Dwight Howard, the Stars Shine for Thee
Hello, hello all you basketball and astrology fans! You may be wondering, why would I want to read an astrological article about Dwight Howard?
Well, if you're a basketball fan, chances are you are familiar with the stats, the story lines, and the version of Dwight Howard presented by the media. What you might not be aware of, however, is how Dwight's astrological chart can be used to bring awareness to certain factors of Dwight's personality, why he may act or speak a certain way at various times in his life, and what some of the hidden contributing factors to Dwight's on and off court life may be.
If you're an astrology fan, using a celebrity can be a great way to help us understand how different parts of the natal chart actually manifest for someone in real life.
In any case, my hope is that this article will help humanize Howard a bit, and perhaps help teach a little bit of astrology along the way.
Dwight's Personality
Larger than life, fun-loving, goofy, Dwight has been called all of these things. What really leaps out to me first in Dwight's chart is his four planets (Sun, Mercury, Saturn, and Uranus) in the freedom loving, adventuresome sign of Sagittarius. Well, what's important to a Sagittarius? Symbolized by the mythical centaur, Sagitarrius loves to feel that it is a part of something larger than itself. Ruled by the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, Sag is interested in all things vast and wide (hello, Aspen retreat). Long distance travel, connection to a higher power or order, pursuit of truth, freedom, adventure, and simple good natured frivolity are all key components of Sagittarius.
So how does this manifest with Howard? Well, there's the larger than life nickname/persona of “Superman” for one. Dwight's religious upbringing is a factor here as well. When Dwight came into the league he said he wanted to "raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world". Lofty and spiritually based ambitions to be sure.
Every sign of the zodiac has something to teach us. Some of Sagittarius' biggest contributions (and occasionally pitfalls) come in the form of thinking big, of seeing life as an adventure, of being playful and free. Yet, Sagittarius is also a sign that cares deeply about the welfare of its fellow human beings, though it may have difficulty bringing itself back down to earth at times. Sagittarius wants to lift the spirits and minds of people all around the world. To remind us that there is a bigger picture, that we are all connected. Dwight has certainly always seemed to have a bigger picture in mind, to want to achieve great things for the betterment of the world, as well as the expansion of his own persona.
Case in point, Dwight is also well known for his charitable work, including the establishment of the D12 foundation, whose four pillars are: (1) to promote education; (2) to sow seeds of generosity; (3) to champion leadership and inspire dreams; and (4) to inspire hope and recovery in unexpected times. Sagittarius is a sign that loves to learn, and loves to teach. Education would seem a natural choice. Like all fire signs, Sag is also a very generous sign, as can be seen in Dwight's work rebuilding communities, promoting reading, and helping out at St. Jude's, to name a few. In November 2009, he was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work.
A further clue into why Dwight feels a calling for philanthropic endeavors is his Jupiter in Aquarius. Stephen Arroyo writes that those with Jupiter in Aquarius “seek to grow and improve oneself through humanitarian ideals”. Moore and Douglas state “These individuals have inventive minds which are well adapted to promoting comprehensive programs of a philanthropic nature...often becomes involved in the handling and distribution of money in the interest of social, scientific, or charitable enterprises”.
The Funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgBl-_QvoC0
Although often criticized for his jovial attitude and behavior, in my opinion this is one of Dwight's most endearing gifts. After all, basketball is a game, not the life or death arena where one's value is established in life that many make it out to be. By committing himself not just to on the court performance and winning, but also to fun and good times, Dwight helps remind us all that one can be successful, as well as playful and child-like in our exuberance and attitude as well. Just because one appears to be having fun, doesn't mean they aren't also committed to excellence and hard work as the situation merits. After all, you don't get to be named Defensive Player of the Year three times for nothing. Nor do you develop the kind of strength and physique necessary to protect the rim and score inside against the giants that are many NBA centers simply by goofing off.
Some of this hard work might be coming from Dwight's planets in Scorpio (Mercury, Pluto, and possibly the moon depending on the birth time). Scorpio is a sign that really digs into what it is passionate about. It's a sign that can be obsessed about it's interests, and has no problem dedicating itself to something it wants.
I wonder if all of Dwight's outwardly projecting Sagittarian exuberance and silliness belies an internal state (represented by the Moon) that is easily hurt and feels rather deeply (both Scorpio traits).
Combine Sagittarius with Scorpio and you have someone who wants to have fun, live large, improve their life and the lives of those around them, yet also possesses a sensitive, passionate, disciplined, focused side to them. Thus, D12 can have his fun and still be what most consider the most dominant big man in the NBA since entering the league.
Hoops and Hemispheres
A casual glance at Dwight's chart will reveal that all of his planets are in the top section, or southern hemisphere. What does this mean? Generally people with planets mostly in the southern hemisphere find themselves in the public eye in some sense. Obviously Dwight is one of those people who has made a profound impact on the public. In fact, much of his time is spent under the scrutiny of the public eye, or involved in the community.
Furthermore, all of these planets except for one (Jupiter) are on the right side of the chart, or western hemisphere. This denotes that the individual will find that they tend to accomplish things with the help of others more so than on their own. It also corresponds with someone who is shaped by their outer circumstances, as revealed by Dwight's seeming sensitivity to public opinion and those around him.
Someone who accomplishes a great deal with others in the public sphere via recognition, awards, external achievements, etc. describes a basketball player (team sport after all) of Dwight's notoriety pretty well.
Serious Love, Playful Love
One of the many reasons I love astrology is that it helps us to be aware of the sometimes hidden psychological factors behind a person's behavior. Lets spend a moment now looking at how Dwight's love and relationships are symbolized by the placement of Venus, goddess of love, in his chart.
Venus was found in the sign of Sagittarius at the moment D12 was born. As mentioned earlier, Sagittarius is a sign that craves adventure, freedom, exploration, and playfulness. Those with Venus in Sagittarius are often prone to view relationships more as friendships than serious bonds that are meant to last for all eternity. Sagittarius generally likes its love affairs to be filled with zest, and can't stand the idea of being caged in.
This may shed some light on the motivations behind the various romances Dwight has been known for. While signs such as Taurus, Capricorn, or Cancer may want to really latch on and find security within a relationship, Sagittarius sees love as more of an exciting adventure to be explored. Factor in a little bit of electric risk taking from Uranus (bringing sometimes erratic behavior and unpredictability) conjunct Dwight's Sun, and Jupiter in Aquarius (known for taking risks) and you have an individual known more for vibrancy, youth, and excitement than reliability or steadfastness.
Let's look a little further, at how Saturn, the planet of restrictions, authority, delays, fear, and structure plays a part in how Venus manifests for Dwight. Saturn is conjunct Venus for Superman, which can mean that affection, the giving and receiving of love in all its forms, takes on greater significance than it otherwise would. This could be in part due to a lack of perceived affection from the father (represented by Saturn) in childhood.
Saturn tends to expect the worst, fear monger that it often is, so those with Venus in Saturn may ultimately be afraid of rejection, and really take it to heart when others don't seem to love them. At times, Saturn may function like a great blindspot to love, causing one to believe that others don't love and accept them for who they are. Combine this with Mars in Libra, which wants to feel a great sense of harmony and is the ultimate people pleaser, and perhaps this is why Kobe said Dwight “worries too much” about media and fan criticism. Or why Dwight is upset that his number hasn't been retired in Orlando.
Yet what we all must learn eventually, especially those with Libra or strong Venus placements, and maybe even more so those whose lives are magnified and dissected to the extent that famous athlete's lives are, is to love ourselves first.
Leaving Los Lakers
It is interesting to note that Dwight chose to leave the Los Angeles Lakers for the comparatively smaller pond of the Houston Rockets. Why, if one is attempting to achieve greatness and display a larger than life personality, would one leave one of the biggest and most storied franchises in sports history?
While I am sure there are many contributing factors, quite a few of which we cannot know without further revelations from the man himself, perhaps astrology can clue us in a bit here.
One factor could be a bit of a rebellious, 'do it my own way' streak in Dwight. This is symbolized by Uranus, the planet of freedom, rebelliousness, and radical thinking, conjunct Dwight's Sun, which represents one's ego, essence, and outward personality.
Those with Uranus conjunct Sun often find themselves pitted against authority, often because they had their sense of self squashed or controlled a bit by an authoritarian figure in childhood (perhaps Dwight's father the State Trooper?), or had difficulty feeling that they truly belonged anywhere. Uranus is the ultimate non-conformist and outsider. However, people with this placement often feel a need to connect with a group that they can call their own, perhaps due to feeling like an outsider in some sense in their youth. We see this in Dwight's labeling of his teammates in Houston as a “family”. Reportedly one of the contributing factors when Dwight decided to join Houston was just such a sense of connectedness and belonging.
(http://articles.latimes.com/2013/nov/03/sports/la-sp-bolch-dwight-howard-20131104)
The revolutionary energy of Uranus also is depicted in Dwight's Jupiter in the radical sign of Aquarius. Those with strong Aquarian and Jupiterian energy tend to focus on large, future oriented goals that contain a degree of risk. Heading for a young and mostly untested team with the hopes of being a central figure in the march towards a championship certainly qualifies.
Moore and Douglas state that those with this Jupiter placement possess a “broadened viewpoint [that] produces new patterns of perception.” It seems to me that part of Dwight's purpose has been to add new energy into old structures by showing us that the tried and true ways are not necessarily the path for all. By leaving a well established group for one of the more exciting up-and-coming teams, and by doing it with a flair for fun and fantasy, Dwight has shaken things up a bit in the ol' NBA.
Interestingly, Dwight's departure for the Lakers and his lone season in LA came during a time when he was breaking away from some of his own established patterns and foundations. Transiting Neptune squared Dwight's natal Saturn throughout much of 2012 and into early 2013. During this transit, one's fears, cautions, and old attitudes instilled in childhood (represented by Saturn) tend to be dissolved by watery Neptune. Perhaps Dwight was feeling trapped by his situation in Orlando and needed to play out some form of rebellion by going to the Lakers in order to heal old wounds from his youth. Very often these sorts of unconscious motivating factors are what cause us to make the decisions we make, despite our lack of awareness of the underlying triggers and patterns. Who knows, maybe Kobe played out the role of Dwight's superego or father in this case? We'd need to know more about Dwight's upbringing and psyche to really know.
Personally, I think it's great that Dwight went with what he felt was right for him, regardless of tradition, money (albeit which I am sure he has plenty of), or what others thought he should do. Will he win a championship in Houston? Quite possibly not, but really what is the point of doing something you don't believe in or feel right about just to satisfy your own ego or conform to the established paradigms of the culture? The radical rebel of Uranus/Sun is here to teach us that it is OK to be different, to find the joy in one's own personal mythology.
In Houston, it seems as though Dwight will be allowed to have more fun in a supportive environment where he isn't criticized as frequently for any number of real or perceived shortcomings by a Neptunian media that loves to amp up the drama whenever possible. Someone with this much Jupiterian and Uranian energy running around inside them (Dwight's Jupiter (ruler of Sagittarius) is also in Aquarius, the sign ruled by Uranus, a nice little double whammy as Stephen Arroyo would call it there, given the Uranus/Sun in Sag conjunction) I would imagine really can't bear to deal with a life of drudgery, confinement, or living in the shadow of another teammate known for their intense work ethic.
Sometimes the Stars Don't Align – Dwight and Kobe
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-kobe-raged-over-dwight-howards-clownish-behavior/2013/07/07/
Which brings us to Kobe Bryant. One can guess how someone as in your face, competitive, and serious about basketball as Kobe might rub someone like Dwight the wrong way. Not only was Dwight criticized for smiling and having fun (something that is absolutely vital for someone like Dwight with four planets in Sagittarius), but I can only guess how Dwight must have felt living under the authority and austere style of Kobe's Lakers.
While the scope of this article is not enough to go into all the details of Bryant's chart here, we can look at a few key factors and how they may have manifested in the relationship with Dwight. Kobe is a Virgo Sun, conjunct Saturn in Virgo. Virgo is ordinarily one of the hardest working signs in the zodiac, but when combined with the discipline, ambition, and desire for tangible results and mastery of Saturn, it's ridiculous. Saturn/Sun in Virgo is about work, work, work. Dedication to craft. Honing one's skills in a very serious (Saturn) way.
Kobe also has Mars, planet of battles, motivation, and fiery energy conjunct Pluto, planet of power, life and death struggles, and crisis situations. Muhammad Ali and LeBron James have Mars/Pluto aspects in their charts as well, although LeBron has the trine which is no where near as intense as the conjunction that Kobe has. To these folks, competition can be a life or death struggle.
So you can imagine how someone who values hard work and winning above mere trifles like fun and frivolity might clash with someone who needs to express themselves in childlike, playful ways.
“Telling a Sun/Uranus type what to do, or what is best will seldom have the desired result, even if they have the same idea themselves.” - Sue Tompkins, Aspects in Astrology
While it may have been challenging at times for these two to get along, the issue likely was further compounded by Kobe reportedly telling Howard how things were going to be with “his team”. As you can see from the above quote, though with Uranus conjunct Sun aspects typically can't bare to be told what to do, and I would imagine even more so on a stage as large as playing for the Lakers during what was hailed as a championship run, at the outset anyway.
Some may ask, well who was right? Dwight or Kobe? Perhaps there are no winners and losers, simply two people with very different personalities and outlooks on life who were thrust together without the awareness, tools, and support necessary to establish a harmonious working relationship.
What have we learned – The Aftermath
Still, that doesn't mean nothing was gained from Dwight's time with the Lakers. As with all human interactions, there is the opportunity for learning and growth. Perhaps Dwight now has more clarity on what he needs to really be happy. Certainly he seems to have gone for what he truly wants, something that is important to all of us, but is emphasized by Dwight's north node in Taurus, which suggests that one becomes less concerned with the hidden motivations of others and learns to find value in themselves and what they believe in.
Another suggested life lesson for Taurus north node is to learn to acknowledge their feelings to others. Jan Spiller puts it this way in Astrology for the Soul: “No more “sins of omission”...these folks must start communicating their discomfort or hurt with what another has said or done.” It would seem this is exactly what Dwight did when he told Steve Nash and Kobe how he felt no one had supported him when he was injured. In the often insensitive world of sports, Dwight's actions may be labelled as those of a “crybaby” or “whiner”, but for someone with Taurus north node, seems he was right on track.
Meanwhile, what have the rest of us learned? Have the Lakers learned they can't simply rely on the mystique surrounding their name and history to earn them the respect of coveted free agents? Have we, as viewers, learned that there is much, much more to the personalities that we paint as hero or villain, friend or foe? Have we learned that perhaps life is more about the journey, our experiences, what we share and learn than anything else?
Hopefully this little journey into the insides of D12 via the wide world of astrology has given you a taste of what lies below the surface, and provided a little bit of magic and intrigue to light your day. If so, my work here is done.
Brian Honeycutt - November 19th, 2013
Angelic Astrology Magic
angelicastrologymagic.com
Hello, hello all you basketball and astrology fans! You may be wondering, why would I want to read an astrological article about Dwight Howard?
Well, if you're a basketball fan, chances are you are familiar with the stats, the story lines, and the version of Dwight Howard presented by the media. What you might not be aware of, however, is how Dwight's astrological chart can be used to bring awareness to certain factors of Dwight's personality, why he may act or speak a certain way at various times in his life, and what some of the hidden contributing factors to Dwight's on and off court life may be.
If you're an astrology fan, using a celebrity can be a great way to help us understand how different parts of the natal chart actually manifest for someone in real life.
In any case, my hope is that this article will help humanize Howard a bit, and perhaps help teach a little bit of astrology along the way.
Dwight's Personality
Larger than life, fun-loving, goofy, Dwight has been called all of these things. What really leaps out to me first in Dwight's chart is his four planets (Sun, Mercury, Saturn, and Uranus) in the freedom loving, adventuresome sign of Sagittarius. Well, what's important to a Sagittarius? Symbolized by the mythical centaur, Sagitarrius loves to feel that it is a part of something larger than itself. Ruled by the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, Sag is interested in all things vast and wide (hello, Aspen retreat). Long distance travel, connection to a higher power or order, pursuit of truth, freedom, adventure, and simple good natured frivolity are all key components of Sagittarius.
So how does this manifest with Howard? Well, there's the larger than life nickname/persona of “Superman” for one. Dwight's religious upbringing is a factor here as well. When Dwight came into the league he said he wanted to "raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world". Lofty and spiritually based ambitions to be sure.
Every sign of the zodiac has something to teach us. Some of Sagittarius' biggest contributions (and occasionally pitfalls) come in the form of thinking big, of seeing life as an adventure, of being playful and free. Yet, Sagittarius is also a sign that cares deeply about the welfare of its fellow human beings, though it may have difficulty bringing itself back down to earth at times. Sagittarius wants to lift the spirits and minds of people all around the world. To remind us that there is a bigger picture, that we are all connected. Dwight has certainly always seemed to have a bigger picture in mind, to want to achieve great things for the betterment of the world, as well as the expansion of his own persona.
Case in point, Dwight is also well known for his charitable work, including the establishment of the D12 foundation, whose four pillars are: (1) to promote education; (2) to sow seeds of generosity; (3) to champion leadership and inspire dreams; and (4) to inspire hope and recovery in unexpected times. Sagittarius is a sign that loves to learn, and loves to teach. Education would seem a natural choice. Like all fire signs, Sag is also a very generous sign, as can be seen in Dwight's work rebuilding communities, promoting reading, and helping out at St. Jude's, to name a few. In November 2009, he was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work.
A further clue into why Dwight feels a calling for philanthropic endeavors is his Jupiter in Aquarius. Stephen Arroyo writes that those with Jupiter in Aquarius “seek to grow and improve oneself through humanitarian ideals”. Moore and Douglas state “These individuals have inventive minds which are well adapted to promoting comprehensive programs of a philanthropic nature...often becomes involved in the handling and distribution of money in the interest of social, scientific, or charitable enterprises”.
The Funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgBl-_QvoC0
Although often criticized for his jovial attitude and behavior, in my opinion this is one of Dwight's most endearing gifts. After all, basketball is a game, not the life or death arena where one's value is established in life that many make it out to be. By committing himself not just to on the court performance and winning, but also to fun and good times, Dwight helps remind us all that one can be successful, as well as playful and child-like in our exuberance and attitude as well. Just because one appears to be having fun, doesn't mean they aren't also committed to excellence and hard work as the situation merits. After all, you don't get to be named Defensive Player of the Year three times for nothing. Nor do you develop the kind of strength and physique necessary to protect the rim and score inside against the giants that are many NBA centers simply by goofing off.
Some of this hard work might be coming from Dwight's planets in Scorpio (Mercury, Pluto, and possibly the moon depending on the birth time). Scorpio is a sign that really digs into what it is passionate about. It's a sign that can be obsessed about it's interests, and has no problem dedicating itself to something it wants.
I wonder if all of Dwight's outwardly projecting Sagittarian exuberance and silliness belies an internal state (represented by the Moon) that is easily hurt and feels rather deeply (both Scorpio traits).
Combine Sagittarius with Scorpio and you have someone who wants to have fun, live large, improve their life and the lives of those around them, yet also possesses a sensitive, passionate, disciplined, focused side to them. Thus, D12 can have his fun and still be what most consider the most dominant big man in the NBA since entering the league.
Hoops and Hemispheres
A casual glance at Dwight's chart will reveal that all of his planets are in the top section, or southern hemisphere. What does this mean? Generally people with planets mostly in the southern hemisphere find themselves in the public eye in some sense. Obviously Dwight is one of those people who has made a profound impact on the public. In fact, much of his time is spent under the scrutiny of the public eye, or involved in the community.
Furthermore, all of these planets except for one (Jupiter) are on the right side of the chart, or western hemisphere. This denotes that the individual will find that they tend to accomplish things with the help of others more so than on their own. It also corresponds with someone who is shaped by their outer circumstances, as revealed by Dwight's seeming sensitivity to public opinion and those around him.
Someone who accomplishes a great deal with others in the public sphere via recognition, awards, external achievements, etc. describes a basketball player (team sport after all) of Dwight's notoriety pretty well.
Serious Love, Playful Love
One of the many reasons I love astrology is that it helps us to be aware of the sometimes hidden psychological factors behind a person's behavior. Lets spend a moment now looking at how Dwight's love and relationships are symbolized by the placement of Venus, goddess of love, in his chart.
Venus was found in the sign of Sagittarius at the moment D12 was born. As mentioned earlier, Sagittarius is a sign that craves adventure, freedom, exploration, and playfulness. Those with Venus in Sagittarius are often prone to view relationships more as friendships than serious bonds that are meant to last for all eternity. Sagittarius generally likes its love affairs to be filled with zest, and can't stand the idea of being caged in.
This may shed some light on the motivations behind the various romances Dwight has been known for. While signs such as Taurus, Capricorn, or Cancer may want to really latch on and find security within a relationship, Sagittarius sees love as more of an exciting adventure to be explored. Factor in a little bit of electric risk taking from Uranus (bringing sometimes erratic behavior and unpredictability) conjunct Dwight's Sun, and Jupiter in Aquarius (known for taking risks) and you have an individual known more for vibrancy, youth, and excitement than reliability or steadfastness.
Let's look a little further, at how Saturn, the planet of restrictions, authority, delays, fear, and structure plays a part in how Venus manifests for Dwight. Saturn is conjunct Venus for Superman, which can mean that affection, the giving and receiving of love in all its forms, takes on greater significance than it otherwise would. This could be in part due to a lack of perceived affection from the father (represented by Saturn) in childhood.
Saturn tends to expect the worst, fear monger that it often is, so those with Venus in Saturn may ultimately be afraid of rejection, and really take it to heart when others don't seem to love them. At times, Saturn may function like a great blindspot to love, causing one to believe that others don't love and accept them for who they are. Combine this with Mars in Libra, which wants to feel a great sense of harmony and is the ultimate people pleaser, and perhaps this is why Kobe said Dwight “worries too much” about media and fan criticism. Or why Dwight is upset that his number hasn't been retired in Orlando.
Yet what we all must learn eventually, especially those with Libra or strong Venus placements, and maybe even more so those whose lives are magnified and dissected to the extent that famous athlete's lives are, is to love ourselves first.
Leaving Los Lakers
It is interesting to note that Dwight chose to leave the Los Angeles Lakers for the comparatively smaller pond of the Houston Rockets. Why, if one is attempting to achieve greatness and display a larger than life personality, would one leave one of the biggest and most storied franchises in sports history?
While I am sure there are many contributing factors, quite a few of which we cannot know without further revelations from the man himself, perhaps astrology can clue us in a bit here.
One factor could be a bit of a rebellious, 'do it my own way' streak in Dwight. This is symbolized by Uranus, the planet of freedom, rebelliousness, and radical thinking, conjunct Dwight's Sun, which represents one's ego, essence, and outward personality.
Those with Uranus conjunct Sun often find themselves pitted against authority, often because they had their sense of self squashed or controlled a bit by an authoritarian figure in childhood (perhaps Dwight's father the State Trooper?), or had difficulty feeling that they truly belonged anywhere. Uranus is the ultimate non-conformist and outsider. However, people with this placement often feel a need to connect with a group that they can call their own, perhaps due to feeling like an outsider in some sense in their youth. We see this in Dwight's labeling of his teammates in Houston as a “family”. Reportedly one of the contributing factors when Dwight decided to join Houston was just such a sense of connectedness and belonging.
(http://articles.latimes.com/2013/nov/03/sports/la-sp-bolch-dwight-howard-20131104)
The revolutionary energy of Uranus also is depicted in Dwight's Jupiter in the radical sign of Aquarius. Those with strong Aquarian and Jupiterian energy tend to focus on large, future oriented goals that contain a degree of risk. Heading for a young and mostly untested team with the hopes of being a central figure in the march towards a championship certainly qualifies.
Moore and Douglas state that those with this Jupiter placement possess a “broadened viewpoint [that] produces new patterns of perception.” It seems to me that part of Dwight's purpose has been to add new energy into old structures by showing us that the tried and true ways are not necessarily the path for all. By leaving a well established group for one of the more exciting up-and-coming teams, and by doing it with a flair for fun and fantasy, Dwight has shaken things up a bit in the ol' NBA.
Interestingly, Dwight's departure for the Lakers and his lone season in LA came during a time when he was breaking away from some of his own established patterns and foundations. Transiting Neptune squared Dwight's natal Saturn throughout much of 2012 and into early 2013. During this transit, one's fears, cautions, and old attitudes instilled in childhood (represented by Saturn) tend to be dissolved by watery Neptune. Perhaps Dwight was feeling trapped by his situation in Orlando and needed to play out some form of rebellion by going to the Lakers in order to heal old wounds from his youth. Very often these sorts of unconscious motivating factors are what cause us to make the decisions we make, despite our lack of awareness of the underlying triggers and patterns. Who knows, maybe Kobe played out the role of Dwight's superego or father in this case? We'd need to know more about Dwight's upbringing and psyche to really know.
Personally, I think it's great that Dwight went with what he felt was right for him, regardless of tradition, money (albeit which I am sure he has plenty of), or what others thought he should do. Will he win a championship in Houston? Quite possibly not, but really what is the point of doing something you don't believe in or feel right about just to satisfy your own ego or conform to the established paradigms of the culture? The radical rebel of Uranus/Sun is here to teach us that it is OK to be different, to find the joy in one's own personal mythology.
In Houston, it seems as though Dwight will be allowed to have more fun in a supportive environment where he isn't criticized as frequently for any number of real or perceived shortcomings by a Neptunian media that loves to amp up the drama whenever possible. Someone with this much Jupiterian and Uranian energy running around inside them (Dwight's Jupiter (ruler of Sagittarius) is also in Aquarius, the sign ruled by Uranus, a nice little double whammy as Stephen Arroyo would call it there, given the Uranus/Sun in Sag conjunction) I would imagine really can't bear to deal with a life of drudgery, confinement, or living in the shadow of another teammate known for their intense work ethic.
Sometimes the Stars Don't Align – Dwight and Kobe
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-kobe-raged-over-dwight-howards-clownish-behavior/2013/07/07/
Which brings us to Kobe Bryant. One can guess how someone as in your face, competitive, and serious about basketball as Kobe might rub someone like Dwight the wrong way. Not only was Dwight criticized for smiling and having fun (something that is absolutely vital for someone like Dwight with four planets in Sagittarius), but I can only guess how Dwight must have felt living under the authority and austere style of Kobe's Lakers.
While the scope of this article is not enough to go into all the details of Bryant's chart here, we can look at a few key factors and how they may have manifested in the relationship with Dwight. Kobe is a Virgo Sun, conjunct Saturn in Virgo. Virgo is ordinarily one of the hardest working signs in the zodiac, but when combined with the discipline, ambition, and desire for tangible results and mastery of Saturn, it's ridiculous. Saturn/Sun in Virgo is about work, work, work. Dedication to craft. Honing one's skills in a very serious (Saturn) way.
Kobe also has Mars, planet of battles, motivation, and fiery energy conjunct Pluto, planet of power, life and death struggles, and crisis situations. Muhammad Ali and LeBron James have Mars/Pluto aspects in their charts as well, although LeBron has the trine which is no where near as intense as the conjunction that Kobe has. To these folks, competition can be a life or death struggle.
So you can imagine how someone who values hard work and winning above mere trifles like fun and frivolity might clash with someone who needs to express themselves in childlike, playful ways.
“Telling a Sun/Uranus type what to do, or what is best will seldom have the desired result, even if they have the same idea themselves.” - Sue Tompkins, Aspects in Astrology
While it may have been challenging at times for these two to get along, the issue likely was further compounded by Kobe reportedly telling Howard how things were going to be with “his team”. As you can see from the above quote, though with Uranus conjunct Sun aspects typically can't bare to be told what to do, and I would imagine even more so on a stage as large as playing for the Lakers during what was hailed as a championship run, at the outset anyway.
Some may ask, well who was right? Dwight or Kobe? Perhaps there are no winners and losers, simply two people with very different personalities and outlooks on life who were thrust together without the awareness, tools, and support necessary to establish a harmonious working relationship.
What have we learned – The Aftermath
Still, that doesn't mean nothing was gained from Dwight's time with the Lakers. As with all human interactions, there is the opportunity for learning and growth. Perhaps Dwight now has more clarity on what he needs to really be happy. Certainly he seems to have gone for what he truly wants, something that is important to all of us, but is emphasized by Dwight's north node in Taurus, which suggests that one becomes less concerned with the hidden motivations of others and learns to find value in themselves and what they believe in.
Another suggested life lesson for Taurus north node is to learn to acknowledge their feelings to others. Jan Spiller puts it this way in Astrology for the Soul: “No more “sins of omission”...these folks must start communicating their discomfort or hurt with what another has said or done.” It would seem this is exactly what Dwight did when he told Steve Nash and Kobe how he felt no one had supported him when he was injured. In the often insensitive world of sports, Dwight's actions may be labelled as those of a “crybaby” or “whiner”, but for someone with Taurus north node, seems he was right on track.
Meanwhile, what have the rest of us learned? Have the Lakers learned they can't simply rely on the mystique surrounding their name and history to earn them the respect of coveted free agents? Have we, as viewers, learned that there is much, much more to the personalities that we paint as hero or villain, friend or foe? Have we learned that perhaps life is more about the journey, our experiences, what we share and learn than anything else?
Hopefully this little journey into the insides of D12 via the wide world of astrology has given you a taste of what lies below the surface, and provided a little bit of magic and intrigue to light your day. If so, my work here is done.
Brian Honeycutt - November 19th, 2013
Angelic Astrology Magic
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