Fay Weldon (1931 – 2023)

I was in two minds about writing a blog about novelist Fay Weldon, since Astrology and astrologers incurred her wrath after one of her husbands left her for an astrological therapist.  But I have to admit she was an interesting woman, who led an interesting life.  She died this week in a care home, at the age of 91, leaving behind an impressive progeny of three sons (a fourth had died), twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Birth Chart

Fay’s vital astrological statistics were Sun in Virgo (a writer’s sign), Ascendant in Aquarius (loved to shock) and Moon in Aquarius (rising, the sign of a novelist).  An interest in the Arts is indicated by the Sun conjunct Venus, and that conjunction sits at the South Node, suggesting that this tendency has been cultivated through previous lifetimes.  It may also depict the fact that she came from a family of novelists.  The combination of Virgo and Aquarius as her main signs indicates a coolness and detachment in the emotions.  You may wonder at that, but the passion that came across from her, fuelled and drove her, was from her anger: Mars squaring her Ascendant.  Her capacity to imagine comes from Mercury conjunct Neptune, which is a conjunction which often occurs in people who are mediums, or who channel.  She was prolific and wrote with ease, and labelled herself as a “writaholic”.  With Jupiter trine her Uranus, she also had the Entrepreneur Archetype.  Her Jupiter was in her 7th House of Close Relationships, and she had three marriages, true to this placement.  Jupiter was also successful and expansive in her career (publishing 31 novels), placed in trine with her Midheaven (careerpoint).  Saturn, on the other hand, was closely square to Uranus – a sign of personal earthquakes, and  in fact there was literally an earthquake while she was in the womb in New Zealand.  Saturn was part of a T-square, being in an opposition with Pluto, so the whole T-square (with Uranus) would be activated from time to time, causing upheaval in her life.  Also worthy of note was Midheaven trine her North Node, enabling her career to be in harmony with her karmic mission.

Life and Career

Fay was brought up in New Zealand, but her parents separated when she was five, and her mother later brought her to England, together with her sister.  She studied Psychology and Economics at St. Andrew’s University, before going on to work in advertising, where she was associated with the enduring slogans “Go to work on an egg” and “Unzip a Banana”.  She published her first novel in 1967, entitled “The Fat Woman’s Joke”.  Two dominant themes in her work which she championed were the fat, plain, woman (“I was born large, blonde and big-boned into a family of small beautiful women”), and feminism (together with the fight against misogyny and inequality) depicted in her chart by the Moon rising.  She also wrote for television, notably for Upstairs, Downstairs in 1971.  She was most well-known for “The Life and Loves of a She-Devil”, which she wrote in 1983, arguably in a spirit of vengeance, after her husband left her for the astrological therapist.  This was later televised.  She admitted that she liked to shake things up (Aquarian Ascendant), often making controversial statements to draw attention to her newest book.  Her second husband was Ron Weldon, and she divorced him after he left.  Interestingly the reason cited for  his leaving was that the astrological therapist had told him his birth sign was incompatible with Fay’s (Virgo).  This seems a very flimsy statement for an Astrologer to have made.  Incompatible Sun signs have often made successful marriages, and the Sun is just one factor in synastry (compatibility analysis).  Ron Weldon died eight hours before the divorce was finalised, and we do not have his birth date.  She also judged literary prizes, most notably the Booker prize in 1983, and intriguingly wrote: “I’ve judged enough prizes in my time to know the most boring book wins. And that’s not the book you want to write.”  Which gives me heart, because my own first novel (see my book page) is deliberately boring – “The Quiet Office” being an antidote to the modern, rushing, adrenalin-fuelled modern lifestyle.

As I said, “an interesting woman, who led an interesting life”, with an interesting birth chart.

Aspects

Today we have Mercury trine Uranus.  This can inspire high functioning minds, intuition and good ideas.   Uranus will add extra spice to your plans, and documentation.  Computers and technology should be on sparkling form and assist your expression.  You may spring pleasant surprises.  Writing projects may flow.

Tomorrow, Monday 9th, we see a trine between Venus and Retrograde Mars.  Other wars may be raging (Ukraine, for instance), but the relations between the sexes may be harmonious, or the connectivity between your own inner male and female.  It would be a good opportunity for sharing and balancing roles, such as career and parenting.  And exercises of body awareness, such as qijong, may be helpful.

Two squares are sent to challenge us on Wednesday (11th), the first being Venus square to the Nodal Axis.  This one challenges us to take note of the karma of personal relationships, and group dynamics.  You may work with past life patterns, or present life practicalities.

The second square is that of Mercury with Chiron, so mini-crises may arise needing problem-solving skills, and solutions which may be to hand, like dock leaves near nettles, or may require soul consultation, digging deep.  The cause of this may be confronting new year expectations, such as the apparent sliding back on unrealistic new year’s resolutions.  Cut yourself some slack, and do what you can.

On Thursday (12th) Mars will be Stationary, prior to turning Direct.  This may make energies more straightforward  (once Mars has turned).  If you have felt you were swimming against the tide, this direct turn can release some energy and sense of purpose. A lot of people, beset by seasonal viruses, have been experiencing  a mild chronic post-viral fatigue.  By the end of the day, or later in the week, you may be able to confidently say “Onward and Upwards”.

A lucky aspect for Friday 13th, in the Sun sextile Neptune.  The saying goes that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, but the Sun sextile Neptune gives you the best chance of creating beauty and inspiration in your life.  If spiritual harmony and creativity are some of the goals and aspirations you have for the start of the year, you can safely and profitably cultivate them on Friday.

The week in bullet points:

  • Today – bright minds
  • Tomorrow – sensuality
  • Wednesday – karmic relationship challenges, and health conundrums
  • Thursday – energies moving forward
  • Friday – inspiration and creativity
Date: Jan 8th, 2023 · Comments RSS · Tags: Obituary