{"id":8244,"date":"2025-01-26T14:31:49","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T14:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8244"},"modified":"2025-01-26T17:14:13","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T17:14:13","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-26-january-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8244","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 26 January 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cA Complete Unknown\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Biographical Film of Bob Dylan<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how many ears must one man have
\nBefore he can hear people cry?
\nYes, and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows
\nThat too many people have died?<\/em><\/p>\n

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
\nThe answer is blowin’ in the wind\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Bob Dylan, 1962<\/p>\n

Last Monday, hubby and I ventured forth to see the film starring Timothee Chalamet documenting the early years of Bob Dylan\u2019s musical career.\u00a0 It gladdened the heart of these two 75 year olds, and moved us to tears.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Bob Dylan, Birth Chart<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I have written two Dylan blogs to date.\u00a0 Here is a precis of his birth chart from the first one, written when he won the Nobel prize for literature [the Gemini wordsmith]:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u00a0 And five (half) his planets are in his 6th House of work, describing the prolific nature of his output.<\/p>\n

He has Mars in 3rd House (Protesting communication) square his Sun, expressing his anger and activism.<\/p>\n

North Node conjunct Neptune (spiritual leadership) in Virgo in 10th House of Reputation is an interesting feature of his chart.\u00a0\u201c<\/p>\n

Timothee Chalamet, Birth Chart<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chalamet has the Sun, the planet of Acting, in Capricorn at the beginning 5th<\/sup> House of Acting.\u00a0 His character portrayal of Bob Dylan is astonishing.\u00a0 His 10th<\/sup> House cusp (one of two careerpoints) at 3 degrees Gemini is exactly<\/em> conjunct Bob\u2019s natal Sun.\u00a0 He was born to play him.\u00a0 Timothee has 5 planets in ambitious Capricorn in his 5th<\/sup> House of Acting. He has Moon in Pisces, the other sign of the acting profession; the sensitivity as distinct from the showmanship of Leo.\u00a0 He has Mercury exactly conjunct Neptune (the \u201cchanneller\u201d conjunction; well it seemed, however strange, that he was actually channelling a living person!).\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Bob Dylan: Period covered by the film<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The screenplay for A Complete Unknown was based on a 2015 book by Elijah Wald, \u201cDylan Goes Electric!\u201d (on my booklist now).\u00a0 The film begins and ends with Dylan\u2019s visits to see Woody Guthrie, who is languishing in a hospital with Huntington\u2019s Disease (formerly known as Huntington\u2019s Chorea); a span of 4 years, from 1961 to 1965.\u00a0 Guthrie died in 1967.\u00a0 From being a complete unknown (double meaning for his unfathomable character), fostered by Guthrie\u2019s 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I wrote about Pete Seeger when he passed away in 2014.\u00a0 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 \u2013 a few icons from that era are captured exquisitely.\u00a0 Andrew Motion, writing in the Guardian, dubs Norton\u2019s performance as \u201cthe best of all\u201d and Seeger\u2019s role as Dylan\u2019s \u201cJohn the Baptist\u201d.<\/p>\n

Joan Baez<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Two relationships feature in the film, one resembling that with art student Suze Rotolo, given a different name (\u201cSylvie Russo\u201d), but the same role in his life (e.g. appearing on the cover of his album \u201cFreewheelin\u2019 \u201d).\u00a0 Apparently, Dylan (an executive producer of the film) was not happy about her identification in the film.\u00a0 The other girl who featured early in his life and career was of course Joan Baez.<\/p>\n

Timothee\u2019s voice in the film is uncannily close to Dylan\u2019s, and while the casting of Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez is not quite as uncanny, her voice has the purity and pitch of Joan\u2019s.\u00a0 Apparently, she spent years in lessons learning singing and guitar.\u00a0\u00a0 The harmonies when they sang in the film (described as \u201csweetly savage\u201d by Wendy Ide in the Observer) moved me to tears.\u00a0 Joan had a unique ability to translate Bob Dylan\u2019s songs. I wrote about Joan when Dylan received the Nobel Prize for Literature:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n

She says: \u2018The 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\u2019s. None has been more of a pleasure to sing. None will come again.\u201c<\/p>\n

Timothee Chalamet: Life and Career<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chalamet was born in New York City in 1995 (thirty years after the close of the film\u2019s span!) and raised in Manhattan.\u00a0 His father is French, and his mother American-Jewish.\u00a0 He spent a year at Columbia University studying cultural anthropology, but was inspired to pursue acting by the performance of Heath Ledger in \u201cThe Dark Knight\u201d (2008).\u00a0 He was nominated for an Oscar in 2018 for his role in the film \u201cCall Me by Your Name\u201d.\u00a0 In 2019 he starred as Laurie in the film \u201cLittle Women\u201d.\u00a0 He was in a relationship with Madonna\u2019s daughter Lourdes for a year when they were fellow students in High School, but has been with Kylie Jenner since April 2023.<\/p>\n

In 2023, he played the eponymous role in the film \u201cWonka\u201d.\u00a0 And so, to A Complete Unknown, which he co-produced (he really can multi-task) in 2024.\u00a0 The film, directed by James Mangold, was released on 10th<\/sup> December, a day when Venus was sextile the North Node (musical karma) and the Sun trine Chiron (healing ways).\u00a0 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 5th<\/sup> House of Creativity and Acting.<\/p>\n

The film does a good job of capturing the enigmas of Dylan\u2019s character and personality, especially in regard to his relationships.\u00a0 Another of the rapturous qualities of the film is that the music never stops: it carries you with it from scene to scene.\u00a0 Currently showing, don\u2019t miss this film!<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the present now<\/em><\/p>\n

Will later be past<\/em><\/p>\n

The order is<\/em><\/p>\n

Rapidly fadin\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

And the first one now will later be last
\n‘Cause the times, they are a-changin’ \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Bob Dylan, 1964<\/p>\n

Aspects<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have two aspects today, one early evening, one late evening.\u00a0 The first is Mercury sextile Neptune, which ushers in an influx of intense imagination.\u00a0 This aspect will assist you in refining your mindset, because our minds will be open to receiving higher guidance more easily. \u00a0Delicate conversations and channelling will also be made easier.\u00a0 Artistic efforts may also be rewarded.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 Venus in harmony with Uranus is very social and may produce some interesting outward manifestations.\u00a0 Chance meetings are possible and can be strange or seem random.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The three S’s come to mind: spontaneity, synchronicity and serendipity.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow (Monday 27th<\/sup>) brings a third sextile, which can help to establish a good start or a good mood to the week.\u00a0 It\u2019s Mercury sextile the North Node: this brings karmic information to light.\u00a0 Communication is highly significant and imbued with meaning, though subject to differing interpretations according to belief.\u00a0 It is a good day for writing, teaching, tutoring and revising for forthcoming tests, and possibly for health checks.<\/p>\n

The following day (Tuesday 28th<\/sup>) 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.\u00a0 This is about big, bold envisioning of the future.\u00a0 Perhaps there are ideas we have not quite been ready to accept before this point.<\/p>\n

The middle of the week sees a more sombre mood, with a conjunction of Mercury and Pluto on Wednesday (29th<\/sup>) at 1 degree Aquarius. This is about serious thought and communication.\u00a0 If this results in conversations, words will have a profound effect.\u00a0 Deeper motives may be revealed.\u00a0 Listening too is important, and exchanges may become cathartic, if sincerely transacted.\u00a0 Letting go of outworn thoughtforms is also on the cards, in preparation for the next feature.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 But the potential for change this<\/em> year is unprecedented.<\/p>\n

The planet Uranus will be Stationary, prior to turning Direct on Thursday (30th<\/sup>).\u00a0 It is a good time to receive ideas about alleviating any collective, tribal, or social difficulties which you can see.\u00a0 Closer to home, you may see what could be done in the family setting, or in the community.\u00a0\u00a0 Intuition will flow better, and future vision come into view, into greater clarity.\u00a0 However, the trickster element of Uranus may still be in evidence a little longer.<\/p>\n

A very upbeat and joyous aspect takes place that evening, in the shape of the Sun trine Jupiter.\u00a0 For some that might mean a lucky break!\u00a0 Not everyone can win the lottery, but it’s all good and comes on the heels of Uranus starting to show its best side.\u00a0 This is a happy-go-lucky aspect where circumstances allow.\u00a0 It may provide a day of good cheer, adventure, golden opportunity and looking ahead to the future with optimism.\u00a0 If you are visiting friends, the occasion could be a barrel of laughs.<\/p>\n

On Saturday (1st<\/sup> February) we have a conjunction between Venus and Neptune.\u00a0 Inspired artistic and musical expression is assisted.\u00a0 Idealized and spiritual love may also be on the menu.\u00a0 You may find inspired ways to show love.\u00a0 With Neptune being in Pisces there is an idealized element to love (being in love, as distinct from loving).<\/p>\n

The week in bullet points:<\/p>\n