Shooting Stars: Europa League Final Special 2021

Unusual activity in the heavens promises an eventful Europa League final:  But who will emerge the victor. Villarreal or Manchester United? 

26th May 2021 will be distinguished by two events: On the pitch, the Europa League Final and in the skies, a total lunar eclipse. Considering the baleful reputation of eclipses, it is perhaps fortunate that the two events will not coincide: The eclipse occurs from 08:47 am (GMT), well before kickoff time and will not be visible from Gdansk Stadium. However, its effects will continue for some time after the event and cannot be fully ignored.

But on to the match:  At the time of writing, the team favoured by the pundits is still Manchester United, although odds on Villarreal have shortened considerably since the weekend and betting on a draw is also proving increasingly popular. With no clear opinion from the betting community, what can the heavens tell us about who will lift the silverware?  

In the contest chart for the match, the Moon’s placement inside the 1st house (and close enough to the house cusp to be effective), casts her vote for Manchester United.  However, the degree of the recent eclipse (05 Sagittarius 25) is very near to the ascending degree, symbolically eclipsing the fortunes of the favoured team.  The positive testimony of the Moon is further diluted by her proximity to the malefic South Node, a significant debility.   

Jupiter (1st house ruler for favourites Manchester United) and Mercury (7th house ruler of opponents Villarreal) are both strongly placed in signs they traditionally rule:  We might expect both teams to bring their ‘A’ game to what promises to be an eventful final.   

But Mercury is stationing direct, about to turn retrograde.  This is a serious debility in a contest chart, indicating a lack of staying power:  Villarreal should be careful to pace themselves, so that they do not run out of steam before the final whistle blows.  If they can stay in the game, there is promise of good fortune in Mercury’s future retrograde application to Venus (ruler of the 10th house).  The 10th house and its ruler often represent victory for the favourites but aspected by Villarreal’s main significator is more likely to signify victory in general, especially as it takes place in their own house, the 7th.  The Moon’s forthcoming opposition to the Part of Fortune is also a powerful testimony in their favour.   

Both sides can be expected to score.  Villarreal’s prospects look best if they can secure victory within the allotted 90 minutes.  

Should the game venture into extra time, the result seems less certain:  Following her opposition to the Part of Fortune, the Moon applies to oppose Venus (Lord 10, house of victory). In this context, the Moon’s aspect to the ruler of the 10th house represents victory for the favourites, so Manchester United’s best chances of winning will occur in extra time.  This lunar aspect perfects well outside the 5-degree orb usually considered effective for a football match so if extra time is awarded, expect it to be eventful right up until the closing minutes.   

Otherwise, provided Villarreal can maintain momentum, they may yet have the power to cause an upset.   

Chart cast with Astrogold for Mobile

Astrology by LouiseOfArabia

Bibliography

Sports Astrology by John Frawley

Christian Astrology by William Lilly

Shooting Stars: 16th May 2021

The pundits have tipped Spurs to win this Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Wolves, but do the heavens agree? 

Ascendant Lord Mercury represents favourites Spurs.  His placement, strong in his own sign and in the 10th house (victory for the favourites) is fortuitous, although he is slightly too far from the house cusp to signify a definite win (1-2 degrees would be a more desirable orb in a contest chart).   

At 12 Gemini 08, the Moon’s antiscion is exactly conjunct the 10th house.  A bodily conjunction would be stronger, but this is nevertheless very positive for the favourites and a significant boost to their hopes of victory.   

The benefic North Node is within 2 degrees orb of the 10th house cusp; another testimony in favour of  Spurs, just as the malefic South Node conjunct the 4th house cusp (victory for the underdogs) counts against the chances of Wolves.   

Overall, this chart looks more positive for the favourites:  With no significant testimonies to support the visitors, the likeliest outcome is a home win for Spurs.   

Chart cast with Astrogold for Mobile

Astrology by LouiseOfArabia

Bibliography

Sports Astrology by John Frawley

Christian Astrology by William Lilly

Shooting Stars: 8th May 2021

All eyes will be on Etihad Stadium this Saturday, when Manchester City and Chelsea will meet to test their mettle ahead of the Champions League final later this month.

Both teams are in very competitive form, but there must always be a favourite and at the time of writing, the odds favour City. They are signified by the 1st house and its ruler, Venus. Venus is strongly placed in her own sign of Taurus, as befits a planet representing the favourites, but is in the last degree of that sign and will soon lose much of her strength when she enters the sign of Gemini. This is not an entirely favourable testimony for City, as it may signify that they have already reached (and are about to pass) their peak for the season.

Chelsea are represented by the opposing 7th house and its ruler Mars, who is in rather mixed condition, being in the sign of his triplicity and fall.

The Moon applies to the cusp of the 7th house. This might initially be viewed as an advantage for City: In this chart, the Moon rules the 10th house (victory for the favourites), so the Moon’s placement on the cusp of Chelsea’s house could show City bringing their skill and power to bear on their opponents. However, the Moon’s role as significator of events usually supercedes any other role she may have and so her application to the 7th house cusp should give a slight boost to Chelsea.

Mars applies to sextile the Part of Fortune. Again, this is a very minor testimony for Chelsea (John Frawley observes that only the conjunction and opposition of a team’s planet to the Part of Fortune work with any degree of reliability).

To sum up, this is a chart with very little happening in it, and a difficult one from which to pick the winner. However, the game itself should prove more interesting than the chart, with a strong likelihood of goals for both teams.

The imminent loss of strength for Venus (representing City) is the most interesting testimony: It implies a decline in form, although whether this applies to Saturday’s match or a future game (the Champions League final, perhaps?) remains to be seen.

Chart cast with Astrogold for Mobile

Astrology by LouiseOfArabia

Bibliography

Sports Astrology by John Frawley

Christian Astrology by William Lilly

No Room For Racism

Online abuse needs to stop now. That is why this weekend I will be standing in solidarity with football clubs, leagues and organisations to demand change.

There will be no football predictions this weekend, and I will be switching off social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts) from 3pm on Friday 30th April until 11:59pm on Monday 3rd May 2021.

I urge all those who want a more responsible social media, which reflects our desire for a world free of racism, to support the boycott.

Shooting Stars: 17th-18th April 2021 FA Cup Semi-Final Special

At Wembley this Saturday, Manchester City are favourites to win victory over rivals Chelsea and  progress to a place in the FA Cup Final.  

The Moon is void of course.  In a horary chart, this is often interpreted as indicating that the matter enquired about will not come to fruition.  However, in a contest chart there must be a result and in an FA Cup Semi Final a draw is not an option.  What, then, can we infer from the void of course Moon?  A likely interpretation is that the strongest team going into the match will remain the team in the strongest position when the final whistle blows:  In short, the favourites will win.   

The first aspect the Moon makes when she enters the next sign (her own sign of Cancer) is Venus, ruler of the 1st house.  With the Moon about to enter the sign where she is strongest, and the aspect well within the orb of moiety, this counts as another testimony for the favourites.   

Provided the pundits have correctly identified the strongest team, favourites Manchester City are headed to the Final. 

On to Sunday, when Leicester City and Southampton do battle to win a place in the final opposite the winners of Saturday’s semi-final. This chart is clearer to interpret, as we do not have to deal with a void of course Moon.  The Moon, strong in her own sign of Cancer, applies to conjunct the cusp of the 10th house.  This powerful testimony of victory for the favourites, is further underlined by the sextile between the Part of Fortune and its dispositor.   

The pundits favour Leicester City to win.  If the odds are correct, they should be joining Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at Wembley on 15th May.   

Charts calculated with AstroGold for Mobile

Astrology by LouiseOfArabia

Bibliography

Sports Astrology by John Frawley

Christian Astrology by William Lilly

Shooting Stars 11th April 2021

Arsenal are favourites to win against hosts Sheffield Utd this Sunday, but which team do the heavens support?

As the team most favoured to win, Arsenal are awarded the 1st house and its ruler Venus. At 26 Aries 15, Venus is in the sign of her detriment and is also combust (placed within 8 degrees of the Sun). In charts of this kind, debility by sign is not usually an obstacle to victory but combustion presents a more serious problem. In Arsenal’s favour, the Part of Fortune is placed near to the angle of the Ascendant, although at just under 4 degrees distant it is probably too far away to lend significant help.

Sheffield, their hosts and rivals, are described by the opposing 7th house and its ruler Mars (at 22 Gemini 53).

The Moon, who describes the progress of events throughout the match, applies first to the Sun (who, apart from his role in the combustion of Venus, is not a significant player in this chart). She next sextiles Mars, a positive testimony for Sheffield which holds promise of at least one goal for the underdogs.

The Moon later aspects Venus (for Arsenal), but has over 8 degrees to travel before she perfects their conjunction. For a 90 minute football match, the effective orb for the Moon’s aspects is usually around 5 degrees. Any aspect made beyond that orb usually denotes an opportunity which occurs in extra time.

Expect goals for both teams, and for Sheffield to perform better than the pundits predict. The best chances for favourites Arsenal are likely to appear in the latter stages of the game, with a possible goal in extra time.

Chart cast with Astrogold for Mobile

Astrology by LouiseOfArabia

Bibliography

Sports Astrology by John Frawley

Christian Astrology by William Lilly

Shooting Stars 4th April 2021

In the Premiership League Table, the gulf dividing the two teams at St James’ Park this weekend is significant, with Tottenham in 6th place and Newcastle in 17th.  The odds for both teams reflect this disparity, with Spurs as hot favourites. But do the heavens have a surprise in store? 

The Sun, ruler of the 1st house, represents favourites Spurs. Their hosts Newcastle are awarded the opposing 7th house and its ruler Saturn.  

Saturn, at 11 Aquarius 38 is placed on the cusp of the 7th.  In his own sign and house, Saturn lends a boost of strength to the team he signifies in the chart; Newcastle. 

The Sun, representing Spurs, is in the sign of his exaltation and applies to conjunct the Midheaven but is too far away from this angle for this to be significant.  Furthermore, Venus intercedes:  Placed closer to the Midheaven (which represents victory and success, particularly for the favourites) and ruling the 4th house (victory for the underdogs), Venus indicates that this match may not prove as easy a win for Spurs as the bookies suppose. 

The Moon applies to square Venus, a testimony for Newcastle.  The only other aspect of significance is also in their favour:  A sextile from the Moon to the antiscion of Saturn at 18 Scorpio 22. 

Expect at least one goal for Newcastle and a significantly better performance from the Magpies than the odds may suggest. 

Chart cast with Astrogold for Mobile

Astrology by LouiseOfArabia

Bibliography

Sports Astrology by John Frawley

Christian Astrology by William Lilly

Shooting Stars 20th March 2021

Manchester City are odds-on favourites to win at Goodison Park this Saturday, but does this week’s FA Cup Quarter-Final fixture have a surprise in store?  

Mercury, ruler of the first house describes the favourites, Manchester City.  At 06 Pisces 40, Mercury is in the sign of his fall, but essential dignity seems less relevant in contest charts:  Accidental dignity; the placement of planets and the aspects to them, often proves more significant.  

Their hosts are signified by the opposing 7th house and its ruler, Jupiter.  At 20 Aquarius 56, Jupiter will be the first planet to be aspected by the Moon, (by trine) signifying at least one goal for Everton.  

The Moon only aspects Mercury (Man City’s significator) by antiscion (at 23 Libra 20).  Had this been an aspect to Mercury himself rather than his antiscion it would likely mean a win for Chelsea, this being the last aspect the Moon makes over the 5-degree orb usually considered effective for a 90-minute football match. An aspect by antiscion is less conclusive, but still holds the promise of goals for Manchester City.   

A stronger indication for Manchester City is the placement of the Moon in the 10th house (the house of victory, and more specifically, victory for the favourites).  In combination with the Moon’s aspect to Mercury’s antiscion, this could be enough to win them the match.  However, the Moon’s trine to Jupiter (for Everton) is also significant:  Both sides look set to score, and a draw cannot be ruled out.  Everton in particular look set to surprise the pundits with a more convincing performance than expected.   

Chart cast with Astrogold for Mobile

Astrology by LouiseOfArabia

Bibliography

Sports Astrology by John Frawley

Christian Astrology by William Lilly