Kate Middleton - A Lunar Princess

 

Kate Middleton - A Lunar Princess

To say that Kate Middleton has been “in the news” recently would certainly be an understatement.  The beloved wife of Prince William, next in line to become the King of England, this usually public future Queen has not been seen in any official capacity since Christmas Day 2023.  Seemingly going against the usual trend of the royal family not disclosing health conditions to the public, it came as quite a surprise when it was announced in early January 2024 she would be undergoing abdominal surgery “not related to cancer,” and stepping away from the public eye for some time to heal.  Unfortunately, what has unfolded since has been anything but smooth and forthcoming.  Let’s take a look at how Kate’s Moon in particular has played a role in how this story has unfolded, beginning with how she became a Princess in the first place.

Born to be a Royal

Princess Catherine “Kate” Middleton has a Cancer ascendant, making the Moon her ruling planet.  This makes the movements of the Moon and cycles connected to it especially meaningful.  Because Kate’s Moon is in the 12th house, the place we look to for how someone relates to solitude, privacy and isolation, it is indicative of a deep seated desire for privacy, but it also shows she can find peace and rejuvenate when necessary.  With Rahu there as well, this shows even more how her desire for peace and quiet can become an obsession.  

Opposite Kate’s Moon and Rahu are Ketu and the Sun in the 6th house only a few degrees apart. Thus, Kate was born on an eclipse, showing a connection to royalty.  Astrology case studies have shown many significant events related to the British royal family have occurred on or very near eclipses (see notes below).  The Sun is our connection to our soul, and this Rahu/Sun combination shows that even though she wasn’t actually “born” into royalty, it is part of her soul agreement in this life to become a part of such a family.  The Sun is also where we look for a person’s vitality, and with Ketu conjunct there in the 6th house of disease, it shows there can be a tendency to ignore health issues, especially when under the pressure of high expectations - something that goes hand in hand with being a part of the royal family.

Kate’s “official” connection to the royal family began during her Saturn/Jupiter dasha when she became engaged to Prince William on April 29th, 2011.  Saturn lit up her Ascendant in Pushya (a combination of the Moon and Saturn), indicating a change in identity.  As a house ruler, it lit up her 7th house of marriage, as well as her 8th house of vulnerability, loss of control, and the opinion of others.  From this point on, she would have to relinquish the control of how the public and media would perceive her, putting her in a vulnerable position in many ways. With Jupiter becoming active at this time, the “royal” part of her chart also lit up with her Moon/Rahu in Purnavasu (ruled by Jupiter), and the beginning of her desire to balance rest/privacy (12th house) with hard work (6th house) which was lit up due to Jupiter as a house ruler.  Jupiter as a dasha planet in the 4th house is indicative of a change in residence that happened shortly before Kate and William got married on April 29th, 2011 during this same dasha cycle.  This house was a quiet place, affording the young couple a lot of privacy at the time (12th house).  In addition, it lit up her 9th house in Pisces, showing others were seeing her as an inspiring infusion of fresh air into the royal family.  

Changes due to The Queen’s Death

When Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8th, 2022, Kate was nearing the end of her Mercury/Rahu dasha.  Her Mercury mahadasha, which started very shortly after her wedding, showed what she gained while Mercury in her 7th house of marriage was lit up.  This continued the trend of showing the need for privacy due to her Mercury ruled 12th house.  However, what is particularly interesting is that Kate’s Mercury-ruled 3rd house in Virgo representing her father-in-law, Prince Charles was also active.  With the Queen’s death, Prince Charles would finally become King Charles, making her husband (7th house) next in line for the throne.  Kate’s ruling planet (indicator of identity), the Moon was also activated in the 12th house (loss/endings).  She would “lose” her old title of Princess of Wales and gain a new one fit for the future Queen of England - the Duchess of Cornwall.  Another consequence of this shift was a change of residence.  Her natal Jupiter (children) in the 4th house (place of residence) is in Jupiter-ruled Swati, and she, William and their three children moved to Adelaide House in Windsor during this time.

Return of the Jupiter Cycle and Kate’s Health

Kate entered a Jupiter sub dasha once again on August 9th, 2023, lighting up her 6th house of illness and hard work.  In the 14 years since the last Jupiter cycle, she became mother to three children, and lived the busy pressure-filled life of a working royal. Additionally, she was now next in line to become the Queen of England.  Perhaps all of this was weighing heavy on the vitality of her natal Sun in the 6th.  With her natal Ketu being in this same house, there could have been some dismissal of symptoms of illness.  What we know now is that she underwent surgery on January 16, 2024.  It was said the surgery was abdominal and “not cancer” in nature, but no further details were disclosed.  

What was the surgery for?  Kate’s Mercury ruled 12th house became even more active when the Jupiter sub-dasha hit, lighting up her  Moon in Purnavasu.  Not only is it her ruling planet, it is also the indicator of being a mother.  Her natal Jupiter, the indicator of children in the 4th house of motherhood, is also active.  All of this put together shows a definite possibility of an issue surrounding reproduction, even so far as a pregnancy that somehow went wrong.  Of course anything of this nature would be particularly sad, and something she would want to keep private and retreat (12th house).  This active 12th house also shows loss and confusion surrounding this time, particularly because her Moon is joined Rahu.  Rahu can distort reality and often spins things in such a way that creates speculation and conspiracy theories in the absence of other information.  What is clear is that the 12th house will be active in her chart until her Mercury mahadasha ends in August of 2028, and the questions regarding what prompted her original surgery may continue to remain unanswered for some time.

And Speaking of the Moon…

With the Moon being Kate’s ruling planet, it is interesting to see where the Moon has been transiting her chart on key dates of her recent health journey.

January 16th, 2024 - the day of Kate’s surgery.  The Moon was in Pisces, falling in Kate’s 9th house which is active due to her Jupiter sub-dasha.  Pisces has to do with things we have to let go of.  Being ruled by Jupiter, the indicator of children, this adds to the possibility of the surgery being connected to loss of fertility or even a child.  

February 27th, 2024 - at the last minute, William pulls out of a planned event with no explanation, and there is speculation it was due to Kate’s health.  The Moon was in Virgo, falling in Kate’s active 3rd house (Mercury mahadasha).  Interestingly, this could also be connected to her father-in-law’s (3rd house) health, as he had announced his cancer diagnosis on February 5th.  

March 1st, 2024 - Kate is spotted as a passenger in a car driven by her mother.  The Moon was in Libra, Kate’s 4th house active due to her Jupiter sub-dasha, as well as the 4th house being the indicator of the mother (in this case, her mother).

March 10th, 2024 - Mother’s Day photo failure.  The Moon was in Aquarius, Kate’s 8th house of scandal, secrets and other people.  Aquarius has to do with the public, and when the photo was shown to be altered, there was a tremendous backlash from the media which fueled wild speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding her whereabouts.  

March 17th, 2024 - video of William and Kate shopping at a farmer’s market near their home surfaces.  The Moon was in Gemini, Kate’s 12th house of isolation and things which are hidden.  Rather than calm down the rumors and speculation surrounding Kate’s whereabouts, instead the video was scrutinized and dissected to such a degree that rather than quell the rumor mill, it in fact, fed it with more fire.  There were many who were still convinced that the public still wasn’t being told the truth about Kate’s condition. 

March 22nd, 2024 - Cancer diagnosis announcement.  The Moon was in Leo, Kate’s 12th house of silence and isolation.  This “quieted” the critics' speculations and “shut up” many of the wild theories as to why she has remained out of the public eye.   Leo is also the sign of the King, whom we also know has cancer.  Now there is a deeper emotional connection (the Moon) between her and the King, who is also her father-in-law (3rd house active due to Mercury mahadasha).   It is also of note this was announced only a few days before a lunar eclipse.  Not only is her ruling planet being eclipsed, but because Kate was born on an eclipse, these cycles can hold more meaning and affect her in a more profound way.  

March 31st, 2024 - Easter Sunday, and the day Kate has been supposedly earmarking to return to some public duties.  The Moon will be in Scorpio, Kate’s 5th house of children and the things closest to her heart.  This seems to say she will not be out in public (Scorpio is also keeping things hidden) and spend the day in a more low-key manner with family instead.

What’s next for Kate?

This Jupiter sub-dasha will continue until December of 2025, so all of the above factors of Jupiter will continue.  She will put her children (Jupiter) first, and spend much time at home (4th house).  Her planets in the 12th house can indicate she may spend more time out of the public eye. The 6th house also shows she will be closely monitoring her health.  However, we may see her begin to emerge from her isolation after Jupiter enters Taurus, which is her 11th house of the public, on May 1st, 2024.  Additionally, during this time, her Jupiter-ruled Pisces 9th house of hope, inspiration and belief in the Divine is active.  Anyone who has gone through a health crisis knows how important keeping your spirits high can affect the outcome of any diagnosis.  This lends an air of optimism to her eventual outcome.  

Another sign of hope during this time is that as a house ruler, her 9th house is also active.  We can see that Jupiter is in her 4th house (mother), forming a potent raja yoga. Additionally,  Kate’s ascendant is in Pushya, located in the deepest, purest part of Cancer.  First and foremost, Kate is a loving and dedicated mother, who more than anything wants to stay healthy for her children.  The power of this love cannot be understated, and gives favorable light to her prognosis.  

Once she leaves Mercury/Jupiter and the activation of the 6th house ends she will enter Mercury/Rahu where her ruling planet is and hopefully, her health will cease to be on the forefront.  However, moving into Ketu/Ketu dasha on 8-28-2028 this 6th house will become active again.  But Ketu has more to do with the past than the future, and even in the 6th house, it can indicate latent illnesses that weren’t paid attention to.  With the knowledge she has now, it very may well be that she will simply get screened for cancer regularly from now on and if anything re-surfaces, she will be able to catch it early before it becomes anything serious.

Note:

British Royal family events happening on or very near eclipses:

King Charles born

King Charles marries Diana

Princess Diana’s death

King Charles marries Camilla

Coronation of Charles and Camilla

Prince William born

Princess Kate born

Prince George born

Margot Robbie - The Face of Barbie

 

The Barbie movie was one of the biggest films of 2023, breaking records and sparking thoughtful conversations from all those who saw it.  Although there had been talks to make a live-action Barbie movie going as far back as the 1980s, the project didn’t begin to coalesce until 2018 when, among other things, Margot Robbie’s name came up to play the starring role.  As we will see in this summary of how Margot’s dasha cycles lined up with the creation of the movie, there was no one else who could bring Barbie to “life” in exactly the way she was able to.

She was officially cast and made a director of the film in July 2019 during her Jupiter/Mars dasha. The Jupiter mahadasha lit up her 12th house where her Mercury, Jupiter and Sun are.  This shows how she was successful working behind the scenes of the movie, as well as being the star.  Through this position, she can express her big ideas for the movie (Jupiter), communicate them effectively (Gemini in its own sign) and be inspired by the movie on a Soul level (Sun).

As a house ruler, her Jupiter mahadasha lit up her Mars in 9th house Pisces, which shows how she was inspired by the project and brought lots of inspiring energy to getting the film made.  It also lit up her 6th house where her natal Saturn in Sagittarius is.  With Saturn being retrograde, this indicates an inspiring project (Sagittarius) that had been a long time in the making that was finally coming to life after a lot of hard work (6th house).

The Mars secondary dasha brought even more energy to Mars in the 9th house.  As a house ruler this lit up her 5th house of creativity in Scorpio.  This reveals that  there would be deeper themes and meanings emerging from the film than what would have been expected of a movie about Barbie.  It also lit up her 10th house of career where she would be the starring role, in this, her “baby” project (5th house of children)

The Mars secondary dasha also lights up a powerful Raja yoga for her, with the Lord of the 10th (Mars) in her 9th house in Pisces.  A Raja yoga is a combination of planets which indicate wealth, good fortune, and influence. It can also signify success in business or career, and financial prosperity.  This is especially true in this case since it involves her 10th house of career.  It also shows how she is inspired and is inspiring others through her work (9th house).

Mars in Pisces also indicates a powerful theme that runs through the movie.  Mars, a masculine sign, is an indicator of strength, and Pisces, a feminine sign, is where boundaries dissolve.  Jupiter is the ruler of Pisces, which indicates people’s beliefs about something.   The questioning and blurring of the lines of what is considered traditionally “male” and “female” were brought up many times in the film.

From filming to completion - Saturn/Saturn

By the time the movie was wrapping up filming on July 21st, 2022, Margot started her Saturn/Saturn dasha which will run until July 2025.  Thus, everything that has happened with the film so far has manifested under this dasha.  

This period lights up her 6th house of hard work and sacrifice where her retrograde Saturn is in Uttara Ashada, or the “invincible star.” Uttara Ashada’s special shakti, or grace, is that of making one empowered and undefeatable.  This indicates that during this time, she will continue to be a strong and inspiring figure for a very, very long time. 

Saturn is also her Atma Karaka planet as it has the highest degree of any other planet in her chart.  Atma means the soul and karaka means significator.  This means it is the significator of the soul’s desire, as it is quite developed, showing she has karma to finish with it in this lifetime.  

The houses that Margot’s Atma Karaka rules show the areas of her life where she will experience the life lessons she came here to learn, especially during the planet’s dasha cycle.

Saturn rules her 7th house in Capricorn which indicates she will be practical and steady in her relationships during this time.  These partnerships will get better over time, in particular ones which have to do with business dealings.  Surely this shows she will have significant power to tell whatever stories she likes and have the roles she desires.  

It also lights up her 8th house in Aquarius.  Here it is shown that the difficult/controversial (8th house) commentary on society (Aquarius) that was brought up in the movie will continue and she will be a spokesperson for it.    

Lastly, it also lights up her Ascendant in Pushya.  The Ascendant is connected to our appearance.  She was given the role of Barbie because she very much “looked the part,” and she will certainly be the human “face” of Barbie from now on. 

Margot and Barbie’s Release Day

Besides all the dasha cycles making this a time for Margot to be in the spotlight, there were significant transits happening for her on the day of the movie's official release.

The Barbie movie was released on July 9th, 2023.  On this day Margot’s powerful Raja yoga in the 9th house was being transited by the Moon, which is Margot’s ruling planet, as she has a Cancer ascendant.  She is certainly the star, but also shows how she is inspiring (9th house) and reflecting back the emotions (the Moon) of those who will see the movie.

Jupiter, the indicator of wealth, expansion and good fortune, as well as being the Lord of her 9th house (and the powerful Raja yoga) was also being transited by the Sun almost to the exact degree.  This boosted her confidence and purified everything going on with the Raja yoga.

The Ascendant at the time the movie began was Sagittarius, where Margot’s dasha planet is lit up.  Once again, Margot is the “face” of the movie to which she is now forever intricately linked.   

Travis Kelce - The Man with the Golden Hands and the Golden Girl

 

 

Travis Kelce can be described in many ways - celebrated athlete at the top of his game, successful podcaster, generous philanthropist, loyal brother and loving son.  However, the most recent title added to his persona is that of being the “boyfriend of Taylor Swift.”  Millions of people who have never paid attention to football before are avidly watching the game and cheering on the love story between Travis and Taylor.  As we will see below, Travis loves to make people happy, and surely this turn of events has done nothing but bring him more joy.

We don’t have an exact birth time for Travis, so we cannot set up the houses based on his ascendant, check dasha transits, or be sure of every nakshatra the planets are in.  Instead, we are looking at transits counting houses from his Moon in Scorpio.  Since his Venus is also there, it places emphasis on the Moon, and the analysis is based on how Travis feels about things.

Venus + Moon conjunction - sharing the moment

We cannot say for sure which nakshatras these planets are in, but they do share the same sign, Scorpio.  

The Moon is the indicator of peace, how we look for connection, and the way we want to feel all the time.  Venus is the indicator of pleasure, the ways we enjoy the world, and in particular, how we find this through other people.  This conjunction shows that Travis seeks a pleasant environment in which he sees that those around him are happy.  With both planets in Scorpio, his feelings are more intense, and they are taken more personally.  When he wants to celebrate, he is sincere in his desire to invite everyone else to the party and he makes a big show of it.  An illustration of this is when he made the heart/hands gesture after a touchdown celebration during a recent playoff game.  It was assumed by many that this sweet gesture was intended for his girlfriend, Taylor Swift.  But actually, Travis simply wanted to “spread the love” to everyone in the stadium.  As he explained afterwards, “Yeah man, had to spread the love, baby! You always gotta spread that love, baby!”  Another way of saying this is he is not only winning for himself, but for those around him.

The Moon also represents the mother and shows a deep nurturing relationship between the two of them.  It is well known that Travis’ mother goes out of her way to be at every one of his games. Another aspect of this conjunction is seen by observing the relationship between Travis’ mother and Taylor.  Travis’ mother, Donna, appears to be embracing Taylor’s presence by saying she thinks Taylor is “sweet and down to earth.”  Donna has gifted Taylor with jewelry, celebrated holidays with Taylor and her family, and they seem to enjoy each other’s company while cheering on the Chiefs in the skybox.  Someone with this strong Moon/Venus connection surely would want their mother to approve of the person they were romantically involved with.  Especially, if mama is happy, then Travis is happy.  

Lessons learned from a debilitated Moon

Even though Travis’ Moon is conjunct gentle and loving Venus, it is also in a debilitated dignity in the sign of Scorpio.  The moon is the least happy here, and it can make for murky emotional situations at times.  When Travis has an emotion bubble up, it is very deep and intense.  But due to the Mars nature of Scorpio, it can also bring up the desire to battle “in the moment,” when things don’t go his way.  One way this has been expressed is through the four times Kelce has been fined for “unsportsmanlike conduct” on the field and fined tens of thousands of dollars. 

However, Travis’ Saturn is one sign after the Moon, putting it in Sagittarius.  Saturn after the moon shows how we integrate our feelings and emotional experiences.  Saturn is the indicator of hard work, concentration and introspection.  In Sagittarius it shows Travis is ultimately wanting to follow rules and regulations and wishes to learn from his mistakes.  Considering these outbursts happened 3 times over the course of 6 years, and hasn’t happened again in the past 4, it seems Travis has grown emotionally and is now able to tap into the disciplined side of Mars instead of the impetuous side.  

Exalted Mercury - the ability to connect

Travis’ Mercury is in its exalted position in Virgo, which gives Travis the ability to easily communicate precisely and accurately.  This shows Travis’ mind is quick and he can assess situations quickly.  Mercury is a mutable sign, so this indicates he has the ability to pivot and change course if need be. Mercury is also joined his Mars, the indicator of physical strength and courage.  It is easy to see how a quick mind and strong body working together makes for a successful athlete.  

It is interesting to note here that Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback of the Chiefs, also has an exalted Mercury.  Travis’ statistics have greatly improved since Patrick joined the Chiefs in 2018, and the chemistry between the two of them is evident.  It is imperative that the quarterback and the tight end are able to communicate with one another on the field during the heat of the moment.  The fact they share this planetary placement is indicative of why they are so successful as teammates with Patrick’s passes so often landing in Travis’ hands.  

Mars/Hasta +Sun/Hasta - one with a competitive spirit that stays strong

We haven’t discussed nakshatras due to not having Travis’ birth time, but Travis definitely has his Mars and Sun conjunct in Virgo/Hasta nakshatra. A Mars/Sun conjunction can be summarized as having a fighting disposition with plenty of competitive spirit.  Though neither Mars (strength) or the Sun (physical vitality) are in very good dignity, the combination of the two makes for someone who is able to stay strong and healthy.  This is shown by the fact that with the exception of the 2013 season when Travis missed most of the season due to a knee injury, he remained healthy and didn’t miss another game until 2020 when he tested positive for COVID. Since then, he has only missed one other game due to a minor injury.

The symbol for the nakshatra Hasta, or the “Golden Hand,”  is an open hand, and indicates someone skillful with their hands.  The tight end position Travis plays is a combination of blocking to protect running backs and catching passes from the quarterback.  Especially since he and Patrick Mahomes have such a synergy, he is certainly more well known for his catching abilities.  The special shakti energy of Hasta is the “ability to gain what one is seeking and place it in one’s hands.”  This literally describes what happens every time Travis shows up on the field and a reason he is currently in the #4 on the list of most receptions by a tight end in the history of the NFL. 

Mars Combust - “win at all cost”

Travis’s Mars and Sun are so close together, it causes Mars to be combust.  A combust planet is “burned,” or “swallowed” up by the Sun’s energy and can make that planet’s energy difficult to access. Travis’ combust Mars can bring up feelings about not feeling powerful, tough or courageous enough when things aren’t going his way, and is often expressed through physical aggression.  While this could be seen as a negative for most, considering Travis’ profession, the ‘win at all costs’ attitude of his combust Mars can be seen as a boon, especially when he is feeling pressure.  However, being explosive 100% of the time doesn’t make for a successful football player.  This is where his exalted Mercury also serves him well.  His fine tuned mind helps him discriminate and discern what is happening in the heat of the moment.  This tempers his emotions and keeps him focused so he doesn’t exude more energy and aggression than what is necessary on any given play. 

Super Bowl Sunday transits and more about Taylor!

But what does this mean for Super Bowl Sunday?  What’s going to happen between Travis and Taylor?  

The chart for the Super Bowl’s kickoff time is very interesting, as there will be a pile up of planets in Capricorn three houses away from Travis’ moon.  This gauges his emotional state and how will show up emotionally that day.  Here is a summary of how that looks:

Sun:  The Sun in Capricorn adds more determination, energy and courage to Travis.  It brings an increased will to accomplish things and win, and heightens his ability to communicate. 

Mars:  Mars will be in his exalted position, which assures the game will be explosive and engaging for all.  Being three houses from Travis’ moon brings him a heightened assertiveness, higher physical strength, and ensures an exciting exhibition of talents.  This position also is good for communication.  

Mercury:  Mercury here will give structured and measured thinking processes and pairs well with Travis’ (and Patrick’s) exalted natal position. 

Venus: For those less interested in the football side, Venus is here to give a good show.  Travis will be feeling a duty to make those around him happy.  He will feel solid in all of his relationships (teammates, family, girlfriend, fans) and will feel especially supported and propped up by all the good energy and love being showered on him.   Assuming Taylor will make it to the game in time (which seems very likely), he will feel especially grateful for the hard work she went through to be there for him. This will motivate him to express his gratitude by putting in the most stellar performance he is capable of.  

And speaking of Taylor….

Venus will be just entering Capricorn at kickoff time, bringing it into the same sign as Taylor’s natal Venus.  She absolutely feels it is her duty to support her boyfriend, and will not miss this opportunity to prove her love by doing the hard work it will take to get there.  This natal placement is 8 houses from her moon, which represents that other people are always interested in her relationships, and she is feeling that pressure as well.  Considering Venus will be in the nakshatra of Uttara Ashada, which means “the Later Victory,” this could portend a lasting win of some kind for Taylor.

Travis will have an amazing day for sure, playing at an exceptionally high level which will amaze everyone.  The communication between him and his quarterback will make for an exciting game that may break records.  Though we will not go so far as to predict the outcome of the game, it does seem on Super Bowl day, Travis will definitely win in the love department

Travis will have an amazing day for sure, playing at an exceptionally high level which will amaze everyone.  The communication between him and his quarterback will make for an exciting game that may break records.  Though we will not go so far as to predict the outcome of the game, it does seem on Super Bowl day, Travis will definitely win in the love department

 

The Internal Motivations of Taylor Swift

 

Taylor Swift really doesn’t need an introduction.  One of the biggest selling artists of all time, she has just launched her first tour since 2018 which has brought her back into the spotlight, even though she is never far from it.  

We do not have an accurate birth time for Taylor, so we cannot do a full chart analysis.  However, she has a very interesting Moon, as it is joined a retrograde Jupiter and opposite her Saturn and Mercury.  By simply looking at the placement of these four planets, their signs and nakshatras, we can get a good glimpse into how Taylor operates internally and why she is such a beloved musician and inspiration to millions. 

Moon and Jupiter Rx conjunct in Gemini/Ardra:  Expanding using a creative and fast moving mind to improve things of the past.

Taylor’s moon is in Gemini.  The moon is purely reflective and shows how our mind, heart and emotions react to what is going on around us.  All the moon wants is to be at peace, and to connect us to the world, and each other.  It is a part of us that is completely innocent and just wants to feel good.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, which also has a childlike quality.  Having her moon in this sign indicates one of the reasons Taylor began her career so early in life at age 13.  Gemini is a mutable sign that is curious and never wants to stay the same.  Although she began as a country-western singer, over the course of her career, Taylor has explored a wide variety of musical genres such as pop, folk, rock and alternative.  Gemini rules the hands, and it shows in Taylor’s ability to play a variety of instruments such as guitar, banjo, piano and ukulele.  Another Gemini/Mercury quality is that of being quick, which isn’t lost on the fact her last name is, in fact, “Swift.”

The moon is also related to our psychology, and when the moon’s energy is put through the lens of Gemini, one of the things that can happen is a tendency to confuse emotions with ideas.  How this manifests is that everything she feels gets turned into a story, and even more specifically with Taylor, gets turned into a song.  So many of her songs are simply ways of her expressing the things that are going on in her life.  This is also known as a “diaristic” approach to her writing - simply identifying an emotion, following with a corresponding melody.  It has been said that she has “confessional lyrics” which are definitely a component of her Moon in Gemini.

Very close to Taylor’s moon is her Jupiter which is retrograde.  The moon is how we want to feel all the time.  With another planet there, it will show how we will make what we want happen if for some reason things aren’t going the way we want.

For Taylor, her moon being alongside Jupiter means she likes things to feel big and expansive.   This means she has big ideas, and is also very generous.  She is well known for her philanthropy, donating to a wide variety (Gemini) of charities and causes.  Jupiter is very optimistic in nature, so when difficulties arise for her, in real time she will act as though everything is okay.   

With her Jupiter being retrograde, it indicates that sometimes things can expand in reverse and she can win back things that get lost.  With Jupiter being in Gemini, she can scrutinize a situation and take on projects that require repair and/or rejuvenation.  After a dispute with her former record label in 2019 over the ownership of the master recordings of her first six studio albums, in 2020, she very publicly re-recorded her back catalog so she could maintain control of the masters.  This very much illustrates how her retrograde Jupiter came into play.  She was very attached (Moon) to her words and expressions (Gemini), and she won back what was lost (retrograde Jupiter).  The conjunction of her Moon and Jupiter also shows how she overcomes obstacles and prevails in the long run.  

The conjunction of Moon and Jupiter can often make things quite epic - there can be many exclamation points used to describe this combination.   There is also the possibility of drama, especially considering they are both in the nakshatra of Ardra, ruled by Rahu, which likes to make things chaotic.  This Mercury/Rahu combination can make Taylor think out of the box and can offer a sharp intellect, but it is also a place in our lives which is never satisfied.  Some of the curiosity of Gemini can make Taylor restless and unable to feel satisfied.  But Ardra is also capable of destroying what is no longer needed, which is certainly a reason why Taylor is always re-inventing herself and her music.  

Taylor has no planets before her moon, so there is nothing to help filter out things before they hit her emotionally.  There are no planets after the moon helping her integrate her emotional experiences.  Because of this, she simply reacts in the moment, with Jupiter there making things feel very big and expansive.  This is taken to mean that she may feel some loneliness and a lack of support and will take things to heart very easily.  Saturn and Mercury are in the 7th house from the Moon, showing how her emotions are integrated through other people, especially partners.  This further shows why she writes about her former lovers, and why she was willing to go against her manager and record company to keep the rights to her music masters.  

Saturn and Mercury conjunct in Sagittarius/Purva Ashada - Fighting for freedom of expression and fairness so the beautiful things can last

Across the way from Taylor’s Moon and Jupiter in Gemini are Saturn and Mercury in Sagittarius.  

Saturn and Mercury are also very close to one another which shows she can be very focused, pays attention to details, is shrewd in business and skilled at planning things, not only for the moment (Mercury), but for things to last a long time (Saturn).

Sagittarius is an inspiring and hopeful sign which rules justice showing that Taylor is willing to fight for others.  Saturn is the wise taskmaster who is determined to work hard and see things through to the end.  With Jupiter giving his generous glance to Saturn, this increases Taylor’s sense of generosity and willingness to do things for others (planets 7 houses from the Moon).  

Taylor’s fighting and winning from the battle with her record company, not only benefited her, but it also set a precedent for other musicians to follow.  She was very much supported (Saturn) in her stance of speaking out (Mercury in Sag) which started conversations in the industry about artists’ rights, intellectual property and ethics.  This has led to new artists being encouraged to negotiate for greater ownership of their music.  

Another example of Taylor’s being such an influence due to her Sagittarius/Jupiter placements, is what is called the “Taylor Swift factor,”  Simply by her playing guitar on stage she created a phenomenon which led to a noticeable upsurge in guitar sales to women, which was previously an ignored demographic.  

Saturn is also aspecting her Moon, giving her a sense of urgency, even at a young age.  This is illustrated early in her career.  When she was first signed to a label at 13, she left a year later at 14 due to the company taking too long to get recordings happening.  She is quoted as saying “I genuinely felt (Moon) that I was running out of time (Saturn).  I wanted to capture these years of my life on an album (Moon in Gemini) while they still represented what I was going through.”  

With these planets in the nakshatra of Purva Ashada, ruled by Venus, it shows not only is she expressing herself in a big way (Gemini/Moon/Jupiter) but others (7th house from the moon) respond to her in a similar way.  Purva Ashada can make things invincible and indestructible in a soft and beautiful way.   Purva Ashada creates leaders with significant popularity and mass appeal, as they pool together a wide array of skills to become successful, appealing and powerful.  In Taylor’s case especially, it is easy to see how this pairs well with her planets in curious and playful Gemini to create an artist that has already accomplished so much in only 19 years.  In addition to the qualities of the nakshatra, Saturn is also an indicator of longevity.  This almost certainly shows that Taylor will continue to be famous for the duration of her lifetime, but also that her music, example and causes she works for and will live on for a long, long time.  

Simone Biles - Power from the Start

Some people search their entire lives to find their purpose.  Simone Biles is not one of those people.  Considered the greatest gymnast of all time, from the moment of her birth, her chart clearly shows that there would be a main trajectory of her life.

We’ll start by looking at Simone’s dasha chart. Simone was born during her Moon mahadasha, meaning it was activated and set the tone for her life.  The Moon is the indicator of the mother, and hers is also located in the 4th house of the mother.  This is key because her biological mother wasn’t able to raise her, which is what eventually set her up to live her current life.  In fact, this is what she said in an interview earlier this year:  "Being separated from my biological mom, being placed in foster care before I officially got adopted by my grandparents, it just set me up for a better route at life.” These are her maternal grandparents, whom she considers to be her parents.  It was this mother who was with her when Simone was discovered by her future coach at the age of 6.  

Besides being significant in the house it occupies, Simone’s moon as the ruler of her 6th house was also active in her formative years. This house is the indicator of hard work and sacrifice.  This shows that from the beginning, Simone was willing to do the hard work necessary to be a successful gymnast.  But even more so it indicates the sacrifices of her mother/parents.   Again, to quote Simone in a social media post aimed at her parents she made prior to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics: "Thanks for making sacrifices since day 1 so I can live out my dream. but most importantly thanks for always being there for me through all the highs and lows."

Simone’s moon is also at its most exalted position Taurus/Rohini, so the highest expression of the moon’s energy was available to her in those first few years of her taking gymnastics.  The watery, emotional, fluctuating nature of the moon is safe, stable and grounded in the earthy energy of Taurus.  This environment has given Simone a foundation she has always been able to fall back on during her long and sometimes tumultuous career in the spotlight.  

However, even more than the moon, Simone’s Venus has had an extremely important role in  how her life and career have unfolded right from the beginning.  

Simone was in her Moon/Venus dasha when she began gymnastics.  Venus as the ruler of the 4th house of the mother was also coming into play during this time.  We’ve already discussed the importance her mother has played throughout her life and career, and this sub-dasha lit up this area of her life very brightly.  

Venus is also the ruler of her 9th house of teachers.  It was during this period that she met and began training with Aimee Boorman, who would be her main coach for the next 11 years.  

But even more significant is the fact that Venus is Simone’s Atma Karaka planet, as it is has the highest degree of any other planet in her chart.  Atma means the soul and karaka means significator.  This means it is the significator of the soul’s desire, as it is quite developed, showing she has karma to finish with it in this lifetime,

The houses that Simones’ Atma Karaka rules show the areas of her life where she will experience the life lessons she came here to learn.  We have already mentioned it rules her 4th and 9th houses.  Besides representing the mother, the 4th house is where we find happiness.  Venus as a karaka is the indicator of happiness.  This shows what she is looking for is to be safe, loved and stable.  Since her exalted moon is also there, it shows that she is able to find the happiness she is looking for.  In regards to her gymnastics career, she has won every significant honor available to her in the sport, some of them many times over!

As the ruler of the 9th house of teachers and inspiration, this shows not only has she been blessed with great teachers/coaches she is also an inspiration to others.  It would be hard to quantify how many young girls have taken up the sport of gymnastics because of her.  

But probably even more than in any other way, Venus is significant because it occupies Simone’s first house.  Any planet that is in the 1st house automatically forms a potent raja yoga, giving it even more strength and power in her chart, especially in the houses it rules. 

Raja means “king,” and yoga refers to the relationship the planet has with a certain house which ramps up the power of the planet even more.  Therefore, a raja yoga attracts powerful cosmic energies and shows a significant trajectory of someone’s destiny.  The fact that her Atma Karaka planet is involved in a raja yoga makes it even more significant.  

A raja yoga can take someone to a very high status, which Simone has certainly reached.  It causes her to naturally be steps ahead of her competition and it has helped her achieve success and fame in her life.  

The first house is the indicator of the body,  which is how Simone expresses herself.  Venus being here also shows how she attracts others to her through her athletic prowess, plus it also shows that Simone is naturally blessed with loads of charm and beauty.  

These few planetary placements are just the tip of the iceberg as to what makes Simone Biles tick, but is a great place to start to describe someone who has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. 

 

 Judy Blume - A Legacy of Communication and Love

Judy Blume has been delighting readers of all ages for decades.  She was one of the first young adult authors to discuss controversial topics such as menstruation, teen sex, birth control and sex.  She is beloved all over the world, with her novels selling over 82 million copies, translated into 32 languages.  

She has come back into the spotlight recently with the documentary “Judy Blume - Forever,” premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.  Later in the year, “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret,” arguably her most beloved novel, will be released as a film over 50 years after it was first published.  

The fact her story and this book are garnering this level of attention and excitement after so much time is a testament to the impact of her writing.  Judy makes significant impressions on children’s hearts which remain with her audience long after childhood has passed.

Let’s look at the main components in Judy’s chart which show her ability to communicate with young people in such a way that when they grow up, she is still considered to be their beloved childhood teacher and friend. 

Judy’s ascendant is in Virgo, the earthy, detail oriented feminine expression of Mercury.  Anyone who has read Judy’s books appreciates the “realness” of her novels.  She recounts how things affect the characters in her books on a practical and emotional level.  There is a critical feeling to Virgo as Mercury dissects the impact of day-to-day experiences.  The sanskrit name for Virgo is “Kanya,” a young girl.  This innocent aspect of Virgo is a reflected in the girls who are often the first person narrator of the stories Judy tells. 

Her ascendant is in the nakshatra of Chitra, which is ruled by Mars.  This Mercury/Mars combination further emphasizes her ability to use detail and combine information and components in a way that is straightforward and easy to understand.  The specifics which Judy uses in her narrations do not bog down the story, but rather make it more relatable. 

Her ruling planet Mercury goes to the 5th house of creativity and children.  This placement and the planets located inside it are the key to both her ability to connect with children and young people in a way which has lasting impact.   Mercury is how we communicate, and it being in 5th house shows who her main audience is.  It is there with Jupiter, the indicator of children. Jupiter in the 5th gives her the blessings of children as well as intellect, which reinforces her Mercury - the indicator of intelligence and the ability to communicate. Jupiter is the great benevolent friend, teacher and guide, which is the way many young people feel towards Judy herself for the value they receive from her books.  

Both Mercury and Jupter are in the nakshatra of Shravana, which means “The One Who Hears.”  When Judy speaks, young people listen.  Mercury is about two way communication, so Judy has the capacity to listen as well.  In 1986, a book was published titled “Letters to Judy:  What Your Kids Wish They Could Tell You.”  This book is a compilation of  letters from children to her confiding their concerns with friendships, families, illness, sexuality, and other problems; and in return, Judy shares similar moments from her own life, both as a child and as a parent.

Jupiter and Mercury are in the sign of Capricorn, ruled by Saturn.  Saturn is the indicator of things which will stand the test of time, and here it indicates that not only has her career still has meaning to many people decades after she began, but that it will last far into the future.

Jupiter in Capricorn isn’t always an easy combination, as Jupiter is about expansion and Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn is about restriction.  However, this placement can also mean that Judy has a soft spot for the “underdog,” so to speak.  Often the characters in her books are having a tough time and she brings out the best in them.  Mercury in Capricorn shows how her attention to detail goes deep into the matters which she is exploring in her books.  This is another reason her writing comes across as so practical and realistic.  Another aspect of Mercury is that it helps us to re-write the stories we tell ourselves, which happens often in Judy’s books.  The protagonists face challenges which eventually lead them to a different and deeper understanding of who they are.

Being a Virgo ascendant means that Mercury also rules Judy’s 10th house of career.  This is another indicator of how she made a career out of the way her Mercury in the 5th operates.

Opposite the planets in the 5th is Judy’s moon in its own sign of Cancer in the 11th house.  This shows Judy has a selfless, loving quality which makes an impact on a large number of people.  The 11th house is the part of us that wants to leave the world a better place than we found it and the moon is the part of us which is reflecting back whatever it is in contact with.  In Cancer this means what she is reflecting towards the public through her writing is considered nurturing and supportive. With Judy’s moon here, opposite Jupiter and Mercury in Capricorn, her legacy will be that she was able to give her young readers (Jupiter) a way of looking at the world and themselves differently (Mercury) so they feel loved and supported (moon in Cancer).

Her moon is in the Nakshatra of Pushya, whose presiding Deity is the Guru/teacher Brihaspati, an incarnation of Jupiter.  This intensifies the Jupiter/children connection which is found in Judy’s 5th house.  Pushya is also called the “Star of Nourishment,” which shows that Judy’s young readers get a sense of feeling comforted and satisfied by her work.  They continue to feel connected to her and her books long after they have been read, and long after they have grown into adults.

Lastly, let’s look at Judy’s two most popular and controversial novels and the dasha cycles they appeared in, as it gives another level of understanding as to how her career has unfolded.

Though her career began a few years earlier, it did not take off until she entered her Ketu/Jupiter period.  Her breakthrough novel, “Are You There God?  It’s Me Margaret” was published in 1970.  

This period lit up her Ketu in the 9th house which shows past experience and deep hidden pain surrounding guidance from teachers and role models. What this can lead to is questioning different teachings and philosophies from things like tradition and religion.  One of the central plots of the book is Margaret trying to decide which religion she wants to be.  

This period also activated her Jupiter in the 5th, which began her journey as a teacher and friend to her young readers.  Plus, the idea of Shravana, “The One Who Hears,” is central to the story of the book as well, since Margaret is talking to God, and hopes He is listening to her.

“Forever,” one of her most controversial books, was published in 1975 during her Venus/Venus period.  This lit up her 6th house in Aquarius, which has to do with bringing to light difficult societal issues.  Subjects such as family conflict, bullying, body image and sexuality were huge themes in this book.  This is where her natal Sun and Venus are.  Venus is how we interact with people, the Sun is who we came to be in this world.  In the 5th house she birthed the books that are her “children,” and in the 6th house she does the hard work it takes to defend them. 

Being a writer about uncomfortable societal issues, yet handling them with tender loving care is the hallmark of Judy’s career which also brought her fame.   Even more than the books themselves, she has been a spokesperson for the children she writes about and communicates with.  In the end, all her 5th house Jupiter/Mercury combined with her 11th house Moon, she certainly will leave a legacy of love and communication which will last for generations to come.