Chart shown: 2010 Solar Return to the Inauguration 2009 chart, Washington, DC.
On Jan 20, 2010, the second year of Barack Obama's toddler presidency begins thus marking its first 'birthday' as noted in Astrology as a Solar Return for which I shall assume are obvious reasons.
A few days ago I posted an article here with the same horoscope displayed of the 2010 Solar Return to the 2009 Inauguration chart of Jan 20, 2009 (12:00 pm est Capitol Building, DC) so we could see how Year 2 might go along. Blogging time was brief and so it was a meager analysis on my end.
Jan 20, 2009 was, you may remember, an extremely frigid day in our nation's capital so Aretha Franklin wore a vervy new hat. Additionally, Hope sprang eternal in people's hearts if they had them.
Well, I'm pleased as can be to start off the New Year here on SO'W with a Guest Post by Jonathan W who modestly describes himself an Astrology beginner (we are all novices!), an author, screenwriter, and actor. His talents abound and Astrology is, I believe, one of them, for Jonathan has written an analysis of the 2010 Solar Return of the presidency of Barack Obama which I recommend to you, Mars Rx rising and all!
My original post is linked below. I now happily turn you over to Jonathan whose insights into the 2010 Solar Return chart may spark thoughts and provoke comments which are outcomes most welcome on this blog:
The 2010 Solar Return of the Obama Presidency by Jonathan W
What's interesting is how many retrograde planets are on the cusp of a House! One can expect the dismantling of goals Obama had assumed were a done deal -- Sixth House cusp obviously indicating Health Care Reform -- as well as the discovery that his ambitious plans are balancing on a slippery slope.
To have the ruler of the Midheaven, Mars -- in my view, Obama's attempt to appear less thoughtful and more of a tough Commander in Chief -- retrograde on the Ascendant suggests his efforts will either backfire or be stymied or frustrated.
Whatever the case, he'll find it very difficult to sell this "tough" version of himself due to the Public's reluctance to buy it -- illustrated in the Moon/Saturn opposition, that Aries Moon's square to Pluto/Mercury, and Saturn in Libra's overall insistence on authenticity and sincerity.
Add both Mars and then Mercury (important in the selling of the message) retrograde, the Cardinal t-square energies challenging Saturn's authority and Pluto/Mercury's hunger to mold the message with the Public Moon not buying any of it, and the chart just SCREAMS frustration! We could even end up with another version of his infamous Primary-era "Can I just eat my waffles in peace?" quote.
This Mars retrograde square Pluto/Mercury also suggests his efforts militarily (in Afghanistan?) will not pan out and will instead severely challenge his ability to spin this version of a War Leader Obama successfully.
But that Mars on the Ascendant and ruling the Midheaven is determined to be Commander in Chief even if that Moon feels more comfortable with -- or at least buys more readily -- the more thoughtful, feminine aspects of this Administration (Moon sextile Venus). Or maybe even the actual women in this Administration!
Perhaps importantly, Uranus on the cusp of the 9th may also indicate unexpected surprises from those overseas who are emotionally (Moon) and angrily/energetically (Moon in Aries) at odds with our Government (Saturn) and will challenge authority (Cardinal t-square) in ways that tap into and use power and perhaps even martyrdom (Pluto). And Mercury in the mix clearly suggests travel, Pluto hints at things done in the dark under the radar and the Cardinal energies allude to action, not planning. Action. This, too, can make it frustrating for Obama as that Retrograde Mars may make it difficult to respond effectively or the response will backfire and make things worse.
It is interesting that we find ourselves "revisiting" terrorism during Mercury's retrograde, though. Is this a foreshadowing of that Pluto/Mercury attempt to tap into our Fears via their relationship with the 6th/12th axis, the 12th in Cancer ruled by the Moon? Will the Government (Saturn) in this New Year attempt to more stringently control (Pluto) our movement or how we move (Mercury) in response to whatever Uranus on the 9th cusp might throw at us? Will Obama's response be more Draconian rules and regulations (Saturn square Pluto/Mercury) which we'll fight against (Cardinal t-square)?
(I'm trying not to notice the supportive sextile between Uranus and the North Node in Capricorn. If Obama and his handlers believe a "terrorist attack" will earn him support much like Bush got post-2001, they don't know much about Retrograde Mars, Saturn in Libra's abhorrence of anything inauthentic and insincere, and Uranus' tendency to be both unpredictable as well as impossible to control. Add to that the stutter-step of an inconjunct between the North Node and Neptune/Chiron -- and the Moon inconjunct Neptune/Chiron as well -- and the reaction from the People may be more a visceral anger (Moon in Aries square Pluto/Mercury) at Government (Saturn) than overwhelming support and gratitude that Obama "protected" us. Remember, this Moon has a relationship with caring Venus, not hyper-macho Mars.)
It'll be an uphill battle for Obama, though, as Mars Retrograde on the Ascendant can also strongly suggest a sapping of energy and drive.
Just recently, Obama revealed that this first year in office has left him "exhausted". Retrograde Mars on the Ascendant can suggest as well a tendency toward accidents, clumsiness, possibly even something involving surgery. And with the 8th spotlighted by Jupiter/Neptune, that's certainly possible.
The main thing in this chart is that Retrograde Mars. Being on the most important angle of the chart, the frustration, the inability to succeed quickly, the draining and sapping of energy ... all of those will be hallmarks of this year in Office for The One. In today's world of 24-hour media and a Public which is finally seeing beneath the Neptunian Allure of the Primary-era Obama, a struggling President unable to act effectively is exactly what we don't want or need to see.
"This thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down." ~ Mary Pickford
~:~~:~
Thanks, Jonathan! And Happy New Year, New York!
2010 Solar Return to the 2009 Inauguration chart.
