USING PLANETARY ASPECTS IN THE FINANCIAL MARKET
(revised August 16, 2011)
by Marlene Pfeifle

Wouldn't it be great if one could say with certainty that when a certain planet transits another planet the stock market will go up, or that the stock you just bought this morning will increase significantly in it's price per share by tomorrow?  Why, we'd all be rich!  Unfortunately there is always room for more than one interpretation of geocosmic energy and there is always risk involved in the financial markets.  

Nothing is quite so simple.   However, if we do our homework well and then use astrological principles to help time when we buy and sell stocks, we have the potential to increase our profits and greatly limit our downside risk in the financial market. Potential is the keyword here.

The best way to use astrology for timing the buying and selling of stocks is to follow the principles that Kaye Shinker lays out in her Textbooks for Financial Astrology.   Then choose a sound and solid stock in a favorable sector.   Textbook 2 explains the astrological research involved in doing that.

Then, most importantly, research how that stock has performed during past transits by comparing the stock price chart to the transits of the IPO chart of the stock.   For researching stocks according to their IPO and incorporation dates, the very best and most reliable source to use is Michael Munkasey's Company Data.  Historical prices are easily downloaded in Excel form from Yahoo Finance to your computer. 

ASPECTS

Rule #1 for a Financial Astrologer:  DO NOT think in terms of "Good" = "Trines and Sextiles" and that "Bad" = "Squares and Oppositions".   You may find yourself being surprised at what can move a stock price!   The benefic planets still seem to line up as "good" planets in financial astrology, but it is the dynamic energy from 4th harmonic aspects that creates price change and market movement. Trines and sextiles can be just a momentary blip up in the price on a day when the entire market is substantially down.

Aspects used in financial astrology and how they manifest in the market are discussed in great detail in Kaye Shinker's online classes. Kaye's students have found that class discussion of real time market situations and seeing how aspects work in action help get a better perspective on the planetary energy.

Although there is no cosmic guarantee that a particular aspect will predict either a rising or falling market or stock price, there are a number of geocosmic contacts that often do produce a predictable rise or drop in price! 

As a guideline, I urge that when using astrological cookbook interpretations to always first look at the stock's IPO chart and/or chart of incorporation to see how planets are aspected in the horoscope. Generally, I go by  the "nothing promised, nothing gained/ or lost" theory proclaimed by astrologers Ivy Goldstein Jacobson and other traditionalists, who have taught that if there is not an aspect in the natal chart between planets then there is "no promise" (no significant - if any at all - impact ) from an applying aspect between the same two planets in any future chart.  

I have found if a planet is not aspected strongly in the IPO chart of a stock chances are, when transited, the price movement will not be significant or sustaining in either direction - up or down.   Additionally, if a stock is badly aspected by a planet in it's IPO chart then a planet which is considered to bring about a bullish rise may surprise you when it does the very opposite!  (And visa versa, if a stock is aspected very well by a planet that is considered to bring about a bearish movement - you may not see a negative effect, in fact, it can be very positive!)

Using a First Trade chart (IPO) you must take into consideration (1) the chart of incorporation, (2) the daily aspects of the moon, and which the phase the Moon is in (New or Full or Quarter Moon phase) and (3) pay attention to the unfolding geocosmic energy from planets.  Especially important are which aspects are applying to the First Trade chart as well as the financial sector of the stock at the same time as the stock chart.

In Bill Meridian's book, Planetary Stock Trading - III, (available in our Amazon Bookshop) he gives a list of Bullish and Bearish planetary combinations by transit that, in my experience, I've found to be very reliable. The following is a list of transiting planetary contacts - primarily 4th Harmonic aspects - that have more often than not proved reliably as favorable (or unfavorable) and generally have moved the market and stock prices:

BULLISH ASPECTS -

• Major aspects from Jupiter to most planets and points.  Jupiter is very favorable to all planets and points with the exception of Jupiter aspects to Mars and Saturn which can trigger both favorable and unfavorable price swings. (Remember to look at the IPO chart to see how these planets are connected)
  
• Major aspects between Sun and Venus are generally favorable.
  
• Major aspects from Neptune to the Sun and to Venus. (With Neptune comes times of uncertainty filled with hopes, wishes and dreams - they often coincide with false rumors and illusions. Be sure to take careful note of how Neptune is aspected in the IPO chart!)
  
• Major aspects from Uranus to Venus and to the chart angles are generally favorable. (Note: one must be very certain of the accuracy of chart data if using angles and pay attention to how well Uranus is placed in the chart!)

BEARISH ASPECTS -

A takeover can be favorable or unfavorable to a stock's price per share.  Pluto, representing power and control, is often involved by transiting aspect in buyouts and takeovers of corporations.  Jupiter-Pluto an aspect representing optimism, expansion, change and a thrust toward power and success is often very favorable.

Eclipses can have a positive or negative effect that may last as long as two or three months depending upon the planet aspected by the eclipse.   Eclipses impact the market and the movement of stock prices by triggering, or turning on, whatever planets they touch within 3 degrees of the applying eclipse aspect. This geocosmic energy can be triggered during the eclipse or later when a transiting planet (particularly Mars) activates the eclipse degree by aspect.  The hard aspects, especially the conjunction and square are most notable.  Aspects to either Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus or the stock chart angles from an eclipse are all favorable.  Generally they will give rise in the price per share of a stock, while eclipses to Saturn and Pluto do the opposite and tend to drive a stock price down.  During an eclipse stock prices can be unpredictable and erratic.

An important note about the the transiting Moon - always, always, always, pay attention to the daily aspects of the Moon!  The Moon will trigger applying geocosmic aspects into play, as well as determine the general mood - minute by minute - hour by hour - of the market each day.  Day traders can use the times when the Moon forms an aspect to time intra-day turning points or reversals.  On days when the Moon makes many aspects the market often has large volumes of buying and selling, while days when there are not many or no aspects, the market can be slow or filled with uncertainty. Some astrologers prefer not to trade during the Void-of-Course Moon, (as well as during Mercury RX), but I have not been convinced that one necessarily should avoid the market during these times. Also, the phase the Moon is in - New, Full or Quarter Moon phases - is important in timing.

The phases of the Moon - New Moon, Full Moon, and Quarter Moon phases are discussed in Randall Ashbourne's article, Moods of the Moon on this web site.

On our blog we have posted an article written by Randall Ashbourne, titled Using Daily Aspect Calendars to Time Intraday Trades.  In this article Mr. Ashbourne gives interpretations of the Moon through the signs and how they affect the market.  I find both of these articles quite noteworthy and recommend them for reading.

Transiting planets and geocosmic combinations of aspects influence the market in many different ways, and each combination of energy driven by the transits of planets has both positive and negative influences depending upon many different types of circumstances including the influences of the greater cycles of geocosmic energy - cycles of the outer planets - that are unfolding at the same time.   Always check your ephemeris and pay particular attention to the trending market and the unfolding cycles.

Happy Trading!

Author's notes: Success in the financial market begins first with the understanding and use of the principles of what has been considered traditional types of market analysis, and then applying geocosmic principles as a final step in one's investment strategy.   Kaye Shinker offers a course on Business and Financial Astrology that addresses how to choose stocks and I strongly recommend taking her on-line courses.

Astrology is a precise market timing tool, but it can not sensibly be used as a stand-alone strategy for financial investing.  For example, astrology cannot be used to determine market trends like technical analysis, nor can astrology be used as a key to determine whether a particular stock has a sound and solid economic basis like fundamental analysis.  My absolute favorite trading book using technical tools with astrology is Randall Ashbourne's The Idiot and the Moon. In fact, I wouldn't buy a stock without first checking it using Mr. Ashbourne's "Idiot" method.

I've often been asked, "What astrological software do you use to trade with or to use for research?" I have found that an excellent, but very advanced, astrological trading software for doing research is AIR Software's Market Trader (www.alphee.com).   For trading using planetary lines with technical tools, I use Galactic Investor's Galactic Trader software (http://www.galacticinvestor.com/).  Galatic's site offers a free 30-day trial for their software.

References:
Llewellyn's New World Astrology Series, Financial Astrology, edited by Joan McEvers. 1991 Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN.
Planetary Stock Trading - III, Bill Meridian.  Cycles Research, New York, N Y, 2002.
Basic Principles of Geocosmic Studies for Financial Market Timing, Raymond Merriman.  Seek-It Publications, W. Bloomfield, MI, 1995. The Idiot & The Moon, The Compleat & Utter Lunatic Idiot's Guide to Trading Stocks, Randall Ashbourne, e-Book available online and in our Astrology Shop.

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