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.

Brad Pitt - Undoing the Karmic Knot

At first glance, the big story in Brad’s chart is the huge pile up of planets in the 2nd house in Sagittarius.  Certainly this shows a huge concentration of energy awaiting to be expressed.  What makes this even more intriguing is the presence of Ketu, the South Node of the Moon alongside them.  The Lunar nodes are powerful points of the sky that magnify, amplify and take on the qualities of the planets they join and the houses they occupy.  Rahu, the North Node, and Ketu, the South Node show the places in our lives where our soul needs to evolve and are always in exact opposition, forming tension which is likened to a karmic knot. Brad Pitt’s success and longevity of his career is what we will look at in particular through the story the nodes tell us.

Rahu is the Ascending Node and shows our fascinations and attachments. Rahu is where we feel a sense of lack, and we are continually looking to satisfy a hunger indicated by Rahu’s placement.  Brad’s acting career began in 1987 during his Rahu-Rahu dasa, when Rahu became very active. Rahu is in Gemini showing that from the beginning, despite Brad’s obvious pretty boy looks, he was determined to not be typecast as such, willing to take on roles that were dark and sometimes bizarre.  Rahu is in the 8th house, having to do with making money due to other people’s resources, which is a good way to describe an actor who makes a living from how the public responds to you and your work.  The 8th house also shows how the values of other people impact your life.  There is a certain idea in the public about what constitutes sexuality and being sexy (also 8th house qualities), and Brad’s looks and demeanor certainly fit the bill.  

Rahu is in Ardra, which is quite an intense Nakshatra since it is also ruled by Rahu.  Ardra can bring chaos and destruction, but if the storms are handled properly, it can clear away the destruction of what holds us back, leading us to something higher.  Despite having two failed marriages, custody battles, substance abuse play out in the public, Brad continues to be thought of in high esteem.  Rather than allow the spotlight to destroy him, he has used his fame to put the spotlight on the humanitarian projects he supports, and the natural disasters he has donated money towards.  For instance, in 2007, he appeared on Time Magazine's Time 100 list, a compilation of the 100 most influential people in the world. The magazine credited Pitt for using "his star power to get people to look [to where] cameras don't usually catch. There is a lot of "false hope" that can happen with Rahu, but it seems that Brad has been able to take the positive that comes with his celebrity and use it for the good of others instead. 

Ketu is the Descending Node and shows our disgust and aversions.  Often there is deep pain associated with Ketu, along with a feeling of “been there, done that.”  Likened to the disapproving parent within, there is a critical eye placed on what is happening surrounding Ketu.  Whereas in Rahu, there is an obsession that can never be fulfilled, with Ketu, there is a feeling of discontent that we can never be good enough, no matter what we do.  Ketu in the 2nd house shows past experience and deep hidden pain surrounding comfort, tradition, self worth and resources.  Let’s look at the planets which are with Ketu in the 2nd to get an idea of how this has been playing out in Brad’s life.

All of these planets are in Sagittarius, which is a masculine, changeable, fire sign.  It is ruled by Jupiter, which is optimistic, expansive and often inspiring.  Any planet in Sagittarius will be influenced by the sattvic nature Jupiter, orienting the person towards doing good in the world.  But if Jupiter gets off balance, especially by the influence of the nodes, this can turn into applying unrealistic expectations towards ourselves, and bringing up feelings of hopelessness.  Let’s look at how the planets are operating in Sagittarius in the 2nd house.

Moon is the indicator of connection, our inner life and heart, with a distinct innocent quality.  Its placement here shows Brad’s feelings towards others are quite expansive and idealistic. It also shows potential for a lot of financial comforts in life.  Being in the nakshatra of Uttarashada, “The Later Victory,” shows what he builds in his life will not diminish as time goes on.

Mercury is the indicator of intelligence, our willingness to change, inquiry, fun and playfulness.  Its placement here shows Brad understands the power his words hold.  Because he lives in the public eye, he knows what can happen to his career (and therefore his money) if he is misunderstood.  Thus, he thinks well before he speaks, and wants to come across as wise and just.  Because it is in Purva Ashada ruled by Venus, he often speaks in a way that is strong, yet pleasant for others.  The playfulness of Mercury here also strengthens the Rahu in Gemini quality which gives him the ability to not be typecast as simply a pretty boy sex symbol.  Throughout his career he has had the ability to play a wide variety of roles and have them be favorably accepted by the public.

Mars is the indicator of personal strength and the ability to control our actions in the moment.  This is an especially important placement for Brad since his ascendant is in Mars ruled Scorpio.  This indicates wealth, and also the ability to control as well as expand it.   Being in Venus ruled Purva Ashada, it shows he is generous, and also shows he understands by acting this way in the world, it helps his relationships with others.  

The Sun is the indicator of our confidence and our most authentic expression of ourselves.  Here the Sun wants to become bigger and wishes to light up the world.  Brad is also aware that his actions have the power to make him very wealthy.  Being in the nakshatra of Mula, ruled by Ketu, we are at the beginning of how Ketu is having an influence on him.  Ketu wants to find the hidden meaning of things, and he is wondering how is it that he is the recipient of so much attention and money, because he is not sure if he truly deserves it or not.

If it were just these four planets here, Brad’s story would play out much differently.  However, with Ketu extending his influence, Brad experiences these energies in a way that he doesn’t fully embrace.  As we have discussed previously, Ketu is hyper critical and it wants to reject the things surrounding him.  In the nakshatra of Purva Ashada, Brad is quite surprised at all the wealth he has accumulated, and he could possibly even feel embarrassed by it.  Even though there is a desire to take this wealth and use it for something greater than this world, this is not enough.

 

But yet, with so many planets alongside Ketu, especially ones so pivotal to his core identity (Sun, Ascendant Lord) he is rejecting so many facets of himself.  Rahu is on the other side of the axis, there pushing him forward into being a person others want him to be. There is a desire for him to be authentic, but is he being authentic to himself or to ????  When what you are striving for is living life through the lens of others (8th house), a deep sense of self (Ascendant, Sun)  is required.  But when your actual identity is constantly being even more deeply scrutinized by yourself (Ketu), how do you reconcile the two?  

The good news for Brad (and for anyone) is that there is a path through the karmic knot of the Rahu/Ketu axis.  The way to reconcile the tension of the obsessions of Rahu and the disgust and withdrawal of Ketu is to find something that is in common to both ends.  The technique is to count houses from each node.  This means that if we count 2 houses from the 2nd house and 8 houses from the 8th, they will both land in the 3rd house.  By looking at the 3rd house, where Brad’s Saturn and Venus are in Capricorn, we can see how this polarity is balanced.  

Brad began his Saturn dasa in 2019, making this knot-undoing area of his life light up.  Saturn is in its own sign of Capricorn, so there is the discipline available to do whatever he chooses to do.  It also shows he has developed healthy boundaries so he can operate with ease, and with less interference from the desires of others (all the Rahu energy of the 8th house).  It is also in Dhanistha, ruled by Mars.  Since Brad has Scorpio rising, it makes Mars his ascendant Lord.  This can mean his identity has begun to become more grounded in the more stable, earthy energy of Capricorn.  

Another part of undoing this knot began when he became a father.  Brad's first child was adopted by him in 2005 during his Jupiter/Saturn dasa.  Jupiter is the indicator of children, and Saturn in the 3rd house was also lit up as part of the cycle.  

In 2026, he will begin his Saturn-Venus dasa putting the activities of the 3rd house even more on the forefront.  There has been speculation that Brad may decide to leave Hollywood behind, as he is looking at “semi-retirement.”  Considering the 3rd house is where we carve out our own ego through a variety of interests, and the fact that Brad’s natal Saturn and Venus are not a part of his Rahu/Ketu axis, this could certainly this may be the time when Brad can finally undo the tension coming through this karmic knot.  Instead of basing his life on what others think of him (even though they are generally favorable), perhaps he will finally have the courage and curiosity to be free and finally feel like he can express his most authentic self.

Elon Musk - The Eternal Quest

June 28th, 1971

Pretoria, South Africa

No birth time available

Elon Musk continually makes the news because of his various ventures and adventures in business, both on this earth and beyond.  

Where does this curious nature come from?  Will he ever find his place in the universe?  

Since we don’t have an accurate birth time, we cannot make a full evaluation of his chart.  However, we can take a quick look at a few of his planetary placements and nakshatras which will give a clue as to why Elon seems to be on a never ending quest for his next project.

Sun and Mercury in Gemini/Ardra - The Ego and Mind are never satisfied

The Sun is the part of us which is most closely connected to our true selves.  It is the place of our ego and shows our capacity for generosity.  Gemini is the masculine expression of Mercury, whom the Sun is friends with.  Mercury is also there in its own sign, making this a very strong channel for expression.  This shows that Elon is most comfortable when he is playing the part of the spokesperson.  Mercury is a mutable sign which makes him naturally curious. He has many ideas and it is easy for him to want to get involved in a variety of projects, at least in an intellectual way.  

With both planets being in Ardra, this brings in the energy of Rahu, which rules Ardra.  This gives Mercury energy a quick and out of the box mentality.  However, Rahu is also the part of us which is continually searching, but is never satisfied.  With two planets being quite strong here, this can greatly amplify this energy, and not always for the better.  The endless obsession and desires (Rahu) over so many different things (Mercury) can lead to destruction and chaos.  Rather than seeing any one project through to the end, it seems easier for him to move on to the next thing, no matter what the cost is to himself, or what consequences it may have for anyone else involved. The Rahu/Mercury combination makes him prone to act rather child-like, and over be competitive simply because he is driven by a hunger which can’t ever be satisfied.  The Rahu/Sun combination shows that his very identity and sense of self 

Saturn in Taurus/Krittika - The pleasure of cutting 

Saturn is the indicator of hard work and is tamasic in nature, meaning it has a sense of self-preservation due to fear of loss. Taurus is the fixed feminine expression of Venus which wants to enjoy pleasures the world has to offer.  These energies coming together gives Elon a strong work ethic which can be rather self-centered.  He doesn’t want the pleasure to end, and keeps working hard in order to do so.  

When this energy is influenced by Krittika, the hot nature of the Sun comes into play.  Krittika is called the “Star of Insight,” as well as “The One Who Cuts.”  This shows that Elon has a sense of vision towards things that are on the cutting edge, so to speak. Krittika is analytical and critical and not favorable towards things requiring tender care.  Paired with Saturn who has a similar energy, this shows that Elon has the capacity to be rather cold and ruthless.   The cutting, fiery energy of Krittika can make him rash and impatient.  There is a tendency to cut first, ask questions later.

Since Taurus has to do with money, it shows the nature of some of Elon’s business ventures. Elon’s first business ventures were centered around the banking world.  Taurus is also an earth sign, and another of Elon’s ventures, The Boring Company, constructs tunnels for travel.  Many of Elon’s projects have to do with solar power, and this nakshatra runs very “hot,” as it is ruled by the Sun.  Space X rockets burn very hot.  Another interesting thing to consider is that Saturn has to do with containment, and another name for Krittika is the Star of Fire.  A battery, which is a unit which contains fire/energy to power things, is one of the main components in Tesla cars.

Venus in Taurus/Mrigashira - The pleasure of searching

Venus is about our capacity for happiness and vitality, and is the part of us which wants to enjoy the senses.  Venus is in its own sign of Taurus, where it is content.   However, Mrigashira is the fixed energy of Taurus moving into the mutable energy of Gemini, making it all about continually searching.  Ruled by Mars, this makes for a Mars/Venus combination.  This shows he is very driven by his search for the newest quest, wherever it may lead.  Mrigashira can also indicate an excellent intuition, which coupled with the sharp intellect of Krittika, show Elon has a way of recognizing and getting in on the “next big thing.” This doesn’t necessarily mean he starts from scratch, rather he can “talk his way” into projects through the power of his Mercury.  He doesn’t care if it's his ideas or someone else’s, he wants to be the one in the spotlight (Sun in Gemini) talking about it.  

Mercury and Venus being in their own signs, shows these are two very potent forces in his life.  The things ruled by the planet are generally experienced as easy to come by, and feel natural.  Elon is driven by his intellect and unending curiosity with the outer world (Mercury), yet, his desires put him on a quest without a goal other than to continually seek pleasure for himself (Venus/Mrigashira).  And with Saturn also in Taurus/Krittika, he will not hesitate to cut out what he feels is keeping him from the pleasure he seeks and the intellect he wants to stimulate.  

Unless he stops and turns some of the curiosity towards himself and shifts his desires to those of others, this cycle is likely to continue.  Without an accurate birth time to see when his dasha cycles will run, it is hard to determine when or if Elon will ever find ultimate satisfaction. 

 “The Generosity of Jupiter:   Dolly Parton’s Charity Work”

In mid-November 2022, Dolly Parton won Jeff Bezos’ Courage and Civility award, giving her $100 million to spend on the charities of her choice. Though she has been a successful country music performer since the 1960’s in more recent years she has become just as famous, if not more, for her generosity and charity work. This latest accolade is only one of many she has received in particular, since Jupiter has become active in her chart.   Let’s take a look into why this is so.  In particular, we will look at the dashas in which Jupiter is prominent to see how they lay out the timings of these things unfolding in her life.  But first, let’s look at her natal placements.  

Dolly’s natal Jupiter is in Libra shows she finds inspiration through relationships with others.  It is in the nakshatra of Chitra, the jewel, showing her ability to be creative and innovative in multifaceted ways. Jupiter in the 3rd house also emphasizes the fact she likes to donate towards diverse causes - things such as childhood literacy, environmental conservation, transgender rights, and funding Covid vaccination research shows this part of Jupiter in play.  Jupiter in the 3rd also makes a strong aspect with her 11th house of altruism and doing good in the world, bringing this even more into the spotlight.

Dolly has her Ascendant in Leo.  This makes Jupiter the Lord of her 5th house (indicator of children) and her 8th house (indicator of sudden loss).  A large portion of her charity work has been for children who have suffered loss in natural disasters such as fires and floods.  

Another layer to her 5th house is Ketu being there in Sagittarius/Mula nakshatra. Much of her charity work has to do with helping children (5th house) become inspired (Sagittarius) to succeed in their education.  In particular, her Dollywood Foundation has given free books, money and scholarships to the children in the town where she grew up.  Ketu also has to do with our childhood.  Her desire to help children to read was inspired by her father who was illiterate, and her family was very poor.  Ketu here also shows how she was not going to allow the circumstances of her childhood be a hindrance to what she wanted to accomplish, and it being in sattvic, fiery Sagittarius shows how she could be an inspiration to others who may find themselves in similar circumstances.  Mula nakshatra is concerned about getting to the root causes of issues.  Mercury, the indicator of intelligence/ability to learn is also in the 5th house. Certainly the correlation between getting an education as a way to pull people out of poverty was an inspiration to her setting up this charity. 

Ketu in the 5th house puts Rahu in the 11th house in Gemini/Mrigashira nakshatra.  She is continually on “The Quest,” searching for new things (Mrigashira) and creative ways to do good in the world (11th house).  This is indeed her passion, and she does it in the spotlight, yet she remains humble.  The reason for this is the presence of Saturn and Mars alongside Rahu, both in the nakshatra of Purnavasu.  Saturn is the indicator of hard work and humility, and Mars is the indicator of personal strength.  She worked very hard to gain her fame.  Both planets are retrograde, further emphasizing that she had to put extra effort into securing her place in society and she never takes it for granted.  Purnavasu is ruled by Jupiter, indicating optimism and overcoming struggles was definitely part of her story.  She never gives up!

With all of this inclination towards philanthropy in her natal chart, why did she start this work when she did?  This is where the dasha cycles tell the story.  For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the dashas directly related to Jupiter.

Natal Jupiter (her diverse interests) in Chitra (dasha planet Mars) became active when she entered her Mars-Mercury dasha in June of 1988. Mars Mahadasha is a time when we pursue our goals with energy and passion. Mercury in the 5th house also became active, bringing the latent energies present there to life.  This is when she started her first charity, the Dollywood Foundation, which became the cornerstone for all her other charity work.  One of the first expansions of this foundation happened in May of 1989 when she began her Mars-Ketu dasha. She started the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, focusing on preserving bald eagles and bringing them protection and awareness to the public (Mars in 11th house).  

In 1991, Dolly’s Rahu Mahadasha began.  This is a time when strong desires can be very much magnified but in this case,  Mars (personal strength) and Saturn (discipline) are there to keep things from going out of control (Rahu dasha trait).  In 1995 during her Rahu-Jupiter dasha, she started the Imagination Library, a program which sends free books to children.  Saturn and Mars are in the nakshatra of Purnavasu (dasha planet Jupiter) so this became significant at this time.  This is happening in the 11th house, bringing a lot of attention from the public.  Jupiter in Chitra is still very strong in this dasha, showing her 3rd house interests are creating beautiful structures to serve others.

Since starting her Jupiter Mahadasha in late 2009, her philanthropic work and the accolades associated with have kept piling up,  giving her even more fame and recognition.  Jupiter Mahadasha is a time of much hope, optimism and faith.  Expansion and titles are likely in this period.  

During her Jupiter-Ketu dasha, themes surrounding her generosity (Jupiter) were concentrated on children (5th house) from her hometown (Ketu) after sudden loss (Jupiter 8th house Lord) and their education (Mercury in the 5th).  In 2016 she organized a telethon to raise funds for families after devastating East Tennessee wildfires + college scholarships for high school seniors in the region who had lost their homes.

During her Jupiter-Venus dasha in 2020, she donated $1 million to provide research towards developing a Covid vaccine.  This is showing her interests growing (Jupiter in 3rd house) focusing this time on fighting disease (Sun and Venus in the 6th house of illness). Her 11th house of notoriety in the public eye comes to play once again with Mars and Saturn in Purnavasu (dasha planet Jupiter) 

A short list of some of the most recent awards and recognition Dolly has accumulated during her Jupiter Mahadasha:

2021 - Won Primetime Emmy award

2021 - Named one of Time Magazines “Top 100 Most Influential People of 2021”

2022 – Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2022 – Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy

2022 - Jeff Bezos’ Courage and Civility Award

Dolly’s Jupiter Mahadasha will end in the summer of 2023, after which she will enter into her Saturn Mahadasha.  With her natal Saturn being in the 11th house, surely she will continue to be in the spotlight with her charity work.  It will be exciting to see how this plays out with all the world to see!

Identity of a Queen

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, more commonly known as Queen Elizabeth II, was born on April 21st, 1926 at 2:40 a.m. in London, England.  Let’s have a look at her ascendant, the house placements of the ascendant, and planets conjunct the ascendant to get a brief sketch of the identity of Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth’s ascendant is in the sign of Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter.  The ascendant represents the basic truth of who we are, our appearance and our individuality.  Both Sagittarius and Jupiter are sattvic in nature, which shows she had a basic motivation towards doing good in the world.  It was well known she had a deep sense of religious and civic duty, both of which are Sagittarian traits.  Sagittarius has to do with rules made by the world such as religion (she was the official leader of the Church of England) and government (she was the official Head of State of the United Kingdom)  Also, in Elizabeth’s case, this would be the royal family she was born into and the rules of succession which eventually brought her to the throne.   

A main principle having to do with her ruling planet Jupiter is growth and expansion.  In Elizabeth, this is shown through her four children as well as the material wealth she had access to all through her life.  Her Jupiter ascendant falls in the nakshatra of Uttarashada, which translates into “the invincible.”  This nakshatra shows how she possessed the ability to pull from a variety of resources to make them work for a common purpose.  Even though some countries eventually left the Commonwealth during her reign, for the most part, she was able to keep these states together under her rule.  The Deities presiding over this nakshatra empowers humans to give 110% to their tasks, pouring it into each of their endeavors. Elizabeth was known to be a hard worker, even continuing to fulfill her duties as Queen up until a few days before her death.  

Her ascendant Lord, Jupiter goes to the 2nd house where it is debilitated in Capricorn, thus a core part of her identity is coming through her family and the institution of the monarchy.  Her ability to grow (Jupiter) was confined within very specific rules (Capricorn).  She had no choice but to follow the path laid before her, and had to carve out her own personhood from a defined set of boundaries.  

Despite this, a key component in what made her such an effective leader was Mars also being in the 2nd house where it is exalted in Capricorn.  She was not alone in having to follow the rules of the monarchy, as her entire family were a part of the same set of rules.  This exalted Mars allowed her to easily detach herself from any emotions having to do with her situation, so she was able to make decisions based on the greater good, not solely on her preferences.  Capricorn brings out the best in Mars, and Elizabeth showed this by taking her duties very seriously and always acting in a measured, practical way befitting a monarch with so many responsibilities.  She always knew she was representing something larger than herself.  There were times when the reputation of the entire royal family and the monarchy landed squarely on her shoulders.  An example of this is in 1997 when Diana died and there was pressure for her to make a public statement about it.  She put aside her own feelings and tapped into her strong Mars which utilized the wisdom of Capricorn’s Saturn.  She saw this as a defining moment for the monarchy, not only in the moment, but her silence could hurt the reputation of the institution of the royal family for years to come.  Through difficult times she was always able to maintain her composure and respectability.  

  

Jupiter also rules Elizabeth’s 4th house in Pisces.  The 4th house has to do with where we find peace and comfort, and having the grace of Jupiter there, she was successful in finding solace from the pressures her title brought upon her.  The Mother is indicated in the 4th house.  Elizabeth was fortunate to have her mother, known as the “Queen Mum,” live an extraordinarily long life, passing away at 101, and they were close their entire lives.  Pisces is also indicative of animals.  Elizabeth’s passion for horses and her dedication to her beloved Corgi dogs was well known.  Even though these two parts of her life were public, the specific details of how she lived her day to day life were not something she spoke about often.  Her debilitated Mercury in Pisces showed she kept those parts of her pretty much entirely to herself.  

Ketu is also in her first house, uncovering the natural skills she brought into this life.  Ketu indicates the coping skills she learned in childhood.  She knew nothing else but what it was to be born into a royal family, and operated her entire life within this framework, so in one sense she could never separate herself from what it was to be a monarch.  But Ketu also  shows where we may find detachment, dispassion, solitude and anonymity.  She could carry out her role as Queen and everything that came with it, yet Ketu helped her maintain a sense of self separate from that identity.  She understood her place in life came simply by being born, it didn’t matter how she felt about it.  Therefore, her “true” self was always hidden.  Ketu is well placed in Sagittarius, and it shows another way she was able to rule well for as long as she did. 

In conclusion, her Sagittarius ascendant and ruling planet Jupiter, shows how she was an inspiration to others, and what the public saw was the optimism, duty and faith she chose to display.