Steven Spielberg’s natal chart does not contain the planet placements we would normally equate with an individual who is famous; the 9th and 10th houses are empty and the midheaven is lacking any planetary contacts to the apex location that usually indicates worldly success and notoriety. But there are other features of the chart that point to exactly the talents with which the native is so very well endowed, and those reveal extraordinary creative potentials. The Benefics in the 5th house of creative self-expression is a fortunate placement for an artist, and Saturn and Pluto in the 2nd house give resources with which to accomplish any special goal of the native’s choosing.
But the deeper interpretation starts with the use of the advanced techniques of Marc Edmond Jones, borrowed from his Essentials of Astrological Analysis. The colorful text just below Spielberg’s natal chart corresponds to the meanings of the colored lines within the boundaries of the chart itself. The Bowl Temperament Type, shown by the light turquoise half-moon shape, does have an all-important Delimiting Rim Opposition to contain and help organize his fermenting creativity, and this gives him a sharp awareness of his surroundings and their possibilities. Mars, although Conjunct the Sun that takes part in the Rim, does not overtly participate in this important configuration, because it is not within a 10-degree orb of an Opposition to Uranus. But it is pulled into the dynamic of the Opposition through a Translation of Light and its association with the Sun.
The green lines in the chart show Major Aspects between three out of the four possible Planetary Pairs. The four pairs as defined by Jones are; Sun/Moon, Jupiter/Saturn, Mars/Venus and Uranus/Neptune. In Spielberg’s case, having three of the four pairs Aspected draws, by virtue of a negative dynamic, attention to the solitary pair that is not connected by 0, 60, 90, 120 and 180 degrees with orb allowances of 10 degrees for planets, 12.30 for the Moon, and 17 degrees for the Sun. The pair not connected by Major Aspect is Mars and Venus, the planets of Efficiency, which identify the function of organizing the mundane affairs of everyday living. Spielberg’s highly noticeable attention to detail, as a factor in his movie-making process, is found here if only by Negative stress.
The effects of Negative Efficiency produce a struggle within the native in order to integrate the minor details of functioning in a material world. They are the start (Mars) and finish (Venus) of the convenience of day to day interactions with people and circumstances. not in Major Aspect, Mars and Venus cause a sense of ineptitude in one’s early years, concerning the organization of daily affairs. But these individuals often become highly motivated to compensate for any lack they experience, and thereby become an efficiency expert in their field of interest.
The ideal, in defining the Mode of Self-Integration (MSI), the astrologer must determine which two of the four Pairs are actively in Major Aspect when the other two are either in Minor Aspect or not in Aspect at all. The graph that defines the technique of the Anatomy of Planetary Relationship is shown on page 154 of The Essentials of Astrological Analysis by Marc Jones. With the ideal of two in Major Aspect with two not, the determination of the MSI is through the Weight of planetary energies. If all Pairs are in Major Aspect or none are, or only one of four are or one not, the decision is made through Symmetry based on configurations revealed by the Temperament Type.
TWO PAIRS IN MAJOR ASPECT, ONE NOT
In Spielberg’s chart, the determining factor is through Symmetry, using the Opposition of his Bowl Temperament. The planets playing a role in the Opposition are taken as the significators, appointing Vitality and Significance as the two categories that come into play to identify the Mode of Self-Integration. The High Focus Uranus in direct polarity with the Sun assists Spielberg in bringing all things together by virtue of Conjunctive Activity.
There is an experimentative yet disciplined genius potential found in the 12th house placement of Spielberg’s Uranus (circled in turquoise). It becomes the Cutting planet as it leads the group clockwise through the houses. The Bowl is in the naive and usual upright position with the contents still contained within. But the doggedness of a Sun Conjunct Mars in the 6th house in Opposition to the Cutting planet assures success, simply because there is no T-Cross to divert the energies elsewhere but in the manifestation of the inner vision that a High Focus Uranus would naturally produce. Because Uranus is also a Singleton in hemisphere, the testimony to the radical self-expression and ingenious presentation of the power of the subconscious, especially when dealing with fear, is brought to the public as a clearing so to speak, for all the ails that plagued the native throughout his youth.
Schindler’s List brought Spielberg his first Best Picture, Academy Award on March 21, 1994. A profound Sabian Symbol placement is seen in the Progressed chart’s Moon degree of A dark shadow or mantle thrown suddenly over the right shoulder. The symbol speaks of the destiny that the film’s vast popularity had and brought to bear on the public and how it evolved into the worldwide project Shoah. The task of recording the stories of Holocaust survivors as well as victims of other world calamities was an opportunity to further document what many a vile soul profess to be a fiction.
Circled in pink on the left of the outer wheel is the Progression’s prophetic symbol for the Moon in the month of March 1994:
CANCER 25 A dark shadow or mantle thrown suddenly over the right shoulder This is a symbol of the irrevocability of man’s obligation to the reality of which he is a part, with the emphasis on his capacities of leadership as a revelation of racial stewardship on the more personal or spiritual side. Self-expression here is a release of his inner potentialities, and it becomes both an individual gratification and an expanding responsibility to all other individuals making up the social complex. The keyword is DESTINY. When positive, the degree is some dramatic manifestation of genius vital to the general welfare of man, and when negative, a tendency to unwarranted presumption if not outright megalomania.
Two Progressed planets, Venus and the Sun show that they were active during the shooting of the movie. Still within orb of their prospective aspects, the Conjunction of Venus to the natal Sun and the Opposition of the Sun to natal Pluto highlight the chart and primes it for the award it was destined to receive.
There is one cross-tie between the two famous men; Spielberg’s Moon applying in Opposition to Schindler’s Sun. Spielberg is known to have been deeply, yet quietly, pensive and emotional throughout the filming of the story of a man who stood out in bewildering goodness within a matrix of treachery. Spielberg must have felt a mere reflection of the light emanating from the hero of 1100 men and women whose lives were spared only by an extraordinary act of mercy.
Shown circled in blue at the bottom left of the comparison chart is Spielberg’s Progressed Saturn coming to Conjunct Schindler’s Natal Jupiter during the time of the filming, and when receiving the Best Picture award in March of 1994. Jupiter’s Sabian Symbol is a stark revelation of Oskar Schindler, who exemplified remarkable goodness amid great dangers, and at the same time was characterized as a womanizer and an alcoholic.
THE SYMBOL
LEO 5 Rock formations at the edge of a precipice This is a symbol of the constitution of reality in crisis, offering a challenge to man as it pyramids in ramifying involvements until action or decision becomes an immediate necessity. There is no possible sustainment of individuality without an acceptance of difficulty as significant and an accompanying realization that every shift in orientation is a demand for some enlarged self-discovery. Personality only achieves its stability at the threshold of the risks it is willing to take. The keyword is ENDURANCE. When positive, the degree is man’s genius for initial aplomb and ultimate competency in the face of all danger, and when negative, pure bullheadedness.
THE LETTER
Written at the very end of WWII, on May 8, 1945, by those who had the great fortune to have been led into Schindler’s sheltering hands, is the testimonial letter that was intended to minimize punishment for him that was surely awaiting any active members of the Nazi Party. The letter is a revealing inspiration for the film itself and its following documentary. The letter could very well have saved Schindler’s life, as the Transit of Neptune Opposite Natal Saturn, shown by the pink arrow, proposes such a challenge and threat to life. Circled in green are Transits Mars and the Moon in a Conjunction with Natal Saturn. This configuration, that was liberating for the Jews, but ruin for the Nazis, motivated the previous victims to do what was necessary to reciprocate and keep safe their destined savior. The houses are not taken into account for the lack of a birth time.
This is a letter written in 1945 by Oscar Schindler’s former workers, signed: Isaak Stern, former employee Pal. Office in Krakow, Dr. Hilfstein, Chaim Salpeter, Former President of the Zionist Executive in Krakow for Galicia and Silesia.
“Brothers!
We, the undersigned Jews from Krakow, inmates of Plaszow concentration camp, have, since 1942, worked in Director Schindler’s business. Since Schindler took over management of the business, it was his exclusive goal to protect us from resettlement, which would have meant our ultimate liquidation. During the entire period in which we worked for Director Schindler he did everything possible to save the lives of the greatest possible number of Jews, in spite of the tremendous difficulties; especially during a time when receiving Jewish workers caused great difficulties with the authorities. Director Schindler took care of our sustenance, and as a result, during the whole period of our employment by him there was not a single case of unnatural death. All in all he employed more than 1,000 Jews in Krakow. As the Russian frontline approached and it became necessary to transfer us to a different concentration camp, Director Schindler relocated his business to Bruennlitz near Zwittau.
There were huge difficulties connected with the implementation of Director Schindler’s business, and he took great pains to introduce this plan. The fact that he attained permission to create a camp, in which not only women and men, but also families could stay together, is unique within the territory of the Reich. Special mention must be given to the fact that our resettlement to Bruennlitz was carried out by way of a list of names, put together in Krakow and approved by the Central Administration of all concentration camps in Oranienburg (a unique case). After the men had been interned in Gross-Rosen concentration camp for no more than a couple of days and the women for 3 weeks in Auschwitz concentration camp, we may claim with assertiveness that with our arrival in Bruennlitz we owe our lives solely to the efforts of Director Schindler and his humane treatment of his workers. Director Schindler took care of the improvement of our living standards by providing us with extra food and clothing. No money was spared and his one and only goal was the humanistic ideal of saving our lives from inevitable death.
It is only thanks to the ceaseless efforts and interventions of Director Schindler with the authorities in question, that we stayed in Bruennlitz, in spite of the existing danger, as, with the approaching frontline we would all have been moved away by the leaders of the camp, which would have meant our ultimate end. This we declare today, on this day of the declaration of the end of the war, as we await our official liberation and the opportunity to return to our destroyed families and homes. Here we are, a gathering of 1100 people, 800 men and 300 women.
All Jewish workers, that were inmates in the Gross-Rosen and Auschwitz concentration camps respectively declare wholeheartedly their gratitude towards Director Schindler, and we herewith state that it is exclusively due to his efforts, that we were permitted to witness this moment, the end of the war.
Concerning Director Schindler’s treatment of the Jews, one event that took place during our internment in Bruennlitz in January of this year which deserves special mention was coincidentally a transport of Jewish inmates, that had been evacuated from the Auschwitz concentration camp, Goleschow outpost, and ended up near us. This transport consisted exclusively of more than 100 sick people from a hospital which had been cleared during the liquidation of the camp. These people reached us frozen and almost unable to carry on living after having wandered for weeks. No other camp was willing to accept this transport and it was Director Schindler alone who personally took care of these people, while giving them shelter on his factory premises; even though there was not the slightest chance of them ever being employed. He gave considerable sums out of his own private funds, to enable their recovery as quick as possible. He organized medical aid and established a special hospital room for those people who were bedridden. It was only because of his personal care that it was possible to save 80 of these people from their inevitable death and to restore them to life.
We sincerely plead with you to help Director Schindler in any way possible, and especially to enable him to establish a new life, because of all he did for us both in Krakow and in Bruennlitz he sacrificed his entire fortune.
Bruennlitz, May 8, 1945.”
Translated from the original document in German
Source: The Oscar Schindler file, Department of Righteous among the Nations, Yad Vashem
YAD VASHEM, The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority
Schindler earned the everlasting gratitude of his Schindler jews. No matter why, no matter that he was an alcoholic and a shameless womanizer of the worst sort, no matter that he was no saint and left his wife – what matters to his Jews is that he surfaced from the chaos of madness and risked everything for them.
Generations will remember him for what he did. No matter how many businesses Schindler failed in, he was a success in life ..
Today there are more than 6,000 descendants of Schindler`s Jews living in the USA and Europe, and many in Israel. Before the Second World War, the Jewish population of Poland was 3.5 million. Today there are between 3,000 and 4,000 left.