Where to start with such an enigmatic woman! How about the Sun?At her heart-center, she is a Gemini! Her solar purpose infused with mental stimulation. She thrives when in a state of curiosity and wonder.With Leo rising and Neptune near her Ascendant, she identifies with feline power, symbolically seen in her confident look and the solar-gold color of the dress. Neptune exudes mystical and intangible vibes through the power of yin energy.
Her Aquarian Moon in the 7th links her subconscious to a larger network of people (Aquarius) through socializing (7th). Without even trying (Moon) she becomes a social icon, threaded through many different networks (the mob, the presidency, baseball, hollywood, Warhol art..). If the Aquarian subconscious stays unaware of it’s associations, she is likely to feel isolated at times. Feeling isolated in the house of relationships can be particularly difficult.
Aquarian moons also like to push boundaries. Her moon is near Jupiter, tying a larger social role (Jupiter) into one of a rule-breaker, a freedom-seeker. She inspires others to become more free.Venus in Aries is a go-getter in matters of the heart. There is much motivation to put on the charm and get involved with other people, often A-lister (Aries) types.Mars in Pisces sizzles with the yin energy. Absolute passivity ramps up her drive. Located in the 8th and near the unpredictable Uranus, it is even more electric and sexual in it’s nature. This can be problematic when healthy boundaries need to be set.With her mother, Gladys
With the planet of obstacles, Saturn in deep psychological Scorpio and in the 4th house of home, much of Marilyn’s mountains (Saturn) will pertain to transcending early home emotions. Her mother was mentally unstable and her father absent. She spent her childhood moving from many foster homes and orphanages.
Finding a renewed sense of home would be of enormous healing to her.
Social life is so big that alone time would likely serve to balance a lot of chaos. Pluto in Cancer in the 12th shows renewed power (Pluto) that is restorative (Cancer) in places of seclusion (12th). Aligned with her solar purpose (Gemini sun), a book stimulates her beautiful thoughts.
Of course, there are so many more lovely shades to this gal. XO Marilyn.
Today we are going deep into the astrological makings of a very complex man. Ladies and gentleman, I give you Howard Hughes!
This man claims to have been born on Christmas Eve but his baptist records put him on the more mundane date of September 24. With balanced features like his (not to mention all the women and the charm) it is no surprise that he is in truth, a Libra.Note: this is an equal house chart (where each house is an equal 30 degrees). For anyone that is strictly Placidus or whatever else I say don’t worry! The big themes of a chart always find a way of making themselves known no matter what system you use.. I am not insistent on this house-system I just find it the easiest to understand.
The first thing that really draws my eye into his chart is that Mercury at the very bottom of the chart. It is in Virgo (the ever over-analyzing, perfecting and exacting scrutinizer) and it is under some serious pressure.
DiCaprio gave a very compelling performance as Hughes in Scorceses’ “The Aviator”. Here he gives us an excellent glimpse of Hughes’ Mercury in Virgo (extreme focus on precision).But uh oh. Here it is again
Howard Hughes seems to have acquired the brunt of his OCD from his mother, who used to scrub him clean all through his childhood and teach him to be afraid of germs.
His Mercury is found at the bottom of the chart right on the 4th house cusp. This is the place in the chart that is associated with the Mother and early childhood (because it is the house that is connected to the sign of Cancer).
Mercury is the planet associated with our thinking. It is always listening and responding to our environment (like DNA!)
The caduceus (symbol associated with Mercury) look like the double-helix of DNA. Information in and information out.
Hughes Mercury (thinking) is under pressure from both Mars and Pluto via the square aspect (an aspect of 90 degrees). So let’s meet the personal “bullies” of Hughes’ mind!
Hughes’ Mars is in the expanding and daring fiery sign of Sagittarius. His masculinity and motivations (Mars) are tied to travel and spirited adventure (Sag).Like no other sign, Sagittarius says “Go big or go home!”. This picture of his highly ambitious “Spruce Goose” sums that up pretty well. It still remains the largest airplane made to date.Here he goes big again with a specialized bra for MAXIMUM exposure of Russell’s large bozooms!Hell’s Angels cost more money than any other movie made during that time. Going big baby! Mars in Sag!
Mars is energy! It is motivation and stress. The stuff that propels life along. Hughe’s Mars is located in the 7th house of relationships. It’s a common know fact that Hughes did “go (very) big” in the dating field.
Hughes was infamously entangled with a bevy of beautiful starlets. The glitz and glamour would satisfy his Venus in Leo as well as his Moon in Leo. Venus for a man will point to something he is drawn to in a woman. The Moon points to an emotional hunger that we yearn to satiate. This is also connected to the mother and early life.
It’s interesting to think of all of that OCD doting that his mother did for him was still a form of constant attention. Hughes was known to be a hypochondriac in childhood to secure the constant attention of his parents, both of whom died within his later teenage years. Hughes went to court and bought out the rest of the family for the inheritance and became a billionaire.
This side of him points to his Saturn in Aquarius near the top of the chart. Ambitious (Saturn) eccentricity (Aquarius).
Ok, so back to the pressure on his Virgoan mind.
Let’s meet the next “bully”, the ever secretly-up-to-something Pluto. And as a side note, these “bullies” are not inherently bad, they are just motivators. The aspect of the square suggests that it’s a bit more challenging for Hughes.
Hughes has Pluto in Gemini (the sign associated thinking) and it sits in his first house of personality right near the Ascendant (amplifying it’s noticeable presence). His free-wheeling Mars is off gallivanting with women (in the 7th) and putting off a big public image (7th) but when we are looking at just Hughes (1st house), without the public, without the starlets, something else emerges. Something we can see here in his eyes.Pluto is the deep water. For Hughes the deep water is noticeable right off the bat because it is so close to his Ascendant (the way one “dawns” on others).His Pluto is in Gemini, the thinking sign. The depth that comes forth from Hughes is very mental.
Pluto motivates in a very hidden way. In Gemini this may take the form of always seeking mental stimulus, and variety of thought. It lies opposite of the Mars in the 7th house of relationships so we can expect to find a lot of variety there too (and there sure was!).
Pluto is like a rabbit hole. It’s job is to constantly renew us and purify us through emotional purging. Hughes’ rabbit hole was so very mental, so full of variety and choices. For a mind that is suited towards precision and order (Mercury in Virgo) this influx of variety might have been a bit overwhelming.
It would have been nice to see Hughes’ Virgo mind take the Virgoan modest approach to these heavy-weight bullies. To humbly (Virgo) take things in stride and be aware of his own tendency to over-worry (Virgo pitfall). We can bring so much peace back to our psyches with a bit of awareness. This is the department where the horoscope truly shines as a tool. It serves us to give ourselves a break and be on the lookout for unhealthy habits!
Let’s begin with his Sun, which is in Sagittarius. His solar energy runs on inspiration, bigness, and optimism. “If I can make it there I’ll make it anywhere” packs an extreme punch coming from the mouth of this man. It seeps into our souls and makes us BELIEVE in ourselves and our potentials. His Mercury is conjunct the Sun, so his words carry forth this uplifting energy. This conjunction is in the 2nd house of his own values and talents.
Life is a barrel of laughs when your in the rat pack. Sinatra pictured here with Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin. Typical Sagittarius gleefully indulging in a lifestyle of excess (booze and smokes) and living like there’s no tomorrow.
Now let’s look at his Moon. It’s in dreamy Pisces. His reigning need is to merge with the mysteries of life. In this quest he emits a dreaminess. It’s hard not to immediately call up the Looney Tunes version of him, where he is depicted rail-thin on a stage with all sorts of animals swooning “Frankie!!” and falling to the ground. They are under his spell. His Moon is in the 5th house of creative self expression.
From Looney Tunes, “Swooner Crooner”, this hen is under his spell…. “oh Frankie!”
To emphasize this dreamy component, there is Neptune at the Midheaven. His public role wrapped up in an ethereal “je ne sais quoi”. And then there is Jupiter (always highlighted for a Sagittarius) squaring (giving structure to) his Sun, in what sign? Pisces! His own optimism and faith (Jupiter) restored by feelings of divine beauty and mystery.
“Old Blue Eyes” putting forth a look of reverie
Don’t we want to know about his Venus? With all that charm he displays? Well let’s talk about it. It’s in Capricorn AND opposed Saturn, which basically just amps up that Capricorn. His charm is CLASSIC (Capricorn). He is threaded into society (Capricorn), as reflected by his MANY connections to politicians (also a Sagittarius theme), mobsters, and hollywood stars. This Venus is in the third house of communications, putting that charm right where it’s needed, on that golden voice of his.
Ava Gardner was Sinatra’s second wife, followed by Mia Farrow.At Peter Lawford’s house with Marilyn Monroe.
Pisces Moon’s can be very sensitive people. This may explain him converting to be a republican overnight when JFK snubbed him by choosing Bing Crosby’s house to stay at during a convention instead of his. He had built a helipad and everything!! Turns out Bobby Kennedy insisted that John not stay there because of all of Sinatra’s ties to the mob. Sinatra ended up tearing apart the helipad with a sledgehammer.
Before the helipad incident these two were chums
On an ending note, Sinatra displays such a gorgeous balance of his Sun and Moon energies, which is something we all strive to do. There’s a reason why the apparent size of the Sun and Moon are the same from where we stand on Earth. He has this balance. His Sagittarius larger than life, filled with inspiration, his Pisces dreamy as the day is long. That’s why I would like to dub him Frank Sinatra, Piscittariun .
Planets at the very bottom of the chart symbolize who you are on a deep deep deep down level, and this is inevitably tied to early life experiences. This is also true for the sign that is at the bottom of the chart (even if there is no planet).
Let’s take a look at the chart of Sophia Loren.
Sophia has Uranus at the bottom of the chart, in Taurus. Uranus is intense. It’s like a bolt of lightning. Just a glance at this chart brings about the question: what is the intensity absorbed from early childhood that is so at the root of who she is deep down?
Sophia grew up in extreme poverty and violence during World War 2 in the little Italian town of Puzzuoli. Her father was married to another woman when Sophia was born and even though he fathered a second daughter with her, still refused to marry. He was an aristocrat and ignored them and the fact that they often had to beg for food. Her mother, a beauty herself who looked like Greta Garbo, raised them at their grandparents house where Sophia often had to share a bed with 8 people. They lived on rationed bread and hid from air raids in rat-infested tunnels.
About her difficult childhood she says “You learn the facts of life fast. You are street-wise, people-wise, self-wise. The two big advantages I had at birth were to have been born wise and to have been born in poverty. As a result, I appreciate life more.”
These pretty eyes have seen a lot of horror
This is Saturn wisdom. It comes from learning through struggle. It installs a sense of self-reliance. It is also connected to the father’s influence. Sophia has her Saturn conjunct her Aquarian Moon. The need to be unique is tied into this kind of difficult learning. Uranus rules Aquarius, and her second house (where her Moon is). The second house is all about values. There is a direct connection here to her traumatic early life and the values that she lives by. These values will be of the utmost emotional importance to her (Moon in the second).
Humble perfectionist solar energy (Virgo Sun) fueling a need to be unique and special (Aquarian Moon). Exquisite and ethereal beauty (Neptune conjunct Venus) that is valued and cherished by others (in the 8th). Marriage being a powerful link to international success (Pluto in the 7th square Jupiter in the 9th).. These are just a few other astrological shades of this enigmatic woman.
With her Sun and Venus in modest Virgo, Sophia is not approving Jayne Mansfield’s dishy look here (which was a publicity stunt intended to upstage Sophia).She married film producer Carlo Ponti whom she saw as a father figure. She desperately craved a “legitimate husband, children, a family, like anyone else”. The root of that which she says is “the experience with my father”.Loren turned down Cary Grant’s marriage proposal.
What is the sign at the bottom of your chart? Is there a planet there? If not where is the planet that rules that sign at the bottom? All of these answers can help to get you in touch with some deep truths about yourself that are inevitably linked to your upbringing.
I was thinking about scenes in movies when I didn’t quite feel the emotion that was being portrayed. The big one that came to mind was the ending of “Seven” when Brad Pitt is in the cornfield asking Kevin Spacey “what’s in the box??” knowing full well that it is Gwyneth Paltrow’s severed head.
A bit of a misfire of relatable emotions (IMO)
Believe me, I am not knocking Brad Pitt. I think he is a tour de force of an actor. But this scene got me thinking about how some actors seem very natural and easy with expressing vulnerable emotions while others maybe not as much.
Brad Pitt’s chart shows no Water planets (except Neptune). He is runs mostly on Earth and Fire. My latest favorite movie with him was “World War Z”, and you better believe he was (in my opinion) EXTREMELY effective at displaying a courageous (Fire) hero who gets the job done (Earth).
I also think Brad Pitt is very effective conveying deep emotions BUT, usually this is done by an UNDERSTATED approach. A subtle look, or a quick tear up, but NOT a prolonged cry-fest. A prolonged cry-fest is hard to make look authentic, UNLESS you have some Water planets to help you out.
Everyone has emotions, just like everyone has a Moon their natal chart. Water planets don’t give people more emotion but they DO (ideally) make EXPRESSING emotion a bit more comfortable and natural. This is especially true with Scorpio, because Scorpio is all about emotional power and control.
James Dean let’s the feelings fly with Mars squaring his Scorpio Moon. He is completely comfortable in showing vulnerability which works to set him in a league of his own and pave the way for future actors.Leonardo Di Caprio’s 2nd house Scorpio Sun and Scorpio Mars allows him to rely on his resources (2nd house) of emotional power and control (Scorpio). His life energy and driving force (Sun and Mars) dedicated to harnessing this emotional strength.Matthew McConaughey has both his Sun and Mercury in Scorpio. Not only does he emote with wild abandon when needed, he also has the habit of taking up character role that talk (Mercury) about the endless mysterious of life (Scorpio)
Compare these Scorpio cry-looks to some Cancer cry-looks.
Tom Hanks’ Cancer Moon makes us want to hug him and tell him everything will be alright. Cancer emotions being expressed can bring out the “awww” in most of us.Even Tom Cruise, with all of his macho roles is a bit of a Teddy Bear when sad thanks to his Cancer Sun.
And finally some Pisces…
Bruce Willis captures the perfect “Savior-Martyr” emotional look with his thoughtful teary expressions. Sun and Mercury in Pisces.On the other end of the Pisces emotional spectrum is that of the “victim” which Jon Hamm displays here (Sun and Mercury in Pisces)
Actors who do not have Water planets, when faced with a role that needs to display emotion will often naturally take a SUBDUED approach.
George Clooney has no Water planets (except Neptune) but he gets the emotion across with stillness (Taurus Sun) and a perceived stoic groundedness (double Earth).
Or restort to other methods…
No-Water planeted Al Pacino expresses anger with ease thanks to the Fire in his chart. When it comes to expressing vulnerability a tactic like covering the face can help the awkward process.
What does it mean when you identify yourself (Ascendant) with your words (Mercury)? Let’s ask Taylor Swift! She is famous for writing songs about the highs and lows of her own personal experiences in the dating arena. She achieved such a strong reputation for this that she actually swore off dating for a whole year, favoring more time with her girlfriends.
Taylor has Mercury in Capricorn, the sign of ambition and making a mark in the world. Unlike other singers her age, she has the patience and discipline (Capricorn) that is needed to be a successful songwriter. And identifying so personally (Ascendant) with her songs is also unique.
There is more to the story with the Mercury however! Most of her material comes from life experiences in dating, and it comes as no surprise that Jupiter is conjunct the Descendant (relationships) and exactly opposite this ambitious Mercury. Jupiter gives us that feeling of enthusiasm and faith in life. Her Jupiter is in Cancer, so her faith is instilled in situations that give her emotional security. Being on the Descendant, these situations mainly play out in her close relationships. Sweetness with someone one day, and then boom! A breakup and in comes the tidal wave of emotional inspiration!
Rumored to have written “The Last Time” about ex Jake GyllenhaalShe unambiguously wrote the song “Dear John” after a bitter breakup with John MayerAbout Harry Styles she is said to have written “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “Red”
As a Sagittarius, inspiration is the primary fuel that she runs on, so this Jupiter is further elevated. And on the opposite end, Mercury is surrounded by Neptune, Saturn and Uranus. Uranus intensifying her drive to work hard (Saturn) and incorporate her imagination (Neptune) in her writing pursuits.
Her Moon is in Cancer as well (conjunct that powerful Jupiter), which really drives home that need for emotional “rightness”. She is famous for having a lot of friends, one of which is writer, Lena Dunham, a very mercurial girl! There it is again: faith from emotional bonding solidifying an identity as a words girl, with another words girl!
Swift with BFF Lena Dunham
Taylor grew up on a Christmas tree farm. I love that detail with her Sun Moon combo: Sagittarius exuberant spirit serving a sweetness-craving Cancer Moon. Can we not practically see a lit up Christmas tree take form?
Your Sun sign keys you into understanding the fundamental energy that you run on. There are four basic different categories of this energy: Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Start with understanding your element and then move on to understand it’s specific qualities within your sign.
Today we are taking a look at the energy of Fire.
Fire energy is excitable and motivating. There is dramatic charge with Fire. Fire energy needs inspiration and action to get moving. It is the most outward (yang), it needs to express.
Cardinal Fire: Aries. Cardinal energy as we have learned is all about INITIATION. With initiative fire we arrive at the archetype of the pioneer. Boldly going where no one has gone before. One who embraces new beginnings with courage and gusto.
Double Aries Marlon Brando was wearing jeans and white t-shirts way before everyone else. He embodied a style of rock n roll before rock n roll was even happening! This is the spirit of Aries.
Fixed Fire: Leo. Leo is naturally associated with the Sun. The Sun is Fixed Fire, a.k.a Fire MAINTAINED and burning bright. Leo energy basks in the limelight, exudes a natural confidence and celebrates it’s own radiance with play and spontaneity.
Double Leo Halle Berry visibly exudes the Leonine confidence in the manner she carries herself and communicates. It’s no wonder that she often lands roles in which she is supposed to show this kind of energy, whether it’s as a Bond-girl or a sly and stealthy “Catwoman”.
Mutable Fire: Sagittarius. If inspirational and excitable Fire energy is constantly ADAPTING, REFINING and CHANGING itself we may be looking at a person with strong and impassioned beliefs and opinions, based on what they’ve learned along life’s path. Sagittarius wants to learn, and identify itself with what it’s learned. But in the Mutable spirit- always continue learning, changing and evolving- hence we get the archetype of the free-spirited traveller, the student, or one who seeks more and more knowledge/ life experience.
Double Sagittarius, Jon Stewart’s fire burns strong as he explores all sorts of different structures of belief and opinion in response to current events. In the true spirit of Fire, he makes sure to always add a sparkling sense of humor to these thoughtful expeditions.
The next post will wrap up this Sun Sign series as we will explore the light and socially-inclined element of Air.
Your Sun sign keys you into understanding the fundamental energy that you run on. There are four basic different categories of this energy: Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Start with understanding your element and then move on to understand it’s specific qualities within your sign.
Today we take a quick look at Earth energy.
Earth energy is practical and sensual. It is naturally tuned into solid reality. It is also more body conscious. With Earth energy comes a likely ability to stay grounded in the face of chaos. There is often a need to make things manifest on a physical level. Like Water, Earth is Yin, so there is a natural inwardness to it.
Earth is physical, tangible, and everywhere we look.
Breaking the Earth signs further down into their modes we get:
Cardinal Earth: Capricorn. Cardinal INITIATES. Think of the above description of Earth energy and add the concept of INITIATION to better understand Capricorn.
I will give examples with some “doubles” below (Sun and Moon in same sign). Doubles are fun to study because the archetype of the sign is often made more visible.
Double Capricorn James Earl Jones has both these planets in the first and Saturn on the ASC (Saturn is the planet associated with Capricorn). His identity (first) is composed of authoritative, self composed energy (Capricorn).
Fixed Earth: Taurus. Fixed signs MAINTAIN. With Earth energy now add the concept of MAINTAINING to better understand Taurus.
Sex-kitten dancer/actress, Ann Margaret has everything in sensual, body oriented Taurus and in the 12th. She seeks an ideal (12th) in celebrating her body and her physicality (Taurus)
Mutable Earth: Virgo. Mutable signs ADAPT, CHANGE and REFINE. Add these concepts to Earth energy to better understand Virgo.
Like Jones, Sean Connery also has Saturn on the ASC (authoritative identity) but his Sun and Moon are in Virgo and in the 8th. He has been very valued by others (8th) in playing the most iconic of all the James Bonds with his appealing and unassuming (Virgo) style that embraces neatness and precision (Virgo)
In the next post we will explore the Sun signs that run on Water energy.
When you think of Lauren Bacall what is the first thing that comes to mind? You might say Bogart, sure. You might say extraordinary beauty of course. But MIGHTN’T you say THAT VOICE?
Impossibly low and sultry, smooth as ice cream, when she says that famous line “You know how to whistle right?”, we KNOW it is sending Bogie’s stomach into knots because it is doing the exact same thing to ours. And it’s all in that voice.
Bacall has her Virgo Sun (energy oriented towards exactness, humility and perfection) in the third house (the house of communication). Not only that, but she also has her natal Mercury (communication needs/style) in Virgo as well and also in the third, further highlighting this anchoring in her voice.
Bacall’s chart
They say that something around 90% of communication in nonverbal. Putting that powerful voice aside for a moment let’s take a look at her one of her infamous mannerisms: her chin held down when she spoke. Such a gesture truly embodies humility, letting her essence shine through (Virgo Sun). The best part is- this mannerism was born because she had such a crush on Bogart that early on (while filming “To Have and Have Not”) when they shared dialogue her head would shake. The director finally coached her to hold her head down.
Bacall’s signature look with her head tilted down
But don’t be fooled, Bacall is not all humility. This energy serves a 10th house Aries Moon. Her emotional needs (Moon) are to be the best (Aries) in this big world of ours (10th house). She embodies a much needed at the time new female archetype. One that asserts, and is brave, and ready to jump into the danger (all Aries traits).
She was raised by a single mother to whom she credits a lot of this determination to (the mother is reflected in our Moon’s sign and placement). “I grew up believing that women had the upper hand, got things done, and were listened to” she is quoted. “It’s women I admire more for character, honesty, daring, courage.” Aries Moon in the tenth.
It was hard to say goodbye to this humble ball of fire this year. We were lucky to have her.
Below are a few more examples of third house Suns and their powerful voices.
Marley’s third house Sun shines bright in the very humanitarian sign of AquariusBrilliant astrologer, Noel Tyl has rectified Cleopatra’s chart putting her Cancer Sun in the third. She is rumored to have the most seductive voice in history.Jim Carrey’s loaded third house includes his earthy and body oriented Capricorn Sun as well as his Mercury Jupiter conjunction (voluble speech) in strange Aquarius.Mick Jagger’s third house Sun is aflame in Leo and conjunct Jupiter and Pluto (making it bigger and more powerful)
Again and again when I tune into The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon I am struck by the magic that happens between him and his guests. There is a true sense of child’s play, like they are actually getting lost in the fun- something you just don’t see ordinarily.
Fallon’s chart
With a Virgo Sun in the 7th, (as well as just about everything else) he is naturally tuned into the balance that takes place during social exchange. This is highlighted by a very strong Venus on the 7th cusp. The Virgo energy settles into an comfortable groove of humility and makes sure to not waste anyone’s time. Add in his Scorpio Moon and we have all of this precise social energy fueling the emotional need to merge with others, to get deep together.
His Scorpio Moon is in the 8th house which pretty much puts the word Scorpio in neon lights because it is the natural ruler of the 8th. Opposite the 2nd house (what I have) the 8th house is what WE have. With Fallon, it’s what he AND Jake Gyllenhaal have when they play a card game of war where the winner gets to dump a glass of water on the loser. It’s what he AND Blake Shelton have when they go face to face in a karaoke battle.
We are watching delightful social alchemy (another 8th house word). And it’s interesting to see such lightness in a moon sign/placement so commonly associated with dark and brooding characteristics.
His Sun/Moon blend is a double yin- earth and water. I see this reflected in his tendency to not have to LEAD his guests too much. He is more about REACTING to them, and RECEIVING their energy, not dominating it. There is a real natural relaxation that is brought forth this way.
“Evolution of Hip-Hop Dance” with Will SmithSomersaulting with Heidi KlumTaking selfies with Stephen Colbert
He seems to truly love his guests. It’s a far reaching non judging open armed kind of love. Very fitting to his Jupiter in Pisces on the Ascendant. His own personal reward (Jupiter) being ignited in expressing (Ascendant) all-accepting love (Pisces).
Toroidal Zodiac 