Category: People

The Horoscope of Andy Warhol

The recent Netflix series based on the “The Andy Warhol Diaries” piqued interest in the life of the artist once again, including from this astrologer and student, Mary Tiegreen.

Mary’s Scorpio nose is excellent for research and she discovered a birth time, which is probably more accurate than other assumed times, given its source.

On the website, https://www.warholstars.org/nowhere/andy_warhol_p2.html, Warhol’s older brother, Paul, says this:

 

“This is Paul Warhola.  I’m the brother of Andy and John….I was the oldest of a family of three….I remember very well when Andy was born.  He was born on August 6, 1928. I also remember when John was born….We went for the doctor and Dad was still leading me by the hand.  When Andy came into the world, I heard mum screaming and then somebody said – it’s half past five.”

 

Paul went on to specify the birth place was Pittsburgh in the community of Soho.  How ironic!  Or was it prescient?

 

With Warhol always being a mysterious character, not only was his birth time in doubt, but he was known to mislead people about his birth date and age.

 

The usually assumed birth time was 6:30 a.m., which gives a Midheaven at 4 TA 29 and an Ascendant at 14 LEO 23.  However, this newly discovered birth time gives the MC as 18 AR 36 and the ASC as 2 LEO 32.

 

The timing of Warhol’s life events point to the accuracy of this new time, but in the brevity of this article, we can only mention some revealing horoscopy.

 

First and foremost what we see is Warhol’s high count of fire: Sun, Moon, ASC, MC, Mercury Venus, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.  Fire makes for creativity as well as being the center of attention, which he certainly was.

 

In fact, there is a Grand Trine in the fire signs, which insures success on a creative level.  Fire is also the “divine” element, stolen from the gods, and it is has a connection with the experience of immortality.  This is exemplified in his quote, “The idea is not to live forever; it is to create something that will.”

 

However, fiery personalities are usually very, well, fiery, i.e., colorful, animated, lively, expressive, full of life, vim and vigor.  And Warhol was not, at least not as appearances would reveal.  Instead, he was appeared quite blasé, monotone and without much affect.

 

That apparent lack of affect might be attributed to his conjunction of Moon with Uranus.

 

One of his quotes describes this aspect very well.  “Before I was shot (remember this conjunction is in Aries), I always thought that I was more half-there than all-there – I always suspected that I was watching TV instead of living life.  People sometimes say that the way things happen in movies is unreal, but actually it’s the way things happen in life that’s unreal.  The movies make emotions look so strong and real, whereas when things really do happen to you, it’s like watching television – you don’t feel anything.  Right when I was being shot and ever since, I know that I was watching television.  The channels switch, but it’s all television.”

 

However, we also see this conjunction is in square with Pluto in the 12^th house.  Such an aspect is filled with deep feeling and intensity.  Another quote of his might describe how he dealt with this inner conflict.

 

“I do have feelings, but I wish I didn’t….the reason I’m painting this way is that I want to be a machine.”

 

And at a later time in his life, he said, “Machines have less problems.  I’d like to be a machine, wouldn’t you?”

 

That Pluto also gave him his fear of hospitals.  And in a very 12^th house kind of way, sometimes that fear was realistic and sometimes it wasn’t.  From early in his life, he had difficult experiences with hospitals, doctors and his health.  And sometimes, he was afraid of his own shadow.  In the end, given his way of death, perhaps the fear was justified.

 

Another connection with the theme of machines, television, unaffectedness, blasé and detachment is his lack of planetary placements in the air signs.  When an element is missing in planetary placement, there is an overcompensation in that element.   So, ironically, someone with no air can behave in a very “airy” way, namely, detached, distance, cool, chilly, overintellectual, etc.

 

Interestingly, earthy and watery positions are present in the natal chart, but to a very low degree.  So, that even more allows the fire/no air qualities to take command.

 

Mercury’s placement on the ASC adds to these “airy” qualities as well.  It also explains his quick wit, famous quips and infamous connections with famous people.

 

Jupiter in his 10^th house also insures success and more than just 15 minutes of fame.

 

This newly discovered birth time puts the Sun in Leo solidly in the first house and it rules the Leo Ascendant.  This explains his philosophy that the artist is the art.

 

However, the real secret to Warhol’s position as “center of the universe,” is not just all the fire, Leo energy and the powerful position of the Sun, but rather it is Saturn in the 5^th house conjoined with the South Node!  The natal placement of Saturn by sign and house is where we are not born with an accurate barometer.  And it is where we must ask how much is enough.

 

In Warhol’s case, how much creativity is enough creativity?  And his answer would be “never enough.”

 

Not only is the Saturn emphasized by the South Node, but it is also the handle of his bucket formation!

 

The Sagittarius placement of his Saturn might further explain the effect of his religious and cultural background as well as his relationship with publishing, publicity and public relations.

 

Venus’s conjunction with Neptune in the 2^nd house in Leo and in square aspect to the Mars in the 11^th house might explain his ability to be “in the right place at the right time,” or his ability to tap into the collective.  Perhaps the world needed an Andy Warhol to revolutionize art and the art world….and there he was.

 

An interesting point about this “new” chart is his Aries MC (instead of the earlier noted Taurus MC).  The MC represents how a person is known in the world.  The name of his studio was “The Factory.”  And Aries is the sign of factories!

 

This newly discovered birth time will need to stand up to the rigorous rules of rectification, which are too involved for this space.  However, a teaser for a much longer article might be the significance of eclipses.

 

The assassination attempt during which he actually did die and was revived to life took place on June 3, 1968.  The eclipses which set the stage for this event were a Solar Eclipse at 8 AR 19 and a Lunar Eclipse at 23 LI 20.

 

The eclipses which took place shortly after his actual death were a Solar Eclipse at 8 AR 18 and a Lunar Eclipse at 23 LI 38!

 

The Lunar Eclipse preceding his death took place at 24 AR 07.

 

Obviously, all these eclipses involved his 4^th and 10^th houses and his natal Uranus.

 

Whether you love Andy Warhol or can’t stand him, whether you admire his art or can’t tolerate it, surely Andy Warhol will be famous for more than 15 minutes!

 

 

John Marchesella is a practicing astrologer in New York.  He is not a fan of Andy Warhol’s art, but he is a fan Warhol’s life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Newman started out at the right time, in the right place, as an actor with loads of potential and a knock ‘em dead pair of baby blues.  He went on to become a notable film director and producer, a political activist, a great humanitarian, a spokesperson for his generation of method actors, not to mention an actor who seasoned into fine supporting roles in his elder years, and the originator of a dynamite salad dressing.  And he owes it primarily to Saturn.

 

A look at his natal chart sees Saturn as the highest elevated planet, conjoined with the MC in Scorpio.  It is also the all-important ruler of the chart, given his Capricorn Ascendant, as well as the ruler of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury in Capricorn and his Sun and South Node in Aquarius by traditional rulership.

 

Those planets in Capricorn are in sextile to Saturn, and of course, it always helps to have Saturn in a grand trine, as he does with Pluto and Uranus.  However, some might question the benefit of Saturn’s accidental dignity of Saturn in 10^th house, and certainly, the square to the Sun is harsh.  All in all, though, this is an excellent example of being given a great challenge as well as the tools to handle the challenge.

 

In addition to the aforementioned achievements, Saturn’s position in Scorpio explains his status as a sex symbol (although it doesn’t hurt to have Mars in Aries in trine to Neptune too) as well as his un-Hollywood-like fidelity in marriage with his well-known quote, “Why have hamburger out, when you can have steak at home?”  The Saturn might have something to do with his daredevil acts as a racecar driver too (along with that Mars in the 3^rd house).

 

There was a great tragedy in his life, however, when his son, Scott, died of a drug overdose in November 1978; and surely, this is a sad manifestation of Saturn in Scorpio (death) at the MC (fatherhood) and square to the Sun (children).  This loss, by the way, gave rise to his humanitarian acts like the phoenix that rises from the ashes.

 

In the timing factors of the death of father and son, there is an unfortunate, but accurate, resonance in three planetary cycles.

 

First, Newman died on the Saturn Return of his son’s death, suggesting a full circle drawn in all of Saturn’s imagery, and these transits were in the natal 8^th house.

 

Second, Newman’s Sun had progressed into Aries by minutes at Scott’s death, and was just minutes away from leaving Aries at his own death, signaling the beginning and end of an era.

 

Third, each death took place when the progressed Moon was in the balsamic phase in relation to the progressed Sun, another signal to the end of an era.

 

Also noteworthy in the timing of Newman’s death is the station of Jupiter on his Ascendant, representing, in combination with all other factors, the liberation from the physical incarnation.

 

Additionally, Newman was undergoing his Uranus Return.  A conjunction is always the signal for a major ending and a major beginning, albeit not always physical death, of course.  This conjunction is especially significant for Newman because his Sun’s life force, namely, Aquarius, is ruled by Uranus.

 

Finally, Newman was born just two days after a solar eclipse, and his next birthday is a repetition of that eclipse, yet another indication of completion.  Furthermore, this was the same eclipse that preceded the start of Newman’s Own!

 

In the past year, a/k/a Pluto’s transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn, has seen the fall of many great men, and His ingress to a new sign might see a few more falls.  To name just a few, we saw Elliott Spitzer fall through scandal; we saw scores of great men on Wall Street fall due to failure; and we saw Newman fall in the form of physical death.

 

Paul Newman will be dearly missed, but his natal Saturn also suggests an enduring legacy.  He is truly a testament to the fact that Saturn has us fulfill our human potential.

 

John Marchesella is a member of ASP and he can be reached on astrojohn@earthlink.net.

 

The recently released, award-winning film, “Milk,” is reawakening interest in the gay icon, Harvey Milk, a man of many contradictions: funny and self-serious, narcissistic, and socially conscious, idealistic and cynical, sensitive and searingly nasty.

Born of working-class parents in Queens, New York, in 1930, trained to be an actuarial statistician, but breaking free from the system, to relocate to San Francisco in the 1970’s, to open a camera shop on Castro Street, then the center of a gay Mecca, he wound up a leader of the gay movement in that decade’s sexual revolution.

The camera shop did not fare well, but he became a neighborhood activist for renters’ rights and for local shopkeepers, so much so that he became known as “The Mayor of Castro Street.”  On the third try for public office, he finally won a place on the Board of Supervisors and became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office and became a role model and inspiration for a generation of gay men and women.  Sadly, shortly into his term, he and George Moscone, the actual mayor of the city, were assassinated by a fellow Supervisor, Dan White.

Part I: The Natal Chart

An immediate glance at Milk’s planets in Gemini (Sun, Jupiter and Venus) portray him as a community-loving man, be that the community of his neighborhood or the gay community.  (Gemini is the sign of local politics).  That story is emphasized by their placement in the 3rd and 4th houses, ruled by Mercury in Taurus in an out-of-sign conjunction with the Sun.

The same factors indicate his quick wit and humor, as well as his “two lives in one,” so to speak, first in the very stodgy world of insurance, followed by the free-spirited shopkeeper.  We could even add a third life as the politician, and a very cunning and strategic one, at that!  Again, these are all good examples of Mercury’s affect.

The ability to wiggle through the system with chameleon-like ease is attributed to the Moon in Pisces, which also accounts for his position as martyr.  Its square aspect to the Jupiter describes his over-the-top personality and flamboyance.  (He was a great lover of opera).  We should include the natal square between Sun and Neptune, especially since it is the aspect with the tightest orb, as descriptive as these qualities too.

Parenthetically, these astrological factors represent the irony in Milk’s first powerful constituency – the Teamsters!  He helped them orchestrate a boycott again Coor’s Beer, and in turn, they lent him the necessary support in his political bid. 

The Aquarius Ascendant, of course, explains the humanitarian in Milk, the “friend to all,” a social leader, reformer and rebel, defender of the underdog, the unconventional, and so outspoken about civil liberties.

All of that, however, is heavily underscored by the most striking feature of the horoscope, Saturn in the 11th house.  It is the highest elevated planet, strengthened by its rulership in Capricorn, and ruler of the chart by tradition.  Saturn’s retrograde motion, along with Mercury as the only other retrograde planet, make for his individuality too.

These traits are certainly depicted by his natal T-square of Saturn in opposition to Pluto with Uranus and Mars in Aries at the apex.  Probably, more than anything else in the horoscope, this accounts his characteristic intensity, drive and high energy, as well as his cantankerousness and feistiness, not to mention his “in your face” style.

Additionally, in Milk’s relocation chart to San Francisco, this T-square gets even more expression.  Not only does it move into angular houses, the Mars-Uranus conjunction moves right to the IC!  He probably would not have fulfilled his potential as a social reformer if he stayed in his native New York.  Rather, San Francisco allowed him to live more openly, to bring his 11th house Saturn of social responsibility into the first house of personal identity, and to stir things up in his world.  This chart also brings his relocated Ascendant to anorectic degree of Sagittarius, on the Cardinal Axis.  It’s an excellent example of astrocartography.

Some mention should be made of the lunar nodes too.  Obviously, the South Node in Scorpio and in the 8th house represents his “never ending story,” i.e., influence from beyond the grave, as well as the controversy of his sexuality (that would have been in his day and age).  It also represents his uncanny ability to know what to do with the talents of other people as well as his affect on others.  The North Node, on the contrary, represents how he benefited from them.

Between the power of Uranus, the Aquarius Ascendant, Saturn in the 11th house and this San Francisco chart, Milk’s life was like a Frank Capra movie, but with an expectedly tragic ending.  It was filled with friendship, uniqueness and unpredictability, including, unfortunately, his assassination, but the greatest surprise is his legacy.

Part II:  The Assassination

On November 27, 1978, Milk was assassinated by Dan White, who was sometimes an ally and sometimes a rival on the Board of Supervisors.

The tragedy is signified by these secondary progressions:

• the progressed Sun was moving into orb of a conjunction with natal Pluto,

• all-important Mercury was moving into orb of an opposition with natal Saturn,

• progressed Mars opposed natal Mercury,

• the progressed Ascendant moved to the World Axis, in a conjunction with natal Chiron and the third house cusp,

• the progressed Moon was approaching its full phase in relation to the progressed Sun.

Milk’s solar arc measured 46 degrees and 46 minutes, just passed the critical semi-square aspect, but obviously, still in effect at that point.  Applied to his natal Uranus, it conjoins the natal Sun.  Applied to the natal Mercury, it comes to a square with natal Uranus.  And Uranus is the planetary symbol of assassination!

The significant transits for this time are self-explanatory too.  They include:

• transiting Pluto at 18 Libra in the 8th house, in square to natal Pluto and closing the aforementioned T-square into a Grand Square,

• transiting Neptune at 18 Sagittarius in the 10th house, in square to natal Moon,

• transiting Uranus at 18 Scorpio, just out of the 8th house and into the 9th, formed a Grand Trine with natal Moon and natal Pluto.  (It was also approaching a Yod with the natal positions of Mars and Jupiter, but it would not peak until the following February).

• transiting Mars hit 18 Sagittarius (on Neptune) and served as a trigger for martyrdom,

• Mercury and Jupiter had just turned retrograde two days before the event and Venus turned direct on the day after the event at 7 Scorpio in his natal 8th house.

 

The city of San Francisco came to a halt by a street march of 25,000 to 40,000 mourners.

The preceding lunar eclipse on September 16th was at 23 Pisces, in a square to natal Jupiter, and the preceding solar eclipse at 8 Libra, near his 8th house cusp.  Both of them aptly set the stage for this sort of event.

By the way, Dan White, born on September 2, 1946, has natal Mars at 15 Libra, in wide conjunction to Neptune at 7 Libra.  By synastry, it sits in Milk’s 8th house and closes his natal T-square into a Grand Square. 

His defense became known as the “Twinkie Defense” (Mars in Libra?) because his actions were blamed on a junk food diet that triggered a hypoglycemic attack on the day of the assassination.  He was convicted of manslaughter, not murder, served five years of a seven-year prison term, and committed suicide on October 22, 1985.

Part III:  The Renewed Interest

We can find a few sociological reasons for enough renewed interest in Harvey Milk to have a major studio finance a film about him and have significant talent associated with it, i.e., the need for hope in our current social climate, the need for a real life “Rocky” and so forth, but there are astrological reasons too.

Milk is an excellent example of how horoscopes work long after the death of the native.

Consider, for instance, some of the secondary progressions for the opening of the film on November 26, 2008:

• the progressed MC is conjunct the natal Ascendant,

• the progressed Sun at 15 Leo is on the World Axis,

• the progressed Ascendant just moved from the square to the natal Moon, and into a conjunction with natal Jupiter,

• the progressed Moon is moving into its full phase in relation to the progressed Sun, just as it was at the time of the assassination 30 years ago.

Of course, 30 years ago means the current time is the Saturn Return of the assassination, so the public is ready to return to the event and review Milk’s significance in social trends.

The current transits to his natal chart include:

• transiting Pluto moving from his 10th house into his 11th house, reawakening his connection with the people,  if you will,

• transiting Neptune moving over his natal Ascendant, perhaps deifying his persona,

• during the making of the film, transiting Saturn moved above the horizon, and just passed the square to the natal Sun and MC, so his memory is released to the public,

• transiting Pluto just crossed over the San Francisco Ascendant, raising from the dead, not only Milk, but a time and place in modern history, an era to some.

Finally, the most recent lunar eclipse at 23 Aquarius was on his Ascendant, bringing him to light!

Part IV:  Why Sean Penn?

The synastry between real life characters and the actors who portray them is endlessly fascinating, especially when they never had an actual relationship or any interaction, and it raises many questions about the nature of symbols.

When we compare the charts of Sean Penn and Harvey Milk, here are a few of the synastry ties:

• Penn’s Sun at 24 Leo closely conjoins Milk’s Descendant,

• they have the same Saturn’s,

• Penn’s South Node is conjunct Milk’s Moon,

• Penn’s Mars is on Milk’s IC,

• Penn’s Ascendant is in conjunction with Milk’s MC, albeit an orb of 7 degrees,

• Penn’s Jupiter sits in opposition to Milk’s Jupiter and Venus.

Progressed synastry tells the “why now” about relationships and theirs is eye-opening:

• Penn’s progressed Sun came to Milk’s 8th house cusp,

• in fact, Penn’s recent progressed full Moon conjoined Milk’s 2nd house/8th house polarity,

• during the filming, Penn’s progressed MC formed a Grand Trine with Milk’s natal Moon and Pluto,

• Milk’s 2008 progressed IC conjoined Penn’s natal Sun,

• Milk’s 2008 progressed Mars conjoined Penn’s Descendant,

• during the filming, Milk’s progressed Mercury, his all-important planet, conjoined Penn’s Pluto.

Such synastry ties explain how two souls come together in a certain point in time and what the purpose of their connection will be.  Such examples of two people, who have never met, should give us pause for thought about how symbols work on a level of reality, free from the material plane.

In closing, John Marchesella, the astrologer, says, before or after seeing a biographical film or reading a biography, compare the life to the chart and find the person in the horoscope.  It’s a fine and helpful way of learning astrology and sharpening our skills.  John Marchesella, the movie buff, says, see “Milk.”  It’s a great film that captures the essence of an memorable era (albeit, only a few would say a great one), as well as the essence of a great man.

Birth Data:
Harvey Milk, May 22, 1930, 1:30 A.M., Woodmere, NY, 73 W 42, 40 N 39
Sean Penn, August 17, 1960, 3:17 P.M., Los Angeles, CA, 118 W 15, 34 N 04

John Marchesella works in New York City.  He’s been a member of NCGR since Saturn had His rings. 

From wayward musician to TV cowboy to box office movie magnet; scandalous divorce after a 25-year marriage, an even more scandalous rejection of his long-time mistress, a notorious ladies’ man; from film director to film auteur, and along the way, writing the scores to many of his films; became mayor of his city because it rejected building rights on his own property; Academy Award winning filmmaker (not once, but twice), and a body of work that can only be described as relentless; from a lucky break in the late 50’s when a producer said he looked like a cowboy, to one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, with nary a setback in his career – that’s Clint Eastwood.

The astrology of Eastwood’s durable success is evident in his natal horoscope – Neptune, emphasized at the critical degree in Virgo and on the Leo MC (sign of the actor as well as royalty), the wits and wiles of a Gemini Sun mixed with the power and drive of a Scorpio Ascendant, in turn, with its traditional ruler, Mars, dignified in Aries, and its contemporary ruler, Pluto, in its own natural 8th house, plus the imagination as well as the savvy that comes with a high count in the water element.

The not-so-secret of his success, however, especially the recognition as a serious filmmaker in the second half of his life, is his prominent Saturn in its own sign and as the handle of bucket chart formation, in the unlikely place of the 2nd house.

“Unlikely,” because, with only a glance, Saturn in the 2nd house ordinarily can make for a conflict of money versus talent, or a great insecurity about natural abilities and finances (albeit he is well-known in Hollywood for being a tight wad producer); but instead, a deeper understanding of Saturn in the whole dynamic of the horoscope reveals the manifestation of his god-given gifts of the 2nd house as well as his durability.

All of the above, plus Saturn’s opposition to natal Venus also explains his personal life, but we’ll leave that for the gossip columns.

To demonstrate the “unfoldment” of his natal potential for achievement, here are the timing techniques for four pivotal events in his career.  (Note: Hollywood, being what it is, i.e., the time it takes from “green-lighting” a project to pre-production, through production, and finally, box office receipts and award time, we might wiggle the orbs a little more than ordinarily we would for the average Joe, or “Joe, the production assistant,” as the case would be).

 

January 9, 1959, The First TV Airing of “Rawhide:”

• Eastwood’s progressed Sun, ruler of the natal MC and the indicator of acting, entered into the orb of a very favorable conjunction to natal Venus as well as the connection to the A/M (8 degrees of the Cardinal signs).

• The progressed Ascendant entered the opposition to the natal Sun, confirming his identity as an actor as well as bringing him some profile.

• Progressed Mars had just crossed the natal Descendant, indicating a rise toward his professional goals and more visibility.

• While in pre-production for the show, the progressed Moon conjoined the MC, priming him for some public spotlight.

Additionally, these other phenomena significantly indicate the set-up for this lucky break on “Rawhide,” albeit they occurred a little sooner than the actual job.  In 1957, the Sun and Moon conjoined by progression, setting the stage for a major life event, especially in the career sector for a Leo MC.  At the same time, Jupiter progressed into the exalted position, Cancer, activating opportunity and beneficence.  Ironically, Jupiter is the symbol for cowboys and the wild, wild West!

This combination of secondary progressions makes for his “readiness” to move forward with his career, but the transits of the time make for the circumstances of the actual work.

• Saturn was moving from the end of Sagittarius into Capricorn, forming a grand trine between natal MC and Neptune with natal Mars, all in the work houses, 2, 6 and 10.  This also would be the early sign of his Saturn Return, obviously clearing the way for the manifestation of his potential for professional success.

• Jupiter had just crossed the natal Ascendant and formed a Yod with natal Jupiter and Mars, resonating the archetype of the heroic cowboy, but this time perhaps, with an added kick of the Fates that often comes with this configuration.

• Transiting Pluto left the conjunction to natal Neptune, allowing the rebirth of his image to unfold and giving him the strength (or the magic) to handle the public’s projection of the ideal onto him.

The eclipses of the time were also important.  During the filming of the show, the lunar eclipse took place in Eastwood’s natal North Node in the 6th house, making for more than just the chance at a job, but additionally, valuable connections for the advancement of his work.

The solar eclipse prior to the airing sat in square to his natal Pluto, ruler of the chart, planting the seed for the recognition that would lie ahead.

Interestingly, just days before the first show, transiting Saturn moved into Capricorn at the World Axis, indicating some shift in the collective’s appetites.  Perhaps this is indicative of Eastwood’s readiness to be launched, but also the world’s readiness to receive a star in the making!

 

November 12, 1971, The Premiere of “Play Misty for Me:”

This film was Eastwood’s directorial debut, and it also revealed to the public his relationship with music.  It opened to admirable reviews, profited modestly at the box office, but developed a strong cult following and confirmed more of his abilities.

• The progressed Sun, ruler of the natal MC, conjoined natal Pluto, ruler of the ASC, making for the application of his power and effectiveness toward his career, reputation and experience of authority as director.

• The progressed MC came to A/M and squared natal Venus, allowing him to make more of his talents.

• The progressed Ascendant joined the cusp of the 2nd house in the Placidus system, often a time when a person wants to be more appreciated for his natural abilities.

• Progressed Venus came to the natal MC, obviously making for new achievements and advancing his professional identity.

• Interestingly, progressed Mars came into a square with the natal MC, perhaps indicating a struggle for that achievement and new identity.

It should also be noted the film was actually made during the phase of the progressed Full Moon, which fell on the conjunction to Pluto, emphasizing his readiness to take charge of a production as well as indicating a major turning point in his career.

At the time of this premiere, the progressed Moon slipped into Leo, ready to enjoy the fruits of his labors.

The transits of the time were simple, but strong:

• Uranus made that infamous transit, opposite its natal position, popularly known as “the mid-life crisis,” when a person has to break through to new means of expression in order to fulfill one’s potential.  In this case, however, an opposition to Uranus also means the formation of a Grand Square with natal Saturn and Pluto.  Talk about the application of power!  (More will be mentioned about this natal configuration later).

• Transiting Pluto crossed over the Placidus 11th house cusp, indicating the release of his career and a new connection with his “people,” be that his fans or directing colleagues.

The Solar Eclipse that preceded the premiere took place at 27 Leo, “crowning” his MC.  Who needs further interpretation!

 

April 8, 1986, Voted Mayor of Carmel, CA:

How’s this for an example of Scorpio Rising?  When repeatedly rejected by Carmel’s Town Board for the rights to build on his own property, Eastwood decided to run for mayor and change the Town Board.  He won by a landslide and his property got developed.

• If his birth time is accurate, the progressed Ascendant entered Capricorn on the day of the election, obviously making for new stature and authority!

• That progressed Ascendant at 0 Capricorn formed a sesquiquad with natal Chiron and another one with progressed Mercury, all on the World Axis, so perhaps his candidacy was not just about spite and power, but also the attempt to heal his “wound” for all the world to see.

• Progressed Mars just entered the orb of a conjunction to his Gemini Sun, putting his power into effect in local politics and community.

• The progressed Sun, ruler of the MC, just left the orb on the natal Moon, having some imagery, not just of leadership over the people, but a little royalty too.

This significance of political win also makes more noteworthy the cycle of the progressed Sun and Moon.  His acting career started on the phase of the progressed New Moon, his directing began in the phase of the progressed Full Moon, and this victory took place on the phase of the progressed New Moon.

 

March 29, 1993, Academy Awards for Best Movie and Best Director of “Unforgiven:”

Coming full circle, back to the genre where he started, the Western, Eastwood stunned his colleagues and fans alike with this deep and sensitive film, catapulting him to the stature of auteur.  He was also nominated as Best Actor.

• An exact sextile took place from progressed Sun to natal Sun, ruler of the natal MC.

• Progressed Mercury, co-ruler of the 10th house, came to the natal MC, making for the fulfillment of professional potential, again with imagery of royalty.

• Progressed Jupiter was just minutes away from natal Venus, and it never hurts to have a bit of luck when nominated for an Oscar!

 

The surprising transit of the time was Saturn on the IC, a major rite of life passage, but more often known as a low point.  In Eastwood’s case, however, he was just coming “back to his roots” and laying the foundation for a series of fine films yet to come in ensuing years.  At the time, “Unforgiven” appeared like the culmination of a career, but rather, it was the beginning of a new era in his career.

• Transiting Pluto opposed natal Mercury, co-ruler of the MC and ruler of the 8th house, brought the depth of his talents to public light.

• Interestingly, a few weeks prior to his win, Mars stationed at 8 Cancer, activating his natal Venus and A/M, and moved onto his natal Pluto on the night of the Oscars, signifying how transiting inner planets can be important “triggers” to events.

• And as though he needed a little more luck, transiting Jupiter was on the A/M and forming a square to natal Venus.

 

Readers will notice Eastwood’s chart contains the notorious T-square between Saturn, Pluto and Uranus of the Great Depression, which is re-configuring (in a new arrangement) in 2010.  He is in good company with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Neil Armstrong, Mike Nichols, Barbara Walters, Tom Wolfe, Stephen Sondheim, Sandra Day O’Connor and Edward Kennedy, to name a few.  These lives are examples that will be resonating with that transiting T-square next year, so we will see their names in the news a little more often and their headlines will teach us a bit more about that configuration.

If these individuals are examples of the T-square, then what we can say about it, so far, is they worked within conventional forms (Saturn), but broke through the limits of those forms (Uranus), thereby reinventing the forms (Pluto)….as well as themselves.

By the way, the orbs on Eastwood’s own T-square might be a little loose for some astrologers, but since the midpoint of Saturn and Pluto exactly equals Uranus, in actuality, he might experience it even more intensely.

Currently, Eastwood is in the last quarter phase of the progressed Sun-Moon cycle, the period of cornucopia in the bigger picture of a life, and therefore, can be very fruitful.  With 30 months or so before it turns balsamic (not as productive a phase), and about the same time before Saturn retreats into the 12th house, plus the resonance of the aforementioned T-square, there’s plenty of time, even by Hollywood standards, to add another award-winning film to his collection.  And wouldn’t his Scorpio Rising enjoy that as revenge on the last year’s Oscars for ignoring his very fine film, “Gran Torino!”

So, in conclusion, not one to be too Pollyanna about the rigors of Saturn, but to all those late-bloomers out there (and who of us isn’t one?), the next time anyone tells you about Saturn as the cosmic bad guy, just tell them about Clint Eastwood and let it make your day!

 

Birth Data:

Clint Eastwood, May 31, 1930, 5:35 P.M. P.S.T., San Francisco, CA

 

John Marchesella is a practicing astrologer in New York City, a movie-going lover, and a long time friend of Saturn.

In 2004, the announcement on the 50th anniversary of The Tonight Show of the eventual retirement of Jay Leno and the anointment of Conan O’Brien as host in that well-known TV seat piqued my curiosity about the powers of mundane astrology.  Would such a change be represented in the horoscope of a television show?  And guess what?  Astrology works!

For those non-insomiacs who missed the story last September, here’s a quick recap.  As reported in the New York Times, last summer, O’Brien was disappointment about Leno’s 5-year contract renewal and so, he let it be known that he would entertain offers for the more popular 11:35 PM slot from other networks as he nears the end of his own contract in January 2006.  NBC, unwilling to lose the likeable host and risk another embarrassing brouhaha (as when they passed over David Letterman in favor of Leno at Johnny Carson’s retirement in 1991,* losing him then to CBS), they quickly negotiated a guaranteed two-year minimum deal with O’Brien for the prized position on The Tonight Show, to begin in 2009 when Leno retires.

Now here’s the astrology.  The inaugural run of The Tonight Show took place on September 27, 1954, from New York City at 11:30 PM EST. 

At first sight of the show’s natal horoscope, the obvious transits that tell this story include the recent pass of Saturn over the Ascendant (while negotiations were being made in the face of O’Brien’s threatening word to leave the network).  Such a transit marks the end of one era and the beginning of a new era, more often than not, with a rude awakening.

By the time the news went public, Saturn was passing over the natal Jupiter and Uranus in Cancer, and square to Neptune and Mercury in Libra.  Those are the very planets that describe the show as a popular, show-bizzy talk show.  And although the show may have lost its bite from the original in favor of more trendy guests and humor, let’s not forget how ground-breaking and risqué it was in the 50’s and 60’s when late night television was merely test pattern hum on the only two other networks and some small town local stations.  This transit, by the way, continues through the spring of 2005, so let’s see what else develops for the show.

Chiron-lovers should note the significance of natal Chiron in Capricorn forming a T-square with these aforementioned planets, and the announcement was made in the midst of the show’s Chiron Return.  Perhaps this signifies all the care to prevent wounded egos as well as memories of wounds from ’91 on the Chiron opposition.  Chiron might also represent the mentoring aspect of all the hosts of this show; they have certainly launched the careers of many popular entertainers.

As we would expect in a mundane occurrence, the surrounding eclipses had some say too.  Preceding the announcement, this same T-square was hit by the Solar Eclipse of April 19, 2004, at 29 Aries, closely conjunct O’Brien’s Sun, indicating a new era for him (and ironically, opposite Carson’s Sun, resurrecting his memory in the public eye).  The Lunar Eclipse of May 4th at 14 Scorpio (involving a station of Neptune at 15 Aquarius) hit the chart’s natal Venus and, more importantly, its MC at 29 Pisces 58 on the cardinal axis.  The MC represents the star of the show as well as the show’s reputation and future.  This most sensitive degree of the zodiac at such an integral part of the horoscope also explains the pioneering and legendary qualities of the show.

To some account, too, are the eclipses shortly following the announcement.  Most notable is the Lunar Eclipse of October 27, 2004, at 5 Taurus, opposite the show’s natal Saturn (representing a change in direction and leadership) and conjunct Leno’s Sun, marking the beginning of the end of an era for him.  Just that all these eclipses are so prominent suggests the inevitability of these changes and their stir in the show business headlines.

For mundane techniques lovers, look at the charts of the surrounding ingresses too.  In the chart of the preceding Cancer Ingress, Mars hits this T-square from 28 Cancer and the Ingress Moon at 4 Leo serves as an entertainment industry “publicity trigger” for the aforementioned Lunar Eclipse.  The Libra Ingress is conjunct Jupiter at the critical degree of 29 Virgo (ruling the natal MC, but positioned in opposition to it), another signal of the end of an era.

Most surprisingly apt, however, are the chart’s secondary progressions for 2004 and 2009.  In the period of the announcement, the Progressed Ascendant was conjunct Pluto and the Progressed Sun was just about to square it; and Progressed Jupiter (again, traditional ruler of the natal MC) turned retrograde at 29 Cancer, another anoretic degree!

In 2009, when the transfer actually place, the Progressed Ascendant will have just shifted into Virgo, the Progressed MC enters into the square with Pluto, and the Sun will be progressed to 29 Scorpio 20!  Beginnings and ends, beginnings and ends.

Interestingly, Progressed Moon will be at 23 Libra on that infamous T-Square, and in the balsamic phase in relation to the Progressed Sun for O’Brien’s two-year minimum guarantee, representing a slow start for the new host and perhaps an uncertain long-term future with the show. 

Of course, it’s impossible to do a mundane study, brief as this is, on The Tonight Show, without mentioning more of Johnny Carson.  Although he is its third host (after Steve Allen and Jack Paar), he built the show; the show built him; he used the show to build the careers of some of our most popular entertainers, i.e., Bette Midler and Robin Williams; and the show built a TV genre (not to mention, an industry) around late night comedy.

The synastry between the natal charts of Carson and the show tells it all.  Carson’s Sun closely conjoins the show’s Mercury in Libra.  Talk about the King of late night comedy!  A talk show legend!  Of course, it helps to have these planets involved in a configuration with the glamorous Neptune, Uranus, Lord of the Air Waves, and an exalted Jupiter.

Carson has his own natal T-square with a Libra Mars as the apex between Pluto in Cancer and his Moon and Jupiter in Capricorn in the cadent houses, making for a dynamic conversationalist and a master of words, wit, intellect and charm.  This configuration sits along the show’s opposition of Ascendant and Mars, forms a close square to the show’s natal Moon at 17 Libra; and the show’s nodal axis is not far from the connection too, suggesting the powerful enmeshment of their reputations as well as a deep bond of familiarity with the public.

More notably, we see Saturn’s influence on their relationship.  There was certainly a karmic story between Carson and the show as an entity.  The show’s natal chart at 7 Scorpio conjoins Carson’s Ascendant, Mercury and Saturn, which run from 5 Scorpio to 14; and then, the show’s natal Venus is 18 Scorpio in its 5th house.  This is a very compelling combination of planets, certainly symbolic of the kind of show it was, the sexual innuendo humor it was known for, the well-known love-hate relationship there was between him and the show, the amazing amounts of money involved from so many perspectives, the everlasting influence it has on late night television, as well as the finality in the parting of their ways.  Is it too dramatic to say only the love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, also from the land of Scorpio, can only rival the intensity of this Carson-Tonight Show connection from the 60’s through the 80’s?

Carson’s reign lasted for a Saturn Return in the sign that represents broadcasting.  He started on October 1, 1962, with transiting Saturn at 4 Aquarius, and ended on May 22, 1992, with Saturn transiting 18 Aquarius, obviously in square to all those natal Scorpio planets. 

Here’s another interesting note about their parting.  The Ascendant of his very last show was 17 Capricorn, just opposite the show’s natal Ascendant, and Uranus and Neptune were making their famous conjunction at that very degree at that very time!  This symbolism is powerful for the development of all forms of television since 1992.

On an interesting, though lesser, note about Saturn, Leno, a self-admitted workaholic will be having his second Saturn Return in Virgo in 2009.  In fact, his retirement statement ended with his joke, “Plus, I promised my wife, Mavis, I would take her out for dinner before I turned 60.”

Although I do hope the astro-TV trivia was entertaining (and there are even more astrological tidbits to find in the charts), the purpose of this article, of course, was not to praise the contributions of The Tonight Show to American culture.  Rather, it was meant to show that mundane astrology is more than, well, mundane, or just a tool in studying the charts of nations and politicos.  And more importantly, this astrological example is a testament to the fact that anything that has a beginning, has a chart, and that chart will help us understand the nature of that entity, be it a person, a pet, an event, or even a late night television show, why it happened and what became of it.

*Although Carson’s last show actually took place on May 22, 1992, the announcement of his retirement was made in May, 1991.

Birth Data:

The Tonight Show, September 27, 1954, 11:30 PM EST, New York City, NY

Johnny Carson, October 23, 1925, 7:15 AM CST, Corning, IA

Jay Leno, April 28, 1950

Conan O’Brien, April 18, 1963

Credit for the advancement of hospice and bereavement care is given to Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.  Her 1969 book, On Death and Dying, was as revolutionary as it was controversial, but it is revered as THE classic text on the humane and dignified treatment of the terminally ill. It spawned worldwide workshops, over a dozen other books on the topic, and two healing centers to care for the dying and their loved ones, not to mention an entire movement in the health and helping professions.

The Swiss-born doctor had a career divided in four distinct phases:  1). as a medical trainee throughout post-war Europe, most dramatically in Poland with war and holocaust survivors; 2). as a psychiatric med student and practitioner in the United States after marrying an American, a fellow med student; 3). the most notable, as the leader in hospice care, first in the US, and eventually, throughout the world, which gradually softened even her harshest critics, of which there were many; and 4). as a researcher into life-after-death experiences, which cost her a great deal of credibility from even her most admiring following.  This last phase included work with channeling, out-of-body experiences, etc, and unfortunately, a scandalous business partnership with a charlatan (unknown to her) medium.

Even more unfortunate, however, was the tragic fire that burned her Virginia healing center to the ground in 1994, taking with it everything she owned personally and professionally!  Although the cause was never proven, it is assumed to be a case of arson, set by the townspeople who were overtly threatening and hostile to her work with AIDS patients.

Through the 1980’s, she made monumental contributions to the AIDS community, including an adoption program for babies with AIDS, as well as adopting 20 of these infants personally.  The through line of all her work, in fact, was children.  Ironically, however, she had great difficulty in delivering her own, i.e., two healthy births amid eight miscarriages.  And she even “lost” them, when they sided with their father during a stressful divorce (although reconciliation took place in her later years).

Interestingly, her own birth experience was extraordinary – the first-born of triplets, and being only two pounds, not expected to survive.  This is a testament to the idea that we are what we are from the first breath; or astrologically speaking, our charts are in effect from the initial moment of life!

With her well-known will of iron and resilience, she turned the medical establishment on its ear with her work, as well as the New Age community with her relentless smoking, caffeine and rich European diet!

All of this is so obviously depicted in Dr. Kubler-Ross’ natal horoscope that it almost defies any need for analysis.  For example, we see a bucket chart formation with an 8th house Saturn in Scorpio as the handle.  He is also in a grand trine with a Pisces Ascendant and a Sun-Pluto-Node conjunction in Cancer in the 5th house.  Saturn is furthermore in a wide t-square with a 12th house Jupiter, ruler of the MC, and Neptune in the 6th house of service.

In her autobiography, Wheel of Life: A Memoir of Living and Dying, she writes of her “need – as a two-pound nothing – to constantly prove myself worthy of being alive.”
Workaholism admittedly ran her life and ruined her marriage.  She speaks often of herself as “someone who goes to extremes.”  And whether she looked for the hard way to do things or it just found her, she was certainly one to take that route, but always believing there are no accidents or coincidences, and that everything always has a reason and a meaning.  She was a big one for signs and omens.

The good doctor was also born just hours prior to a Solar Eclipse also representing a theme of endings-and-beginnings, which is additionally indicated by the rising Uranus at the last degree of the zodiac; hence, her individualistic and rebellious nature too.

The major asteroids are clearly evidenced in the chart.  Most significant is Ceres, asteroid of the “grieving mother” as well as “the lost child,” on the 6th house side of the Descendant, describing much of her client base, and who she feels herself to be in relation to her cases.  She was also an avid gardener, a great cook, and dreamed of living on a farm from 1962 to 1990 (a complete Saturn cycle), before the dream materialized.

Pallas is fully in the 6th house, in the aforementioned t-square, accounting for some of her outspokenness in her work too.  Vesta in the 6th explains the importance of the healing centers.  And Juno on the Ascendant is her fragile start to life as well as her genuine commitment to her husband, even through some acrimony, as reflected in her statement of surprise at the end of her marriage, “I just never thought of us as a divorced family….I told myself he would miss my cooking, need his laundry done and want to entertain his hospital friends now that the garden was in full bloom.” In actuality, however, she was traveling the world for lectures and seminars. 

Chiron, on the cusp between the first and second houses, manifests in a very literal interpretation as the wounded healer — in her work, in her talents and in the value her profession gave to her identity.

Wanting to be a doctor was one of her first memories and she never desired any other line of work.  Throughout childhood, however, she was told that was no profession for a girl, and when, in fact, it came time to seriously study, her father refused to pay for her education.  In defiance, she broke away from her family, got a job as a nanny, and started to earn her way to school.  Surely, that was a scandal for a teen-ager during war torn Europe!  It was only when she passed her rugged entry exams, did her father acquiesce, although it was under the condition that she not go to work in the, then, very perilous Poland.

The secondary progressions for these years are astoundingly apt.  In the short time between 1940 and 1942, the Sun progressed into Leo, Mercury turned retrograde and Saturn turned direct, Venus entered Cancer, and there was her first progressed full moon!

At the start of these years, she writes rather girlishly, “I promised God that when I become old enough I would travel to Poland and help these courageous souls defeat their oppressors. ‘As soon as I can,’ I whispered, ‘As soon as I can I would go to Poland and help.’ ” In a more serious tone, at the end of these progressions, she describes herself with this, “By the time my public schooling ended in 1942, I had become a mature and thoughtful young adult.  Deep thoughts resided in my head.  My future, as far as I was concerned, was medical school….I literally felt called to the profession.  What was better than healing the sick, giving hope to the hopeless, and comforting those in pain?”

At the end of the war in 1945, with Saturn moving over her Cancer planets, signaling a new beginning, and in defiance to her father, she began her way to Poland as a medical volunteer.  She writes, “My destiny, whatever it turned out to be, was still many miles ahead of me, somewhere in the desert of human suffering.  If I was ever to get there, if I was ever to help, I had to get on the path.”  Quite an accurate description of transiting Saturn’s conjunction to the natal Sun!

Those adolescent progressions have interesting correlations in adulthood.  In the mid-50’s, on the next progressed new moon, which coincided with her Saturn Return period, she actually became a full fledged physician and became engaged to Manny Ross.  And in the mid-60’s, when Mercury progressed out of retrograde and Venus was at the end of Her progression through Cancer, Dr. Kubler-Ross gave her first lecture on the topic of death.

On November 21, 1969, Life Magazine did an interview with her to coincide with the publication of On Death and Dying, which was revolutionary at this time, but not an instant hit, much less a classic.  It was her first book and any book was a never-imagined undertaking for her.

Again, the secondary progressions are appropriately descriptive.  The progressed Ascendant had just entered Gemini.  (Remember the book led to the expansion of her workshops and an actual community).  Progressed Mercury returned to His natal position after that retrograde progression.  Jupiter, ruler of the natal MC, was opposed by the progressed Sun, indicating a turning point in her career.  Most interestingly, the progressed MC, opposed progressed Venus, and passed through the square of Chiron and came to the conjunction with the natal 12th house cusp, i.e., incorporating the value of being the wounded healer and sharing it selflessly with the world.

This is a perfect example of the scope of the Saturn cycle too.  The material for the book was prepared while transiting Saturn was in a culminating square to her Cancer planets, adding up all of her experience as a doctor since the conjunction back in 1945; and the book’s publication occurred with Saturn in a closing sextile to these Cancer planets, indicating “sharing the fruit of her labor” with the collective.  This, then, was also the Saturn Return of those sobering high school years!  And note transiting Saturn’s conjunction to Chiron.

From the collective’s point of view, however, more significant was transiting Neptune’s exit from Scorpio and ingress to Sagittarius, coincidentally Kubler-Ross’ 9th house cusp.  He would continue to weave in and out of these signs through 1970, while the book gained in popularity and society began to change its views on death, dying and the taboo of terminal illness, in ways so clearly symbolized by these signs.  (On an ironic note, Neptune’s early days in Scorpio saw the introduction of the birth control pill).

Uranus had just completed His stay in Virgo too, perhaps indicating some innovative ideas in the medical field, but this sign, more than any other, has more to do with actual caretaking in the hospice; and it is here that we truly see Uranus’ innovations.

As for Pluto, at this time, He had a few more years to go in Virgo.  However, His passage through Scorpio in the 80’s and 90’s, which of course brought the rise of AIDS, turned hospice and bereavement work into a full-fledged movement.

It was Pluto’s transit through Scorpio, in fact, when I found myself in positions to marry my work as a bereavement counselor and astrology.  For instance, in those years, I would recommend to students and some clients On Death and Dying as reading material to understand the process of Pluto.  I know that helped them more than any astrology book by offering validation to the deep feelings of death and transformation that are so common in those times.  That doesn’t seem to be as necessary with Pluto’s transit through Sagittarius, which is comparatively less intense, but I do continue to quote the most well-known theme of Kubler-Ross’ book, which I think will be helpful for Pluto transits for all time:

There are five stages in the process of dying — denial, anger, depression, bargaining and acceptance.  They do not take place in any particular order or for any specific amount of time.  They might even take place simultaneously or move forward and backward.  However, the one consistent quality through all these stages is hope.

Birth Info for Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross:  July 8, 1926, Zurich, Switzerland, 8E32 47N23, 10:45 P.M. MET.

Long before movie studios were run by overgrown adolescent boys; and before weekend box office receipts were fodder for the news on Monday mornings; even before Meryl Streep began garnishing Oscar nominations faster than you can say, “Katherine Hepburn,” there was a matinee idol in a place called Tinseltown and he had a secret….or two.

His first secret was in a time in Tinseltown’s history when the press benefited from protecting a star’s image and covered up possible scandals.

The other secret took place shortly into Pluto’s reign in Scorpio when the paparazzi, as we know it today, flourished by exposing such juiciness to the public.

Actually, Rock Hudson’s homosexuality was not much of a secret in Hollywood.  No one there cared so long as the public didn’t find out and that his movies made money.  However, he was private man, as we can obviously see with so many planets below the horizon, including Venus, ruler of the chart, at the nadir, not to mention all the Scorpio energy!

He was born on November 17, 1925, at 2:15 A.M. C.S.T. in Winnetka, IL.

Here’s an interesting take on his chart formation.  Consider Pluto and Chiron were not yet discovered at the time of his birth.  That makes for a natal chart in a bucket shape with Neptune as the handle!  And certainly a case can be made for this:  the glamour, the image of a romantic icon, the illusion, as well as the secret.

As this singleton, Neptune’s strength is further emphasized as the highest elevated planet and the one in the tightest aspect (a square to the Sun).  More important, it’s the 11th house placement of Neptune that set him up for making a sacrifice for the great social good.

By all means, Pluto’s position in the 10th house has great significance, not only as his obsession with success and as a sex symbol in his day, but also as part of his legacy.  Chiron, in the 7th house, of course, must be considered in the interpretation of his difficult personal relationships as well as his sexual attraction to young men who he called his ‘studs.’

It’s hard to believe, but some NCGR members were not even born when Rock Hudson’s AIDS was announced.  It might be hard for some to remember, or even believe, that such news would be scandalous as recently as 23 years ago and an AIDS-related death would happen so quickly after diagnosis…. thank goodness!  Although AIDS is still a crisis, it is no longer a stigma, a public shame, a plague.  It’s become a manageable disease.

The announcement of his AIDS was on July 25, 1985, and his death took place on October 2, 1985.

Back in the 80’s, with Pluto just into Scorpio and Neptune entering Capricorn and a president who would not even utter the name of the disease, the world needed something to happen. And Rock Hudson was in the right time and right place.

With Uranus conjoining his Mercury, ruler of the 12th house closet, Neptune hitting his cardinal angles, and Pluto crossing his Mars in Scorpio, the collective grabbed him and said, “I want you!”

His personal secondary progressions were right for answering the call too.  Progressed Venus entering into the square of the natal Sun and opposite to Neptune brought on the symptoms of the illness and as She was leaving orb of this progression, the news of the illness came to public light and he died.

Progressed Venus also stationed, and only weeks after his death, She turned retrograde!

The progressed new moon prior to his death took place in the form of a Solar Eclipse at 23 Capricorn 21, just within orb of the World Axis, and making a Yod with natal Neptune and 6th house Uranus.

In addition to the aforementioned transits, Saturn was moving through Scorpio, i.e., his second Saturn Return as well as the conjunction to his Sun.

The cyclical relationship, however, with the first Saturn Return was even more notable.  The film studio arranged for his first and only marriage to a woman, and it quickly turned sour and ended in an acrimonious divorce.

It also was the first time he was considered a serious actor, and not just a pretty face, in the movie, “All That Heaven Allows.”  In it, he portrayed a man whose motto is “To thine own self be true.”  A variation on this movie was made in 2002 under the title, “Far From Heaven,” in which one of the main characters, played by Dennis Quaid, ends his marriage and his alcoholism when he realizes his homosexuality.

Eclipses should always be considered in such public events too.  Those, which surrounded his announcement of AIDS and soon-to-follow death, were in the signs of Taurus and Scorpio, activating houses 2 and 8, and forming aspects to the aforementioned Saturn, Sun and Neptune, as well as his natal Mars.

I offer this brief case history as a lesson in astrology at work, but more important, as we approach Gay Pride Day, it is valuable to acknowledge the many gay men and women who are currently active in our community as well as those who have passed away, be it from AIDS or from other illnesses.

Also, as we face the unknown of Pluto in Capricorn, let us not forget that we survived the miseries of Pluto in Scorpio.

Happy Gay Pride to all and celebrate the stars!