ZaSu Pitts: From Kansas to Hollywood!

ZaSu Pitts; Bredell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A Tribute to Hollywood Actress ZaSu Pitts

by Jude Cowell

In our day, it's quite possible that ZaSu Pitts is one of Hollywood's least remembered movie stars who managed to successfully transition from radio and silent films to 'talkies'. Follow the link to view a 17-minute video about her entitled, ZaSu Pitts The Keeper of Hollywood's Deepest Secrets? which sounds intriguing, doesn't it? Agreed, but for the purposes of her cameo appearance on Neptune's Silver Screen, let's briefly consider ZaSu's natal chart.

R.I.P. ZaSu Pitts January 3, 1894--June 7, 1963 (Parsons, KS--Hollywood, CA)

Born during the waning phase of the Great Neptune-Pluto Conjunction/s of 1891/92 in early Gemini, baby ZaSu Pitts entered the earthly flux with Sun in Capricorn and serious Saturn ruling her essence and personality (Sun). Plus, planet Saturn is exalted in Venus-ruled Libra, sign of the creative arts and the Scales of Justice. Some trouble may have come with her Mars in early Sagittarius opposing the heavyweight Neptune-Pluto duo, although with careful, mature use of the energies, this planeatary trio can be highly creative, motivated, and may have given her an interest in the occult (but that's beyond the scope of this brief post).

An accomplished comedienne, Pitts appeared in one of my favorite TV shows, The Gale Storm Show so although tiny, I was a movie and TV fan and quite aware of ZaSu's performances wherever I could catch them. And in retrospect, I believe that her unusual first name helped her stand out from the crowd! Check out the Wikipedia page of ZaSu Pitts for more details about her family, career, and films.

Then besides appearing with dozens of comedy legends in It's a Mad Mad Mad World (a film lampooning greed), ZaSu was also in the cast of the dramatic All Quiet On The Western Front, a film based on the World War One novel by Erich M. Remarque which remains a best seller on Amazon.

So! This is my brief tribute to a long-ago Hollywood star not everyone knows. If you like, please share and leave your on-topic insights with this post. Thanks a bunch, Jude

Hollywood Headline: Tallulah Bankhead Loved Men!

Photo by Vandamm, New York, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Have you ever checked out the natal horoscope of the actress who hated Hollywood, preferring stage acting to film roles, Miss Tallulah Bankhead? Born with a Sun Aquarius-Moon Scorpio personality blend on January 31, 1902 9:00 pm Huntsville, Alabama to a wealthy, political family of US senators, she's been famously quoted as saying that she went to Hollywood to hmm hmm hmm with the attractive Gary Cooper who apparently was Tallulah's idea of a dreamboat. Did they eventually hook up? Yep, they did.

However, it should be said that Gary Cooper hooked up with a plethora of ladies through the years, and the leading ladies in his many films were fair game. Born in Montana, his acting roles portraying "the strong silent type" who "delivers justice" must have made him irresistible to his paramours. Try How Gary Cooper Got into Trouble with Seducing Multiple Women for details.

As for Tallulah, her most successful film (perhaps her only celluloid success) was Alfred Hitchcock's 1944 Lifeboat (tap or click to view a clip).

There's also an informative yet brief biographical video, Tallulah Bankhead's Life Filled With Affairs and Drugs that I can recommend for the daring. Or how about a video of Tallulah guesting as the show's Mystery Celebrity on What's My Line? on February 12, 1961? She was appearing on Broadway at the time, but the photo you see, above, is from The Little Foxes, circa 1940.

Tallulah Bankhead: Her Sun Aquarius-Moon Scorpio Personality

This is an Air-Water combination of conscious-unconscious energies revealing her as charismatic, egotistical, strong-willed, intense, keenly perceptive, and ambitious woman. Acting was a good choice, for Tallulah's magnetic qualities had a hypnotic effect on other people. Her "obsessive individualism" commanded recognition along with her self-confidence, a certain haughtiness, and unbending standards. This blend believes in living life to the fullest but emotionally can tend to 'blow hot and cold' and may sometimes resort to ruthless manipulation.

Be that as it may, Tallulah was born with glamorous Neptune in sparkling Gemini conjunct Midheaven, the most visible point in a chart and a marker for The World Stage!

Now yes, she was an "all or nothing" person, but I do think that Tallulah's "Images for Integration" (conscious + unconscious: blend for best and most creative results) describe the gifted, intense actress quite well:

"A scientist dissects a scorpion with great tenderness and absolute precision...A researcher presents his findings to colleagues at a 'Science for Humanity' Conference...Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Charles and Suzi Harvey #ad.)

And naturally, that last image reminds me of Tallulah's starring role in Alfred Hitchcock's very watery film, Lifeboat!

Hollywood Legend Ida Lupino: Sun AQ-Moon Scorpio

Ida Lupino Trailer screenshot [Public domain]; The Hard Way

For the curious, why not check out a full view of the natal horoscope of classic film star Ida Lupino born February 4, 1918 11:00 GMT London, England with Sun @15AQ21, Moon @22Sco32, and Ascendant in Venus-ruled Libra (20:30), sign of relationships, the arts, and beauty. With her Midheaven ('MC' = The Goal Point) in Moon-ruled Cancer (22:04), Ms. Lupino's ambitions included publicity and fame bwo the lunar influence. This is understandable as a member of an acting dynasty that stretched as far back as the Renaissance!

Biography aired an excellent 44-minute feature on the life and decades-long career--over 60 films--of Ida Lupino if you'd care to have a look!

An Astrological Tribute to Gregory Peck: The Philosopher

Gregory Peck 1948; Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

March 20, 2022

by Jude Cowell

Perhaps you've noticed that there are several interesting YouTube videos available for fans of legendary film star Gregory Peck. One that I recommend gives details on his life and stellar career, all in less than 30 minutes: Gregory Peck: His Own Man. For you see, the wise Mr. Peck never allowed himself to come under the control of any one Hollywood film studio and always acted in films that he himself had selected. This was quite unusual back in the day, as you may agree. So let's see how such individualism is expressed in his natal horoscope with perhaps a bit of Neptunian romance as well!

Below: Horoscope of Gregory Peck born April 5, 1916 8:00 am pst La Jolla, California; RR: AA for accuracy; ASC 2Gem30 with Venus rising, chart-ruler Mercury @6Aries00 in 11th house of Groups (film-making is a group endeavor); Midheaven ('MC': The Goal) @13AQQ52 offers his 8 North Prenatal Solar Eclipse ('PE') @13AQ30 on the World Stage with 8 North themes of 'flashes of genius; visions; vivid dreams; insights; intuition; a need for temporary freedom causes strain in private relationships' (paraphrasing B. Brady). An obvious expression of such solar-lunar energies could have been his acting career requiring that he work away from home and family during filming.

Now if you wish, consider my study notes penned and color-coded on the chart for not all of them are mentioned in this text:

Individualism

Immediately we find Uranus, planet of freedom, individualism, disruption, and excitement, in Peck's 10th house of Career and Public Status - and strong in its own sign of progressive Aquarius! Here Uranus leads the tilt of a BOWL shape of his natal planets with Mars, planet of desire, energy, and motivation, in opposition, and conjunct the IC (Foundation) of his chart - Mars in romantic, dramatic Leo. The BOWL shape has a mission or advocates for a cause and is discernible, as you see, with all planets on the self-selecting side of the chart (choosing his own movie scripts and stage roles), and with a majority of his planets in the Public sector. As a pair, Mars-Uranus can be revolutionary and when in opposition as here, Peck's ability to stand out from the crowd is a positive expression of an individualist mindset, plus, an interest in Politics is also suggested. A lifelong Democrat, details may be found via Peck's Wikipedia page.

Then there's powerful Pluto @1Can19, within orb of the Aries Point of Fame, Fortune, and Recognition in his 2nd house of Earning Ability; Mr. Peck had for a talent for fund-raising. Yet restrictive Saturn is in 2nd house as well which suggests a conservative approach to finances, although some Saturnian boundaries may have been more difficult to establish or maintain than others (Saturn in watery Cancer also indicates family problems - tragically, the Pecks lost a son due to probable suicide). Had a father's financial overindulgence been a part of the problem? Certainly, a Mercury-Saturn square of 'the worrier' (A. Oken) denotes sobering issues in his life along with his natal Mercury conjunct sad Orpheus.

Yet from his acting debut in 1944 onward, Gregory Peck enjoyed critical success, then handsome leading-man status, but I believe it was his role as Atticus Finch in 1962's To Kill a Mocking Bird that has earned him his most popular acclaim and lasting fame through the years. Based on the novel by Harper Lee, the book and film dealt with an oft-neglected topic in our country: America's original wound - her fatal flaw - racism. Peck's career success, plus, a talent for philosophical topics (Mercury conjunct Jupiter = 'The Philosopher' who can see the larger issues) may be viewed through his expansive, enthusiastic Sun-Jupiter conjunction of Salesmanship in 11th house of Groups. And his 9th house of Foreign Lands, Higher Education, and Philosophy contains the North Node of public contact @5AQ12 (opposing the dreamy, romantic Mars-Neptune duo conjunct his natal South Node of inherited talent!).

That his Nodal Axis opposes by sign that of America (July 4, 1776) - South Node to North Node, and vice versa, implies that Peck and the American public could bring out either the worst, or the best, in one another. My suggestion is that this cosmic condition relates to his role as Atticus Finch, a script he obviously chose for himself, and which for many Americans brought out our best reactions, or at least, a still-active reconsideration of the difficult issue of racism, and of the inequality that existed, and still exists, within our two-tiered legal system.

Meanwhile, let's credit the Mutual Reception (on friendly terms!) between his natal Sun and Mars, which are beneficially trine one another in creative Fire signs, for his ability to reach to the heart of matters, plus, Jupiter in Aries suggests a man of nobility of character and integrity. And Jupiter in Mars-ruled Aries provides support for his Mars-Jupiter trine, a cosmic picture of endowment.

As for the personality blend of Gregory Peck, that is in part revealed by his intense Fire-Earth combo of conscious-unconscious energies - the Sun Aries-Moon Taurus combo, a Mars-Venus pairing. This blend describes a man with a tough vs tender demeanor and an intuitive yet pragmatic approach. Self-confident and ambitious, Gregory Peck possessed staying power and a charismatic magnetism which can still be viewed on-screen. In fact, taking center stage was a natural activity for him and he did it with grace and style as his long Hollywood career attests!

April 5, 1916 - June 12, 2003, age 87

Well, many more chart factors are there for your consideration if you so desire but let's close this astrological tribute with a link to the extensive Filmography of the legendary Hollywood star, Mr. Gregory Peck, long a favorite around here.

May he R.I.P.

For more personality information, you may wish to consult Sun Sign-Moon Sign, by Charles and Suzi Harvey #ad.

An Astro-Tribute to the Legendary Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton WWI 1918; Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

March 16, 2022

by Jude Cowell

In our era it's somewhat difficult to credit the past career and stellar popularity of an actor, producer, and writer like Buster Keaton, a man whose physical comedy, amazing stunt work, and basset-hound facial expressions remain easily recognized. Keaton's pioneering career in Hollywood is graced by an impressive, extensive Filmography if you care for a peek.

And you may wish to check out the natal horoscope of Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (RR: A via his Dad: 'born between acts of his parents' medicine show'!) where you'll find his seriously minded, deep-thinking Mercury-Saturn conjunction squared by jolly Jupiter in dramatic Leo, a cosmic signature of his style of comedy - or perhaps tragi-comedy style is more the case. Recommended is a YouTube video (5M 12S) of Some of Buster Keaton's Most Amazing Stunts. Or, fast forward to his September 1, 1957 appearance on What's My Line? (including comic Ernie Kovacs), if you wish. That evening, transit Pluto @00Virgo, planet of power, was conjunct Buster Keaton's natal Ascendant as was the transiting Mercury-Uranus midpoint! This suggests enhanced creative ability and a sense of recklessness - perhaps a reference to his years of celluloid stunt work that looked - still look - dangerous and painful. However, this was Keaton's "line" of work, and that evening a beneficial trine from North Node in Scorpio to his natal North Node in Pisces provided him with the opportunity for a major contact with the public on what then was a very popular TV show.

A Hollywood Legend's 'live-wire' Air-Fire Sun Libra-Moon Aries

Now allow me say this: until a few minutes ago I was unaware that today's position of the North Node of public contact @24Tau14 points directly toward, of all things, the natal Midheaven (@24Tau37, the Career Point of Public Standing) of Buster Keaton but apparently this post might in a very small way fulfill a karmic imperative of public contact with his career. Naturally, Mr. Keaton is no longer around to benefit specifically, but there it is!

As for Mr. Keaton's conscious (Sun) - unconscious (Moon) blend across the Libra-Aries axis of relationships (married thrice!), it's under the influence of the Venus-Mars duo, and admittedly as a child, I always thought the actor was a handsome fellow. His astounding physicality and energy may be seen through his risk-taking Sun-Mars conjunction in Libra, yet with wounded Chiron nearby.

(For more personality details see Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Charles and Suzi Harvey #ad.)

Meanwhile, a natal YOD of crisis-special-task-turning-point-spiritual-opportunity implications may be read as a midpoint picture: Moon-Neptune = Uranus (in brooding, dark, attractive Scorpio along with a bottomless pit of creative, novel ideas) suggesting potentials for emotional unpredictability (three marriages?) and an impulsive nature. Add these energies to his risk-taking Sun-Mars duo, plus his thespian planet Jupiter in entertaining Leo, and we find a legendary Hollywood actor whose pioneering performances and stunts remain awesome, even energizing, to watch - yet as a maternal type myself, this caution must be added: Please don't try this at home!

R.I.P. Buster Keaton: October 4, 1895 Piqua, Kansas - February 1, 1966 of lung cancer.

~:~

UPDATE March 16, 2022: just a note that it occurred to me to check geni dot com to see if Buster Keaton and I are connected and it turns out that we have an in-law connection: we're 17th cousins once removed. Tracing his Keaton line back on the geni site, the earliest of his ancestors I could find was Zachariah Keaton, born circa 1682, died circa 1743, both in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. Also, I left out of the above post the descriptive factoid that Buster Keaton was often called, "The Great Stone Face," and if we look to his natal chart for "30 Pisces" which has this Sabian Symbol attached, we find not a planet but a midpoint of Moon-North-Node = 'contact with the public' along with a link to major publicity, possible spiritual unions, and, biologically, the immune system. jc #

Astro-Portrait of Mae West: Hollywood Goddess of Glamour!

Talk About An Hourglass Figure: Here's Mae West!

Photo: Mae West in "Go West Young Man" 1936; Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A view of the natal horoscope of Mae West born August 17, 1893 10:30 pm EST Brooklyn, NY Kings County reveals the self-admitted "grand ego" of her Sun @25Leo36 (dramatic Leo, a natural leader), and Moon in brooding, deep-feeling, sometimes ruthless Scorpio. Late Taurus rises (24:49) bringing up the star of deep passion, Algol. As a natural talent and a shrewd business woman, the actress' most famous line from her films has to be, "Why don't you come up and see me sometime?" which is a slight misquote from her film, She Done Him Wrong (1933), spoken to a character played by a young actor named Cary Grant. Her suggestive scripts relate to her natal Mercury in romantic Leo (11:03) as we see in her natal chart for Mercury Stationed Retrograde ('Rx') at the time of her birth (nee Mary Jane West) which added strength and focus to her thoughts and planning ability with Mercurial thoughts often trending toward romance, entertainment, and creativity (Leo).

Meanwhile, chart-ruler Venus in Virgo (sign of The Virgin, a goddess symbol as is Lady Venus) in the 5th house of Romance and Creative Pursuits makes only one applying aspect in her natal chart - a lucky trine with beneficial Jupiter (5A39). The Great Benefic rises in 1st house @29Taurus (a critical 29th degree, so eager to get on with it) which suggests that her larger-than-life schemes paid off significantly. And of course, with money planet Jupiter in money sign Taurus, her desire for financial security and talent for 'making it happen' are revealed along with a love of comfort.

Mae West August 17, 1983 -- November 22, 1980, passing away with Pluto in Libra conjunct her natal South Node, Mercury in Scorpio conjunct natal Moon in her 6th house of Health, Moon in Gemini conjunct natal Neptune, and Neptune @21Sag36 conjunct her natal 8th cusp, just inside the 8th house of death.

Now her extraordinary career success implies that Mae West was not a good loser and kept plugging away, but for sparkle and excitement on the Silver Screen and onstage, there's her 6th house Moon-Uranus conjunction, scintillating in sexy Scorpio!

Then there's her steamy Fire-Water Sun Leo-Moon Scorpio personality blend of conscious + unconscious energies in stubborn fixed signs providing her with a large measure of magnetism, a defiant attitude, strong ambition and competitiveness, fanaticism toward survival, an aura of queenly imperiousness, a capacity for hard work, and a love of drama and risk (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Charles and Suzi Harvey #ad). Naturally, self-dramatizing impulses would have supported her play writing which led to Broadway success in addition to her high-grossing films (during the Great Depression!). And perhaps you agree that her personality blend's two 'Images for Integration' apply to this popular glamour queen, so see what you think:

"A fateful, passionate love affair between the queen and a mysterious, wandering peasant...The conception of a divine child takes place during a total eclipse of the Sun."

A divine child?

Well, then let's consider the Prenatal Solar Eclipse ('PE') which manifested prior to the birth of Mae West, a Total Eclipse @26Ari48 perfecting on April 16, 1893 in the over excessive 3 North Saros Series with themes of, "traumatic transformation; worrisome news that transforms a situation, possibly involving a young person; "obsession"; and, "large plans are wanted" which can be positive but "don't get carried away," cautions Bernadette Brady in her book Predictive Astrology #ad. Plus, we know that a solar eclipse in Mars-ruled Aries denotes ardor, enthusiasm, daring, a competitive nature, and a pioneering spirit. And a pioneering actress she definitely was!

(Side Note: You may remember that the last occurrence of a 3 North Solar Eclipse was on July 2, 2019 @10Can37, snugged among America's natal Venus-Jupiter-Sun in Cancer of July 4, 1776. 'Traumatic transformation' indeed.)

So! If you'd like more biographical details concerning this sparkling glamour queen try Mae West on YouTube, or, you might find the Wikipedia page for Mae West to be of interest.

And in closing, who can resist Top 63 Inspirational Mae West Quotes You Must Read! For when it comes to the realms of romance, the enduring wisdom of Mae West is educational!

Legendary Actor Marlon Brando: Aries Aries Aries!

Brando: Edward Cronenweth (1903-1990) [1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the natal horoscope (RR: AA) of the bold and innovative actor Marlon Brando the fiery sign of Aries, ruled by Mars, is the primary focus with his Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Ascendant in the me-first, pioneering sign. And curiously, his Chiron, the wounded healer centaur, @20Ari06 precisely conjuncts America's Chiron of July 1776 with a descriptive Sabian Symbol for its rounded-up degree, "A Pugilist Entering the Ring." During Brando's difficult childhood, this Symbol relates to his alcoholic, abusive father and later to some of the screen roles he took on in his career which probably aided him in working out his inner demons (a typical exercise used by thespians). Note his plaintive "I coulda been a contender!", regretfully spoken like a wounded creature in On the Waterfront (1954) for which he won his first Oscar.

However, the socially conscious Brando was arrested and not allowed in when he went to Wounded Knee (aka, an occupation) and, on March 27, 1973, he declined the Academy Award for his performance in The Godfather to make a point. Sacheen Littlefeather attended in his place and is remembered for her 'inconvenient' speech that night which I watched on TV and was annoyed by how they ushered her off the stage before she finished speaking. This controversy is discussed by Brando in the video linked, below. And of course, you know about the Wounded Knee Massacre, a crime against humanity, perpetrated on the morning of December 29, 1890, when the US Army massacred nearly 300 members of the Lakota tribe of South Dakota.

Before he became an activist, Marlon Brando sizzled across Neptune's Silver Screen

Besides the heat (Mars) he gave off from the silver screen (and in his personal life, 'tis said), one of Brando's more famous quotes may best describe his Mars-infused personality,

"An actor's a guy who, if you ain't talkin' about him, ain't listening."

Well, today I'm typing about him in an attempt to pay tribute to a thespian (may he R.I.P) who changed the way the world looked at acting and actors. Was it for the best? That would be a matter of personal opinion for there were many changes in society during the years of his celluoid appearances. Yet I must fall upon the side of Yes! to his pioneering ability and raw talent as he expressed every human emotion on full display. Plus, I believe that Brando channeled America's 'wounded' energies via our shared Chiron in Mars-ruled Aries, a hint that one's sense of self has been wounded (when Chiron is in Aries).

Yes, his strong Mars influences resonate well with his second Oscar for Tennesee Wiliams' A Streetcar Named Desire for as you know, desire falls directly within the province of astrological Mars!

So in closing, dear reader, I've curated for you several YouTube videos with Brando as subject and my favorite to recommend is his June 12, 1973 interview on The Dick Cavett Show, soon after he rejected the Oscar for The Godfather. Mr. Brando had flown in from Tahiti for the interview during which they discussed American Indian issues and concerns, the controversy of the day in 1973, and, "what the motion picture industry had done to the American Indian, as a matter of fact, all ethic groups, all minorities, all non-whites."

So perhaps you'll agree that Marlon Brando was ahead of this time in the social conscience department - and in the acting department, too. Impulsive Mars likes to act and emote, and it isn't rare that a person under the strong influence of Mars turns out to be an activist, one who is interested in Politics, Government, and Law which fall under the purview of Saturn-ruled Capricorn, the sign of Brando's natal Mars. This placement gave him with maturity (Saturn) the ability to control, channel, and direct his Martian energies most efficiently while his worldwide fame provided opportunities to speak out on the causes in which he believed.

And so as many people have admitted through the years, Marlon Brando, with his quadruple Mars influences and pioneering acting talent, was most definitely a contender.

A Glamorous Dance Duo: Fred Astaire and Cyd Charise

Dramatizing and Glamorizing Underworld Crime - via Choreography

by Jude Cowell

Arjan1982 Cyd Charisse GIFfrom Arjan1982 GIFs

In the famous dance routine The Girl Hunt Ballet (11m58s; from Band Wagon 1953: gif shown, above, via tenor) we see Hollywood legends Fred Astaire and the enticing-in-red Cyd Charise dancing a dramatic portrayal of Underworld Crime activities involving glamorous ladies.

Now as you know, Underworld Crime elements and perpetrators are on a deep level represented in Astrology by the Neptune-Pluto combination. Their current cycle began with three Great Conjunction/s in 1891 and 1892 in the degree-range of 7 to 9 Gemini. These conjunctions snug around America's natal Uranus (8Gem55) and this creates a midpoint picture of potentials for 'peculiar discoveries; hypersensitive nerves'; 'a flair for adventurous, unusual, mystical, supernatural experinces', and/or 'unusual catastrophes' (R. Ebertin). With radical Uranus involved, astrologer Michael Munkasey adds: 'unusual means to escape from or change reality; rebellion against artificial pursuits; impersonal attitudes about any destructive or antisocial activities'; and/or 'going to extremes with drugs'. Now since the Neptune-Pluto cycle lasts approximately 492 years, the entire world is stuck with the current cycle until around the year 2384 or so.

Oh and what does Noel Tyl say? Neptune-Pluto = Uranus: 'possibly aberrant behavior; adventurous ego thrust; courage; disruption to gain recognition; making waves to get to shore'.

Hollywood Horoscopes: Astaire and Charise

Now if you take a look at the natal horoscope of Fred Astaire (RR: AA) you'll see his birth name: Frederick Austerlitz, and his data: May 10, 1899 9:16 pm CST Omaha, Nebraska about 7 years after the Neptune-Pluto Conjunction/s. Also follow the link for a few bio details about Fred such as his death from pneumonia on June 22, 1987 4:25 am PDT Century City, California, and his later-in-life second marriage.

And here's the natal horoscope of Cyd Charise (nee Tula Ellice Finklea March 8, 1922 4:30 am CST Amarillo, Texas; RR: AA; brief bio details included) with her Sun @17Pis05, Moon @7Can35 (in 6th house closely conjunct her intense Pluto Rx @7Can58: a bottomless pit of creativity and sex appeal!). Rising is 23Cap03 which makes Saturn her chart-ruler and Mercury @20AQ01 rising in 1st house of Physical Body. As you know, Mercury rules limbs and movement. Notably, Cyd beat a youthful case of polio and rejuvenated herself through dance.

Then Cyd's Midheaven (The Goal and Career Point) @13Scorpio brings in influences from the forceful, even violent planetary pair of Mars and Pluto so we might appreciate her strong performance in The Girl Hunt Ballet even more as a positive expression of Mars-Pluto influences!

Meanwhile, a comparison of Astaire's natal chart with that of Cyd Charise shows their dancing rehearsals were aided by the fact that natal Mars in both charts formed a helpful trine aspect of talent. Other indications of their work activities include Cyd's natal Mars @8Sag34 conjunct Fred's 6th house (of Work) Sun-Mercury combination; her Moon-Pluto Conjunction lands near Fred's 1st house Moon @4Can07 (with the Moon a marker for publicity!), and (as we perhaps see in the crime-riddled dance routine, linked above) Cyd's natal Midheaven ('MC') sports Fred's Mars-Pluto conjunction @8-12Scorpio upon it forming a midpoint picture suggesting that between the two dancers existed 'unusual capabilities of advancement in life' which particularly involved the career and public status (MC) of the very beautiful Cyd Charise.

And one more factor in relation to music and dancing: Fred's asteroid Terpsichore (the orchestrator) in late Gemini denotes his Mercurial lightness and the speediness of his feet while dancing, while Cyd's Terpsichore benefits from its placement in the highly creative, imaginative sign of undulating Pisces, sign of the Two Fishes.

Now obviously, there are other planetary contacts between them for those curious enough to check out their natal charts - some positive, some not so positive - but hopefully this post gives the reader a brief astro-portrait of two legendary dancers shown in their prime by the video segment linked above!

Hollywood Horrorscope: Bela Lugosi Prince of Darkness

Screenshot from the Internet Archive of the trailer for Dracula (1931) [Public domain]

On the 'Horrorscope' of Screen Legend Bela Lugosi: Sun Libra-Moon Aquarius

by Jude Cowell

Boo! Yes, that's Bela Lugosi as Dracula staring menacingly at you! And with the spooky season soon upon us, I've decided to post the natal horrorscope and add a few astro-notes concerning the pioneering celluloid Prince of Darkness of the 1930s and 1940s, film legend Bela Lugosi. His life story makes for an eery and tragic tale in spite of major Hollywood success for in 1935 Lugosi succumbed to some bad habits and became ensnared in heavy drug use which went on to control much of his life and damage his health. Yet he married five wives, and to me it seems rather a marvel that he could manage to walk down the aisle as many as five times!

Born on October 20, 1882 at 3:30 pm LMT in Lugos, Romania (RR: A), Lugosi's birth name is quite impressive: Bela Ferenc Dezsco Blasko. He was a Lugosi from Lugos! On that day, hour, and at that particular location, the Sun clocked in @27Lib06, the Moon @4AQ37, and Mercury @2Sco49 Rx--and recently on October 4, 2019 (although he's unaware of it) Bela Lugosi had a Mercury Return! And of course, Scorpio is the most appropriate sign for the spooky season of the year and is ruled by Mars (planet of needles), co-ruled by intense Pluto, a pair of planetary energies often associated with drugs and drug use as is urge-to-merge Neptune, Venus (planet of veins and pleasure), and overindulgent Jupiter who, when acting negatively, only makes things worse.

Therefore, his natal Ascendant (Self; Physical Body) in early Pisces, ruled by Jupiter, co-ruled by Neptune, makes sense for besides drugs, toxins, liquids, and secrets. Pisces is associated with inspired creativity and The Arts. Yet as you know, the sign's traditional symbol is the Two Fishes, one swimming up toward the heights, the other swimming down to the depths. Innovative film making and success: the heights, drugs and their soul-destroying use: the depths, and Lugosi's life encompassed them both.

As for his double Air Sun Libra-Moon Aquarius personality blend, Bela was a 'detached humanitarian' who was reasonable, idealistic, and well-meaning but maddeningly elusive when it came to being pinned down (pardon, but one can't help but think of a silver stake for this!) - no pigeonholes for Mr. Lugosi! A visionary, he tended to set himself up for disappointment as most visionaries tend to do, and his attraction to emotional intrigue spurred his sense of self-dramatization (on stage and off, one imagines). Able to be flirtatious and sincere at the same time, this blend highly values relationships and 'comes alive' (!) in social settings yet Lugosi may have been blind to his own need to depend upon others. And perhaps it was his personality blend's tendency to 'dream life away' and to 'build castles in the air' that worsened his drug dependency for a certain laziness was a potential if not an actuality, plus, such Utopian dreams usually possess a siren song quality about them, so difficult to resist.

Then with his Midheaven ('MC', the Aspiration, Goal, and Career Point) in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, rewards in his career came yet Lugosi is reported to have spent all his money on drugs, and died penniless on August 16, 1956 in Los Angeles, California after entering a drug rehab facility on April 21, 1955--but sadly he had not stuck with the program.

And so, as another Halloween draws near, I wish all ghouls and readers a safe and joyful evening full of sweets but no tricks at all. And with this astro-tribute I wish for Bela Lugosi another night to R.I.P.

Note: more personality blend details may be found in Sun Sign-Moon Sign by Charles and Suzi Harvey.

Rise Above: The Natal Horoscope of Miss Liza Minnelli

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liza_Minnelli_1973_Special.JPG

Above we see Liza Minnelli posing in character as Cabaret's Sally Bowles. And in the natal horoscope of Liza Minnelli (born March 12, 1946 7:58 am PST Los Angeles, California; Pisces Sun, Cancer Moon, ASC 1Tau18, MC 19Cap20; RR: AA for accuracy--see her chart, below) we find both the pain and triumph of an energetic performer whose life events, conditions, and abilities taught her to rise above personal troubles. And if any performer epitomizes in human form the old adage that The Show Must Go On, it's Liza Minnelli! As did her Mother but this astro-tribute of a post belongs to Liza with a Z!

Note: a very interesting video by Cliporama is available on YouTube from their Diva on Diva series: see Judy Garland on Liza Minnelli. Plus, you may wish to check out Liza's Facebook page!

Now everyone knows that Miss Minnelli's career was boosted greatly in 1972 by the release of her starring vehicle Cabaret which won a total of 8 Oscars--including one for Liza. Her talented co-star Joel Grey (nee Joel David Katz: Aries Sun, Gemini Moon, Scorpio rising) played Master of Ceremonies in the film and won a Tony for his performance while one of the Oscars went to the film's director Bob Fosse (Cancer Sun, Aries Moon, ASC 27AQ; RR: AA). The film premiered on February 13, 1972 soon after a Lunar Eclipse conjoined her natal Pluto in Leo and in a year that featured a Solar Eclipse @19Cancer conjunct Liza's natal Moon and IC conjunct starry Castor! As you know, an eclipse can cast a major spotlight into one's life by activating planets or points which may trigger changes of direction so that things may never be the same.

Now the film's primary love interest for Sally Bowles, Liza's character, was played by Michael York (nee Michael Hugh Johnson: Aries Sun, Leo Moon, ASC 7AQ27: RR: B from data in his 1991 autobiography, The Traveling Player).

A second romantic interest for Sally was well played by German actor Helmut Griem (Aries Sun and Moon--and curiously, Griem's natal Pluto @19Can57 powerfully conjoined Liza's natal Moon and IC--a very creative combination). Born in 1932, Helmut Griem passed away in 2004, age 72.

Yes, Cabaret was a very popular film and has continued to be--true confession: I finally got around to watching it recently on Hulu! With Cabaret set in Germany's Weimar Republic of 1931, and the majority of musical numbers taking place onstage in Berlin's (imaginary) 'Kit Kat Club', the atmosphere of the society was ably shown to be one of decadence and over-indulgence--also note asteroid Bacchus (as in, bacchanalia, or, wine-drenched, ecstatic parties and orgies) precisely conjunct Liza's MC, the Career Point. Well, Cabaret certainly depicted such delirium.

And yes, a strong thread of promiscuity in relationships ran through the film as well and may have made similar appearances in Liza's personal life (Uranus-MC = Venus @1Ari00 = promiscuity in the behind-the-scenes 12th house of secrets and hidden activities with Venus conjunct the publicity-producing Aries Point of Fame, Recognition, and Fortune). This Venusian midpoint picture also suggests potentials for creativity, procreation, exposed feelings, an eagerness to please, and the ability to arouse physical desire in others (Tyl).

Also note that natal asteroid-archetype Persephone, associated with transformation, sex, and/or rape by Pluto, ruler of the Underworld, conjoins Liza's natal Venus @AP. For Liza this may not be significant on a personal level but plutonian romantic themes may be found within many of the plots of her various creative ventures. Perhaps the influence of her North Node ('NN' = future direction; destiny; public contacts) @26Gem01 conjunct sexy asteroid Sappho has something to do with recurring themes of sex and romance in her career choices for which she received public notice (NN). Actually, the photo of Liza as Sally Bowles, above, attests to a sapphic influence in the film.

Hollywood Horoscope: Liza Minnelli March 12, 1946 7:58 am pst Los Angeles, CA:

Basic chart details include: born during a Solar Hour, final dispositor Moon in its own sign of Cancer (everything leads back to her publicity-seeking, attention-grabbing Moon with its reigning need to be nurtured), and chart-ruler Venus applies only once to an opposition with Neptune which denotes romantic illusions and fantasies (listed lower left) which can best be utilized through creative endeavors. Plus, Liza's Moon conjoins starry Castor, one of the Gemini Twins, which provides great creative talents--inherited (conjunct her 4th house cusp); Neptune conjoins starry Diadem which suggests a mother's quiet sacrifice and a well-deserved crown. Note that both Liza and Judy are considered Hollywood royalty, and in the 5th house of Creativity, Liza's Part of Fortune in romantic, creative, entertaining Leo conjoins royal star Regulus which contains a caution: success if revenge is avoided. Has revenge been avoided? I don't know. What do you think?

Difficult relational issues are shown by Liza's Moon-Mars-Saturn trio in emotional, subjective Cancer, sign of Mom and the family, conjoining her IC (4th house cusp = Domestic Scene; Roots; Endings) suggesting quarrels and separations--from the mother (Moon is out-of-bounds yet their relationship was close--but perhaps on the smothering side). Separation from her father and/or from a male figure is also suggested (Mars is also out-of-bounds--'OOBs'--distant as is Pluto; Saturn the father is retrograde hinting that he wasn't always available when she needed him or was weak in some way so Liza had to become her own authority).

And so she would have carried these emotional wounds of her childhood into adulthood (as we all do!) and perhaps their themes have repeated in various forms throughout her life with different characters participating. Yet this planetary trio which includes the duos of harsh Mars-Saturn and emotionally deprived Saturn-Moon also indicates great ambition and strong motivation, plus, her Pisces Sun acts as the engine leading a Locomotive shape of planets suggesting a high-powered executive with a determined, even ruthless, drive toward success--creative success with Sun in the creative sign of Pisces which is co-ruled by imaginative, glamorous Neptune Rx in Venus-ruled Libra in the 6th house of Work (idealism in relationships). Also in 6th house is her Jupiter-Chiron conjunction of great enthusiasm and optimism. This conjunction inspires its owner toward the buoyant certainty that "the best is yet to come!" (Pottenger), and if memory serves, I believe Mother and Daughter sang that very song in a duet on TV's The Judy Garland Show the evening of July 16, 1963--Liza at age 17. Actually, I remember watching the show with my mother each week and their collaboration that evening was a stand-out.

Now for more Liza info you may wish to check out Marie Claire's feature 6 Best Liza Minnelli Quotes of All Time for it perfectly reveals in her own words the inspirational, optimistic, can-do nature of the lady, daughter of the fabled Judy Garland and her first husband director Vincente Minnelli. Obviously, the turbulent divorce of her parents when Liza was 5 years old created an emotional scar (Mars-Saturn-Moon, as noted) which she had to rise above along with other slings and arrows throughout her life yet we think of Liza as supremely gifted and highly successful. Perhaps the veils and masks of Neptune disguised the difficulties for the most part--even from herself--while allowing Liza's talent and creativity to brightly shine through from our TV and Silver Screens!

Hollywood Horoscope of a Legend: Doris Day 1922-2019

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Monday May 13, 2019: sad news today for early this morning legendary Hollywood actress Doris Day passed away, age 97, at her home in Carmel Valley, California. Follow the link to read her obituary and tribute to this great lady, an animal activist before it was popular to be so.

Born Doris Mary Kappelhoff on April 3, 1922 t 4:30 pm CST in Cincinnati, Ohio, 'Miss Day' enjoyed an active film career of two decades beginning in 1948 with her first feature film Romance on the High Seas. Aptly enough, both 'romance' and 'high seas' are within the realms of astrological Neptune!

If you wish, have a peek at her natal chart rated AA (BC/BR in hand) set for 4:30 pm CST with 25Vir34 (Virgo 'The Virgin'!) rising, Midheaven ('MC') in sparkling Gemini, Sun @13Ari22, and Moon @27Gem04 (Moon conjunct MC = publicity and popularity with the pubic!). The following is a brief consideration of her Fire-Air Sun Aries-Moon Gemini personality blend, plus, here's a word about today's planets affecting her natal chart:

May 13, 2019 transits: with Neptune floating through her 6th house of Health, the undermining of her physical condition at age 97 may have been ongoing. But what stands out to me are two things: first, she had a Venus Return only yesterday (May 12, 2019) and natal Venus sits very near her 8th cusp, the house of death; also the current Mars-Jupiter Rx opposition by transit has been ruffling her Moon (27Gem04) conjunct MC (24Gem57)--Mars to natal Moon (physical body) suggests negative potentials for fever, insomnia, excessive bleeding, colitis, ulcers and/or digestive upsets. Insect bites are possible, too, but surely they were of no consequence. Meanwhile expansive Jupiter during his retrograde phase (until August 11, 2019) has been crossing her natal Mars (19Sag05 3rd house) and natal IC (24Sag57, the Point of Endings). And of course, Jupiter rules her natal 4th house, is in her natal 1st house of Self and Physical Body, and links to conditions of the gall bladder, liver, and to any condition caused by or made worse by overindulgence. For when Jupiter acts negatively the phrase, "too much of a good thing" always comes to mind.

Now as you know, a Fire-Air personality is the "live wire" of the Zodiac, full of enthusiastic ideas, joie de vivre, and a talent for persuasion. Clever and charismatic, Miss Day was a delight to watch on Neptune's Silver Screen with her Virgo Ascendant making her 'virginal roles' believable. A Fire-Air blend tends toward social activism as we've seen with her animal rights interests yet on a personal level this combo may sometimes be out of touch with their true emotions. Naturally, a career in acting may have aided her to get in touch with her emotions and we see the blend's "eternal youthfulness" displayed through her on-screen characterizations. Light and fluffy, yes, but restlessness and superficiality can be hindrances within one's personal relationships--perhaps having four husbands are part of this picture, perhaps not.

Born under the influences of Sun in Mars-ruled Aries, Moon in Mercury-ruled Gemini indicates Day's humor, wit, and creativity especially in the realms of music. In fact, imho no one has ever sung Que Sera Sera better than Doris Day!

And yes, Sun Aries-Moon Gemini is a very romantic combination of energies inspired by knights in shining armor and princesses waiting to be rescued--and perhaps describes one who is a bit on the naive side. Yet a streak of impatience and an unwillingness to learn from experience may have also been noticed in the lady by those who knew her best.

"When a man gives his opinion he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion she's a *itch." - Bette Davis.

This blend is shared natally by actors Bette Davis, Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif, and Spencer Tracey, by sportscaster Howard Cossell, and by comedian Spike Milligan. It is also the personality blend of multiple composers including the venerable Joseph Haydn. Actually, one of the 'Images for Integration' for Sun Aries-Moon Gemini is Haydn's Farewell Symphony.

And on that note, Neptune's Silver Screen must say Farewell to a sparkling, glamorous Hollywood superstar, Doris Day. May she R.I.P.

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