Olympic Star Series 6 - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce & Jamaica

 A focus on rising, descending, past and shooting stars of this XXX Olympiad. 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: born 27^th December 1986, Kingston, Jamaica (time unknown).

Known as the 'Pocket Rocket', Fraser-Pryce is the first Caribbean woman to win 100m Olympic gold medal, gained in the Beijing 2008 games as a virtual unknown. In London four years later in 2012 she didn’t disappoint, winning Gold again in the 100m sprint final and Silver in the 200m and 100m relay. She has laid claim to the title of ‘fastest woman on earth’.

Running hasn’t always been easy for her, back in 2012 two years before the London games, she tested positive for a banned substance. She did not receive a ban, however, as she took the substance as part of treatment for a toothache but she was shaken and upset by the accusation.

Here is her chart:

In this Olympic Series, I have looked at a couple of athletes who have a ‘hard’ aspect between their Sun, sense of purpose and centre, and Neptune, in the form of an opposition (see Phelps & Lochte) and a square (see Chad de Clos). Fraser-Pryce has the conjunction between Sun and Neptune in the Earth sign of Capricorn, the ambitious mountain goat. Phelps and Le Clos are both swimmers. Shelly-Ann, however runs very definitely on terra firma, befitting her Earthly solar Capricorn. 

Neptune, holding hands with the Sun has many benefits; people who have it in their natal chart are blessed with a high degree of imagination, sensitivity and visionary skill as well as bags of artistic and spiritual capacity. On the downside, however, it can bring a cloud of mystery, confusion and fuzziness, which hangs around their achievements and identity. Placed in the sign of Capricorn, it will appear just as they near the pinnacle, just as they are in touching distance of their goal, something strange and unexplainable lurks and then lurches out in what looks like something out of their conscious control - much like a cloud descending and obscuring who they really are and what they are really about. It can all get very misty and murky.  Solar Neptunian's can tap into deep reserves of compassion, empathy and understanding. They can make the simple complex, and the complex simple. In Shelly-Ann’s case this Sun Neptune conjunction receives a helping hand, a sextile from Pluto which should enable her to surface from the depths with the treasure – and on August the 4^th 2012 she did - and that treasure was gold!

One other aspect of note is that on the night of her gold medal race Mars was moving through the zodiac to form an exact conjunction with her Libra South Node. The Lunar Nodes form an axis, where one is the other's exact opposite, so for Shelly-Ann this meant her warrior ‘fight till I finish’ Aries North Node was also being triggered. 
Lunar Nodes are a fascinating and revealing ‘spot’ in all our birth chart's.  Some people link them to past lives, whether literally, as in our early years, or clearly referencing reincarnation and lives lived before the current one. The nodes could elude to genetics and our inheritance or just clearly and directly, our family history. 
The South Node shows where we have been, what talents and skills we have already developed. It can show us what is comfortable and known and arguably what behoves us to release in some measure but not completely. It is certainly where not to sit and rest  overly long. The North Node in contrast is the compass point that leads and guides us through into virgin, unknown and potentially challenging areas. It pushes us into areas we need to discover and then develop, hopefully in ways that help us to go forward in positive directions. 
For Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce it could be argued that on the 4th August 2012, the eve of Jamaica's 50^th Anniversary Independence Day, it was a night when she stepped into her destiny. A night that waited expectantly, and like a beacon, was beckoning and urging her forwards towards the goal. Mars the triggering warrior planet, symbolizing muscle power, drive and competition held hands exactly with her Libran South Node and so doing it rang a  bell. That bell resonated with that part of her which was expected to, and was used to, putting effort in for the sake of others, for instance in the relay team, as well as setting off the starting gun on her Aries North Node which pushed her to be the first past the finishing post 'for herself'. Kingston, Jamaica the place of her birth, the soil of her recent genetics – joined together with the London Olympic Stadium and the vast audience around the globe, to rejoice.

Here is the birth chart for independent Jamaica

There is a sweet astrological tie-in: the Moon, which in Mundane astrology signifies 'the people' is at 20 degrees Libra, which is exactly on Shelley-Ann Nodal axis. Her South Node is 17 degrees Libra a perfect reflection of just how deeply connected Shelly-Ann is with Jamaica's past, present and future.

posted by pippa ponton & jphibbs

Olympic Stars Series 2 - Zara Phillips and Hiroshi Hiketsu

 A focus on rising, descending, past and shooting stars of this XXX Olympiad. 

Looking at the equestrian world, I have picked two contestants: an old man from Japan and a younger member of the British Royal Family, both riding their hearts out for their countries in the London 2012 Olympics.

Hiroshi Hiketsu: Born 28^th March 1941, time unknown, Tokyo Japan.

Yes, look again, he was born in 1941 and competing in the Olympics in London in 2012.  

The world Hiroshi Hiketsu was born into was in the middle of global tumult. Japan had been in a interminable war with China, invasions of South East Asia and attacks on the British Empire. World War II was no Hollywood film for most people at that time but intense real life and for many a real tragedy. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbour in December 1941 it brought the U.S into the Pacific War. The Japanese Foreign Minister also met with Hitler in Berlin in that same year and month of Hiketsu's birth. 
That tiny baby born into a Japan at war, 71 years later, arrives in London atop his horse, 'Whisper' to compete in the global sporting event, the XXX Olympiad. 

Hiketsu made his first appearance at the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964, then made an incredible comeback for the Beijing Games at the age of 67 and now here he is in London, only four years later, not such a gap between appearances then..ha!
He competes on Whisper in the Individual Dressage on 2nd/3rd August in Greenwich Park, London.

Lets have a look at his chart:

Jupiter conjunct Saturn: The planet associated with horses is Jupiter, and the planet associated with maturity is Saturn. It is not a surprise then to see the oldest competitor on a horse has both of these planets conjunct each other, as if the two planets are holding hands. The sign they occupy in this tete-a-tete is Taurus, a sign which is patient, has a slow build up, is determined and steady as a rock. One thing Taurus has is stamina. Once someone with Taurus is on a perch (or horse) it is really difficult to push them off. People who have Jupiter conjunct Saturn are in a constant tussle with themselves and the world over what their limits are, how far they should push themselves, and accepting what others say they can or can not do. “Too old!” the world cries at Hiketsu and he yells back “no, not yet!”

His Sun is in Aries, and he has a hefty dose of this sign in his chart. Aries is a sign associated with drive, pioneering, being the first, and striking out ahead of the pack. This adrenaline filled Sun is being caught right in the pincers of the Uranus Pluto square at the moment, as Uranus is conjunct and Pluto forms a square to it. Uranus is about breakthroughs and Pluto is unlimited power. No wonder his time in the Olympic Sun has come now.
His horse Whisper was diagnosed with tendinitis and nearly put paid to their Olympic appearance but her recovery was another miracle for the team. Hiketsu remarked 'She's a bit old but a good age' Whisper is 15 (60 in human years) so let's recap then a 71 year old man competes for Japan on a 60 year old horse.

He is regarded as the 'hope for old men' but he says that his biggest motivation is he feels that he is improving. Hiketsu probably did not come to the Olympics to get a sympathy vote or to be the 'poster boy' for the aged he came to compete. 

Zara Phillips: born 15^th May 1981, 20.15, London, England.

In contrast to an old man on a horse at the Olympics we also have a young woman on a horse. A Royal young woman at that. Zara Phillips, granddaughter to Her Majesty the Queen of England, gained herself an Olympic Silver medal when she rode with the British team in the 3 day Eventing competition. Born into the British Royal family, her mother is Princess Anne, eldest daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh and she is 14^th in line to the throne. 
On 30^th July 2011 she married English rugby player Mike Tindell.

Zara Phillips & Mike Tindell

Lets have a look at her chart:

Due to the fact that this a timed chart there is so much to work with. I will concentrate on just a few factors that are appropriate to this occasion. Most notably the conjuction between Jupiter and Saturn – yes, exactly the same conjunction as Hiroshi Hiketsu. 
For Zara the conjunction is in the sign of Libra. This sign is about a partnership as well as perfect balance, both well suited for a sport such as horse riding, working in union getting over those jumps. 

This conjunction of horse loving Jupiter and disciplined Saturn in Libra sits in Zara’s 10^th zone of Reputation, Status & Vocation. Liz Greene also attributes this zone to ‘Mother’ and Zara's mother is Anne, The Princess Royal. Princess Anne certainly has high status due to her royal birth, responsibility (Saturn) and reputation. She is also a serious equestrian herself and is in fact also an Olympic equestrian rider. 

Zara Phillips presented with Olympic Silver Medal by her mother Princess Ann

Zara’s MC on the day that she won the Silver medal was being activated by Jupiter - she was riding High Kingdom.
Moon conjunct Pluto: The moon gives us information about our feelings, what makes us feel safe and what we need. It also describes our mother to some degree. Zara's Moon is holding hands with Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, and this is called a Hades Moon. Someone born with a Hades Moon has a very immediate access to the dark spaces that lie within everyones psyches, going to the depths is comforting at some level. They have to ‘go there’ and are well aware that life has a bed of thorns hidden within those roses. Whilst not exactly the princess and the pea, she will be conscious that behind her privileged lifestyle will contain a fair amount of struggle and effort.

One little slip Olympics 2012

During these Olympic games she has Saturn, the grand disciplinarian, conjunct the Pluto part of that Hades Moon. What’s more Pluto ‘rules’ her Ascendant, how she is literally ‘seen’ by the world….and see her we did. When we get a Saturn transiting our Pluto, times can take a dark turn as we battle and struggle, often to survive. We are challenged to a duel, we are ‘called’, questions are asked of us and we have to answer. The pressure is intense, and unavoidable. There is no turning back, turn up, put on your helmet, saddle up, and ride towards the dragon.

posted by pippa ponton & jphibbs

Olympic Stars Series 1 - Michael Phelps & Ryan Lochte

 A focus on rising, descending, past and shooting stars of this XXX Olympiad. 

Let's dive straight into the water to start (well I am Cancerian) and look at a couple of U.S swimming stars:

Michael Fred Phelps II, born 30^th June 1985 (time unknown), Maryland USA. 

Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), swimming provided a postitive outlet for his excess energy. At age 15 he broke the World Record for the 200m Butterfly. He has since gone on to win a succession of accolades including numerous world records. 

On 28^th July 2012, however, in the 400m individual medley in London he uncharacteristically came in 4^th place, the first time he failed to get a medal in any Olympic event in 12 years. 

The race was won by his fellow American team mate Ryan Lochte. Not long after that though, Micheal Phelps won more medals, on 31st July 2012 became the most 'decorated' Olympian ever, gaining Silver in the 200m Butterfly and Gold in the 4x200 freestyle relay. He has won 22 Olympic Medals, including 18 Gold's becoming the all time record holder of Olympic medals.

Here is the untimed Birth Chart for Micheal Phelps:

Without a birth time we will have to concentrate on a few planetary aspects:

Natal Mercury square Pluto: Mercury gives us clues on how we process information, what bits of information we choose to gather and what we do with it. It is how we think, learn and communicate. Michael does this in a Leo way, super confidently, super subjectively and super passionately. He may also have a tendency for arrogance and over dramatization. 

This Leo passionate mind is deepened and darkened by the aspect to Pluto, Lord of the Underworld. Pluto loves the depths and grapples with the soul to take it to the places it would often rather not pass through. Here Pluto takes a hold of Michael’s mind and won't let go, ‘investigate the darkness, look at the hard stuff’ it whispers. People with this aspect work with all the stimulation and information the world offers and form a very dark and disturbing picture at times, they feel safer looking at the face of the deep, it makes it less scary. They probe, they investigate, they ask difficult questions.
Natal Mercury inconjunt Neptune: This Mercury is also being pinched by Neptune, Lord of the Waters. Inconjunct’s are uncomfortable, they don’t feel easy because they require us adjust, twist, shift and then finally let go and spit out the thorn. People with this aspect feel the swirling Neptunian fog on how they process, it confuses and blows smoke rings to throw the mind into thinking more universally, more compassionately than their natural inclination. Mercury in Leo left to its own devises will think about itself, but the Neptune continually urges to consider other's points of view and perspective.

Mars inconjunt Uranus: Mars the energy which drives us forward, motoring our working and competitive energy, is being pinched by Uranus a planet full of surprises, randomness and unpredictability. I suspect his A.D.H.D is a manifestation of this pairing. Inconjuncts, as said above are seldom comfortable, they spike and urge to shift our position. People with this aspect in their psyches will have to learn how to cope with huge surges of energy which may be awkward and supercharged. Life may get easier if they can channel it into a single focus, which they can release out into their own unique contribution.

Natal Sun opposition Neptune: His Sun is in the water sign of Cancer and is staring directly into the face of Neptune, Lord of the Waters. This can be a difficult energy to get to grips with, but it seems that Michael plunges literally into the water, which seems to appease these ‘Gods’. Neptune is linked to drug use both prescribed and recreational, and Michael has been linked to both, one with allegations of performance enhancing which was false, and drink driving and pictured with smoking paraphernalia indicating marijuana usage. 

He is actively involved with ‘Project Believe’ where U.S Olympians volunteer to put themselves up for dope testing. People with this aspect can be sucked into deep and swirling waters which can draw them into a vortex of loss and confusion, but used productively provides a high level of creative or spiritual development.

One the day Michael lost out on the gold medal, his Sun at 8 degrees Cancer was being extremely stressed by the Cardinal square between Uranus and Pluto, a hard and diffult energy for everyone. Since his Sun is opposite Neptune it is fitting that the scene took place in the swimming pool.
              

Ryan Lochte: born 3^rd August 1984 in New York, USA (time unknown). 

 

Known as a trickster with a mischievous nature his father who taught him in swimming classes said “ I would send him to go shower when he was messing around. He spent more time in the showers than he did in the pool”. 

Here is the untimed Birth Chart of Ryan Lochte:

I will concentrate on one key aspect in Ryan’s chart, a T-square between Mercury (the trickster), Uranus (the strange, random and unpredictable) and Chiron (wounds). 

This T-square is composed of Mercury square Uranus: This will not only give a hefty dose of unpredictability to Ryan’s thought processes, he will surprise, delight and annoy to varing levels with the things he says and does. His Mercury in Virgo is constantly being challenged by Uranus in Sagittarius which is difficult to contain and nigh on impossible to tame at the best of times. He is quoted as saying 'I'm a coach's nightmare'.

He is known as the 'Lochtenator', has worn flowery Speedos to training sessions, modelled for Vogue and has a HUGE shoe collection of weird and wonderful designs that he wears to the poolside before he competes. 'I'm always the one to be different'.

'Hermes Heels'

People with this aspect have lightening flashes of brilliance, random thoughts and a directness and abruptness that can jar and jolt. Mercury affects the motor coordination and Uranus is jerky and disruptive energy. Due to a family member suffering with muscular dystrophy Lochte is swimming in the London Olympics to raise money and awareness for a Muscular Dystrophy charity.

On the day Ryan won his gold medal, this Uranus was being opposed by transiting Jupiter the planet of Luck. In predictive astrology the combination of Jupiter and Uranus is considered fortunate, offering relief and release. 

Despite their rivalry Phelps and Lochte are team mates and fly the flag but nothing fuels Olympic events more than a genuine battle maybe this one will have more twists and turn and and more unexpected outcomes.

Let the Games continue.........

posted by pippa ponton & jphibbs