https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherine_Deneuve_1969.jpg; Catherine Deneuve in The April Fools (1969)
If you wish, why not nab yourself a view of the natal horoscope of French actress and international beauty Catherine Deneuve whose birth data is rated AA for accuracy. Born in Paris, France on October 22, 1943 at 1:35 pm CET as Catherine Fabienne Doleac, her Sun in late Libra--ruled by lovely Venus--shines upon her beauty, while her natal Moon @13Leo57 reveals a youthful, emotional need to perform on stage and screen for the applause and recognition that Leo craves. Coming from an acting family, Deneuve (her mother's maiden name) came by the dramatic urge naturally, made her first film appearance age 12, and in 1992, Miss Deneuve was nominated for an Academy Award for her dramatic role in the film Indochine (link to a 2-minute trailer).
So upon hearing this evening that Catherine Deneuve had suffered a mild stroke in November 2019--thankfully resulting in no motor function damage--I became curious to check out astrological placements of her feminine goddess asteroids, if any. With such beauty and decades of popularity, surely there must be a few, mais oui? Well, imagine my surprise at first glance of her natal chart to discover that the transiting Sun this evening conjoins her natal Ascendant (11Cap08) as I type and so I'm casting a small spotlight her way, it seems!
Now a brief study of Catherine Deneuve's natal chart reveals an emphasis on planetary placements indicating fame and idol worship (rather than on asteroid placements) although it should be noted that Venus-ruled Libra is appropriately represented in the asteroid category by the pleasant feminine duo of Diana (the huntress suggesting her work with animal rights and her animal print fashions), and sexy, poetic Sappho. Natal Mercury and silver-screen planet Neptune are also in artful, creative Libra.
Lady Venus, goddess of love and beauty, is placed in virginal Virgo (sign of the goddess) near Miss Deneuve's natal Chiron with the pair suggesting early pain in love which results in deep wisdom in later years concerning relationships.
Now the dramatic, romantic sign of Leo takes center stage with her Jupiter, planet of acting, placed there along with Moon (the public) conjunct North Node (public contacts: Moon-NN = popularity and success), plus, powerful, passionate Pluto. Perhaps you'll agree that this is quite a Leonine stage full of glamorous thespians!
And since she's sometimes been called the "Ice Queen" for her cool beauty--in similar fashion to another cool beauty, actress Kim Novak, it's interesting to note that Deneuve's asteroid Isis is in the intense, sexy, passionate sign of Scorpio!
As for the feminine archetype that so often makes a cameo of goddess-like proportions here on Neptune's Silver Screen, her asteroid Lilith, the alluring seductress, is placed in the sparkling sign of Gemini which is a charming and Mercurial note on which to close this astro-tribute to the legendary Catherine Deneuve!
In part due to its adoption by early stage and film stars, Make-Up Went Mainstream as ladies were assured by advertisers and manufacturers that cosmetics didn't make them look 'bad' or inauthentic. With foundation, one assumes that 'evening out skin tone' was often a goal, then as now, with the result that actors' faces didn't fade under bright spotlights and their good features could be emphasized. And even then, perhaps the haggard look of a night out and subsequent hang-over benefited as well though for some big drinkers it may have taken more than one layer and a shovel before they reported for acting duties!
Do you perhaps have a moment or two for a trailer with a favorite actor of mine Cary Grant starring with Marlene in 1932's "stylish melodrama" Blonde Venus?
And so, in spite of the dubious chemicals in make-up (then as now!), film stars of any era wouldn't appear nearly as glamorous without their 'painted faces' and make-up tricks of the trade! And naturally, Neptune, planet of glamour, veils, masks, disguises, and film approves and was a driving force behind the early use of make-up on stage and in movies with the help of ravishing Venus, planet of beauty, art, decor, and romance, plus, a lift here and there from film-making's special effects!
Natal Astrology Reveals
Check out An Astro-Portrait of Cary Grant and the natal horoscope of Marlene Dietrichnee Marie Magdalena von Losch Dietrich (RR: AA) with Sun in early Capricorn, Moon in early Leo (sign of the entertainer), Ascendant in Virgo (the virgin and youthful looking when rising), and Midheaven ('MC' = The Goal Point) in the third decan of Venus-ruled Taurus, the builder.
Marlene as Ice Goddess
As for Dietrich's natal planets and asteroids, her Venus in cool Aquarius partially accounts for her ice goddess image and facial expressions while seductress asteroid Lilith is quite happy in sexy Scorpio. (See Venus through the Signs) for more details. Now Jupiter expands or increases whatever he touches in a chart, and hers conjoins asteroid Astraea, so often depicted as a starry goddess. Both planet and asteroid fall upon a critical degree (20 Capricorn). Astrological Astraea suggests many themes, justice among them, plus, the study of Astrology. But in relationships she may denote one who stays in relationships too long until the bitter end! Here are a few biographical details about her life including the fact that she and her husband lived together for only five years yet remained married until death did they part.
As you can imagine, her natal Moon (reigning need) in Leo, sign of the entertainer, craved applause, attention, and approval while her planetary line-up in Saturn-ruled Capricorn denotes quite a shrewd businesswoman--from her Mercury (2:17), Sun (5:25), Chiron (7:03), Saturn (her chart's final dispositor @17:12--in its own sign), Jupiter (20:25), and exalted-in-Capricorn Mars (25:57)--all posited in her 5th house of Creativity. (See Planet of Desire: Mars through the Signs for details.) Plus, Capricorn is a musical sign as her sultry singing voice can attest. Yet Dietrich's Moon squared her Scorpio Nodal Axis of public contacts (lunar nodes), so I'll guess that in her day she may have been more popular with men than with the ladies, as Cary Grant's character in the above clip apparently agrees. Brooding Scorpio also denotes the plutonian quality of some of her film roles, plus, Mars in Saturn-ruled Capricorn hints at her masculine tuxedo outfits and demeanor.
Astrological Neptune Prominent
Glamorous Neptune at the critical 29th degree of versatile Gemini in 10th house of Career and Public Status (and conjoining a Cardinal World Point of Fame and Fortune: 00Cancer) opposes both her Sun (personality, essence) and Mercury (thinking, communication, speaking, planning) suggesting early issues of confused identity and emotional insecurity especially in regard to authority figures, authenticity, and an inner sense of authority which had to be developed as she grew to adulthood. A father complex is suggested.
Actually, natal Sun-Neptune contacts are not unusual for thespians and her Mercury-Neptune aspect is prone to fantasies and daydreams--helpful for a career in acting which is one of the more positive ways to express these deceptive energies. Yet paranoia, suspicion, defiance, and fear of competition may have resulted as well due to Neptune's nebulous, undermining, and weakening influences although a fabulous and creative imaginary quality can still be seen exuding from Marlene's appearances on elusive Neptune's Silver Screen with Neptunian deception made to serve her showy Leo Moon on stage and in film.
By The National Archives UK (Mrs Langtry) [No restrictions or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
If you wish, check out the natal chart of Lillie Langtry, famous British stage actress and socialite at the turn of the 20th century and companion of the famed and powerful. Langtrey was one of King Edward VII's mistresses which may be read about in the book Lillie Langtry: Manners, Masks, and Morals.
Known as "Jersey Lillie" in her day, the Jersey-born actress joined the earthly flux on October 13, 1853 and most natal charts for her are listed for 6:00 am LMT (RR: DD). This gives Langtry an Air-Water Sun Libra-Moon Pisces personality blend which is shared by a lady I just astro-profiled this morning on my Political Astrology site because she's in the news today--Hope Hicks, longest serving aide to Donald Trump and current White House Director of Communications. Follow the link for details on the people-pleasing Sun Libra-Moon Pisces personality blend.
And although Miss Langtry was a stage actress, Neptunian qualities such as being glamourous, beautiful, and photogenic still complimented her career in front of audiences and her status as a 'sex symbol' of her day so because these things concern us, let's consider her planets and asteroids of the glamorous, goddess-like kind for some clues to her thespian talent and romantic nature.
Obviously, Sun in Venus-ruled Libra provides beauty while her elusive Pisces Moon suggests the necessary creative imagination an acting career requires. Natal Venus, planet of the attraction principle, is posited in sexy Scorpio while Mars is in romantic Leo, a placement that suggests unbridled passion. And in the 6:00 am chart, Libra is rising which adds to her physical gifts and Moon-ruled Cancer is on her Midheaven which adds the goal or aspiration for publicity to her career sector.
Meanwhile, glamorous, romantic, dreamy Neptune Rx is strong in its own sign of Pisces @11Pis21 so she actually had a three-fer Neptune Return from April 2016 to February 2017. Electrifying Uranus is in Taurus and will be so again starting on May 15, 2018, so a Uranus Return will be upcoming as well. I mention this because Langtry was born under Uranus sextile Meptune which tends toward mysticism and occult studies, and of course the sign Pisces is in favor of the metaphysical. The sextile (60 degrees = opportunity) may also have given her a more intriguing persona and chances to shine with a bright and inspring creative expression. And if her Moon and Neptune are close enough, free expression was her expectation if not her demand in life and this would have aided her onstage performances and in the more libertine lifestyle of romance that she chose with social norms and boundaries broken for nebulous Neptune likes to merge and the natal Moon rules emotions. And in similar fashion, Jupiter in its own sign of Sagittarius suggests a boundary-breaking spirit and sense of adventure with Jupiter a planet of thespians.
As for Miss Langtry's love and beauty asteroids, Eros and Lilith are in Venus-ruled Libra, sign of relationships, intimate Amor is Rx in Venus-ruled Taurus, sign of the lusty Bull, and sexy Sappho is in just-as-sexy Scorpio. Goddess asteroid Isis is posited in the bright and chatty sign of Gemini which often tends to provide its owner with a certain sparkle and an entertaining wit. After all, monarchs must be kept entertained!
Then there's a wide conjunction (orb 9 degrees) between novelty-loving Uranus with the intense planet of sex, Pluto (also in earthy Taurus) which probably gave Miss Langtry a claim to being a force within her environment. However, the planet of thinking processes and communications, Mercury, is posited in Libra so a certain grace would have been evident in her professional and personal relationships and suggests a potential for diplomatic skills as can any planet placed in Libra.
Now let's consider the Pre-Natal Solar Eclipse Series into which Lillie Langtry was born, the intriguing 8 North. This series contains exciting themes of flashes of genius and inventiveness (great for thespians and other creative types), and vivid dreams and visions (Brady's Predictive Astrology). In our day, 8 North last manifested in 2006 @8Aries and will do so again in 2024 @19Aries, the Sun's degree of exaltation.
Debuting onstage in 1881, Lillie Langtry would have been approximately 28 years old which points toward a Saturn Return (1Gem03 Rx)--planet of reality and well-earned benefits--when her vivid dream of stage acting, fame, and fortune was brought into reality and any hard work would have been fairly rewarded!
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Now where are your natal Venus and Mars? For more details on this romantic pair in each of the 12 signs, try this and this!
By Self made screen capture from a public domain film trailer Licencing information: http://www.creativeclearance.com/guidelines.html#D2 Trailer can be viewed here; there's no copyright notice. (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes trailer) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Perhaps you'll agree that the most perfect Lilith-Venus Neptunian goddess of them all is Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortensen on June 1, 1926 for she personaifies the glamorous Lilith archetype with her translucent looking skin on celluloid! Add the magic of Hollywood illusion to her natural beauty and you have a Silver Screen legend of extraordinary ability and a life cut short. Her close links to underworld figures and politicians increased the dangerous power she possessed if she ever vowed to spill the beans, a vow I believe she riskily made.
Yes, it is tempting to post here Marilyn's death chart though of course there are several charts to work from given the conflicting evidence and the uncertainty of her exact time of death--or the cause. Poison in the form of prescription drugs would be the method whether purposefully done or accidentally self-administered. If by another's hand perhaps it was via enema or perhaps an injection under a toenail. And though I've always intended to publish on this tragedy for Marilyn's sake, its complexity places it beyond the scope of this post which is meant as a fond tribute so you may wish to check out Killing the Legend for more details, pro and con.
However, her life ending at age 36 implicates the timing of planet Jupiter, of course, which you can see in her natal horoscope, below, @26AQ49 in the 7th house of Partnerships and Open Enemies along with her Moon, also in Aquarius, denoting fluctuating (and publicized) relationships (and perhaps a woman as an open enemy). Marilyn's final Jupiter Return (an approximately 12-year cycle) occurred on March 11, 1962 about 6 months prior to her death. Are there intimations of violence in the Return chart? Yes, and in her natal horoscope, too, but that's an avenue off our main path today.
Now as gorgeous as she is in photographs, we really must see her in action, mustn't we? So here is a brief excerpt from the 1953 hit Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell with Marilyn's famous line, "There's a wonderful moon out tonight!"
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Before we begin our astro-portrait, you may want to consult astrologer Dr. Liz Greene regarding Marilyn's Psychological Horoscope Analysis. I suspect that Miss Monroe's therapists might have benefited from reading it. And please note that the following natal chart assessment in no way references that of Dr. Greene but is only the effort of yours truly!
The Shining Stars of Gemini Marilyn Monroe
by Jude Cowell
Marilyn's list of goddess asteroids is...stellar (sorry!) and include two in 10th house of Career and Public Status: Lilith @29Taurus and Isis @4Gemini (notated on the chart--please enlarge for viewing). Actually, gold-lover MIDAS is even there as well and even closer to her Midheaven (MC), the Goal Point of all charts. This hints at her famous song, 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' as in the photo, above!
Also near MC on the 9th house side (Foreign Lands) is beautiful Venus herself in Mars-ruled Aries--yet there is interference from wounded Chiron @00Taurus, which some believe is a degree of violence (00-1 Taurus) but let's not go into that at the moment (perhaps in another post or an e-book if my ducks can be aligned). Still, a Venus-Chiron conjunction indicates one who sacrifices herself on the altar of love and we can probably agree that she did just that repeatedly and with her subsequent disappointment made very public (MC).
But perhaps a most telling asteroid for Marilyn Monroe is Demeter, a fertility goddess which is penned directly on her MC and in fertile Taurus, Earth sign of growth and development. And with her Ceres in 1st house (Physical Body), we see Marilyn's focus on devoted mothering which she didn't have a chance to fulfill (or perhaps the abortion gossip was tragically true, plus, rumors of miscarriages). It was demonstrably very difficult for her though I suppose lifestyle choices may have interfered with successful pregnancies by which I mean drug use, including alcohol, and the possibility that she suffered from epilepsy which can be a potential of one of her natal midpoint pictures: Uranus-Neptune = Sun.
(An epileptic condition, if present, could in part explain her always-late behavior on film sets, in my opinion. However, a deep sense of inferiority and her chronic depression were enough to block creative efforts. Years ago--sorry I don't remember the source--I read that she had been taking a drug usually prescribed for epilepsy and it was suggested that it was to aid her debilitating insomnia, if memory serves.)
Now natal Sun @10Gemini rules the chart and makes no major applying aspects to other planets which emphasizes the Sun's sign (Gemini) and house (10th). If you notice on the chart, the shape of it is a Splay pattern, an indicator of one who is very individualistic with many talents and gifts, and this supports her Sun which is basically unaspected but for a minor semi-square to her Scorpio Saturn in 4th house and retrograde (Rx). A semi-square (45 degrees) is also a health indicator due to low-grade stress--here between her vitality (Sun) and calcium-ruling Saturn.
Plus, Saturn Rx denotes difficult father issues such as a dad who isn't there.
Yet it is Mercury, planet of thinking processes, communications, and the senses, that is the Final Dispositor of the chart and all the planets. Dualistic Gemini, as we saw with actress Gene Tierney, is a brilliant and versatile communicator, actor, and much else, even a magician. Yet its burden can be the Dark and Light Twins, double stars Castor and Pollux.
Both stars lend creativity to the nature but also can trigger an inner fear that one might at some point in life "go crazy". This fear, associated with the dualism of Gemini, can play tricks upon the mind especially when a mental or an emotional incapacity of any sort lies within the family such as with Norma Jean's mother who had to be institutionalized. Mother-child issues of loss and separation are often present as with both Marilyn and Gene Tierney, and psychiatric treatment is often needed and sought. This can bring prescription drugs into the life yet again, such a topic is beyond the scope of this tribute (as are the Kennedy brothers, or her other paramours).
As you see on the chart, lower right, I've written notes concerning her T-Square pattern formed by a difficult Moon-Neptune opposition (creative yet irrational like mom; deep need for the 'ideal' relationship; self-delusion) pointing toward her 4th house Saturn Rx (dad; sense of authenticity and authority). There are enough issues within the Moon-Neptune-Saturn trio to keep several therapists busy for years and years and it's overlaid with a Water (emotional-intuitional) Grand Trine if we count the North Node (public contact/publicity, but also related to mother--North Node of the Moon). A Water Grand Trine is a very creative pattern which emphasizes the protective quality of all trines (120 degrees) which are usually considered beneficial (though they can also 'grease the skids').
But for Marilyn, this trine includes the harsh combination of Mars and Saturn so let's say that things could have been more beneficial here than Mars-Saturn with its destructive energy and destroyed vitality implications (Ebertin). After all, Saturn is the earthly father and Mars represents males--one birth father never there for her and probably too many males in her life that wanted to objectify and use her! Plus, Mars in murky Pisces hints at unreliable and/or deceptive males especially with eccentric Uranus nearby--and both planets in the sexy 8th house. Secretive behavior is promised here along with parties (orgies?) and the negative escapism that Pisces is often attracted to. And that goes for Marilyn herself for the sign of Uranus describes how one behaves. Some form of theft may also be indicated by Uranus in Pisces along with the quality of genius. And as you see, Uranus conjoins the Aries Point of Fame and Fortune--though please note that I've mismarked a star conjunct Uranus--Regulus, which should be penned at the end of Leo near her 1st-house Ceres. Mea culpa!
Then for Marilyn's associations with powerful men, we look to her Pluto-North Node conjunction while appreciating her powerful (Pluto) effect on the public (NN). Pluto-NN is also known as the 'tiger by the tail' duo and their conjunction from 13Cancer to 16Cancer+ contains two notable stars and two asteroids. First @13Cancer is Sirius, the goddess star of Egypt (aka, Isis in star lore, and The Scorcher) and Canopus, often found in the charts of film stars who go on voyages. Canopus is also the plumb line with end-of-life connotations.
The two asteroids are Moon goddess Diana conjoined with the North Node of destiny, and Hopi (conjunct saboteur Pluto), with keywords: prejudice and ambush. This grouping relates to Marilyn's tragic and untimely death on August 5 (or 4), 1962 but alas, such an assessment shall remain beyond the scope of our astro-portrait and fond tribute to Miss Marilyn Monroe!
By Photography: Frank Bez (Ms. Novak's private collection) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
If you take a peek at the natal horoscope and brief bio of film star Kim Novak, nee Marilyn Pauline Novak on February 13, 1933 at 6:13 am CST Chicago, Illinois, you'll find a shy child who grew into a popular Aquarian beauty. Unsurprisingly, Kim won a beauty contest at age 20 and proceeded to work in the film industry until she left Hollywood in 1966 for some 'me time' at the beach.
During her career, Kim became known for such films as Alfred Hitchcock's
Vertigo (1958) and The Man with the Golden Arm starring Frank Sinatra as detailed in her Wikipedia bio. If you wish, have a peek at Frank's bio and natal chart with his creative Neptune in show business Leo conjunct Midheaven, the Career Point. Frank Sinatra was born with Sun Sagittarius-Moon Pisces on December 12, 1915 at 3:00 am (Rated A, from memory) with 28 Libra rising, in Hoboken, New Jersey.
But back to our cool beauty! When she returned to show business in the 1980s, Kim Novak appeared on the TV soap opera Falcon Crest and in the 1980 film, The Mirror Crack'd with Elizabeth Taylor (whose natal Sun @7Pisces conjoins Kim's natal North Node!), Rock Hudson (whose natal Ascendant @1Lib28 conjoins Kim's natal Moon!), and Angela Lansbury (whose natal Moon @1Lib28 precisely conjoins Hudson's natal Ascendant (1:28) and is in the same sign and degree as Kim Novak's natal Moon.
Sounds as if they had a sociable time (Libra) filming The Mirror Crack'd while making friends or reuniting with very familiar old ones! Here's a trailer for the film:
Check out this TV Guide interview Kim did in 2013 where she opens up on several topics including the scandal of her reputed affair with Sammy Davis Jr!
And Now for a Little More Astrology:
Kim Novak's personality blend of Sun (conscious mind; adulthood) and Moon (the unconscious; childhood) is a sociable double-Air affair of intelligence, grace, and thoughtfulness yet it does not provide a sense of self-importance. Self-reflection is more like! Romance and idealism may be notable along with a "gentle dignity," charm, and a preference for being only an associate of the 'in crowd' (such as Joey Bishop's and Sinatra's Rat Pack). However, there is a certain attraction to glamour and style for one born under the AQ-Libra combination of energies of detached, idealistic, friendly Aquarius blended with beauty-and-art-loving Libra, sign of cultural events such as art openings! And we can see how her 1st house Sun, Mercury, and North Node of public contact brought her notice and aided her career of shining (Sun) before the public (NN).
As for Miss Novak's glamorous and romantic asteroids, they are:
Intimate Amor @10Pisces (where transiting Neptune is this very day--10Pis31!), erotic Eros @14Sag, sexy Sappho Rx @11Libra, and seductress Lilith @21Sag (adventurous Sagittarius, and Lilith engaged in a wide conjunction with Eros). Vestal Virgin Vesta is in earthy Taurus (26:07) conjoining the enraged stars of the Pleiades constellation--lots of drama lurks there.
Plus, a significant pile-up of planets and asteroids rises with Kim Novak's natal Ascendant (Physical Body; the Self):
Goddess Venus (7AQ34) has just arisen followed closely by Saturn denoting that hers was perhaps a difficult birth especially since health asteroid Aesculapia rises, too. Others rising are Pallas (wisdom; the daughter) and goddess Isis--all within the 7-to-10-degree range of Aquarius and contributing to the actress's cool looks and dignified demeanor. Why, with Isis rising on her Ascendant, we might even say that Kim Novak is the goddess Isis!
And we might wonder, in the case of a cool beauty such as Aquarian Kim Novak, is it a coincidence that archetypal 'Isis' sounds very much like frozen ice?
By Studio photographer, Ernest A. Bachrach (eBay) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Why not pour yourself a tropical beverage, relax, and watch the lovely Delores del Rio as volcano-bound Luana in RKO-Radio Pictures' 1932 extravaganza, The Bird of Paradise, co-starring Joel McCrea (he sings) and legendary actor Lon Chaney Jr of horror film fame:
Public domain
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Delores del Rio (nee, Lolita Delores Martinez Asunsolo Lopez Negrette) was born August 3, 1904 at 6:45 am LMT in Durango, Mexico (RR: AA; quoted BC/BR). Her Sun @10Leo45 and Moon @29Ari14 (conjunct Jupiter also @29Aries, a critical or crisis degree) denotes a double Fire personality giving her a hot, volatile, dramatic, passionate, and creative temperament. A Moon-Mars square only added an explosive quality to her nature, in other words: the lady had a temper! More than likely, Delores threw herself into her endeavors with the full force of an enthusiastic, romantic Leo (the Lion), ruled by the Sun (essence; ego). In relationships, insensitivity to the feelings of others may have caused problems and as you may know, one of her romantic partners was Orson Welles in 1942 when she was 38 and he was 27. (Note: Orson's horoscope and handsome visage will appear quite soon on Neptune's Silver Screen so subscribe or something to keep informed--he's a real doozy!)
As for the Sun Leo-Moon Aries personality blend of Delores del Rio her Mars-ruled Moon also increased her passion and sizzle with the sign of the Moon denoting a reigning need (Tyl). For Delores, her reigning need had to do with lusty Mars, ruler of males, desire, and being active: Del Rio had no offspring (North Node in Capricorn = parental responsibilities too burdensome?) and was a great believer in "diet, rest, and yoga." This sensible regimen obviously worked because she kept her good looks into older age, passing away at age 79 on April 4, 1983 in Newport Beach, California.
For a brief bio and a peek at her natal horoscope visit astro.com.
Now here are her goddess asteroids in order of Zodiacal sign and please note that if you view her horoscope, the position of Lilith on the following list refers to the asteroid Lilith; there are at least three bodies or points in Astrology that go by the name, Lilith:
Intimate Amor @28Taurus conjunct Midheaven (MC; 25Tau18), the Career Point--asteroid and MC are within the realms of the Pleiades constellation of stars denoting feminine passion and rage;
Seductress Lilith @9Gemini near Moon goddess Diana @12Gemini--double the allure;
Erotic, piercing Eros @29Cancer, another critical 29th degree hinting at danger;
Four goddesses are in dramatic, romantic Leo: Vestal virgin Vesta @3Leo; sexy Sappho @5Leo conjunct US natal North Node of Public Contact; romantic Cupido @7Leo; and the ultimate goddess, Isis @15Leo opposing Juno (the wife) @15Aquarius. Obviously, the Leo-AQ axis is weighted on the side of romantic Leo though she may have tended to remain friends (AQ) with her lovers after the flames had died. And of course, Isis @15Leo (the lion point) falls between her natal Sun @10Leo and Venus @18Leo, a pair of planets that when conjoined often denote popular actors who can become whoever others want them to be.
In addition, there is one more goddess asteroid which may be significant for Delores del Rio's public image on the Silver Screen and it is placed @18Sagittarius, sign of travel and adventure: beautiful Circe, the siren which seems appropriate for an actress in films involving islands, sailors, waves, tides, and alluring women of the sea!
Link: a trailer for Saratoga starring Jean Harlow and Clark Gable (1937). Apologies that the film clip with Cary Grant has been removed (sorry!) but on Blogger a post's title cannot be changed...or else!
Also note that this post is being updated June 7, 2018, the 81st anniversary of the death of the luminous Jean Harlow of renal failure, age 26. Saturn Return time? Yes. But tragically, the lady deserved better.
An Astro-Portrait of Jean Harlow
by Jude Cowell
If you wish, read a brief bio and view the natal horoscope of Jean Harlow who was born on March 3, 1911 at 7:40 pm CST in Kansas City, Missouri; Rodden Rating: AA (BC in hand); Hour of the Sun. Naturally March 3rd identifies The Blonde Bombshell as having Sun in Watery Pisces, the imaginative sign of creativity and compassion, ruled traditionally by expansive thespian Jupiter and sub-ruled by the glamorous planet of acting, illusion, and the Silver Screen, Neptune, seen here in her 10th house of Career:
Now since her birth data is accurate we know that Harlow's natal Moon is in Aries ruled by pushy Mars which gives her a Sun Pisces-Moon Aries personality combination of Water and Fire...steamy! Although Jean Harlow, nee Harleen Carpenter, was active in films for only 10 years (1928 --1937) she made 36 movies! At age 18, a major career break came in 1930 when Howard Hughes cast Jean in the role of the "sexy, voluptuous blond" in Hell's Angels, a war film. Hmm...apparently Howard Hughes played the role in Jean's natal chart and life of wealthy Pluto conjunct Cupido! (see her goddess asteroids, below.)
Her Pisces Sun in the Virgo-Pisces Victim-Savior Axis
As mentioned, her Sun (vitality) is in Pisces which is also the sign of contagion, infection, and illness. Harlow suffered serious illnesses in her childhood such as meningitis age 5 and scarlet fever age 15. She left home at 16 to marry and get away from a home situation: a 'gangster' stepdad and an overbearing mother (see the top of her chart with Neptune and Pluto, an underworld crime/occult pair of energies). Soon the young couple moved to Beverly Hills, California. However, an abusive husband victimized Jean so badly that it caused internal injuries which was not properly treated at the time and which weakened her later on. Jean Harlow tragically died at age 26 of cerebral edema and uremia on June 7, 1937 in Los Angeles.
Her Planetary Patterns: a YOD, T-Square, and Grand Trine
To an astrologer, the 26th year suggests an early response to her Saturn Return (a 28 to 30 year cycle) which can be difficult for health matters if there are medical conditions from the past that can come back to haunt. Unfortunately, this was the case for the lovely and popular Jean Harlow though her date of death on June 7, 1937 (hour unknown) shows transit Saturn @3Ari52--conjunct natal Venus on her Descendant and transit Venus @2Tau51 conjunct natal Saturn in the 8th house of Death. And Ebertin gives the Venus-Saturn pair as a potential for "kidney disease." It isn't unusual to see a double transit of this nature at the time of death and in this case, Venus is Harlow's chart-ruler (Libra rising), restrictive Saturn is on an angle (Descendant), natal Saturn is in natal 8th house, and there is a health pattern formed at birth--a crisis-ridden YOD configuration (highlighted in red and listed, lower right) pointing to her Ascendant, the Physical Body. The YOD and other chart factors such as Jupiter conjunct South Node suggest that Jean inherited physical weaknesses, plus, Chiron (the wound; the weak spot) sextiles (60 degrees) Saturn (the earthly father) which forms the base of the YOD pattern. Both Jupiter and Saturn are references to Dad and his DNA.
You note the Water Grand Trine (highlighted in blue) between her Sun, Jupiter, and Neptune which is a protective pattern, a closed circuit of energies making her hard to get to know on a personal level. In Water signs (Cancer-Scorpio-Pisces) a need for protection from threat and harm and her psychic sensitivity are emphasized. This pattern denotes an escapist who tends to withdraw from the world in order to dream but also shows great creativity and a talent for sensing underground currents and trends within the Collective.
Jean's Midpoint Pictures
Now there are some natal midpoint pictures containing potentials for health problems as well: Mars-Saturn (the 'death axis') = Sun:weak vitality; inability to master all situations; death; a T-Square pattern of Mars-Neptune (infection) = Moon (also indicative of the physical body; Mars opposing Neptune strains her Moon): illness; infection; crooks. Her two other midpoint pictures are on the romantic and creative side:
Venus-Mars = Mercury:thoughts of love; actors, writers: thinking of marriage and progeny (she wanted to have a baby!) and Mercury-North Node = Venus:an art association; a love relationship (R. Ebertin.) With midpoint pictures we can say that whenever Jean's natal Sun, Moon, Mercury, or Venus were or are activated by transit or progression, these midpoint pictures--two health related, two romance related--are or were triggered as well.
An indicator of urinary disease or weakness that is aggravated is marked upon the chart--her Moon conjunct asteroid Bacchus whose mythology denotes overuse of alcohol and/or other drugs which affected her physically (Moon), plus, her Moon is ruled by Mars (Aries), a planet associated with infections, fevers, and surgical tools--the ones she didn't have a chance to profit by, thanks to her odd and overbearing mother (Moon in Aries), the legend goes. Mother became a religious fanatic which also is indicated by Bacchus conjunct the Moon.
Yes, the story of Jean Harlow is tragic yet I didn't know how to write this tribute without mentioning the Astrology of her brief life and death so please pardon if this isn't what you expected. Now let's list her glamorous and romantic goddess asteroids before we close:
Urania rising; Juno (the wife) in 1st house opposing natal Moon and Bacchus; glamorous Neptune and goddess star Sirius in 10th house of Career and Public Status; Cupido (romantic cupid but also corporations and The Syndicate) conjunct powerful Pluto in 9th house near her MC; Sappho (sexual relationships) in 9th h but conjunct a difficult star, Alcyone of the Pleiades (something to cry about); Vesta (the vestal virgin) in 8th h with her North Node (NN = public contact); erotic Eros and Pallas (the daughter) in 6th h of Health, Work, and Service; Amor (intimacy) just barely in 4th h of Home and Domestic Scene but influencing her 5th h of Romance and Creative Pursuits.
You must agree that The Blonde Bombshell was a very glamorous star of the Silver Screen but sadly was born with poor health, victimized in her private life by people who should've protected her, and in the end did not possess the stamina (Pisces Sun weak in the 6th house of Health) to enjoy the popularity and success that she achieved during her brief 26 years on Earth.
For more info on Jean Harlow be sure to visit Jean Harlow, her official website.
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Now here's an astro-portrait of the dapper Mr. Cary Grant in case you missed it!
A Fond Tribute to Hedy Lamarr through the Lens of Astrology
by Jude Cowell
Have you ever noticed that the actress' screen name 'Lamarr' is 'the Mars', planet of desire? And did you know that Lamarr was half of a duo who made a scientific breakthrough on what they then called frequency hopping and which is now known as spread spectrum? A book Spread Spectrum: Hedy Lamarr and the mobile phone can tell you all about it for she was much 'more than a pretty face', as they say. For after all, Scorpio is a very intelligent, deeply probing sign with often a scientific bent which benefited the war effort via her and George Antheil's invention of a 'secret communications system'. In fact, in recognition of their work in 1941, Lamarr (1914--2000) and Antheil (1900--1959) were inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014. Though 17 degrees apart, her thinking planet Mercury and action planet Mars are also in Scorpio, you see!
Plus, Lamarr was born under the influence of a major conjunction denoting a facility for deep concentration and hard work: Saturn conjunct Pluto, both at 1 Cancer which is within range of one of the Cardinal Points of Fame, Recognition, Prominence, and Fortune (00Cancer00). And having a 'lucky break' pair like Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Uranian Aquarius was helpful for her, too, and offered her chances for long distance travel. Actually Jupiter-Uranus is the breakthrough pair that all pioneers and inventors wish to have!
Now hers is mainly a Water-drenched chart (lots of Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) so emotions, moods, insights, and intuition are very much emphasized. Inspired by the softening, creative rays of Lamarr's dreamy, veiling Moon-Neptune conjunction in theatrical Leo, let us turn back toward the Hollywood Hills...
Hedy Lamarr is known as the first woman to appear totally sans clothing on the Silver Screen though this is a dubious distinction according to some folk (moi among them!) so it seems that the concept of being first--of possessing a pioneering spirit--tallies well with the Mars in her name since pioneering, adventurous, even lusty Mars in Astrology is known as the me-first planet, the I AM...the impulse to be...and rules impetuous Aries (the Ram), the first sign in the Tropical Zodiac.
And as you know, her Sun-Mercury-Mars sign of Scorpio is ruled by Mars and sub-ruled by sexy, obsessed, controlling, ravishing Pluto. For Hedy Lamarr, the words sultry and mysterious come easily to mind.
Born November 9, 1914 at 7:30 pm MET in Vienna, Austria (rated A; from memory) with glamorous Lilith in sensual Taurus and Silver Screen Neptune in dramatic, entertaining, romantic Leo conjoined with 'goddess' Luna, the Moon, the natal horoscope of Hedy Lamarr shows this most beautiful Austrian-American actress to be a Moon-ruled creature with Cancer rising and Pisces at Midheaven and very much influenced by nebulous Neptunevia their conjunction. As you know, astrological Neptune (the ancient undersea god in Mythology) is often described as a planet of glamour and illusion, the currency of the Hollywood film industry (and the namesake planet of this tribute blog!) The amount of Water signs in her chart indicates that tears may have been easy for her to conjure on cue, a handy talent for any actress.
Now let's go through her natal planets in their signs to gain perhaps a clearer picture of Hedy Lamarr as a person:
Sun--she was, in her essence, a Scorpio; Moon--she felt and emoted as a self-protective yet nurturing Cancer; Mercury--she thought and communicated intensely as a Scorpio; Venus--she attracted and was attracted by foreign cultures and people, and loved as an adventurous, fun-loving Sagittarian; Mars--she acted as a Scorpio; Jupiter--she related as an Aquarian (friendly?); Saturn--she controlled, organized, worked, and feared as a Cancer; Uranus--she behaved as an Aquarian (aloof? snobbish?); Neptune--she dreamed as a romantic Leo; Pluto--she obsessed as a self-protective, security-anxious Cancer. Her wound or blind spot: Chiron in Pisces which denotes her having a mentor or guru for guidance; her North Node (future direction; public contact) is in creative, compassionate yet escape-prone Pisces, sign of the Two Fish: one swimming up toward spirit and one swimming down into the depths.
Here's a trailer of Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature starring in director Cecil B. DeMille's 1949 Biblical epic Sampson and Delilah along with a few actors' names you may recognize plus, "a cast of thousands"--and you know that Delilah is another version of the classic archetype of the seductress in the icon-goddess tradition of Lilith-Isis-Venus:
Now I ask you: is there a more perfectly titled film to appear here on Neptune's Silver Screen than Hedy Lamarr starring in The Heavenly Body? The plot of the film involves an astronomer vs astrologer theme with lovely Hedy as the glamorous Lilith in between! William Powell (Sun Leo-Moon Libra) also stars.
Well, perhaps we should end our Hedy Lamarr tribute with a mention of the ongoing enigma of how Hedy Lamarr and British actress Vivien Leigh look so much alike! Here's a photo of Vivien though her natal horoscope will be featured in a later post--probably in tandem with the natal chart of Laurence Olivier (for obvious reasons). What do you think of their resemblance? Close enough for you?
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Content in Public domain; text by author, all rights reserved, social sharing allowed
Image: By Bain News Service (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.32453) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Many fans of silent film star Louise Brooks are acquainted with The Louise Brooks Society, an 'homage to silent films' and dedicated to "one of the most seductive...images of woman" to ever appear on film. Naturally astrologers recognize the seductive Lilith archetype here and we will be noting the position of asteroid Lilith and other glamorous archetypes in her natal horoscope, below. We'll check on her asteroid Pandora as well because Louise's most famous role was Lulu in the film Pandora's Box. In her natal chart (below) you'll find asteroid PANDORA @18Libra near her natal Mars and seductress Lilith near her Scorpio Sun along with Persephone, Pluto's unwilling love interest in Greek Mythology!
But first...
News Flash: On the weekend of January 16, 2016 there will be an EPIC Event: Pandora's Box screens at LACMA in Los Angeles, California with pianist Michael Motilla performing improvised scores from five silent films including Pandora's Box on Sunday January 17th. LACMA is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Pandora's Box (1929) "depicts the social realities of the Weimar Republic..."
Astrologers may wish to note that there is a natal horoscope for Germany's Weimar Republic: November 9, 1918 13:30 CET Berlin, Germany; 12AQ54 rising; MC 10Sag24; Sun 16Sco18; Moon 19Cap48. (N. Campion chart #125, The Book of World Horoscopes.)
Now when most people recall early Hollywood film star Louise Brooks it's her stylishly bobbed hair ('Prince Valiant') that seems to be best remembered. But here's an informative video on the life of Louise Brooks which begins with a difficult childhood episode that may help account for her seductive adult behavior (Lilith!) though of course she also was a freedom-loving young woman of her era, the Roaring Twenties! For you see, a neighbor molested her when she was nine years old--and her mother blamed Louise:
Also Recommended: a full documentary from BBC Arena (55 minutes) with Louise speaking about her life and films along with narration, film clips, and the story of how James Card of the Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York, rescued a run-down Louise from a New York tenement and made a new life for her possible. Her last years successfully writing articles for various magazines here and abroad may be found via her Mercury-Venus conjunction in Sagittarius, sign of foreign lands, as you'll see.
Update Jan 8, 2016: just found an excellent article about the career of director G. W. Pabst, Opening Pandora's Box. Perhaps you know that G. W. Pabst developed not only the acting talent of Louise Brooks--but also of Greta Garbo!
An Astro-Portrait of Louise Brooks by Jude Cowell
Image: Louise Brooks' natal horoscope set for 'noon' November 14, 1906 Cherryvale, Kansas; Hour of the Sun (21Sco27) with the Moon ranging from 21Libra27 to 6Scorpio49; Luna crossed asteroid Juno (the wife) during the 24-hour period and the Sun approached asteroids Persephone (of kidnapper Pluto and Hades fame), glamorous Lilith, and erotic Eros.
My guess for her would be a Scorpio Moon because of the betrayal vibes it suggests coming from mother (Moon) who, as noted, refused to believe Louise when she told her she'd been molested by a neighbor. The incident was perpetrated via his putting candy on his porch to entice her to his house, if the legend is correct. And looking at a Solar Return chart for her birthday, age 9, (November 14, 1915 using the 'Noon' natal to calculate), we find a crisis-ridden YOD pattern which points toward lusty Mars @18Leo, sign of romance. A YOD times a turning point in her life. There's a dynamic T-Square pointing toward deceptive Neptune Rx in early Leo which indicates that she didn't know what to think of someone or something and that she was 'open to deception' (Tyl) and the planet of shocks and disruption, Uranus, conjoins one of the victim stars, Facies.
To check out her two possible Sun-Moon blends, read on...
As noted, the natal horoscope of Louise Brooks is untimed and is best calculated as either a solar chart (sunrise: career or hero's journey issues) or as a Noon chart with Sun on or near Midheaven (MC), the Why? Point of any chart and the most visible spot (angle) of a horoscope. The MC reveals information about a native's Career, Public Status, and Aspirations in life so it works quite well for famous persons. And the MC is part of the Parental axis, the 4th/10th, so it touches on security and family matters as well.
However, with Brooks' birth time unknown, the following astro-portrait of the lovely Lilith-Venus-Isis-Selena-Pandora-Persephone Hollywood icon Louise Brooks is based on her planets, their signs, degrees, aspects, her Sun-Moon personality blend, feminine asteroids, and her Pre-Natal Eclipse series since house angles cannot be determined with certainty.
Our 'Noon' Astro-Portait of Louise Brooks reveals her Sun @21Scorpio and Moon @28Libra49. However, if born after 1:53 pm, her Moon would have entered brooding, intense Scorpio so let's compare both Sun-Moon personality blends to see if one or the other fits her personality better:
Sun Scorpio-Moon Libra is a misty, ethereal Water-Air combination of conscious (Sun; adult) and unconscious (Moon; child) energies and denotes procrastination, impracticality and a lack of strategy in creative fields. Note that in the BBC arena video, above, she states that she was never an actress and had no idea what she was doing--that she was playing herself in her film roles! But when writing she knew what she was doing.
Sun Scorpio-Moon Libra keys the sign rulership of Mars-Pluto and Venus. There is an intense magnetic quality and charisma with this combo, a pragmatic idealism, and a tendency toward expensive taste. Quietly ambitious, this blend describes one who can be charmingly cooperative and/or emotionally difficult and demanding. This is the "tough cookie" combo yet with a deep need to be liked--one who may say No when she means Yes, and Yes when she means No--and is not loved by everyone! (She wasn't--ex: fellow actor Richard Arlen.)
Perhaps some people objected to a tendency to use manipulative tactics when she was feeling insecure, or an assumption that she was being fair and impartial (Libra words) when emotional needs were dictating her behavior. Whatever reason some contemporaries formed a dislike of her, I belatedly remind them that much of her acting career occurred she was in her teens and then her 20s--and they were the adults in the room, and jealous of her looks and talent, I suspect! Anyway, Louise was perceptive, romantic, and had the happy ability to think on her feet; passion and charm combine engagingly with Sun Scorpio-Moon Libra the Moon sign of Libra describes her reigning need (Tyl) which is all things Libra (Venus) including love, fairness, relationships, harmony, beautiful possessions, pleasure, and fun.
Or Was Her Moon in Scorpio, Ruled by Mars w/ Pluto undertones and drives?
Sun Scorpio-Moon Scorpio is quite a more intense, even brooding, blend of double Water energies. This denotes one who 'drinks in life's experiences' and 'goes with the flow' most of the time. A fertile imagination and a tendency to tear up over sentiments and anything nostalgic is typical with Water-Water blends.
The wary, private Sun Scorpio-Moon Scorpio blend is self-possessed and indicates many passionate feelings, stubbornness, strong convictions, stamina, and drive. The Arts and in particular, Music, attract. This is the 'desire vs self-control' mix that can turn possessive, jealous, sarcastic, and vengeful. Imaginative, willful, and introspective, Sun Scorpio-Moon Scorpio is not a good loser and is unconsciously drawn to powerful, hidden, mysterious things; a fascination with horror stories, sex, and death may be evident. (Her characters in at least two of her movies I've seen were killed at the end including 'Lulu' in Pandora's Box--imagine my surprise to find Lulu with London's Jack the Ripper!
Actually, double Scorpio is the 'addicted to love' combo with strong desires and deep creative potential which can be limited by a cynical and suspicious nature. The reigning need of a Scorpio Moon reveals more sexy desires and perhaps a death wish on a deep level. However, control is part of the Scorpio picture along with investment, money, and perhaps occult pursuits.
So what do you think? Do you see Louise Brooks as an airier Libra on the emotional level, rather aloof, or, an intense, dark, brooding, passionate Scorpio with black eyes and black hair?Her smoldering screen image suggests a Scorpio Moon yet artistic, cool Libra works, too!
As for her solar Scorpio personality and essence, there is not one major applying aspect to her Sun to tell us something more about her. There is, however, a close applying (1A51) inconjunct (aka, a quincunx; 150 degrees; adjustment) between natal Sun and her Gemini Pluto Rx (sub-ruler of Scorpio) identifying Louise as one who carried deep feelings of guilt and shame (from age 9?) and who overreacted to the expectations of others, then felt bitterly resentful about it.
A deep need for the approval of others is suggested by a Sun-Pluto inconjunct as she fought with other people's wills in a head-strong way. Perhaps maturity brought relief from conflicts which were more easily avoided or resolved by walking away from the film industry and learning how to relax. Unfortunately, negative escapism (alcohol) numbed her feelings until later in her life when she was rescued from a New York tenement (see documentary, above) and given new purpose via a writing career (her natal Jupiter arose with Castor, one of the writer's stars; happy Jupiter rules finances).
You know, there's a collection of her writings, Lulu in Hollywood (expanded edition), if you're curious.
Eclipses: the 'Wild Cards of the Universe'
Manifesting every 18.6 years of her life, her Pre-Natal Solar Eclipse Saros Series (PE) @26Leo04 in the 17 New North series sextiles Pluto, planet of sex, wealth, and transformation. Themes and influences of 17 New North include passion, excitement, impulsive energy, and hectic socializing. Motivations include both financial projects and social relationships with a motto of'have fun!'. (paraphrasing B. Brady's Predictive Astrology). Such themes blended perfectly with her Roaring Twenties lifestyle of champaign and dance. (The 'wild card' reputation of eclipses comes from the Uranian quality of bringing disruption, excitement, and sometimes shock to one's life). 17NN last manifested in November 2014 @00Scorpio which is possibly the degree of her natal Moon!
Conjoining her eclipse degree of 26 Leo at birth is her natal Mars-Neptune midpoint where the energies of the planet of males and desire (Mars) blends with Neptune, planet of illusion, dreams, and the Silver Screen. And there we see her Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in Moon-ruled Cancer adding magnetic appeal with the public (Moon/Cancer) and the ability to play many roles by taking on the characteristics of others. Plus, Neptune @12Cancer conjoins bright SIRIUS, the goddess star of Egypt, aka, 'the scorcher' (which I neglected to mark upon the chart).
Of interest is a Huffington Post article from November 2013, Louise Brooks' Star Shines Brighter Than Ever, an obvious and very appropriate reference to SIRIUS, the brightest star in the heavens, conjunct her natal Neptune, glamorous planet of actors and the Silver Screen which also happens to conjoin her expansive planet Jupiter the Thespian!
Well, that's my Astro-Portrait of Louise Brooks for now. Once my order of the Barry Paris biography using her letters and diaries arrives on my doorstep, this post may require updating but for now, you may wish to enjoy another article concerning the natal chart of Louise Brooks with a listing of her natal planets and their aspects.
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Recommended: Sun Sign-Moon Sign by Charles and Suzi Harvey; Louise Brooks horoscope calculated using SolarFire Gold v9 software. jc
A happy Cary Grant often exclaimed, "good stuff!," proving that a positive attitude makes all the difference.
Here is a screen crop of two of the film industry's most enduring film legends Marilyn Monroe (to be astro-profiled in a later post) and Cary Grant appearing together in Monkey Business (1952):
There are no copyright notices (Monkey Business trailer) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
And now it's time to place the gentlemanly Mr. Grant under an astrological lens:
Astro-Notes: Cary Grant and his New Moon in Capricorn
The natal horoscope of Cary Grant reveals attractive Venus as chart-ruler since late Libra rises. Tap or click for a brief bio including his filmography details and a view of his natal chart which is rated B for Biography. Born Archibald Leach on January 18, 1904 (1:00 am UT) in Bristol, England, the yet-to-be Cary Grant had a tough beginning--some gossips said he was an illegitimate child though that isn't obvious in his natal chart for mysterious Neptune is not posited in the 4th house of Roots and Family as is often the case of unknown parentage. Baby Archie's Neptune in Cancer is in the 9th house of Philosophy, Religion, Higher Education, and Foreign Travel (denoting trips across water--his first was to NYC as a teen). Still, Neptune in Cancer, sign of mother and family shrouds his birth with a sense of loss and this suggests the death of his older sibling John, a tragedy his mother never recovered from emotionally. Baby Archie was produced in an attempt to console his parents for the loss of their first child and to 'save their marriage', a typical if misguided solution in those days. Needless to say, this put huge pressure on little Archie Leach who escaped through an early interest in a variety of entertainments which included movie-going with his Dad.
Please enlarge his natal chart for closer viewing:
Hour of Saturn; the element of Air (mental) is strong. With Sun in Saturn-ruled Capricorn (26:31) and Moon @00Aquarius (4 degrees 12 minutes past a New Moon) we find the actor with an Earth-Air personality blend denoting the skeptical intelligence of a practical idealist. Here is one with a mixture of order vs change, social yet solitary, conservative yet progressive. Earth-Air types prefer to take an extremely rational approach to matters and can bring abstract thought together with real issues to find solutions. "Applied knowledge" can be an Earth-Air descrption. (See conflicting indicators of unconscious obsessions, below.)
Now much has been written about Grant's difficult childhood (Saturn in Aquarius rules 4th house; Hour of Saturn) and his mother's overbearing nature which may be seen by his natal Moon (mother) in aloof, detached Aquarius (but just barely--if the birth time is off by much his Moon could be in status quo Capricorn). Ruled by Saturn and co-ruled by Uranus, an Aquarian Moon placement may support all or some of the prevalent theories and rumors--including the one about his mother Elsie not actually being his birth mother. However, one key clue is that Mr. Grant was not born with the Moon out-of-bounds of the earthly plane and therefore, separation or a distant relationship with his birth mother is not in evidence, at least not immediately after birth. However, her sense of isolation as she grieved over her first child is indicated. Read on...
His birth at a New Moon phase (26Cap01) shows an impulsive and spontaneous nature but under control of inhibited Capricorn's ruler, Saturn. While he was away at school his father Elias institutionalized his mother and told Archie she had died--and when dad remarried there was no room for Archie. There be deep scars here and it isn't unusual for a talented individual with such scars to strive toward fame and fortune in order to fill a deep emotional void--this Archie fellow certainly achieved the success he aimed for! Plus, a New Moon phase at birth also indicates confusion and a lifelong journey to discover who one really is. His later use of LSD (under guidance of his therapist) was a part of that journey and an attempt to make peace with the past. He eventually discovered that his mother was living and managed to have a relationship with her which must have been a relief.
Yes, there is restrictive, cold, controlling Saturn 9 degrees from his Moon and both snugged around the IC of Home and suggesting a seriously depressed mother who had lost her first child and was married to a philandering husband, Elias Leach. Mercury (young people; the thinking process) is present as well, retrograde in Capricorn (sign of the father), and affecting him psychologically so this depressive indicator adds to his emotional issues of Moon-Saturn-IC and may certainly describe his later control issues with women. And on a sad note, it is reported that Grant made at least one attempt to commit suicide after his marriage in 1934 broke up by overdosing with alcohol and sleeping pills. His enjoyment of alcohol is supported by overindulging Jupiter in Pisces, sign of negative escapism (as in, 'drink like a fish')--and Jupiter is apex planet of an opposition between Venus and Pluto (see below) which means that the planet of actors in creative Pisces is squared by both Venus (women; romance) and Pluto (manipulation, control, sex, wealth) so that dynamic tension results in all things relating to the three planets.
Perhaps he tended to overreact to every nuance in romantic relationships and probably tended to fall in love at first sight but fall out of love just as easily. Playing "Mommy" and "Daddy" may have appealed, too. How curious that onscreen he played the role of a man who was a little afraid of women (ex: Monkey Business) for that is just what his Venus-Jupiter square with its mother/anima issues reveals with the sign of Jupiter denoting how he related to others--as a compassionate, sympathetic, creative Pisces--or, as an evasive, deceitful, slippery fish? My guess is that he alternated these reactions as most people might do in similar circumstances and with similar obsessions.
(Yes, Grant is known to have had a longstanding homosexual relationship with actor Randolph Scott and others but that's beyond the scope of this portrait.)
In their gender-bending films Hollywood studios and directors made good use of Grant's comedic talents honed during his vaudeville and New York theater days. A very popular 'heart throb' for women, he was seen as non-threatening by men who enjoyed his portrayals in 'screwball comedies' where equality between the sexes was heavily and subtly promoted with humor, style, and elegance.
Now on the deeper level of obsessions, add in the powerful energies of his Jupiter-Pluto square and the plot thickens including in the financial realm. With this square the relating principle of Jupiter is blocked in some deep way by images from the Collective Unconscious (Pluto) which results in--you guessed it--control issues. Early childhood memories affect motivations in relationships and confusion over what relating is gums up the proceedings with others. This condition describes one who confuses relating and sharing with being in control and manipulating partners and he obsesses over any relationship that doesn't go his way. "Control games" and "role-playing" are used as substitutes for the genuine give-and-take a successful relationship requires and this negates the emotional security one should feel within a true partnership. Actually, an apt motto for a Jupiter-Pluto square is: "a law unto himself" which for Cary Grant is well supported by his Saturn-ruled Sun ("Daddy" the authority).
But project his handsome face on to Neptune's Silver Screen and it's a different story!
For here stars his attractive, artful, charmingVenus in happy-go-lucky Sagittarius ("good stuff!") playing lead planet in a Locomotive pattern as she attracts money and beautiful possessions (2nd house) and sexy partners (Pluto in 8th house of Sexual Unions and Shared Resources)! In Astrology, a Locomotive pattern promises high-powered success and with his Venus-Pluto opposition across the 2/8 money axis, it's small wonder that Cary Grant was able to use his creative talents and sex appeal to build a very successful worldwide career in the Neptunian film industry of Hollywood even though he turned his back on the movie studio system, a maverick move that probably cost him an Oscar or two.
And although his passionate Venus-Pluto opposition aided his career it was not as beneficial for him in personal relationships. With this opposition we find the controlling mother again having a deep and profound psychological effect on her son and there may have been a particularly difficult event just prior to his 4th birthday (Venus-Pluto 3A50 = 3 years 10 months, if his birth time is reasonably accurate). In addition, Venus rules the 12th house of the Unconscious so there are shame and guilt issues involved as well (mother Elsie was on the puritanical side), issues he may never have been able to consciously recognize without benefit of therapy. Yet there is dramatic Leo on his Career Cusp (Midheaven/MC) to gloss over any sadness or feelings of inferiority by entertaining the public via glamour, sophistication, elegance, and a studied self-deprecating manner--and being highly paid for it as royal Leo would expect to be.
A wide conjunction between Venus (relationships; romance) and quirky Uranus (separation; freedom) suggests entering and ending relationships quickly though they may crackle with erotic energy while new.
As for his gender-bending, equality of the sexes film roles, Grant's 4th house Mars, planet of desire, is in detached yet friendly Aquarius conjoined with two asteroids: Lilith the glamorous woman archetype (or harlot) and Hera, the legal wife who keeps the accounts. Perhaps confused gender roles and cross-dressing for the camera are suggested by his Mars-Lilith-Hera trio.
Uranus and Neptune and his Solar Eclipse in Virgo
Though in dissociate signs in 1904, Grant was born during the Great Opposition between generational planets Uranus (science; reason) and Neptune (faith; imagination), Cary Grant's North Node @29Vir27 of public contacts (near his Pre-Natal Eclipse degree of 27Virgo in the 14 North Saros Series with themes of unexpected happenings in relationships and finances, unrequited love and despair, and confusion/delusion - Brady) is involved with the opposition through a double square: Uranus square the Nodal axis denotes nonconformist leanings that conflict with societal standards; Neptune square the Nodal axis reveals mystical tendencies, visionary pursuits (and with Urania rising--see chart), and an interest in the occult, psychism, and/or possibly Astrology. With Uranus also in opposition with powerful Pluto, we see a revolutionary soul with the capacity to unsettle the status quo of society. Putting on an apron in a screwball comedy might do it!
Well, there's my astro-portrait of Cary Grant though of course there is much more to say about this complex man. His childhood memorabilia burned during World War II which was a loss for him and is now a loss for us. He never penned his autobiography so in its place I highly recommended his daughter's revealing book about her father who retired from the film industry in 1966 in order to take care of her and who turned out to be a very good and doting father indeed!
Now let's close on the topic of his shiny Leo Midheaven of Career and Public Status (which happens to conjoin America's natal North Node @6Leo!) for you may wish to check out an October 6, 1984 NYT article announcing that MGM Turns 75--Toasts Cary Grant, a ceremony during which they presented him with 'a 10-inch gold lion with diamond eyes', a symbol of the studio's roaring Leo the Lion (and the mega-bucks he made for the studio with films like Hitchcock's North by Northwest). In response, an 80-year-old self-deprecating Cary Grant "read what he called a prayer on the technical difficulties of growing old."
image: Joan Fontaine Wikimedia Commons {Public domain}
Perhaps you remember, dear reader, that actress Joan Fontaine is known for starring in the noir-ish film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on the popular novel by Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca.
Astro-Notes: Actress Joan Fontaine
View the Astro-Wiki bio of Joan Fontaine (nee, Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland, Olivia's sister, on October 22, 1917 6:00 am Tokyo, Japan) at astro.com where you'll see her Air-Earth personality blend of Sun Libra-Moon Capricorn with Airy Libra rising. Sun Lib-Moon Cap denotes one who is tasteful, tactful, courteous, pragmatic, purposeful, shrewd, diplomatic, and skillful at managing other people. This blend can be the signature of a perfectionist and a snob! A love of Art, luxury, and comfort is typical with Venus-ruled Libra, sign of balance and fairness, yet the Saturn-ruled Capricorn Moon adds quite a bit of ambition to the mix and moderates what is usually Libra laziness. Her career ambition led notably to an Academy Award in 1940 for her role in Rebecca.
Asteroid of glamour and seduction, Lilith @8Virgo is embued with goddess imagery galore while Joan's natal Venus (in one guise, Aphrodite herself) is in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius showing an attraction to and from foreigners--a handy placement for those desiring worldwide popularity. Speaking of desire, her planet of desire, Mars, is in lusty Leo, sign of romance, drama, and acting. (Fontaine married British-American actor Brian Aherne.)
Astrologically speaking, another aid to Fontaine's rise to fame, recognition, and fortune (besides her icy beauty and talent) may be found on the Nodal Axis of public contact and destiny. For the North Node (of the publicity-seeking Moon) conjoins her natal Moon while the South Node conjoins powerful Pluto, planet of wealthy plutocrats. Together the Moon-Pluto pair indicates public relations and publicity but also a depth of feeling, a desire for passionate romance, and help from, or the influence of, powerful women (or a woman--mother is also implicated.) A Moon-Pluto opposition describes one who wants to remake others and whose aggression may cause quarrels with family members over inheritance and money issues in general.
Astro-Notes: Director Alfred Hitchcock
Genius film director Alfred Hitchcock's birth details are victims of 'Dirty Data' as well (conflicting/unverified) with multiple birth times suggested and chart rectification available. His 3:15 am GMT horoscope is often used and may be viewed at astro.com along with a brief bio. Isaac Starkman's rectified chart is also there with the primary differences being chart angles and house cusps and this, of course, shifts the natal planets into different houses
(departments of life).
Yet correct birth time or not, Hitchcock remains a Sun Leo-Moon Scorpio fellow, a Fire-Water personality blend of steaminess which can cleanse or scald. Born August 13, 1899 in Leytonstone, England, his macabre side is well known and displayed by his brooding Scorpio Moon. Drama and showmanship are obvious with a shiny Leo Sun and in the Rodden version of his chart (8:15 am), 3Leo57 rises with his Career/Public Status Midheaven (MC) in Mars-ruled Aries (11:00.)
In the Starkman chart (8:01:30 pm GMT, same date/location), the Moon is later @12Sco52 with creative yet secretive Pisces rising and 23Sag at MC ruled by Jupiter the thespian. Saturn and North Node are snugged around the MC with the supernatural pair of Neptune and Pluto nestled around his IC (Home; Roots; Psychology) Therefore, Glamorous Neptune of the Silver Screen conjoins his South Node of the Moon (SN) which provided him with good intuition, an ability for avoiding the folly of the masses, and a tendency for those who intrigue to rob him of his work in some way. Bad timing and lack of popularity may have been factors in his life as well with Neptune-SN but Saturn-NN describes his long-term and successful (Saturn) contacts with the public (NN).
Alfred Hitchcock's Saturn-Neptune opposition favors artists and other creatives and is generational as is his secretive Saturn-Pluto opposition which tends to channel occult powers (the macabre! murder! mystery! noir!) into ideas that have had a long-lasting and transforming effect upon the world of film. This is, in fact, an aspect of the magician.
Astro-Notes: Author Daphne du Maurier
Now the natal horoscope of Rebecca author Daphne du Maurier is rated DD for Dirty Data (conflicting/unverified) as well yet you may wish to have a peek at her chart and bio; tap or click the 'natal chart' link to view her horoscope with its Earth-Air Sun Taurus-Moon Gemini blend with Gemini being the sign of the writer. Something of a recluse in Cornwall, England all her life, du Maurier was a very popular author in her day and most if not all her novels were adapted into film. Rebecca was published in 1938 and as you see, was transformed into a film and an Oscar win for Joan Fontaine by 1940!
Born on May 13, 1907 at 4:00 pm GMT London, England, her Sun Taurus-Moon Gemini personality blend identifies du Maurier as one who is charming, witty, persuasive, has a good head for business, and is an opportunist. Having a vivid talent for communication, her characters spring to life on the pages of her novels as well as on the Silver Screen and her far-reaching ideas continue to attract readers and viewers all these decades later.
Well, I don't know if you can take time to watch Rebecca but I hope you enjoyed my attempt to give you brief astro-portraits of three of the primary people who made the Oscar-winner a sparkling success way back in 1940!
What brighter star to open Neptune's Silver Screen than The Great Profile John Barrymore?
image: SchroCat {Public domain} via Wikimedia Commons
To begin here's a 2-part presentation of the thespian's life, loves, and career from Dee Barrymore's YouTube Channel which is highly recommended for classic film fans (linked below):
Part 1:
Part 2:
For more excellent film star videos visit the Dee Barrymore Channel and please search for this presentation (Parts 1 and 2, above) if it is subsequently removed herewith.
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And now, Neptune's Silver Screen presents the Natal Horoscope of John Barrymore, nee John Sidney Blythe, born February 14, 1882 12:10 am LMT Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (RR: C for accuracy in question) with his Sun (essence; personality) @25Aquarius conjoined by asteroids Amor (intimacy) and Lilith (glamour)! Note that 25AQ is within range of America's natal Moon of 1776 (the people; the public) and relates to his extreme popularity with the American public.
Even with starry Vega rising at his birth and adding magnetism and charisma to his popular appeal, we also find intense, brooding, sexy Scorpio rising which is seen in his Great Profile photo, above, for he has what some might call a "Scorpio nose": sharp and prominent, rather eagle-like, with a concentrated stare. This makes Mars and co-ruler Pluto, a forceful pair, important planets and any aspects to them must be considered. However, the closest applying aspect to his Sun melds with his personality and ego and it is a conjunction with Venus, planet of The Arts (see below for more on the Sun-Venus pairing.)
Chart-ruler Mars does not apply to a major (Ptolemaic) aspect in the chart though there is a minor *semi-square to glamorous Neptune @13Taurus in the midst of a heavy line-up of Saturn, Chiron, Jupiter, and powerful Pluto, all in Venus-ruled Taurus, sign of the throat and voice.These are snugged around the Descendant angle of Partnerships and of those he had many. And there are no planets opposite to provide balance for the Taurean energies though the Sun @25AQ and Venus @23AQ do square transformative Pluto and sextile (60 degrees; helpful) Saturn, planet of hard work and concentration.
Ponderous depression and a sense of loss and abandonment (whether justified or not) are some of the difficulties constellated within the Taurus line-up and via the frustration of the square (90 degrees), we feel his solar shininess to be quite aloof, even icy, in Aquarius. Venus and Sun are so close, however, this denotes one who can be whatever present company wants him to be with great charm (an actor!) and his intuitive Aquarian personality (Sun) is made even more attractive (Venus) and seductive by the very elusiveness and intelligence of Aquarius--plus, larger than life on the Silver Screen we see intimate Amor and glamorous Lilith conjoining his natal Sun, as noted, above.
And since the Sun-Venus pair squares natal Pluto (with Pluto's great urge to acquire when in possessive, stubborn Taurus) we have two ego-affecting aspects: Sun square Pluto, the willful 'might makes right' influence that can be destructive in an 'own worst enemy' kind of way. An enigma to those who knew him, this explosive square is not conducive to harmony in relationships though moderation and compromise would go a long way--if they were achieved. In addition, the planet that loves beauty and harmony, Venus, also squares manipulative Pluto adding tendencies such as using sex to gain financial security, professing love in order to seduce someone into marriage, a preoccupation with physical relationships, and a 'poor loser' attitude that interferes with all types of relationships. Add years of chronic drinking to slur speech and skew perspectives and you've got a difficult if talented cuss on your hands!
And he was plagued by a superiority complex (Jupiter conjunct Chiron--Clow) and did not listen to others! (Mercury sextile Saturn--Epstein). With the abundance of stubborn Taurus, plus the willful indicators, he must have been quite a fellow--perhaps the forgetful husband who had never listened to you in the first place? Being prone to unfaithfulness and indulging in illicit affairs had to complicate matters, one imagines (Neptune-NN = Venus) and his natal Sun AQ-Moon Cap combination is not the easiest personality blend to manage with its aloofness, self-containment, and uptight attitude (--the Harveys.)
Yet early on, these solar dynamics played quite well in career realms with dramatic Leo (notice me!) on Barrymore's Career-Aspirations Midheaven (MC = the World Stage). And there is lusty Mars in the 8th house of Sexual Unions and Shared Resources! Multiple partners are implied with Mars in Gemini, sign of multiplicity, duplicity, evasiveness, and communications. Stars Betelgeuse and Polaris conjoin natal Mars and add their themes to the mix such as success and leading the way.
Now with North Node (destiny) in the 1st house of Self, John Barrymore's life involved a quest for identity which seems perfect for an actor playing a multitude of different roles though it isn't unusual that an actor could become confused as to who he really is--a fantasy vs reality paradox, life as charade. And with Mercury, planet of thinking processes, the senses, and intelligence in secretive, confused, or confusing Pisces (and stationary Rx, thus emphasized) we see the man who changed his name to 'John Barrymore' having a high level of brilliant creativity yet clinging to Piscean escapism such as alcohol or other drugs as the Two Fish swim up to the heights or down to the depths. (His cause of death is given as pneumonia--Mercury = lungs--and cirrhosis of the liver, a Piscean illness via overindulgence and subsequent toxic overload; 4th house is the house of Endings.)
At his death on May 29, 1944 there were two transits that were precise to the degree--transit Mercury to natal Neptune @13Taurus, and transit Saturn to natal Mars @27Gemini (in the 8th house of Death). Chronic inflammations (ex: liver), if any, kick up when Saturn (loss; restriction; stoppage) hits natal Mars (energy; activity) and the general health suffers. If the native is already ill (Gemini = lungs; breathing) this transit coming along is not good news. Sadly, airy Mercury to soused Neptune speaks for itself. (These two spot-on transits apply by degree no matter the exact time of his passing, and if his birth time of 12:10 am is correct, natal Vertex (fated encounters; endings) precisely conjoined natal Mars and thus 1944 Saturn @27Gem44.)
And finally, a word about Barrymore's natal Moon @1Capricorn in the 2nd house of Earning Ability and Values. First, Saturn-ruled Capricorn is a difficult sign for the Moon which represents mother, home, family, nurturing, emotional security, childhood, and the unconscious. It has a moody, depressive Moon-Saturn signature which may have darkened his philosophical outlook (Cancer on 9th cusp) on life though it simultaneously gave him much ambition for success to fill the empty emotional spaces. Wherever the Moon is in a chart there are fluctuations, changes, and a potential for disruption so since the 2nd house is a money house (fluctuating fortunes) and Capricorn's natural house is the 10th house of Career, we find anxiety concerning achievement and adequate income for needs. His reigning need (--Tyl) involves the sign of natal Moon and in his case, Capricorn denotes authority, security, and authenticity in the world.
Imagine how that might have gone for this talented genius if he had managed to moderate the negative escapism tendencies and other addictions!
Well, there you have it. There's more to say about the very complex John Barrymore but this will do for now. Kudos if you've read this far and please Follow or Subscribe if you wish for I promise that not all my articles on Celebrity Horoscopes will be this detailed so I hope you'll dare to return soon to see what actor or actress next appears on Neptune's Silver Screen!
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*Though minor, a semi-square is a nagging health-related aspect.
