Review of FORECASTS 1999
Zip Dobyns
FORECASTS 1999
by Raymond A Merriman
Seek-It Publications P.O. Box 250012, W. Bloomfield, MI 48325
(248) 626-3034 mmacycles@email.msn.com 107 pages
Ray Merriman is an expert on financial astrology who writes regular newsletters offering tips on timing a variety of markets. Stocks, bonds, currencies, metals, grains, and livestock are all covered. He combines an in-depth knowledge of historical financial cycles with many years of experience with astrology. I am just beginning to explore the potential of astrology in financial areas, but for many years I have read Ray’s annual forecast with great interest. His 1999 forecast is just out as this is written in mid-December, 1998, and it covers a lot of ground, as usual.
Ray shares my eclectic and pragmatic approach to the models/systems we use to understand and predict the world. No single system (model) has final truth, but they can provide complementary information. Ray writes that he came to financial astrology from personal astrology, but found that astrology alone was not enough for accurate market predictions. He found that cycles helped make sense of the markets, and he now uses astrology to fine tune the projections of the cycles and to identify potential reversal dates. The latter include the dates of eclipses, major planetary aspects, planets turning retrograde, etc. Reversals can be in either direction. If a market has been rising, it can turn down, or vice versa.
Ray’s 1999 forecasts include a section on the Y2K challenge which he sees as a possible problem for as long as 3 to 6 months, but not a catastrophe that could bring down the financial system of the world as some doomsayers are suggesting. He discusses Clinton’s fate, but does not reach a firm conclusion on whether he might leave the presidency before the end of his term, or might have legal problems afterwards. I agree with Ray in expecting continued attacks on Clinton, but am relatively confident he will complete the term.
The latter part of the book of forecasts includes sections on each Sun sign, but more individualized since each astrological month is divided into smaller sections of a few days. There is a brief discussion of the retrograde periods of Mercury, Venus, and Mars, including advice for handling them. A list of “good” and “bad” days through the year seems too general, but the book is intended for everyone, including individuals who know almost nothing about astrology.
Both the non-students and the professionals are likely to be interested in the brief descriptions of specific time periods through the year “in terms of collective psychological mood, potential geopolitical and/or military stresses, weather, and various times in which financial markets may be affected.” For example, Ray writes that the year is likely to start out with very cold conditions in the northern states. At this moment, a few days before Christmas, all of the country except Florida seems to have turned cold. Ray notes that January 7 to 22 could bring a major reversal in the U.S. stock market, and that the last half of January and early February could produce international tensions.
The investors will devour the sections on stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, etc. Historical cycles are combined with astrology to list potential tops and bottoms of the different markets. There is something in the book for almost everyone who has any interest in trying to forecast the future.