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Heading
into his first NBA final at the tender age of 21, the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant,
already a fourth year NBA veteran, steps out of the long shadow of Shaquille
O’Neal to stand in his own light. By any standard, this is
an extraordinary young man, possessing talent, ambition and maturity far
beyond his years. Surely astrology can give us some insight into the heart
of this young champion!
A
Sun-Saturn Maturity
Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia. Incidentally,
his parents named him after a steak they had seen on a restaurant menu
before he was born! There are several unique factors in his birth chart,
but perhaps the most important astronomical alignment at his birth was
the very close proximity of the Sun and the planet Saturn. When two planets
are placed near the same point in the zodiac, this is called a conjunction.
The conjunction blends the energies of these two very different planets
together. The Sun is youthful and vibrant, full of energy and ego, while
Saturn is the old man of the solar system. Saturn is cold and limiting,
imparting discipline, responsibility and ambition. People who are born
with the Sun and Saturn so close together can seem old beyond their years,
or are often especially serious and focused.
Both
the Sun and Saturn also represent the masculine, or father principle in
a birth chart. Bryant’s father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, was also an NBA
player, so in some sense, Kobe inherited his profession. He had the advantage
of being closely associated with professional athletes from the time he
was born, so he learned early on about the sacrifice and commitment that
success requires. Of course, a parent can’t give you a career, at least
not a particularly successful one, and Kobe has earned his fame through
his own efforts.
Virgo
Sense of Perfection
His
discipline and ambition manifested quickly in a standout high school career.
As a senior, he was named the USA Today and Parade High
School Player of the Year, after breaking Wilt
Chamberlain’s record as the all-time high scorer in Pennsylvania
high school basketball. He received a tremendous amount of press for his
efforts, and won numerous other awards, including the Naismith Player
of the Year, the Gatorade Circle of Champions High School Player of the
Year, and was named to the McDonald’s All-American team. However, he received
considerably more press when he announced his plans to skip college and
go straight to work in the NBA. The controversial decision was not always
well received, but a closer look at his chart reveals that is was pure
Kobe, through and through.
Referring
once again to his natal Sun-Saturn conjunction, both planets are in the
sign Virgo, a sign associated with work and practical affairs. Kobe is
not the sort of person to waste time on the theoretical. He wants to apply
everything he learns, working his way to perfection. The sign Virgo is
not one for taking the long view. Virgos tend to want practical results
and security, and while they are often highly educated, that education
is more of a means to an end than an end in itself.
While
the transition to the NBA from high school was an awfully big step up,
Kobe has proved a capable student, consistently improving his game and
his nerves, developing from an insecure teenager into the real deal and
a major threat, in about the same time frame that his peers have spent
playing college ball. While his inexperience on the court was at times
a little too obvious, he has always handled himself as a professional
off the court, which is possibly more difficult. His poise and confidence
in the spotlight are remarkable, but also true to his Sun-Saturn nature.
A
Rising Star
There
is another hidden level of meaning to Kobe’s Sun-Saturn conjunction, rising
from its placement at the beginning of the sign Virgo. That part of the
zodiac is occupied by an important star in the constellation Leo. It is
called Regulus, and marks the heart of the lion. It has been considered
a royal star by astrologers for thousands of years. People whose charts
feature the star Regulus prominently often have a sudden rise to fame,
or exhibit great leadership. Kobe is no exception, as his Virgo commitment
to excellence has made him a leader in his chosen field at a very young
age. However, underneath it all beats the Heart of the Lion, the heart
of a true champion, brimming with courage, pride and a noble sense of
destiny. Now let’s sit back and watch the kid win his ring!
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