Freddie Mercury: Music Legend with Mercury Rising!

by Jude Cowell, a fan

Today's post is a departure from our usual Astrology of Hollywood Film Legends for we sashay toward the legend of rock band Queen, fronted by the band's original singer and co-founder, the very talented Freddie Mercury, shown below in a 1977 public domain publicity still:

The 4-octave singer's stage name Freddie came, age 8, from his boarding school friends who called him Freddie, nee Farrokh Bulsara, born in Zanzibar, Tanzania to Indian parents on September 5, 1946, as you can see. Now I don't know if he was familiar with Astrology or if someone told him, but he was born at 5:50 am BAT with Mercury exalted and rising in Virgo at his moment of birth. Add rising Mercury to Freddie, and he had a perfect stage name with his Virgo Ascendant identifying him, and communicating Gemini at Midheaven, the Career and Public Status Point. And rise in the world he did - as Freddie Mercury. A rise, then a fall --

1946-1991: Death as Saturn opposed natal Saturn, the Reckoning Transit

Other planetary transits on the evening of November 24, 1991 include Jupiter conjunct his natal Sun (planet Jupiter often active at times of death), wounded healer Chiron Rx activating his natal Saturn-Pluto Conjunction at 4-12 Leo, and Venus in mid-Libra conjunct his natal Mars, a contact which may symbolize his former fiancee, Mary Austin, who was present at his passing. In addition, the Moon (physical body) @10Can53 was traveling in tandem with her own South Node indicating loss and separation. Obviously, there was abundant sorrow for all involved, including the fans of Freddie and of Queen.

As for Mercury the Messenger god, if you've watched some of the many Queen videos or perhaps were fortunate to have attended a performance, you might have seen Freddie wearing his white Mercury costume, arms spread out like wings. Now they say that Freddie never wanted to grow old and perhaps you agree that he was successful in this. After all, Mercury represents youth, both male and female, and can have an androgenous quality.

Meanwhile, for Freddie in particular, there are his obvious Mercurial associations which include his magnificent voice, his perfect control of it and of the audience, a leaning toward opera (ex: Bohemian Rhapsody), his ease of communication via lyrics, his amusing wittiness and sense of humor, and a great storytelling ability.

Then there's planet Mercury's Caduceus, symbol of Health - Mercury, the physician, which links to Freddie's eventual illness from AIDS/HIV, the cause of his untimely death at age 45 on the evening of November 24, 1991 at his Kensington home, surrounded by friends. Actually, 7:12 pm GMT has been reported as his time of death so that is the timing I use for the horoscope (not shown because the Google uploader no longer works for me). And in Kensington that evening at 7:12 pm, rising was 19Can54 along with fixed star Castor, a very creative star which is also linked to fame and "a mighty and commanding nature," plus, negative potentials such as sudden rise followed by a fall; afflictions, losses; indolence leading to one's own destruction; and blindness. Sadly I must add that Freddie was blind at the end. And dare I say that his destruction was his own doing. Yet we know that he lived life to the fullest, just as he wanted!

Eclipses Strenghten When Conjunct Fixed Stars

Now also rising at 19Cancer+ at 7:12 pm that difficult evening in Kensington UK was the Solar Eclipse under which Freddie Mercury's death occurred - an 11 South Eclipse with its theme of system failure (B. Brady). In the November 24, 1991 horoscope, the rising Eclipse provides a stark testament to the exact timing of his passing.

And so with this, I'll type no more of my astro-tribute to the most Mercurial of "rock gods" other than to add, may Freddie Mercury R.I.P.

And now, in case you've been living in a distant cave, here's a link to a remastered video of Queen - Live Aid July 13, 1985 at Wimbley Stadium London (25M 11S) with 72,000 people in the audience as the event was being broadcast around the globe to billions of people. The band took the stage at 6:41 pm, each act had about 20 minutes to perform, and, as musicians waiting backstage to perform agreed, Queen stole the show!

A Portrait in Search of a Name

Clara Bow: A Radiant Star with a Leo Sun

Harold Dean Carsey (1886-1947), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

My Astro-Tribute to the First "It" Girl Clara Bow

by Jude Cowell

When we check out the A-rated natal horoscope of legendary silent film actress Clara Bow we find Hollywood's "IT" girl of the Jazz Age to possess a steamy, passionate fire-water Sun Leo-Moon Cancer personality blend. With her mega-popularity and appealing beauty, Clara Bow successfullly transitioned to talkies. Born into abject poverty in a Brooklyn, NY (Kings County) tenement with restrictive Saturn rising in Pisces, Bow broke into acting at around the age of 16, and at age 22 the film "It" paved her a glowing path to major stardom.

As a sparkling, elegant flapper extraordinaire, Clara Bow epitomized the let-loose spirit of the Roaring Twenties era (horoscope shown) with her insouciant style and verve - always dancing, always romancing. She was a mere 18-yo when the Roaring Twenties Eclipse manifested in 1923 while many American women bobbed their hair and copied Clara Bow with her bright red lipstick and heavily made-up eyes. Significantly, her sexy Venus-Pluto Conjunction in sparkling Gemini added much excitement to her allure.

Bow's Sun Leo-Moon Cancer personality blend suggests a woman of passion, a creative woman with a rich imagination; a true romantic - a "loveable radiant star". Self-dramatizing and sociable yet self-absorbed, Clara Bow was always a self-assured lady who could be moody upon occasion, and who was possibly on the sentimental side (Cancer Moon). Even today, her vulnerable quality comes across readily on the screen, and she could "turn it on" whenever a script called for it. Those big eyes!

So if you wish, check out Clara in the 1927 film It:

Here's a link to the film in case the video is removed at some point.

As for Clara Bow's worldwide stardom, we might glance at the electrical, exciting planet of novelty and technology, Uranus, for on the day of her birth, the rebellious planet of disruption conjoined one of the Cardnial World Points of Fame and Recognition, 00Capricorn! She was something of a disruption to the film industry, I'd say, and she wrote her own scripts, an unusual circumstance in those days.

Of Course, The Roaring Twenties Were Pre-Great-Depression Era

As for societal conditions during her time, Bow was born during an opposition phase of Uranus and Neptune (across the early Capricorn-Cancer axis), revealing that society was acting under the influence of mystical, confusing, mass delusional vibrations. The Wikipedia page of Clara Bow supplies us with quite a few biographical details concerning her film career, her multiple scandals, and her difficult final years of health issues and other troubles.

Then on September 26, 1965, Clara Bow passed away from a heart attack in Glendale, California, her life cut short, age 60. So with this astro-tribute to a legendary film star of the Silver Screen, I take this opportunity to say, May Clara Bow R.I.P.

For more personality blend info, see Sun Sign-Moon Sign, by Charles and Suzi Harvey #ad.

Sophia Loren: Goddess of Love and Beauty!

Sophia Loren 1959; Paul A. Hesse Studios, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

An Astro-Tribute to Film Icon of the Silver Screen Sophia Loren!

by Jude Cowell

When we look at the natal horoscope of Italy's legendary star of the silver screen, Sophia Loren, what do we see? (RR: AA for accuracy).

First, Miss Loren's personality blend of Sun Virgo-Moon Aquarius informs us along with input from Venus and Neptune in Virgo, sign of the virgin and the goddess. Add a Venus-Neptune conjunction's lovely, dreamy energies in Virgo, and it's no surprise that her beauty and talent would be idolized by the public as Italy's greatest actress, and idolized worldwide as well. Why, her North Node of destiny and public contact conjuncts sexy asteroid-archetype Sappho so being recognized by the public for her alluring appearance was "on her life path."

Then as we see, above (with a few of my notes penned on), having Saturn-ruled Capricorn rising reveals her childhood subsistence in war-torn Italy in poverty and adversity along with a Mars-South-Node conjunction that times a period of war and violence via Allied bombing to fight againstHerr Adolf's machinations that disrupted her domestic scene (see IC conjunct Uranus, planet of shocking attacks). Rising Capricorn, sign of the earthly father, is significant on a personal level since Loren's father abandoned the family early on, leaving her mother with no source of income. Yet as she matured her Moon-Saturn conjunction provided endurance, common sense, and self-restraint - but also a measure of selfishness.

However, beneficial trines from her Mercury and Jupiter lift the more negative potentials from her Moon-Saturn conjunction, especially as the actress became successful and found genuine love with film producer Carlo Ponti. And actually, her Moon leads a Locomotive shape of planets indicating a very strong determination toward career success and financial achievement (in 2nd house of Earning Ability and Posessions).

A Childhood of Hardship Is a Fierce Motivating Factor

Then another signal of difficulty in her life is the Solar Eclipse Saros Series into which she was born, the 8 South ("PE") with its theme of loss and separation. And as the Cosmos would have it, an 8 South eclipse repeats on October 2, 2024 @10Libra, sign of balance, relationships, love and beauty. My very best wishes for Sophia Loren as 2024 becomes 2025.

As for the legendary icon's Earth-Air Sun Virgo-Moon Aquarius personality blend, it identifies a tendency to focus on the facts along with a detached attitude. Also noticeable may be a quiet dignity, idealistic social concerns, and a strong sense of individuality and independence. Domestically supportive of her loved ones, Miss Loren values the order that organizes society into a well-functioning entity. And as a child of war, this would be a prominent feature of her personality.

A kind-hearted philosopher, Miss Loren is devoted to family and friends, and shares her natal Sun Virgo-Moon Aquarius blend with planned parenthood pioneer Margaret Sanger who informs us that,

"No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body."

And I suspect that Sophia Loren would agree with such a sentiment, as most women do.

Now in closing, if you can spare 20 minutes, check out Sophia Loren Has A Perfect Face, And a Tragic Story for biographical details and some lovely photographs!

For more personality blend details, Sun Sign-Moon Sign by Charles and Suzi Harvey is recommended #ad.

Sean Connery and Ian Fleming: 1930 vs 1908

An Astro-Tribute to Sean Connery and Ian Fleming

by Jude Cowell

One glance at the natal horoscope of 007 actor Sean Connery reveals his four natal planets in Mercury-ruled Virgo if we include the outer planet of glamour, illusion, photography and celluloid, Neptune. The others are Sun, Moon, and Mercury, a Virgo trio of personal planets. This indicates that his essence is Mercurial Virgo, he emotes as a Virgo, and his thought processes are Virgoan.

Born August 25, 1930 at 6:05 pm GDT Edinburgh, Scotland, Baby Sean was delivered just as karmic Saturn @5Cap26 Rx arose (ASC 6Cap06) over Edinburgh and a Sun-Neptune Conjunction was active. This suggests that Connery's eventual film career readily involved this solar aspect enveloping him in the glamour, even mystery, that such a public career can bring.

His Sun-Neptune Conjunction also suggests that sensitivity, proneness to seduction, and entanglements in scandal are potentials within his adult personality along with audiences projecting their dreams of seduction onto his image.

Yet born with serious Saturn strong in its own sign of Capricorn, Sean Connery's often serious demeanor may be partially attributed to his Saturn-ASC conjunction (self-will, egotism, difficult childhood conditions, early maturity) but also to the abundance of fact-based energies of Virgo, the critic.

Here's an interesting video you may wish to check out: Sean Connery: Close Up beginning with a clip from Dr. No (1962), the first of the James Bond series of films. And here's Sean years later being queried in a 60 Minutes interview.

Meanwhile, the Wikipedia page of literary character, James Bond tells us all about it including author Ian Fleming's inspiration for the Bond character based in large part on his early love of Bulldog Drummond stories about a World War One veteran's dangerous exploits. So with a Geminian writer's versatility, Ian Fleming managed to transform the plotlines into stories for modern day readers, and the Hollywood film industry did the rest.

Aspect Grid: Ian vs Sean - Sean vs Ian!

Now from all that I've read about Bond author Fleming and Bond actor Connery, their work relationship was troubled, even contentious, and this is born out by the Synastry Grid, above, showing the natal aspects between them. You see an abundance of squares (frustration, friction, blockages, lack of understanding), oppositions (outright disagreements, external challenges, tug-of-war) circled in blue. A few brief indications are penned on for you as are the closest applying aspect to each fellow's natal Sun (adult personality). Of course, their difficulties are symbolized by generational clashes between Fleming born in 1908 and Connery born 22 years later in 1930.

Because on a societal level, 1908 was a year of a delusional Uranus-Neptune opposition when ideals were lost or reversed with unpredictable outcomes, while 1930 brought the world a Saturn-Pluto opposition of hardship, economic destruction, and a struggle between larger forces (ex: fascism vs democracy). The personalities of each man would have been unconsciously affected by the planetary energies of their times, as is the case for us all.

And yet their collaboration did go forward and there are a few positive contacts shown in the above grid which suggest a creative work relationship (sextiles and trines) but with few long-lasting indications; where we find conjunctions (ex: Venus-Pluto), intensity in their relationship is obvious along with contentious Mercury-Mars, and a Mars-conjunct-Mars contact (but in different signs, Gemini and Cancer).

Saturn: Planet of Work and Authority--with Testy Mars

Perhaps the most influential planet between them is Saturn (via Fleming's Aquarius ASC and Connery's Capricorn ASC, both ruled by old man Saturn, planet of authority) followed closely by the frustrating influence of the Mars-Saturn combination. Their Saturns square one another, a signal of conflicting values particularly in relation to work ethic and who's-in-charge issues. Plus, their Saturnian square brings along the natal aspects of both men's Mars-Saturn aspects: Fleming's a Mars-Saturn square, Connery's a Mars-Saturn opposition. Therefore, with one Saturn blocking the other, their personal Mars-Saturn aspects may have been activated or triggered by their relationship difficulties at work, via their conflicting values. In fact, a tendency toward harsh criticism is also suggested, due to inflexible viewpoints and a measure of resentment, most likely coming from Fleming's side, he being older.

Our Option: Shaken or Stirred!

Yet despite it all, successful films were made via their creative collaboration, films that are still watched by audiences to this day, so perhaps we can close this astro-tribute by saying that Geminian writer Ian Fleming's Aquarian-Uranian nature invented novel ideas and modernized plots which were then scripted and poured into the Saturnian form of a handsome Scottish actor named Sean Connery!

For the curious reader, here are biographical details for Ian Fleming and Sean Connery, may both men R.I.P.

The Story Of Nirvana (Documentary) and Kurt Cobain's Planets

Natal Astrology and Kurt Cobain

by Jude Cowell

Born with several natal planets in water signs, Kurt Cobain was a naturally gifted, creative, and troubled soul with charisma. His accurately timed birth chart set for February 20, 1967 7:38 pm pst Aberdeen, Washington reveals the restless mid-Virgo Uranus-Pluto Conjunction somewhat past its exactitude yet unfortunately opposed by restrictive Saturn in Pisces which is part of a planetary trio with writing duo, Mercury and Venus.

This heavyweight opposition, plus Kurt's Mercury-ruled Virgo Ascendant, spotlight the victim-savior Virgo-Pisces polarity with Pisces the sign of negative escapsim such as drug use, oceanic depths, imagination, mysticism, the Unconscious, and fact-based Virgo the sign of health, work, service, the critic, and the maiden. Mutable signs suggest adaptability but also instability without other factors in the chart and psyche to provide steadiness. Often, planet Saturn provides this but in watery Pisces, not so much. A 'struggle with opponents' is one of the typical expressions of a Piscean Saturn, along with boundary issues that implicate the child-parent relationship.

Now admittedly, I've never been in the "committed suicide" camp when it comes to the mysterious demise of Kurt Cobain especially once I studied certain informative horoscopes but that's a topic beyond the scope of this brief post. Meanwhile, perhaps you, dear reader, will appreciate the video shared above, and if one day my schedule permits, we'll discuss here the untimely, tragic end of the still-missed Kurt Cobain, may he R.I.P.

An Astro-Tribute to the Legendary Rudolph Valentino

Re: Rodolfo Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla

by Jude Cowell

Rudolph Valentino; Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

After watching Biography's Rudolph Valentino: The Great Lover I had to wonder why the pioneering silent film star, the "Latin Lover" who stole the hearts of American women across the land (to the chagrin of American men) had yet to appear on Neptune's Silver Screen. This oversight must be addressed! A kind and charming man, Valentino was talented with smoldering good looks that can still mesmerize from the silver screen.

Indispensible for our astro-portrait is a glance at Valentino's natal chart (RR: AA: accurate!) where we find that his Nodal Return chart of November 30, 1913 occurred very near the day Valentino arrived in New York Harbor on the oceanliner Cleveland (December 23, 1913), ready for new contacts and alliances which a Nodal Return with its joining qualities often inspires. Obvious is his restless nature leaving family and friends behind in Italy in order to seek his fortune in the US - and, I believe, to pursue romance, new adventures, and big dreams. In his early days, he is known to have felt that Italy was too small for him!

And so it was.

Of course, dance was his intro into a new life and career in the US, and silent films would follow so peruse Valentino's Filmography if you wish!

Now as I was saying, a Nodal Return occurs approximately every 18.6 years and times a period when old business and relationships may come to an end, and a new phase of life begins. Finding a love match often occurs during this period! So I'd say that emigrating to America, entering romantic relationships, and finding a career in the blossoming entertainment industry of the era qualifies as a new phase of life, wouldn't you? And a rather spectacular one, as it turned out, however brief it sadly was. Check out Valentino's profile page on Wikipedia for more biographical information including the tragic details of his illness and death at age 31. As it happened the day he collapsed in his Manhattan hotel room and was rushed to the hospital, he received the wrong diagnosis ('Jupiter-Neptune') of appendicitis (nope), plus, stomach ulcers (yes); perforated ulcers had mimicked appendicitis; then peritonitis of the abdominal lining had developed after surgery, pleuritis weakened his left lung, and later on it was found that he had developed a sepsis infection due to his weakened condition.

So below is a horoscope of the morning he collapsed, speculatively timed for 8:00 am edt Manhattan, NY with his natal planets and points highlighted around the chart in magenta (which may look pink or red on your screen). Rising at 8:00 am is Valentino's natal South Node of separation @20Vir33, then his Ascendant @00Lib53 (physical body), Anti-Vertex, Chiron, the wounded healer centaur, and then his natal Moon @14Lib21. As you know, natal Moon also represents an individual's physical body and is a health indicator.

Also marked in magenta is his Secondary Progressed ('SP') IC of Endings conjunct his SP Saturn Rx, planet of endings, separation, and loss. Saturn to IC in this case seems to have acted as a timer - by the Lord of Time himself: Saturn, aka, the Great Chronocrator. Was an inherited weakness from his paternal side underlying his medical issues at age 31? If so, taking good care of oneself would be an imperative, while indulging in negative escapist habits such as alcohol would only complicate matters.

Another factor to consider is that Valentino's Saturn Return (3Sco01), which had occurred on October 10, 1924, showed two health aspects to natal Saturn: a sesqui-square (135 degrees) from Uranus (0A25) and a semi-square (45 degrees) from Jupiter (2A05), both signals to act responsibly in matters of health. Plus, one midpoint picture appears in his Saturn Return Horoscope (not shown in this post): Mars-Uranus conjunct MC: an operation (R. Ebertin). Had he needed surgical intervention back in late 1924 but failed to heed Saturn's warning - or was he unaware of his condition?

Well, perhaps we might agree that there are astrological indications implying that Valentino had not been taking as good a care of himself as he should have (despair over a broken heart: Venus-Uranus square = divorced people; plus, possible employment problems? he'd been feuding with a journalist who had questioned his masculinity, a sore spot for the Latin Lover).

Meanwhile, as noted in the above horoscope there are multiple health indicators for those who care to look so please enlarge or print the image for easier reading, if you wish. This is a speculatively timed chart of his collapse on August 15, 1926 with my study notes penned on. Plus, you may wish to view the Last living footage of Rudolph Valentino (1926) which includes, of all things, a boxing match.

Events of August 15, 1926 Manhattan, New York

So as noted, Valentino collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, surgery was done immediately, and he seemed to be recuperating on August 18 (transit Mars sextile natal Mars: doctors were optimistic), but on August 21st pleuritis hit his left lung, plus, peritonitis had developed in his abdominal tissues (a rumor circulated: arsenic poisoning!). After surgery, his condition worsened and he passed away in a coma (Uranus-Neptune) on Monday August 23, 1926. As you see, Uranus Rx @28Pis32 is in his natal 6th house of Health conjunct Descendant (Angular, in Pisces, sign of infections and illness, ruled by 'Jupiter-Neptune', as noted, above: ultimately, sepsis overwhelmed his immune system: Moon-NN) following his collapse which shows in the horoscope via Moon-MC = Neptune at 8:00 am. Add to this, veiling Neptune in Leo conjuncts the Sun (vitality) and hides asteroid Hygeia, so apparently substandard hygiene may have been a factor in the undermining of his health - bacteria-wise, of course, as his multiple infections suggest.

Then among the chart's other midpoint pictures are four that conjunct the 8:00 am 'collapse' Midheaven, and thus are prominent - along with his natal Pluto @10Gemini - with midpoint picture potentials messily penned on and highlighted in blue, top of the chart: 'catastrophe, lowered status, notoriety, enforced separation' - a pile up of afflictions.

Also penned on the chart is a major transit: Saturn conjunct natal Uranus Rx @18Sco01 in Scorpio, sign of surgery and regeneration (unless negative factors interfere, which tragically they did).

A Saturn to Uranus transit denotes a time of limitation, delay, and frustration including in group activities such as film making, and of course, restrictive Saturn is a karmic planet signifying stoppage, blockage, and loss, while Uranus represents freedom, independence, and the future. This transit doesn't always end with death but as noted, Valentino's health condition was weakened physically, and, I believe, emotionally and mentally due to the heart break and loneliness of divorce which must have been very difficult for him because on the personality level, Valentino's Sun Taurus-Moon Libra blend (double Venus, planet of love and beauty) reveals a man with a deep need to be loved within a perfect relationship, a sociable, devoted fellow and an idealistic artist. Harmony was his 'jam', and discord was deeply upsetting to him.

Valentino, signed; James Abbe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

And because of Valentino's untimely death just prior to Hollywood's introduction of the talkies, the question remains: would Rudolph Valentino have made a successful transition from silent films to sound? Well, here's a brief video revealing how Valentino sounded thanks to the fact that he was recorded singing: Rudy's Voice. What do You think? My suspicion is that after minor adjustments, the exotic Latin heartthrob would have acquitted himself just fine!

Related Horoscopes include: actress Pola Negri, a double Capricorn born during a Saturn-Uranus Conjunction, and here's my previous astro-tribute to another of Valentino's famous contemporaries, the great Gloria Swanson. And if you hanker for a view of Valentino dancing in The Four Horsemen (the tango, no less!) check out, Swanson and Valentino which also includes home movies and more.

Son of the Sheik; United Artists, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

So in closing, this post ends as do all such astro-tributes to long-ago stars of the Silver Screen: may the much-loved Rudolph Valentino R. I. P.