AN ASTROLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS
by Monica Ann Wallach
October, 2001
www.MonicaWallach.com MW@MonicaWallach.com
Given recent events, including our entry into war, many people have asked me what astrology indicates is ahead for our country. As an astrologer, I do not profess to "tell the future," rather I examine the upcoming planetary energies and assess the types of events which may flow from them. With that understanding, I will share with you the information I gained when I examined the upcoming transits to the birth chart of the United States. The birthday for the U.S. is July 4, 1776. A birth chart is simply a chart reflecting the position of the planets in the sky at the time of birth. A transit is when a planet comes into alignment with the position of one of the planets when someone or something was born. Astrology is a mathematical science in that it measures the exact dates when planets are in alignment. To make an accurate prediction about what a certain transit could bring, astrologers look to similar planetary movements in the past and see what happened then, using that to help interpret what future alignments may bring.
There are four significant transits which give indications about our nation’s future. The first involves Saturn and Pluto. These planets have been sitting opposite each other in the sky since August 5, 2001, and will continue in opposition through May 2002. An opposition means planetary energies interact in a conflicting manner -- literally they will be "opponents" during that time. Saturn is the planet which is associated with restriction, hardship, endings, and difficulty. Pluto is the planet which brings death, followed by rebirth. The last time Pluto and Saturn aligned opposite one another was between April 1965 and February 1966. This was when our involvement in Vietnam escalated. The time before that was between February and December of 1931 -- there was no war on, but that year our country was in the midst of the Great Depression.
The second transit affecting the United States involves transiting Saturn moving over the position of Mars in our country’s birth chart. This occurs in June 2002. Saturn is the planet which brings difficulties. Mars is the planet which signifies wars and conflicts. The last three times Saturn transited our Mars were on the following dates: Sept 1972 to May 1973, July 1943 to March 1944, and in June 1914. During each of these periods, the United States was at war (Vietnam, WWII, and WWI).
The third transit involves transiting Saturn moving over the position of the Sun in our country’s birth chart. This transit occurs between September 2003 and June 2004. The Sun in any birth chart, be it of a person or a country, has to do with the life force energy of the entity. Usually, when Saturn transits the Sun, it indicates a period of hardship. The past three such transits occurred on the following dates: August 1974 to June 1975, in June 1945, and from August 1915 to June 1916. Again, during each of these periods, America was involved in battle (Vietnam, WWII, and WWI).
The fourth and final significant transit involves transiting Pluto moving opposite the position of Mars in our country’s birth chart. This occurs from February 2003 to November 2004. There have been three periods in our nation’s history when a similar alignment of Pluto and Mars has occurred -- November 1966 to July 1968, July 1904 through April 1906, and June 1813 through December 1815. Our country was at war during two of these periods -- Vietnam in the first instance, the War of 1812 in the second instance. (Note that war ended in Jan 1815 with the Battle of New Orleans.)
Looking at the overall movement of the planets, and examining those transits in light of the history of our country, it seems we can expect a period of extreme difficulty between now and the end of November 2004. Given the nature of past events, we can assume this could include war and/or economic hardship. The purpose of astrology is to give us a map of the upcoming terrain, so we can choose how we navigate that landscape. How do we, as a country, use the upcoming planetary alignments to bring about a positive outcome? My view is that if we have to go to war, let us make it a different type of war -- a battle for world peace. How can we do that? By being gentle and loving to all people. By encouraging non-violent answers to all conflicts. By having compassion for all. By helping one another create peace -- in our hearts, in our families, in our communities, in our country, and in our world.
