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2009 Year in Review
Hindsight May Be 20/20 ...
... but Astrology predicted these events. What a year! As we prepare to start 2010 on a hopeful note, it's wise to take a look back on the events of the past twelve months to see how politics, culture and even celebrity drama were influenced by the cosmos: how the planets teamed up, clashed and moved through the zodiac. Look at the cosmic climate behind each major headline to make sense of 2009.
Jan.15: "Sully" Becomes a National Hero
Amidst a generally dour forecast for the coming year, America got the hero it needed when captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, a 57-year-old commercial airline pilot, saved the lives of all 155 of his passengers after he acted fast to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. With the Sun and emotional Moon lining up with empowering Jupiter, it's no wonder that heroism was the order of the day.
Jan. 20: Obama Takes Office
After running a tech-savvy campaign on a platform of hope, Barack Obama became the nation's 44th president -- and the first of his race to hold the highest office in the land. During an exciting inauguration, optimism was emphasized by the adventurous Sagittarius Moon angling nicely with clever Mercury, and the Sun in America's emotional Moon sign, progressive Aquarius, gave the nation permission to re-imagine its future.
Feb. 8: Rihanna Attacked by Chris Brown
When Brown inexplicably attacked Rihanna and left her unconscious, R&B's power couple was officially over. The publicized end to their romance came in the wake of limit-defining Saturn's opposition to chaotic Uranus -- together, both planets were giving us all harsh reality-checks about circumstances and relationships in our lives that needed to change. Rihanna dumped Brown, then spoke out about the attack and domestic violence.
Feb. 27: Deadline for Iraq Pullout Set
The plan was a long time coming, yet Obama's announcement that he had a timeframe for troop withdrawal still seemed ambitious. The public reacted to the announcement with relief but also trepidation -- Pluto entered the picture to showcase public fears -- but with the emotional Moon in assertive Warrior sign Aries, it's no wonder the president had the courage to take this stance.
March 6: Unemployment in U.S. Surges
America's recession reached a new low when the unemployment rate rose to 8.1%, a 25-year high. But it isn't surprising that the country would be hit with such a harsh wake-up call, as Venus -- planet of professional partnerships -- turned retrograde that day, causing confusion in business agreements and encouraging us all to look back and reconsider our own careers and connections in the face of job insecurity.
March 28: Swine Flu Breaks Out in U.S.
The pandemic was publicized a day after several planets moved into fiery, action-oriented Aries, a sign that encourages swift, aggressive response to any problem. The public found itself trying to weigh the real risk of the disease as the Warrior sign gave the national atmosphere a sense of urgency, even panic. Sensible Mercury was butting heads with passionate Pluto, making it difficult to think with pure logic.
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April 2: Blagojevich Is Found Guilty
The self-assured Illinois governor was found guilty of accepting bribes and using unethical means to fill President Obama's empty senate seat. This has a lot to do with the powerful planetary line-up that was still casting its shadow: two days later, Venus (planet of professional partnerships) squared off with revealing Pluto, a planet known for publicizing the shadowy, corrupt side of those it encounters.
April 3: Iowa Legalizes Gay Marriage ...
... and Vermont does same on April 7. Soon after the passage of California's Proposition 8 made same-sex marriages illegal, two other states opened the door to equal marriage rights within days of each other. Iowa and Vermont decided to expand matrimonial law as loving Venus and shadowy Pluto ended a forceful face-off, allowing a better compromise for issues that were heavy in emotional and legal implication.
June 13: Iranian Elections Ignite Protests
Despite Iran's famously rigid government, revolution was in the air in a way that echoed 1979's cultural upheaval. These elections happened in the shadow of strict, rules-enforcing Saturn's series of oppositions to rebellious Uranus -- a rare planetary event that was exact on November 4, 2008 (the day of the U.S.'s presidential election); the Aquarius Moon inspired a collective national (and global) response.
June 25: Michael Jackson Dies
The entertainment world grieved the King of Pop, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack on the eve of a career comeback at 52. There was a rash of celebrity deaths at this time, which coincided with Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth, taking prominence: Pluto opposed the powerful New Moon in Cancer, the sign of history, highlighting the fact that pop culture had lost one of its most enduring icons.
June 29: Madoff Gets Max Sentence
Former NASDAQ chairman Bernie Madoff engineered what many regard as "the largest investment fraud in Wall Street history." It's fitting that his sentencing happened during cosmic calm after days of tension -- specifically facts-focused Mercury's square with karma planet Saturn. With the Moon in matter-of-fact Virgo, there was little hope Madoff could talk his way out of his 150-year prison sentence for Ponzi scheme.
July 3: Palin Resigns as Governor
Sarah Palin refused to fade from public view but opted to retreat (if briefly) from politics, resigning as Alaska's governor with a year left in her term. Her outspoken announcement reflected the emotional Moon's position in often overly-confident Sagittarius; her "strike while the iron's hot" mentality may have been due in part to mental powerhouse Mercury's move from clever Gemini to the slower homebody sign of Cancer.
August 4: North Korea Frees Journalists
After American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years hard labor for being on the wrong side of North Korea's border, former president Clinton met with Il and secured the women's freedom. The risk-assessing Capricorn Moon made a direct line of communication with unpredictable Uranus that day, pushing Clinton to believe that anything was possible as he made his unprecedented trip.
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Aug. 6: Senate Confirms Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor took her place on the bench as the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice the day after the powerful Full Moon Eclipse in humanitarian Aquarius, which created a general emotional mood wherein focus was shifted from the individual to the greater good. This "problem-solving" lunar influence also marked an end to Senate confirmation hearings that began as aggressive Mars clashed with passionate Pluto, stirring strong feelings on both sides of the aisle!
Aug. 25: Senator Ted Kennedy Dies
Although Edward "Ted" Kennedy's death wasn't unexpected, its strong emotional impact shook Congress and citizens alike. The Moon was in passionate Scorpio, intensifying feelings as the nation reacted to the end of a sad chapter in a political dynasty. Meanwhile, Mercury's move into diplomat sign Libra made many politicians step back and find common ground as a final tribute to an iconic politician, creating a bipartisan mood for his funeral.
October 9: Obama Awarded Peace Prize
Perhaps no one was more surprised than Obama himself when he was awarded this honor less than a year into his first term. But the day was bound to provide its share of pleasant surprises as loving Venus faced off with rebellious, spontaneous Uranus. The Moon in mentally-active Gemini supported an intellectual, if unconventional, pick for the prize -- the Nobel committee characterized their choice as an award for potential, rather than accomplishment.
Nov. 5: Fort Hood Rampage Kills 12
The inexplicable act of army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan opening fire on his own military base is best understood in relation to Saturn and Pluto, planets that highlight personal limits. During the shootings, these two were preparing to face off, which often showcases "breaking points" -- both in our selves and in society. This may partly explain how a trained professional could snap and cause such tragedy.
Nov. 7: Healthcare Reform Bill Passed
Healthcare reform was at the center of Obama's campaign, so the reform bill's victory in the House was a landmark. With the emotional Moon in the nurturing sign of Cancer, many felt that caretaking took precedence above other concerns. Still, opponents of the reform might have felt an emotional double-whammy as passionate Venus moved to intense, all-or-nothing Scorpio, proving the fight had just begun.
Looking into 2010
While we're able to reflect on these historic events and put them into proper cosmic perspective, Astrology gives us the power to predict the overall feel of the day, week, month or year ahead to understand what planetary influences are at play ... and to empower us to make solid decisions with a savvy sense of timing! Learn more about what the future holds for you at 2010 Forecast Central.