Predictions for the USA in 2010

In examining what may lie ahead for the USA in the year 2010 we look at the SAMVA USA chart (Perpetual Union). The period and transit influences are studied with reference to the potential seen in the chart. The delinetation of astrological influences as per the Systems' Approach is emphasised for educational purposes. The underlying trends of 2009 are seen to continue, with the economy improving in a sluggish way. Due to adverse transit influences, strains are expected in the housing market and for domestic peace at the beginning of the year. In the summer of 2010 a major challenge is seen in the national life, likely involving foreign hostilities, financial problems or an earthquake. The autumn and winter months are expected to be more manageable.

Major period influence
Since April 1996, the USA has been running the 20 year major period of the planet Venus. As lord of the 4th house, Venus rules e.g. communal harmony, housing, land and education. Venus also has to do with women, the arts, medicinal knowledge, airlines, design and luxuries in life. Venus is badly placed in the 6th house, which rules financial stability, enemity and health issues. This means that the indications ruled by Venus tend to be associated with conflict or debts. Venus also happens to be the weakest planet in the SAMVA USA chart and its indications are thus vulnerable to setbacks associated with adverse transit influences.

As if that was not enough, the 4th house ruled by Venus is afflicted by Ketu, the planet of sudden and explosive events. Ketu also brings an element of separation and isolation to those things it touches. This placement is consistent with the perennial struggle of minorities for equal rights and inclusion in the country. On top of that, the 6th house is afflicted by Rahu, the planet ruling manipulation due to the desire for material gain and crisis due to exposure. The indications of Venus are therefore vulnerable to sudden setbacks, linked to concerns over finances, health or conflict. It is no coincidence there have been serious upheaveals over debt, health issues and conflict during this period. It is helpful that the dispositor of Venus, Jupiter as 6th lord, is well placed in Scorpio and the 5th house of creativity and management. Jupiter thus offers moderately strong support for its indications of financial stability, health and conflict.

During the Venus major period there have been upsets to the communal harmony over e.g. the attacks on 9/11, the war in Iraq and the implosion of the US housing market. Toxic ‘sub-prime’ debts were marketed around the USA and world during the Rahu sub-period. When those chickens came home to roost in 2007 and 2008, it threatened to derail the stability of the US and global financial system. The US government intervened and stabilized the situation by saving key banks and mortgage institutions from going bankrupt. It did so by printing money and assuming huges debts. This has raised concerns about the strength of the dollar and inflation, especially in 2009, as predicted. Finally, there has been a drawn out debate over the health care system, with health care coverage extended to all as is the practice in most European countries. However, such a solution comes at the expense of public finances and ultimately the tax payers. The trend of heavy public finances is expected to continue in 2010.

Sub-period influence
The Saturn sub-period in the SAMVA USA chart (Perpetual Union) is in operation from February 2009 to April 2012. In the national horoscope, with 20° Cancer rising, Saturn functions as the 8th lord. Due to its placement in old age in the sign of Scorpio its strength is reduced somewhat. As 8th lord it contributes influences of obstacles, endings and desires to 5th house indications of creativity, intelligence, romance, entertainment and management in society. The aspect of Saturn to Sun contributes to other indications showing setbacks in the matter of wealth of the nation and the number of assassination attempts made on the life of the US President, the head of state. During this period, the focus has shifted, as predicted in 2008, from the tense financial stability concerns during the Jupiter sub-period in 2007 and 2008. In its place, there is increased awareness of obstacles and endings in the national life during the Saturn period, but also on easy gains for the common people, such as through changes in the tax code or other reforms. As Saturn is 8th lord, the sense of danger in national life tends to increase. Indeed, there has been some sense of alarm in the USA (and Israel) over Iran's dogged pursuit of increased nuclear capabilities since 2009. As Saturn is a general indicator of the economy, working people and things mined from the ground the reforms and issues will be focused on these areas of the national life. Indeed, unemployment is high. With Saturn in the sign Virgo since September 2009, there is likelihood of relatively greater progress for employment in analytical and IT activities. The economy has become sluggish during this period as predicted. Moreover, as Saturn is natally placed in the 5th house, problems will tend to be found in the domain of national life ruled by this house, such as in the management of the economy or of ordinary or disenfranchised people. Obstacles will also be felt in the area of speculation on financial and other markets and in the life of institutions of higher learning or the software and entertainment industries. As Saturn afflicts the 2nd lord Sun in the chart, this sub-period will be characterised by obstacles and challenges facing the wealth and status of the country as well as the US President. The US economy is expected to remain on a sluggish but improving trend during this sub-period.

Major transits in 2010
In 2010, transit Jupiter will be badly placed in the 8th house in the first five months of the year and again in the final month of the year. This suggests obstacles and endings will be felt for the indications of Jupiter at those times, such as financial stability, opposition and health. The indications of Jupiter, including general indications like banking and monetary policy, may experience problems at that time. Importantly, any weakening of financial stability will have a negative effect on the indications of Venus, such as housing and communal harmony. Indeed, bankers have become much more cautious in lending money. This tendency is more pronounced when Venus becomes weak or afflicted in transit. Venus is badly placed in transit while in Sagittarius, until January 13, 2010, when it also becomes conjunct transit stationary Rahu at 27° Sagittarius. Venus again becomes badly placed from February 7 to March 2, 2010, when it transits Aquarius and the 8th house. It comes under the aspect of transit stationary Ketu in the 12th house at the end of February 2010, when also there may be sudden problems for its indications. The housing market, health matters or communal harmony will be especially strained while the transit stationary nodes are conjunct natal Venus at 23° 50 Sagittarius and 6th house during the first three months of 2010. As Venus rules air travel, the concerns in December 2009 over an attempted bombing of a US airliner by a terrorist is one manifestation of this transit strain.

Mars entered Cancer, its sign of debilitation, on October 5, 2009 where it will stay until May 26, 2010. Mars is weak in transit during this time. In general the influence of Mars as 10th lord of career while residing in 1st house of self for those with Cancer rising is to “deepen interest in professional matters and relationships.”[1] In the second half of January 2010 Mars will have an impact on the most effective point of the 20° Cancer rising degree in the SAMVA USA chart. At that time, Mars will closely aspect also the 4th house of fixed assets and communal harmony, 7th house of foreign policy and 8th house of obstacles and endings and easy gains. As 10th lord Mars is a benign planet but is debilitated in the sign Cancer and will be afflicted by transit stationary Saturn as 8th lord in early 2010, the indications of Mars, including athletes, police and military as well as industry, will likely be strained in early 2010. From late May 2010 and to the end of the year, Mars will move more through the signs Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius, or the 2nd to 6th houses in the SAMVA USA chart. In general it will do well in houses 2, 3, 4 and 5 and helps those things it touches. In Leo Mars will briefly come under the aspect of natal Rahu and natal Saturn. In Virgo, Mars will become conjunct transit Saturn. In Libra, it will become conjunct natal Ketu. In Scorpio, it will become conjunct natal Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. In Sagittarius, Mars becomes badly placed and falls under the aspect of Rahu and becomes conjunct natal Venus.

Jupiter entered Aquarius and the 8th house on December 21, 2009. It will stay there upto May 5, 2010, when it enters Pisces and the 9th house. As 6th lord, Jupiter rules enemies, health and financial stability of the USA. It is also a general indicator of corporate magnates, judges and generally important personages. Jupiter becomes retrograde on July 24, 2010. In the transit progress, Jupiter becomes stationary around 9° Pisces between June and August 2010. It will then briefly re-enter the sign Aquarius and 8th house from November 2 to December 6, 2010, when it enters Pisces again. Jupiter will remain quite weak while it is around 0° Pisces and 30° Aquarius from October through December 2010. While Jupiter is well placed and moderately strong in the SAMVA USA chart (Perpetual Union), this transit weakness is expected to give some health problems to the nation and stress or obstructions in financal matters.[2] As Jupiter aspects the Moon as 1st lord of self in the 11th house of ideals, it may also involve the nation in conflict over principles and give financial stress.

Saturn entered Virgo on 9th September, 2009. It will be stationary and have prolonged impact on 10° Virgo from December 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010. In this position, Saturn aspects natal 10th lord Mars in Scorpio and 5th house. This will bring strains to the indications of Mars, such soldiers and police, industry or international trade, but likely not significant setbacks. On January 14, 2010, Saturn goes retrograde at 10° 39’ Virgo and resumes direct motion on May 31, 2010, at 3° 49’ Virgo. Saturn will be stationary and have prolonged impact on 4° Virgo from May 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010.

In late December 2010 and into 2011 Saturn will have prolonged impact on 23° Virgo. As Mercury is the dispositor of Saturn while it is transiting the sign Virgo, the frequent weakness of Mercury in transit, due to e.g. combustion, infancy, old age, affliction and debilitation, etc. Saturn will not be able to give its results as a strong planet most of the time it stays in Virgo. There may also be an indication of indecisiveness. For the ascending sign of Cancer, Saturn “may cause obstructions and difficulties in one's initiatives” while in this sign.[3]

Scope for violent events
As Jupiter and Saturn are prime functional malefics in the Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart, their aspect to each other tend to produce difficulty. On May 23, 2010, transit 6th lord Jupiter at 3° 52’ Pisces and 9th house will become opposite transit stationary 8th lord Saturn at 3° 52’ Virgo and 3rd house. As both planets are also aspecting natal Jupiter at 4° 25’ Scorpio and 5th house, this aspect is likely to produce setbacks, especially for the indications of Jupiter, including financial stability. There could be violent or destructive events. On August 16, 2010, transit stationary Jupiter at 8° 27’ Pisces and 9th house becomes opposite transit Saturn at 8° 27’ Virgo and 3rd house. Both planets will be aspecting the strong natal Mars as 10th lord at 10° 05’ Scorpio and 5th house, producing some strain for its indications, e.g. the police, military or industry.

Rahu entered Sagittarius on November 3, 2009, where it remains up to May 4, 2011. During this time Ketu will remain in Gemini. In the Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart, Rahu will be transiting the sixth house and Ketu will be transiting the twelfth house. The influence of Rahu and Ketu is unfavorable and give obstructions and setbacks. Rahu in the 6th house tends to produce harm through enemity, health and setbacks in domestic peace. Ketu in the 12th house tends to produce sudden stress in foreign relationships, expenses and may cause loss of assets. The Moon’s nodes become stationary three times in these signs. Special stress is expected when the nodes are stationary but with the Sun also being badly placed in transit.[4] From December 2009 to mid February 2010 Rahu will be stationary at 27° Sagittarius and Ketu at 27° Gemini. In early 2010, the nodes will therefore influence natal Venus as 4th lord bringing stress or even setbacks to its indications of fixed assets and communal harmony. As Venus is 4th lord, problems for natural resources or from earthquakes cannot be excluded. The Sun will be transiting the sign Sagittarius from December 16, 2009 to January 15, 2010, adding to the stress. The time around January 12 is more notable as the Sun will then be conjunct the nodes. The stationary motion of the nodes at this point will have ended when the Sun enters Aquarius and the 8th house from February 13 to March 15, 2010, so less strain is likely then.

Crisis in the summer of 2010
It is however in the summer, from mid May to mid August 2010 when the nodes become stationary at 18° Sagittarius and Gemini that signficant problems are expected. This is because functional malefic transit Ketu will then be in close mutual aspect with natal Ketu in the 4th house, a combination that has in the past produced major earthquakes. This aspect is interesting as the lord of sudden, explosive events and separation or estrangement, aspects itself. In 1812, when transit Ketu was stationary at 17° Aquarius in the 8th house of obstacles and endings in aspect to its natal placement there was the huge New Madrid earthquake. On June 19, 1812, in the wake of growing tensions, the US declared war on Great Britain, the War of 1812, over foreign trade and indian issues. The declaration of war involved not only this adverse nodal transit but also the placement of 8th lord Saturn in the 6th house of conflict and the aspect of transit 6th lord Jupiter in the 12th house to natal 4th lord Venus - a very difficult year indeed. In any event, the nodal transit situation in mid 2010 is similar to that of 1812, but not the placement of transit Saturn, which will be in a good house throughout the year and transit Jupiter will also move to a good house in May. However, the opposition aspect between transit Saturn and transit Jupiter - and their affliction of natal Jupiter - is adding an element of violence to the situation. Some violent events - natural or man made - are thus likely to take place during the summer. Difficult financial stability, banking or religious issues could also flare up. The situation could be especially tense when the Sun transits Gemini and the 12th house from June 16 to July 16, 2010. In particular, the time in early July (see horoscope here for July 1, 2010) could be especially stressful, when the Sun becomes conjunct transit Ketu.

As Ketu is placed in the 12th house of foreign matters it is likely that some sudden foreign situation will develop that will disturb the communal harmony in the USA, possibly a military conflict or a related event. A contentious racial or ethnic issue could also explode on the scene. As the year opens, the US is engaged in a battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan, managing the situation in Iraq and concerned about Al-Queda terrorist training camps in Jemen. Nuclear ambitions of Iran are burning a long fuse in Washington, but with Israel especially concerned. Such trouble spots could flare up in the summer or new ones emerge.

Astrologer & Author V. K. Choudhry is in agreement that the SAMVA USA chart shows a quite difficult time in May to July, 2010.

"Additional economic and financial problems are seen
besides the anxiety and loss of mental peace."

The strains would be reduced from August. In November and December 2010, the nodes become stationary at 9° Sagittarius/Gemini, but they are not afflicted or afflicting at this point and thus less problematic.

References
[1] Mars in Cancer
http://www.yournetastrologer.com/mars_in_cancer.htm
[2] Jupiter in Aquarius
http://www.yournetastrologer.com/jupiter_in_aquarius.htm
[3] Saturn in Virgo
http://www.yournetastrologer.com/saturn_in_virgo.htm
[4] Rahu in Sagittarius
http://www.yournetastrologer.com/rahu_in_sagittarius.htm