The Trump Era has begun. It remains to be seen whether or not the Toddler-in-Chief’s mental instability, audacious corruption, and sheer incompetence will be enough to prematurely end his presidency or whether he will blunder on by the grace of a craven and supine GOP Congress. For now, his delusional rescue fantasy and his hypersensitive grandiosity continue intact.

The clear pathology is one of narcissism on the level of a deeply disturbing character disorder. Moreover, his delusional interaction with the world is steeped in the dysfunction of the victim, persecutor, rescuer triangle, originally described by Stephen Karpman in 1968.  These three roles often morph one into the other as the endless drama they engender unfolds.

Not to unfairly pin the current horror only on Donald Trump, the fertile ground for his recent ascendency has been nourished for years by Republican politicians who increasingly fanned the flames of victimhood in their followers.  The government was portrayed as stealing their guns or their money or their freedom. It was described as trampling their religious liberty. Increasingly, foreigners were described as stealing their country and their jobs. Terrorism was described as an existential threat to the very being of the Republic.

Into this climate of enraged grievance marched Donald Trump, who portrayed himself as the consummate Rescuer who would save his followers from all the misery of their world. Essentially, he told them: Join with me and you will share in my limitless success and greatness. We saw this pattern over and over in the campaign and again in the dark dystopia described in the “American Carnage” Inaugural address. He portrays the current reality as miserable, corrupt, and destitute, so that only he, the enormously rich and immensely successful businessman, can fix it and bring us into greatness. Thus, he is the Rescuer and his followers are the beleaguered Victims he will save.

Needless to say, in his deranged mind, he is also the Victim, as his endless, angry complaints about the conspiracies against him by the press and the intelligence community, among others, clearly prove. Somehow, he is always being treated unfairly and his true greatness unjustly diminished. Any criticism or even reported fact that may be somewhat unflattering is perceived as an attack, with him as the much-maligned and severely mistreated Victim. In response to this perceived affront, Trump-as-Victim seamlessly morphs into Trump-as-Persecutor. In his mind, his overwhelming rage at being wrongfully criticized or provoked justifies his angry counterpunch and legitimate revenge.

Ultimately, these three roles of Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer, create a self-perpetuating loop that continually creates drama and havoc. Needless to say, running a country steeped in the twisted reality of this toxic soup is likely to be disastrous. Whether the cast of characters in the Trump administration will be able to contain the worst of this rampant dysfunction or whether the Congress will eventually become so alarmed they put a stop to it remains to be seen. For now, the country has essentially given an impulse-driven tantrum-prone toddler a loaded gun and is sitting back to watch what happens next.

One of the great benefits of using astrology is the insight it offers into the timing of events. As we look over the coming four years, we can clearly see certain periods that suggest significant complications and difficulties for both Trump and the country.  We have recently lived through an early example of one of these periods as news of Russian involvement in the election, possible collusion with Russia by the Trump campaign, and the potential for compromising material on Trump held by Russia became known.  The extent of Trump’s financial conflicts-of-interest also simultaneously became a focus. The strain from these stories was particularly acute from mid-December through mid-January due to the crossing of Saturn to Trump’s South Node (20Sagittarius48) and Moon (21Sagittarius12) and opposite his Sun (22Gemini56), while concurrently crossing opposite US Mars (21Gemini23) and square US Neptune (22Virgo25). It seems quite likely that when these configurations return from late June through mid-October 2017, these very troubling issues will reemerge for a protracted period and with severe consequences.

The next notable time comes in 2018, when transiting Saturn crosses in opposition to US Venus (3Cancer06) and US Jupiter (5Cancer56), as well as the US/Trump composite Sun (3Cancer08) three times each, intermittently during the year. In general, this seems likely to bring some financial contraction in 2018 to the US which may somewhat dim Trump’s love affair with his followers. Of particular difficulty for Trump, however, will be the Saturn station opposite his Mercury from March 9 to May 7, 2018, suggesting frustrations and restraints on his plans.

Of far greater concern is the period in 2019 that may well bring some heightened military action, from mid-June to mid-September, and which seems unlikely to turn out well for the US, at least initially. During this time, transiting Uranus will in a station semisquare to US Mars (21Gemini23) and square to US Node (6Aquarius36), while at the same time transiting Pluto will be quincunx US Mars, with the latter Pluto transit to Mars intensifying again in October and November 2019. Having both Uranus and Pluto in aspect to US Mars simultaneously suggests a time of unexpected attacks and increased aggression, quite possibly military. From late July through October 22, this Mars energy will be concurrent with transiting Saturn square to US Saturn, as well as progressed US Moon square to natal Saturn from mid-August to mid-September. Saturn here implies that the US reputation may be diminished and the country will be unhappy and feeling some losses and sorrow, especially during the progressed Moon/Saturn aspect in the summer. Trump will have some Jupiter transits during the second half of October which may help him somewhat, but it looks like a very stressful period nonetheless.

And finally, 2020, assuming Trump is still in office, will prove an especially strained year for him and his administration, although somewhat less so for the country. During that year, transiting Saturn will oppose his Saturn/Venus conjunction, including a protracted station opposite Venus (25Cancer44) from mid-August to late October.  In addition, transiting Pluto will oppose his Saturn (23Cancer49) during much of the year. This suggests intensified attacks and criticism, significant emotional stress, as well as a great loss of support. Moreover, Saturn will also cross the Inaugural Midheaven (26Capricorn12) and the Inaugural Sun (00Aquarius49) during much of the year, pointing to trouble for the administration and its goals.  The biggest crisis for him will be when the Inaugural progressed Moon comes to natal Saturn and progressed Saturn and squares natal Mars in September and October 2020.  This will trigger the most problematic configuration in the Inaugural chart, where the Moon is in a minor hard aspect with the tight Saturn/Mars square, and which describes the intense anger and upset that this administration brings to the people (Moon) of the country. The volatile emotions and fury of this aspect are likely to erupt into a crisis at this time.

In conclusion, I leave you with the words from one of the posters I saw at yesterday’s Women’s March in downtown DC  (yes, I was there!):

Dear Congress,

In your guts, you know he’s nuts.

Love,

The World

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