Aspects for the week beginning 26 January 2025

“A Complete Unknown”

Biographical Film of Bob Dylan

“And how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind”

~ Bob Dylan, 1962

Last Monday, hubby and I ventured forth to see the film starring Timothee Chalamet documenting the early years of Bob Dylan’s musical career.  It gladdened the heart of these two 75 year olds, and moved us to tears.  We were teens when Bob was developing his career, so it was the nostalgia which got to us to a great extent, combined with the beauty of the music, and the extraordinary quality of the acting.

Bob Dylan, Birth Chart

I have written two Dylan blogs to date.  Here is a precis of his birth chart from the first one, written when he won the Nobel prize for literature [the Gemini wordsmith]:

“The majority of his planets are clustered around Taurus [his Moon sign] (song) and Gemini [his Sun sign] (writing) and so his work is revealed, a natural expression of the art of songwriting.  And five (half) his planets are in his 6th House of work, describing the prolific nature of his output.

He has Mars in 3rd House (Protesting communication) square his Sun, expressing his anger and activism.

North Node conjunct Neptune (spiritual leadership) in Virgo in 10th House of Reputation is an interesting feature of his chart. “

Timothee Chalamet, Birth Chart

Chalamet has the Sun, the planet of Acting, in Capricorn at the beginning 5^th House of Acting.  His character portrayal of Bob Dylan is astonishing.  His 10^th House cusp (one of two careerpoints) at 3 degrees Gemini is exactly conjunct Bob’s natal Sun.  He was born to play him.  Timothee has 5 planets in ambitious Capricorn in his 5^th House of Acting. He has Moon in Pisces, the other sign of the acting profession; the sensitivity as distinct from the showmanship of Leo.  He has Mercury exactly conjunct Neptune (the “channeller” conjunction; well it seemed, however strange, that he was actually channelling a living person!).  He also possesses the Uranus/Neptune conjunction of the 1990s, which enables him to process complexity, while his Ascendant in Virgo ensures an attention to detail and perfectionism which contribute to his huge skill.

Bob Dylan: Period covered by the film

The screenplay for A Complete Unknown was based on a 2015 book by Elijah Wald, “Dylan Goes Electric!” (on my booklist now).  The film begins and ends with Dylan’s visits to see Woody Guthrie, who is languishing in a hospital with Huntington’s Disease (formerly known as Huntington’s Chorea); a span of 4 years, from 1961 to 1965.  Guthrie died in 1967.  From being a complete unknown (double meaning for his unfathomable character), fostered by Guthrie’s friend Pete Seeger who introduces him at the Newport Folk Festival, Dylan writes copiously and establishes his own music genre, steering away from the expectations of the music industry.  He pieces together his own band (the organist of which, Garth Hudson, died just this week), while becoming more and more protective of himself against the trappings of his fame.  By the time he attends the 1965 Newport Festival, it becomes clear that he is his own man, much to the chagrin of Seeger, who would have liked him to continue the pure folk tradition (Dylan had taken up the use of the electric guitar) and to play his older tunes.  I wrote about Pete Seeger when he passed away in 2014.  Edward Norton, who plays Pete Seeger in the film (he replaced the original choice of Benedict Cumberbatch), is one of the outstanding roles in this film – a few icons from that era are captured exquisitely.  Andrew Motion, writing in the Guardian, dubs Norton’s performance as “the best of all” and Seeger’s role as Dylan’s “John the Baptist”.

Joan Baez

Two relationships feature in the film, one resembling that with art student Suze Rotolo, given a different name (“Sylvie Russo”), but the same role in his life (e.g. appearing on the cover of his album “Freewheelin’ ”).  Apparently, Dylan (an executive producer of the film) was not happy about her identification in the film.  The other girl who featured early in his life and career was of course Joan Baez.

Timothee’s voice in the film is uncannily close to Dylan’s, and while the casting of Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez is not quite as uncanny, her voice has the purity and pitch of Joan’s.  Apparently, she spent years in lessons learning singing and guitar.   The harmonies when they sang in the film (described as “sweetly savage” by Wendy Ide in the Observer) moved me to tears.  Joan had a unique ability to translate Bob Dylan’s songs. I wrote about Joan when Dylan received the Nobel Prize for Literature:

“It is probably Joan Baez, more than anybody, who has brought his songs to life, and revealed the melody and emotion underneath the lyrics to such an intuitive degree.  They were equally passionate about the causes they took up, and looking at their charts, they are a true brother and sister (her Moon conjuncts his Sun exactly).  They lend power to each other, with her Mars exactly trine his Pluto, and they have karmic ties (her Neptune exactly conjunct his North Node, her Descendant exactly conjunct his North Node).

She says: ‘The Nobel Prize for Literature is yet another step towards immortality for Bob Dylan. The rebellious, reclusive, unpredictable artist/composer is exactly where the Nobel Prize for Literature needs to be. His gift with words is unsurpassable. Out of my repertoire spanning 60 years, no songs have been more moving and worthy in their depth, darkness, fury, mystery, beauty, and humour than Bob’s. None has been more of a pleasure to sing. None will come again.“

Timothee Chalamet: Life and Career

Chalamet was born in New York City in 1995 (thirty years after the close of the film’s span!) and raised in Manhattan.  His father is French, and his mother American-Jewish.  He spent a year at Columbia University studying cultural anthropology, but was inspired to pursue acting by the performance of Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (2008).  He was nominated for an Oscar in 2018 for his role in the film “Call Me by Your Name”.  In 2019 he starred as Laurie in the film “Little Women”.  He was in a relationship with Madonna’s daughter Lourdes for a year when they were fellow students in High School, but has been with Kylie Jenner since April 2023.

In 2023, he played the eponymous role in the film “Wonka”.  And so, to A Complete Unknown, which he co-produced (he really can multi-task) in 2024.  The film, directed by James Mangold, was released on 10^th December, a day when Venus was sextile the North Node (musical karma) and the Sun trine Chiron (healing ways).  For Timothee, it illustrates the perseverance and potential creativity of a difficult long-term transit, for during the making of the film, Pluto was transiting his natal Uranus at the end of (the perfecting of) his 5^th House of Creativity and Acting.

The film does a good job of capturing the enigmas of Dylan’s character and personality, especially in regard to his relationships.  Another of the rapturous qualities of the film is that the music never stops: it carries you with it from scene to scene.  Currently showing, don’t miss this film!

“As the present now

Will later be past

The order is

Rapidly fadin’

And the first one now will later be last
‘Cause the times, they are a-changin’ “

~ Bob Dylan, 1964

Aspects

We have two aspects today, one early evening, one late evening.  The first is Mercury sextile Neptune, which ushers in an influx of intense imagination.  This aspect will assist you in refining your mindset, because our minds will be open to receiving higher guidance more easily.  Delicate conversations and channelling will also be made easier.  Artistic efforts may also be rewarded.

The second aspect, also a sextile, is between Venus and Uranus, so we have two aspects which enable us to use our higher faculties today.  Venus in harmony with Uranus is very social and may produce some interesting outward manifestations.  Chance meetings are possible and can be strange or seem random.  Venus sextile Uranus is on the pleasantly uplifting side of the equation, and can bring reunions, even if just on your mobile phone or online.  The three S’s come to mind: spontaneity, synchronicity and serendipity.

Tomorrow (Monday 27^th) brings a third sextile, which can help to establish a good start or a good mood to the week.  It’s Mercury sextile the North Node: this brings karmic information to light.  Communication is highly significant and imbued with meaning, though subject to differing interpretations according to belief.  It is a good day for writing, teaching, tutoring and revising for forthcoming tests, and possibly for health checks.

The following day (Tuesday 28^th) sees the entry of Mercury into Aquarius: time for a change of mindset on with Mercury leaving methodical Capricorn and entering futuristic Aquarius, getting with the programme.  This is about big, bold envisioning of the future.  Perhaps there are ideas we have not quite been ready to accept before this point.

The middle of the week sees a more sombre mood, with a conjunction of Mercury and Pluto on Wednesday (29^th) at 1 degree Aquarius. This is about serious thought and communication.  If this results in conversations, words will have a profound effect.  Deeper motives may be revealed.  Listening too is important, and exchanges may become cathartic, if sincerely transacted.  Letting go of outworn thoughtforms is also on the cards, in preparation for the next feature.

Get your deep ponderings done in the morning, for a new beginning is possible at lunchtime with the arrival of the New Moon in Aquarius at 9 degrees of that sign.  The New Moon is traditionally a time to focus on your wishes and intentions for a new beginning, and this one projects further, far into the future than most.  It is time to imagine a better world, a time when we have overcome current obstacles and problems, the outlook has been so bleak in the last year.  But the potential for change this year is unprecedented.

The planet Uranus will be Stationary, prior to turning Direct on Thursday (30^th).  It is a good time to receive ideas about alleviating any collective, tribal, or social difficulties which you can see.  Closer to home, you may see what could be done in the family setting, or in the community.   Intuition will flow better, and future vision come into view, into greater clarity.  However, the trickster element of Uranus may still be in evidence a little longer.

A very upbeat and joyous aspect takes place that evening, in the shape of the Sun trine Jupiter.  For some that might mean a lucky break!  Not everyone can win the lottery, but it’s all good and comes on the heels of Uranus starting to show its best side.  This is a happy-go-lucky aspect where circumstances allow.  It may provide a day of good cheer, adventure, golden opportunity and looking ahead to the future with optimism.  If you are visiting friends, the occasion could be a barrel of laughs.

On Saturday (1^st February) we have a conjunction between Venus and Neptune.  Inspired artistic and musical expression is assisted.  Idealized and spiritual love may also be on the menu.  You may find inspired ways to show love.  With Neptune being in Pisces there is an idealized element to love (being in love, as distinct from loving).

The week in bullet points:

• Today – intense imagination; socially exciting
• Tomorrow – karmic information
• Tuesday – thoughts of the future
• Wednesday – profound thought; new beginnings
• Thursday – intuition more flowing; lucky for some
• Saturday – artistic and musical inspiration