In this, the third post of the series, I’m going to keep things a bit briefer. We will look at a chart that possesses a large number of the factors seen in the other two posts; something of a more exaggerated case. I recommend that the reader check out the first two posts of the series in order to get a feel for the important factors and configurations. The first post, introduced some of the basics and discussed Traci Lords. The second post, pertained to ex-prostitute and all-around sex guru Annie Sprinkle. While it can be hard to obtain accurate times for porn star birth data, the previous two posts did deal with AA-rated birth data, as will this one. I’ll be discussing Ilona Staller, who in addition to being in porn has, like Sprinkle, positioned herself as an icon of lustful sexuality.
Ilona Staller
Ilona Staller is a Hungarian-born porn star who came to fame in Italian porno. She also was able to get elected to Italian parliament where she is famous for doing things like delivering speeches with a breast out and offering to have sex with Saddam Hussein for peace in the Middle East. She has also had a brief musical career of explicit pop songs about sexual matters. More biographical information about her is available from her Wikipedia entry. She was born on November 26, 1951 at 5am in Budapest, Hungary, and this birth information is Rodden-rated AA for accuracy.
Ilona Staller’s Natal Chart
Staller’s Indications
As far as I can recall, hers is the only chart I’ve examined with all 7 planets in dark or “bad” places of the chart. Not pictured in the chart are her Lot of the Sun (Spirit) at 0 Libra, Lot of Women’s Marriage at 14 Scorpio, and Lot of Venus (Eros) at 22 Libra.
Identification with Venus
Identification with Venus is shown by Venus connecting with many personal points. Here the Ascendant is in the bound of Venus and Venus is a triplicity lord of the Ascendant, while the sect light (the Moon) is in the bound and sign of Venus with 3 other planets and the Lots of Spirit and Eros in that same domicile of Venus (Libra), as well as Venus ruling the Descendant/7th and the Node being in the bound and exaltation of Venus. Additionally, Venus is co-present with the sect light and Ascendant lord, and regards every planet in the chart. We get the sense that Venus is important in understanding this person’s character.
Venus in a Dark Place
She is in a dark or “bad” place, one that doesn’t regard the Ascendant. Venus in the 12th or 6th has been particularly associated with lustful longing by Masha’allah, particularly when under the regard of both Mars and Jupiter, as she is here.
Venus-Mars
Venus is with Mars, and generally afflicted. Venus-Mars connections were said to increase sexual passions, and a connection with Mercury, which is also present, can possibly connect notoriety to these passions. Eros is also conjunct Mars very closely in a sign of Venus and in a bad place.
Lustful Signs Prominent
Lustful signs are prominent, particularly among personal points. Venus, the sect light (Moon), Ascendant lord (Mars), Descendant, Saturn, Jupiter, the Node, Spirit, and Eros are all in lustful signs.
Reinforced Venus
Venus in a place of her own rulership (i.e. a place of her “dignity”). Here Venus is in her own domicile. As discussed in the last couple posts, sex workers tend to have Venus in a place of her own rulership, which perhaps makes her pertain even more to the prototypical Venusian concerns of sexual procreation.
Venus-Moon
Venus involved in the Moon’s motion. Here the Moon is separating from Venus and applying to Mercury. Any lunar separation or application involving Venus can bring in sexual themes, but especially when the Moon is waxing or very full of light (Moon is waning and slight here). Maternus did associate this Moon of little light moving from Venus to Mercury with indecencies and “those who maintain the management and provision of exotic pleasures and delights” (Book 4, Ch. 2, #2, Holden trans., 2011, p. 197). It’s unclear to me whether he intended these exotic pleasures and delights to have a sexual connotation or not. It is clear that the lunar separation provides yet another personal link to Venus, however.
Fixed Star Alphecca Rising
Finally, there is an honorable mention worth looking at in the chart, concerning the fixed star Alphecca, the principal star of the constellation Coronae Borealis. It is at about 11 Scorpio. Maternus identified this constellation rising as particularly pertaining to Venusian matters, including lustful sexuality, adulteries, etc. (Book 8, Ch. 11, #1, Holden trans., 2011, p. 487). With her Ascendant at 9 Scorpio, we would expect Alphecca to be very close to the horizon, emphasizing the rising of this constellation at her birth.
Conclusion
Again, we are seeing patterns emerge in the charts of porn stars and the sexually notorious. Having looked at only 3 charts, it is far too early to tell what works best. We must determine which indications are more suggestive vs. which are more boldly indicative. If a confluence of factors is necessary for a strong indication, then of which factors. We are starting to see the wisdom and experience behind some of the weird ancient proclamations regarding licentious lust. When gathering together such statements we find ourselves with the most effective starting points for developing our own approach to delineating a very particular natal topic like this.
References
Maternus, J. F. (2011). Mathesis. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). American Federation of Astrologers.
Featured Image
Cropped version of the photo Cicciolina Eros Galicia 2009 by Certo Xornal from Wikimedia Commons.
In the second post of this series, I’d like to look at the chart of Annie Sprinkle. She has been involved in the lustful side of sexuality in just about every way possible. She was a prostitute for two decades. Sprinkle has also been a stripper, porn star, porn producer, etc. She has really positioned herself center stage as an icon of licentiousness, calling herself a “sacred prostitute”. You can read more about her biographical details in her Wikipedia entry.
As in the look at Traci Lords, I will be pulling out some factors in the chart that pertain to signification of licentiousness. As the series progresses we’ll see certain trends and confluences of factors appear repeatedly as a common theme. The reader is urged to first read the last post on this topic before proceeding, as I discuss some of the basics and give some warnings appropriate to this type of work.
Again, as in the chart of Traci Lords, we are dealing with a Libra rising chart, with Venus as Lord of the Ascendant and in a dark or “bad” place (i.e. one that doesn’t regard the Ascendant – 6th, 12th, 8th, and 2nd) while out of sect. This identification with Venus and placement of Venus into a vulnerable place subject to corruption is noted by Masha’allah in relation to licentiousness. Note that like most simple delineation statements, the following illustrate the principle with extremes rather than being a cookbook delineation. In other words, the principle is that Venus as lord of the Ascendant inclines to identification with Venusian things and that planets in bad places incline to the darker side of things. According to Masha’allah (On Nativities, Ch. 5, Dykes trans., 2008, p. 400):
If Venus were the Lady of the Ascendant, and in a good place, it designates him to be handsome and humble. And if she were in a bad place, it designates he is hot [in desire] (and if were a woman, it designates her to be a prostitute).
Venus in XII Regarded by Jupiter and Mars
Another passage by Masha’allahn from the Book of Aristotle was previously mentioned in the Traci Lords post. It also holds in this chart, with Venus in the 12th, regarded by Mars and Jupiter:
Indeed for the appetite of longing and sexual impurity, consider the following. For, Venus in a place of longing-namely the sixth or twelfth-under the regard of Jupiter and Mars, or if she would be lingering with the Lord of the Lot in the Midheaven, it defames the female spouse because of prostitution, hides an abortion, presents [her] for sale […] (Masha’allah, Book of Aristotle, Dykes trans., 2009, Book III, Chapter 7, Section 8, p. 146)
Reinforced Venus
Also, as in the chart of Traci Lords, we find that Annie Sprinkle’s Venus is in the bound of Venus. While we may be tempted to draw some conclusions based on the position of Venus in her sign of fall, Virgo, as pertaining to ill-dignified Venusian behavior following the later medieval idea of “negative dignity” when a planet is in fall, this would lead us down the wrong path. Venus is in her own bound and triplicity here. Also note that Venus is in her own bound and domicile in the chart of Traci Lords and in her exaltation in the chart of Jenna Jameson.
It may instead be the case that some deeper connection of Venus to prototypically Venusian matters of sexuality, as opposed to other manifestations of love and beauty, is important. The reinforcement of these Venusian indications is shown through Venus being in her own domicile, exaltation, bound, or triplicity. Triplicity is more effective if it is the first triplicity ruler, which Venus is here of Virgo by day.
Notes on “Dignity”
In my own opinion, a form of rulership in its own place makes a planet more independent in action. The planet is less tied to other planets or encumbered by dependencies to them. In that sense, a form of rulership in its own place can make a planet a little bit stronger, less restrained or forced to cooperate. However, it should never be interpreted as having effects that are in some sense more “dignified”, in the sense of admired, socially accepted, commended, honorable, or even as conferring greater success.
I’ve addressed this at length in prior posts on the issue, most succinctly in The Curious Case of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Turner. I contrasted Dahmer’s 4 very positively “dignified” (in domicile) planets with Turner’s 4 planets in detriment and fall with none in domicile or exaltation. Their charts illustrate the absurdity of identifying a planet in a form of rulership with the degree to which a planet signifies dignified matters in the life.
Venus-Mercury-Mars
There is a substantial connection between Venus and Mercury in the chart, which are in a partile sextile and have most of the important planets of the chart under their rulership. For instance, the Ascendant and the Moon are in domiciles of Venus but bounds of Mercury. Venus is in the domicile of Mercury but in her own bound. Mercury is in the bound of Venus. The Lot of Venus (Eros – at 20GEM) is in the domicile of Mercury and bound of Venus. The MC is in the bound of Venus. Five planets are in water or earth signs where Venus is the first triplicity lord.
Mars is the only planet in a “stake” of the position of Venus (i.e. in the 1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th sign from Venus – in this case square to Venus). Given the strong interchange between Mercury, Venus, and personal signification, we get a sense both for the passionate sexuality of Mars-Venus and the strangeness, “talk”, and notoriety that Mercury can bring to the mix. The chart doesn’t fulfill the following statement by Ptolemy but the strength of the ties Venus has to Mars and Mercury reflect it:
Therefore Venus, with Mars, produces merely amorous dispositions, but if Mercury is present, notoriety also… (Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Book 4, Ch. 5, Robbins trans., 1940, p. 401)
Similarly, Rhetorius claimed, “Venus and Mercury and Mars aspecting each other will make lechers” (Compendium, Ch. 66, Holden trans., 2009, p. 121). But this indication is so commonly occurring in natal charts as to be worthless predictively. Though it does indicate the way that combinations of Venus, Mercury, and Mars can be indicative of mind/talk, passion, and sexuality getting mixed up in possibly scandalous ways.
Mercury in X in Bound of Venus
With Venus in the 12th and all the back and forth between Mercury and Venus, we particularly get the sense that sex is strongly on the mind and on the tongue. Mercury in the 10th, strongly advancing on the MC, and strong due to stationing direct days prior to birth and being in phasis, along with being fortunate through being with Jupiter, all give strong indications of great career success through her words and mental personage. She has indeed lectured on a wide variety of topics and claims to have a Ph.D. in human sexuality (unconfirmed). In the following video she discusses her sexual history a bit and one gets a good sense of her style of sexual advocacy and openness.
Mercury in the bound of Venus is typically a good and pleasant thing, but it does associate Mercury with sexuality. Given that Venus is out of sect and in the 12th, the identification with Venus, and some of the other Mercury-Venus connections, we might expect that some of the more difficult indications of Mercury in the terms of Venus to come forth. As Maternus noted for Mercury in the bound of Venus:
They will certainly be lustful in sexual intercourse, and those who corrupt the marriages of others with a depraved mental desire. They will be full of moral faults, and those who are always battered with constant scandal because of these faults. (Maternus, Mathesis, Book 5, Ch. 5, #6, Holden trans., 2011, p. 297)
Moon-Venus
Venus is moving more than twice as fast as Mercury at the time of birth. Therefore, the Moon was invested in application to Venus in the chart until shortly before birth when Mercury intervened. Venus and Mercury are in partile sextile, and the Moon applies to both, to Venus with the stronger type of aspect (trine), but first to Mercury with the sextile. Technically, the Moon is separating from Saturn and making her next application to Mercury, but the application to Venus may be important as well. I note this because Maternus provided the following among his indications for a waning Moon separating from Saturn and applying to Venus:
But if she was of little light, it denotes the depraved enticements of love affairs, or it makes [them] to be involved in impure and indecent passions, or it denotes disgraceful actions in continual succession. (Maternus, Mathesis, Book 4, Ch. 3a, #7, Holden trans., 2011, p. 188)
Conclusion
Many indications involve a Venus with more malefic associations in the chart. In this case, Venus is out of sect, in a dark place, and regarded by malefics and Mercury . Many indications also pertain when prominent and personal factors connect with Venus by rulership, regard, and application. I mean factors such as the Ascendant, Moon, the strongest planet in the chart (Mercury in this case), and the Descendant.
This chart and the chart of Traci Lords show a trend that we’ll continue to see, in which Venus in her own term, sign, exaltation, and/or triplicity is more likely to give indications directly pertaining to sexuality than a Venus that lacks such rulership in her own place. I think there is a sense behind this in which Venus prototypically refers to the procreative nature, with her additional indications pertaining to beauty, art, and so forth being extensions of this. Venus in a place of her rulership is more independent for better or worse. She is also reinforced which strengthens her significations related to sex in the person’s life.
References
Bishr, S. ibn, & Masha’allah. (2008). Works of Sahl & Masha’allah. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Masha’allah, & al-Khayyat, A. ’Ali. (2009). Persian Nativities I: Masha’allah and Abu ’Ali. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Maternus, J. F. (2011). Mathesis. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). American Federation of Astrologers.
Ptolemy, C. (1940). Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos. (F. E. Robbins, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved from http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Ptolemy/Tetrabiblos/home.html
Rhetorius of Egypt, & Teucer of Babylon. (2009). Rhetorius the Egyptian. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Featured Image
The featured image of the Statue of Leda and the Swan at Hever Castle, Kent, England is in the public domain.
Synastry is the art of comparing the astrological birth charts of two or more people. Typically, this is done for relationship insight. We look for complimentary strengths, personality compatibility, and possible conflict or contention.
You may be familiar with the idea of Sun sign compatibility. This has been popularized by newspaper horoscopes and popular books like Linda Goodman’s “Love Signs”. However, you may not have known that synastry was used in the earliest chart-based astrology (Hellenistic astrology). An analysis of marriage and friendship often involved some amount of synastry.
Sources for Ancient Synastry
I’ll be exploring a few of the basics of synastry as found in Dorotheus’s Carmen (1st century CE), Ptolemy‘s Tetrabiblos (2nd century CE), and Masha’allah‘s The Book of Aristotle (8th century CE).
Carmen of Dorotheus can be picked up here. An English translation of the Tetrabiblos can be found online here. The interested reader will want to refer to Book IV, Ch. 5, “On Marriage”.
The first and only English translation of Masha’allah’s The Book of Aristotle was made by Dr. Ben Dykes in 2009. The Book of Aristotle is a mammoth indispensable work covering all aspects of natal delineation, It was published with Abu’Ali‘s On the Judgments of Nativities as the first volume of the “Persian Nativities” series, which you can purchase here. I’ll be referring to Book 3, Ch. 7, Section 11, “On the concord and esteem of each”. It is assumed that the author is Masha’allah, but Dykes has recently speculated that the author could al-Andarzaghar (another astrologer of the period).
Both Ptolemy and Masha’allah place a premium on the relationships between the Sun, Moon, and Venus, both in the natal chart and between charts.
Sun-Moon
For Ptolemy, the Sun in a woman’s chart is particularly significant for describing a husband and facets of her marriage. The Moon in a man’s chart describes the wife and facets of his marriage. Harmony between the Sun and Moon was very important for marriage. Ptolemy does not neatly separate out natal and synastry factors, but rather seems to refer often to both and sometimes to one or the other. He appears to refer to synastry when he says “by exchange” in the following passage.
Marriages for the most part are lasting when in both the genitures the luminaries happen to be in harmonious aspect, that is, in trine or in sextile with one another, and particularly when this comes about by exchange; and even more when the husband’s moon is in such aspect with the wife’s sun. Divorces on slight pretexts and complete alienations occur when the aforesaid positions of the luminaries are in disjunct signs, or in opposition or in quartile. (Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Book IV, Ch. 5, Robbins trans., 1940, p. 184-185)
Natal Sun-Moon Harmony
My sense is that this consideration of harmony between the luminaries is more important in synastry than the natal chart. I believe that harmony between the Sun and Moon in a natal chart is symbolic of harmony between the sexes and/or parents. Perhaps co-presence, trines, and sextiles are symbolic of a natural harmony between two partners, sexes, or gender roles. This could relate to a sense that partners should get together and deepen bonds. Squares and oppositions draw out a symbolism of dynamism and possible tension and conflict. Aversion between the lights symbolize a detachment between them.
Natal Sun-Moon in Examples
Courtney Love’s Natal Chart
Looking at this consideration in the charts of Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain we’d conclude that there is strong impetus for both to be in a serious relationship. Courtney’s Sun and Moon are co-present in Cancer. Kurt’s Sun and Moon are trine across Pisces and Cancer. There is a symbolism of partners sticking together and deepening bonds, a harmony and glue between the sexes, gender roles, or partners. For Kurt, particularly, with his Sun-Moon trine, this relates to his desire for a lasting long-term traditional relationship, as well as disappointment in his parents for failing to uphold such a relationship.
Kurt Cobain’s Natal Chart
Moon-Venus Natal Harmony
Masha’allah, following Dorotheus, stressed the relationship between the Moon and Venus in both the natal chart and synastry. He noted that “the traversal of Venus and the Moon in the same sign denotes the insoluable concord of the conjugal agreement” (Masha’allah, The Book of Aristotle, Book III, Ch. 7.11, Dykes trans., 2009, p. 149).
Dorotheus noted in Book II, Ch. 5 of Carmen, “Similarly [does it happen] if you find that wherever is the Venus of one of the two [marriage partners], there is the Moon of the other, especially if the Moon of one of the two is in trine with the Moon of the other” (Pingree trans., 2005, p. 206). Therefore, regards between the Moon and Venus are important, and especially their co-presence in the same sign.
The strength of the Moon-Venus relationship is perhaps symbolic of personal and emotional investment in love. In many authors, such as Firmicus Maternus, it is said to indicate heightened investment in sexual activity in the natal chart, especially when the Moon separates from or applies to Venus.
Intimate and Sexual
Where Sun and Moon may show partnership in a more idealistic, general, abstract form (i.e. along the lines of husband and wife), this is perhaps shows the more personal desire for intimacy. In some authors, strong Moon-Venus connections (together with other factors) come up in relation to incest, such as with the mother. This again relates to the personal life, nurture, familiarity, and even emotional fulfillment (Moon) being linked with love, beauty, and sexuality (Venus). Relationship bonds can be shaken by a lack of sexual intimacy and affectionate personal space. Perhaps Masha’allah’s stress on Moon-Venus connections for strength of bond relates to this sense.
Moon-Venus in Examples
The Moon and Venus are in aversion (disregard each other) in Courtney Love’s chart. They are in trine (powerful harmony) in Kurt Cobain’s chart. This could symbolize that it is more natural for Kurt that intimate familiarity go hand-in-hand with sexuality and affection. For Courtney, they may be more disconnected facets of life.
The regards of benefics and malefics (as well as house placement and other factors) are also examined in the literature. For instance, that Saturn, the out of sect malefic in Kurt’s chart, is with the Sun and Venus (strongly conjunct Venus), may be indicative of weight, isolation, and melancholy in relationships. It may also indicate the sorrow of the husband (or father) in the relationship, as opposed to the idealized wife shown through Moon-Jupiter. Courtney’s own Mars-Venus indicates things getting heated surrounding love and sexuality, including contentions and aggression related to such matters.
Sun, Moon, Venus, and the Angles in Synastry
There are many ways to delineate aspects of marriage and love from the natal chart. I’ve mentioned the ones above because they are used by Ptolemy and Masha’allah as springboards into looking at the same factors in synastry.
Intense and harmonious connections between the Lights (esp. man’s Moon and woman’s Sun) and between the Moon and Venus in synastry indicate strong bonds between partners. Squares, oppositions, and aversions between them can indicate problems, especially if malefics are involved.
The Stakes in Synastry
Additionally, the “stakes” (1st, 10th, 7th, and 4th places, also known as “angles” or “pivots”) of the charts are very important. When the same signs are angles or the above mentioned planets are in each other’s angles, it increases the bond. See the following quotes from Dorotheus and Masha’allah (drawing on Dorotheus).
The man is suitable for the woman and the woman for the man if the ascendent[s] of these two are the same cardine. If the two luminaries or one of the two is in the ascendent or midheaven, then also it is suitable. (Dorotheus, Carmen Astrologicum, Book II, Ch. 5, Pingree trans., 2005, p. 205)
Which if each Sun, under the birthdays of both, would be lingering in the same sign and in a pivot, it promises [the same]. (Masha’allah, The Book of Aristotle, Book III, Ch. 7.11, Dykes trans., 2009, p. 149)
Malefics and Benefics in Synastry
All three authors, Dorotheus, Ptolemy, and Masha’allah, stress the role of malefic planets (i.e. Saturn and Mars) in splitting up the relationship. This particularly the case when a malefic in one person’s chart is with (i.e. co-present) one of the Lights in the partner’s chart. The timing would seem to coincide with an activation of the malefic that is making the connection.
By contrast, benefics co-present with the Lights or regarding them harmoniously increase the stability of marriage. They may also reunite partners when other problems such as hard connections between the Lights are indicated.
Kurt and Courtney Synastry
Let’s look at the synastry of Kurt and Courtney to illustrate. I have a chart pictured which has Courtney’s chart on the inside with Kurt’s planetary and angular positions marked on the outside. Some of the more positive configurations for their relationships are marked out with blue, while the more problematic configurations are marked out with red.
Kurt-Courtney Synastry – Kurt’s natal placements are on the outside of Courtney’s natal chart.
The Angles
Kurt has Virgo rising and Courtney has Libra rising, and since these are adjacent signs which are in aversion this is not a strong connection between their Ascendants. However, it should be noted that the signs Libra and Virgo are contra-antiscia to each other which lends an affinity between the two signs (see my post on antiscia and contra-antiscia for more on this).
The Lights
The Lights (Sun and Moon) reveal a very powerful connection between the two of them, particularly in that his Moon is conjunct her Sun, in Cancer, which is the midheaven of her chart (one of the “stakes”). Additionally, both have their Suns trine each other, and his Moon-Jupiter with her Sun-Moon is an extremely powerful positive connection.
However, there is a very difficult configuration in the chart also, shown by her Saturn in Pisces, which is the place of both his Sun and his Venus. In fact, her Saturn is in close conjunction with his Sun and this Saturn draws out his own Saturn-Venus conjunction in the same place in his natal chart. This Saturn is definitely the most difficult factor in their synastry.
Venus
Venus in one chart is square to Venus in the other. The squares between Venus are not necessarily indicative of problems, and may in fact show more passion and a stronger love connection than if they were in aversion. Additionally, Courtney’s Venus is in Kurt’s midheaven (a “stake” of his chart), so it has an intense attractive impact on him. However, both have Venus conjunct a malefic, Saturn in Kurt’s case and Mars in Courtney’s, so Venus in each chart is also afflicted by the malefic conjunct each other’s Venus, and Mars joins Venus on Kurt’s midheaven, fostering conflicts.
Kurt’s Death
Shortly after Kurt’s last solar return in February of 1994, his behavior began to spiral out of control. The behavioral problems often pertained to relationship matters with Love. Kurt’s drug habit had also gotten out of control.
Sun-Saturn Solar Return
In February of 1994, Saturn had just entered Pisces. Saturn was at 2 Pisces at the time of Kurt’s last solar, two degrees from Courtney’s own Saturn, and within a degree of both Kurt’s Sun. It was also within a degree of the solar return Mercury (ruler of Kurt’s Ascendant), and was with the solar return Venus. These configurations reinforced the natal configuration of Sun, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury in Pisces.
Kurt’s 1994 Solar Return (precessed) – Saturn is conjuct return Sun within 1 degree.
Kurt’s Natal Chart with Solar Return Positions on Outside Showing Return Transits to the Natal Chart – Sun-Saturn-Mercury conjunction on the natal Sun at solar return.
Sun-Saturn Symbolism
The most potent symbolism of Sun-Saturn is loss of the vital heat and spirit, i.e. death. This indication at death (Sun-Saturn) has been discussed in my article on the death of Ilya Zhitomirskiy (committed suicide after a solar return with a tight Sun-Saturn conjunction) and my article on the death of Whitney Houston (activated Sun-Saturn opposition).
Day of Death
I am not implying that Courtney directly had anything to do with Kurt’s death. It is simply interesting that conflicts in their relationship intensified as Saturn came into Pisces activating that synastry. Kurt’s self-inflicted death, which ended their relationship, was clearly symbolized in the chart. Kurt’s death occurred on April 5, 1994 with Saturn at 7 Pisces. Courtney Love was going through her Saturn return. Transiting Mars had also entered Pisces and was conjunct transiting Mercury, both of them just a couple degrees from Kurt’s Venus, at the time of the suicide.
Cobain’s Natal Chart with Transits on the day of death around outer wheel. Both of the malefics and Mercury were transiting in the 7th, where most of Kurt’s natal planets are located.
References
Masha’allah, & al-Khayyat, A. ’Ali. (2009). Persian Nativities I: Masha’allah and Abu ’Ali. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Ptolemy, C. (1940). Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos. (F. E. Robbins, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved from http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Ptolemy/Tetrabiblos/home.html
Dorotheus of Sidon. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.
Featured image for this article is courtesy of Kate Petty (modified for display purposes).
This series is sure to be offensive to many people. However, it is an important matter. Have you ever wondered if ancient astrology has anything to say about sexual behavior that is contrary to social norms? What of people who are publicly prominent (notorious) for such behavior, such as porn stars and prostitutes? There is no specific “porn star” astrological signature, but certain sets of factors show up repeatedly when it comes to adult film stars.
A Note on the Astrology
I draw heavily on Persian astrology in this analysis together with the basic astrological principles and techniques established in the Hellenistic period. I also have my own preferences for what works best from practice. Those interested in Persian techniques concerning sexuality is urged to check out the Persian Nativities series translated by Ben Dykes. That 3-volume series contains 5 huge and pivotal Persian works on natal astrology. The works deal with delineation and prediction on all life topics.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of good birth data for porn stars. Typically we have nothing other than a date and a location. There are only a handful of porn stars for which we have accurate birth times. Therefore, in this series, I may oscillate between thorough analysis of stars with good birth data and a more superficial analysis where such data is lacking.
A Caution Regarding Readings
Don’t take these indications and start delineating your friends and loved ones as fornicators with wanton lust. Really. Don’t. Accurate predictions can be made but they are very difficult. Venus with Mars in the same sign, for instance, is a common occurrence, and wouldn’t be enough to judge someone’s sexuality. Think of astrology as a language, with any set of factors potentially indicating a large variety of experiences. Additionally, many factors will not pertain strongly to the individual. They will instead pertain to other prominent people or circumstances in their lives.
The Basic Factors
When delineating sexuality, the single most important factor is Venus. However, when it comes to the person themselves, points of personal importance, such as the Ascendant and its lords, are pivotal. Often, I’ll just focus on Venus and her relationship to the individual and the chart. The most important factors are below:
Venus: Classical planet with the strongest natural significations pertaining to love, beauty, marriage, and sexuality.
Eros (Lot of Venus): This is the classic Hellenistic lot for Venus. Valens made this lot from Fortune to Spirit by day (reversed by night), projected from the Ascendant. It was a very important lot for Valens, as one of the four principal lots he looked at for effective places and profections. This form for the lot also came to be the most popular manner of constructing it in the later Middle Ages. Paulus instructed to take the lot from Spirit (Lot of the Sun) to Venus by day (Venus to Spirit by night) and projecting that from the Ascendant.
7th Place: The 7th House is the 7th sign counted inclusively from the Ascendant. It is the house opposite the house of the self (rising sign). The 7th is the house of marriages, unions, and partnerships. It also has some pertinence to sexuality.
The Lot of Marriage: There are a few different lots of marriage in ancient astrological works, but the Persians seem to have preferred the Dorothean one. It is Saturn to Venus from Asc for men (by day, reversed by night) and Venus to Saturn from Asc for women (by day, reversed by night). These lots were used in marriage delineation, and occasionally in delineation of sexuality.
Traci Lords
Traci Lords has certainly faced many challenges related to sexuality in her life. She was raped at 10 and molested in her teens by a drug-dealer boyfriend of her mother’s. Her molester also got her into porn when she was just a teenager. She illegally appeared in dozens of movies at only 16 years of age. She was eventually busted, but then did a little more pornography when of age. Later in life, she claimed that she was in porn solely for drugs. She achieved stardom through her porn notoriety, but she was able to transition in later years to acting for television and B movies.
You can read some biographical info about her at Wikipedia. Besides acting, she has been involved in the arts in other ways as well, including in music.
I remember her as Wanda, in John Water’s 1990 film, Cry Baby (starring Johnny Depp).
Traci Lord’s Chart
Her chart is below, based on AA-rated birth data of May 7, 1968 at 5:19 pm in Steubenville, OH.
Traci Lords Natal Chart (12th parts along outer edge; CTRL-Click to enlarge chart)
Analysis
One of the first things we should note in the chart is that Venus rules the Ascending sign, the 1st place, Libra. Therefore, there is a strong identification with Venus. Additionally, Venus is in Taurus, another sign of Venus, and is in the Venus bound of the sign. The sect light, the Sun, is also in a Venus-ruled sign, Taurus, and is with Venus in that sign. The Moon, Descendant, Fortune, and Spirit are also in bounds of Venus.
The twelfth-part of Venus in the 10th place of rank and recognition. This and the associations between Venus and the Sun connect Venus with social prominence. Venus is also advancing and is the primary career significator in my opinion (advancing; strong dignity at the Ascendant; main triplicity lord of 10th; 12th part in 10th; 8th is a valid place for significator). Venus is identified with, generally prominent, prominent in terms of the career, and connected to a number of key life areas. Venus and her natural significations of art, beauty, aesthetics, and sexuality are centrally important in her life.
For reference, the positions of the relevant lots are Lot of Venus (Eros) at about 15 Gemini (Valens) or 1 Virgo (Paulus) and the Lot of Marriage at 25 Virgo. Two of the lots are with the Moon in the 12th, and all are ruled by Mercury, which is conjunct Mars within 3 degrees. I will not analyze the lots in detail in this article.
Venus
She’s out of sect, in a dark place (8th) and a place that is particularly relevant in terms of fear and violation in power situations, while also with the out of sect malefic Mars. From this we gather that this Venus can signify pretty far along malefic dimension, i.e. that the significations of Venus will often pertain to difficulties, challenges, adversity, and circumstances arising where there seems to be something of a disregard for the person’s well-being and peace of mind. Because Venus rules the Ascendant, she will also tend to direct the person, be representative of the person’s self-identification in some ways.
Lustful Signs
In a previous post, I discussed the lustful signs. Lustful signs are prominent in the chart. The main lustful signs are Aries, Taurus, Capricorn, and Pisces, with Leo, and sometimes Libra, also added by some astrologers.
Significantly, Venus is in one of the main four lustful signs (Taurus), as are the Sun and Mars. Therefore, Venus is with Mars, under the beams, in a lustful sign. Aries is also one of the four main lustful signs and the 7th house and twelfth-part of Mars are in that sign.
When Leo and Libra are also considered, then five of the seven planets and the Ascendant and Descendant are in lustful signs. Important planets in lustful signs include Venus, the ruler of the Ascendant (again Venus), the ruler of Fortune (Saturn), the exalted ruler of the Ascendant (again Saturn), and the ruler of the 7th place (Mars).
Special Indications
There are many special indications or groups of indications in the chart that are discussed by various ancient authors in connection to controversy, adversity, and notoriety related to sexuality that are present in the chart. The following indications are found in the chart of Traci Lords.
Venus in a Lustful Sign
If Venus is in one of the signs of desire, which abound in lust (they are Aries, Capricorn, Pisces, and Taurus), and Venus is under the [Sun’s] rays with Saturn or Mars, then this indicates [something] like what I told you of the act of scandals […] (Dorotheus, Pingree trans., 2005, Book II, Ch. 7, p. 206)
Venus in a Dark Place
Masha’allah appears to associate the 12th and 6th places with being places of longing when Venus occupies one. The 12th and 6th places are two of the four dark places (see the lesson on places). It is possible that the 8th and 2nd should also be included as they are the other two dark places. Interestingly, it is the regard of both Jupiter and Mars while Venus is in such a place that is mentioned.
Indeed for the appetite of longing and sexual impurity, consider the following. For, Venus in a place of longing-namely the sixth or twelfth-under the regard of Jupiter and Mars, or if she would be lingering with the Lord of the Lot in the Midheaven, it defames the female spouse because of prostitution, hides an abortion, presents [her] for sale […] (Masha’allah, Book of Aristotle, Dykes trans., 2009, Book III, Chapter 7, Section 8, p. 146)
Venus Under Mars
Masha’allah also associated connections between Venus and Mars with increased sexual longing, as did Abu’Ali (among many others):
Moreover, Venus with Mars or in his bound, or under his regard from the opposition, advances sexual impurity and longing; indeed under a male birth it will be thus. (Masha’allah, Book of Aristotle, Dykes trans., 2009, Book III, Chapter 7, Section 8, p. 146)
Venus, if she were joined to Mars or in his bad aspect, signifies the foulness of wantonness. (Abu’Ali, On the Judgments of Nativities, Dykes trans., 2009, Ch. 26, p. 285)
Orientality of Venus
Additionally, oriental (i.e. rising before the Sun) sexual significators pertain to initiating and less restrained facets of sexuality. Masha’allah and Abu’Ali (among others) noted this association. However, note that the second passage may have been in reference to a man’s chart, in relation to delineating his love life in marriage.
Their orientality increases it greatly, on the contrary [their] occidentality restrains; but the regard of the Sun reveals sexual impurity. (Masha’allah, Book of Aristotle, Dykes trans., 2009, Book III, Chapter 7, Section 8, p. 146)
And if Venus were oriental, it signifies the boldness of the woman over the man, with a multitude of love and joy. (Abu’Ali, On the Judgments of Nativities, Dykes trans., 2009, Ch. 26, p. 286)
Conclusion
As one can see the delineation of sexuality in ancient astrology involves a rich vocabulary. There is the potential for very complex and detailed delineation. The primary stress was upon Venus, the natural significator of sexuality, rather than upon the accidental significations of a particular house or place of the chart.
The existing literature on sexuality addresses many of its facets from compatibility to homosexuality, and from sexual scandal to fidelity in marriage. The rich set of factors in traditional astrology, go beyond just “signs” to include places, planetary regards, relation to the Sun (oriental/occidental), and the lots. There is the capacity to bring much deeper levels of delineation. The delineations in the existing literature should be used as starting points for the development of practical technique, rather than as authoritative proclamations.
It is my hope that the reader will start looking at the chart from a different perspective. Let’s move away from the modern planet-in-sign approach as well as the stagnant traditionalist dignity-pointing approach to reading the chart.
References
Masha’allah, & al-Khayyat, A. ’Ali. (2009). Persian Nativities I: Masha’allah and Abu ’Ali. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Sidon, D. of. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.
Updates
02/07/2019: Added note about Valens lot of Eros and some additional minor edits particularly to the discussion of lustful signs.
