Nathan Chen, An Astrological Perspective of an Olympic Champion

Here are the astrological indicators assisting Nathan Chen to become the world’s best figure skater. Especially interesting are the transit and progressed aspects contributing to his stellar rise in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. His grace and sensitivity toward others, along with a high degree of disciple displayed by the champion, is revealed astrologically through his noteworthy natal Sun-Saturn conjunction.

Jupiter has a reputation for donning good fortune upon those who deserve it. Years of hard work and consistent effort can be tracked by slow-moving, progressed Jupiter as it inched its way toward a conjunction with Chen’s natal Mercury in Aries. Also, effective until late 2028, is progressed Mars poised in opposition to natal Mercury, giving power and energy to every detail of any performance whether in the challenge of the Olympics or in everyday life. Progressed Mars will Station to go direct within 7 minutes of arc to the mercurial planet on November 3, 2028, pointing to that particular year as pivotal in Chen’s life and career. (more about progressed stations)

During the 2022 Olympics, the complex, dynamic configuration is amplified by the progressed Moon as it leaves its two-month square with natal Uranus. Transit Saturn also figures into the picture, as it urges natal Uranus to reach beyond any limitations the native experienced in the 2018 Olympic games.(1)

Chen’s birth chart Planetary Pattern is the powerful Locomotive with Mars leading in the 1st degree of Scorpio. The Locomotive temperament is the source of the intensity of sensuality and smooth mannerisms displayed by the young man as he “dances” on ice.

The natal Saturn-Mars opposition has its outlet in the form of a T-Cross with Neptune manifesting the ethereal aura the skater also exudes both on or off the ice. Attention needs to be paid to the upcoming and exciting aspect of transit Pluto passing over the powerful Point Focus Neptune. This easily predicts Chen’s future involvement in competitions and perhaps even performances on an entertainment level following his grand and gold achievement in 2022. Transit Pluto will hover over natal Neptune for at least four years to make skating almost a Neptunian responsibility to the public whose thirst for more should be satisfied with an encore from the King of Quads. On the other hand, it could mean a complete break with the sport as Pluto often brings detachment and transformation in experience. 

Other astrological events are to be expected from the progressions. The Progressed Sun will move into its opposition to natal Pluto from 2024 to 2026. This anticipated, magnetic progression brings the personal self in balance with the public’s attention to assure continuing drama around the man who has made it to the top of his field so early in life.

Unfortunately, we do not have a birth time for Chen’s horoscope, so we have to lean more upon the aspect activity and sign function of the planets rather than on house circumstances. The powerful Locomotive pattern, complete with its T-Cross fills in the gaps when relying only on planetary relationships with each other rather than from their placements around the wheel.

Steven Spielberg – Oskar Schindler

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.

 

The 27 Club’s Most Known Members – old and new – Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse.

Wikipedia: “The 27 Club is a term that refers to the belief that an unusually high number of popular musicians and other artists have died at age 27, often as a result of drug and alcohol abuse, or violent means such as homicide or suicide.”

Mandatory Credit: Photo by MARC SHARRATT / Rex Features (16987c) The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Jimi Hendrix at the Marquee Club, London Various - 1967

We will explore the horoscopes of some of the 60 known deaths of the members of that notorious club; Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse.

The Progressed Moon in any person’s horoscope returns to its Natal position in about 27 years after birth. We will look at this Progression in each of the 5 horoscopes analyzed and see if there is a common thread that is tied to this first cycle of the Moon in nativities.

Jimi Hendrix was known as the most innovative guitarist of the 1960s. He has Natal Uranus in exact Opposition to Natal Mercury. His unusual (Uranus) fingering (Mercury) of the strings of the guitar brought him to the height of the mountain of talented musicians of the hippy generation. The red lines in the charts show the Progressed Lunar Return. The blue lines point out the other Progressed aspects of interest, and the green lines show significant Transits.

The red line shows that Jimi’s death is still within orb of the time of the Progressed Lunar Return. A period of 6 months before and 6 months after the exact Conjunction is the sphere of influence. It is a most intense time in the life, because the Moon is the indicator of the emotional field of experience. This is tied to the mental constructs leading ultimately to the individual’s actions, whether for good or otherwise.

In Jimi’s case, there are Transits of Uranus and Pluto to show the gravity of the situation surrounding his death. Shown in short green lines at the top of the chart is T. Uranus that has been making contact with Jimi’s Natal Neptune for some time prior to his death. T. Pluto is also shown with a short green line to point out the slowly approaching Conjunction with N. Neptune. The seriousness of “playing” with drugs during this time is indicated by these two profound Transits.

Jimi’s rise to fame jimihandrixis noted in this 9th house situation and T. Uranus gives Neptune its burst of sudden notoriety in the field of music, and also shows the exposure to the mass drug culture of the times. Several of these hard aspects in Transit indicate that there had been prior troubles in Jimi’s life, but the Progressed Saturn in exact Opposition to Natal Venus from the 6th to the 12th house is the real indicator of the difficulty in passing through this trying time unscathed.

The T. Moon position is shown by the long green lines from the bottom of the chart. The true position of the T. Moon is not certain as the exact time of death is an estimate. But one can surmise that the T. Moon did make an Opposition aspect with N. Mars and a Conjunction with T. Saturn shortly before, at the time of, and shortly after the event of his death. Often it can be seen that the major Transits and Progressions show the development of a grave issue, and the T. Moon kicks off the potential tragedy at the most poignant hour. More on the Transit Moon in a horoscope visit: Robin Williams – a suicide to prevent.

THE NATAL CHART – A brief look.

The nativity features are a Bowl Temperament Type, with the Mutable Disposition delimiting the Bowl (Venus/Saturn Opposition in Mutable signs). This Type points to a desire to please people, and the upturned Bowl shows the impulse to pour out the contents of his talents without restraint. There is no Point Focus planet to form a T-Cross with the Opposition which would allow a necessary positive direction for his tensions. His musical abilities instead are his manner of self-expression and release.

The Sun/Moon pair are in Trine along with the Trine of the planets of Significance, Uranus/Neptune. Mars/Venus and Jupiter/Saturn pairs are not in major aspect with themselves. This leaves the Sun/Moon and Uranus/Neptune to decide the Self-determination which is Subjective Function. This “proves” that it would be difficult to assist Jimi in handling his problems as he is highly motivated through following his own council. Objective Function could have allowed him to make major decisions based on input from sources appealing to him from his environment.

The Bowl Type is led through the houses by Uranus, which is then considered in High Focus in Jimi’s 5th house of unrestrained self-expression, inventive character and unconventional behavior. It is the indicator of his highly unique and individualized mode of musical performance and the keyword becomes Experimentative – which is precisely what brought his style to such heightened popularity.

His Leading Uranus Sabian Symbol degree is revealing:

GEMINI 3 The garden of the Tuileries  This is a symbol of the self-confidence and authority which come to man through social position and wealth, and of his ability to bring all his capabilities to some graceful and exquisite self-expression. Here are the more exalted or immortal constants of everyday values, evident as they are given a solid foundation in human achievement or are preserved through a concern for them by people in general. The keyword is LUXURY. When positive, the degree is the creative stability which enables each individual to participate in the full gamut of satisfactions developed and cherished by his fellows as well as himself, and when negative, complete selfishness and a joy in lording it over others.

Jimi Hendrix photo by MARC SHARRATT  – 1967

Next up: JANIS JOPLIN

Janis Joplin showed an immense talent for singing, just as Jimi Hendrix showed for his guitar performance. Janis had come out of an obscurity in youth, to the height of popularity which surprised her as much as her fans. She was unpopular as a student in her early days in Port Arthur, and took incredible pride in herself when returning at one point in her career to visit again those who previously marginalized her.janis-joplin2

The red line shows the Progressed Moon just a few months beyond its Lunation Return, and so very much a sign of the emotional intensity and upheaval of the times. But the chart shows that it is mostly Transits that “encouraged” the mounting stress on her life style, and those Transits include Neptune that brings the misuse of drugs once again into the picture. At the time of her death, Transit Neptune was approaching an Opposition to her Natal Uranus, and the Transit Moon close by indicates its “kickoff effect” of the more major Transit aspect in action.

Uranus, as well as being aspected by an Opposition by the transiting Moon, somewhere in the vicinity of the time of death, is making in Transit a Square to Natal Moon. This is a reciprocal planetary exchange bringing more force and importance to the configurations.  janisjoplin2

All the significant Transits are shown in green, and the faint lines show the supportive yet powerful indications of the entire Gestalt. Transit Jupiter does make an exact Square to important Natal Mercury, but the more profound undercurrent is provided by Transit Pluto and its approaching Conjunction with Natal Neptune. This is the bass note factor of a mounting stress upon the native.

There is one feature of the Progressed chart not to be ignored, and that is the Progressed Sun reaching the ascendant and just into the first house. The Sun finally coming out of hiding with its 30 year journey through the 12th house is shown by the blue circle on the left of the chart. Just when things might have looked brighter, the rest of the horoscope proved to be too much of a challenge to withstand.

A brief look at the NATAL HOROSCOPE

The Temperament Type is a See-Saw and shows the native’s capacity for communication across divided lines of thinking. She was a spokesperson in a sense with song for her generation, and drew attention from conventional singers, like Tom Jones in 1969, who introduced her to audiences that resulted in an expanded exposure to those with more traditional cultural tastes. Natal Pluto in Opposition to Natal Mercury is the Core Opposition of the See-Saw that drew some criticism by Jones who commented that their singing together was more of a screaming match then two unique artists sharing styles.

Born with a preponderance of retrograde planets proved her to be caught up most tightly in her own brand of thinking and behavior. Being born just days after Mercury Stationed puts her mind, attitude and demeanor into High Focus. Natal Mercury is Conjunct Venus in the 12th, and although grating to the ears at times because in the sign of Uranus’ Aquarius, still her voice proved to be the ultimate sounding board of an entire 60’s generation.

Janis’ Natal Mercury definitely stands out in several ways, not the least in its Sabian Symbol of A popularity that proves ephemeral. This points more to her lifespan in years rather than an indication of her career being forgotten. She truly has become a legend in her field, and she will remain on the minds and hearts of those who adored her for some time to come.

The entire symbol:

AQUARIUS 10 A popularity that proves ephemeral This is a symbol of the eternal challenge which comes to an individual at every point of climax in his experience, and of the swing of the pendulum between an endorsement and a repudiation of his efforts by his social group. He must learn to accept the applause as encouragement in his self-strengthening, but to look for any continued sustainment from his own stability of being. A courageous self-confidence and an unflagging faith are worthy of recognition, but only in their moment of significance. The keyword is APPROBATION. When positive, the degree is a gift for bringing the issues of life to a dramatic consummation at a time of crisis, and when negative, prodigal opportunism.

The symbol indicates that the challenge was to find stability within the self, and the potentials were there with three planets including the purposeful Sun in the 12th house of Subjective Self-sustainment. With better guidance in her early years on how to keep her Cardinal Sun and Moon under control, it could have curtailed its at times exaggerated attention on the personal self and there might have been a very different outcome in the life.

AMY WINEHOUSE

amy-winehouse-stronger-than-me-mokoa-x-mogul-remix

There was the promise of fame for years to come, but Amy Winehouse was caught in a cycle of destruction that took her life on July 23, 2011. UnfortunatetriChartly she was the victim of divorced parents that were both too detached and oblivious to what a marriage fallen apart can do to a young and vulnerable.

The tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil was in a sense what gave her a very deceptive security that had been lacking due to the absent father.  Not shown here is the comparison of charts between the unfortunate couple. Amy’s Natal Pluto in needy Libra was exact to the degree in Opposition to Blake’s Sun in in impulsive Aries. Pluto opened up Amy’s psyche to a most vulnerable state possible and in times when he was not present she fell apart. With a stable family relationship and some loving discipline that was so needed, she might have been able to weather the inevitable storms that unfortunately became her downfall. Having no inner strength to rely on, and co-dependent, it became impossible for her to find strike a balance when fame finally took hold. Drugs and alcohol had long been a substitute for that inner balance, and when those elements became toxic, her body gave way and she joined the 27 Club.

The purple circle shows Amy’s Progressed Moon just entering her 8th house accompanied by Transit Pluto that always brings closer the shadow of death and rebirth. She was 5 months passed her Progressed Lunar Return and Transit Pluto tracking along with the Moon is enough to know that the astrological factors were very much in place to leave her susceptible to drug abuse and out-of-control emotions that a bit of spiritual light would have resulted in a happier outcome.

A feature of her horoscope that shows the weakness she had to deal with is the lack of an Opposition of planets that could have given her an anchor in the outside world. A genuine awareness was lacking from a too subjective point of view.

The multiple Conjunctions throughout her chart shows an exaggeration of energies that always amplifies its effects on others. The Bundle Temperament Type shows specialization rather than versatility and this in Amy’s case was a total dedication to her art and the man she was obsessed with. Mars is the Leading planet in her Bundle, and therefore in High Focus in the sign of Assurance, especially it comes to performing. The otherwise Initiative as the keyword takes on an Indomitable flare when it is a planet of focal determination. And she becomes unstoppable when acting out through the Sabian Symbol degree of, Chickens intoxicated. With this symbol in High Focus it is no wonder that she literally battled with drugs and alcohol.

 

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Aspects at Vincent Van Gogh’s Death

vanGoghPainting

Vincent Van Gogh shot himself while Progressed Mars was in Conjunction with his Natal Mercury. But more importantly, His Progressed Moon was exactly Conjunct his Natal Pluto. These aspects can have positive meanings, but in Vincent’s case we know that he was plagued by serious emotional issues, and these two Progressed indicators, in close contact with Natal planets, point to extreme mental issues that need profound solutions.  Unfortunately therapies that could have helped him at the time where not developed yet. Instead, violent emotions begot violent actions. Mars rules guns, the weapon of choice.

Both Progressed Sun and Venus embrace Natal Saturn. Here is another indication of troubling times as Saturn can indicate over-sensitivity. There must have been a year-long deep depression with the Sun still in contact with Natal Saturn, even though on its way out of the aspect. Venus on the other hand is coming toward the Conjunction, and true to her nature, she brings things to conclusion, unfortunately in Vincent’s case an unhappy one.

We can see that there were a number of Transits (blue and green lines) active on the day he shot himself. Mars again is involved here, but in this case it is in Transit Opposition to Natal Pluto. Apparently there was a compulsion to end it all – an uncontrollable force. And Pluto usually is present in situations of utter despair. In normal circumstances, and with someone more well-balance, this type of aspect could have easily indicated the start of a profound and creative period. And indeed, some of his difficult vincent_ProTransepisodes resulted in the production of glorious canvases. Not so this time.

There are several more Transits showing very dynamic pressure; the Neptune and Pluto approaching Progressed Uranus and Transit Uranus opposing Natal Mercury. Something radical was in the air and in his mind. The Transit Moon exactly opposing Natal Uranus is the clinching aspect. This shows the precise timing of a reaction to mounting planetary pressures. As with Robin Williams, an astrologer looking at these kinds of precise aspects way in advance of their occurrence, could have brought understanding and guidance to the client if only there were an adequate receptivity to qualified instruction.

Some believe that Vincent suffered from physical ills as well and psychological ones, including exposure to lead paint. It is difficult to know for certain, because Pluto doesn’t give up its secrets easily, and the true causes of physical and mental illness can remain obscure indefinitely.

 

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