Oh, those Neptune in Scorpio types. Maybe it's in the Viagra. Maybe it's in the water. Rafael Palmeiro, like Barry Bonds (discussed in 60 Day Bonds) and many others, shares the influence of Neptune in Scorpio, currently tweaked by Neptune's open and honest Aquarian passage. Neptune, the planet that refers to illusion, the myth, false embellishment (whether physical, mental or psychic), cheating, smoke and mirrors and drugs, brought the issue of drug use - specifically steroids - to light in the realm of professional baseball.
Back in April I wrote that the current "season commenced with a troublesome Mercury retrograde." Later, I continued, "You can bet, should you be so inclined, that the teams with the highest payrolls, biggest stars and the best of everything may not end up in the coveted World Series come season's end." My World Series picks come later in the playoffs - give me a week or two - I'll tell you about the World Series, all right. Right now, I'm too blinded by the teams I want to win, despite my previous sentence. Anyway, more to point, with the Mercury retrograde, many issues important to baseball would prove unresolved at the end of the year. Barry Bonds did return, but quickly sat out again, and did not manifest the all time home run record. Baseball came to no conclusion regarding the rumored wild use of steroids and neither did Congress.
Barry Bonds told Congress they should forget about steroids. Sure, and the reason would be...? Palmeiro, while Neptune distorted his own Neptune and similarly skewed his Mercury in Virgo (also aligned with underworldly Pluto and the rule bender Uranus) through an aspect of creative adjustment astrologers call the quincunx. Speaking of those, Mercury at the time of his oath-bound testimony flamed enthusiastic, passionate and resolute while in Aries, also making the odd angle to his Mercury from the other side of the planetary plate. Astrologers could tell you that's just not the best truth serum. However, astrologers will also tell you that the pattern of ease between Mercury and Neptune last March 17th holds the potential to create rationalizations so powerful that revisionist truth versions appear. Whether he lied during his testimony or not, remains to be seen. A less than credible witness, Jose Canseco, wrote in his tell-all and "a lot more that we want to know, pal" book, alleges Rafael did the steroid dance.
Neptune runs so thick and strong in these guys' charts they think no one notices the increasing bulk of their bodies, home run numbers on an astronomical rise, space between their two front teeth and the fact that batting helmets suddenly appear too small. Other physical effects evidently result, too, but unless you're Madonna or a privileged groupie or spouse, you're not likely to know. Golly, Wally, do you think it was in the Viagra? After all, Palmeiro did a series of Viagra adds for television much to the dismay of his virile Mars and passionate Venus in Leo. With a Taurus Moon, we can only assume the money was pretty good, though.
As the year progressed and at some unknown time, Rafael tested positive for steroids - not the accidentally ingested kind - the real stuff. Only two weeks after getting his milestone 3,000th base hit and as the stern, questioning, disciplining Saturn approached his "what are you really doing in your off field activities?" Mars, Palmeiro became the first notable player suspended for the confirmed use of steroids. On September 23rd during a litany of astrological patterns too numerous to note, the Baltimore Orioles sent the team-distracting, media-attracting Palmeiro home. He won't be back.
Rafael's baseball fate because of drug use remains undetermined. As well, baseball's fate regarding drug use lies in a strange limbo-like wait zone largely self induced. Should Congress investigate Palmeiro for lying under oath? Sure, it would start the track of truth back in honor of Neptune's agitation to the Neptune of a whole lot of baseball players; but please not until we know all about terrorists, the veracity of bird flu and where FEMA conducts training. We know Palmeiro, Giambi, Bonds (who still won't admit it) and Canseco used the illegal substances for unfair advantage. "No one will notice," they thought, "How could they?" Evidently, those batting helmets get tighter than we first thought.
In the off season, baseball must resolve the Mercury retrograde from this last year's season. Those in the know say that many major stars tested positive already. Names rumored include many notable Yankees and Roger Clemens, who has had a remarkable, once in a career kind of year, which stands out as totally amazing given age, Houston's humidity and other factors. Should they come clean? Of course, the fans will get over it. Either legalize the drug or punish all who have used it, which if rumors are correct would knock out more than half (oh, that's conservative) the current players. Amazingly, no one using steroids, knows they took steroids, including the kind needing the assistance of a needle. "Yeah, whatever you say," replies a doubting Neptune. It's in something. One must assume either the water or the Viagra. How many home runs did Bob Dole hit last year?