Liberace

The newly-released film Behind the Candelabra tells the story of the pianist Liberace's life and his relationship with his boyfriend, who had to pose as his chauffeur. Liberace didn't want the world to know he was gay - but with a public image like his, was it ever likely to be otherwise? Liberace is played by Michael Douglas,whose appearance has been made to look uncannily like the glitzy star's. 

Liberace, born on16 May 1919 at 23.15, West Allis, Wisconsin

 

Liberace

Liberace's chart has a strong fixed quality in appearance, as it's dominated by a large 5-sided figure, indicating that his inner and unconscious motivation is to be and feel secure and to seek stability. This need he played out through his extravagant and OTT lifestyle, wearing clothes plastered with sparkling gemstones, and living in opulent surroundings. He also had a Taurus Sun, and Taureans are well-known for their love of the good life, if they are fortunate enough to have the money to fund it. The son of a Polish mother and an Italian father, he started playing the piano aged 4.

Michael Douglas as Liberace

 The dominant 5-sided figure in the chart is made up of a Model  aspect pattern and a Search figure. Green and blue aspects dominant the chart, indicating an imaginative, sensitive disposition as well as giving him escapist tendencies - perhaps that's where the opulent lifestyle, home decor and gem-laden, fur trimmed outfits come in. The Model suggests a person with high aspirations, and someone who will not be sidetracked by pessimism. People with this aspect pattern can offer courage and hope to others, via their persistence in pursuit of their goals. Liberace, a jazz pianist as well as a classically trained one, brought a lot of pleasure into the lives of his audiences. He was hugely popular from the 1950s to the 1980s. He starred in films and TV shows and was a regular performer in Las Vegas.

The Model is pinned by Mercury, Uranus and the Venus/Pluto conjunction. The adjoining Search figure shares the Venus/Pluto conjunction, with Neptune in Leo at the blue/green corner. All these planets share the Moon's North Node as a focal point. More of that later. 

First let's take a look at Venus/Pluto slap bang on the DC. Here they are strongly placed and can't be missed as these are the planetary drives and energies that will be picked up first and foremost by others. For me, Venus here = charm, allure, attraction and a love of beauty; Pluto = power play and allure of a different kind, maybe sexual. These two planets are also placed at the blue/green corner of the Search figure, where the outlet and expression of whatever it is that is being sought is channelled out into the environment.

Let's turn now to Liberace's North Node in the 11th house. The 5th and 11th houses are on the axis of the chart concerned with relationships. If the North Node (shown in the chart) is in 11th house, this usually indicates an important way forward for the individual. In Liberace's chart it suggests that for personal and spiritual growth, he should become far more selective in the friends and associates he keeps company with. The South Node (not shown in a Huber chart using the Huber Method as it relates to the past, and to being comfortably stuck in that place) suggests stagnation and a reluctance to move away from those kinds of relationships with which the individual is familiar. Sad to say, this may have been a contributory factor to Liberace's eventual death as he died from AIDS-related illnesses. His Taurean Sun/Mars conjunction in the 5th house may have proved to be too strong a pull and lure in the arena of relationships and the pursuit of hedonism.

Read more about the Model and the Search figure in my book Aspect Patterns in Colour.

David Bowie

  David Bowie

 8th January 1947 - 10th January 2016

Musician and style icon David Bowie was born on 8th January 1947 at 09.00 in Brixton, London. In 2013 he was the subject of an exhibition at the V and A Museum in central London, where a broad range of Bowie’s collaborations with artists and designers in the fields of fashion, sound, graphics, theatre, art and film  are on show. 

Bowie's change of image was a constant throughout his career, which began with the formation of a his first band when he was 15. One of his most famous alblums is A Space Oddity, and his cult Ziggy Stardust persona was massive in the 1970's.

His chart shows a predominantly fixed motivation which suggests the need for security, but with an excess of flexibility working alonside this. His Capricorn Sun, closely conjunct Mars in 12th house, is on the Balance Point, where both planets can work hard and efficiently together. They receive only blue and green aspects, reinforcing the overall inner, unconsious motivation shown in his chart via the aspect colours. With a high proportion of green aspects, and only one red aspect, Bowie would always have had a wealth of imaginative potential at his disposal. His chart contains two Projection figures; in themselves they create the drive to undertake new and, with so many green aspects, ever-changing projects. This enabled him to express creative and imaginative ideas.

Bowie used his own physical body as a canvas during his career, wearing strange, weird and wonderful costumes as well as stylish and sometimes rakish outfits. A glance at his 7th house Leo planets - Moon, Saturn and Pluto all close to the DC, the area of the chart where the individual and the outside world meet - personifies this use of his body as vehicle. Saturn relates to all things manifest, including the body; Pluto symbolises change and transformation and Moon in Leo suggest great delight taken in this as well as a natural ability to reach out to the "You"/others.

Projection figure

It's also interesting to see that Bowie's Sun/Mars conjunction is at the apex - the projection point - of a Projection figure. Here, these planets seek to project their ideas on to the "screen" formed by the sextile at the other end of this figure. Perhaps no coincidence then that the Moon/Saturn/Pluto conjunction is pinning one corner of the screen.

Bowie's Neptune, part of the large fixed Double Ambivalence figure, is on the Low Point of 8th house, suggesting a potent source of inspiration for him, coming from within. Venus, so fittingly in a linear blue trine aspect to his Moon and Saturn, is the highest planet in the chart. With a style like Bowie's where better to be placed? 

His passing comes with his Age Point in the 12th house, close to his Sun/Mars conjunction in Capricorn. He will be remembered as a true icon in the world of artistic expression, channelled through his music and personal style.

James Bond and The Beatles

No, James Bond and The Beatles is not the name of a new music group. It relates to something more unusual than that. On 5th October 1962 in London the first Bond movie - Dr. No -  and the first recording by The Beatles - Love Me Do - were both released, 50 years ago today. No time is available for either event, so the chart is set for noon.

It'a an interesting chart. Historically, the Swinging Sixties were poised to take off and in the chart you can see the approaching Uranus/Pluto conjunction in Virgo is ready to form. The chart has mainly green and blue aspects, perhaps reflecting the escapist qualities of film and the creative qualities of music. An Ear/Eye also known as an Information triangle aspect pattern, pinned by Sun/Mercury, Neptune and Pluto sits slighly apart from the overall aspect structure, the blue trine from Sun to Saturn looking like a scanning beam coming from a hovering UFO.

The two red opposition aspects form the internal core of an incomplete Irritation rectangle, itself a fairly rare pattern. The opposition between Jupiter and Uranus has a "wake up" feel to it, and that is precisely what was in the air at the time - big changes started to happen in the 60's. Likewise, Saturn's opposition to the Moon's Node in Leo could also have been calling for a spot of risk taking and approaching life with more gusto. The Irritation triangle is open, with one side missing. It's the side that faces on to the sign of Leo, allowing some of this abundant energy in to what would otherwise be a tightly and rigidly held, highly sensitive, rectangular pattern.

Wasn't that what the incoming vibrant energies of the 60's challenged? The "proper", stiff upper lip approach? The music of The Beatles was in the vanguard of breaking down barriers, and the James Bond films set out to thrill in a way not seen before, even though the Bond novels by Ian Fleming - himself once an agent involved in secret wartime work - had first been published in 1953.

There's lots more about aspect patterns in my book Aspect Patterns in Colour. You can find it on Amazon as well as in the Book Shop on the Astrological Psychology Assocation website.

Tom Jones

Three faces of Tom Jones. Early Jones (before the nose job), with hair and beard dyed, and as he is now. Jones was born on 7.6.1940 at 00.05 in Pontypridd, South Wales.

 

Jones is one of the high profile British singers who will perform at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in London on 4th June. Veteran performers and relative newcomers have been invited to take part and Jones will be in the company of Cliff Richard, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Williams, Jessie J, Shirley Bassey and Paul McCartney.

Tom Jones's chart is interesting - completely linear with no complete aspect patterns, indicating a cardinal, go-ahead restless energy which could make him tangetial, seeking after new goals. The aspect structure is firmly focussed on the "You" side of the chart, with a concentration of planets spanning the 5th and 6th houses of relationships, creativity and work/service to others. Possibly a good set up for a successful singer who has often experienced being pelted with their underwear by female audiences.

Jones's sex appeal could be attributed to his Pluto in Leo in 7th house. It's close to the DC - what is sometimes called the "doorstep" of the chart in the Huber Method of astrological psychology - as it's the first planet others will encounter when first meeting him. There would be a sense of allure, of power and sexuality (in Jones's case he's played very successfully on this theme throughout his career). Pluto in this position will draw others in and they will not necessarily understand why - there will be a magnetism, perhaps something about the eyes and the general demeanour of the person - which signals "come hither". Take a look at the picture of the early Jones and the last one where he's (thankfully) letting his grey hair show, and you'll see it in his eyes.

As a Sun in Gemini and a Welshman to boot, having the gift of the gab will be second nature. This will be strengthened by his Moon also being in the same sign. In 1963, when his Age Point (AP) was conjunct the Sun, he began performing as front man/vocalist in a Welsh beat group. The period when his AP travelled between Sun and Moon was busy - he released the hit "It's not unusual", followed by several other hits in the UK and US, and started performing in Las Vegas.

Although he  has a home in the US, 2012 sees him returning more often to the UK's green green grass of home, as he's featured in a BBC talent show on TV, "The Voice UK". And now he's poised to take to the stage at the Diamond Jubilee concert, just before his AP reaches 72 and completes one circuit of the chart. It is in the consolidating and reliable sign of Capricorn, and before very long it will be opposite Pluto in 7th house. The allure is still there, but he'll be seeing and experiencing it from a different perspective as he embarks on the second circuit of his chart.

Want to find out more about Age Progression and using the Age Point? Go to the Bookshop area of the Astrological Pyschology Association website - or use the website to find out more about taking an APA distance learning course which teaches how to use Age Progression.   

Adele

Gutsy singer-songwriter Adele has recently received a whole raft of awards for her music. Born on 5th May 1988 in London, there is no reliable time of birth available so her chart is set for noon.

The focus here will be on her inner motivation, as shown by the aspect colours and patterns in her chart. It's possible to work with a chart in this way if there is no time of birth available, but bear in mind that the orientation of the chart will not be accurate. With a mixture of triangular and linear aspects, Adele will be motivated to be flexible and changeable in her approach to life. With a large number of red aspects and very few blue aspects, we can expect her to be a "doer" who doesn't find it easy to rest and relax. The chart image supports this too - to me it looks like a diabolo toy, something which is balanced on a rope and has to be in constant movement to maintain that balance.

A very Taurean lady, Adele has her Taurean Sun closely conjunct Jupiter, emphasising Taurean traits of earthy practicality and creativity. Taurus also rules the throat and is the sign associated with singers. Sun and Jupiter together suggest expansion, a larger than life approach, the ability to seize opportunities and take risks. They will also support dogged determination and a lot of staying power and physically, a solid frame. Adele is a curvy lady with a big powerful voice, and this makes a refreshing move away from the "expected" norm of pop singers being stick-like thin.


Opposite Sun/Jupiter is Pluto in Scorpio, adding underlying strength to her Taurean determination, and keeping the red energy of this aspect in a state of tension. In the Ambivalence figure, the opposition is where work and activity take place. The planet at the blue corner - for Adele this is Neptune - is where she will go to escape the "doing" to find refuge in "being", and it's possible that this is where her creativity comes into play.

Rumours are flying that Adele is engaged, after the flashing of what looked like an engagement ring at the recent Brit awards. If it was an engagement ring, and a big one, that sounds just what a Taurean would want. But that is rumour. What is fact is that Adele's Age Point is approaching the 5th house cusp, and when an individual enters the 5th house at age 24, psychologically they are geared up for relationships.

John Lennon

John Lennon, born on 9.10.1940 at 18.30 in Liverpool, UK

What would have been Lennon's 70th birthday is being celebrated in his native Liverpool by the projection of a previously unseen photograph of him on to the buildings surrounding the Albert Dock at Liverpool's Pier Head. This is the tourist area of the city, where The Beatles Experience exhibition is housed.

Lennon's chart resembles an arrow head, with highest planet Moon as a focal point, receiving many aspects. Lennon's unconventionality was well-expressed through his Aquarian Moon. The overall aspect structure shows a predominantly mutable, flexible motivation, but there is one quadrangular aspect pattern - a Megaphone - which will need and thrive on having some measure of security and stability. Lennon is said to have found this in the home of the aunt who brought him up as a child.

With 6 planets on the DC/"You" side of his chart, Lennon was more attuned to being with and interacting with people - he did have a charismatic presence, perhaps attributable to his Libran Sun close to the DC , this being the energy others would be most likely to pick up on meeting him.

The Megaphone would have made it relatively easy for him to convey his ideas via his artistic talent of song writing and composing. Bruno and Louise Huber say of this figure: "The person is a thinker who extracts a lot of information from communication...." Lennon was also a idealist and a dreamer ("..you may say that I'm a dreamer..." from Imagine), and here the Moon at the highets point in the chart, heavily aspected, in idealistic Aquarius and in 11th house speaks.

For more on the Megaphone and ALL the aspect patterns used in the Huber Method, watch out for details of my new book Aspect Patterns in Colour.

Freddie Mercury's Age Point

I liked The Beatles, The Rolling Stones were OK, but the best band for me has to be Queen, with lead singer Freddie Mercury top of my list of singers with the most amazing voice ever.

Freddie was born on 5.9.1946 on the island of Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania. His birth time is speculative, but is given as 05.10 in "British Entertainers - the astrological profiles" by Frank C. Clifford. Using the Huber Method of Age Progression I've checked out a few key life events, and find there is some validity in this time, so Freddie's chart is set up for this time.

It shows predominantly linear aspects, with only one complete aspect pattern - the red/blue Ambivalence triangle. This suggests an inner drive and motivation that was restless and adaptable. Freddie's family fled Zanzibar when he was 17 to avoid the dangers of the Zanzibar revolution in 1964, and settled in the UK. This event concurs with his Age Point making a quincunx aspect to Uranus when he was 17, Uranus being the sudden change and upheaval created by a revolution, and the move to somewhere foreign and completely different.

Freddie's contribution to British music is outstanding. He joined Queen in 1970, as his Age Point reached the 5th cusp and was conjunct the Moon. He was reputed to be a very private person, which is perhaps indicated in his strongly "I" sided chart with Sun in Virgo; it's only his Moon in Sagittarius which is up for grabs, just into the "You" side of the chart and more visible to the world. But the Moon is opposite Uranus, the highest planet in the chart and maybe it was this combination which allowed him to perform in an often outrageous and very individualistic style.

The Ambivalence triangle is quite a common aspect pattern in charts. The person feels the tension of work in the red opposition aspect, but they can escape into the planets at the blue corner of this pattern for R&R. With Venus and Jupiter here, Freddie may well have indulged in sybaritic activities.

Another Age Point quincunx to Uranus in 1975 coincided with the release of Bohemian Rhapsody, a groundbreaking and innovative song, which Freddie wrote. His imagination, creativity and wide appeal may well be due to his unaspected Neptune - was he able to tap into something less tangible for inspiration? Was this where his - at times almost heavenly - voice came from? Here I think of him singing Barcelona along with Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballe, who said of him "the difference between Freddie and almost all the other rock stars was that he was selling the voice"

Freddie's lifestyle eventually caught up with him and he contracted AIDS, dying of pneumonia at the age of 45 on 24th November 1991, with his Age Point in the 8th House, approaching the Low Point of the whole chart and making aspects to his Sun and Pluto. The world lost a charismatic performer, a creative writer and performer and a voice which as yet, is unsurpassed.

To find out more about The Huber Method of Age Progression see the Huber's book LifeClock, and my book Using Age Progression. You can read more about by clicking the appropriate tabs at the toip of the page. Both are available from the APA on-line Book Shop.

Suzanne Fischer, Soprano

I confess to having a personal interest in looking at Suzanne’s chart as she is the grand-daughter of my neighbours and I’ve seen how she’s been reaching for the stars over the past few years. Suzanne is a singer, and is developing a blossoming career in opera. In April 2015 she begins a season singing in the chorus with the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.

I first saw her perform in the local high school production of “Les Miserables” and even then was telling her I’d have to have her autograph before she got famous and had her name in lights! I now have the autograph, along with her birth data (7.5.1987. 05.15, London) and her permission to look at her chart.

Suzanne comes from a musical family. Her grandparents, my neighbours, are retired professional musicians. Her great-grandmother played the violin, both her parents are professional musicians and her uncle is a composer and recording artiste. Suzanne studied music in Edinburgh and won a scholarship to train for a year in Milan. She embedded herself in the Italian culture before starting her course there, attending language schools and living and working with an Italian family. Her dream to sing professionally began to be realised when she gave a concert in the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, several years ago, making a CD of the songs she performed. Click here to read more about Suzanne and catch up on her fast-developing career.

Now to her chart. The visual image I see is a juggler or tightrope walker - certainly a performer of some kind - and there is a sense of movement and of balance being maintained. Her chart shaping is a mixture of Dynamic/Mutable and Linear/Cardinal energy. This suggests her inner motivation is flexible, adaptable, restless, forward-looking and enthusiastic. She could be tireless when she gets her teeth into something, and with a colour ratio of 3 red: 2 green: 5 blue aspects, she will need to stay aware of not over-extending herself. She lacks slightly in red aspects, so she may not always achieve as much as she aims for all in one go. The knack may be to take things more steadily and aim for a consistent build up. In terms of voice training this would be important so she doesn’t get over stretched too soon.

The direction of the aspect structure is another mixture, this time of Vertical and Horizontal aspects. The Vertical aspects point towards the planets at the top of her chart - Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Neptune, as highest planet in the chart, can indicate high ideals, visionary aspirations, and could also refer to her “rising star” potential in the field of the arts. The Horizontal aspects pull in her Sun/Mercury in the 1st house and Pluto just before the DC. Don’t mess with this lady - she has a lot of powerful potential and she may well speak her mind and tell you what she thinks, pulling no punches! As Pluto is on the DC, others, when they meet her, may find she can come on strong and they will pick up that she’s not going to suffer fools gladly.

The aspect patterns in her chart are a Search figure and a Single Ambivalence figure. Both triangular patterns have as their outlet point the Venus/Jupiter conjunction in 12th, indicating that this area of her life, where she retreats to recharge her batteries or practise and perfect her art, is going to be very important. The Moon’s Node, as part of this conjunction, may make it easier for her to switch off and take time out for herself. She may have to balance out this tendency by being willing to be out there and “on call” for others; maybe this is something she could bear in mind when she starts performing.

At 21 her Age Point was in the 4th house of the chart, when she was psychologically moving away from the conditioning and expectations of her childhood and teenage years, and began forming her own rules for life. The Age Point at this time was in the Sign of Leo, often associated with artistic expression in the performing arts. Her Moon is also in Leo, a sure fire indicator in her chart that she will enjoy performing and being on stage. Leo can be larger than life, and it seems that Suzanne, en route to the bright lights, is on track here. But I don’t for one moment expect that this will be an easy journey as there is much hard work, discipline and dedication involved. Suzanne’s Taurean Sun will stand her in good stead here, and perhaps the added bonus is that Taurus is generally regarded to be the Sign of singers.

I have featured Suzanne's chart in my book Using Age Progression. This book is packed full of real life examples of Age Progression at work, and is available from the APA Book Shop, Amazon and other retailers.

Elton John's Kite & Jupiter

Elton John recently turned 60 ( born 25.3 1947, Pinner. No birth time available on his official website so chart set for noon). As his Age Point entered the 11th House, his threw a lavish party, and dressed up in one of his trademark elaborate and OTT fancy dress outfits, something that he's become well known for. That set me thinking about his dress style way back in the early 1970's when he was thumping out "Crocodile Rock" on "Top of the Pops", seated at the piano and dressed in over-sized specs and knee-high gold boots with enormous wedges and heels. He's never been one to hold back from dressing up, and his style is distinctly Jupiterian!

With such a larger than life presentation, I wondered where and how Jupiter, with its larger than life qualities, might feature in his chart. Although there is no time of birth to work with, making it impossible to say which House Jupiter is in, it's clear to see that it does play a key role in the Aspect Pattern it's a part of. Jupiter, together with Sun, Saturn and the Node, are the pinning planets in the Kite figure in his chart. Sun and Saturn span the sides of the Kite, while the Node is at the aspiration point, at the top of this figure, and Jupiter is at the tail of the Kite.

The Kite is a quadrangular figure and is therefore motivated towards security. With only red and blue aspects, it may operate in an on/off manner, seeking to intersperse periods of rest in the blue aspects with a somewhat tense approach to the work that needs to be completed in the red opposition. This figure contains large quantities of talent (its component parts include two talent triangles) but the individual may prefer not to tap into this talent and produce something until they absolutely have to. This figure is found in the charts of artists and creative people, who often go right to the wire when producing something to a deadline. They may find it easier to stay in the blue part of this figure until close to their deadline, when the red finally kicks in. The Hubers say in "Aspect Pattern Astrology" that people with a Kite have a certain charisma, and that they may also be a hedonist. Interestingly, Robbie Williams, whose chart I've written about, also has a Kite (see the Chart Interpretations page on the API (UK) website.

Jupiter at the tail of the Kite is in opposition to the Node at the aspiration point, that part of the figure which the individual can develop and grow - if only the time of birth were known so that the House/area of life experience where the Node lies could be pinpointed accurately. The only information we have is the Sign it's in - Gemini - suggesting communication. I guess Elton has done a fair bit of that via his many hits over the years. Of course, Jupiter at the tail of the Kite could be that planet/psychological drive which holds back growth, so the lavish costumes, the excessive amount of money he regularly spends on flowers to fill his home and the ownership of a football club (I don't remember which one!) could all be expressions of this planet.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan's chart has been suggested as one to look at, and the initial chart image that comes to mind is of antennae seeking out information from the environment. There is an angular, sharp pointy feel to his chart along with a sense of movement, in the triangular/linear shaping of the chart which reveals a mobile, sometimes restless motivation.
Dylan was born on 24.5.1941 at 21.05 in Duluth MN, USA (thanks Sara for his data from Lois Rodden's AstroDatabank). Grouped closely together he has 3 planets in Gemini and 4 in Taurus. All, including unaspected Venus, are clustered around the "You" side of the chart, near the DC, with Mercury the closest. When you meet Dylan you meet his words. This man is an amazingly prolific writer and performer of his own work, and he's still going strong after 50 years in the business. With lyrics like poetry, full of philosophical ideas and anti-war protests, phrases and quotes from many of his songs have entered common usage.

The colour balance/motivation in his chart shows a ratio of 2 red aspects, 1 green and 5 blue. There's a lot of potential for relaxation and enjoyment here, plus an underlying need for stability. How Dylan lives this out I can only guess at - but I do know that his music and his performance of it, for me, has always had a "laid back" quality and the chilled out feel of the 60's scene he was so much a part of.

Mars is intercepted in the 3rd House, and the only way it can be noticed out in the world is via his Gemini Sun, which it is square to in a red linear aspect. That could easily sum up not just his protest songs of the 60's but it could also indicate a reliance on his Sun - strongly placed in the 6th House - to be heard.

He has but one aspect pattern and this is a Small Learning triangle which suggests observable on-going learning behaviour. It may be a specific task that is being learned, it may be seeking a better and more effective way of getting his messages across and out into the world via his DC Mercury. The other planets involved are Neptune (also intercepted and indicative of dreams, ideals, visions of how things might be) and Moon - his feelings, emotional needs etc. This strongly suggests that he writes from the heart. Moon is conjunct Saturn, too, and in Taurus which will help in the grounding and manifestation of the ideals, the feelings, and issues he feels strongly about.

But note that this Learning triangle is not direct - its sequence of colours and associated actions involved in the learning process is retrograde. What is done, learned, undertaken may well not come right first time around: several attempts may have to be made before he is either satisfied or successful.

Dylan has recently announced that he is buying a home in Scotland. In view of this, it's interesting to read on his Wikipedia entry that "in his autobiography, Chronicles (2004), Dylan wrote: "What I was going to do as soon as I left home was just call myself Robert Allen.... It sounded like a Scottish king and I liked it."

A full account of his life and work is at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan
and his website www.bobdylan.com
lists all his lyrics - it's worth a browse!