Sir Bruce Forsyth (1928 – 2017)

Sir Bruce Forsyth, who made the Guinness Book of Records for the longest television career for a male entertainer, died this week, surrounded by his family.  He began his television career in 1954, and began hosting Sunday Night at the London Palladium in 1958, a year after my family had our first television, so he has always been on our screens.  This big break coincided with Jupiter and Neptune trine his natal Sun, and Uranus sextile his North Node.  I remember games such as Beat the Clock, and a game rearranging well known phrases or sayings, novelties at the time but pre-cursors of later game shows.

Pisces, take a bow!  Sir Bruce had a birth chart dominated by this sign, which usually has a genius level talent.  In his case, he was multi-talented, with Sun/Moon/Mercury in Pisces in the 3rd House of Broadcasting and Presenting.  Pisces’ ruler Neptune was  opposite his Sun and trine his Ascendant.  He possessed one of the talents traditionally associated with Pisces, that of dance (specifically tap dance).  His other talents included ad-libbing, being able to handle the public, piano playing, crooning and acting.

With the Moon conjunct Mercury, he was able to engage the left and right brain together, and combine mental acuity and wit with imagination.  He also had the entrepreneurial conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus.  Saturn was conjunct a Sagittarian comic Ascendant by 3 degrees, adding the angular features distinctive to his facial physique, and contributing to his longevity.

Career

He modelled himself on Sammy Davis Jr, a friend and fellow Sagittarian 3 years his senior.  Sammy Davis had Neptune exactly sextile Bruce Midheaven, crystallizing his own vision of his career (his own Neptune was 2 degrees away from an exact sextile to his Midheaven)

After the London Palladium, the next great highlight of his career was The Generation Game (2nd October 1971), and gave rise to some of his famous catchphrases, such as “Nice to see you, to see you nice” and “didn’t he do well?”.  Notably, Pluto from his 10th House of Career was trine his natal Venus in Capricorn in 2nd House of Earnings.

His later success was as host of Strictly Come Dancing (2004), which endeared him to a new generation of television viewers, and came at a time when Neptune (dance) was exactly trine his North Node (karmic mission) in Gemini (broadcasting) in 6th House of working conditions.  Asked which living person she most admired and why, his co-host Tess Daly from that programme answered: “Bruce Forsyth, because not only is he the most talented showman, he is the most generous individual.”  There was a karmic link between them, with his Venus exactly sextile her North Node.

Marriage

He was married 3 times, Gemini on cusp of 7th House, traditionally being a sign of more than one marriage.  Wife number one, Penny Calvert, was unhappy with his philandering and sold stories to the newspapers.  Wife number two, Anthea Redfern (she of “give us a twirl”) had the Sun square his Mars and her Sun on his I.C.  Wife number three, and the most enduring, was Wilnelia Merced, and with her Neptune exactly trine his Sun, the relationship was much closer to perfection.  He had 6 children, and 9 grandchildren.

Death

He suffered increasingly poor health from 2014, and this week, having just passed his third Saturn Return, and with Saturn on his Ascendant, it was his time to leave, after a full life and career, and a full expression of his talents.

Aspects

Waking up to a bright and sunny morning in Norfolk, it is difficult to imagine that there will be an eclipse later today, and that North America will be in total darkness at some point, but that is the prospect for today.

For the record, yesterday, Sunday (20th) started with a bright note of Mars sextile Jupiter, ramping up energy and enthusiasm, and with it the ability to cope with any demands or stresses which may be perceived.  So it is was a good day to get things done, and to formulate positive philosophical attitudes.  We spent the day covering long distances travelling, but stopping for some tea and mirth with old friends.

This morning, Monday (21st) also started with a bright note: that of Sun trine Uranus, a happy day for innovation and creative originality, new ideas and technological advances, and possible technological solutions.  As this aspect took place at 6.22 a.m. in the U.K. it operated late last night (Sunday) in the U.S., nicely setting up curiosity for the eclipse.

The Solar Eclipse takes place at 18.30 Hrs in the U.K. and the Sun and Moon are conjunct at 28 degrees 53 minutes of the sign of Leo.  Effectively it is a heightened turning point, and the New Moon in Leo is usually the most creative New Moon of the year.  Set your intentions and your attitude, and may a good time be had by all.  Remember that events around the eclipse may not always seem significant at the time, but can affect the course of things for up to six months.  Thus a subtle event, such as a change of attitude or mindset, may determine events differently for some time to come.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 22nd, brings a trine between Mars and Saturn, a time of practical action, possibly based on your conclusions about life from the eclipse.  It is a day of reconstruction, applying yourself to your goals, and a renewed sense of purpose.

In the evening, the Sun enters Virgo, and you may begin to apply yourself to preparing for Autumn working schedules and tax returns.  Part of you will still be in holiday mode, but part of you will be working on future work initiatives.

Venus trines Chiron on Thursday (24th), an aspect which gives us the opportunity to learn lessons of love, such as practising keeping the heart open under all circumstances, or fostering unconditional love.  It reminds us of the healing power of love.

Later in the early evening, we will be tested on that practice or lesson, because Venus will then square Uranus, catching us on the hop socially.  We might meet someone we were not expecting to meet, e.g. not the people we were rehearsing about earlier in the day.  So we might be challenged to be our best selves, in the face for instance of someone who might have criticized us.

Friday (25th) sees Saturn stationary prior to turning direct, which is always a welcome way of things.  You might cease to feel that you are swimming against the tide, and in practical matters some projects may run more smoothly.

Saturday (26th) is a day that you can let your hair down.  There is a return to pleasurable, holiday-style activities with Venus entering Leo.  I will be going to a one day local workshop on colouring in the style of Monet.  But Venus in Leo particularly favours the performing arts, so bring out your inner Bruce Forsyth.

The evening vibe is altogether quieter and more studious, with a painstaking conjunction of Sun and Mercury at 4 degrees Virgo.  That can be extremely focussed, so if you are having a quiet night in, you can bring out a challenging project you have put off and tackle it.  If that sounds too prosaic, and you planned to paint the town red, then you may enjoy your planned activities on an intellectual level and take in some useful information.  It’s a great conjunction for nerds, geeks and anoraks celebrating their passions.

The week in bullet points:

  • Sunday – energy with enthusiasm
  • Monday – Innovation and turning points
  • Tuesday – practical action; useful work
  • Thursday – focussed on relationships; healing and challenges
  • Friday – the prospect of progress
  • Saturday – performing arts, and focussed concentration

 

Date: Aug 21st, 2017 · Comments RSS · Tags: Obituary