Aspects for the week beginning 14 June 2020

J.K. Rowling

A week ago, J.K. Rowling became embroiled in a controversy with the transgender community over remarks she had made.  A few days later, she defended her own comments with the revelation that she had experienced domestic violence in her first marriage, and also sexual abuse in her life.

Birth Chart

The Sun in Leo in 10th House at the top of her chart seems a key placement.  I would call this the “Film Director Archetype” as it involves overseeing large scale creative endeavours.  She is of course known for the vast book and film franchise of the world of Harry Potter, and has amassed great wealth in the process.  The Sun sextile North Node in Gemini marks her out as a lead writer.  She also has the Writer Archetype of Mercury conjunct Venus (in Virgo).  She has great emotional sensitivity with Moon sextile Neptune, complicated by Moon opposite Saturn (she experienced depression in the past), Moon conjunct Pluto (heavy emotionality) and Moon exactly opposite Chiron (emotional wounds).  Venus representing her relationships and ruling her 7th House of marriage is conjunct Uranus in her chart (disrupted relationships) and loosely conjunct Pluto (some volcanic relationships) as well as square to the Nodal Axis (an appreciation of the role of karma in relationships).  She has four squares to her Nodal Axis altogether.  Her prolific output may owe something to her Mars trine Jupiter (great energy allied with enthusiasm) and the drive to succeed (Mars sextile the Midheaven in Creative Leo).  Jupiter is in a helpful sextile to the Midheaven (success in career and publishing).  Saturn trines Neptune, showing an understanding of how the material balances with the spiritual; Neptune squares closely her natal Midheaven, representing an association with sorcery (through the subject matter of her books); Neptune trine Chiron gives her a talent for spiritual healing; Pluto opposite Chiron gives her a grasp of the “dark arts”; and last but not least the Part of Fortune in Sagittarius in 2nd House hints at her vast wealth and philanthropy.

Life and Career

Interestingly, in regard to the role of the Hogwart’s Express in the Harry Potter’s books, and the famous platform which is still a tourist attraction at King’s Cross, apparently her parents met on a train between King’s Cross and Arbroath.  Joanne was born in Gloucestershire, and her mother suffered from multiple sclerosis, and she is estranged from her father – note the difficult aspects to her Moon (mother) and lack of aspects to her Sun (father).  She took languages at A-Level and then at Exeter University.

She was on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990 when the plot for the 7-volume series of books came into her mind as a whole. She began to write immediately.  Shortly afterwards she moved to Portugal to teach English as a foreign language, and met Jorge Arantes, her first husband.  Her daughter Jessica was born in 1993, and she split up from her husband, moving to Edinburgh to be near her sister.  By then she had written 3 chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.  Her transits at that time were supportive: Jupiter sextile her natal Venus (more congenial),  Jupiter on her natal Ascendant (new horizons), and Uranus trine her natal Moon (beneficial home changes).  However, she was on benefits and on the breadline, famously writing her novel in cafes.  Meanwhile, she obtained an Order of Restraint against her husband and file for divorce.

After being rejected by 12 publishers, her typewritten manuscript was finally accepted by Bloomsbury.  “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was published on 26th June 1997, with suitable transit to Joanne’s chart:

Jupiter was exactly trine her natal Jupiter in Gemini in 8th House, indicating a huge success.

Saturn was trine exactly her natal Midheaven in Leo in 10th House, establishing her career.

Uranus was opposite exactly her natal Sun in Leo in 10th House, a life-changing moment.

Over the next ten years she continued to write, and finally finished the seventh book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” on 11th January 2007, with Jupiter on her South Node in Sagittarius in 2nd House, and Neptune on her I.C. in Aquarius in 4th House.  The books were responsible for a resurgence of reading among the young.  My young niece at the time read them 12 times!

Then came the films…  The first film of the first book was released on 16th November 2001, with Jupiter sextile Joanne’s natal Pluto in Virgo in 11th House, an expansion of her power.  There were other more challenging transits to her chart: Neptune square her Ascendant on the cusp of the 4th House (emphasizing the advent of film into her life) and Pluto square her natal Pluto (possible power struggles).  Rowling insisted on an all-British cast for her films, and that was a boost to the British film industry for the next ten years.  The final book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was filmed in two parts, the last one being released on 15th July 2011.  Rowling played a part in producing of the last two films.  At this milestone, Jupiter was trine her natal Venus and the South Node was on her natal Jupiter (a successful culmination).

She remarried on 26th December 2001, her new husband being Neil Murray, a doctor, and went on to have two more children.

Controversy

The tweet which got her into hot water was sent on 6th June.  She was questioning an article which referred to women as “people who menstruate”. The tweets were labelled “anti-trans”, and the young actors who played the lead roles in her films allied themselves with the objections.

Mars was on her natal Saturn and trine her natal Neptune, with Uranus square exactly her natal Sun in Leo in the 10th House of Reputation.  That was one depiction of the controversy in her transits, another was Neptune opposite exactly her Moon (confusion in relation to women).  In addition, Neptune on her Chiron showed the complexity of the issue raised.

In response, a few days later, Rowling published an article explaining her views in terms of the fact that she was a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual assault.  Her main worry about the transgender access to single sex spaces was the vulnerability of women.  The dispute is set to run further, but at this time Mars is inflaming her Moon, Jupiter and Chiron.  However, she is a warrior, and time may serve to clarify the issues, restore her reputation, and bring more clarity for the transgender community too.

The Observer has commented this morning: “Although the battle lines do appear largely age-related, those under Rowling’s banner are characterized by some as older and slow to recognise altered priorities”.

Please note I have used a birth time of 14.00 Hrs; however, there is an alternative birth time of 21.10 Hrs.  This may be the subject of a future study or comparison.

Aspects

The aspects are all piled up at the end of the week, so again you are aspect-free until Thursday.  If you found yesterday a little clumsy, then you can try to straighten out energies and circumstances in the meantime.

Thursday’s (18th) first astrological feature is not actually an aspect, it is that well-known phenomenon of Mercury Retrograde.  This of course, may herald difficulties in communication.  We may need to upgrade our technology during the next three weeks, and we will need to practice mindfulness and stay alert for misunderstandings.  Check, and re-check, the small print.  You know the drill.

Mercury goes stationary prior to turning retrograde very early on Thursday morning.  At the other end of the day, in the last hour of Thursday, Mars will be sextile Pluto.  This will give you extra physical and emotional energy, so you may find yourself spontaneously clearing clutter just before bedtime.  It may also take a while to settle to sleep, so some people might want to do some extra exercise before retiring.  It could be very constructive too, with vigorous discussion and perhaps some decisiveness.

The Sun conjoins with the North Node on Friday (19th).  This can bring power play, and creativity, with a karmic flavour. Listen to the subtle instructions of the Universe…

A jolly vibe awaits us on Saturday (20th), with a sextile between Mars and Jupiter in the morning.  This brings expansive activities, such as socially distancing with loved ones in bubbles in parks, or strenuous gardening, or the pursuit of any sport or leisure activity with gusto.  You’ll be able to find that extra drive, for what you are wanting to achieve, assisted by the lingering effect of Mars sextile Pluto from earlier in the week.

In the evening, the Sun enters Cancer, the Summer Solstice, traditionally a time for hanging out with the fairies in the garden.  Smell the roses, and celebrate the moment of maximum light.  Many people are enjoying the benefits of nature during this period of semi-lockdown, when pubs and bars are still closed.  That awareness will be super-sensory this year.

The week in bullet-points:

• Thursday – communication glitches; energetic movement
• Friday – karmic power play and creativity
• Saturday – make hay