July 21, 2003

Kobe Bryant Takes a Fall

Last week basketball star Kobe Bryant was formally charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year old woman while he was staying at an exclusive Colorado spa. Only one month earlier Bryant had signed a five-year, $45 million promotional contract with Nike, but now with this felony charge he stands to lose not only this deal, but the estimated $150 million he would have made over the duration of his NBA career.

Kobe Bryant was born with his Sun in conscientious Virgo (August 23, 1978; Philadelphia; time unknown), a placement made all the more serious and focused with its close conjunction to Saturn. His Moon is exalted in steady, faithful Taurus and forms a favorable trine to his Sun-Saturn. Factor in another trine from Ceres in Capricorn, and these planets complete an enriching, protective Grand Trine in earth signs.

Bryant's intense drive to be the best can be seen in his Mars, the planet naturally associated with competitive athleticism. His Mars is conjunct Venus and Pluto in diplomatic, sociable Libra, giving him an abundance of physical strength, charm, and grace. Unfortunately, they also tend toward sexual intrigues, though his strong Saturn and loyal Moon have generally reigned in this impulse.

Joining the NBA right out of high school, Bryant was determined to be a role model and excel at his profession, which by all accounts he had done exceptionally well. That is, until June 30 when a transiting Mars-Uranus conjunction opposed his Sun-Saturn, cracking open his carefully structured lifestyle. Transiting Uranus will be in this degree zone for over a year, making it unlikely he will be able to rebuild his reputation any time soon.

Presidential Astrology Part 3: The Contenders

As transiting Mars slows down to its retrograde station on July 29, President Bush has come under enormous fire from his critics. As described in NewsScope July 7, Mars here brings out his enemies. Last week as this aspect was exact, Bush was on the defensive, answering questions about record budget deficits, flimsy intelligence data, and a growing insurgency in Iraq.

Any and all of these new political fronts could undermine Bush's re-election campaign, especially since transiting Saturn and Chiron land on his Sun in October. Saturn and Chiron together can crack his psychological and political armor, potentially seriously damaging his credibility. Still, with his progressed Venus and Jupiter forming a conjunction at 25 Libra, he remains the likely winner in 2004.

Among the top-tier Democratic hopefuls, both Joseph Lieberman (February 24, 1942; 7:00 am; Stamford, CT) and Richard Gephardt (January 31, 1941; 5:00 pm; St. Louis, MO) lost ground last week, but since neither of them have any natal or progressed planets connecting to the U.S. Moon at 25 Aquarius, they don't have much of a chance anyway.

Dennis Kucinich (October 8, 1946; 5:53 pm; Cleveland, OH) doesn't have any natal or progressed planets at 25 degrees either, so he's out. Among the declared candidates, only Bob Graham, John Edwards, and Howard Dean have the critical connection to the U.S. Moon. Among the undeclared candidates, Hillary Clinton and Wesley Clark also have the link. Stay tuned for more discussion on these potential Presidents.

Johnny Depp Sashays to the Top

The surprise summer hit "Pirates of the Caribbean" sailed past several ho-hum sequels at the box office last week, due largely to Johnny Depp's eccentric characterization of Captain Jack Sparrow. Fueled by good reviews and strong word-of-mouth, "Pirates" skillfully treads between suspense and slapstick, led by Depp's cheerful wit and sly clumsiness.

Johnny Depp was born an adroit Gemini (June 9, 1963; Owensboro, KY; time unknown), a Sun sign often associated with the hands and feet. Depp started out his artistic career as a guitar player, and later emphasized his hands in the movie "Edward Scissorhands". In "Pirates" his clever use of his hands and wrists, along with his weird way of walking (which he said he modeled after Rolling Stone Keith Richards and the cartoon skunk Pepe le Pew) also reflect his Gemini side.

Depp has a Mercury-Venus conjunction in Taurus, giving him style, grace, a love of words and beauty. This Mercury-Venus pair is squared by Saturn, challenging him to develop these talents professionally. His love of beauty brought him to Vanessa Paradis (December 22, 1972), a French actress and model with whom he spends most of his time when he's not under a filming obligation.

Transiting Pluto is now opposing Depp's Sun, bringing him an immense amount of public pressure and many adoring fans. He treasures his privacy in southern France, but this transit is changing his life (along with a highly favorable progressed Mars-Juno-Ceres triple conjunction trine to natal Venus). Watch over the next few months for news on the sequel, and whether his relationship with Paradis can withstand his soaring celebrity status.