In the early 1990s, a Japanese friend commented on the Walkmans that Americans were using. He said he assumed Americans liked things big. Japanese electronics, I learned during a visit there, were much smaller, compact, and technologically advanced from what was available to me locally.

Why was this technological gadgetry and efficiency not available in the US?

Business logic tells me that we didn’t want the competition. But energetically, my friend may have been onto something.

As the American economy expanded, so did the products, so did the food, so did the bodies. Prior to 1980 research suggests obesity rates 13% to 15%. After 1980, rates expanded rapidly to the current 40%+.

Expansion and contraction

There is a Chinese parable about a farmer Sai Weng. When his horse runs off the neighbors comment on his bad luck. His response: Good luck, bad luck, who knows? Later his horse returns with some companion horses increasing his herd. His neighbors comment on his good luck. His response: Good luck, bad luck, who knows? In this parable, good and bad continue to shift back and forth.

Expansion is often viewed as positive, good luck. Contraction as negative, hard times, loss.

Was the expansion of the US economy good or bad? We have more things, and more pollution, and more car payments, and more utility bills.

And more health issues; or less good health.

Today we have inflation that is reported around 3.5% to 4.0% yet “affordability” is a major issue which doesn’t occur at 4% increases. Shrinkflation is the new term for paying more for less. Over here in Ohio, I’d say effective inflation is 10% – 20%. Expansion and contraction in the same package.

Shrinkage is expanding. It’s almost comical at times how small portions have become in relation to the growth of the price.

Jupiter and Saturn

Jupiter is the planet of expansion and historically considered a beneficial planet associated with good tidings and good luck. Saturn in contrast is contract and view as difficult times with added responsibilities. These are value judgments rather than energetic principles that can be good or bad.

Today’s response to the expansion of bodies are new pharmaceuticals that shrink the body. Research suggests about 3% of the population used these pharmaceuticals in 2024 and now it’s about 11%. If we follow the expansion cycle of the body, it may reach 40%+.

As we shrink the body, what else may expand in response? First thought is the liver that is ruled by Jupiter. Pancreas, I see, is also ruled by Jupiter. This is logical too as the weight loss drugs affect the pancreas and must, like all drugs, be processed by the liver. Dialysis centers, research suggests, will be growing at a compound annual growth rate of 5%+.

Saturn rules skins, bones, teeth, and knees. Shrinking bodies would help the knees. Research suggests that supplements are needed with weight loss drugs for calcium and vitamin D due to reduced food intake.

Changing bodies: good or bad?

Who knows?

Shrinking bodies amidst shrinkflation. Makes sense – less food for more money helps the body lose weight. It’s a resonance, the energy of the times.

Contraction of the body in this culture – thinness – is viewed as positive regardless of underlying health. Dieting is part of the American culture of abundance. There are still a lot of diets out there that “crash” into contraction. Often expansion results later because of the imbalance and unsustainability of continued contraction.

Expansion and contraction are a kind of polarity and astrology’s highest lesson is balance of polarity. The business cycle follows this imbalance with expansive growth followed by “crashes.”

Our culture; our bodies.