Astrology at the Movies

Astrologyatthemovies.com Domain Name For Sale

2007-05-08T12:02:00.000-04:00

I'm just selling the domain name, none of the contents currently on the web site, and no content from this blog. Contact me with offers at jeffreykishner@gmail.com

This blog has been neglected

2007-01-02T15:51:00.000-05:00

I have not written for Astrology at the Movies for nearly two months. This was my first blog, and now I have three. For many years, I have been fascinated with how planetary archetypes play out in film. However, I haven't seen anything recently that has inspired me. Additionally, I started Seduction Central a few months ago, and have made a commitment to myself to blog there every weekday. I also write about every New and Full Moon at Lunar Tunes.

Do not despair! I am confident I will write for this blog again, but I do not want to post just for the sake of it, when I truly feel inspired about other areas of astrology. In the meanwhile, visit my other blogs, or other astro-bloggers (see the links in the sidebars), and sign up for my newsletter (top of right sidebar) to keep informed of my latest essays. You can also visit my Site Map for an organized list of my movie essays.

Happy New Year!

Jeff

'The Prestige' and the Archetype of Gemini

2006-11-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

This post presumes that you have watched the movie. The "prestige" is given away asap, so please turn away if you don't want to know what happens.

After having watched The Prestige -- my earlier post was written before I viewed the film -- Gemini and Mercury scream out for attention. Christopher Nolan's natal Saturn-Neptune opposition is square Mercury in Leo, making it a T-square. In fact, Mercury is exactly square Neptune. The deception (Neptune) thus becomes more clear, as Mercury plays a prominent role in this film. Mercury -- as will be seen below -- rules siblings, fingers, and written communication. Mercury is also excellent at lying and disguising himself.

Mercury rules Gemini, and the Twins are the "prestige" of both the film and the illusion that confounds Angier (Hugh Jackman). The "prestige" is the final third of a magic trick, that which amazes the audience. The illusion is this: Borden (Christian Bale) enters a door and re-appears from another door several yards away within one second, which is physically impossible. Angier does not understand how it can be done; Cutter (Michael Caine) says that it can only be done via a body double. However, the man who comes out from the second doorway looks exactly like Borden!

The answer to the illusion is that Borden had a twin all along, who appeared from the second doorway. His twin even went so far as to have two of his fingers amputated so that he could look exactly like his brother -- Mercury rules the fingers. His brother was Borden's assistant, the bearded and spectacled man who never spoke -- Gemini is a master of disguise and Neptune is the god of deception. In fact, the two brothers took turns in both roles, going so far as to share Borden's wife (Rebecca Hall) and mistress/assistant Olivia Webscombe (Scarlett Johansson).

Another aspect of Mercury's role in this film is that Christopher Nolan wrote the screenplay with his brother (Mercury rules siblings).

Mercury-Neptune plays out in deceptive (Neptune) forms of communication (Mercury), notably the fabricated journals that each rival plants into the others' hands. It should be noted that Hermes (Mercury) invented lying.

The two magicians live out two different types of stage magic: Angier is the showman, and Borden is the craftman, i.e., he is more focused on perfecting his art. (Olivia Wenscombe later teaches Borden how to be more theatrical). These two characters can be seen as playing out different aspects of Nolan's chart. Nolan has a Sun-Mars conjunction and Mercury in showy Leo (Angier), and an obsessive Venus-Pluto conjunction in perfectionistic Virgo (Borden).

If the Leo Sun-Mars conjunction symbolizes Angier, then we can see how he is supported by Nikolas Tesla (David Bowie), who is represented by brilliant and literally-electric Uranus in a tight sextile to the Sun. Tesla's invention somehow creates duplicates -- another manifestation of the Gemini archetype.

Christopher Nolan was born July 30, 1970, time unknown, in London.

Tags: the prestige - christopher nolan - twins - gemini - mercury

Grey's Anatomy & Desperate Housewives Astrology

2006-10-25T09:39:00.000-04:00

Pamela McHenry (aka StarGoddess) has written astro-profiles of nearly every actor and actress on these prime-time soaps at SeenOn.

Tags: astrology - grey's anatomy - desperate housewives

Christopher Nolan's Saturn-Neptune Opposition

2006-10-20T17:23:00.000-04:00

Is it any surprise that Christopher Nolan -- director of the mind-bending Memento, the dark Batman Begins, and The Prestige -- has a natal Saturn-Neptune opposition?

The Prestige is about two magicians who will go to nearly any length to top each other. The themes concern death (Saturn) and deception (Neptune). Another film about magic -- The Illusionist -- also contains the same themes, and was released during the current Saturn-Neptune opposition.

In Salon.com, Andrew O'Hehir interviews the director. I have included the planets in brackets to illustrate the themes of the Saturn-Neptune opposition:

At one point, Michael Caine's character, who seems to serve as an authorial voice, offers the observation that a magician makes the real world [Saturn], which is actually simple and solid all the way through, seem full of mystery [Neptune]. When I ask Nolan whether that's also what the movies do, he says, "Very much so. Movies can create a realm of magic and mystery, where anything and everything is possible [Neptune]. I think people look to them as an escape from the predictability of ordinary life [Saturn]. There's nothing wrong or shameful in that. That's why I love movies myself."
But does he really think, then, that the real world is devoid of mystery? "There are times when I'm afraid that's true, yes. But in movies, in storytelling, in imagination, so many other things are true. I suppose part of me believes that if we can imagine wonderful things, create them in art or fiction [Neptune], then they're actually real [Saturn]."

Nolan understands that the audience wants to be deceived. In Memento, he used confusion and deception to masterful ends to tell a story about a man who had amnesia.

Another way Saturn and Neptune interact is through Saturn's heavy influence upon Neptune's vision. Saturn-Neptune movies can be quite dark, dystopian (The Matrix and Apocalypse Now were released during Saturn-Neptune squares). And Batman Begins definitely fits that bill. (Tim Burton's Batman -- also quite dark -- was released during the Saturn-Neptune conjunction of 1989.)

A Saturn-Neptune director releasing a film about reality versus illusion -- a film in which he deliberately tries to throw off the viewer -- released during a Saturn-Neptune opposition? Now that's magic.

Tags: astrology - christopher nolan - saturn - neptune - the prestige

The review(s) come pouring in

2006-10-13T09:55:00.000-04:00

James Corbett, who serves on the advisory board of Grazr Corp., says Astrology at the Movies (this blog's sister site) is a "very clever mashup."

Astrology Mashup!

2006-10-12T12:41:00.000-04:00

I've created a mashup that includes links to celebrity astrology profiles, using dapper, grazr and del.icio.us. It resides at this blog's sister site, Astrology at the Movies.

So far, I have links to celeb profiles from StarIQ, AOL Horoscopes (written by Tarot.com's Jeff Jawer), and Astrology.com, as well as specific articles I've tagged on del.icio.us. If you have any other sources you'd like me to include, please email me at jeffreykishner@gmail.com with "Astrology Links" in the subject line.

Tags: astrology mashup grazr dapper dappit delicious celebrities

Angelina Jolie Celebrity Gemini Profile

2006-10-05T15:58:00.000-04:00

The following essay originally appeared in the Gemini 2006 issue of Constellation.

Angelina Jolie was born under the sign of the Twins, and the dynamics in her chart only serve to underscore how widely divergent her two "selves" are from each other. She is both a compassionate mother to third world children, and a sexually confident, dark and aggressive woman.

Angelina Jolie cannot be classified as a femme fatale, because she is not femme. Yes, she is beautiful -- Venus conjoins her Ascendant, which relates to her appearance. But look at her film roles and she embodies mostly masculine energy. In the Tomb Raider films, she is an action hero. In Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow she is a pilot. In Girl, Interrupted she is overtly aggressive and manipulative. In Mr. and Mrs. Smith she is an assassin. One does not find her in Rene Zellweger type roles -- the supportive wife, soft and pouty. Angelina Jolie is aggressive, wild, impulsive, dangerous.

In Gia, Jolie states to her girlfriend Linda (played by Elizabeth Mitchell) that the blonde is the woman and the brunette is the man. This statement intimates that Gia felt she was the "butch" or "masculine" partner in the relationship.

Although a Gemini, Jolie has numerous planets in Aries, including Mars, ruler of Aries. An opposition from Pluto drives the energy of this assertive, impulsive, masculine sign. Mars in Aries opposite Pluto goes for what she wants, unimpeded, with tremendous drive and force. It is an unstoppable combination. Fast, direct, don't fuck with me.

Pluto-Mars combinations are concerned with the power (Pluto) inherent in sex and aggression (Mars). Jolie is aware of her sexual magnetism, and uses it effectively in her roles. She is never coy, subtle, indirect. She exudes confidence, an in-your-face "so here I am, what are you going to do about it?" attitude. With Uranus exactly square her Venus, there is also an unconventional sensuality -- a dedication to doing relationships her own way.

Mars is aggressive; Pluto is destructive. In Girl, Interrupted, Jolie's character Lisa -- who lives in a mental institution for women -- malevolently states that fellow patient Daisy (played by Brittany Murphy) -- who was discharged to an apartment paid for by her father -- has sex with him. The denial of this fact seems to be what held this fragile woman together -- she was already self-mutilating and compulsively eating chicken. Pluto's job is to bring that which is hidden up to the surface, for the purpose of healing. However, the dark side of Pluto is plain old destruction. And ultimately, Lisa's truth-telling motivated the young woman to hang herself, because she was not ready to be exposed to her shadow.

That's the problem with Mars in Aries -- he does not exactly stop to think about the consequences before he acts.

A completely different energy comes through an opposition to her Gemini Sun from Neptune in Sagittarius. Jolie is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations -- Neptune is the planet of compassion and empathy for all beings. Sagittarius rules foreign countries and international relations. Her Sun is in the humanitarian 11th house, while Neptune is in the 5th house of children -- she has adopted two children from developing countries. This theme is repeated in her Moon's placement in the 9th house -- the Moon rules children and the 9th house relates to foreign countries. Her Moon conjoins both Mars and Jupiter -- Mars makes her fiercely protective of children, and Jupiter provides a sense of meaning to her endeavors. Her Jupiter, in fact, is exactly conjunct her Midheaven, which relates to her calling to do international work. Jolie has stated that she would much rather do her ambassador work than act, but her movie gigs provide her large amounts of money that she can donate to her causes. Saturn squares all these planets, making her a devoted worker, giving her the discipline necessary to follow through on her commitment, to bring her 9th house vision into reality. Finally, with Venus in Cancer rising, she just happens to be a very mothering type of person! Jolie has reportedly agreed to star in the third Tomb Raider film; note that adventurous Aries planets Jupiter and Mars -- as well as the Moon, a "female" planet -- in the 9th house of world exploration aptly describe Lara Croft!

It is interesting to note that her beau Brad Pitt, who has co-adopted her two children, is a Sagittarius -- mirroring the themes mentioned above. His Ascendant at 11 Sag conjoins Jolie's 5th house Neptune. We could say that, at least on the surface, he identifies with her compassion for foreign children. And Jolie's Sun sits on Pitt's 7th house cusp -- the house of marriage -- so clearly her will (Sun) to serve others (Neptune) has a strong impact on Pitt's axis of self-other -- what he puts out into the world, and what he needs in partnership.

[The following was written earlier this year:] Transiting Uranus is currently making a square -- a 90-degree angle which results in stress and friction -- to Jolie's Sun-Neptune opposition, as well as Pitt's self-other axis, so now is a period of awakening for both of them, a need for freedom, independence and innovation. As transiting Uranus is in Jolie's 8th house of sexual intimacy and shared resources, her relationship with Pitt is probably life-changing. His adoption of her children probably made a world of difference!

View her natal chart.

Tags: angelina jolie - gemini - astrology - celebrity

Movie directors with natal Saturn-Neptune aspects

2006-09-29T13:57:00.000-04:00

Did you know that -- like Wikipedia -- there is a wiki just for astrology? It's called Astrology Notes. Anyone can edit virtually any article or create a new article.

I have just created a table listing movie directors with natal Saturn-Neptune aspects. Feel free to add to this list! As a community, we can use our combined efforts to further our understanding of the astrology of film. With a comprehensive list, we can look at the themes of these directors' films and how they correspond with the qualities of Saturn-Neptune aspects.

'Hollywoodland' and the Saturn-Neptune opposition

2006-09-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

Hollywoodland is the story of George Reeves, who played 'Superman' in a television series in the Fifties. After the show's cancellation, he allegedly killed himself, although there has been speculation as to whether he was murdered.

This film follows private investigator Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) as he follows various clues to find out whether Reeves (Ben Affleck) was indeed killed. Reeves' "sugar mommy" Toni Mannix (Diane Lane) -- wife of the head of MGM, Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins) -- was an older woman who bought him a house. After his career as 'Superman' fizzled, and as he found it difficult to break into film due to the public's association of him with the superhero, Reeves blamed Mrs. Mannix for not trying hard enough to get him acting roles through her husband, believing that she wanted to keep him down for her own selfish reasons. She countered that he just wasn't talented enough for more complex roles. Reeves eventually dumped her for a younger woman, Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney), who wanted to marry him under the assumption that he was loaded (he was not).

Did Lemmon kill Reeves because he was never going to marry her and she wanted his money? Did Mr. Mannix have him killed because he could see how Reeves was breaking his wife's heart (they had an open relationship)? Did Reeves kill himself because his career was in the dumps?

Saturn relates to aging, death, the "reality check," the feeling of being a failure. Neptune relates to film, fantasies, deception and the fogginess of not knowing the truth. Put these together, and you've got disillusionment, the challenge of turning one's dreams into reality (with the risk that they won't), and the difficulty discerning between the truth and fabrications.

I thought this film was really well-made, and that Adrien Brody was compelling. However, there is no happy ending. Hollywoodland is ultimately about the ways in which the Saturn principle (old age, limitations, death) imposes itself on our dreams and self-delusions (that we will always be young and beautiful, that we are more talented than we lead ourselves to believe). In this film -- in the face-off between Saturn and Neptune -- the old geezer wins.

Tags: astrology - movies - hollywoodland - george reeves - saturn - neptune

'Death of a President' and the Saturn-Jupiter cycle

2006-09-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

As Jupiter in Scorpio approaches an exact square to Saturn in Leo, 'Death of a President' -- a docu-drama about an assassination upon George W. Bush -- has premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. This film explores the question of how the nation would respond to such an event, using a combination of real footage, staged demonstrations and fake interviews (for example, footage of Cheney is manipulated to make it look like he is presiding over Bush's funeral). Collaborate with Fate goes into length concerning how the current cycle of Saturn and Jupiter is mirrored by GWB's current progressions (since he has a natal Saturn-Jupiter square).

This cycle has also long been known by Astrologers as the 'Presidential Death Cycle' as since 1840, every U.S. President, (bar two and an assassination attempt), who has come to power in the year of a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction has died in office.

Notable in the current Saturn-Jupiter square is the involvement of Neptune, which opposes Saturn and squares Jupiter. Neptune rules film, deception and fantasy. Todd McCarthy, in his review of the film for Variety, makes the following cultural commentary. I have inserted the planets in brackets to show how this T-square relates to the larger themes this film evokes.

The film [Neptune] also raises provocative questions as to the ethics [Jupiter] of doctoring [Neptune] real footage [Saturn] to fictional [Neptune] or ideological [Jupiter] ends, as well as to the responsibility [Saturn] of even presenting such heinous potential crimes [Jupiter in Scorpio?] in the context of would-be popular entertainment [Neptune] and thus possibly putting ideas [Jupiter] into the heads of the easily suggestible [Neptune].

For those who are curious, I have included a chart for the exact Saturn-Jupiter square on October 25, 2006 at 1:26 pm EST in Washington, DC (Placidus). Saturn rules the chart, with Capricorn rising. Mercury is just separating from Jupiter in the 10th house. Scorpio is on the midheaven, and its traditional ruler Mars is closely conjunct Venus in Scorpio in the 9th. The Moon at 11 Sag in the 11th house is just separating from Uranus at 11 Pisces in the 2nd house.

Thanks to April for the heads up!

Tags: death of a president - astrology - jupiter - saturn - movies

Lonelygirl15, YouTube, the Uranus-Neptune mutual reception and the Saturn-Neptune opposition

2006-09-14T16:06:00.000-04:00

Astro Future Trends has a unique take on the merging of film (Neptune/Pisces) with social networking and internet communities (Uranus/Aquarius) in response to the recent revelation that a YouTube video diary was actually produced by filmmakers, and that that Lonelygirl15 -- the "diarist" -- is an actress.

The Saturn-Neptune opposition also sheds light on this news item. Neptune relates to deception, and Saturn the hard work that someone did to expose the reality of the videos.

I've also been reading about this H.P. scandal, in which a private investigation firm used deception to acquire phone records in H.P.'s pursuit to find out who in their company leaked info to the press. Saturn is the corporation as well as the corporation having to be held accountable. Neptune is both the leaking of information by the H.P. employee as well as the deception used to acquire the phone records.

Tags: astrology lonelygirl15 uranus neptune saturn aquarius pisces

Paul Verhoeven and Mars

2006-08-22T09:16:00.000-04:00

A reader emailed me the following this morning (with my comments in brackets):

Paul Verhoeven: his newest movie is coming out soon, and this made me realise how many great films he made; Basic Instinct, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Robocop... [additionally, Showgirls and Hollow Man]

Now a question of mine is if he and/or his movies have a strong link with Mars, concidering the brutal undertone of many of his movies, the tendency to depict military societies, and not to mention one of his movies actually taking place on Mars.

Paul Verhoeven was born July 18, 1938 in Amsterdam, time unknown. His Mars is actually quite accentuated, with a tight conjunction to both the Sun (his identity and creative self-expression) and Pluto. Pluto symbolizes our darkest impulses, the cultural taboos that we repress because society considers them unaceptable or dangerous. Pluto intensifies Verhoeven's Martial impulses, and his Mars acts out Pluto's themes of sex and death. This combination can be extremely violent, compulsively sexual, or strongly ambitious. Interestingly, these three planets are in Cancer -- protective/defensive in the name of home, country and family.

Mars is considered in its "fall" in Cancer -- not an ideal placement. Mars is assertive and aggressive, while Cancer is emotional, sensitive, defensive. As much as Showgirls was apparently meant to be a satire, Verhoeven's films do not appear to be very woman-positive (unless you consider Sharon Stone's character in Basic Instinct to fit the bill). In fact, I recall Hollow Man included implied rape and definitely some other non-consensual acts perpetrated by Kevin Bacon's character. So I wonder if all this Pluto-Mars rage gets directed towards women (Cancer), manifesting in his films as either violence against women or violent/manipulative women.

Thoughts?

Tags: Paul Verhoeven - astrology - movies - mars - pluto - cancer

A new blogger writes about Saturn-Neptune films and more!

2006-08-16T14:15:00.000-04:00

Doreen discusses Field of Dreams in the context of its release during the Saturn-Neptune conjunction in 1989. She also writes about Saturn in Leo in Nobody Knows and Mercury retrograde in Cancer in After Life, both films by Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda. I look forward to more "astrology at the movies" content from her!

'The Illusionist' and the Saturn-Neptune opposition

2006-08-16T10:49:00.000-04:00

The Illusionist is about a magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna who uses deception and illusion (ruled by Neptune) to create phenomena that look real (observable reality is ruled by Saturn). I can't reveal too much of the plot without giving away the ending, but suffice it to say that the whole movie is about the difficulty distinguishing between reality (Saturn) and illusion (Neptune).

Additionally, one key part of the plot involves a corrupt prince (Saturn in Leo, as Leo rules monarchy) who wants to overthrow his father. Can the Illusionist dissolve or weaken (Neptune) the structures of government (Saturn)?

If you want to get a good feel for the archetypal conflict between Saturn and Neptune, this is a good film to watch.

I also found it interesting that this film took place shortly after the Pluto-Neptune conjunction in Gemini, which relates to the rise of spiritualism. One of the magician's illusions was resurrecting (Pluto) spirits (Neptune).

Tags: The Illusionist - astrology - movies - saturn - neptune - pluto

Mad Max

2006-08-08T14:50:00.000-04:00

Susan Custer notes that Mel Gibson's progressed Moon is currently conjunct his Uranus, and that the "last time the progressed Moon was conjunct Uranus was in 1979, the era of his Mad Max fame." I looked up his secondary progressed chart for April 12, 1979, which was the Australian release date of Mad Max.

His progressed Moon was at 0 degrees 6 minutes Leo, nearly partile conjuct his progressed Uranus at 0 degrees 0 minutes Leo and square his progressed Neptune at 0 degrees 24 minutes Scorpio. Natally, he has Uranus at 1 degree 0 minutes Leo, and Neptune at 0 degrees 11 minutes Scorpio. (He also has his natal Moon at 0 Libra.) Given that at the world premiere of Mad Max his progressed Moon was within 6 minutes of his progressed Uranus, it makes sense that he conveyed such a revolutionary character in the film.

His progressed moon on the night of his arrest -- July 28, 2006 -- was at 28 degrees 14 minutes Cancer, conjunct within 41 minutes to his progresed Uranus at 28 degrees 55 minutes Cancer. I tend to think that there's more to come, that when his progressed Moon comes within 12 minutes to either his progressed or natal Uranus (within the next three months) something truly revolutionary or unexpected will happen. I still believe that the arrest was mostly associated with transiting Pluto square his Midheaven. Pluto reveals secrets and the hidden parts of oneself -- his racist remarks seem much more Plutonic than Uranian.

astrology - Mel Gibson - Mad Max

1 blog links to this post.

More on Mel -- His Progressed Moon

2006-08-08T12:03:00.000-04:00

Susan Custer points out that his progressed Moon was activating his Uranus-Neptune-Mercury T-Square. It's a little too far away for my tastes -- a full degree before Mercury, and more than that for the outer planets. (Anybody want to comment below on orbs?) She also writes about advice she would have given Mel, and comments on the opposition of transiting Saturn to natal Venus in his 2nd/8th house axis of money.

Tags: astrology - Mel Gibson

I just found my blog comments!

2006-08-04T11:05:00.000-04:00

I moderate my blog comments to prevent spam, and I just found today that blogger has not been forwarding me my unmoderated comments. I just published them all, and wanted to apologize to those readers who left comments in the last few months.

Two excellent Mel Gibson analyses

2006-08-02T11:40:00.000-04:00

Two of my favorite bloggers -- Lynn Hayes and KittyTaurus (the CelebAstroblogger) -- have written quality entries on Mel Gibson's recent DUI and racist remarks. Of course, you should also read my own entry down below. And if you're a glutton for Mel Gibson, check out my list of links of many Mel Gibson astrology profiles.

Addendum dated 8/4/2006:

See also Neil Paris's thoughts on Mel's chart and transits.

Mel Gibson's Anti-Semitism and Alcoholism

2006-08-01T09:27:00.000-04:00

An official police report on Mel Gibson's arrest on drunken driving charges substantiates claims that he made anti-Semitic remarks and threatened a deputy, a law enforcement official said Monday.

Mel was born with a Pisces Midheaven. His public image is that of Christ and the alcoholic, both archetypal expressions of Pisces. Pisces has two rulers -- Neptune is the modern ruler, and Jupiter is the traditional ruler. His Jupiter is in Virgo, conjunct Pluto and square Saturn. Jupiter is the planet of religion and faith -- his beliefs (Jupiter) are somewhat critical (Virgo), and he is also extremist (Pluto) and judgmental and rigid (Saturn) with regards to issues of faith.

His Neptune is in a T-Square with Mercury and Uranus. Mercury-Neptune aspects relate to poetic and imaginative communication, as well as delusional thinking. Uranus adds an element of eccentricity and unpredictability to his messenger planet. Mercury-Uranus likes to shock, to disturb the status quo.

Transiting retrograde Pluto on Friday 7/28 was at 24 degrees, 27 minutes Sagittarius. According to the birth time of 4:45 pm on January 3, 1956 in Peekskill, NY (chart), Mel's Midheaven is at 24 degrees, 22 minutes Pisces -- an exact square (give 5 minutes, which is a twelfth of a degree). Hence, the planet of destruction and rebirth is tearing down Mel's public image, as well as exposing his Piscean complexes.

Tags: mel gibson pisces alcoholism anti-semitism astrology jupiter saturn pluto mercury uranus midheaven

2 links to this entry.

Captain Jack Sparrow's Moral Compass, Gemini Johnny Depp and Mercury the Trickster

2006-07-18T14:38:00.000-04:00

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was not as bad as the critics led me to believe. (SPOILER ALERT!) If Verbinski had cut the entire sequence when Captain Jack Sparrow was held captive by cannibals, it would have been a much better movie.

However, I'm not a movie critic, I'm an astrologer. After the entertainment buzz lifted, I was left with two indelible images: Captain Jack Sparrow's compass, and Elizabeth Swann's angry ambivalence about her feelings towards Sparrow. The movie would have had no emotional weight without these two themes.

Johnny Depp is a Gemini, and Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury. (See my essay Johnny Depp: Messenger of the Gods.) In mythology, Hermes/Mercury is the trickster, the master of duplicity. Hermes invented lies. And what better a character than Captain Jack Sparrow to embody this archetype? Sparrow is duplicitous to the bone -- we (as well as Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner) never know where his loyalties lie. Like a true Gemini, Sparrow often switches sides. He is both good guy and bad guy.

An interesting conceit in Dead Man's Chest is that Sparrow's compass points its user to what he or she wants more than anything else in the world. However, the compass is not working for him. This makes sense: Gemini's attentions go in so many directions. Mercury has no "moral compass." Gemini explores the world without regard for right or wrong. Sagittarius, on the opposite side of the zodiac, rules morals and ethics.

Sparrow convinces Swann to use the compass to find the Dead Man's Chest -- she apparently wants it more than anything in the world, because getting the chest will get her to Will Turner. Later, the pirate attempts to seduce her, claiming that "curiosity" (a key Gemini word) about him and his lifestyle will win her over. She retorts that the compass does not work for him because he is dishonest -- if he were honest, he would know what he wants more than anything else in the world. She seems to be saying that he must not exist solely by his Mercurial nature if he is to get what he wants.

Swann seems to have more of a single-minded nature (Keira Knightley is an Aries), yet the power of the Gemini archetype does take hold of her. When the crew finds the island where the chest is buried, the compass temporarily points at Sparrow. In horror, Swann denies to herself that it is Sparrow she wants.

And later, when the Kracken is attacking the Black Pearl and Sparrow is rowing his boat to safety -- thus abandoning his crew -- he finally feels a conflict between saving himself and saving his ship and shipmates. Only then does the compass point him towards what he wants more than anything else in the world.

Sadly, it is after his return to the ship (and the Kracken's temporary retreat) that Swann (presumably in her rage at him for his duplicity, and at herself for her attraction) handcuffs him to his boat, leaving him to be devoured by the Kracken.

To be continued next summer...

Tags: Johnny Depp - Keira Knightley - Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest - Mercury - Gemini - astrology - movies

Johnny Depp profiles galore

2006-07-12T13:21:00.000-04:00

Lynn Hayes has written an excellent profile of Mr. Depp.

I also have a long list of Depp astrology profiles under my del.icio.us tag. (And see what you can learn about me by looking at my tags!)

And don't forget my own essay on Johnny Depp as Mercury, which outlines all of its archetypal meanings, including the trickster, messenger, hermaphrodite and guide between worlds.

Superman: Aries or Gemini?

2006-07-07T13:54:00.000-04:00

Michael WolfStar has an interesting blurb on Superman's natal chart, which includes an Aries Sun square Pluto, based on the release of Action Comics #1 on April 18, 1938, according to Bob Hughes. However, Samuel Reynolds writes about Superman as a Gemini presumably based on a different source which states Action Comics #1 was released June 1938. Wikipedia also states it was released in June, and has a picture of the cover to "prove" it.

WolfStar has some interesting data to back up the Aries chart, since George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, and Brandon Routh all have personal planets exactly aligned with Superman's Sun at 27 Aries.

Surely, Aries Sun square Pluto is an apt archeypal combination for a nearly invincible superhero, but Gemini also accounts for his multiple identities.

One point to consider is that comics and magazines frequently hit the newsstand a month before the cover date. For example, August 2006 monthly magazines are probably available now. So just because the cover of Superman says June, it does not mean that it could not have been released earlier, but 6 weeks earlier? However, the synchronicities pointed out by WolfStar are compelling.

The April 18 chart has Mars in Taurus tightly conjunct the South Node. This could mean that Superman falls back on his strength, but that it is not a source of growth for him to be a fighter. Green kryptonite, created from the remains of Superman's home planet, has a weakening effect on him. It is interesting to note that the South Node itself has a restrictive quality to it, and relates to one's past (where Superman came from?). Additionally, it is placed in Taurus, associated with the color green. And, it weakens his strength -- Mars.

Anybody want to take on his relationship with Lois Lane? April 18 Superman has Venus in Taurus conjunct Uranus, whereas June 1 Superman has Venus in Cancer square Saturn in Aries.

Tags: Superman - astrology

Venus-Pluto People

2006-07-05T14:28:00.000-04:00

Venus in Gemini opposes Pluto this month, and the uber-archetypal-astrologer Bill Streett profiles Venus-Pluto natives Brian De Palma and Elizabeth Taylor in his most recent newsletter. (Scroll to the very bottom.)

Superman and Saturn in Leo

2006-07-02T16:29:00.000-04:00

Just saw Superman Returns. I had a gmail chat Wednesday with my friend and Superman-fanatic Samuel Reynolds -- who has written about Superman as Gemini on AOL Horoscopes -- after he had seen it opening night. Samuel illuminated me about the heavy Saturnian nature of this film (spoilers ahead!). Having seen it myself, it is pretty evident:

Saturn is the archetype of the father. At the opening of the film, we hear Jor-El's voice advising his son, the only remaining survivor of Krypton. At the end, Superman advises his own five-year old son -- sound asleep in Lois Lane's house -- about the duty that will be passed on to him.

Saturn rules crystals and structures of all kind. Lex Luthor hatches a plot to throw a crystal from Superman's Arctic lair into the Atlantic, which will grow into a new continent, displacing much of North America, killing billions of people, and forcing millions of survivors to buy real estate from him on his new continent.

Saturn rules loneliness and separation. Superman, as much as he wants to be part of humanity, will forever be alien, never truly have a home.

Saturn rules death. Leo is ruled by the Sun, the hero archetype. At the end of the film, Superman nearly dies after bringing a gigantic crystalline structure suffused with Kryptonite into outer-space.

Leo is also the sign of romance, and sadly, Superman's dalliance with Lois Lane, after his 5-year hiatus, is unfulfilled, as she is engaged. Fortunately, Leo is also the child, to which Superman will be forever committed, if only from afar.

Superman - Saturn - Leo - astrology