Literal Astrology

Martina Navratilova, the great tennis player, gave a touching interview on the radio last week. She was wiping away tears within the first few minutes as she recalled being separated from her family when she defected to the West more than 30 years ago.

She has the Moon (emotions) on her Ascendant in Aries (hair-trigger responses). Not only does she wear her heart on her sleeve. Her emotions just come pouring out unmediated. But also what nurtures her is being number one, being first. No wonder she was a champ.

Then there's Mars in Pisces – a lot of athletes have this. Pisces rules the feet, and Mars is physical energy. Mars is also in Pisces house, the 12th, a position which the French statistician Michel Gauquelin found to be common for athletes. And Capricorn (ambition) on the MC (career). Also, look at that incredibly diligent 6th house: practice makes perfect (Venus in Virgo).

But the thing I find most extraordinary is something small that Martina mentioned. She sleeps every night with her head on a pillow that her mother made for her.

That is Moon (mother) and Ceres (more specifically mother) on the Ascendant (the head) from the 12th (sleeping). Sweet.