Crisis Solar Returns for the U.S.
Crisis Solar Returns for the U.S.
The Prelude to Martial Law
January 2026
Secondary progressions to the Declaration of Independence chart for the Hazelrigg time (July 4, 1776, 12:16 p.m. LMT at Philadelphia) tell a story that adheres closely to events on the ground. The American astrologer, John Hazelrigg (1860-1941), used 12:15 pm LMT in his Metaphysical Astrology (1900) and 12:20 pm in his Astrosophia: Being Metaphysical Astrology (1915). I use 12:16 pm because that time responds closely to the primary directions of the U.S.
The stage has been set for the President to impose his most egregious megalomaniacal action to date: martial law so that he can put himself above everyone in the land. The progressed Sun of the Hazelrigg chart is caught up in the natal Mars-Neptune square of the U.S. (see chart below). The progressed Sun will be square the U.S. natal Mars exactly in March 2026. The progressed Sun will oppose the U.S. natal Neptune exactly in the late spring of 2027. That puts the United States in the crucible of extraordinary tension, upheaval and violence in 2026 and 2027.
The downside of Mars-Neptune as a combination is that it’s usually aggressive, but not as directly as Mars-Pluto, Mars-Uranus or Mars-Saturn, which can represent all-out no holds barred conflict. In a political sense the Mars-Neptune contact is more about subjection, i.e. a boot on one’s neck, or strength that is impressive, but unsupported by virtue in the manner of the Wizard of Oz. Either way, connected to the progressed Sun, Mars-Neptune needs more substantial support to succeed because it suggests mis-directed power, particularly in the form of a power-mad tyranos, or an insecure leader out of his depth (because the progressed Sun is in its detriment) who lashes out at critics with violence.
That situation has become more acute of late as the secondary progressed Moon approaches the opposition to the Declaration of Independence Saturn and the secondary progressed Mars, which is slowly backing into that natal Saturn. That is certainly a volatile and dangerous combination because it represents violence contained and restrained, but barely, because natal Saturn and progressed Mars are so close. The secondary progressed Moon will oppose the U.S. natal Saturn exactly on February 8, 2026 and the secondary progressed Mars on March 16th. The light directed on the two traditional malefics by the progressed Moon symbolizes the anger, distress and anguish most of the country is feeling now. It’s also a time-table for more drastic problems in the near future.
Another very close aspect among the Dec. of Ind. secondaries is progressed Venus trine progressed Saturn, which is a good example of how the intrinsic natures of the planets trump the supposed nature of an aspect. Trines are supposed to be good in themselves, but the U.S. is alienating its friends and allies at an amazing pace, and this aspect will continue for years.
Progressed Mercury is applying to the close conjunction with the natal Moon of the Dec. of Ind. Chart, which is good symbolism for the groundswell of vocal support nation-wide against the efforts of the Trump administration to implement a fascist police state. Transiting Mars will conjoin this natal Moon and progressed Mercury on February 27, 2026, which is not encouraging, since Mr. Trump is looking for an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act. A look at the horoscope for the moment when the U.S. government became a legal entity, which is contested by nobody, (see chart below) continues the martial theme.
Transiting Mars will soon conjoin the natal Mars and natal nadir of the U.S. Government becomes legal horoscope on March 5th. Mars to Mars is extremely volatile and unusually painful, especially here as Mars touches the nadir, the lowest point in the chart where the rubber meets the road, as it were, where the soul of the nation lives; then on March 12th transiting Mars throws a dexter square to the Moon, which is the objection of the people to subjection and abuse followed on the same day by the sinister sesquiquadrate from transiting Mars to the natal Jupiter, which represents a denial of justice and a repudiation of the courts by the executive. Transiting Mars reaches conjunctions with the natal Saturn, natal Sun and the I.C. of that chart on March 23rd and March 24th respectively, which represent exploitation of the vulnerability of the oppressed and a beat-down of their leaders, which appears to end the matter, but only for the moment. The period just described is also covered by the lunar return of the Government invested with Authority chart that begins on February 24, 2026 (shown below) which has Mars at the midheaven. The midheaven of that lunar return will be directed to the lunar return Mars on February 27, the same day that transiting Mars reaches the Dec. of Ind. Natal Moon.
Probably the most telling combination of all is the transit of Pluto opposite the natal Uranus of the Government Invested with Authority horoscope which is already in play and will be exact on March 2, 2026 as well as in effect for all of 2026. That suggests turmoil, disruption and extreme conditions will prevail due to the efforts of the present administration to rescind the authority of the legislative and judicial branches of government, and in particular the Bill of Rights, in order to concentrate all power in the executive. That constitutes a dissolution of the American government, which is a formula for disaster, not just here, but throughout the world.
The worst thing about Donald Trump is that everything he touches is damaged or destroyed. Loss of influence, power, hyperinflation and financial calamity are waiting in the wings. That will also open the doors wide to all the bad actors in the world biding their time to make their moves, which in earlier days, they would have never have dared to undertake.
My opinion is that things get worse for us, and soon, before they get better.
© Kenneth Bowser, 2026. All rights reserved.
