Sarah Bernhardt: Sun Scorpio-Moon Aries sparked by Uranus

Image: Sarah Bernhardt appr 20 yo; Nadar, public domain 1864

In the natal horoscope of legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt a distinguishing feature that would have certainly sparked the public's interest in her work and given her public appeal is an exciting Moon-Uranus conjunction in early Mars-ruled Aries, sign of the pioneer and path finder. Add to this the fact that natal Jupiter, planet of thespians rises with the alpha star of Aries, Hamal (keywords: to follow one's own path). Combined with her natural acting talent, Bernhardt's career as the premiere actress of her time is understandable on an astrological level and is well supported by her life's story.

Then with her Jupiter Rx in late Pisces, the thespian planet's own sign, the lady expressed onstage a gamut of human emotions with incomparable pathos. Perhaps the phrase "not a dry eye in the house" became 'a thing' during Sarah's career!

Nee Henriette Rosine Bernard October 23, 1844 8:00 pm LMT Paris France (RR: B)

Yet Bernardt's Moon-Uranus conjunction also suggests that she was an ambitious, restless, and possibly nervous woman (electrical Uranus!) with a yen for reformist activities, a lady who was willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve her special aims. As we know, sudden success was her reward along with fame and recognition. However, she may have over-strained her nerves and seemed quite the fanatic at times with a tendency to crave sensation. That such qualities would have spilled from stage into her private life seems a given and may have been part of her well known relationship difficulties.

Of course, natal Sun in very early Scorpio tells of an intense personality, brilliant but a brooder perhaps. And emotionally, her Aries Moon identifies her as an impulsive and willful woman with a lust for power and a strong personality, tending to act without thinking. In fact, both her Sun and Moon are ruled by me-first planet Mars but with a Pluto undertone--Pluto, the planet of power, manipulation, and wealth. (See her Sun-Moon personality blend details, below - and amazingly, here's a film clip of Sarah Bernhardt onstage in 1905!

Venus: Attraction Principle and Mars: Desire Nature

Venus in Virgo, sign of The Virgin, relates directly to Mary and to other archetypal goddesses, and suggests a lady indecisive in romantic matters. Practical considerations of this placement may have offset some of her impulsive tendencies, and a Venus-Chiron conjunction suggests a measure of childlike innocence in her personal relationships.

As for her Mars in early Libra, a friendly manner would have aided her in gaining success and suggests a desire to engage in teamwork, a necessity in the theater. However, a certain moodiness may have interfered in Sarah's relationships, as well as an overly frank attitude which may have caused disagreements - especially since natal Mars directly opposes her Moon-Uranus conjunction! The midpoint picture formed is one of a male or males challenging her excitable Moon-Uranus tendencies of restlessness and nervous anxieties, yet her ambitions would have been stimulated while a potential for violence or injury may have been engendered.

The steamy, volatile Water-Fire blend of Sun Scorpio-Moon Aries provided Sarah with a large appetite for life, a proud and persuasive personality, and a streak of missionary zeal. Sarah was a pugnacious fighter and strategist according to her combination of Sun-Moon conscious-unconscious energies; highly intelligent, she was aware of the need for self-control, a Scorpio quality. With a gracious amount of self-esteem intact, she was determined to 'make her mark upon the world' and through her large measure of creative talent and sense of fearlessness she did just that. Her Scorpio Sun gave her the ability to express smoldering intensity with passionate zeal at her command, both onstage and off.

Add to all this Sarah Bernhardt's sharp wit, raucous sense of humor, and tendency to drive herself toward self-imposed goals and it's no wonder that Miss Bernhardt reached the pinnacle of success in the theaters of Paris and has remained to this day one of the legendary actresses for young thespians to immulate, even idolize as the charismatic Neptunian goddess that she was, and a glowing, magnetic inspiration to others in her time and in ours.

And so as always with my astro-tributes to Thespians of the Silver Screen and Stage, I'm sending out a R.I.P. for the incomparable Sarah Bernhardt whose star of worldwide fame twinkles brightly here on Neptune's Silver Screen!

(For more personality blend information, I recommend Sun Sign-Moon Sign by Charles and Suzi Harvey #ad.)

A curious tidbit of thespianism: Miss Bernhardt was born in 1844 then 48 years later in 1892, another famous thespian was born who also acted under the determined influences of a volatile Sun Scorpio-Moon Aries combination: Dame Sybil Thorndike who began her career as a concert pianist. So for the sake of comparison, why not check out the natal planets of Dame Sybil!

Now Starring! International Beauty Catherine Deneuve

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherine_Deneuve_1969.jpg; Catherine Deneuve in The April Fools (1969)

If you wish, why not nab yourself a view of the natal horoscope of French actress and international beauty Catherine Deneuve whose birth data is rated AA for accuracy. Born in Paris, France on October 22, 1943 at 1:35 pm CET as Catherine Fabienne Doleac, her Sun in late Libra--ruled by lovely Venus--shines upon her beauty, while her natal Moon @13Leo57 reveals a youthful, emotional need to perform on stage and screen for the applause and recognition that Leo craves. Coming from an acting family, Deneuve (her mother's maiden name) came by the dramatic urge naturally, made her first film appearance age 12, and in 1992, Miss Deneuve was nominated for an Academy Award for her dramatic role in the film Indochine (link to a 2-minute trailer).

So upon hearing this evening that Catherine Deneuve had suffered a mild stroke in November 2019--thankfully resulting in no motor function damage--I became curious to check out astrological placements of her feminine goddess asteroids, if any. With such beauty and decades of popularity, surely there must be a few, mais oui? Well, imagine my surprise at first glance of her natal chart to discover that the transiting Sun this evening conjoins her natal Ascendant (11Cap08) as I type and so I'm casting a small spotlight her way, it seems!

Now a brief study of Catherine Deneuve's natal chart reveals an emphasis on planetary placements indicating fame and idol worship (rather than on asteroid placements) although it should be noted that Venus-ruled Libra is appropriately represented in the asteroid category by the pleasant feminine duo of Diana (the huntress suggesting her work with animal rights and her animal print fashions), and sexy, poetic Sappho. Natal Mercury and silver-screen planet Neptune are also in artful, creative Libra.

Lady Venus, goddess of love and beauty, is placed in virginal Virgo (sign of the goddess) near Miss Deneuve's natal Chiron with the pair suggesting early pain in love which results in deep wisdom in later years concerning relationships.

Now the dramatic, romantic sign of Leo takes center stage with her Jupiter, planet of acting, placed there along with Moon (the public) conjunct North Node (public contacts: Moon-NN = popularity and success), plus, powerful, passionate Pluto. Perhaps you'll agree that this is quite a Leonine stage full of glamorous thespians!

And since she's sometimes been called the "Ice Queen" for her cool beauty--in similar fashion to another cool beauty, actress Kim Novak, it's interesting to note that Deneuve's asteroid Isis is in the intense, sexy, passionate sign of Scorpio!

As for the feminine archetype that so often makes a cameo of goddess-like proportions here on Neptune's Silver Screen, her asteroid Lilith, the alluring seductress, is placed in the sparkling sign of Gemini which is a charming and Mercurial note on which to close this astro-tribute to the legendary Catherine Deneuve!

Nov 30, 2019: The Folies-Bergere Revue Turns 133 Years Old!

A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, Edouard Manet; oil on canvas 1881-1882 {public domain}

In Paris, France 133 Years ago on November 30, 1886 the Folies-Bergere opened its first revue with beautiful dancers in gorgeous costumes! It seems the costumed ladies made the theater's pantomime shows old hat and pretty much every other act they'd previously featured. Stars were born!

Then one fabled night in 1925, a certain lady was lowered from the ceiling and she turned out to be the fabulous Josephine Baker who treated the audience to her famous (or infamous!) banana dance. Follow the link to a previous post concerning Miss Baker's natal planets and view a gif that captures her sparkling Gemini personality, plus, a photo of her sporting her scanty banana get-up!

Ooh-La-La at the Folies Bergere!

Yes, It's a Case of 19th Century Ooh-La-La!

Recently I received an email alert that History Today has published an article on the famous music hall the Folies Bergere which opened in Paris, France way back in 1869. Staging light opera and pantomimes in the early days led to wider success in the 1870s as vaudeville and scantily clad ladies became the nightly fare.

Later in its history, one of Neptune's Silver Screen's favorite actresses and dancers found major success there when she debuted in 1926--lowered down from the ceiling wearing a g-string decorated with what became her legendary bananas...the one of a kind Miss Josephine Baker! Follow the link for a brief Astro-Portrait of the lady, plus, a GIF that captures her Geminian gaiety and charm, and a photo of Josephine wearing her famous Banana Dance costume...if you dare!

The Lovely Claudette Colbert: Sun Virgo-Moon Gemini

Claudette Colbert 1931; studio publicity photo {public domain}

Check out the trailer for Midnight (1939), a Cinderella-esque adventure about being stranded in Paris:

Born in Saint Mande, France (or as some sources say, Paris) on September 13, 1903 at 8:00 am LMT, Emilie Claudette Chaucoin was the daughter of a baker who moved his family to the US when little Claudette was three years old. She grew up longing to appear on Broadway and in 1923, debuted in The Wild Westcotts and adopted the stage name Claudette Colbert. Follow the bio link, below, for more details or check out this 24-minute documentary about her life and career.

Now let's consider the natal horoscope of Claudette Colbert pictured here with notes added:

Right away we notice a Mercurial, gamine quality to Colbert's persona with both Sun and Moon in the two Zodiac signs ruled by Mercury, the planet of youth and communications. However, love goddess archetype Venus is chart-ruler since the rising sign is Venus-ruled Libra, and also rules her Mercury which is precisely rising. Born at 8:00 am on the dot makes an astrologer wonder if her birth time was rounded off rather than 100% accurate. Still, Libra rising does fit her looks and her profession so let's consider Colbert's personality blend of Sun Virgo-Moon Gemini. Then we'll check out her goddess and romance asteroids, eclipses, and her 9th house Neptune in Cancer which is her most elevated planet.

The Earth-Air combo of Sun Virgo-Moon Gemini denotes one who loves words, has refined tastes, and is quick-witted and playful. Here is both a thinker and a doer who takes play as seriously as she did work. Quickly adaptable, Ms. Colbert possessed analytical ability, logic, and a cool, detached approach to most things, and while delighting in spontaneity, she probably appeared at times to be something of a snob.

In relationships, the twice-married actress upheld romantic idealism but it's doubtful that she became as emotionally involved with people as she thought she did. Yet a settled domestic life and a creative career were conducive to her enjoyment of life and helped her put aside the tendency of discriminating Virgo to criticize. With her Gemini Moon, too many details may have overwhelmed her at times and caused worried moods and pessimism.

In the 'Hollywood Goddess of the Silver Screen' department, Claudette Colbert as a Virgo, the sign of The Goddess and Virgin, had an attractive persona on screen and seductive asteroid Lilith in the 4th house, one of the psychological houses. Of course, her goddess planet Venus was also in sexy Virgo, a placement which adds issues of morality and practicality vs romantic considerations to the picture.

Above, we mentioned her cool detachment which is supported by icy-cool Isis, goddess of them all, in Moon-ruled Cancer in her 9th house of Foreign Lands and *parallel Silver Screen planet, Neptune. As most elevated planet (although in 9th house), Neptune is most visible on the world stage (Midheaven/MC) and with powerful Pluto there as well, we see that her Mercury-North Node conjunction rising fulfilled itself in easy access to public contacts (NN), communication skills (Mercury), and powerful backers (Pluto).

Asteroid of intimacy, Amor @6Pis58, is in the 5th house of Romance and Creative Pursuits so romantic partners may have been met on film sets; Sappho, asteroid of sexual encounters and in the 8th house of Sex, is in lusty Taurus, sign of The Bull, plus, with Venus in the secluded 12th house, perhaps a few secret assignations took place! Her planet of desire, Mars, is in its own sign of sexy Scorpio, after all, no matter how prim and proper she may have seemed!

And erotic asteroid Eros conjoins electrifying Uranus (fighting against tradition in Sagittarius) in the 3rd house of Communications which suggests a form of genius and a novel approach (Uranus) in getting romantic messages across the screen to the audience.

In addition, her Venus and Mars sextile (60 degrees) one another which suggests a need to be in charge (see Mars in Scorpio listed on the chart image), a good organizer, and one who can be assertive when she wants to be. This Venus-Mars aspect identifies an inner conflict of warrior vs peacemaker who is peaceful until provoked (Epstein).

There is more to say, of course, for hers is quite a complex horoscope with several planetary patterns which include an Earth Grand Cross (marked in red), several T-Squares (formed by the Grand Cross), and two Grand Trines (protection; talents; marked in blue) if we count the North Node (public contact) and her MC (Career Point) between: 1. Moon, Saturn, NN, and 2. Mars, Jupiter, MC, a guarantee of career success). Yes, Grand Trine patterns can suggest laziness (things are too easy, so why bother!) but there are massive amounts of energy and dynamism within such a major Grand Cross.

Well, that's my astro-homage to the lovely Claudette Colbert. Hopefully you've gotten something out of it and now feel you know Claudette a little better than you did before!

But if you're still curious about the lady, here is a brief bio of Colbert's life and career along with a bit of trivia (ex: why she preferred that her left side be photographed).

And if you look closely at her photo, above, you may wonder as I do: did the actress suffer from a case of strabismus?

*A parallel in Astrology is similar to a close conjunction and may be used for timing purposes. Here, Colbert's Isis and filmy Neptune are in a sense conjoined and their energies working together as with a planetary conjunction.

Also see Planet of Desire Mars Through the Signs.