The U.S. Stock Market
Saturn Return
The U.S. Stock Market (USSM) possesses its own birth chart, also known as a natal chart (pictured in blog image), based on its first trade date of May 17, 1792, at 7:52 a.m. As explained in our publication, When to Buy and When to Sell: Combining Easy Indicators, Charts, and Financial Astrology (available on Amazon), and our U.S. Stock Market – Introduction blog, dated 4-27-24, this entity has a Cancer Rising sign (which is automatically considered the 1st house), a Taurus Sun sign (in the 11th house), and an Aries Moon sign (in the 10th house). A Cancer rising sign for the USSM is fitting as it represents the home (which is the 4th house in the zodiac). Traits possessed by Cancer also include sensitivity and emotion (as it is ruled by the Moon), which also signifies the home, the mother, and emotions.
Please do not confuse the difference between the USSM chart and the zodiacal house order (which begins with Aries in the first house), as each individual or business chart begins with the 1st house at its own Ascendant/Rising sign. Therefore, there is often a mix between mundane/collective astrology and a natal birth chart when assessing planetary aspects and transits.
Also detailed in our publication are specific traits and attributes of the planets, signs, and houses, including the financial sectors they influence. They all tend to have some blended associations with the equity markets, though the most prolific financial houses are the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th.
A Saturn Return for any chart occurs once every 28-30 years, when the planet “returns” to its natal sign position, which is the sign of Aries for the USSM. Any “return” to a home sign tends to bring the related energies to the forefront, and Saturn is known to signify restriction, challenge, patience, hard work, and government/authority. Combined with Aries “act before thinking” tendencies, it forms an interesting combination of “push and pull.” Though these energies can last throughout the transit of a sign, Saturn is specifically positioned at 26 degrees in the USSM birth chart, which it will not reach until March 20, 2028. Saturn returns have generally symbolized structural weakness and challenges in the equities markets, and have included times of high inflation and economic downturns.
In this cycle, Saturn initially entered the sign of Aries on May 24, 2025, before returning to Pisces on September 1 during its retrograde period. Saturn will re-enter Aries on February 13, 2026, where it will remain until April 13, 2028. This also comes at a time where the North Node will enter the sign of Aquarius, the well quoted bottom of the business cycle, which we have discussed in our publication and previous blogs, in late July of this year.
The “market” is often very volatile in Pisces and Aries “season” (spanning from Feb 20 to April 19), and is extremely sensitive and reactionary to macro news events, which incites human emotion. As we also stress many times in our publication, human emotion/sentiment is the driving force in the markets, especially in the short term.
Saturn’s recent conjunction with the planet Neptune, at 0 degrees Aries (as they both entered the sign) was coined the Aries Vortex by famous Financial Astrologer Ray Merriman, which also signified a time of uncertainty, deception, and market volatility.
Historical events tend to have huge implications regarding the equity markets and the overall financial system. Many of the same themes tend to repeat themselves, and through time Saturn in Aries has NOT resulted in a market crash, with the exception of 1937.
Other transits at the time of the “return” are also considered, and on this occasion, Saturn’s aspects with Pluto and Uranus (both sextile) are not signs of major trouble. Together with the Pluto “return” in Aquarius, and Uranus moving into Gemini in late May (both historical times of military conflict) global tensions are often present, and markets become very volatile before pushing forward. Please see our USSM – Pluto Return blog, dated 10-26-24 for more details. Jupiter’s ingress of Leo (in late June) is another period known to be restrictive in the markets. The skies will be very changeable in the spring and summer in 2026, and caution is suggested.
Financial sectors to focus on include defense, AI, electric vehicles, robotics, and space technology, though Saturn’s “not so fast” message signifies potentially sizeable pullbacks along the way.
***Additional planetary positioning can also affect and vary the potential outcome of any transit, in addition to macro events, and Federal Reserve decisions.
In future blogs we will continue to discuss important planetary transits and aspects, and how it may relate to market movement.
For your own FREE personal or business chart, please visit the website www.Astrophilaastrology.com, and consider a reading from experienced astrologer Ophilia Luna - you will be amazed!
***As always, this information is not intended to be financial advice, or any specific buy or sell recommendation, but rather a guide to assist the reader in some further understanding of current economic conditions/movements in the sky, and how they can affect moods, behaviors, world events, and financial markets.
