Tiger Woods' Falling Star

On the morning after Thanksgiving Tiger Woods left his house following an argument with his wife and plowed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree. The incident sparked a voracious media feeding frenzy which led to revelations of ongoing love affairs with several women. What began as a seemingly innocent fender bender has evolved into a personal and public catastrophe for Tiger Woods. What do the planets have to say?

An event horoscope set for the time of the accident [Nov. 27, 2:25 AM, Windermere, FL] shows that the very least of the damage sustained was to his face and the SUV. Now over one week later the repercussions continue as various mistresses come out of the woodwork to describe their romantic liaisons with golf's greatest and fastest falling star.

The event horoscope portrays a far more serious crisis than the SUV accident originally reported. There are two powerful T-squares in the chart, one in cardinal signs on the angles and one in fixed signs. But first let's see how the chart portrays him at the time of the accident.

Tiger is shown by Venus at 24 Scorpio in the second house of money and self-esteem. Interestingly, this Venus is just four degrees from his natal Venus at 28 Scorpio. Venus is not happy in her detriment sign Scorpio. When a planet is detrimented it does not work well through its native energies, which in this case relate to fairness, harmony and the feminine principle. In Scorpio Venus becomes secretive, controlling, and must have her way at any cost. In the chart Venus is in trine to the sixth house Uranus, which represents sudden shocking events, including accidents and break-ups. This placement also speaks of the individual's need for sexual freedom. Venus in trine to Uranus wants to do its own thing: in spite of of being married, Tiger is desirous of multiple sexual involvements and unwilling to commit to a monogamous relationship with his wife. The trine also shows facility; this strong-willed but risky behavior certainly facilitated the accident and the multiple breakdowns in Tiger's image that followed.

Venus also describes Tiger's libertine pursuits. It makes a square to the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in the fifth house of pleasure and love affairs. Jupiter indicates a lot of them, and together with Neptune, describes attractive, glamorous women and a fair amount of deception surrounding them too. The square shows that Tiger went overboard in extramarital affairs, leaving behind ample evidence and sowing the seed of a devastating downfall.
Unfortunately for Tiger, Mars, ruling his wife Elin in proud Leo, opposes the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction and also squares Venus. This configuration no doubt led to her suspicions, their arguing, and the violence that ensued. The fixed T-square is a portrait of overindulged desires, infidelity exposed, betrayal and a heated confrontation.

A T-square is like a chair with three legs: it is an unstable energy, which continually adds stress to the native by rocking from one difficult situation to the next. The "fourth leg" of this chair, the exit point for the energy, is in Taurus in the eighth house: joint resources, settlements, the spouse's money. Tiger's second house Venus shows that money is a big concern; this Venus is not a compassionate one, and will do damage control as quickly as possible to stave off losses. Venus is also in the terms of Mercury, so he was also thinking contract: marital contract, prenup, and also, contracts for his lucrative product endorsements.

The face of a planet will show where the individual is conflicted or afraid. In this case Venus is in its own face. There is inner fear and conflict over women which expresses itself in sexual excess and promiscuity, or sexual domination. Venus in its own face has often been noted in men who struggle in intimate relationships. If the individual is not in touch with such feelings it can lead to dysfunctional and self-destructive relationships. Fore!

How could such a seemingly innocent fender-bender result in such a major personal and public catastrophe for one of the greatest sports celebrities of all time? It's Saturn coming to call on Tiger. Saturn, the celestial taskmaster, shows us our flaws so that we can come to terms with them; if we resist, we are faced with crisis and then all bets with Saturn are off. At the time of the accident Saturn was rising in Libra, sign of relationships and partners! Red flag, anyone? In addition, Saturn rules the fifth of pleasure and sex -- coming home to roost on Tiger's Ascendant -- how appropriate! Saturn in Libra is also in the detriment of Mars, Elin's planet; Tiger's marital misconduct is detrimental to their marriage. With her Mars in the triplicity of Jupiter she may consider a legal resolution. At this time the media report that renegotiations of the prenuptial agreement are under way.

Saturn in this Ascendant is highlighting Tiger's marriage crisis. It is opposed by an angry Moon in Aries, on the Descendant, representing Tiger's wronged spouse. Aries rules the head, where Tiger was injured, and some speculate that Elin, not the SUV, delivered these wounds. The Moon in afflicted Aries and her ruler Mars in proud Leo suggest an explosive outburst.
Scorpio is a mute sign, and Tiger has said nothing of the situation except to issue two written statements apologizing to his family and supporters. He has also taken an indefinite leave of absence from golf to try and heal the crisis within his family.

The healing will take some time. The Moon-Saturn opposition (revelation of wrongdoing to woman/partner), is squared by Pluto in Capricorn, a great leveller of status and celebrity. What is the exit point of this destructive T-square? It is Cancer in the tenth house, a very public airing-out of familial and emotional betrayal, with serious consequences for the public image. Two sponsors have recently discontinued their association with Tiger so far. The chickens have not only come home to roost -- they have destroyed the coop. Tiger needs to repair both his public image and his relationship with his family. His ruler, Venus, is in the triplicity of Mars, Elin's sign: the crisis must work through reconciliation with his partner, controlling his sexual desire, and healing his marriage. Since Uranus, the representative of accidents and divorce, is in the Moon's nodal degree of 22, there is much repair work to be done. A planet in the nodal degree is considered an element of fate, and since Uranus is associated with break-ups, separation and eventual divorce are strong possibilities.

The powerful and afflicted rising Saturn in Libra has challenged Tiger to the match of his life. His reckless past actions have brought him to a painful time of reckoning, and he has taken an indefinite leave of absence from golf in order to sort out his personal affairs. He will have to cope with a whole new set of rules in both public and private life, but with Saturn, that's just par for the course.