Cosmic Trends: Astrology Connects the Dots was written in 2004-2005. It was published by Llewellyn Worldwide Publications in 2006. Almost twenty years later, you can read its amazing, prescient, astrology-based forecasts. Our world today was written in these pages.
Reviews:
This book is a fairly easy read and offers good information for the beginning and intermediate student of astrology as well as the more informed astrologer who wants a refresher course. —Maya del Mar’s Day Keeper Journal
Cosmic Trends: Astrology Connect the Dots was very hard to put down….very readable and the format is appealing. —Cafe Astrology Book Review
Phil Brown has done something very innovative here in a world where most astrology books are repetitive.—BlogCritics
30 years of astrology behind me and I think this book is a must…Not just my estimation…You can see the facts happening today in 2010.. as we speak outlined in the book when it as written..BEFORE Pluto went into Capricorn.—Amazon reviewer (verified purchase)
Sampling of Forecasts from Cosmic Trends
Note: Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008, where it will remain until 2024. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of government, rules, laws, restrictions, boundaries.
“Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet considered to be the boundary between the inner and outer planets [in ancient astrology, it was the farthest planet that could be seen with the naked eye].This lends Capricorn an association with boundaries and borders, the security of which is a growing concern.” In the news now in 2016-2017: European borders, the EU, and the Mexican border.
“When restrictions and boundaries are imposed, some people react by rebelling, seeing it as freedom denied. When Pluto is added to the mix, as it will be in 2008, we will witness explosive rebellion against restrictions.” (p. 38)
“The self-made individual and supposed achiever of the American Dream will dominate the American landscape.” (p. 40) (Donald Trump is not mentioned, but this whole section predicts his rise to power).
“Saturn and Capricorn are both patient. They can wait, and they are sometimes associated with aging and maturity, both of which will be important as the large Pluto in Leo population grows older. Issues surrounding old age will loom large in society as Pluto moves through Capricorn.” (p.40)
“The Pluto in Cancer generation [born approx.. 1912-1938] struggled through the Great Depression, fought fear, a cataclysmic world war, and saved democracy. It is worth paying careful attention to what happened during Pluto’s passage through Cancer because in 2008, Pluto will enter Capricorn—Cancer’s opposite sign in the zodiac. In astrology, opposite signs are powerfully linked, and the world-shaping forces that were active during Pluto’s passage though Cancer will be re-awakened and challenged by new realities.” (Among these we might today cite CEO vs. worker salaries, as well as the bursting of the housing and stock market bubbles in 2008)
“Saturn and Capricorn are associated with security.” (p. 41)
“As Pluto moves into Capricorn, we will see a greater emphasis on entrepreneurial skill. Those who can strike off on their own and become successful by following their own ‘mountain paths’ will be esteemed.” (p. 44) (Note: Capricorn is signified by the mountain goat)
“…when Pluto enters Capricorn, it will be like a parent coming home early and interrupting the teenage Sagittarius party.” (p. 52) (Note: When Pluto entered Capricorn, the world entered the worst economic decline since the Great Depression)
Also discussed in Cosmic Trends:
Boundaries and borders
Computer security
CCTV cameras
Biometric security
GPS tracking technology
“The Global Positioning System will become more interactive, and drivers will be able to use GPS to navigate around traffic congestion and accidents” (p. 57) (Written well before Google maps, smartphones, Apple maps, and driverless cars)
The proliferation of safety and security devices on vehicles.
Data mining
Clothing with embedded wireless technology (long before the iWatch and the discontinued Google Glass)
“Marriage and gender roles and rules will be transformed.” (p. 63) ( a decade before Caitlyn Jenner and transgender identity surged in importance)
There is an entire chapter in Cosmic Trends on how the old, staid, hierarchical rules of social decorum will be upended.
“The merging of private sexual orientation with the courageous public statement of same-sex marriage will provoke strong reactions.” (p. 70)
“…when Pluto enters Capricorn…it involves the public versus the private self and the merging of one’s nature with a public identity. Marriage is a public bond and commitment. Our sexual orientation, however, is a private matter. So when a same-sex couple marries, their public and private selves are joined…For a same-sex couple to marry, then is still an act of quiet courage.” (pp. 73-74)
“There will be a great urge to shed masks, to be authentic.” (p. 70)
“Identity theft and related crimes will surge.” (p. 70)
“Identity theft will be rampant; it’s already bad, but it will intensify, becoming more pervasive and complex.” (p. 75)
Cosmic Trends also discusses the important global influences of Neptune and Uranus.
“The merging of technology, language, celebrity, and culture will result in new definitions of ourselves and our world.” (p. 125)
“Soon-to-be-discovered celebrities and performers who can project images of glamorous rebellion will continue to entertain us with real-life performances.” (p. 127)
“…the growing popularity of oddball celebrities.” (p. 128)
“More glamorous rebels will hit the spotlight until Neptune passes into its own watery sign of Pisces [where we are now, in 2016], at which time we will be awash in celebrity worship.” (p. 128)
Technology as quasi-religion
Biogenetics, genomics
“Pharmaceuticals will be marketed as niche products targeted to individual genotypes.” (p. 140) (what we now think of as “targeted therapies,” a term that barely existed when this book was written)
“As scientists uncover more connections between our genes and environmental triggers, vitamins and herbs will continue to grow in popularity.” (p. 140)
The proliferation of affordable robotics, such as drones, in everyday life (p. 143)
Driverless vehicles (p. 146) (just now being test-driven by Google, Tesla, and Apple)
“…a movie revolution, this time made possible through digital technology.” (p. 147)
“…explosive growth and new developments in movies and other forms of electronic entertainment.” (p. 146)
Our own homes will “…become what the old movie palaces of the 1920’s once were: Piscean theaters devoted to transporting us into another world through the use of technology.” (written well before the mass use of Amazon Echo, the Internet of Things, big-screen flat TVs, HDTV, 3D)
“Digital movies are changing how movies are made and distributed. . . Soon, we will be able to order a movie and have it delivered to a cell phone while we are out and about.” (p. 149) (Note: Netflix introduced movie streaming in 2007, a year after Cosmic Trends was published.)
“The pervasive portability of music…” (. 149)
And much, much more.
Unlike many astrology books, Cosmic Trends has an excellent index, and there are extensive endnotes at the end of each chapter. The Bibliography of source material—much of it having to do with social and cultural history and issues—is three and-a-half pages long.