Sports Astrology looks at January 15-16, 2011 NFL Playoffs

by Milky Way Maid

Sports astrology often has interesting things to say in describing sports events and the performances of key players. Last week I looked at the results of the wild card playoffs of the NFL. In most cases, the key lay with the transits to the starting quarterbacks of the respective teams. So let's look at this weekend's games and see what is in store for Misters Flacco, Roethlisberger, Rodgers, Ryan, Hasselbeck, Cutler, Sanchez, and Brady.

On Saturday, Jan. 15 we were treated to two playoff games. First, the Baltimore Ravens met the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, at 4:30 pm ET. The Ascendant was 16 degrees Cancer, denoting the home team Steelers. The ascendant squared Saturn in the fourth house.

The midheaven, denoting the major news of the day (usually about the winner), was 27 Pisces which sextiled the Sun-Mars conjunction in the seventh house. It was conjunct the Uranus-Jupiter conjunction in the tenth house very close to the MC. Uranus was closer to the exact conjunction.

The Moon, denoting the public, is also important so let's see what clues lie there. The Moon is at 4 degrees Gemini trine Mars (out of sign) in the seventh house, and opposite Venus in Sag in the fifth house. Fifth house is the game itself, tho if we were looking at the home team it would represent the game plan. So the public is pleased with how the game is played, and gets involved with the competitive and athletic performances.

The ascendant ruler is the Moon, which we have already discussed. As ascendant ruler, it denotes the fortunes of the home team Steelers.

The descendant ruler, showing the fortunes of the visiting Ravens, is square Saturn in the fourth house. The fourth house in event or horary charts often denotes “the end of the matter” or how it all turns out. In this case it showed that the Ravens would be frustrated in their bid to progress toward the Super Bowl. Sometimes Saturn denotes honors and awards, so we have to look at what else is going on.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco had a very good transit chart that day. His natal Sun was near game Sun-Mars conjunction, in other words a solar return; he was doing what he loved, playing the game he loved. Game Mercury applied to his natal Mercury (keen mental processes and quickness). His Venus-Mars conjunction was inconjunct game Saturn, tho, forcing him to adjust his play in response to obstacles. His Jupiter was conjunct game Sun, tho, a very fortunate transit; he reached beyond his normal performance level. Saturn squared Neptune, a transit that often shows loss and frustration no matter what one does. Uranus sextiled game Saturn, upsetting his ambitions. Neptune was conjunct game North Node; Neptune can be glamorous but with the NN it usually shows losses. Pluto sextile Pluto. His North Node trine the Sun; it was his moment to shine. Game ascendant trine his Mars-Venus was fortunate for his athletic performance, energy was high. Game ascendant was also inconjunct his Uranus, upsetting him and upsetting his plans for the game, forcing him to adjust his play. Game Midheaven was sextile his Sun, positive but rather weak.

Pittsburgh's quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had his Moon opposite Venus; the public was rooting for him. His Mercury inconjunct game ascendant showed he had to adjust his game, either his play-calling or his choice of passing receivers. Venus was sextile game Jupiter (out of sign), showing he had the benefit of some luck. Mars was conjunct game Saturn; this can be very frustrating. Neptune sextile Neptune probably added some glamor or inspiration. Pluto sextile game Neptune; finding a way to take back control of the game to overcome possibility of loss. North Node widely opposite game Sun; usually very fortunate; one falls back on one's strengths. Mercury inconjunct game ascendant; again, having to make adjustments to plays or choice of receivers. Mars square game ascendant, showing the great athletic effort he put forth to overcome obstacles. Neptune square game MC can go either way. Pluto inconjunct game MC also could have gone either way; the outcome may have been beyond his control.

At any rate, Ben was able to lead the Steelers to a win, 31-24 over Baltimore.

The second game of the day featured the Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons at 8 pm ET. The ascendant, denoting the Falcons, was at 23 Leo with no aspects. This is very strange; the Falcons would seem to not really be there, not giving it their all.

The midheaven was at 18 Taurus, sesquiquadrate Mercury in the fifth house. The emphasis would be on the quickness of the players, the play-calling, the passing game. Mercury also suggests that the result of this game would be more newsworthy than the prior game this day.

Ascendant ruler for the Falcons is the Sun at 25 degrees Capricorn, conjunct Mars in the sixth house. Sun-Mars is good for athletic performances so we'd expect them to play well. It is sextile Uranus-Jupiter in the eighth house; sextile is good but the eighth house is a house that belongs to the visiting team, so this is a bit odd. Maybe there is a “gift” from one team to another in the form of fumbles or something.

Descendant ruler for the Packers is Uranus (defense) conjunct Jupiter (great luck). It is sextile Sun-Mars in the sixth house. It is also square Mercury in the fifth house; the fifth house belongs to the home team so I think that the Falcons' game plan was a bit of a challenge to them, forcing them to play harder. Co-ruler Saturn has no aspects.

The Moon was at 6 degrees Gemini in the tenth house opposite Venus in the fourth house, and inconjunct Pluto (with Mercury and North Node nearby) in the fifth house. Inconjuncts force one to reconsider one's ranking of the players and teams involved. The less favored team often plays better than one expects, not necessarily winning but making a great show. The opposition to Venus focuses attention on a younger player, an attractive player. Both quarterbacks are about the same age so this does not help us too much.

Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers has Venus applying to his natal Sun, bringing some luck, favors, gifts. His Mercury is sextile Neptune, which often helps one know what the other person or team is going to do before they do it. Venus trine game Neptune, hmm. Mercury trine game Moon (orb two degrees); the public talks about you, or your words carry emotional power. Jupiter sextile game Saturn (orb 2 degrees); fortunate for matters where one is prepared and makes strong effort. Neptune square game Jupiter; given the other fortunate aspects, may give an aura of glamor or invincibility. Pluto sextile North Node; powerful for personal or professional advancement. North Node trine game Saturn can bring honors or awards; here I think it denotes his hard work being rewarded.

Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan had Sun square game Neptune, a very difficult aspect; nothing you do is right. Sun is also trine game Sun so the spotlight was on him. Moon trine game North Node; he wanted this win very much. Mercury trine game Pluto; some things were outside his control altho he tried every target and did all he could. Venus widely opposite game Saturn; denial of the prize. Mars wide trine to game Saturn was disciplined effort and diligent preparation. Jupiter trine game Saturn brought some rewards for his efforts; they did score touchdowns. Saturn sextile game Sun; he worked very hard to win this game. Uranus sextile game Saturn, an upset of one's plans or goals. Neptune applying game North Node; victory slips through one's fingers. North Node inconjunct game Saturn; hmm, there will be a change of plans.

All in all it looks like the Falcons' quarterback had a frustrating day, astrologically. Mr. Rodgers, a very highly rated quarterback in the league, led the Packers to a surprising win over Atlanta, 48-21.

Now on to the Sunday playoffs of January 16, 2011.

First, at noon the Seattle Seahawks visit the Chicago Bears in Chicago.
The ascendant (denoting the home team Bears) is 16 Taurus inconjunct Saturn in the sixth house. It is also semisquare the South Node in the second house of resources.
The midheaven (final score, news) is 26 Capricorn consun the Sun exactly in the tenth house. Mars is near in the tenth house also. The MC is sextile Uranus and Jupiter on the cusp of the twelfth house, not a good placement. But the conjunction may denote that the result is a big (Jupiter) upset (Uranus).

Ascendant ruler for the Bears is Venus in the seventh, in the house of their opponent, and opposite the Moon on the second house cusp. Having your ruler in your opponent's house is not a good sign.

Descendant (Seattle) ruler Pluto is conjunct Mercury on the cusp of the ninth house. Also the North Node is nearby in the eighth house. Their quarterback may be the key power player of the day.

The moon, denoting the public, is 15 Gemini in the second house opposite Venus in the seventh house. It is also sesquiquadrate Mars exactly in the tenth house. It is also trine Saturn in the sixth house. The public will be pleased and entertained by the game, and especially charmed by the visiting team. I think that the public will feel that the outcome is deserved by the participants.

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has his Sun square game North Node; this is generally quite fortunate for making personal and professional advances. The moon is possibly trine game MC, getting the fans on his side. Mercury is square game Sun (orb 2 degrees), making him the subject of the news or comment. Venus is inconjunct game Sun, tho, (also inconjunct game Uranus, making a yod aspect) probably indicating a change in fortunes. Saturn is inconjunct the game North Node, hmm. His hard work could alter the expected result of the game? Uranus sextile the game North Node can indicate an upset. Neptune conjunct game Venus adds glamor and gloss. Pluto sextile game Venus, hmm, possibly powerful influences add to his luck. Game MC is inconjunct his Venus; this can go either way, but the result is not what the experts expected. He may play better than they expect of him.

Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler has his Sun inconjunct game Venus; inconjuncts in general change one's game plan or one is forced to adjust. With Venus, maybe his luck changes. The moon is near game Venus if he was born near midday; same sign helps him be comfortable with the day's energies. Mercury is trine game MC-Sun conjunction; this says he may be the day's major news topic, for good or ill. Venus is trine game Saturn (orb 2 degrees); luck comes to those who work hard for it and are prepared. Mars is inconjunct game Saturn; a difficult aspect indeed; having to alter one's style? Jupiter-Uranus conjunction is conjunct game Venus, a very fortunate aspect. Pluto is square game Sun, adding power and helping him dig deep for all he's got. Pluto inconjunct game Uranus; hunh? His North Node is square game Uranus, suggesting a upset. It is also inconjunct game Sun, forcing him to adjust to changes in the game.

The Bears' ruler in the seventh house seems very negative, but their quarterback Cutler has a very good aspect in his Jupiter-Uranus conjunction to game Venus. Hard to call, truly, but there are several aspects that show an upset by Seattle is very possible. I think that Seattle's quarterback Hasselbeck will be key to a Seattle win, if he can indeed pull it off.

The New York Jets visit the New England Patriots in Boston in a grudge match at 4:30 pm ET. The ascendant (Patriots) is at 25 degrees Cancer opposite the Sun exactly at the descendant in the seventh house. Mars is near the Sun also in the seventh. The ascendant is trine Uranus and Jupiter in the ninth house.

The midheaven (result, news) is 8 degrees Aries square Mercury-Pluto-North Node in the sixth house. It is also trine Venus in the fifth house, smiling on the Patriots' game plan.

The Moon (public) is at 17 Gemini in the eleventh house, opposite Venus in the fifth house, and trine Saturn exactly in the fourth house. Saturn can indicate the experts, the pundits, the oddsmakers and the fourth house is “the end of the matter.” But wait, Saturn can also indicate the ruler of the visiting team...
Ascendant ruler for the Pats is the Moon. See above regarding aspects. Venus in the fifth, as I said, can show luck smiling on their game plan. Trine Saturn can indicate their efforts rewarded, or they win the honors. But wait...

Descendant Capricorn's ruler is Saturn, at 17 degrees Libra in the fourth house, trine the Moon in the eleventh house (hopes and wishes, teams). The Jets are looking good at this point. But wait, we haven't looked at the quarterbacks yet.

The Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez has his Sun inconjunct game Moon; the public re-evaluates his worth or his ability. His Moon is possibly conjunct game Uranus, denoting an emotional upset or variable emotions. His Mars in Aquarius makes a grand trine with game air planets Moon in Gemini and Saturn in Libra; that sounds great. And you know what else? His Moon in Pisces is widely trine his Mercury in Scorpio, and both are trine game ascendant in Cancer. So there's is another, watery, trine for you, at least by sign (we do not know the exact degree of his natal Moon). His Neptune is conjunct game Mercury, so he could seem to know what the other side will do before they do it. Game MC is inconjunct his Venus-Pluto conjunction; he has the potential to change the outcome of the game.

The Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady has been playing tremendous this season. On Sunday, hi sMoon is square game Pluto, making him frustrated with things that are outside his control. Venus is opposite game North Node; he will be forced to play to his strengths, with what has worked before. Mars is in the same sign as game Moon, adding emotional intensity. Jupiter is square game Uranus, which can aid an upset OR can indicate lucky breaks in the game. Jupiter is trine game Neptune, adding glamor and making fans get behind him. His North Node is conjunct game Saturn (orb 1 degree); this honestly can be interpreted either way but it is possible his progress is blocked or frustrated. The other interpretation is that honors follow his career progress. His Moon is possibly conjunct game MC, and game MC is also widely trine his Sun. These aspects are positive for him and for a successful outcome of the game.

This is extremely difficult to make a call on this game. Sanchez has an incredible transit chart with possibly two grand trines working for him, so I gotta give him the edge for that. Also the fact that the Jets' ruler Saturn is in the fourth house, and that it trines the Moon, makes me think that it might be the Jets' day.

Whew, that was a long article. Hope you could follow it all. Enjoy the games!