Chart of Andy Warhol and the synastry with Valerie Solanas

Andy Warhol was a Leo with Leo Ascendant. But even if you don't believe in sun signs anymore, the chart shows that a star was born. You see it on the chart drawing: he was born when the Sun was rising. That means that the Sun is prominent (on the Ascendant). The Sun is a star, so : it is the sign of a star or a leader. He sure knew how to draw attention (another meaning of a prominent Sun) and how to be of influence. This influence was too strong for Valerie Solanas, the woman who shot him in 1968 after he lost her manuscript. This post is about the artist and the success in the chart of Andy Warhol and about the synastry with the woman who caused him a lot of pain.

SUCCESS

In his chart the Sun, Jupiter and Pluto (rising before Sun and Mercury) are prominent. Sun, Jupiter and Pluto are the combination of success.  Jupiter/Pluto is making hard aspects with the Moon, Mars and Neptune and that is a statement of triple success. Also AC/MC is semi square the elevated Jupiter: growth is inherent. Sun in aspect with Jupiter increases self confidence. Those are more than the necessary amount of ingredients for fame (one is not enough, three or more is a good start, more of those ingredients, more chance to be a success - if you are on the right place and time-).

MORE...
The midpoint Sun/Moon is the midpoint of motivation. Sun/Moon is conjunct Mars and square Neptune.
We see that he is motivated by fantasies, visions, ideals, dreams or beliefs (Neptune) AND by action, drives and energies. We also see that Mars is exactly square Neptune (risk of use and abuse of drugs or medication or...working in the non profit field, producing art). With 'non profit' one can earn a lot of money!;) Jupiter/Pluto in aspect with Mars and Neptune resonate that success. It was very important to know the right persons (Pluto oriental) and money was, too (Venus semi quintile Pluto: a creative way to earn money). The fact that he dared and knew the right people and ... that he had confidence (Sun, Jupiter, Pluto and Sun square Jupiter on top) enabled him to be a star (prominent Sun).

TALENT

The pattern of artistic talent is there: Venus is conjunct Neptune, Moon is sesquisquare Neptune and Moon/Neptune is in hard aspect with Midheaven in Taurus.

It was very important to know the right persons (Pluto oriental) and money was, too (Venus semi quintile Pluto: a creative way to earn money). The fact that he dared to present his art and his confidence (Sun, Jupiter, Pluto and Sun square Jupiter on top) enabled him to become the famous artist that he was and still is.

natal, transits and progression for June 3, 1968

PHOLUS AND THE TURNING POINT
There is an important position for Pholus in the chart of Andy Warhol, the man who introduced pop arts.
Pholus is the symbol of the turning point (and shooting your own feet). Inconjunctions refer to lack of balance and losts.

In Warhol's chart Pholus is exactly trine Neptune (creating a turning point in arts), inconjunct Mars and Sun/Moon. And that is perhaps even more illustrating the kind life of Warhol who suffered after being shot (…) by a mentally ill woman (he lost her manuscript and she said that Warhol had to much influence on her...see Pluto's position) and who died in hospital. He was very afraid of hospitals (Pluto in the 12th house).

Here are the transits and progressions of the day of the shooting. They refer to a dramatic change, being lucky (he could have died), changing situation, frustrating new perspectives and more:

- progressed Sun is 165 d (quindecile) natal Uranus (obsessive change)
- transit Saturn is inconjunct progressed Sun (the dark sides of life)
- transit Jupiter is square natal Mars and sesquisquare Moon and conjunct Neptune and square natal Sun/Moon (good luck)
- progressed AC/MC semisquare natal Ascendant (changing circumstances)
- transit Quaoar sesquisquare progressed MC (whole new frustrating perspective)
- progressed Sun had been square Mars 6 months before: he was overly active/assertive in those days
- progressed Moon had been opposition Progressed Uranus a few weeks before: memorable incident
- Mercury was semi square Neptune in the progressed chart (misconceptions, misunderstandings)

VALERIE SOLANAS

The woman who shot him had transit Uranus sextile Pluto (easy way out to dramatic change) and transit Jupiter square progressed Mars (successful action) on the day that she shot Andy Warhol. Her natal Uranus was conjunct his natal Midheaven (meaning: she changed his perspectives and condition) and her Pholus sesquisquare his Mars (turning point in his energy level), with her Jupiter trine his Venus (supporting his style) and his Neptune inconjunct her Venus (maybe that is the resonation of the lost piece of art). Very interesting is that her Pholus is inconjunct his natal Sun (meeting her meant an unbalancing turning point for him…).

Here is his natal chart with the transits of her day of birth.

LINK:

Chart of Marilyn Monroe: http://astropost.blogspot.com/2008/04/birth-chart-of-marilyn-monroe-material.html

The astrology of Pholus on Astromarkt... and the Effect of the Inconjunction on Astromarkt...

Astrology chart of Han van Meegeren

Now that Museum Boymans van Beuningen in Rotterdam Netherlands will be exposing paintings of Han van Meegeren, famous for his false ‘ Vermeer’ paintings, it is a good moment to have a look at his chart.
The chart of Han van Meegeren is the chart of a master copier or should we say: someone who was very good at copying another person’s style. Venus, making no major aspects, reflects the talents in the chart. That is pointing at capabilities and talents at any possible level. Venus and Mars (together the combination of passion) are rising before the Sun. He had a passion for a style that was the ridiculised by his critics. He took revenge by fooling them with a ' Vermeer' . That is how the fraud started. But he had talent...

This painting was famous, too, It was a Van Meegeren and almost every house in Holland use to have a copy of it on the wall, in the fifties of the past century. He was very popular (Moon trine Jupiter), in spite of the fraud.

Mercury in Libra is semi square Venus and biquintile Neptune and Pluto. That illustrates communication talents and a creative way to be discrete. He knew how to sell things and he knew how to lie. For years he lived in luxury, selling ‘ discovered’ paintings of Vermeer (for millions). His art was as good as Vermeer’s art was, but his name was different. He had to pay for the fraud and spent some time in jail (Sun afflicted by Saturn and Uranus, the combination of restricted freedom).

The chart of HAN VAN MEEGEREN has the same sort of combinations as most artist’s charts have. With Sun in Libra, Moon in Taurus and the Libra Ascendant the signs of beauty, entertainment and style were occupied. Moon was sesquisquare Venus; and Venus was semi square Midheaven. Neptune is sextile Midheaven. The pattern of artistic talents is there, but there is no direct connection between Venus and Neptune. The midpoint Venus/Neptune is in hard aspect with the Ascendant.
And watch the 2 biquintiles with Mercury (for creative thinking).

Astrology chart of Raoul Dufy

Raoul Dufy was a decorative painter. The pattern of artistic talents in his chart is clear:

Pisces Midheaven (for an not so materialistic goal in life)
Neptune is elevated
Moon in Pisces (ruled by Neptune) for sensitivity
Moon sextile Neptune
Moon half semi square Midheaven
Venus semi square Neptune for artistic talents
Venus square Midheaven

and...
Pluto oriental (first rising outer planet), ruling the 5th house of creations
Pluto ruler 5 conjunct AC/MC

He made optimistic and joyfull work and that might be the reason for being underestimated. Venus square Saturn is a good aspect for a stand up comedian or for cabaret. For a paintor it is a less fortunate aspect as it says that his style has it's limitations and perhaps the amount of appreciation, too (in the eyes of the artist).

Astrology chart Andy Warhol

Today various works of Andy Warhol has been stolen out of the house of a friend of his. Time to have a look at the pattern of artistic talents in the chart of the painter of pop art. Watch the Aquarius (modern) Midheaven conjunct the Moon (pop): he had a need to be different than the rest, to be 'new'. The Moon is also in Aquarius in the most used charts of the USA. Warhol's art is strongly based upon the American way of life.

Neptune is in aspect with the Moon. The biquintile aspect is reflecting a creative super sensitivity. That allowed him to see the world with different eyes and to see the art in a can of soup. Venus is square Neptune and that is the combination of artistic talents. It combines style and vision. Venus is 112.5 degrees from AC/MC, making style and beauty of crucial importance. So is the position of Pallas, square Ascendant. Pallas is the symbol of patterns and often placed at an angle or square AC in the charts of artists. Neptune is the first outer planet rising before the Sun (the oriental planet) and that refers to being orientated on the immaterial world of (for example) arts. There is also an important Mars in this chart. It seems that he wanted to become a machine and the working place was named 'Factory', with lots of producing artists in the house. Mars also refers to the scar and the pain of the injury that was caused by a feminist artist who shot him.

Uranus is the planet of controversy and extravagance. Mercury is the planet of communications. These planet don't make major aspects, so that he could become a newsmaker at any level, in spite of being shy.
The Moon, Uranus and Neptune are part of a so called 'golden Yod'. He had a typical behaviour and typical desires. That was his strength and it was his weakness.

Appreciated blogs...

A queste in the world of bloggers led me to site where I remained more than a while. I like to tell you about those site and I told the owners that I have given their blog a 'stamp' of appreciation and why! Here you see the list of six selected sites that are worthy of paying a visit!:) Go see them!

http://www.cafeastrology.com/askannie.html Ask Annie and she will give you a top quality answer, just like that!

http://thewhitefarmhouse.blogspot.com/ See the artistic pictures of summer gardens...

http://juancastanedo.blogspot.com/ I like the atmosphere and the Spanish poetry.

http://verdadesqueasoman.blogspot.com/ This site is also a Spanish beauty!

http://blog.seniorennet.be/christiend/archief.php?startdatum=1246399200&stopdatum=1249077600 The site of Dutch Christien contains a number of touching poems.

http://cova-do-urso.blogspot.com/António Rosa has un untamed drive to keep the bears cave going!

Of course there are many other blogs that deserve attention! So I will be back! Thanks to António for his initiative to shed a sunny light on appreciated blogs!

Astrology chart Filippo Palizzi

Filippo Palizzi was born June 16, 1818 in Vasto at about 1 A.M. The patter of the painter in his chart consists of Venus in Cancer, trine Moon and 157.5 degrees (sesquisquare + half semi square) Neptune and semi square Sun/Moon. Venus is positioned square the Ascendant and at the lowest spot of the chart, a crucial spot. On his day of birth there was a clear picture in the sky pointing at sense of style and beauty (Moon/Venus) combined with artistic talent (Venus-Neptune). At the hour of his birth the Sun/Moon midpoint highlighted style, beauty and culture.

Astrology chart Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin's astrological pattern of artistic talent is very clear:

1. Taurus Midheaven (sextile Jupiter, ruler of the 5th house of creations)
2. Elevated Venus, ruler of the Midheaven (public career realted to taste, style, entertainment or art)
3. Venus square Moon (orb 2.5 d; meaning is 'sense of art and style')
4. Moon opposition Neptune (orb <1 degree; meaning is 'sensitivity')
5. Venus square Neptune (orb 1.5 degrees; meaning is 'artistic talents')
6. Jupiter 67.5 Venus/Neptune (success in the arts)

He died on May 8, 1903 (the consequences of syphillis and a heart atack) with Jupiter square his Sun (being helped or going away) and Mars inconjunct his Pluto (disproportionate struggle) and in the progressed chart Ceres was exactly conjunct his Ascendant (back to the roots). Transit Saturn was opposition progressed Sun (end) and inconjunct progressed Midheaven (misbalanced status of condition). All of these indications together were just too much. Saturn is in his eight house (of life and death) in the natal chart.

Astrology chart Edouard Manet

Edourd Manet was a painter, born in a 'bourgeois' family. Being an artist was rather controversial in such a family and that is reflected by the importance of Uranus, 'calling' (not making aspects in a 5 degree orb). Uranus symbolizes rebellion. The artist in his chart can be found these ways:

1. MC in Taurus, the sign ruled by Venus (symbol of talents)

2. Venus inconjunct Midheaven (it is a possible relation of talents with profession).

3. Moon sextile Venus for sense of art and beauty

4. Neptune square Moon
Need to dream away...

2,3 4: The combination of Moon, Venus and Neptune shows artistic talents.

5.
The Sun is 'calling' (not making Ptolemaic aspects) so he knows how to draw attention

6. Jupiter on the Descendant
Sign of success and support

7. Neptune oriental (rising before the Sun) for a not materialistic orientation

5, 6, 7: The combination of Sun, Jupiter and Neptune reflects the 'devoted audience' of fans and followers

Again you see the pattern of artistic talent, supported by indications for successes in the chart of a well known artist. There are more of those charts on this blog, that is dedicated to the artistic pattern in astrology charts.

Astrology chart Keith Haring

Popular pop artist Keith Haring was born May 4, 1958 in Reading PA with Venus at Aries Point, rising before the Sun and probably Moon trine Venus. That is part of the pattern of artistic talent. Because we don't know at what time he was born, we don't know all the rest of the pattern, unfortunately. But...there are minor aspects between Venus and Neptune (biquintile) and between Mercury and Venus (half semi sextile) and there is an inconjunction between Venus and Pluto. Aspects between Venus and Pluto are not uncommon in the world of arts and probably they reflect the inner battle between art and what sells best or maybe it just means 'the price you pay for love, fun and gain'. The inconjunction often symbolizes a problem with health. Keith Haring died of AIDS.
For more about Venus and Pluto in combination...

The Sun in Taurus (sign ruled by Venus, symbol of talents) is semi square Venus and does not make Ptolemaic aspects in orb 5 degrees. I name that a 'calling' Sun and it means that Keith Haring wanted to be in the centre of attention, as a star, performing or leading. One of the indications for fame is the opposition of Venus with the midpoint Jupiter/Pluto. The three planets together reflect the possibility of intense (Pluto) success (Pluto) in love and/or arts (Venus).

Astrology chart David Cerný

David Cerný is known as a controversial rebel in the world of arts.

On the birthday of David Cerný (December 15, 1967, Prague) Neptune and Venus (15 degrees apart) were rising before the Sun for the artistical orientation. As his hour of birth is unknown, little we know about the position of the Midheaven, angular placements or aspects with the Moon. But it is easy to see that on his day of birth the symbol of the rebel, Uranus, was prominently opposition Aries Point and 'calling' (that is that Uranus doesn't make Ptolemaic aspect). Mercury is also prominent. The combination Mercury-Uranus (in this chart 75 degrees apart) reflects controversial ideas or opinions. As both Mercury and Uranus are 'calling' this issue is prominent in his life and works. How prominent? Read Astropost...

Astrology chart Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali was an artist and a peculiar one. He was born in Figueras, on May 11, 1904 at 8h45 a.m. with Moon conjunct Midheaven, Jupiter oriental, Uranus square Aries Point and 'calling'(not making Ptolemaic aspects in sign or orb 5 degrees). Moon, Jupiter and Uranus- combinations bring up flashing good insights and ideas. He had them. And he was controversial and excentric at any possible level (the 'calling' Uranus!). But where is the artist in his chart?

Venus is in Taurus and rules the Midheaven. Venus is sextile Neptune. That is it.

MORE AND MORE AN ARTIST...
Salvador Dali was about 10 when he started to draw with the help of Ramón Pichet, an artist and friend of his father. That was when his progressed sun sign - and so his life style - changed and when progressed Venus and Mercury came together in conjunction. A conjunction is the start of a process. In this case of 'schooling - Mercury - in arts - Venus-'. Chiron was on the DESC in the progressed chart. Chiron is often involved in a life changing meeting.

In 1921 he started his studies in Madrid with Jupiter ruler 5 conjunct Midheaven in the progressed chart. He started to become known.
In 1929 he went to Paris and met Pablo Picasso. That is when the sign on his progressed Midheaven changed into Taurus, sign ruled by the planet of talent and style Venus.

Salvador Dali's progressed chart shows that he GREW into his position as a professional artist, and that circumstances and other persons contributed to developping an artistic careeer. Maybe that is why the Moon, planet of education, is on his natal MC and Jupiter, planet of studies, is on top.

MIDPOINTS
The midpoint combinations in Dali's chart that point into the direction of arts are

Neptune 67.5 Sun/Moon and 22.5 Sun/Venus and 45 Sun/Jupiter and 67.5 Jupiter/MC

and for his enormous successes:

MC 22.5 Jupiter/Pluto and 45 Jupiter/ASC

Astrology chart of Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso's natal chart contains information about his artistic talents. Most gifted persons have a combination of Moon and Venus and Neptune in their natal chart. So has Pablo Picasso.

1. Venus is the final dispositor of the Midheaven routing (Aries, Mars in Cancer, Moon in Sagittarius, Jupiter in Taurus, Venus in own sign Libra). That links the 'technique' of Aries MC to esthetic styling.

2. Venus is sextile Moon, reflecting the possibility of sense of art

3. Neptune is semi square Aries Point. That makes Neptune a prominent planet in this chart. Neptune is the symbol of the spiritual, immaterial and visionary world of fantasy and beliefs. Neptune's influence cannot be missed in the chart of an artist.

4. Midheaven is square midpoint Venus/Neptune. That relates the profession to arts.

5. Moon/Venus is square the Ascendant. He was a good looking and beloved young man and he was situated in the right environment to express his talents.

Picasso was a modernist, a controversial person. Uranus, planet of the controversy, is the oriental planet in his chart (rising before the Sun and Venus). His artistic parents thought him to draw by the rules. But in 1898, with progressed Venus opposition MC, he developed his own style. He knew how to draw attention (Sun without major aspects in sign or orb 5 degrees, 'calling', square ASC).

Pablo Picasso was also a sculptor. Saturn's top position and the 50% of the placements in earth signs might be debit to that.

Astrology chart of Peter Paul Rubens

Painter Peter Paul Rubens is a fine example of the value of Venus and Neptune in the chart of an artist. Venus is angular on the Ascendant and Neptune is rising before the Sun. Those are two prominent positions in the natal chart. Venus is semi quintile Neptune. The natal Sun does not make major aspects, which is why he drew attention. And I like to point at the creative link between Moon and Venus. They are connected by biquintile, the most creative aspect. And Moon-Venus combinations reflect a sense of art. So what we see in the chart of Peter Paul Rubens is that he had a crucial style and a creative sense of art with an artistic orientation. Perfect for the chart of an artist, is not it?

Besides a painter, Rubens also was a diplomat. That explains the end dispositor Saturn in Capricorn. Venus, btw is also the astrological symbol of diplomacy (and peace).

PS Neptune in those days had not been discovered yet...

Astrology Chart Leonardo da Vinci

Artistical capacities seem to have been related to Venus and Neptune throughout the ages. Because, even the chart of Leonarda da Vinci has a prominent Neptune, and in those days they did not even know it was there:) Leonardo's Neptune is conjunct Midheaven and the most elevated planet in this chart. Venus in own sign Taurus is the final dispositor of the Midheaven in Virgo and trine MC.And the oriëntal planet is Jupiter, conjunct Moon, in Pisces (ruled by Neptune). Moon in Pisces expresses a need for romance, fantasy and staying in a world full of dreams.

One of the interesting things about Da Vinci is his futuristic technical aproach. Mars in Aquarius semi square Aries Point certainly produces the man ahead of his time. And look at the position of Pallas on the Ascendant for the crucial importance of patterns...

And this would just be the beginnings of the reading of Da Vinci's chart..

Astrology chart Frida Kahlo

In July 2007, 100 year after the day that Frida Kahlo, the famous and tormented artist, was born, I wrote about her chart on my site Astromarkt. The complete translated reading of her natal, transits and progressions related to her vocation, her suffering, her marriages and relationships and the accident that crippled her can be found on Astropost.blogspot.com.

Frida Kahlo was born July 6, 1907 at 8h30 a.m. in Coyoacan Mexico and died without children on July 19, 1954, shortly after she became only 47. She had a life full of love and pain. Venus conjunct Pluto is the tightest aspect in her chart and that combinatiion links pain to love and art and produces intense feelings.

ARTIST
Her chart shows the artist. Notice Taurus on the Midheaven, disposed by Venus in Gemini and the routing ending in Venus again. Neptune rises before the Sun for an orientation on the immaterial world, like the world of arts. Jupiter is not making major aspects in sign and orb 5 degrees. Jupiter rules the 5th house of creativity and is parallel with Neptune. So is the Sun with Venus…
The elevated position of the Moon in Taurus is another sign for sense of beauty.

For more about her chart...