It is in this toxic soup that our next president will begin his captaincy of the ship of state. If, as we hope, that president is Barack Obama, he will easily be able to pluck some of the lower hanging fruit, such as opening up the coffers to stem cell research or reinvigorating the Justice Department, thus offering us some hope that this topsy turvy world may yet right itself. But the deeper problems are far more intransigent and will take years to mend. For this we will need patience, endurance, and a belief in a longer-term vision that enables us to deal with the short-term strains. Unfortunately, the Bush Recession is likely to intensify before it breaks, severely restricting the hand of change we can believe in.

With the waning days of George Bush, we are seeing the last gasp of Pluto in Sagittarius. Bush’s inability to live within any limitation has been the hallmark of this 13-year-long planetary signature, exemplified by a presidency that ended nuclear treaties, blurred the lines between justice and politics, between politics and religion, and between war mongering and God. Regulation and restraint of all kinds went out the window under the expansive and freedom-loving Sagittarius, and this defenestration has led to the home mortgage and banking crisis of recent months, as well as the excesses of the unitary executive and the neocon lust for global hegemony manifested in the ill-conceived war in Iraq.

Although we had a taste of Pluto in Capricorn in the early months of 2008, and, with it, an indication of the crash that comes when unbridled exuberance (Sagittarius) meets reality and the need for discipline (Capricorn), the real paying of the piper for our wild binge will come when Pluto returns to Capricorn in late November 2008 and remains there until January 2024. Increasing restrictions and discipline are likely to manifest. Economically, this will mean greater regulation in terms of policy, as well as more cautious and restrained spending habits personally. Politically, many nations may see more authoritarianism in their leadership. Attempts will be made by governments and mass movements to curb the growing strangle-hold of the global corporations, and this battle is likely to go through many stages until Pluto is out of Capricorn. With Pluto’s penchant for excess to the point of self-annihilation, the corporate domination and the intensifying restrictions are likely to push too far over the next decade and a half and ultimately implode, leading to the Pluto in Aquarius period (2024 to 2043) when a global sense of community, leadership, and organization will become the primary impetus in the world as it moves forward.

At present, from May through July 21, 2008, transiting Uranus is opposite US Neptune (22Virgo25) and blasting our illusions (Neptune), mostly in the form of a vast deflating of the housing bubble and a wake-up call (Uranus) about financial structures built on wishful thinking (Neptune). Although hard to imagine with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac collapsing in recent days, some optimism may return in August and September when Jupiter stations opposite the US Sun (13Cancer19). With Uranus square US Mars in late July and August and Uranus squaring Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s Sun/Jupiter opposition (born 12/13/53) at the same time, some new and innovative actions and maneuverings may seem to save the day, at least in the short run.

As I have discussed repeatedly, the 2008 Spring Equinox chart, drawn for Washington, DC, describes sudden, upsetting circumstances that dramatically impact the physical US and its citizens from late March 2008 through March 2009. This is indicated by Uranus exactly square the Ascendant (19Sagittarius16) in that chart. We have already seen historically widespread flooding and destruction in the Midwest and massive wildfires impacting California. Of further concern is the return of Uranus to the exact square of the Spring Equinox Ascendant from September 28 through October 28, 2008, and from November 27, 2008, through January 3, 2009. This configuration suggests the possibility of dramatic, upsetting, and sudden events that impact the physical US and the citizens who dwell in the areas affected, including the possibility of a Katrina-like weather-related or natural disaster or even a terrorist attack of some kind. Given the precarious state of the US economy at present, the long Saturn station square US Mars from late November 2008 through January 20, 2009, and the fact that this Saturn station will square Ben Bernanke’s Sun/Jupiter opposition and quincunx Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson’s (3/28/46) Venus, it seems very likely the difficulties of this period will include significant economic turmoil. Unfortunately, this stressful scenario will set the scene for the next administration as it takes control in January 2009.

It is also in January that the Pluto transit square the US MC (1Libra53) during 2009 and opposite US Venus (3Cancer06) during 2009 and 2010 will begin to take hold on the national psyche. This powerful Pluto transit will signal the slow and profound transformation of the reputation of the US (MC), its alliances, and its diplomatic endeavors (7th house Venus). Pluto opposing Venus may also intensify the focus on economic issues and bring an undercurrent of anxiety and struggle to the nation. The full brunt of George Bush’s disastrous policies, however, is not likely to be realized until late 2009 through September 2012, a time of significant difficulty economically when business ventures and capital will generally contract and need to recalibrate. It will be a time of needed discipline, regulation, and cautious policy. Small, practical steps will work better than any kind of dramatic, grandiose schemes. America will need to learn the lessons of cooperation, humility, and belt-tightening in order to traverse this long Saturn period effectively. Saturn will conjunct the US MC, square US Venus, Jupiter, the Sun, Mercury, and Pluto, as well as return to its own place during these two and half years.

Of great signficance during this period will be the movement of Uranus, the planet of dramatic innovation and powerful breaking from the past, into Aries, signifying the end of an entire journey through the zodiac for this planet and the beginning of a new cycle of ingenuity for humanity. Uranus is the ruler of Aquarius and therefore the ruler of Obama’s Aquarian Ascendant and the US Aquarian Moon. Thus, a very strong impetus towards new, innovative, and bold transformation will take hold in the US, first being felt from June through August 2010 and taking firm root by March 2011. By late 2010 and 2011, however, with Saturn conjunct US Saturn (14Libra48) and square the US Sun(13Cancer19) three times each, as well as Uranus conjunct US IC (1Aries53), there will be a great deal of turmoil, upset, and difficulty to stimulate this strong impulse to seek ground-breaking and unanticipated solutions.

By late 2012, the US will have weathered the worst of the necessary shifting and straining to get itself back on some kind of firm footing. By June 2012, however, the Uranus/Pluto square will begin, impacting humanity from mid-2012 through 2015, and bringing dramatic transformation, rebellion, and awakening in its path. This potent aspect will impact the US most profoundly in 2014 and 2015 when Uranus and Pluto will each make a hard aspect to the US Sun (13Cancer19), likely stimulating the US president (the Sun) to act in dramatic and transformative ways to deal with a signficant and possibly crisis situation of some kind.

In summary, it seems we are now seeing the first indications of a very difficult time economically in the US, with a possible window of optimism in August and September 2008, followed by some serious event(s) at the end of the year that may push us into a very challenging recession. The most pressing trials may not come until late 2009, extending into 2012, as the US struggles to recalibrate and reregulate the many threads that will ultimately allow for the renewal of a robust economy.