsaw that’s been in play ⸺ and especially so ⸺ since early 2020. That intensity is only going to continue to ratchet up. Which is why you see so many cracking psychologically under the weight of that intensity.
That said, let’s set the stage for this phase of the ideological “war” at hand.
First off, the Flag Day/U.S. Army 250th birthday / President Donald Trump's 79th birthday parade: while officially framed as a commemoration of the Army's founding, the parade also aligns with President Trump's longstanding interest in showcasing military strength through grand displays. My additional take here is that Trump is keenly skilled at trolling his opponents (natal MC conjunct Algol, square natal Mars on the Ascendant), and will take any opportunity to do so. For Trump, trolling is a sport, and it’s shown clearly in his chart.
Also take note of Trump’s Mars return and transit Uranus still in close proximity to that natal MC/Algol combo, and quickly applying into a Uranus return. What I mean to say is, here you have the chart of the perfect antagonist/villain poster boy.
You also have the recipe for an extreme amount of energy or potential aggression directed at his physical body and public image. This is further supported by his chart July 13, 2024 when transit Uranus was square his natal Mars. Now that energy is stronger due to natal and transit Mars being square to transit Uranus.
Back to the U.S. chart: it’s not too hard to see “military show of force” here. Transit Sun conjunct natal Mars in the 6th house of, literally, first responders and the military. Mars ruling the 5th house of speculation and “show”, and the Sun ruling the 9th house of philosophy, and policies related to foreign affairs.
As well, we see transit Mars in an applying conjunction to the fixed star Regulus at 6 Leo. This is late in the 8th house of the nation’s shared resources, yet near enough the cusp of the 9th to add significant pressure to the 9th.
Regulus is the heart of the Lion, representing a centralized force of leadership and visibility, and is traditionally associated with kingship, honor, success, courage, and power. It is one of the four “Watcher Stars” from ancient Persia, governing the north and symbolizing royal power guarded by divine authority.
And while Regulus can indeed bestow great honor, recognition, and achievement (particularly in leadership, military, or high-visibility roles), it can also portend a fall from grace. Especially if ego, vengeance, or pride overtakes integrity.
When Mars (the planet of will, action, aggression, and ambition) crosses Regulus, we can experience a surge of courage, decisiveness, and leadership energy. On the flip side, we can also experience inflamed egos, arrogance, or vengeful impulses. We can see aggression masked as righteousness, or falling from a high place through pride or hot-headed miscalculation. Either way, Mars conjunct Regulus signals high political drama (Kabuki Theater) or the rise (or dramatic fall) of leaders, generals, and rulers.
Now, cue the opposition: The No Kings Day (and other similar) protests.
I mean, c’mon. Those in power, and the collective, are making it stupid easy for dialed-in astrologers. The paragraphs above could quite literally be summarized as King and show-of-force.
Let’s focus for a moment on the nodal alignment in the U.S. chart, with Ketu (the south node) having recently moved into Leo in the U.S. 9th house. Again, this is the house of philosophy (in other words, what are the founding principles of the nation?) and foreign policy (how the nation projects its ideals). Leo is the king, and Ketu here demands a severance of the king. There is a collective drive toward a no-king (Ketu in Leo), “we the people” (Rahu in Aquarius) environment. So it’s pretty easy to see where this pushback is coming from. The astrological timing is right for it and the collective is absorbing the energy right on cue.
For a much deeper dive into this particular nodal shift, see this article. But the downside to what otherwise sounds like a core democratic value (we the people), is the complete loss of self and sovereignty (Ketu in Leo) to an ideology.
Any ideology.
Again, this isn’t exclusive to the political Right or Left. It's a sacrifice of self and sovereignty to any ideology ⸺ political or otherwise. It just happens to be expressed in the U.S. (because of the balance of the energy here currently) as a political ideology thing. But it could just as easily express individually as handing one’s self and sovereignty over to the Church, a cult, a commune, a medical diagnosis or what have you.
But the bottom line for the U.S. is, we have a collective that is self-segregating into two distinct, and diametrically opposed, political ideological camps. Sacrificing self and sovereignty (Ketu in Leo) for their chosen “we the people” (Rahu in Aquarius) group. It’s a zero-sum game that, like the charade that is fiat currency, never ends well.
This is exacerbated by the aforementioned U.S. Pluto return (discussed in detail, here), Chiron return (discussed here) and Neptune opposition (discussed here). Essentially, the U.S. is currently an energetic powderkeg. And it's the intent of any energy to express. Change ⸺ that is, the movement of energy ⸺ is the characteristic of life.
Adding additional fuel to the fire here (as if that were necessary), is the fact that the nodes are firmly in a 3rd house (Rahu)/9th house (Ketu) axis split. I see the 3rd house (ruled by Uranus, which is currently in unfriendly territory) as the ability to drive rhetoric by controlling the media.
A couple of questions we might ask as we watch this unfold over the next couple of weeks are:
Are “grassroots” protests and activism even a possibility in this day and age of media control and manufactured consent?
How much of your self and sovereignty are you willing to sacrifice for the groups you identify with?
These aren’t judgements, just questions that emerge due to the astrological energies that we are all being subjected to over the next year and a half.
Again, we are all dealing with this energy of sacrificing some part of ourselves (Ketu in Leo) for the collective (Rahu in Aquarius). But as is the case in all of astrology, when we speak of dichotomies and polarity points, what we are really seeking is an “unspoken” 3rd point: the balance point. That is, the vesica pisces point of merging (and integrating) the two extremes.
The extent to which this knowledge has been lost to the collective (another product of the Kali Yuga) is seen in the extreme ferment and cognitive/emotional whipsaw exhibited in the collective. Both in its “leaders” and in its “rank-and-file”.
So this is the question I’d like for you to ask yourself at this time: can you find that 3rd point, and avoid the polarity extremes? In your personal chart, look to the houses in which transit Ketu and Rahu are currently occupying for an indication of what areas of life ⸺ the stage or environment ⸺ that will create the background in which this question can be answered. Whether the question is asked or not ⸺ whether that 3rd point is sought, or not ⸺ those houses will be emphasised in your life for the duration of the time Rahu and Ketu transit them.
As for the collective, let’s keep an eye on the media coverage of, AND the actual events surrounding June 14th, and see what transpires. My guess is that very few will be able to maintain the vesica pisces center of the two polarities, and we’ll see some early fireworks this year.
⸺Keith