Classic and modern film stars regularly play roles suggestive of the goddess Isis on Neptune's Silver Screen and the little screen (TV) and today we honor the image of the ancient idol via a tweet displaying the Egyptian goddess Isis welcoming Io:
goddess Isis welcoming the Greek heroine Io into Egypt, as depicted in a Roman wall painting from Pompeii #history pic.twitter.com/Blha55dHB0
— GroovyHistorian (@GroovyHistorian) April 2, 2016
With the birth data and horoscope of Gene Tierney we find that even the date of her birth is in question so a Rodden Rating of XX is all we have to go by. View her horoscope at astro.com where you'll find her natal chart with Sun @27Scorpio and Moon @9Pisces, a double Water Sun-Moon personality blend. If her birth hour of 5:15 pm is correct, her natal Ascendant @10Gemini adds a Mutable Air flavor and sparkle to her way of seeing the world and the world's view of her. However, you've probably heard of Tierney's mental problems such as chronic depression with a first episode in 1954 described as a 'breakdown' and the sign of Gemini implicated.
Yet with one of her two daughters born with mental impairment due to Gene contracting German measles during her pregnancy, it seems to me that few mothers would completely escape some form of difficulty--mental and/or emotional--because of the feeling that they were the cause of their child's condition or at least partially responsible for it. And astrologically there is the famous Gemini Twin dark vs light paradox of Castor and Pollux which for some may mimic a bipolar condition and can include the deep fear that they are losing their minds--or are subject to 'losing it' as we say today. The phrase 'self-fulfilling prophecy' may be suggested for those who persist with this sort of self-persecution which may very well include generational or free-floating anxiety 'picked up' by overly sensitive types.
Add to these potentials her Water-Water Sun-Moon blend which suggests a sensitive emotional and imaginative person. Double Water personalities can go teary-eyed in a moment and tend to 'go with the flow' (good for acting!) Sentimentality may be a strong tendency as well as a love of the past--old friends included. Strong theatrical and poetic talents are obvious and Gene Tierney is certainly a good example of this. However, a lack of objectivity may have been notable in her private life along with the assumption of rationality when she was actually behaving irrationally. The more I type the more I think these watery traits added creative imagination, yes, but also may have provided fertile ground for the mental and emotional problems mentioned above. What we have is an archetype of the super-rational husband with the hysterical wife to act our his emotions for him which resonates all too well with the times and the films that were made during Tierney's era: she was onscreen from 1940 - 1965.
So if her rising sign is Gemini, the worry wart who can overthink things until they are mentally and emotionally exhausted is also part of her personality portrait! Plus, Double Water's tendency to cling to relationships long after they should be ended can also create emotional problems and regrets. My regret is that years ago I owned a copy of her autobiography Self Portrait but lost track of the book during a relocation (drat!)
Now with Sun in brooding Scorpio and Moon in compassionate yet often confused Pisces, we find a warm-hearted yet aloof lady with a love of mystery and a dedication to hard work. Caring, healing, and sympathy are imprinted upon her though being prone to addiction is indicated as well. Idealism, dreaminess, and sensitivity are shown though it seems she could be a real 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' which is supported by the starry dark and light twins, Castor and Pollux, plus, perhaps the other Gemini tendencies. Was she a shrewd and ruthless go-getter? (Scorpio) or an 'angel of mercy' like a woman with an emotional Moon in Pisces? Probably both, alternately, but when both sides (Sun = conscious mind; the adult, Moon = the unconscious; the child) were cooperating, a 'creative middle' can be beneficially utilized.
A prominent influence in her life was her dictatorial father who is represented in her natal chart by Saturn in Virgo, sign of the perfectionist and the critic.
If you wish, check out this chart analysis of Gene Tierney at Libra Rising which lists her natal planets for November 19, 1920 5:15 pm est Brooklyn, New York with her cool beauty spotlighted.
Throughout her life, the astrology chart and planets of Gene Tierney denote one who sometimes reached the heights then plummeted to the depths as many people do. Yet being on the Silver Screen magnified her trials and her joys while enlarging her lovely Venusian image. Possessing a deep understanding of human nature was perfect for her acting roles and her attraction to mystery along with great personal charisma and magnetism helped make her best known film, Laura, a film noir classic suitable for one with Sun in dark Scorpio, the 8th sign of the Zodiac with an interest in death (her character was already a murder victim as the story began!)
However, Gene Tierney's Oscar nomination was actually for Leave Her to Heaven in which Scorpio traits such as romance, jealousy, possessiveness, rivalry, and sin have starring roles. Check out this fair use trailer of Leave Her to Heaven (1945) followed by an excerpt from the documentary Gene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait::
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Natal data used: Gene Tierney November 19, 1920 5:15 pm Brooklyn (Kings County), New York; RR: XX; collector: Holliday (bio and horoscope linked, above.)
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.
