J.J. McCarthy, the currently maligned but for-now-presumed quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, is an interesting case to observe through the lens of many "mystic" or "woo woo" traditions.
In particular, his astrological blueprint (or natal chart) features some notable characteristics given the circumstances he finds himself mired in. There is also a compelling connection with his jersey number (and alter ego) "Nine" in regards to the TaiChi.
Perhaps the most significant astrological quirk in McCarthy's natal chart is the presence of three planets in retrograde motion. As the physics seem to insist, periodically the planets will appear to move backwards across the sky for a time, owing to their varying speeds and distances of orbit around the Sun. Astrologers have long asserted a correlation between these cycles and the unfolding of events on Earth as well the personalities and behaviors of persons born during such cycles.
Different cultures and traditions of astrology have their own specific perspectives, but broadly speaking, a retrograde cycle can indicate disruption to the normal flow of events, a reversal or inversion of normal functioning, or a delay or slowing-down of a given activity or process, among other plausible suggestions.
In the chart of McCarthy, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn all feature as retrograde. Mercury has been linked to movement, the nervous system, and to the mind-body connection. Mercury is also associated with information, duality, and extremes. Jupiter, the gas-giant, is a symbol of grandiosity and expansion. Jupiter amplifies, exaggerates, and provides prominence. Saturn, on the other hand, connotes restraint and limitation, even oppression. Saturn has a somewhat stern reputation, as it likewise represents mortality and time, but the virtues of discipline and perseverance also have a Saturn affinity.
There are plenty of ways to tell the tale, so I will avoid tracking down any specific path and just summarize by saying, in true armchair-quarterback fashion, that if I see a young quarterback with a chart like this I am absolutely disinclined to rush his development. It wouldn't be a contentious debate and there would be no need to conjure hypotheticals.
What if he's capable right now? What if he's actually ready to go?
With such prominent retrogrades in his natal chart, I'd have conviction in taking a slow and measured approach. It would be easy to stick to the heuristic of - This is our Quarterback of The Future - and not get caught up in the potential that he might be our Quarterback-of- Right-Now.
Another feature of his natal chart which stands out given the empirical evidence of this 2025 season include the presence of a T-Square between Uranus, Mars, and the Moon.
A T-Square is comprised of two planets opposite one another, and a third planet forming a 90 degree angle with the other two. Square and opposition angles are sometimes described as harsh, tense, or incessant. They tend to create a sense of discomfort or pressure, and demand to be experienced if not acknowledged and reconciled.
The Moon, being a reflector of the Sun's light, suggests something about our reactions and responses. In particular, our reactions to emotional energies and our experience of maternal figures can be indicated by the Moon in a natal chart.
Mars is notorious, even beyond astrological circles, for its fiery red glow and association with aggression, violence, and war. These are reasonable connections to make, but at a more fundamental level Mars represents all forms of action, outward expression, and effort.
Uranus was a surprise to astronomers, as Saturn had been thought to be the end of the Solar System. Uranus is aptly described as a surprise, and additionally deepens its lore by spinning on an axis which is perpendicular to the other planets. The strange and peculiar and unexpected nature of Uranus says it all, symbolizing disruption, paradigm shifts, and oddity.
Returning to the T-Square, the combination of Lunar emotionality, Martian effort and striving, and Uranian surprise and disruption all seem to be playing out before any interested or NFL-oriented eyes.
The Moon squaring Mars might suggest a classic case of emotions getting in the way. Too much excitement and adrenaline causing overthrows, and the emotional crash or adrenaline dumping leading to ineffective decision-making.
Uranus squaring Mars could easily play out as a variant of that classic "the harder you try, the less you succeed" phenomenon. Effort and striving never create the intended or desired outcome. It's as if the more you try to force an outcome, the bigger the surprise you receive.
The last notable feature of McCarthy's chart I would draw attention to is a conjunction of the Sun and Pluto.
The Sun is the central feature around which the planets revolve. In the personality, it is similarly an organizing and core component. In some ways, it is indeed indicative of the core of a person's selfhood or identity.
Pluto, no longer considered a true planet by astronomers, has also been referred to as Hades in the Greek culture. The energy symbolized here is of the underworld, of death and rebirth, of the forces which cannot be grasped yet which are perpetually exerting upon our lives. If Mars is the power to desire and to strive, Pluto is a power which has the final say on whether you are even in a position to desire or strive at all. Pluto demands that we reconcile with power far beyond our control, that we learn the art of surrender and transformation.
These qualities in conjunction are a recipe for powerful individuals, both in a mundane and profoundly spiritual sense. A mighty king or an enlightened sage are both engaged with power beyond petty personal machinations, though the former may not be so aware of it. The latter is likely no stranger to ego-death and radical transformations, which Pluto has an affinity for.
In the case of McCarthy, the role of National Champion, and the alter-ego he calls "Nine", based on his jersey number, seem to be identities which are being taken into the underworld. Do either of these identities serve the potentially-great quarterback he may yet become?
It's certainly not my place to say, but I will offer this final observation:
In Taoist philosophy, the number nine is closely associated with the principle of Yang. If you hold out your hand to count your fingers and the spaces between them, you end up with nine. Conversely, if you count only the spaces between your fingers, as well as the space surrounding your hand, you end up with six. Six is a description of Yin, while nine is a description of Yang. Yang is Martian in its nature. It's the striving, the trying, the tense and hard. Yin is Venusian in its nature. It's the allowing, the receptive, the relaxed and pliable.
The fact that Mars, or Yang energy (nine), could be reasonably described as under duress in McCarthy's natal chart is humorous at the very least. It is, at a minimum, interesting to consider that these "woo woo" correlations could be interacting in a subconscious manner. The more "Nine" (Mars, Yang) attempts (Mars, Yang) to play the role of a Hero (Sun) the more he is confronted with unintended (Uranus) results. The more he tries (Mars) to invest emotionally (Moon), the more undermined (Uranus, Pluto) he appears to end up.
If my two cents were to be considered, I would request radical patience by all parties involved. If McCarthy can endure, and even willingly ingest, slowing (retrograding) his development and releasing (Pluto) the identity (Sun) of already being "The Guy", perhaps he can redefine himself effectively.
Just maybe, if he were to change his jersey number to six, that in itself could bring balance to his being and unlock more of his potential.
It's curious because McCarthy has been known to practice meditation and breathwork as part of his own protocol for performance. I would make the suggestion that perhaps his deploying these practices in the name of performance is precisely the problem.
To strive by way of Yin is a logical incoherence.
I wish the best to this young man, and hope he finds his footing in whatever way his journey can best unfold. But if I were tasked with sorting the matter out, a radical embrace of retrograde-inspired patience, an emphasis on creating profound "six" to counterbalance "Nine", and an intentional reboot of personal identity would be the game-plan.
Yin-Yang-Yoga 
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