Ramblings on Capitalism & Astrology

I am ill-equipped to be blogging about economic systems, yet feel the itch to write something on the topic of capitalism, and to try to relate astrological factors to it. Planets, points and their place in the zodiac offer a kind of celestial shorthand, I always think, when trying to clarify complex topics. It's a useful language, and well worth the effort needed to learn it.

First a definition of capitalism. I'm not trying to be patronising here, and realise that most of us already know what it is, either vaguely or geekily in depth. I'm clearing the way, and my own mind. This definition is copied from the Hippie Dictionary: a cultural encyclopedia (and phraseicon) of the 1960s ...By John Bassett McCleary at Google Books. It's less
highfalutin than some others, and easier to absorb for non-economic minded mortals like me. Before turning away with a sigh when a passing reader sees the word "hippie" - wait a while and read it. To my mind it's a fair assessment from the perspective of ordinary people who are not part of the 1% wealth-infested elite.


In astrological terms, capitalism, being involved with expansion (of wealth and power), can be connected to Jupiter - planet of expansion. Jupiter is usually thought of as benign rather than malignant. Expansion, in itself isn't a bad thing. But Jupiter also connects to excess, which is almost always a bad thing. Excess requires some kind of brake, limitation, regulation. The last three words connect to Saturn. So, for capitalism to work at its optimum for both capitalists and the people Saturn needs to be linked to Jupiter. In periods where there is no strong enough link, and Jupiter is allowed free reign, economic collapse might eventually follow. I'm getting a vision of that old Monty Python sketch where a BIG guy is being served huge amounts of food in a restaurant - he eventually explodes from over consumption.






It's a good thing, and probably no coincidence that Saturn is currently in opposition to Jupiter, and people are slowly, at last, waking up in the USA to what has been happening for decades. The system of democracy has been corrupted while ordinary people went about their business, too busy and otherwise engaged to notice what was happening. There is no real democracy, or real elections.

The country has been taken over by a corporatocracy. Even many who enthusiastically voted Barack Obama to the presidency in 2008, taking his promises at face value, are starting to wake up and question his actions (or inactions, or "compromises"). This appears to be alarming the President's minions. Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary this week spluttered a completely unprofessional outburst against what he considers to be "the professional left" for criticising President Obama's record to date. The record is proving that the President's first interests are with the capitalists and corporations rather than with the people who believed his campaign speeches.

Saturn is also opposing Uranus, planet of rebellion and reform though, putting the same brake on any seminal revolutionary yearnings among those on the "true" political left. This is also a good thing....unless Uranus gains the upper hand in opposing Saturn as the see-saw swings!

Revolutions have a romantically adventurous flavour, in theory. In practice however, they mean blood and guts, death, injury, imprisonment. I don't think we're yet at the stage where enough people, though now awake, are angry enough to risk that. Younger generations ought already to be complaining bitterly. Earlier generations would have been out peacefully protesting in the streets by now. There isn't the same fire in their bellies. Apathy and learned complacency have taken over. Unless things change for the better soon though, young and old will become angry enough to rebel in earnest. The only reason Britain avoided the revolution against monarchy that so many European countries experienced was that they changed course, ever so slightly, just in time to prevent it. Maybe there's a lesson there for the US administration?

During coming months and into 2011 Saturn, Jupiter and Uranus will be slow dancing, sometimes retrograding, sometimes resuming closer opposition, reflecting an on- again/off-again atmosphere in public opinion as regards capitalism, corporatism, and unfolding events.

The late and oft lamented comedian George Carlin already knew exactly what was going on in the USA, some years ago: "It's a big club and you ain't in it!" he told us.....Thanks, George - would you finish this post for me, please? ~~~