All
across this great land, football fans are rejoicing at the opening of
training camps as the giants of this peculiarly American game return to
their respective battle stations. The satisfying, bone-rattling crunch
of the scrimmage once again thrills the hearts of the football faithful.
With the first NFL exhibition games scheduled for this weekend, and the
regular season starting in September, let's take a look at some of the
more important astrological alignments that are coming up during the season.
Perhaps we can gain some extra insight into how our favorite teams will
fare.
The
big football news for fall from an astrological point of view is the Jupiter-Pluto
opposition. You're going to be hearing a lot about this alignment over
the coming months, so we might as well start now. These two planets will
initially oppose each other from 10 degrees Gemini (Jupiter) to 10 degrees
Sagittarius (Pluto) on September 4, coinciding not only with the start
of the NFL regular season, but also with the Sydney Olympics. Obviously,
September will be a big month for sports, with enthusiasms running high
and an oversized emphasis on athletic competitions.
When
it comes to sports, Jupiter is what I like to refer to as the MVP—the
most valuable planet. Expansive and lucky, Jupiter rules travel, the freedom
of the great outdoors and the exhilaration of physical exercise. Pluto
in Sagittarius is a sports superpower, obsessively applying the latest
knowledge and smashing records as it goes. Paired with Jupiter in Gemini,
we should expect to witness new records in many events, especially the
shorter, faster races. We should also expect to see the results of technical
and medical advances that will drive the competition to heretofore unheard-of
heights.
The
Jupiter-Pluto opposition will set the tone for the entire NFL season,
occurring not only at the start of the regular season in September, but
lining up again on October 13. This second opposition, also at 10 degrees
Gemini-Sagittarius, takes place because Jupiter goes retrograde on September
29. From our earthling perspective, Jupiter appears to slow down, stop,
and then start moving backward. That’s not really what is happening,
it's just our perspective. However, it does make a significant difference
in Jupiter's earthly influences. This repeated emphasis on that 10th-11th
degree of Gemini-Sagittarius puts a spotlight on coaches and players who
feature those degrees prominently in their natal charts.
Of
course, it's all very well and good to win in September and October, but
most would prefer to stick it out for those January victories. By mid-December,
Jupiter will have backed up to 4 degrees Gemini, where it will be in a
harmonious trine aspect to Neptune in Aquarius. Then, in January, Jupiter
will once again slow down and stop, this time turning direct and moving
forward again. Jupiter will spend most of January stalled out and dawdling
at 1 degree Gemini, again creating tremendous opportunities for those
coaches and players whose natal charts feature that degree. So this information
should narrow our search considerably!
We
will be taking a look at various coaches and players over the coming weeks,
comparing their natal charts to the upcoming alignments. While hardly
a definitive analysis, these important transits can reveal a lot about
the season. There's no substitute for hard work and talent, but in order
for a team to go all the way, good transits can make all the difference.
So enjoy the games, and may the best team win!
|