by Lynn Hayes
Here is a repost of the profile I did on Vick last November. Vick was just signed by the Philadelphia Eagles thanks to Coach Andy Reid’s compassion for Vick’s situation. Andy Reid’s own sons were jailed on drug charges and he welcomed the opportunity to give another young man a second chance. My update is at the end of the post.
Michael Vick plead guilty in November of 2008 to dogfighting charges at the state level after serving nearly a year for federal charges. The horrific nature of these crimes, which as an animal lover I cannot bear to repeat in this column, led me to investigate his astrological chart (born 6/26/1980, time unknown, Newport News VA) to look for clues to his behavior. I am in
no way excusing the actions of criminals in this kind of chart research – Vick’s chart did not doom him to cruelty and he always had the choice to choose a different path.
The psychospiritual development of a human being is the result of a combination of the psychological and spiritual factors in the birthchart, the family environment, and the choices that we make at every moment of our lives. The raw material in a
birthchart will not help us to predict which individuals will become psychopathic criminals and a criminal may share a birthchart with a brillliant philanthropist. It is easier to look back and see clues in the birthchart that can help to explain where the psychopathic behavior originates.
In the case of Michael Vick, his Sun is in Cancer, the sign of emotional sensitivity. Cancer is a difficult sign for a man – its extreme sensitivity often does not easily find expression in most societies where men are expected to be strong and emotional sensitivity often becomes buried. Obviously, there are many Cancer men who have successfully integrated the need for caring into their lives but for Michael Vick the Cancer is a starting point in an analysis of a personality which has not integrated this dynamic.
Jupiter (confidence and expansion) in Vick’s chart forms a harmonious aspect (sextile) to his Sun which offers opportunities and good luck along with an inner optimism that helps to keep him more balanced than he would otherwise be. The combination of the Cancer sensitivity to the plight of others with the faith and optimism of Jupiter often shows a philanthropic nature, and in fact Michael Vick has invested in at-risk children in his community through his own charitable foundation and others.
Mars in Vick’s chart is in Virgo, a placement that is typically not aggressive but rather expresses anger and desire (Mars) through disciplined and systematic means (Virgo). This placement is typically found in those who are hard workers and perfectionists in their craft. But Saturn conjuncts Vick’s Mars, squelching his ability to express his desires and express his anger. The conjunction of Saturn to Mars suggests an overbearing father who perhaps was a stern disciplinarian who did not permit the expression of the self. A continual repression by a parent can lead to a deep rage that eventually requires expression of some kind.
Mars is further stressed by a square (challenging aspect) from Neptune, the planet of confusion and illusion. A stressful aspect from Neptune to Mars drowns the fire of our internal energy (Mars) with a flood of inhibitions and distortions. This aspect combines with the Saturn/Mars combination and creates a situation where the internal rage that has no viable expression must express itself through a fantasy of violence. Neptune drives many of our instincts into the realm of the unconscious and in this case it is the anger and drive of Mars that becomes an unconscious instinct rather than a mature expression of personality.
My clients will recognize this as what I call a “Mars Problem,” and for Vick it is the spark for the flame that is consuming his career. Adding fuel to the Mars fire is a square from Mars/Saturn to his Venus and to his Moon, revealing a lonely (Saturn/Moon) and touchy (Mars/Moon) nature and a guy who doesn’t feel that anyone will love him (Saturn/Venus). Vick’s parents were young (15 and 16) when he was born, and it is likely that the parenting he received was less than ideal. This is reflected in his birthchart.
Vick’s father has reported that the dogfighting began in 2001, coinciding with the period hen transiting Pluto likely formed a conjunction to Vick’s Moon (which is anywhere from 8 to 20 degrees Sagittarius) and began a multi-year transit over all of the sensitive points listed above. Pluto transits tend to bring out compulsive behavior as the underground of our psyche (Pluto) is excavated and we may have difficulty knowing how to deal with the intensity of this excavation.
Transiting Uranus came into the picture in 2006 and when Vick was fined in November of that year for making an obscene gesture to fans Uranus was at about 11 degrees Pisces and may have been forming a square (challenging) aspect to his Moon which would put his birthtime at about 6 am and give him a Cancer ascendant which would amplify that sensitivity even more.
Currently, the opposition of Saturn and Uranus in the sky is in exact aspect to the Mars complex in Vick’s chart. Saturn will retrograde in December as it makes a station (stands still) in a square to Vick’s Saturn which will intensify the pressure on Vick and also likely force him to take responsibility for his actions. This is the time of his Saturn Return, the planetary cycle that challenges us to grow up and face life as an adult.
I hope that therapy is a part of Vick’s hopes for early release. The kind of cruelty that he has shown to animals is always symbolic of a greater conflict that can result in even greater violence to others.
Update August 2009: Saturn is at the last stage of Vick’s Saturn Return, coinciding with his release from prison. Vick is saying all the right words, expressing remorse and saying that he knew the dogfighting was wrong even while it was occurring. But he has been active as well, participating in Humane Society efforts to stop dogfighting in Philadelphia. Whether he is motivated by true remorse or to save his career it is impossible to know. But pople CAN change, especially during their Saturn return.
posted August 16, 2009 at 12:12 am
this was a great analysis, lynn, and this is certainly a case which bears watching. what should we expect from vick’s difficult aspect of mars / neptune / saturn in the future? i suspect he may still be capable of extreme highs and lows to come.
posted August 16, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Thanks for all of the background.
I’m a football fan (Go Saints!) and I’m very aware of his great talent.
My favorite quote is “Every day is a new day.” It is good that he gets a second chance. I need to see him interviewed to get an idea of his sincerity, but meanwhile I wish him well.
posted August 16, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Michael Vick had nor has a heart for the helpless or compassion no matter what his Astrological sign may be. Being caught has only changed his actions.
posted August 16, 2009 at 3:23 pm
This scumbag should be fed to dogs, or forced to fight them for his life!!
posted August 16, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Thanks for your comments, everyone. It’s difficult to say what Vick will do in the future. People that abuse animals do it out of some kind of compulsion and it generally stems from abuse they experienced themselves. That is not something that changes overnight.
posted August 17, 2009 at 9:56 am
I think he deserves credit for the remorse he is showing.
posted August 17, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I was raised around an environment eerily similar to Michael’s where dogs were taught to be mean and aggressive and were trained to fight one another to the death (or close to it). From the time I was about six or seven I can remember walking past backyards and front-yards with crowds of boys and men standing in circles watching as dogs viciously attacked one another. It scared me to see how violent the dogs were being towards each other and it was terrible to see them scratched up and blooded, but that was what was considered normal to the people around me. My uncles, cousins, and my fathers friends were all at some point involved in dog fighting and I had Hispanic friends whose families made lots of money conducting cockfights as well. In our neighborhood for many people dogs were not members of the family or looked at as creatures with feelings and emotions. It wasn’t considered that these animals feel pain and are hurting each other. But I now realize that seeing these actions totally desensitized me to how barbaric and just plain cruel this type of “entertainment” was. I believe that same thing happen to Michael Vick…you are raised to think that this type of action is okay and acceptable. As for myself, I knew I didn’t like it but no one around me seemed fazed or remorseful. I didn’t even know it was illegal until I got to high school, because policemen would see it and drive right by without doing anything! So while I do not condone his behavior in this life or the next, having witnessed that type of behavior all of my childhood, I can certainly understand where the lack of remorse stemmed from. I hope that getting caught and being sentenced to jail and losing everything he had was the wake up call he needed to see the error in his horrible actions and to live a more honest, honorable and authentic life. I sincerely hope he is sorry for the way he treated those poor animals. I believe that most people deserve second chances and I am giving him one and I hope he doesn’t let me down nor all of the other people believing in him.
posted August 17, 2009 at 4:46 pm
He is a heartless jerk. He doesn’t deserve a 2nd chance.
(none of the dogs got one)
I would never support any team that he plays for.
posted August 18, 2009 at 10:08 am
Michael Vick knew what he was doing for all though years. He knew he was breaking the law. He knew it was wrong, but he did it because he thought it was fun and he though it made him a man. Now he is only remorseful because he got punished. As a Pro football player he is a role model to many people including children. He should be banned from the sport for life.
posted August 19, 2009 at 11:33 am
I think ounces he wins a super bowl for what ever team he plays all will be forgotten some individual have done worsted then that an still are playing the sport.
posted August 20, 2009 at 11:33 am
A Witness: your comment was excellent & very enlightening. The rest of the judgmental, throw-the-first-stone crowd? Not so much. Let’s give the man a chance before we condemn him.
posted August 24, 2009 at 2:46 pm
He wants a second chance – at $135 million
How much personal money has he donated to animal rights causes?? How much has he “really turned his heart” to animals? How much is he going to do to change it?
You know what they say.. actions speak LOUDER than words.
He will hope that in a few games or seasons, everyone will worship him. Pride is a deadly sin
posted August 24, 2009 at 2:52 pm
If an animal was sick or injured, the vet or shelter would HUMANELY put it down – Euthanize it.
They wouldn’t stab the animal, electrocute it, shoot it, or hang it from a tree like a pinata.
That man is sick and has no feelings or respect towards anything living unless it brings him $$$$$$$$$$$$
You can tell me if you see an animal wince because it’s hurt or injured, you wouldn’t care??? Or better yet, you would be the causing it pain??
Michal Vick and his followers are sick! Did anyone of his followers drink the “Michael Vick is a Saint” Koolaid?
posted February 18, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Lynn – would it not be a good idea, when reviewing notable charts, to provide the actual birth data and Rodden rating so that people can look at the actual chart?