WRITINGS & ARCHIVES ON ASTROLOGY
John Marchesella has been sharing his thoughts, humor, and unique point of view on the topic of astrology for many years, through various publications and internet posts. Here is a collection of a few of his favorites..
FAMOUS FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES: 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 12th 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 12th 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 10th 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 5th 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 2nd house in Leo and in square aspect to the Mars in the 11th 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 4th and 10th 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.