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The
Moon's influence surrounds and envelops us, sweeping us up with our emotions
and sneaking up on us through unconscious memory. We're all aware of how
the Moon influences the tides and cycles of life, but the Moon can also
influence the outcome of sporting events in very dramatic ways. The power
of the Moon's influence was very evident this past week as we witnessed
two splendid championships, Tiger Woods' historic U.S. Open victory and
the domination of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
The
most basic definitions of the Moon in astrology usually involve feelings,
family, feeding and the mother. It is the most fundamentally feminine
sort of influence, and the Moon in a person's birth chart can tell us
much about how that person was nurtured and cared for, as well as how
he perceives his own mother. So what does this have to do with sports,
typically a more masculine domain?
The
Moon and the Masses
On
a more social level, the Moon is associated with the public—as in public
opinion or public image. It tends to be indicative of the common mindset
of the people, what is considered normal or comfortable. It is changeable,
easily influenced but fiercely defensive of its home turf when challenged.
The Moon delights in memories of the past, the good old days and longs
for things to stay the way they always were, or should have been. It carries
with it a distant archetype, a memory of the perfect parent and role model.
In other words, the Moon is something of a hero-worshipper.
Now
we're getting a little closer to sports, aren't we? Between the champion
on the field and the crowd in the stands, there exists an ancient, aching
need. We need to see a larger-than-life Somebody save the day, so we can
all feel more safe and capable. Competitive sports grew as an adjunct
to military training, as a way to keep the home guard in fighting trim
in the military off-season. If our hero on the field can't hold his own,
this doesn't bode well for the safety of our town, does it? Modern day
league sports, with teams representing cities, grew out of ancient town-ball.
In some localities, the menfolk of two villages met on the road between
them, and if your home team couldn't hold the line, the "game" could end
with the outsiders marauding through your streets. And they say football's
too violent! Many of our modern sporting customs make a lot more sense
when seen in this light.
The
Home-Field Advantage
But
what does this have to do with the Moon? Let me pose a basic question.
Why on Earth would a group of individuals consistently
perform better in one place than in any other? The answer is not geographic,
it’s emotional. It's what we refer to as home-field advantage. All other
things being equal, a team will consistently play better on its home field
than anywhere else in the world. The main factor in home-field advantage
is the home-town fans—the people, the crowd, the surging tide of emotion
sweeping before it, the comfortable feeling of familiar surroundings—ahh,
now we're talking about the Moon, aren't we?
The
position of the Moon made all the difference between the Indiana
Pacers' torrid 120-87 scorching of the Lakers
in game five, and the Lakers' championship victory in game six. As for
the Lakers winning the NBA championship, it was more a question of when
than if, even though it seemed to take longer than it should have. Some
commentators grew impatient with the Lakers' seeming nonchalance, including
Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who tore into them on NBC when they were down
at halftime in game six.
In
all fairness, perhaps those judging the Lakers' commitment were being
a bit disrepectful of Indiana. The Pacers are no patsies. They played
a great series, worthy of their coach, and stuck it to L.A. from every
angle. They also had a lot of help from the Moon.
Game
Five: Sagittarius Moon
In
a best four-of-seven-game series, with games every two days or so, the
planetary positions don't change that much from game to game. But the
Moon does. The Moon moves swiftly, about 13 degrees every day, and changes
signs every two and a half days. In game five in Indiana, the Moon was
in the late degrees of Sagittarius, exactly aspecting Head Coach Larry
Bird's chart, and casting very supportive trine aspects
in the direction of both Reggie
Miller and Pacers center Rik Smits. It didn't influence
Shaq
or Phil Jackson
much at all. With all that Sagittarian fire fanning the home crowd's flames,
the Pacers stormed the court, torching the Lakers with their amazing three-point
shooting. In the burning hot atmosphere of the Conseco Fieldhouse, the
designated champions experienced a complete meltdown.
Game
Six: Aquarius Moon
Game
six in Los Angeles had a completely different atmosphere. The Moon had
moved into the early degrees of Aquarius, where it was closing in on a
conjunction with transiting Neptune. From this position, the Moon pointed
its influence directly at Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, because both his
natal Moon and Ascendant are in early Aquarius. This time, he had the
home-court advantage, but it wasn't the fiery Sagittarian kind that the
Pacers had enjoyed a few nights earlier. It had a cooler, Aquarian feel
to it. In fact, the Pacers held the lead until the fourth quarter. The
Lakers seemed too detached and laid back to close them out, but they eventually
consolidated to dominate the fourth quarter. With the victory came all
the Hollywood glamor you would expect from a Moon-Neptune conjunction,
as celebrities and stars thronged the court.
The
Capricorn Moon and Tiger Woods
In
between game five and game six, the Moon passed through Capricorn, and
another championship was unfolding at the U.S. Open. All eyes were on
a young Capricorn, much older than his years, who captured the public's
imagination, displaying perfect discipline while accomplishing the impossible.
As Tiger Woods
stoically mastered the demanding Pebble Beach course, pulling further
and further away from the rest of the field, the whole world seemed to
tune in and follow along, swept up in his wake. The Moon in Capricorn
drew them in, commanding their respect. As word of his feat spread, the
crowds swelled and the media swarmed, but Tiger remained impervious to
all distractions. His concentration was so rapt, his professionalism so
complete, that he steadily stalked the record without so much as a sideways
glance.
Do
Capricorns really have ice water flowing through their veins? The cold
steel of Capricorn was never honed to a finer point than this one man's
will. In his lonely pursuit of accomplishment, his home crowd spanned
the globe, cheering him on. This was Capricorn at its highest—ambition,
excellence and triumph. It's not warm and familiar, it's awe-inspiring.
Tiger belongs on the mountaintop.
Three
different Moons, three different results. The Moon sets the mood, and
very often, her light illuminates the winner. It is indicative of the
public mindset, whether jubiliant, bored or nasty. At the end of the day,
sports are a very emotional undertaking and all athletes, whether male
or female, are driven by feelings. The course of the Moon allows us to
see what kind of emotion will hold sway, and when, and that can be the
key to victory.
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