The "Dope" on Doping, Etc.

I was having a drink with friends Friday night, and one of ‘em asked if I could or would post a piece about American cyclist Floyd Landis and the recent investigation into his possible use of performance enhancing substances. She also asked if I would cover the whole Greg LeMond part of the story.

Unfortunately, there’s not much I can say about the story. While I have mentioned more than once my interest in astrology and team chemistry I was not speaking of chemistry set steroid abuse. Despite my strong opinions on the use of steroids and chemical enhancements (bad, bad), I don’t have much interest in these particular sports dramas, except insofar as they affect the action on the field, so to speak. Furthermore, there’s really no good way for astrology to prove or dis-prove drug allegations (nor should it! That’s not the way to use it!), nor even if a person might have a proclivity towards using performance enhancers.

For example, let’s look at the homerun hitter, Barry Bonds. While Mr. Bonds has always been a great ball player, his statistics improved dramatically beginning in 1999, around the time it is alleged he began taking steroids and performance enhancers.

There’s plenty in Barry’s chart to indicate a potential for greatness, especially in athletic endeavors. Sun in Leo in the 8th house combines expression-creativity with passionate-obsessive-intensity. Ascendant Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter in 5th house Taurus is someone who shows up larger than life based on his own internal resources, broadcast for all to see. Moon in 2nd house Aquarius makes for an emotionally private and detached individual; though his emotional nature has the potential to alienate others, he has potential motional inner strength to do what he feels is necessary “for the greater good” (as defined by his own particular perception). Mr. Bond’s Part of Fortune is exactly conjunct (within 13’, i.e. less than .25 degrees) his Mars in Gemini in the 7th, and both are conjunct his Venus by less than 3 degrees; all three are ruled by Mercury also in Leo in the 8th. Finally, Barry has his South Node in Capricorn in the 1st house; for a karmic perspective he brings self-mastery and personal diligence into this life (what he needs to work on is emotionally relating to others – North Node in Cancer in the 7th – but that’s a whole different story!).

Nothing specifically in Mr. Bond’s astrological chart indicates that he might turn to the use of performance enhancers for an “edge.” He does have Chiron in Pisces in the 3rd house ruled by the dispositor Neptune in Scorpio in the 11th. Chiron is a comet, not a planet, and in astrology it indicates how one might harm himself, harm others, or be harmed by the world around him. Pisces, Neptune, Scorpio, and the 8th and 12th houses have all been traditionally known as places to look for potential substance abuse in a person’s chart. But generally (in astrology) the reasons behind drug and alcohol abuse (at least, as associated with these signs) is because of tendencies towards escapism (Pisces-12th) or obsession-compulsion (Scorpio-8th) with a lot of boundary issues mixed-in. Personally, I’m not sure performance enhancement drugs really fall into the same category.

What I find more telling for Mr. Bonds is the context of his life. Barry is the son of Bobby Bonds (a former Major League All-Star for the Giants), cousin of Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, and godson of Hall of Famer Willie Mays. That’s a lot of greatness to live up to, although by 1998 he’d managed to eclipse his father’s homerun record and had nearly equaled his stolen base total (he would beat it in 2000).

In 1998, Barry had some difficulties due to injury, and although his numbers were up to the same level as the prior year by the end of the season, for the most part they were down from earlier seasons. Barry turned 34 that season…one year younger than the age at which his father retired. In 1999, Bonds would be passed over being named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, though Ken Griffey Jr. (with lesser stats) and Mark McGwire (admitted steroid user) made the cut.

Could the thought of getting old or missing out on accolades led to the use of pharmaceutical enhancements to sustain a career be a far stretch?

As has been mentioned before, a person’s Sun sign colors and influences every part of one’s personality; this is why the Sun sign is considered so important in a person's chart. A Sun in the Leo in 8th (which is like saying “in Leo and Scorpio”) is a person whose need is to shine brightly as a living creative expression of possibility. Leo (like the Sun that rules it) is the way in which we channel the divine through our own individual ego. Leos can be examples of possibility to those of us who are only “mere mortals.” In the negative, they can appear as arrogant, but for the most part they are simply doing what comes naturally to their personality…shining, and getting attention.

Scorpio, on the other hand, is about the intensity of desire and focused will. They are the “higher octave” of the Mars energy, bringing passion and volcanic energy to their endeavors in a way that doesn’t simply initiate new experiences, but transforms (themselves and others) through their experiences. Scorpio is the sign of the Phoenix that burns itself to dust in order to re-create itself. Like Leo, this regenerative process can be done in both the positive and the negative.

Here are a couple examples of how this Sun combination can play out:

Example #1: The superstar finds that because of age and/or mileage he can’t quite perform quite as brilliantly as he once did. He accepts the reality of his changing nature (everyone changes over time), assesses the attributes he has and the skills he’s acquired, and re-creates himself in a new role that allows him to still shine as an example for others. Perhaps he becomes the veteran ball player, coaching others in the art of slugging and stealing. Perhaps he serves as an example in locker room, showing maturity and leadership. Perhaps he becomes a philanthropist, using his fame and fortune to help the less fortunate and showing others how even a single person can make a difference in the lives of others. He may even withdraw from the public spotlight, and focus his energy simply as a light for the smaller circle of his family or community.

Example #2: The superstar faces the same challenge as in the 1st example, but instead cannot let go of his ego attachment to the prestige and accolades he has built up over the years. He is afraid that “re-creating” himself in a new arena will be too challenging, too boring, or simply doesn’t attach the same value or “worthiness” to other possible endeavors. “Lesser roles” are for lesser men, may be his perception; alternatively, he may feel that he has more to prove, and fails to realize he is already that which he wants to be: a shining example to others, an expression of the possibility of his profession. Fighting to stay in his current position, he turns to anything that will give him “new life” in his chosen path…whether he finds herbal supplements, or digs into darker methods of maintaining/improving himself makes no real difference. The fact is, he is still re-creating himself, but in a way that promotes his own ego attachment, no longer trusting in the natural cycles of the universe (what some might call the “divine plan”). There may be unfortunate side-effects (physical, social, emotional) for failing to honor the rhythm of life, but the main danger is passing on the opportunity of evolving into a new stage of life.

I’m not saying either of the above examples describes Mr. Bonds’s life, but both are possible choices that exist for the Leo-Scorpio Sun sign. Regardless of which choice a person (Bonds or anyone) makes, the universe continues to place challenges and life lessons in our path…there is no “easy” road. Each choice has consequences and new tests for us to take. But some people prefer the path they know to the path that is un-familiar…even though the new path may lead to more exponential growth.

So back to Mr. Landis and his challenges: unlike Barry Bonds, Floyd is a Sun-sign Libra. Like Bonds, he has Mars in Gemini and his Moon in Aquarius; otherwise, that’s where the similarities end. Unfortunately, I don’t have Mr. Landis’s exact time of birth, so I can’t speak with absolute certainty, though I’d hazard the guess that he was born in the early afternoon (around 3:40pm).

Mr. Landis and Mr. Bonds also appear to have had VERY different upbringings. Floyd was raised in a Mennonite community and his father was actively discouraging of his bicycle riding at the beginning of his career. However, more information would be necessary to see if and how his background factors into his personality.

Again, there can be dozens of contributing reasons why a person may have resorted to performance enhancing pharmaceuticals to provide an edge in professional sports. For a Libra, there is always an issues of independence versus co-dependence. As mentioned, Libras don’t like folks to be unhappy…unhappy people are a source of disharmony and lack of balance. One would think that the Libra personality would abhor any kind of cheating or drug use, as this would be “unfair” to the other competitors, resulting in an “uneven” playing field.

However, as a Libra leader seeking balance, perhaps there was a feeling/compulsion to “step up” for the competition, in order to not let the team down. The Tour de France is indeed a team sport. Lance Armstrong had helped the American team to victory for seven consecutive years (hmmm…most dominant player in a team sport? See earlier posts).

But in 2006, Mr. Armstrong was retired and victory not nearly as sure for the American team; Landis, after all, only placed 9th in the 2005 Tour. Is it possible that Floyd felt a need to do something, anything to ensure he wouldn’t let down American cycling fans or fellow teammates? Sure it is.

But is it possible that his claim of innocence and theory of increased levels of natural testosterone is true? Maybe…it may have taken a lot of…um…"guts" to break out of the normal mold of the dutiful Mennonite son. Floyd may have all sorts of interesting stuff going on in his body as well as his natal horoscope (if only I had his birth time!). However, his defense theories sound a bit more like the Libra devil’s advocate using its creative intellect to grasp at straws.

Anyway, as with Mr. Bonds, the situation gives Mr. Landis an opportunity for growth and development as he meets these new challenges (his trial, life after being removed from the cycling team, negative press coverage). Like all of us, he’ll be able to use his own free will to determine how he meets those challenges.