So like much of the prequels to star wars I had written this little bit off as just Lucas being ridiculous but thinking about it today while I ate lunch (no, no idea why was random) either I am reaching for a meaning or Lucas may have been more subtle than we have been giving him credit for.

Eastern Symbols and Religion have always been important to Star Wars the entire idea of the Force is very obviously eastern. One of the most well known eastern religious symbols in the west is the Yin-Yang. We see the importance of this symbol in the first movie when Luke talks about the good still in Darth Vader (the bit of white in the black part of the symbol) this is then repeated with the leader of the senate being the bit of dark in the white (though on a institutional rather than personal scale).

Look at the symbol again though. It is a circle and though it is usually depicted with the large black portion on one side and the large white portion on another...at least to me circles imply movement..which means that for a time the white portion would be on top..but for there to be balance...the black must also be on top for a time...

Given this interpretation Anakin could be said to bring balance to the force by keeping the circle moving as is required.

Like I said I don't know if I am reaching as this seems really subtle for Lucas..especially since this prophecy only has two lines in the movie (but given the situation surrounding Anakins birth I can't see them as unimportant). If true though it also turns one of my complaints about the stories in the expanded universe (always the same story light side fighting the dark over and over no resolution) into the entire point...

(Might have some implications for the ending of the wheel of time actually as the Yin Yang if thought of as moving could be thought of as a wheel).

Thoughts?