Once upon a time, hereupon was published the natal horoscope with a few astro-notes for Audrey Hepburn of Breakfast at Tiffany's fame. A trailer for Love In The Afternoon is included in the post, plus, a link to the natal chart of her co-star in the film, Gary Cooper, the 'older man' she messes around with--scandalous!)
Or, if you prefer, astro.com has her natal chart (RR: AA) ready for viewing. Because, you see today is the 57th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany's, the best known and (I suspect) most beloved film of her career.
Born in 1929 under the auspices of the Earth-Water personality blend of Sun Taurus-Moon Pisces, Miss Hepburn combined realism and imagination in the creative way of a nature mystic and lover of beauty. Full of earthy common sense, she felt a compassionate concern for the needs of others and allowed the vulnerable quality she naturally possessed to shine from the silver screen as it continues to do. Her flare for providing the public what it wanted added to her determination to succeed and Miss Hepburn's popularity was assured by way of her creative talents.
With this personality blend, relationships must have been central in her life for Hepburn was a romantically inclined lady who could be overly fussy and protective with loved ones. And if there is a negative to Audrey Hepburn's personality it would have been a tendency toward stubbornness and a potential for laziness, both traits of Taurus, ruled by creative but sometimes lazy, Venus, the planet of love and attraction! Follow the link for a list of Venus in all 12 signs.
Now why not step back in time 57 years and view a trailer for Breakfast At Tiffany's
from 1961, thanks to "this digitally spinning world" of ours!
Here is a link to the trailer in case it is made to disappear from Neptune's Silver Screen!
By Photography: Frank Bez (Ms. Novak's private collection) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
If you take a peek at the natal horoscope and brief bio of film star Kim Novak, nee Marilyn Pauline Novak on February 13, 1933 at 6:13 am CST Chicago, Illinois, you'll find a shy child who grew into a popular Aquarian beauty. Unsurprisingly, Kim won a beauty contest at age 20 and proceeded to work in the film industry until she left Hollywood in 1966 for some 'me time' at the beach.
During her career, Kim became known for such films as Alfred Hitchcock's
Vertigo (1958) and The Man with the Golden Arm starring Frank Sinatra as detailed in her Wikipedia bio. If you wish, have a peek at Frank's bio and natal chart with his creative Neptune in show business Leo conjunct Midheaven, the Career Point. Frank Sinatra was born with Sun Sagittarius-Moon Pisces on December 12, 1915 at 3:00 am (Rated A, from memory) with 28 Libra rising, in Hoboken, New Jersey.
But back to our cool beauty! When she returned to show business in the 1980s, Kim Novak appeared on the TV soap opera Falcon Crest and in the 1980 film, The Mirror Crack'd with Elizabeth Taylor (whose natal Sun @7Pisces conjoins Kim's natal North Node!), Rock Hudson (whose natal Ascendant @1Lib28 conjoins Kim's natal Moon!), and Angela Lansbury (whose natal Moon @1Lib28 precisely conjoins Hudson's natal Ascendant (1:28) and is in the same sign and degree as Kim Novak's natal Moon.
Sounds as if they had a sociable time (Libra) filming The Mirror Crack'd while making friends or reuniting with very familiar old ones! Here's a trailer for the film:
Check out this TV Guide interview Kim did in 2013 where she opens up on several topics including the scandal of her reputed affair with Sammy Davis Jr!
And Now for a Little More Astrology:
Kim Novak's personality blend of Sun (conscious mind; adulthood) and Moon (the unconscious; childhood) is a sociable double-Air affair of intelligence, grace, and thoughtfulness yet it does not provide a sense of self-importance. Self-reflection is more like! Romance and idealism may be notable along with a "gentle dignity," charm, and a preference for being only an associate of the 'in crowd' (such as Joey Bishop's and Sinatra's Rat Pack). However, there is a certain attraction to glamour and style for one born under the AQ-Libra combination of energies of detached, idealistic, friendly Aquarius blended with beauty-and-art-loving Libra, sign of cultural events such as art openings! And we can see how her 1st house Sun, Mercury, and North Node of public contact brought her notice and aided her career of shining (Sun) before the public (NN).
As for Miss Novak's glamorous and romantic asteroids, they are:
Intimate Amor @10Pisces (where transiting Neptune is this very day--10Pis31!), erotic Eros @14Sag, sexy Sappho Rx @11Libra, and seductress Lilith @21Sag (adventurous Sagittarius, and Lilith engaged in a wide conjunction with Eros). Vestal Virgin Vesta is in earthy Taurus (26:07) conjoining the enraged stars of the Pleiades constellation--lots of drama lurks there.
Plus, a significant pile-up of planets and asteroids rises with Kim Novak's natal Ascendant (Physical Body; the Self):
Goddess Venus (7AQ34) has just arisen followed closely by Saturn denoting that hers was perhaps a difficult birth especially since health asteroid Aesculapia rises, too. Others rising are Pallas (wisdom; the daughter) and goddess Isis--all within the 7-to-10-degree range of Aquarius and contributing to the actress's cool looks and dignified demeanor. Why, with Isis rising on her Ascendant, we might even say that Kim Novak is the goddess Isis!
And we might wonder, in the case of a cool beauty such as Aquarian Kim Novak, is it a coincidence that archetypal 'Isis' sounds very much like frozen ice?
The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Alluring Venus spins an attractive web (network) especially for appearing at social and celebratory occasions including Film Premieres, then sashays down the Red Carpet as Neptune's discovery Photography is certain to snap away for Press Release...
You've seen her before--the divine goddess of love and beauty, Venus playing roles in everyone's psyches (as shown in their natal or birth horoscopes) yet The Lady can also be content and relaxed sparkling and glowing from the Silver Screen!
Here is a brief list (partial) of traits expressed by astrological Venus as she attracts, loves, seduces, popularizes, evaluates (rates), glides, or even vamps through the Tropical Zodiac, spending approximately one year accomplishing her journey through each 30-degree sign while following her path of orbit, aka, the *Cycle of Venus, the planetary embodiment of The Attraction Principle. And now...
The Stars of Neptune's Silver Screen presents: Love in the Signs of Venus
Mars-ruled Aries: ardent, passionate, romantic or erotic dreaminess, love at first sight, romantic adventures, a strong wishing power, creative beauty.
Venus-ruled Taurus: deep powers of attraction, an earthy sensuality, love of luxury and precious gems, artistic talent, faithfulness, stable love relationships, attracting possessions.
Mercury-ruled Gemini: charm, courtesy, cooperation, accommodation, love of talk and discussion, superficial love attachments lead to conflict, disloyalty, duplicity in partnerships;
Moon-ruled Cancer: art, music, literature, appreciation of home and family, leaning on others, deep seated feelings of love; overindulgence at parties or with pleasant things, sweet enjoyments;
Sun-ruled Leo: an easily aroused love impulse, love of luxury and dressing elegantly, warm-heartedness, an abundance of love, attraction to social and cultural events, dramatic romances, quick contacts, tending toward premature marriage;
Mercury-ruled Virgo: striving for moral purity, practical concerns or logic suppress the love nature, indecisive in matters of love; discriminating in romance; shy gestures when meeting, modest attempts to connect;
Venus-ruled Libra: friendly, cooperative, obliging, diplomatic, artistically talented, sociable and popular, in love with love, good taste, scattered affections;
Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius: idealism in love, romantic imaginings, hypersensitivity, religious adoration, amorous wishing power, spreading one's love around, attraction to foreign partners, instability in relationship;
Saturn-ruled Capricorn: faithful partners, a sense of duty, or, duty over love, a preference for mature or well established mates, a 'matter of fact' manner invites disappointment and separation, jealousy, lack of trust, old fashioned views, emotional control;
Saturn-Uranus-ruled Aquarius: progressive values and views on love relationships, 'modern marriage', friends become lovers or lovers become friends, friendship and camaraderie are most important, protection, enjoyment of social functions, couples with shared cultural or intellectual interests;
Jupiter-Neptune-ruled Pisces: a carefree temperament, pining for love, imaginary romances, creative inspiration, impressionable, love and creation of music and the arts, comfort-loving, little self-control, full of gentle concern, easily seduced, compassionate, sympathetic, and charitable.
Add Mars, planet of desire, to Venus, planet of romance and attraction, and sparks will fly!
Now I suspect that you can think of other sign-inspired traits, some of which may be passionate in a negative or destructive way. One such role for femme fatale Venus to play on the Silver Screen is the easily identifiable scorned lover since everyone knows how vengeful Venus can be when scorned and made jealous by a romantic rival!
Please note that the above traits are affected by input from other planets as they relate to the position of Venus in the natal or event chart; therefore, Venusian tendencies may be moderated, dispensed with all together, or stimulated by transiting planets, progressions, eclipses, or contacts with stars.
Besides romance, adoration, beauty, and art, astrological Venus affects all levels of human endeavor so for Campaign 2016 astro-notes of a forecasting nature, check out The Venus *Cycle in US Presidential Elections which includes the importance of Venus acting in the roles of Morning Star or Evening Star in November (this matters, and involves Libra and Sagittarius) based on her 8-year cycle. Somehow the timing seems oddly sinister that TV moguls have recently premiered a TV show known as Lucifer which, as with its comix incarnation, will help confuse a good many young people and others about what is actually a sober topic each person must decide: where to spend Eternity.
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":
~:~
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)
~:~
*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 Fond Tribute to Hedy Lamarr through the Lens of Astrology
by Jude Cowell
Have you ever noticed that the actress' screen name 'Lamarr' is 'the Mars', planet of desire? And did you know that Lamarr was half of a duo who made a scientific breakthrough on what they then called frequency hopping and which is now known as spread spectrum? A book Spread Spectrum: Hedy Lamarr and the mobile phone can tell you all about it for she was much 'more than a pretty face', as they say. For after all, Scorpio is a very intelligent, deeply probing sign with often a scientific bent which benefited the war effort via her and George Antheil's invention of a 'secret communications system'. In fact, in recognition of their work in 1941, Lamarr (1914--2000) and Antheil (1900--1959) were inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014. Though 17 degrees apart, her thinking planet Mercury and action planet Mars are also in Scorpio, you see!
Plus, Lamarr was born under the influence of a major conjunction denoting a facility for deep concentration and hard work: Saturn conjunct Pluto, both at 1 Cancer which is within range of one of the Cardinal Points of Fame, Recognition, Prominence, and Fortune (00Cancer00). And having a 'lucky break' pair like Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Uranian Aquarius was helpful for her, too, and offered her chances for long distance travel. Actually Jupiter-Uranus is the breakthrough pair that all pioneers and inventors wish to have!
Now hers is mainly a Water-drenched chart (lots of Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) so emotions, moods, insights, and intuition are very much emphasized. Inspired by the softening, creative rays of Lamarr's dreamy, veiling Moon-Neptune conjunction in theatrical Leo, let us turn back toward the Hollywood Hills...
Hedy Lamarr is known as the first woman to appear totally sans clothing on the Silver Screen though this is a dubious distinction according to some folk (moi among them!) so it seems that the concept of being first--of possessing a pioneering spirit--tallies well with the Mars in her name since pioneering, adventurous, even lusty Mars in Astrology is known as the me-first planet, the I AM...the impulse to be...and rules impetuous Aries (the Ram), the first sign in the Tropical Zodiac.
And as you know, her Sun-Mercury-Mars sign of Scorpio is ruled by Mars and sub-ruled by sexy, obsessed, controlling, ravishing Pluto. For Hedy Lamarr, the words sultry and mysterious come easily to mind.
Born November 9, 1914 at 7:30 pm MET in Vienna, Austria (rated A; from memory) with glamorous Lilith in sensual Taurus and Silver Screen Neptune in dramatic, entertaining, romantic Leo conjoined with 'goddess' Luna, the Moon, the natal horoscope of Hedy Lamarr shows this most beautiful Austrian-American actress to be a Moon-ruled creature with Cancer rising and Pisces at Midheaven and very much influenced by nebulous Neptunevia their conjunction. As you know, astrological Neptune (the ancient undersea god in Mythology) is often described as a planet of glamour and illusion, the currency of the Hollywood film industry (and the namesake planet of this tribute blog!) The amount of Water signs in her chart indicates that tears may have been easy for her to conjure on cue, a handy talent for any actress.
Now let's go through her natal planets in their signs to gain perhaps a clearer picture of Hedy Lamarr as a person:
Sun--she was, in her essence, a Scorpio; Moon--she felt and emoted as a self-protective yet nurturing Cancer; Mercury--she thought and communicated intensely as a Scorpio; Venus--she attracted and was attracted by foreign cultures and people, and loved as an adventurous, fun-loving Sagittarian; Mars--she acted as a Scorpio; Jupiter--she related as an Aquarian (friendly?); Saturn--she controlled, organized, worked, and feared as a Cancer; Uranus--she behaved as an Aquarian (aloof? snobbish?); Neptune--she dreamed as a romantic Leo; Pluto--she obsessed as a self-protective, security-anxious Cancer. Her wound or blind spot: Chiron in Pisces which denotes her having a mentor or guru for guidance; her North Node (future direction; public contact) is in creative, compassionate yet escape-prone Pisces, sign of the Two Fish: one swimming up toward spirit and one swimming down into the depths.
Here's a trailer of Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature starring in director Cecil B. DeMille's 1949 Biblical epic Sampson and Delilah along with a few actors' names you may recognize plus, "a cast of thousands"--and you know that Delilah is another version of the classic archetype of the seductress in the icon-goddess tradition of Lilith-Isis-Venus:
Now I ask you: is there a more perfectly titled film to appear here on Neptune's Silver Screen than Hedy Lamarr starring in The Heavenly Body? The plot of the film involves an astronomer vs astrologer theme with lovely Hedy as the glamorous Lilith in between! William Powell (Sun Leo-Moon Libra) also stars.
Well, perhaps we should end our Hedy Lamarr tribute with a mention of the ongoing enigma of how Hedy Lamarr and British actress Vivien Leigh look so much alike! Here's a photo of Vivien though her natal horoscope will be featured in a later post--probably in tandem with the natal chart of Laurence Olivier (for obvious reasons). What do you think of their resemblance? Close enough for you?
~:~
Content in Public domain; text by author, all rights reserved, social sharing allowed
Image: By Bain News Service (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.32453) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Many fans of silent film star Louise Brooks are acquainted with The Louise Brooks Society, an 'homage to silent films' and dedicated to "one of the most seductive...images of woman" to ever appear on film. Naturally astrologers recognize the seductive Lilith archetype here and we will be noting the position of asteroid Lilith and other glamorous archetypes in her natal horoscope, below. We'll check on her asteroid Pandora as well because Louise's most famous role was Lulu in the film Pandora's Box. In her natal chart (below) you'll find asteroid PANDORA @18Libra near her natal Mars and seductress Lilith near her Scorpio Sun along with Persephone, Pluto's unwilling love interest in Greek Mythology!
But first...
News Flash: On the weekend of January 16, 2016 there will be an EPIC Event: Pandora's Box screens at LACMA in Los Angeles, California with pianist Michael Motilla performing improvised scores from five silent films including Pandora's Box on Sunday January 17th. LACMA is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Pandora's Box (1929) "depicts the social realities of the Weimar Republic..."
Astrologers may wish to note that there is a natal horoscope for Germany's Weimar Republic: November 9, 1918 13:30 CET Berlin, Germany; 12AQ54 rising; MC 10Sag24; Sun 16Sco18; Moon 19Cap48. (N. Campion chart #125, The Book of World Horoscopes.)
Now when most people recall early Hollywood film star Louise Brooks it's her stylishly bobbed hair ('Prince Valiant') that seems to be best remembered. But here's an informative video on the life of Louise Brooks which begins with a difficult childhood episode that may help account for her seductive adult behavior (Lilith!) though of course she also was a freedom-loving young woman of her era, the Roaring Twenties! For you see, a neighbor molested her when she was nine years old--and her mother blamed Louise:
Also Recommended: a full documentary from BBC Arena (55 minutes) with Louise speaking about her life and films along with narration, film clips, and the story of how James Card of the Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York, rescued a run-down Louise from a New York tenement and made a new life for her possible. Her last years successfully writing articles for various magazines here and abroad may be found via her Mercury-Venus conjunction in Sagittarius, sign of foreign lands, as you'll see.
Update Jan 8, 2016: just found an excellent article about the career of director G. W. Pabst, Opening Pandora's Box. Perhaps you know that G. W. Pabst developed not only the acting talent of Louise Brooks--but also of Greta Garbo!
An Astro-Portrait of Louise Brooks by Jude Cowell
Image: Louise Brooks' natal horoscope set for 'noon' November 14, 1906 Cherryvale, Kansas; Hour of the Sun (21Sco27) with the Moon ranging from 21Libra27 to 6Scorpio49; Luna crossed asteroid Juno (the wife) during the 24-hour period and the Sun approached asteroids Persephone (of kidnapper Pluto and Hades fame), glamorous Lilith, and erotic Eros.
My guess for her would be a Scorpio Moon because of the betrayal vibes it suggests coming from mother (Moon) who, as noted, refused to believe Louise when she told her she'd been molested by a neighbor. The incident was perpetrated via his putting candy on his porch to entice her to his house, if the legend is correct. And looking at a Solar Return chart for her birthday, age 9, (November 14, 1915 using the 'Noon' natal to calculate), we find a crisis-ridden YOD pattern which points toward lusty Mars @18Leo, sign of romance. A YOD times a turning point in her life. There's a dynamic T-Square pointing toward deceptive Neptune Rx in early Leo which indicates that she didn't know what to think of someone or something and that she was 'open to deception' (Tyl) and the planet of shocks and disruption, Uranus, conjoins one of the victim stars, Facies.
To check out her two possible Sun-Moon blends, read on...
As noted, the natal horoscope of Louise Brooks is untimed and is best calculated as either a solar chart (sunrise: career or hero's journey issues) or as a Noon chart with Sun on or near Midheaven (MC), the Why? Point of any chart and the most visible spot (angle) of a horoscope. The MC reveals information about a native's Career, Public Status, and Aspirations in life so it works quite well for famous persons. And the MC is part of the Parental axis, the 4th/10th, so it touches on security and family matters as well.
However, with Brooks' birth time unknown, the following astro-portrait of the lovely Lilith-Venus-Isis-Selena-Pandora-Persephone Hollywood icon Louise Brooks is based on her planets, their signs, degrees, aspects, her Sun-Moon personality blend, feminine asteroids, and her Pre-Natal Eclipse series since house angles cannot be determined with certainty.
Our 'Noon' Astro-Portait of Louise Brooks reveals her Sun @21Scorpio and Moon @28Libra49. However, if born after 1:53 pm, her Moon would have entered brooding, intense Scorpio so let's compare both Sun-Moon personality blends to see if one or the other fits her personality better:
Sun Scorpio-Moon Libra is a misty, ethereal Water-Air combination of conscious (Sun; adult) and unconscious (Moon; child) energies and denotes procrastination, impracticality and a lack of strategy in creative fields. Note that in the BBC arena video, above, she states that she was never an actress and had no idea what she was doing--that she was playing herself in her film roles! But when writing she knew what she was doing.
Sun Scorpio-Moon Libra keys the sign rulership of Mars-Pluto and Venus. There is an intense magnetic quality and charisma with this combo, a pragmatic idealism, and a tendency toward expensive taste. Quietly ambitious, this blend describes one who can be charmingly cooperative and/or emotionally difficult and demanding. This is the "tough cookie" combo yet with a deep need to be liked--one who may say No when she means Yes, and Yes when she means No--and is not loved by everyone! (She wasn't--ex: fellow actor Richard Arlen.)
Perhaps some people objected to a tendency to use manipulative tactics when she was feeling insecure, or an assumption that she was being fair and impartial (Libra words) when emotional needs were dictating her behavior. Whatever reason some contemporaries formed a dislike of her, I belatedly remind them that much of her acting career occurred she was in her teens and then her 20s--and they were the adults in the room, and jealous of her looks and talent, I suspect! Anyway, Louise was perceptive, romantic, and had the happy ability to think on her feet; passion and charm combine engagingly with Sun Scorpio-Moon Libra the Moon sign of Libra describes her reigning need (Tyl) which is all things Libra (Venus) including love, fairness, relationships, harmony, beautiful possessions, pleasure, and fun.
Or Was Her Moon in Scorpio, Ruled by Mars w/ Pluto undertones and drives?
Sun Scorpio-Moon Scorpio is quite a more intense, even brooding, blend of double Water energies. This denotes one who 'drinks in life's experiences' and 'goes with the flow' most of the time. A fertile imagination and a tendency to tear up over sentiments and anything nostalgic is typical with Water-Water blends.
The wary, private Sun Scorpio-Moon Scorpio blend is self-possessed and indicates many passionate feelings, stubbornness, strong convictions, stamina, and drive. The Arts and in particular, Music, attract. This is the 'desire vs self-control' mix that can turn possessive, jealous, sarcastic, and vengeful. Imaginative, willful, and introspective, Sun Scorpio-Moon Scorpio is not a good loser and is unconsciously drawn to powerful, hidden, mysterious things; a fascination with horror stories, sex, and death may be evident. (Her characters in at least two of her movies I've seen were killed at the end including 'Lulu' in Pandora's Box--imagine my surprise to find Lulu with London's Jack the Ripper!
Actually, double Scorpio is the 'addicted to love' combo with strong desires and deep creative potential which can be limited by a cynical and suspicious nature. The reigning need of a Scorpio Moon reveals more sexy desires and perhaps a death wish on a deep level. However, control is part of the Scorpio picture along with investment, money, and perhaps occult pursuits.
So what do you think? Do you see Louise Brooks as an airier Libra on the emotional level, rather aloof, or, an intense, dark, brooding, passionate Scorpio with black eyes and black hair?Her smoldering screen image suggests a Scorpio Moon yet artistic, cool Libra works, too!
As for her solar Scorpio personality and essence, there is not one major applying aspect to her Sun to tell us something more about her. There is, however, a close applying (1A51) inconjunct (aka, a quincunx; 150 degrees; adjustment) between natal Sun and her Gemini Pluto Rx (sub-ruler of Scorpio) identifying Louise as one who carried deep feelings of guilt and shame (from age 9?) and who overreacted to the expectations of others, then felt bitterly resentful about it.
A deep need for the approval of others is suggested by a Sun-Pluto inconjunct as she fought with other people's wills in a head-strong way. Perhaps maturity brought relief from conflicts which were more easily avoided or resolved by walking away from the film industry and learning how to relax. Unfortunately, negative escapism (alcohol) numbed her feelings until later in her life when she was rescued from a New York tenement (see documentary, above) and given new purpose via a writing career (her natal Jupiter arose with Castor, one of the writer's stars; happy Jupiter rules finances).
You know, there's a collection of her writings, Lulu in Hollywood (expanded edition), if you're curious.
Eclipses: the 'Wild Cards of the Universe'
Manifesting every 18.6 years of her life, her Pre-Natal Solar Eclipse Saros Series (PE) @26Leo04 in the 17 New North series sextiles Pluto, planet of sex, wealth, and transformation. Themes and influences of 17 New North include passion, excitement, impulsive energy, and hectic socializing. Motivations include both financial projects and social relationships with a motto of'have fun!'. (paraphrasing B. Brady's Predictive Astrology). Such themes blended perfectly with her Roaring Twenties lifestyle of champaign and dance. (The 'wild card' reputation of eclipses comes from the Uranian quality of bringing disruption, excitement, and sometimes shock to one's life). 17NN last manifested in November 2014 @00Scorpio which is possibly the degree of her natal Moon!
Conjoining her eclipse degree of 26 Leo at birth is her natal Mars-Neptune midpoint where the energies of the planet of males and desire (Mars) blends with Neptune, planet of illusion, dreams, and the Silver Screen. And there we see her Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in Moon-ruled Cancer adding magnetic appeal with the public (Moon/Cancer) and the ability to play many roles by taking on the characteristics of others. Plus, Neptune @12Cancer conjoins bright SIRIUS, the goddess star of Egypt, aka, 'the scorcher' (which I neglected to mark upon the chart).
Of interest is a Huffington Post article from November 2013, Louise Brooks' Star Shines Brighter Than Ever, an obvious and very appropriate reference to SIRIUS, the brightest star in the heavens, conjunct her natal Neptune, glamorous planet of actors and the Silver Screen which also happens to conjoin her expansive planet Jupiter the Thespian!
Well, that's my Astro-Portrait of Louise Brooks for now. Once my order of the Barry Paris biography using her letters and diaries arrives on my doorstep, this post may require updating but for now, you may wish to enjoy another article concerning the natal chart of Louise Brooks with a listing of her natal planets and their aspects.
~:~
Recommended: Sun Sign-Moon Sign by Charles and Suzi Harvey; Louise Brooks horoscope calculated using SolarFire Gold v9 software. jc
All the way from 1914, here's a 1-minute clip of Neptune's Daughter, a silent film that I hardly know how to describe:
Actually did you know there's an entire genre of mermaid films? A small "rare footage archive" of them is available at Mermaid FX if you're curious! Another of Annette Kellerman's star turns is Venus of the South Seas so here's a 1-minute clip from that silent Venusian relic:
I suspect that photographing (Neptune) people swimming and admiring themselves in mirrors underwater (Neptune) for silent films (Neptune) was quite an intriguing novelty in its day, don't you?
And though quite forgotten nowadays, the aquatic pioneer and "perfect woman" Annette Kellerman has an interesting bio if you care to check her out! After all, Hollywood goddesses may approach the ideal but when it comes to perfect women and sea goddesses nobody plays Aphrodite better than Venus, right?
To illustrate here is Botticelli's famous painting The Birth of Venus including her favorite, pearls:
Sandro Botticelli [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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.
~:~
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.
