According to the pundits, Brighton are odds-on favourites this afternoon’s FA Cup Quarter Final at Amex Stadium. Brighton have the support of the home crowd, and have played well in recent matches, winning 6 of their last 7 games.
Forest, who are placed 3rd in the table to Brighton’s 7th, have drawn their last 10 matches, suggesting their form is not as strong as earlier in the season, when they beat Brighton 7-0. Furthermore, the absence of key striker Chris Wood, due to a hip injury, is a setback which may take a toll on their attacking strategy.
So, although their 3rd place in the League Table suggests Forest are the stronger team, this assessment may be based on past glories. The results of recent matches point to Brighton as the stronger team going into today’s match.
The favourites are signified by Mercury, ruler of the 1st and 10th houses. Mercury is currently retrograde. In contest charts, this does not usually affect the result. Nor does Mercury’s imminent arrival in Pisces, the sign of his detriment, or the house placement of the South and North Nodes, despite their proximity to the 1st and 7th house cusps.
More significantly, Mercury (although separating from combustion) is still close enough to the Sun to feel the detrimental effects. This is challenging for the favourites.
Mercury (Lord 1) opposes the Part of Fortune. This would point to a win for the underdogs, but the aspect is already separating and refers to past glories, not future results.
Venus is the dispositor of the Part of Fortune. At 01 Libra 20, the antiscion of Venus is conjunct the Part of Fortune, which would usually be positive for the favourites. However, Venus is retrograde, so this aspect is separating, and therefore has no bearing on the result.
So far, we have a lot of separating aspects, which describe the recent form for both teams, but less which throws light on today’s game. We must look to the aspects of the Moon, which more often provide the key to the results of contest matches than any other testimonies.
The Moon applies to sextile Jupiter, her only aspect over 5 degrees. This favours victory for the underdogs.
The bigger question revolves around which team are the favourites and which are the underdogs.
Nottingham are placed higher in the table than Brighton, which is a strong argument for them being the better team and the favourites, unless recent form is considered. This would be good news for underdogs Brighton.
However, if the pundits are correct, and Brighton are the favourites, Nottingham Forest are the underdogs and are likely to show an improvement in form and have a chance to repeat their victory over Brighton earlier in the season.
Either way, this match promises to be closely fought, with strong performances from both sides.
Chart cast with Astrogold for Mobile
Bibliography
Sports Astrology by John Frawley
Christian Astrology by William Lilly
ASTROLOGY BY LOUISE OF ARABIA 