Barbara Taylor Bradford (1933 – 2024)

“I understood what writing fiction was: it’s who you are, what your protagonist is. If it’s a wimpy sort of person they’re not going to get anywhere. But if it’s a driven, ambitious, go-ahead woman who’s not going to be deterred by anybody then, obviously, she’s going to be a combination of all those strong women I admire, such as Marie Curie, Catherine the Great and Elizabeth Tudor.”

~ Barbara Taylor Bradford

The hugely successful novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford died this week, aged 91.  She is most well-known for her debut novel “A Woman of Substance”, a very apt title for a lady with the Sun in Taurus, the zodiac sign of “Substance”!  She published 40 books in her lifetime, sold 90 million copies, and amassed a fortune of between £166–174 million – although Taurus is considered the zodiac sign of wealth, it does not have a monopoly on it(!).

Birth Chart

Barbara Taylor Bradford’s chart is high in the Earth element and materiality, having not only Mercury, the Sun, Venus and Chiron in Taurus but a triple conjunction of Mars/Neptune/Jupiter in another Earth sign, Virgo. That is a solid showing!  Taurus is a Fixed sign, meaning that it is strong willed, and the Fixed planets also show up strongly in her chart.  It is no wonder that her heroines are women of great strength.  She was born close to a Full Moon, which shows great emotionality, and strong likes and dislikes.  Sun conjunct Venus implied that she was a romantic, but arguably a cut above the Mills & Boon stereotype.  The Sun trine Jupiter added success to her attributes, but the Sun square Saturn showed the accompanying struggle of her nature, and the trajectory of her heroine’s lives.  There would not have been a story, without the accompanying struggle.  Mercury trined Mars in her chart, depicting a busy writer.  She was inspired by Graham Greene’s observation that “character is plot”.  His own Mars exactly trined her Mercury, bringing her idea and thought into greater focus. Their Neptunes were also exactly trine (a spiritual affinity).  But with Mercury conjunct Uranus her thoughts were original, all her own, and indicative of a bright intelligence and intuition. Venus sextile Pluto brought drama into romance, and Venus conjunct Chiron, the pain of love.  Furthermore, Mars conjunct Neptune added poignancy to her life and art.  Mars closely conjunct the South Node in Virgo, possibly shows that she was a warrior in past lives, and had brought through a fighting spirit.

Life and Career

Barbara Taylor Bradford was born in Leeds.  [Fun Fact: In the records I am keeping of places of birth and zodiac affinities, half of those I have born in Leeds are Taureans!  They include Alan Bennett, who went to the same nursery school as Barbara Taylor Bradford.  This is probably a fluke result, but I will keep you posted].  Her mother had been the illegitimate daughter of a local landowner, and her grandmother spent time in workhouses.

An earlier sibling died of meningitis, and Barbara’s mother “put all her frustrated love into me.”  This undoubtedly shaped her, emotionally.  At a young age, encouraged by her mother, she read Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters and Thomas Hardy, and decided to be a writer at the age of 10.  She left school aged 16, much to the consternation of her parents.  Having written a number of astro-obituaries lately, it seems to me that this is a common theme among talented and successful people [Last week’s subject, John Prescott, being a case in point!].  She started her working life as a newspaper reporter, but later became fashion editor of Woman’s Own.

Later in life, she reflected on that period:

“I was in my late thirties. I thought: what if I get to 55, and I’ve never written a novel? I’m going to hate myself. I’m going to be one of those bitter, unfulfilled writers.”

But of course, her life became a story, and later her art reflected her life…Around the time of her Saturn Return at 28, she went  on a blind date, and met her future husband Robert Bradford.  She later wrote: “If it wasn’t quite love at first sight, it was a strong attraction”.  They married on Christmas Eve in 1963, and it was a turning point for Barbara, though of course that does not detract from her own achievement!  Her husband was an American film producer, and they moved to Manhattan.

She wrote her first novel in 1979, at the age of 46, and this hugely successful tome “A Woman of Substance” was turned into a TV film series by her husband in 1985, assuring her success.  A further nine novels were made into films.  Her novels tended to follow a common theme of a young woman coming from humble beginnings, working hard through the years and achieving extraordinary things ultimately.  She wrote what she knew.

Theirs was a solid marriage, which endured 56 years until his death in 2019 (when transiting Pluto was opposite her own Pluto).  One of the secrets of its success was apparently separate televisions [something that me and my hubby are always peddling].  She published her last novel only last year, “The Wonder of it All”.

Confession time:  I have not read “A Woman of Substance” (I struggle with reading fiction), but appreciate the achievement and the strong archetype of Barbara Taylor Bradford, her indomitable heroines, and her work ethic (the triple conjunction in Virgo).

“There’s a lot I don’t like about getting  older, but I don’t look my age because I take care of myself.  I go to the hairdresser twice a week, don’t smoke, never drink alone and I have a personal trainer.”

~ Barbara Taylor Bradford

Aspects

A lot of aspects to get through this week!  But first a nod to the early and unmistakeable impact of Pluto’s entry into Aquarius.  The Assisted Dying Bill, despite all its poignancy and nuance, was passed this week. A new and progressive take (Aquarius) on the experience of dying (Pluto) in the U.K., literally just days after its entry into a 20 year tenure of the sign.

Early this morning we were greeted with a New Moon at 9 degrees Sagittarius.  New Moons tend to be upbeat, and Sagittarian New Moons more upbeat than most, focussing on expansion, the planning of holidays, deep study and learning, global issues, and matters of faith.  Re-play your affirmations, with more confidence.  You can have powerful inner conversations under this New Moon.  A higher vision is possible.

Tomorrow (Monday 2nd) we have two trines, making it a dynamic day. First, Mercury trines Chiron, hopefully bringing some healing balm to the beginning of the week.  This aspect describes healing on a mental level (positive thinking, writing and affirmations), and helps to combine conventional and alternative or complementary healing approaches.  This is a problem-solving aspect.

Late lunchtime, Venus trines Uranus, which can bring exciting meetings!  The aspect may set you up with insights, or bring other encounters of the illuminating kind.  In the field of the Arts, it can bring originality and surprise, e.g. to a performance of music or a pantomime.  Ideas for assisting the problems in our society may also crop up, such as community based solutions. You may bump into an old friend.

Three aspects in one day on Wednesday (4th), two challenging and then one unifying.  Mid-morning we have Jupiter opposite Mercury, so you may find you have a balancing act to manage.  This aspect is mentally stimulating but can lead to mental resources being overstretched.  Travel news may also be quite testing, e.g. people being in long queues.  Jupiter opposite Mercury is a learning curve, and can bring out some humour, but needs some caution in the playing.

The second aspect also needs some caution in the playing, and takes place mid-afternoon.  It’s Saturn square to the Sun.  This may bring disappointing or deflating news,  delay or frustration.  There is no shortage of such material on our news programmes, certainly.  The Sun-Saturn square is an opportunity to think through what you are doing, and your strategies.  If you are making economies, are they the right ones, based on your optimum values?

The third aspect, which takes place early evening, is Venus sextile Neptune, which may to some extent smooth over the concerns from earlier in the day.  It is a most pleasant sextile, a delightful aspect – a beautiful expression of spirituality and the Arts.  New artistic avenues can flourish, ingenious ways for people to share art, music and performance can ensure the Arts are kept alive.

We come to Friday (6th), which involves the mental clarity of a conjunction between the Sun and Mercury, taking place at 14 degrees Sagittarius.  So it is a good day generally to apply your mind with clarity,  concentrate and focus,  and make important statements. The aspect itself takes place in the early hours of the morning, so you may suddenly wake from a dream with a sparkling insight. The focus may be on your own growth and potential and physical wellbeing.  Mentally you may see things clearly, if egocentrically.  Creatively, this is a very helpful conjunction: If you are writing a play, for instance, the perfect line could come to you.

Make good use of that aspect, for the other end of the day sees Mars Stationary, prior to turning Retrograde, a feature which only takes place once every two years.  The upcoming retrograde period may see a slightly different manifestation of the energy in the House it occupies in your chart (currently 6 degrees Leo), perhaps some revision needed, a test of strength, or some conflict to resolve.  But hopefully, by the end of February 2025 when it turns Direct again, you will have something to show for your effort.

Five astrological features for Saturday (7th), starting in the early hours with Saturn squaring Mercury.  Sleep may be elusive or frustrating  in some way.  During the day, if there are obstacles or delays in communication, you’ll know why!  Patience may be the key here (e.g. you may have to repeat yourself), and “more haste less speed” may be a useful mantra to follow.  There may be more to be learned.

Breakfast-time sees the entry of Venus into Aquarius, a chance for her (and you!) to circulate and feel the more extravert side of your persona.  You may, for instance, become more involved with a community project.  Venus will be in Aquarius until 3rd January, so for the rest of the month and the holiday season the general tone will be more affable.  You will feel more connected to people, but not in a clingy way, more in the mode of a higher evolutionary consciousness.

Lunchtime bestows upon us Venus conjunct Pluto at 0 degrees Aquarius, and a money or relationship issue may preoccupies you.  You may feel under pressure.  What is important, is to try to get to the root of the matter in hand.  There is much to reflect on about the enormity of changes, and the impact on humanity.  You may need to do some soul-searching in order to have a handle on the depth of your feelings.  Within that frame, you may be able to strike the right note with depth and meaning.

In the evening, Jupiter opposes the Sun, and the general feeling could be optimistic, humorous and buoyant (e.g. if you are going along with the hype), but there is a balance to be observed, beyond which you could overreach yourself or overstretch your energy or someone else’s patience (for example, overdoing a joke).  Freedom beckons, but again, know your boundaries.

Late evening, and last but not least, Neptune will be Stationary prior to moving in Direct motion.  Hopefully, you will emerge firmly re-orientated on your spiritual path from this!  This event is an opportunity to fine tune relationships, art, or spiritual practices, and is a helpful and hopeful end to the week.

The week in bullet points:

  • Today – new beginning
  • Tomorrow – healing balm; exciting meetings
  • Wednesday – mentally overstretching; caution in the playing; love and spirituality
  • Friday – mental clarity; energetic disruption
  • Saturday – obstacles and delays; social circulation; soul-searching in money or love; a joke maybe too far; a smooth spiritual re-orientation
Date: Dec 1st, 2024 · Comments RSS · Tags: Obituary