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Voyagers - Álvaro Múnera - Matador Gored

Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death - Ernest Hemingway - Death in the Afternoon

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Álvaro Múnera's background

What makes Álvaro Múnera such a great example?

Álvaro Múnera's background

Álvaro Múnera was a Colombian bullfighter who went to Spain in 1984, and later that year was gored and paralyzed by the bull Terciopelo.

It is salutory to contrast Álvaro, who couldn't have picked a worse time to go to Spain, from his perspective, with cyclist Gustaf Håkansson embarking on his cycle race at a good time for him.

We should note, that despite numerous misleading Internet memes, there was no moment of epiphany in the bullring, and Alvaro's conversion to animal rights campaigner only occurred after some years of living as a paraplegic.

What makes Álvaro Múnera such a great example?

Birth of Álvaro Múnera

This event is set at midday on 19 November 1965, and has a Rodden rating of X

The Sixties began at various different times, strictly speaking on 1 January 1960, but listening to Philip Larkin we would say 'between the end of the Chatterly ban and the Beatles first LP', but the astrological phenomenon that marks it out was the conjunction of Uranus and Pluto in Virgo, which commenced at the end of 1965, and incorporated the opposition of Chiron, as did most Uranus positions for much of the latter 20th Century.

Not only was Álvaro Múnera born with this key generational aspect, but for him it is personal, because of the inclusion of the square from Mercury, questioning what it was all about.

Unfortunately we do not have times, so all these charts are set at midday.

Birth of Álvaro Múnera and the time he arrived in Spain

The transit event is set at midday on 6 March 1984, and has a Rodden rating of X

Álvaro Múnera arrived in Spain to continue his career as a matador, and the main transits for the day hint at the consequences of his time in Spain.

Transiting Sun conjunct Álvaro Múnera's Chiron

Transiting Venus square Álvaro Múnera's Neptune

Transiting Saturn trine Álvaro Múnera's Chiron

Transiting Chiron opposite Álvaro Múnera's Sun

The chart shown is Álvaro Múnera's birthchart, together with transits for the day of his arrival in Spain around the outside. Aspect lines [traditional] are between the transits and his birthchart.

Birth of Álvaro Múnera and the time he was gored and paralyzed

The transit event is set at midday on 22 September 1984, and has a Rodden rating of X

It was this goring, by the bull Terciopelo on 22 September 1984, that left Álvaro paralysed and ended his career as a matador.

The transits at the time of Álvaro Múnera's goring were

Transiting Sun square Álvaro Múnera's Jupiter

Transiting Mercury trine Álvaro Múnera's Venus

Transiting Jupiter conjunct Álvaro Múnera's Mars

Transiting Uranus square Álvaro Múnera's Saturn

Transiting Neptune opposite Álvaro Múnera's Jupiter

The chart shown is Álvaro Múnera's birthchart, together with transits for the day of his goring around the outside. Aspect lines [traditional] are between the transits and his birthchart.

Notable figures who transitioned from the bullring to animal rights advocacy include:

Manuel Martínez 'El Manchego': A former Spanish matador who, after years of active participation in the ring, experienced a profound change of heart. He publicly renounced the sport, spoke out against the inherent violence of the corrida, and collaborated with European animal rights groups to campaign for a complete ban on bullfighting.

Julio César Céspedes : A former Mexican apprentice bullfighter who walked away from a rising career in the ring. He transitioned into a passionate animal rights advocate, using his insider knowledge of how fighting bulls are bred, handled, and mentally stressed to lecture and campaign against the psychological and physical cruelty of the industry.

Alfonso de Lima (Alfonso Simpson): While not fully abandoning the trade to become a full-time activist, this prominent Peruvian matador made waves within the community by publicly breaking the traditional code of silence. He openly condemned specific practices - such as the severe hacking of the bull's neck muscles - calling them unnecessary torture rather than a 'fair fight.' His vocal stance heavily aligned with and bolstered local South American anti-bullfighting campaigns.