Aspects for the week beginning 6 April 2025

Richard Chamberlain (1934 – 2025)

“His mini-series were luxury liners and time machines, whisking audiences to other lands and ages in a way that workaday series couldn’t.”

~ James Poniewozik, The New York Times

It was announced last week that actor Richard Chamberlain, romantic lead par excellence, who embodied that role in a bygone age, passed away at the age of 90.  His was not the tall, dark and handsome stereotype, but as Adam Bernstein put it in The Washington Post “blue-eyed and porcelain-faced”.  The Guardian obituary by Ronald Bergan describes his “chiselled features, which made him ideal for romantic leads in soap operas”.  He struggled to keep his homosexuality secret for most of his life, in order to preserve the shelf-life of this career niche, like some of the Hollywood film greats of yesteryear.

Birth Chart

Richard Chamberlain’s birth chart is dominated by the sign of Aries and the planet Mars, in so many ways.  He has the fresh face of the Sun in Aries, and the Sun is conjunct Mars in his chart.  Mars was exactly on his Descendant, affecting his relationships, and his North Node also sextiled his natal Mars, informing his karmic mission.  That’s a whole lot of testosterone!  His fairness in looks may come in part from his mother who was of German stock, and not untypical of Aries appearance.  All this Aries would normally point to the Warrior Archetype, and he did serve for 16 months in the military in post-war Korea, rising to the rank of Sergeant.  But I think it describes his great energy, he was very hardworking and prolific in his professional life (Sun in the 6^th House), and in his youth he excelled in athletics (one of the Archetypes described for Aries in my recent blog).

You may be wondering how all that Mars squares with the gentleman of his many roles.  It’s because of the preponderance of the opposite sign, Libra.  He had his Ascendant in Libra, with a conjunction of Jupiter/Moon rising in Libra.  So he also has a great deal of Venus (the heart throb).  His Moon was also trine his Venus, indicating that he was capable of great tenderness, too.  He was an accomplished singer, also the province of Libra.  And he acquired a degree in art history and painting, again Libran and Venus-ruled territory.  The Ascendant, which shows a large proportion of one’s physical attributes, in the sign of Libra, was responsible for his “pretty boy” looks, which was both the basis of his popularity as a leading man, but also the bane of his life because the critics couldn’t believe he was capable of another type of role.  So when all the mini-series were over, he showed his could tread the boards with other Shakespearean actors.

His love life was difficult, with Venus exactly conjunct Saturn  (sorrow in love life), Venus closely sextile Uranus (unusual love life) and Venus square Chiron (emotional wounds) and that is encapsulated in the title of his 2003 autobiography “Shattered Love: A Memoir.”

Acting in his life is shown by an emphasis in his 5^th House of Acting, which is populated by the North Node trine his Ascendant on its cusp, his Saturn conjunct Venus, and Mercury.  He employed the Stanislavskian method of acting, which involved learning to tap into his own emotions and psyche.

Life and Career

Richard was born in Los Angeles, and was educated at Beverly Hills High School and Pomona College.  His career began with his co-founding of a theatre group in Los Angeles which was named the “Company of Angels”.  From there, he obtained guest roles in television.

His big breakthrough came in 1961, with his role as Dr Kildare in the mini-series of that name, the first of the genre he came to be associated with.  I can’t believe I sat through all these in my youth…!

Dr Kildare (1961)

He beat 35 other candidates in obtaining this role.  It was first offered to William Shatner. [imagine!].  It was this role that established Richard as a teen idol, and by 1962 his popularity in this role was high.

The first episode aired on 28^th September 1961, with a karmic transit of the South Node on his natal Venus in Aquarius in that all-important 5^th House.  The series lasted until 1966, and was one of the first “soap” we watched.  I remember watching it religiously, with my mother, during my teenage years!  He played a young intern, co-starring and sparring with the late great Raymond Massey at “Blair General Hospital”.  We have so many fictional medical programmes in this day and age, but it was a novelty then.  I do remember an English version running concurrently, Emergency Ward 10 (1957 – 1967).

The Slipper and the Rose (1976)

This was a film, not a mini-series: Richard Chamberlain made many films throughout his life, the last being Nightmare Cinema in 2018 (a horror film in which he played Dr Mirari). Of the several films he made before 1976, there was The Music Lovers, Lady Caroline Lamb, The Three Musketeers and The Towering Inferno.

The musical Slipper and the Rose took him back to his typecasting as Prince Charming.  Co-starring Gemma Craven as Cinderella, and directed by Bryan Forbes, Richard played Prince Edward of Euphrania.  It is memorable as being one of the films where he aired his singing voice, proving himself as a thoroughbred Libran Ascendant!  It aired close to his birthday, as would the later mini-series The Thorn Birds.  The Solar Return seems to have been a powerful feature for him.  I didn’t watch this film until years later, when it was broadcast on television.

Centennial (1978)

The novelist James A. Michener wrote the book “Centennial” upon which this mini-series was based, one of many long, meticulously-researched sagas.  I did read the book, and found it profoundly absorbing, but can’t remember if I read it before or after I watched the series.  The series traced the history of the plains of north-east Colorado from prehistory until the mid-1970s.  The name Centennial refers to a fictional town.  Richard Chamberlain played one of the first white men arrivals, Scottish trader Alexander McKeag, alongside Oliver Seccombe played by Timothy Dalton.

Shogun (1980)

Also based on a major novel, “Shogun” was written by James Clavell and published in 1975.  I do remember reading this book before I saw the mini-series, as I remember eagerly awaiting the chance to see it.  I must have read it in the year or two before the mini-series was broadcast, as it was lent to me by a friend I met in that period who had a lifetime in that warrior culture.  Shogun as it refers to the Japanese military ruler in feudal times, at least represented the Aries/Warrior Archetype nature of Richard’s birth chart, as distinct from his handsome Libran Ascendant side.  Chamberlain was playing an English adventurer John Blackthorne who travels to Japan in the 17^th Century, experiencing the political intrigues of the day.  Though John Blackthorne was a fictional character, it was based on a true story.

The Thorn Birds (1983)

This was the last of the big blockbuster mini-series, and for me encapsulated the swoon value of his screen persona: what’s not to like about the forbidden romance with a priest as experienced by Rachel Ward playing opposite?  Well, it was considered cheesy in the extreme, and disliked by the author of the book Colleen McCullough!  It’s another book I did read, and can’t remember whether before or after seeing the film version.  Richard Chamberlain played Father Ralph de Bricassart, and the series was a standout success, winning six Emmies.

Relationships

Richard did not marry or have children – his 5^th House planets were channelled through the acting profession rather than children – but there were two noted relationships in his life.  The first was with Days of our Lives actor Wesley Eure in 1975 and 1976.  The synastry between their charts is outstanding, but perhaps the mores of the day worked against their relationship, and the fact that Richard was not ready to come out as being gay.  Compatibility highlights included Wesley’s Sun sextile Richard’s Moon, and Wesley’s Jupiter on Richard’s Mars/Descendant.

A subsequent relationship which began in 1977 was more open, though its status still not fully acknowledged.  Martin Rabbett was also an actor, and they were together for 40 years, at some point having a private ceremony for their union. They lived together from 1986, and although they split in 2010, they remained friends, and resumed living together at the end of Richard’s life, in Hawaii.  Martin’s Venus was sextile Richard North Node (a karmic love), and his Jupiter was on Richard’s Chiron in 8^th (a healing relationship).  Rabbett is considered to be his immediate and sole survivor.

In December 1989 a French women’s magazine “outed” Richard: relevant transits were Pluto square his Nodal Axis (the truth will out), Chiron on his Midheaven (a wound revealed) and Saturn square to his natal Mars/Descendant (spotlight on his relationships).

As mentioned, in 2003 he wrote his autobiography Shattered Love: A Memoir.  For the first time, he confirmed that he was gay.  His Progressed Sun moved to trine his natal Jupiter (the publishing planet) in his 1^st House.

He died of a stroke, just as Neptune was changing signs and moving into Aries, and Chiron was squaring his natal Pluto in 10^th House.  He was unable to come to terms with as he put it “living a lie” between his public persona and his private life. But professionally, you could say he owned the Prince Charming Archetype, as described in his birth chart. I feel sure that he would like to be remembered for a much more versatile catalogue of roles…a catalogue I have not done justice to in this blog.

“How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul.  Love never dies.”

~ Martin Rebbett

Tariff Day

I can’t let this week pass by without a word about the day Donald Trump took on the world economy: Thursday 2^nd April.  He called it “Liberation Day”.  Other people have called it other things.  His transits were strong highlighting three sextiles:

Saturn (deliberate action) from his 7^th House of Relationships sextiled his natal Midheaven (career direction) in Taurus in his 9^th House of Global Influence.

Chiron (wounds and healing) from Aries in his 8^th House of Shared Resources sextiled his natal Sun (power and self-expression) in Gemini in 9^th House of Global Interference.

Mars in Cancer from his 12^th House of Unconscious (shooting from the hip) sextiled his natal Midheaven in his 9^th House of Global Interaction.

Natally, has the ultimate Entrepreneur Archetype (Jupiter exactly trine Uranus) “The Art of the Deal”.  Jupiter is about to activate this Archetype, so prepare for emboldenment on this theme from him this week` 9/10^th (Wednesday/Thursday) trine Jupiter in his 2^nd House of Finance and 12/13th (Saturday/Sunday) transiting Uranus in his 10^th House of Career, when this is highlighted.  It may represent the extreme end of his excesses, i.e. his behaviour may be extra exaggerated.  That doesn’t mean there cannot be a backlash and concerted action in the world against his actions; there already is.  He may already have hoisted himself on his own petard.

[as I keep using that phrase, hubby asked me this week what a petard was…I found out that the phrase comes from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet]

Aspects

At breakfast-time today, the Sun was sextile Jupiter. It can bring new hope and joy.  It is one of the brightest  aspects of the year.  Focus on what makes you happy, and make more of that.  It may bring the return of an enjoyable leisure pursuit.  Just an observation, that it can correlate with a peaceful protest or backlash in the population: there were protests all over America yesterday against various policies of their new President (the “Hands Off!” protests); when this aspect occurred last August, people came out in peaceful counter-protest against the rioters of Stockport, a humanitarian stance which at the time was seen as magical.

At lunch time today, Venus trined with Mars, bringing about extra chance of harmony, at least in the personal sphere.  The trine represents harmony between the sexes or within your own inner male and female.  It would be a good opportunity for sharing and balancing roles in a partnership, such as career and parenting.  Body awareness, whether it be through sprucing up your yoga routine, or experiencing a massage, could also bring a sense of wellbeing.

Tomorrow (Monday 7^th) starts with a more downbeat conjunction between Venus and Saturn at 25 degrees Pisces.  This is not an easy prospect in terms of relationships or economics.  You will be looking more seriously at your close relationships, and evaluating what is important to you.  The care of the elderly may be a particular preoccupation.  The optimum condition for this conjunction would be loyalty and commitment, but there may need to be some letting go before that can be arrived at.  Finance too will be a cause for concern – more worldwide stock market slumps…?  The present preoccupations are whether we can avoid a recession, due to tariffgate.

But very soon after (the two features come at 11.01 a.m. and 11.08 a.m.) or almost simultaneously, there may be some rallying, for Mercury is Stationary prior to turning Direct.  You may feel that you can catch up on chores which had been put on the back burner.  If you have been struggling with computers, I.T. and broadband connections, or delays in communications you may feel a sense of relief.  You can certainly pick up momentum on some projects which involve paperwork and documentation, and make some more essential journeys.

More rallying on Tuesday (8^th) with Venus sextile Uranus.  There may be a social sparkle somewhere in your life, even if only on social media.  It’s a good day, for the most part, for socializing and meeting new people.  Meetings are significant with the combination of Venus and Uranus, and sometimes they can be strange and spooky with an air of serendipity.  And in the context of the new cabinet, it is a chance for females to innovate.  Interestingly, Richard Chamberlain had both Venus conjunct Saturn, and Venus sextile Uranus in his birth chart and make-up: so it might be a good time to re-read his story, or even look at his autobiography, to get more of a sense of those vibes.

From there we skip to Saturday (12^th) when the Sun conjuncts Chiron at 22 degrees Aries.  This may bring a focus on healing, and problem-solving in relation to crisis management.  Ingenious minds are often born with this conjunction, and so it is possible to reach out for solutions and obtain them under this influence.  Work with old wounds, in the direction of acceptance and integration.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – hope and harmony
• Tomorrow – a serious look at relationships and money
• Tuesday – social sparkle
• Saturday – focus on healing