We are moving into a phase in which many things that have been dark and dirty regarding government and business are being brought into the light in order to be cleansed - we can only hope that this pattern proceeds favorably (Pluto into mid Capricorn, finishing its t-square with Uranus and Mars).

For the U.S., pressures regarding resources and power issues are evident during the first half of the month (Pluto t-square U.S. Saturn, opposite U.S. Sun). The first week shows reevaluation to find sufficiency (Saturn sextile U.S. progressed Pluto). The 3^rd is very lively (Mars conjunct U.S. Jupiter). On the 10^th, the nation's natural tendency towards kindness and caring for the needy is apparent (progressed Moon in H12 sextile U.S. Neptune). Some of our popularity returns by the 12^th (progressed Ascendant sextile U.S. Venus). From the 15^th-22^nd, the market shifts (New Moon conjunct U.S. Mercury in H8) as confrontations arise (Mars opposite U.S. Sun; Mars square U.S. progressed Mars), and things are stymied (Mars square U.S. Saturn). From the 18^th-19^th, we get a boost (Mars conjunct U.S. progressed Jupiter) as responsible efforts are put into place (progressed Saturn sextile U.S. progressed Ascendant). The 26^th can see a fresh start regarding healing or healthcare (Uranus station retrograde conjunct U.S. Chiron exact, sextile U.S. Mars). We're feeling assertive on the 28^th (Mars trine U.S. progressed Moon), with harsh words on the 31^st (Mars conjunct U.S. Mercury). Month's end sees overspending (Jupiter opposite U.S. Moon, in Grand Fixed Cross with U.S. progressed Midheaven). The 31^st indicates worn-out financial habits replayed (Blue Moon conjunct U.S. South Node exact in H2).

President Obama is likely to feel guided all month (Neptune trine his progressed Neptune), yet also stymied from his peak career goals (Saturn conjunct his Midheaven, t-square his Uranus). He'll have luck with allies in the third week (Jupiter conjunct his Uranus/progressed Node). On the 25^th, he can enjoy offering a good speech or attending a nice social event (Venus station retrograde sextile Venus, sextile progressed Mercury), but may have a domestic fight (Mars conjunct his progressed IC). The 30^th indicates aggravation (Mars opposite his progressed Saturn). However, he has luck with helpful contacts at month's end (Jupiter conjunct his Node).

Hilary Clinton seems to be quite deluded about her career prospects all month (Neptune conjunct her Solar Arc Descendant in H10; progressed Sun/progressed Mercury square her Neptune). The 12^th -13^th indicate mixed patterns for her health or domestically, although she is very persevering (progressed Moon semi-sextile her Sun; progressed Saturn conjunct her progressed Ascendant).

Dr. Ben Carson is a caring, idealistic person who is kind and perfectionist (Mercury/Venus/South Node/Sun in Virgo; Node in Pisces) but can also be tough (Mars/Pluto in Grand Fire Trine to Moon and Jupiter). He is very fortunate in general. He feels God is in his corner now (Neptune station retrograde conjunct his Node in Pisces exact). August 2015 is his best chance (Jupiter into Virgo), but September will bring great challenges to his quest (Pluto station direct in Grand Cardinal Cross to his Uranus, Jupiter, and progressed Saturn/Neptune, and quinqunx his Mars).

Anger is a subject I know something about, and it's been a lifelong challenge to deal with and master it. When something pushes my buttons I can be like a dragon spewing smoke and fiery words, or like a bull who has been provoked. My experience with anger is that it causes me to struggle with sleepless nights and feel trapped in loops of contentious thoughts that go 'round and 'round, using up my energy and taking up too much space in my brain. So I have found my way past it for the most part.  

There are two ways to deal with anger, in my opinion. One is to work on shifting those thoughts of outrage, retaliation, and hurt, for these are the major effects of anger. The person who has said or done something to trigger your fiery and negative emotion may have done so deliberately or unconsciously. In any case, they may have moved on, and you're stuck with the overwhelmingly difficult feeling of rage, or its cousin, irritation.

In my book, "The Wisdom Keys", there are a number of exercises designed specifically to move one's thoughts out of the loop of anger and into greater calm. Some of these techniques include the use of humor, meditation, EFT (emotional freedom technique), and many others. In today's era, out-of-control emotions are understood as the cause of a lot of illness, unhelpful behavior, and poor life choices. Anger management courses are available. My guides, The Brotherhood of Light Workers, have said (in a similar way to the Dalai Lama's quote, though years before I read it) that the mastery of emotion is such a powerful victory, it is "no less that that on a battlefield, or an achievement worth as much as a Nobel Prize!"

The second way to manage emotion, in my humble opinion, is very old and very true. We can say the following: "Give it up to the universe." "Let go and let God." Or even biblically, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord." What does this mean? It means that you stop spending your time creating ways to get even or retaliate, or have a harsh and cutting comeback, or even in extremes, hitting, cursing, or getting violent. I never did that but I'm sure I thought about it back in the old days before I had achieved some mastery. "Vengeance is mine" is a really cool way of saying that the universe will take care of the person whose actions have been harmful or detrimental. Karma will catch up and bite them!

Here's another good quote from Facebook: "Instead of saying to people 'Have a nice day', say 'Have the day that you deserve', and let karma sort it out." There's a lot of truth in that funny line.   Once you let go and let God (or Source or universe), your emotions get soothed and calmed down, your thoughts can turn to more important matters, and you sleep like a baby. Emotional mastery is the best thing that we can do for our troubled world, and for our own inner peace. And one of the most difficult emotions to master is the emotion of anger.

Think about it. Think about ways to shift and transform. If the world masters emotion, there will be no more need for war.