Bette Davis 1938; Photoplay; George Hurrell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
An Astro-Tribute to the Great Bette Davis by Jude Cowell
The Wikipedia page of Bette Davis is quite extensive and includes several photos primarily from her many films. Having just watched Another Man's Poison (1951; Eros Films), a freebie movie on YouTube Premium, I became curious about the Astrology of her roles, her life, and death. And having grown up in the 1950s as a fan of films, it seemed through the years that 'Miss Davis' was always around - often playing extremely unlikeable characters. In fact, in Another Man's Poison, she plays a narcissistic mystery writer who runs roughshod over everyone, quite a meanie. She does love her horse, however.
So if we check online for an accurate horoscope of her birth, we find a natal chart for Ruth Elizabeth Davis (Rated: A), born April 5, 1908 9:00 pm EST in Lowell, Massachusetts with Sun 15Ari54 (in 5th house of Creativity), Moon 16Gem46 straddling the 8th house cusp along with Pluto 22Gem55 (sparkling, witty Gemini!), and her Ascendant @18Sco25, ruled and co-ruled by Mars and powerful Pluto.
As you see in her natal chart, below, her natal Midheaven, the Goal and Career Point @00Vir34, has royal Regulus shining there and providing her with visibility on the world stage and global success. And her magical planet of glamor and film, Neptune @12Can07, not only was linked to her North Node of public contact, but was also conjunct starry Sirius (the mundane becomes sacred)!
Now you may agree that Davis' Mars-ruled Scorpio and Aries placements suggest a lot of intensity and much passion which is well supported by her romance-oriented 7th house Venus-Mars conjunction (29Tau16/00Gem13). Married four times, Miss Davis' final marriage (from 1950 to 1960) was to actor Gary Merrill who starred with her in Another Man's Poison.
Perusing the Harveys's book Sun Sign-Moon Sign for notes on her personality blend of conscious (Sun) and unconsicous (Moon) energies, we find a quote from the lady herself, "When a man gives his opinion he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion she's a bitch." Sounds like some of the characters she played in her films - and in her life, one imagines. And come to think of it, in my life I've run across similar circumstances!
Now the Fire-AirSun Aries-Moon Gemini blend is a "live wire" combo, a high-velocity mixture with multiple irons in the fire, a creative entrepreneur who can be brash and impatient. Drive and ambition are evident (active 1929--1989, the year of her death) as was her joie de vivre and zest for life. More strong determination is added by her natal Uranus @16Cap48 in the 2nd house of Money, Earning Ability, and Values for the disruptive planet of genius and originality leads a Locomotive pattern and as such, can be on the ruthless side.
And what about her famous "Bette Davis Eyes" those limpid Piscean pools of dreaminess that you see in the photo above? Her natal Mercury (eyes; sight) is just that - in the Water sign of Pisces!
So below is a bi-wheel with the natal horoscope of Bette Davis in center, and her timed Death Horoscope, outer, so that you can see the planetary contacts (circled, but you can find more no doubt especially if you set up the charts for yourself). Not shown are her final Solar Return chart for April 5, 1989 (with Saturn and Neptunesquare her natal Sun and Uranussquare SR Moon--listed at the bottom of the chart), her final Mars Return chart (March 9, 1989), and her Secondary Progressions for October 6, 1989 11:20 pm CET Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, the date, hour, and location of her passing after surgery for breast cancer. Why stop in France?
Sadly, because an ill and weakened Bette Davis was simply too exhausted to travel the rest of the way home:
Now here's a curious LA Times article published January 3, 1989 that may be of interest: Bette Davis Smoking Over 'Stepmother'. The "dental surgery" mentioned may actually have been her cancer surgery. She left the film set and never returned. What do you think?
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!
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 legend Judy Garlandnee Frances Ethel Gumm, was born June 10, 1922 at 6:00 am CST in Grand Rapids, Minnesota with Sun in Gemini, Moon in Sagittarius, and 10Can53 rising. Have a peek at her natal chart which is accurately timed (BC in hand; RR = AA) where you'll see intense Pluto @9Can01 rising and electrifying Uranus @13Pis34 conjunct Midheaven, the Goal and Aspiration Point of Public Recognition, with exciting, variety-loving Uranus there.
And with Cancer rising, the Moon is chart-ruler and makes two applying Ptolemaic aspects in her chart: Moon opposes Mercury (00Can08 Rx) which is the indecisive head vs heart aspect, and Moon squares Saturn (00Lib51) suggesting a certain coldness of feeling which stems from childhood and began with her parents, probably both Father (Saturn) and Mother (Moon). This square hints at a lifelong battle with authority figures and it also weakens health unless positively supported elsewhere in the chart (it isn't). But there is a separating (unconscious) square between Mercury (thinking processes; communications) and limiting Saturn which gave Garland a tendency to become mired within certain thinking habits (obsessive) and to not hear others clearly or to misinterpret what others say. A depressive mindset of 'the worrier' is suggested but with no organic hearing issue shown which would have been difficult if not impossible for a singer to sing on-key.
And curiously, the Sabian Symbol for Garland's Ascendant @11Cancer is "A Clown Making Grimaces"! So here she is in the 1948 romantic-swashbuckler film The Pirate with Gene Kelly performing--what else?--Be a Clown!
Now in her films, Garland didn't tend to be cast as a major femme fatale yet fame was almost assured for as you notice, her Mercury @00Cancer, Saturn @00Libra, and Moon @29Sag10--conjunct 00Capricorn--are Cardinal World Points of Fortune, Fame, and Recognition on the global stage. Add lots of talent and you have Judy Garland! Yet her trio of Mercury-Saturn-Moon form a dynamic T-Square indicating potentials for 'pursuit of gloomy thoughts, difficult and slow thinking, and/or possible depression if the tide has turned' (Ebertin; Tyl).
Please note that this brief tribute post is not focused on drug use but you may wish to see Old Hollywood forced its first stars to work long hours and take amphetamines in exchange for fame which is pretty much summed up by Garland's difficult T-Square between her Moon (emotions, reigning needs but also publicity), Saturn (self-control, sense of inner authority, restriction), and her retrograde Mercury, the 'tofu planet' that soaks up the energies of whatever planet or planets it touches. Yes, her five marriages and her children must have been affected by this planetary trio for it would be difficult for her loved ones to deal with.
Tragically, Judy Garland died of an accidental drug overdose in June 1969, age 47, which was way too soon.
And what of her Air-Fire Sun Gem-Moon Sag personality blend? Actually, she shares this blend with Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich! If you wish, you can read about this blend in a previous SO'W post Trump and Gingrich: Peter Pan and the Pied Piper.
So why today post this tribute to Judy Garland? Well, as a fan of Garland's from way back, her natal horoscope floated to the top of the Neptune's Silver Screen's must-publish list due to the current version of A Star Is Born starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Check out an October 8th video of their press conference with the two stars discussing the re-make of the film.
And for 'background' here's a trailer of the 1954 film starring Hollywood legend Judy Garland:
Link to the 1954 trailer in case it disappears from this blog!
Related: the natal horoscopes of Sun Aries Lady Gaga (unverified, conflicting, two possible timings shown) and Sun Capricorn Bradley Cooper (RR: C for 'original source not known').
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 Columbia Pictures, photograph by A. L. Schafer (eBay) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Before our Astro-Tribute, here's a documentary on the life and career of Rita Hayworth, "Love Goddess of the 1940s":
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An Astro-Tribute to Rita Hayworth October 17, 1918 7:22 pm EWT Brooklyn (King's County), New York; alternate time: 2:36 am
by Jude Cowell
Although her birth time isn't certain, we can still get to know Rita (nee Margarita Carmen Cansino) by checking out her horoscope and planets. Astrologer Isaac Starkman has rectified her birth hour which places her creative Pisces Moon @14Pisces rather than 26Pisces (Moon or Sun in Pisces which rules the feet = a good dancer!) Natal Sun is in the 22-24 degree range of Venus-ruled Libra and spotlights two bright stars, Spica and Arcturus indicating success and popularity. In the Starkman chart, glamorous Neptune rises in 1st house of Self, a thespian signature, but in the Rodden version (7:22 pm), Neptune is placed in the 4th house of Roots, Foundation, and Domestic Scene. A 4th house Neptune in a natal chart often indicates some mystery surrounding the birth of a child though I do not know if this is the case with Rita Hayworth. (Your knowledgeable comment would be most welcome!)
If you wish a peek, here's a link to Hayworth's bio and two images of her natal horoscope--the Rodden version (7:22 pm) and the Starkman rectification chart set for 2:26 am. You'll also find a list of her husbands: *Orson Welles, Prince Aly Khan, and Dick Haymes, plus, what is reported to be her opinion on the lack of a correct birth time--that she 'had no idea when and did not particularly care' (via Paul Rosner).
As for this popular pin-up girl's Silver Screen planets we find the previously mentioned goddess Venus strong in her own sign of lovely Libra sextile (60 degrees) Silver Screen Neptune in dramatic, showy Leo, ruled by the Sun, suggesting creativity and romanticism. Also her Venus trines (120 degrees) original, electrical Uranus, another creativity marker full of optimism and cheer. The Venus-Uranus trine gave Rita Hayworth the sparkle and excitement that forever grace her Silver Screen performances!
Even her Libran Sun trines exciting Uranus! This indicates one with great personal magnetism. And with her Mars-Neptune trine, Rita's theatrical career was well supported in the cosmic realm by her charm, warmth, creativity, and romantic sensibilities though ambition was also part of her nature. However, a wide square (blockages) between Venus and powerful Pluto in Cancer denotes relationship difficulties that probably involved manipulation and control issues.
Now here are two quotes from folks who share Rita's creative, adaptable, romantic Sun Libra-Moon Pisces personality blend--the first concerns beauty, the last a sadly disillusioned note on which to close this post. But see if you think they relate on some levels to what we know of Venusian goddess, Rita Hayworth, whose difficult end with Alzheimer's disease could not be as sparkly as her Hollywood days:
"There is nothing in the world I so reverence as beauty, whether of the world, of character or in a soul." - Marie Stopes.
"None of us can help the things life has done to us...at last everything comes between you and what you'd like to be, and you have lost your true self forever." - Eugene O'Neill.
R.I.P. Rita Hayworth (1918--1987)
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*Blog Note: Orson Welles is on my Coming Soon! List so if you're a fan, please stay tuned, subscribe, bookmark, or whatever you wish. This blog is a fun project and makes a soothing antidote to all the Politics I endure over at my flagship cyberspace Stars Over Washington so your support is very much appreciated! 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."
Danny Kaye: Sun Capricorn-Moon Virgo with Taurus Rising
When it comes to film, dance, and musical stars, one of my personal favorites has always been Danny Kaye (nee David Daniel Kaminsky) of Brooklyn, New York (King's County.) Born on January 18, 1911 to Ukrainian Jewish immigrant parents, 'Danny Kaye' first used the easy-to-remember name professionally in 1933 (natal Sun--essence--opposite Neptune's disguise). Was he a Saturn-ruled Capricorn masquerading as a Moon-ruled Cancer? His Uranus-Neptune opposition is generational denoting those whose process of self-discovery (Uranus) is veiled by Neptunian dreams or illusions (B. Lundstedt) such as musical theater talent can inspire.
However, a prominent marker of originality and genius, his Sun-Uranus conjunction in ambitious, hardworking Capricorn, is dynamic yet is also veiled or obscured thanks to the opposition from the magic wand of silver screen Neptune in Cancer, ruled by the Moon (publicity)! Planet of the attraction principle, Venus, is posited in humanitarian yet icy Aquarius while the planet of desire, Mars, is in adventurous Sagittarius. This is a lusty Mars in the 8th house of Sexual Union yet frustration in romance is apparent as well (Moon square Mars; Venus square Jupiter.) Some sources such as biographies hint at homosexual leanings if not activities but that is beyond the scope of this article though I will add that Danny Kaye has been quoted as saying that he had had opportunities but never acted on them--a confession or a ruse? Well, Astrology cannot be definitive on such questions as sexual preference but tendencies may be shown--inconclusively.
So if you wish, view Mr. Kaminsky's natal horoscope at astro.com where you'll find Danny Kaye with an Earthy Sun (Capricorn), Moon (Virgo), and Ascending sign (Taurus), a most practical combination of energies which must have aided him in making his Neptunian dreams come true. Saturn-ruled Capricorn is a musical sign after all and Mercury-ruled Virgo devotes itself to work while Venus-ruled Taurus is concerned with material assets, comforts, and luxury, among other things such as gardening and building--the sign's key phrase: I grow. Dependable yet sometimes lazy Taurus! This protective Earth Grand Trine displays his great popularity and easy-going manner and suggests that dancing, singing, and acting came easily for him though of course the complex musical numbers he performed in film and onstage required much rehearsal (dedicated worker Virgo opposing Pisces of the dancing feet).
{Wikimedia/US Government photo in public domain}
The Wikipedia bio of Danny Kaye details his beginnings, filmography, performing for the troops, famous tongue-twisters at which he excelled, his later admirable work with UNICEF (its first ambassador-at-large 1954), and the many awards and warm tributes he received in his life including the French Legion of Honor.
And yes, he has been described by those who knew him as 'a bitter man' and it wouldn't surprise me since many comedians cry when the public isn't looking. Most of us have secret sorrows in our lives and a man with Saturn in Aries (ruled by Mars) in the 12th house of Secret Sorrows, Self-Undoing, and Karma can be forgiven for being human on that score. One thing though is that his natal Saturn, signifying his earthly father, is not Rx so we must assume that Dad was a decent and available father though perhaps stubborn and self-willed (Aries).
The deeper problems come in through loss of his mother in his early teens and we see his natal Neptune-Pluto midpoint @8Cancer (sign of mother, family, nurturance, emotional security) conjoined with the difficult midpoint of Moon-Saturn @8Cancer---literally loss (Saturn) of mother (Moon.) This represents a period of grievous loss and mourning for him while still in his formative years and certainly keys subsequent tales of emotional coldness and detachment with Venus in Aquarius supporting an aloof manner unable to adequately express private emotions. Moon-Saturn also relates to ambition (especially with a Cappy Moon--mom was ambitious, too), strategy, and direction which paid off with prominence in films in America and Britain in particular.
It seems that career success and applause had to stand in for the loss of a mother's love--not an usual substitute for those who reach the heights of fame and quite often what drives them toward the hard work it takes to achieve success.
Sadly, though there are a few possible indications of drug dependency (including alcohol) in his natal chart. Exs: Mars in the Scorpionic 8th house with Mars ruled by Jupiter which rules the liver (hep C); Neptune-Pluto = Moon-Saturn (were seances held for mom? did alcohol numb the sadness?); Jupiter in brooding, moody Scorpio, a Water sign of cravings and intravenous drugs; Neptune in Cancer, another Water sign = melancholy and instability. Danny Kaye is said to have contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion in 1983 (and subsequently died of heart failure in Los Angeles, age 76, on March 3, 1987. I have many notes on this but let's stick with his natal horoscope for now.
For in that chart we may view his difficult fate in the form of a Thor's Hammer pattern (aka, a Fist of God) between three planets that can, if conditions are right, act as a toxic trio: Venus, Jupiter, and Pluto with poisonous Pluto as apex of the Venus-Jupiter square. As a midpoint picture they represent an ability to gain much favor with the masses but also hint at a dark underbelly such as Danny Kaye's true personality is said by some to have shown.
Actually, a Venus-Jupiter square can camouflage bad feelings that should stay hidden with superficial social niceties. The square can also denote losses via overindulgence, legal entanglements, and/or secret affairs, plus, deceptive Neptune @19Cancer is near starry Castor, a writer's star of great creativity, but this also suggests Neptune's mask veiling the dark-light twin archetypes of Castor and Pollux--kind of a Jekyll-and-Hyde condition which can make someone seem to alternate between two opposite personalities (angel vs demon.) Well, planet of The Arts, Venus, does rule his chart (via Taurus rising) and makes one major applying aspect--the square to Jupiter (1A44.)
Even so, he sounds like a typical human being to me although with a genius Sun-Uranus conjunction indicating quirkiness, a restless nature easily bored, and a disruptive temperament--and then there's that silver screen Neptune masking his true solar self ruled by restrictive Saturn via authoritative Capricorn. What can we make of him with sexy Sappho rising on his Ascendant? He could sometimes be surprisingly shy, another Saturnian trait.
Well, perhaps a few words about his Juno (the wife) in Libra in the 6th house of Work and Service. This strongly describes his working partnership with his wife Sylvia Fine (songwriter and his pianist) and the fact that Juno is in Libra, sign of Partnerships and Cooperation, denotes a more pleasant condition than some sources have reported about their relationship. However, Juno in Libra shows that mental rapport in marriage was easier to obtain than harmony on the physical level so the placement is inconclusive on that score given the gossip about them that circulated for years. In 6th house we're looking at a performer who is married to his job, just as some have said! (Asteroids in the Birth Chart, Emma Belle Donath.) And we should note that nearby @18Lib59 is asteroid Hera, the legal wife who keeps track of the accounts--also in the 6th house of Work and Service. So was he 'hen-pecked' by his wife? What do you think?
Considering his shows for our troops abroad (Mercury in 9th house of Foreign Travel), there is an obssessive-compulsive Mercury-Pluto quindecile (165 degrees) indicating a potential for handling secrets (spy missions?) and a manipulative way with communications though this manipulation may be shown on one level by his famous tongue-twisters. However, such control may also be shown by his and his wife's will in which their daughter (one child) was restricted from speaking or writing about them lest she spill their family secrets. (The Quindecile, R. Reeves.)
Well, let's close for now though I have more intriguing astro-notes concerning Danny Kaye including progressions and transits. And I shall wish Happy Kudos to you, dear reader, if you've managed to make it thus far!
And with this tribute I wish to send out a sincere R.I.P to a consummate performer who continues to give audiences much joy and laughter while setting a high bar for today's performers to strive for!
Below is a clip and a video link to The Court Jester's famous Poison Pellet sequence containing The Vessel with the Pestle and The Brew That Is True:
Please be sure to visit the official Danny Kaye website and view a wonderful video of Danny Kaye delightfully rehearsing a song about a dance: 'Ballin' the Jack' plus other features!
Any and all shares of Neptune's Silver Screen articles are very much appreciated! jc
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!
~:~
*Though minor, a semi-square is a nagging health-related aspect.
