Who will the heavens favour in this week’s Premier League clash between Southampton and Chelsea?
As odds-on favourites Chelsea are represented by the 1st house but not by its ruler the Moon who is otherwise occupied in her role as significator of events during the match. Instead the Moon’s dispositor Mercury (retrograde at 11 Aquarius 02) is called from the substitute’s bench as significator for the favourites.
The ruler of the opposing 7th house Saturn represents hosts Southampton, strongly placed in his own sign at 07 Aquarius 32.
A retrograde Mercury is not usually a hindrance in contest charts. This is especially true here where he applies to trine the Moon, signalling a possible early lead for Chelsea. The Moon’s next two aspects; a trine to Jupiter (Lord 10, victory to the favourites) and a trine to the Part of Fortune also favour the favourites.
This week, the heavens cast their vote with the pundits: A victory for Chelsea is predicted.
All eyes will be on this Saturday’s Premier League clash between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur: Will favourites Manchester City win as the pundits predict, or can Spurs halt City’s seemingly unbreakable run of wins?
At first glance, the heavens appear to cast their vote in favour of City: The Sun who, as ruler of the 1st house represents the favourites is placed on the cusp of the 7th house, representing opponents Spurs. This depicts the fortunes of Spurs held hostage by City. Compounding the misery for Spurs, Mars (ruler of the 4th house; victory for the underdogs) is placed inside the cusp of the 10th house (victory for favourites City): This again shows Spurs in the power of their rivals.
But what of the Moon? She alone provides a dissenting voice, but it is a powerful one which we ignore at our peril: She first opposes the Part of Fortune and next applies to sextile Mars (Lord 4) both aspects in favour of Spurs.
In the case of equally balanced testimonies, a draw is always possible. Even if Manchester City dominate the play, it is less certain that their efforts will lead to victory. Experience teaches that the aspects of the Moon (and particularly her final aspect) often decide the outcome of the match: Whether it is a win or draw, Spurs will do much better than expected and have it in their power to put an end to City’s lucky streak.
This weekend’s featured Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal promises to be a closely-fought contest. The pundits favour Arsenal, but do the heavens agree?
Favourites Arsenal are represented by the 1st house and its ruler, Mercury (retrograde at 22 Aquarius 23). The North Node directly on the 1st house cusp is a positive testimony for Arsenal, just as the South Node on the opposing house cusp is detrimental to Aston Villa, who are signified by the 7th house and its ruler Jupiter (at 11 Aquarius 21).
Mercury’s retrograde motion is not in itself harmful to Arsenal’s cause. However, the fact that he is already combust, and travelling in the direction which takes him even closer to the Sun is a serious debility, especially as the Sun rules the 4th house (representing victory for the underdogs). The symbolism here is compelling: The hopes of Mercury (Arsenal) are burned up by the victory of their opponents.
However, the Sun (victory for the underdogs) is placed inside the 10th house (victory for the favourites). This is an equally strong testimony in favour of Arsenal, showing their potential to dominate the game and crush Aston Villa’s hopes of victory.
Jupiter’s placement on the 10th house cusp is a powerful counter-testimony for Aston Villa, showing their ability to influence the outcome of the match is equal to Arsenal’s.
With two testimonies for Arsenal, and two for Aston Villa it is clear that the match will be close. As is often the case, it is up to the Moon to decide the winner. Here, she applies first to a sextile with Jupiter and then a sextile to the Sun; both testimonies for Aston Villa. Her next application is to the 7th house cusp (again for Aston Villa). She has to travel quite some way outside the 5 degree orb usually effective for 90 minute football matches before she makes her only aspect in favour of Arsenal; a sextile to Mercury.
So the Moon decides the match in favour of the underdogs who, if the pundits are correct in their reckoning, are Aston Villa. Arsenal’s chances of turning the match in their favour will increase the longer the match continues, and are at their best in extra time.
When judging contest charts, the placement of a key planet inside a house can show the planet being in the power of that house, and the team it represents. Conversely, a planet on the cusp of a house, signifies that the planet exerts power over that house (or if favourable, bestows strength on that house) and the team it represents. This week’s featured match provides the opportunity to test this theory.
Favourites Chelsea are represented by ascendant ruler Mercury (retrograde at 26 Aquarius 25) and also the 10th house (victory for the favourites).
Its ruler Saturn (at 05 Aquarius 12) which would usually signify victory for the favourites has another role in this chart, as dispositor of the Part of Fortune.
Burnley have the opposing 7th house ruler Jupiter (at 09 Aquarius 56) as their main significator, together with the 4th house (victory for the underdogs) and its ruler the Sun (at 11 Aquarius 49).
Saturn, who as dispositor of the Part of Fortune, represents success in general applies to the cusp of the Chelsea’s 10th house of victory: A clear illustration of victory going to the favourites.
Burnley’s main significator Jupiter is just inside the cusp of the 10th house. Unlike Saturn, whose placement on the cusp of the 10th house shows victory going to favourites Chelsea, Burnley’s planet placed within that house depicts them in the power of their rivals. This testimony is further confirmed by the Sun, (representing Burnley’s hopes of victory), placed within the same house and also under Chelsea’s control.
In the absence of any favourable testimonies for Burnley, this chart indicates an uneven contest very much to the advantage of Chelsea.
There is difference of opinion among the pundits about which team are the favourites in this weekend’s featured match between Preston and Reading. However, they agree that the result will be close. Do the stars concur?
Placed higher in the table and enjoying an impressive run of wins, visitors Reading look the more likely favourites and are awarded the 1st house and its ruler Mercury at 23 Aquarius 17. Jupiter at 08 Aquarius 16, rules the opposing 7th house and describes hosts Preston.
The Moon immediately applying to the cusp of the 1st house is a very fortunate sign for Reading. As John Frawley writes in “Sports Astrology”; “the Moon being in one team’s house is like a big surge of energy towards that team, almost as if the cosmos is cheering for it.”
Saturn (Lord 10: Victory for the favourites) and the Sun (Lord 4: Victory for the underdogs) are both placed on the Midheaven. Significators on the cusp of a house have power and influence over that house. The 10th being the house of victory, this is a sign that both teams will score, and the match may be as close as the pundits predict.
However, Jupiter’s placement inside the 10th house is a testimony against Preston; showing their main significator in the power of the favourites.
This promises to be a closely fought match, with goals for both teams: However, Reading look set to retain the edge and add the result to their recent run of victories.
Sunday’s Premier League match between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur provides the subject of this week’s prediction, which demonstrates the importance of antiscion in contest charts.
As favourites to win, Spurs are awarded the 1st house and (as 1st house ruler the Moon is otherwise occupied as significator of events) the Moon’s dispositor, Jupiter at 06 Aquarius 38. Hosts and opponents Sheffield are described by the ruler of the 7th house, Saturn, at 03 Aquarius 33.
At first glance, there does not appear to be much going on in this chart, with no applying aspects between the Moon and main players Jupiter and Saturn. But when the antiscia (the shadow-placements of each planet as reflected by the 0 degree Capricorn/0 degree Cancer axis) are taken into account, a different picture is revealed: The Moon applies first to trine the antiscion of Jupiter at 23 Scorpio 22 and then moves on to trine the antiscion of Saturn at 26 Scorpio 27, indicating potential goals for both teams.
Unfortunately for Sheffield, the placement of the Part of Fortune just inside the 4th house cusp (victory for the underdogs) must be discounted: As John Frawley writes; “One way of looking at the Part of Fortune is as a way of marking the phase of the Moon in a chart”. If the bodily placement of the Part of Fortune in a house were relevant, similar phases of the Moon would give identical results (for example, at the New Moon, when the Part of Fortune is in the 1st house, the favourites would always win). Experience teaches that this is not the case. However, the Moon’s final aspect, a trine to the Sun (ruler of the 4th house) is a very positive testimony for the underdogs. This is just outside the 5 degrees orb usually considered workable for a 90 minute football match, but could signify an opportunity for Sheffield to take the lead in the latter minutes of the game, particularly if extra time is allowed.
To sum up: Both teams should score, with a chance for Sheffield to surprise the bookies if they seize opportunities presented in the second half.
This week’s fixture features League One teams Gillingham and and Burton Albion, a match which promises no shortage of goals and potential surprises.
As favourites, Gillingham are signified by 1st house ruler Mercury at 01 Aquarius 46 . Their opponents, Burton Albion, are represented by the opposing 7th house and ruler Jupiter at 04 Aquarius 45.
Judging by the Moon’s aspects, there will be no shortage of goals. She first applies to sextile Mercury, and then Saturn (Lord of the 10th house representing victory for the favourites); both testimonies for Gillingham. However, her final aspect (within the 5 degrees usually effective for a 90 minute football match) is a sextile to Jupiter for Burton Albion.
Since the Moon’s final aspect is often decisive, this is a strong argument that Burton Albion will perform much better than the pundits expect. A draw is possible, but a win for the underdogs is not out of the question.
Will this Saturday’s match mark the start of a happy New Year for favourites Arsenal or hosts West Bromwich Albion?
Arsenal are hotly tipped for victory, and the Moon seems to agree; her placement just inside the cusp of the 1st house (representing the favourites) is a powerful testimony which will prove difficult to beat.
The Moon’s applying trine to Mars (Lord of the 4th house; victory for the underdogs) appears to offer to West Bromwich Albion, but as Mars is also dispositor of the Part of Fortune, a role which supercedes any other rulership he may have in the chart, the lunar trine to Mars becomes a minor supporting testimony in favour of Arsenal.
For this match, both the heavens and the pundits are in accord: Victory for favourites Arsenal seems the likely outcome.
Featuring this Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur.
Although Wolves are the home team, Spurs are widely considered the favourites and are therefore awarded the first house and ruler the Sun at 06 Capricorn 30.
Wolves, as the underdogs, are represented by Saturn (ruler of the opposing 7th house) at 01 Aquarius 09.
Mars, strong in his own sign of Aries and placed directly on the cusp of the 10th house (victory to the favourites), is a positive testimony for Spurs who can be expected to put in a strong performance regardless of the final outcome.
However, the Moon (significator of events during the match) inclines to favour Wolves: She applies to oppose the antiscion of Fortuna (12 Sagittarius 42) and then moves on to oppose Venus (ruler of the 4th house; victory for the underdogs). This suggests that the home team will have the opportunity to confound the pundits and steal an unexpected victory. The Moon has just under 6 degrees to travel before her opposition with Venus perfects; a slightly wider orb than usually allowed for a 90 minute football match: Wolves’ best chances will occur in the latter stages of the game, perhaps even in extra time.
Unlike contest charts, which are event charts cast for the time of kickoff, questions about the overall performance of a particular football team are best answered using a different astrological technique, that of horary astrology: A chart is cast for the time the question is received and understood by the astrologer, and once the planet representing the team concerned is found, its strength by sign and placement together with any aspects it makes within the bounds of its current sign provide an indication of how well (or otherwise) that team can be expected to perform for the rest of the season.
This example question was asked by a Manchester United supporter, who wondered where Manchester United would finish in this season’s league, and if they would win any trophies.
Because it is asked by a supporter of Manchester United, the question is essentially; “How will we do? Will we win a trophy?”: For this reason, Manchester United are described by the 1st house (representing the self) and its ruler. Had the question been asked by someone who did not support United, they would instead have been signified by the planet ruling the 7th house (which represents any team other than the one you support).
With Cancer on the cusp of the 1st house, the planet which describes Manchester United in this question is the Moon. Her condition, and any aspects she makes (within the bounds of her current sign) indicate what we can expect from United for the rest of this season. The Moon is at 22 Capricorn 25, the sign of her detriment. This is not a promising sign for United: Despite recent improvements, the weak condition of the Moon indicates that their performance still leaves something to be desired. Any honours or trophies Manchester United might win are symbolised by the 10th house (the house of victory) and its ruler, Jupiter. The Moon applies to conjunct Jupiter, but her way is barred by Pluto, who intercedes and prevents the aspect.
In horary questions, which generally deal with matters of the moment, the slow-moving outer planets usually play less part: They do not rule houses and are only considered to have meaning if in close aspect to a significant planet. Here, Pluto’s close proximity (just over a degree) to Manchester United’s main significator must have meaning: Pluto is not usually a favourable planet in sporting contests, but as the planet of endings and new beginnings he points to the transformation that United must undergo before glory is again within their grasp. Although they are unlikely to win honours this season, the process of rebirth has begun, and United supporters can look forward to a return to form in the future.
In the above chart, the same question was asked by a concerned supporter of Crystal Palace, who asked if their fortunes would improve. Because the question is asked by a supporter of the team, Palace are awarded the 1st house and its ruler Mercury. At the time the question was asked, Palace had taken up residence in the lower half of the Premier League, a position reflected by the poor condition of Mercury, combust (within 8 degrees of the Sun) and in the sign of his detriment at 26 Sagittarius 22. There is no aspect between Mercury and Saturn (Lord of the 10th, house of glory and victory) and the late degree ascending (28 Gemini 39) indicates the die is cast: There is little Palace can do to better their situation this season.
ASTROLOGY BY LOUISE OF ARABIA 