After initial consternation about the Middle Eastern conflagration and the closing of the Straits of Hormuz which control a fifth of the world’s oil and seaborne gas supply there are slivers of not exactly hope but possible ways out of the disaster without setting off World War 111.
There are still those who reckon there will be the ‘worst oil supply crisis of the modern age, outstripping even the Arab oil embargo of 1973 or the first Gulf War in 1990.’ Balanced against that is a view that since those days alternatives have been found, not the least in the US shale revolution. Oil prices in the US rose 6.3 percent on Monday, as opposed to a 57 percent rise during the 1979 Iranian Revolution and a doubling of the price of oil during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
The FT hints at a possible scenario ahead given that ‘Trump cares not a jot about democracy.’ If new “strongmen” emerge with roots in the Revolutionary Guards, a deal may be struck for them to stay in power if they stop blitzing their neighbours and let the US share in the oil. If such a deal is reached which is by no means certain, the Gulf could return to stability and it could reduce the most dangerous possibility of a state collapse.
“When considering this administration (Trump), the best bet is the most cynical.”
Not ideal but a good deal better than a total catastrophe.
Looking back at past Middle Eastern fracas starting with the Suez Canal Crisis of 29 October 1956. A British–French–Israeli invasion of Egypt sought to depose Egyptian president Nasser and regain control of the Suez Canal, which he had nationalised earlier in the year. After heavy political pressure from the USA and the Soviet Union, as well as the UN, they withdrew. At that point there was a war-mongering Saturn (in Sagittarius) square Pluto (in Virgo).
The Yom Kippur War, 6 October 1973 which caused another oil crisis as the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) implemented a total oil embargo against countries that had supported Israel during the war. Again there was a Saturn (in Cancer) square Pluto (in Libra).
The Gulf War of 1990/91 which caused another oil crisis happened on the triple conjunction in Capricorn with Saturn sextile Pluto in place at the start.
At present there is a Saturn sextile Pluto which is less harsh than a hard aspect so maybe just maybe a way out of this mess will be found which won’t answer everyone’s dreams but may be better than the alternative.
Quote from Alan Beattie in the FT, in relation to energy choices in Europe:
“The competing economic superpower offers are now as follows. From the US you get forced into trade deals promising a future of burning fossil fuels whose price is subject to wildly destructive US adventurism. From China you get reliably cheap EVs and green tech to generate renewables”
https://www.ft.com/content/8dc24319-631e-4477-a002-668a410c40e9
While the Yom Kippur War is seen as the trigger for the big increase in oil prices in 1973 the underlying cause was Nixon leaving the Gold Standard on 15 August 1971.
The highest ever price of oil was $147 a barrel on 11th July 2008 which was caused by a variety of factors but war was not the major driver. It happened under a Mars/Saturn conjunction at 5 Leo. Pluto was at 29 Sagittarius making an out of sign opposition to Mercury at 0 Cancer. Pluto, Neptune, Uranus and Jupiter were all retrograde at the time.
It is worth noting that 1990, 2008 and 2026 all share the same Saros series of solar and lunar eclipses (121,133,126,138) with the 2008 and 2026 solar eclipses occurring in the same signs Aquarius and Leo. If history repeats then one would expect prices to rise sharply before declining rapidly later in the year.
Correction the Mars/Saturn conjunction on the 11th July 2008 was at 5 Virgo.
You know what was interesting during that period of time before oil prices increased, was that quite a few friends around me then was buying cars which was cheap prior to the oil price increased. It seems similar now looking back. Ev came out. Prices are so much lower than petrol car. Older ev owners( 2022) had reported huge savings from petrol. Gold prices was also rising around the 2008.
America had to leave the gold standard because the costs of the Vietnam war were untenable.
Financial commentators were already speculating upon a US crash arising from ‘dumb lending’ prior to Trumps recklessness in instigating this war.
After this fiasco the odds on a financial crisis have narrowed considerably with the prospect of oil at $150 a barrel.
It is strange that how the intersection of finance and geopolitics go around in cycles.
The basic meaning of both these Planets is (Pluto) Money , Politics and (Saturn) Authority – Leadership. Therefore, the planetary country alignments in the Sky will influence the country’s leaders? As above so below? Or simply it was meant to be? Modern day Astrologers straddle the road between fate and free will. Pluto is an explosive energy, a little planet with a huge punch? Saturn is authority. Saturn is exalted in Libra, perhaps the leader looks to address an imbalance? Whereas, Pluto is known to be exalted in Aries – Mars rules Aries the God of War! It would be informative to see the composite Charts of these country at War. To see how their Pluto/Saturns or indeed Mars react – together . As an example Britain’s leader is Starmer. He has Saturn in Aquarius – groups of friends or Polirical parties? At present transiting Pluto is conjunct Keir Starmer’s Saturn in Aquarius ( will be exact on the 20th March, 2026). He is grappling with his party, country and outward world friends at this precise time. Especially his interaction with Trump This May chsnge on the 20th March, when Pluto’s is aligned with his Saturn. Which is a composite of Pluto/Water, Saturn/Earth and Aquarius Air. No fire – for him! No Enthusiasm ? We could be pulled into a War near that date or not. As it also depends on the countries we communicate with, or align with! However, for Astrologers or those who watch the planets, can we stop any of it? We can have our individual opinions, yet if we believe the planets do tell a narrative, then we can only observe the influence between above and below!
Higher oil prices don’t look sustainable as per the coming transits. I also had a look at the 28 August 1859 oil chart, oil looks very much to be on a decline. Pluto a in Aquarius and Uranus in Gemini over the coming years will both promote EV,s. More countries around the world will continue to adopt EV’s at a higher pace, especially from late April this year, there is also flying taxis entering the market now. Sad that in the US auto companies are going to be left behind due to the current administration policies towards EV’s.The current high oil prices are not long term since there is also an oversupply of oil.
Vehicles aren’t the only things that require oil products.
Many industries, such as plastic manufacturing and energy generation, are dependent on oil products.
And even energy generation for EVs have an element of fossil fuel usage, though not as much as it used to be.
Focusing only on EVs and missing the wider picture is not much good. It is not to disagree with your viewpoint, but more to point out how minor in the grand scheme of things EVs are.
Tshele,
I doubt that the US auto emission standards will drop due to California having higher auto emission standards. If they want to sell cars in California, they’ll meet their standards.
Judging from the evidence (the back of Trump’s neck) and an acknowledgment by Karoline Leavitt at yesterday’s press briefing that he has a “rash” it looks like the man making all the life and death decisions at the moment is suffering from shingles – one cause being stress. Hardly surprising …but very worrying!
I remembered in 2000s, 06/08 maybe, there was a sharp rise in oil prices. Petrol pump prices started rising. Back then a lot of car owners converted to cng cars. As of now, in a number of countries EV take up rate are on the higher side. Historically, gas is always cheaper than oil prices. Plus source for electricity does not always have to be gas. Traditional shipping route of gas/ petrol is via Sea. Who knows maybe someone will come out with a air route in spite of all the rockets and drones flying.
Hi. Just posted this on the QNA—since oil prices are rising, is this the lifeline RU needed?
Did Trump just single-handedly save the Russian economy?
Also, this war further bolsters the opinion of an astrologer whom I admire who says that these leaders def are using astrology for timing. His name is SJ Anderson. He said this on his last YouTube video.
Joke in social media is astrologers world summit in Dubai where all famous astrologers r caught up now since they couldn’t predict their future 🙂 (inability to be back safely )
No ill-will towards astrologers but another one of every eclipse having a battle n royal family in news is not true since many eclipses and they occur every 6 months but since Trump (lunar) n Bibi (solar) r born on eclipse and r in power positions as Sun vs Rahul (north node) so this also conjuncts with Pluto in Aquarius and Neptune in Aries after editing Pisces during which religion was used as illusion to gain power in many corrupt countries and Aquarius being instant as ruled by Uranus, Pluto behaving quick since entry..America and Israel have a strong Uranus temperament as innovative and rebel, not obeying world…Saturn in Aries which has Mars warrior energy so Saturn will take half time to settle…
Csnt say if they r using astoelogy but eclipse born get riled up n affected by eclipse n it’s pre session of 45days
Reports today seem to support that there might have been a better outcome had Trump waited and built up American support, which is disputable, but maybe would have better astrological aspects?
However, Netanyanhu urged immediate action because their intelligence knew that Iranian leaders would be assembled in a single location. As it turned out, the attacks also took out the very people whom the Trump administration had considered as potential replacement leaders. The same reports also state that Israel had been lobbying to attack for weeks… not that Trump needed to be pushed into it; at the same time he can’t say that he’s acting because of Israel (as Rubio has already claimed, among different reasons), because MAGA is now even angrier, either because of anti-semitism, or the idea that the US isn’t in control.