Oprah’s childhood, home and family life are marked by disruption and conflict (Aries, sign of independence as well as conflict is on the cusp of Oprah’s 4th House of Home and Childhood). She was first raised by her grandmother because her 18-year-old mother could not care for her. At the age of six, Oprah was sent to live with her mother, who over the next several years had two more out-of-wedlock children (half-siblings to Oprah). At eight, Oprah was sent to her father, Vernon, and his wife. Throughout her teens Oprah was shunted back and forth between her mother and father, which resulted not only in a lack of emotional security but in conflict in parental expectations. Her mother, gone much of the time and working long hours, did not care for Oprah’s “book learning,” whereas her father was adamant about education and discipline. In her horoscope, Oprah’s Moon (an indicator of one’s relationship to mother) is in the sign of Sagittarius, which points to distance and space to her mother. Oprah’s Saturn (an indicator of relationship to father) is in Scorpio, which shows a far more intense connection to a strong, controlling figure. In Oprah’s life, her father’s control was a key element in her “rescue” as a young teenager.
In her open Aquarius-Sagittarius fashion, Oprah has shared, on-air and in her magazine, about her personal demons—her shame and guilt about her hidden sexual abuse, her early history with men who treated her badly, her weight problems, and struggle to love herself. She has said much of the pain she has experienced was the result of worrying about what people would think of her.
Another theme in Oprah’s chart is money. The public’s perception of Oprah centers on her superstardom, media presence, power, influence, the humanitarian work. Yet her chart definitely outlines major money. Three planets (Sun, Mercury, and Venus) in her House of Money, plus Pluto, Neptune and Saturn in Houses that relate to money, show an overwhelming theme of financial gain. Indeed, Oprah is a billionaire (she became a millionaire at 30 when she made a syndication deal for her Chicago TV talk show). Interestingly she does not spend her wealth only on herself, her real estate holdings, etc. She has created two huge charities, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and the Angel Network, to which she has given more than $60 million of her own money and raised millions more. Her humanitarian work (Sun, Mercury, and Venus in Aquarius, Moon in Sagittarius, Neptune in 10th House, Moon and Mars in 11th House) has aided lives around the world, contributed to schools, libraries, hospitals, established educational and health centers in South Africa for poor children, and helped to change laws in this country (the Oprah Bill signed into law in 1993 tracks convicted child abusers).
Oprah says, “You become what you believe—not what you wish or want but what you truly believe.” So it would seem that with her Sun in Aquarius, and Moon and Ascendant in Sagittarius, she truly did believe she was special (she told this to her teacher in kindergarten) and she was going to “fly all over this world” (said to her mother when she was eight).
Other Things to Look for in a Chart
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The Elements Formula
There are ten planets in a chart (remember that the Sun and Moon are referred to as planets), and each planet is in a sign. The astrological signs fall into four basic groups called elements. The elements are fire, earth, air, and water.
FIRE SIGNS Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
EARTH SIGNS Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
AIR SIGNS Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
WATER SIGNS Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
What do the four elements mean in a chart?
One of the things to look for in a chart is which elements are dominant and which are weak or lacking. Is there more earth than fire? Does this chart accent water more than air? Does one element dominate or is one element missing? Is this chart evenly balanced among all four elements?
To come up with the answer, you must calculate the Elements Formula in your chart. This is extremely simple to do. You just count the number of planets that are in fire signs, in earth signs, in water signs, and in air signs.
Calculate the Elements Formula for your chart. Now note which elements are most stressed, which elements are least stressed, and which are not present at all.
If a chart is deficient in fire—The subject is likely to have difficulty putting ideas into action. He or she does not tend to promote himself or herself aggressively, and may wait to be motivated by outward circumstances and other people.
If a chart is deficient in earth—The subject is likely to be impractical and may have trouble holding on to money. He or she often lacks the ability to work hard and tends to grow impatient if the results of effort are too long in coming.
If a chart is deficient in air—The subject is likely to have difficulty expressing exactly what he or she means to say. There may be misunderstandings or crossed wires in communicating. He or she is probably not too interested in abstract ideas or intellectual pursuits.
If a chart is deficient in water—The subject likely does not have a lot of sensitivity to other people’s feelings. He or she may be self-oriented or selfish. Also he or she may have difficulty expressing emotion and may keep feelings bottled up.
The Elements Formula is a simple but useful device for seeing the overall picture of a personality at a glance.
The Qualities Formula
Just as you look at a chart to determine what elements are dominant, you should study a chart to see which “qualities” are prominent.
The astrological signs fall into three groups of Qualities. They are Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable.
CARDINAL SIGNS Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
FIXED SIGNS Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius
MUTABLE SIGNS Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces
What do these four qualities mean in a chart?
In the same way that you arrived at an Elements Formula for your chart, count up the planets in the chart that are in Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable signs and write down the Qualities Formula.
If a chart is weighted with the Cardinal quality—The subject is likely to be restless, impatient, or domineering. If a chart has too little of the Cardinal quality, the subject may lack initiative.
If a chart is weighted with the Fixed quality—The subject is likely to be stubborn, rigid, tyrannical, or afraid of change in life. If a chart has too little of the Fixed quality, the subject may have little endurance or stability.
If a chart is weighted with the Mutable quality—The subject is likely to be vacillating, unreliable, or unable to accept responsibility. If a chart has too little of the Mutable quality, the subject may lack adaptability.
What Chart Type Are You?
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THIS INTERESTING personality guide was devised by the well-known American astrologer Marc Edmund Jones in his book The Guide to Horoscope Interpretation. Jones formulated seven distinct personality types based entirely on the pattern that the planets form in a chart.
In this chart analysis, you look only at the picture of the chart. To begin, draw a blank horoscope circle and divide it into twelve sections. Now, referring to your birth chart, place a large dot (one for each planet) in the section of the horoscope in which each planet appears. There should be ten dots in all.
For example, Oprah Winfrey’s birth chart, which looks like this:
has a pattern that looks like this:
Study your pattern, and match it up to one of the following seven types:
In this chart the planets occupy as many signs as possible, scattered all over the twelve sections. This type of person has a great many interests in life, studies or reads about a wide variety of topics, and may be proficient in a number of areas. The problem is that sometimes the Splash type scatters his or her energies.
This chart is similar to the Splash, but the key difference is that there is at least one stellium in the chart. (A stellium is a grouping of three or more planets in one sign.) A Splay person is very individual and refuses to be regimented by other people’s rules or conventions. He or she tends to have unusual tastes and interests and
will follow those dictates and no one else’s.
In this chart the planets are closely grouped together in very few signs. In addition, the signs must all be consecutive. This is the rarest pattern of all seven types. Here, the individual is a specialist—someone whose work or interests revolve around one concern or point of view. Bundle types do best applying themselves to one subject and becoming expert at it.
This pattern is easy to spot because it looks something like a train. The planets range over a large number of signs, and all the signs are consecutive. The locomotive (which is the planet that leads the others in a clockwise position) is usually dominant in the chart, and this segment of the chart is one of the strongest houses. Locomotive people attack problems with drive and energy, and have a great many resources. The dominant planet and house usually give an indication of what area the person is strong in.
In this chart all ten planets fall within six consecutive signs, which gives the pattern the half-circle look of a bowl. The Bowl type tends to be thoughtful and self-contained; these people learn and profit from their experiences in life. They have particularly forceful personalities if the bowl is entirely in the top half or the bottom half of the horoscope circle, or is entirely on the left-hand side (as pictured) or the right-hand side of the horoscope circle.
In this chart eight or nine planets fill one-half of the horoscope circle, and the remaining planet (or two planets together) is in the opposite half of the circle. This tenth planet forms the handle of the Bucket, and is called the Singleton. Bucket people tend to have a single-minded drive toward achieving a goal. They marshal their energies in one direction. Often the Singleton planet indicates the goal or direction that the Bucket type pursues.
This chart has a number of planets on one side of the horoscope circle in consecutive signs, and a number of planets on the opposite side of the circle in consecutive signs. In between the two populated sides of the circle are empty spaces. There must be at least two empty signs on either side of the seesaw. Seesaw personalities are always able to see two sides of a question. They take into consideration opposing viewpoints and opinions, and weigh these when making their decisions. As one astrologer put it, they “see life through a contrasting set of windows.”
In What Part of the Horoscope Are You Strong?
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WHEN LOOKING at the pattern that the planets form in a birth chart, another thing to consider is where the planets appear in the horoscope circle. The various parts of the horoscope circle all have specific meanings. To make this chart analysis, all you will need is your horoscope circle that has the large dots (representing the planets in the chart). Study the layout of the dots in your horoscope, and note which parts of the circle contain the most dots. To begin with, the horoscope circle is divided into halves. There are four halves in the circle—the left half, the right half, the top half, and the bottom half.
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The left half of the circle, called the eastern hemisphere,* represents a person’s impact on the world. The keyword for people who have many planets on this side of the horoscope is that they mold circumstances. These people are able to stamp their environment with the imprint of their own personalities.
The right half of the circle, called the western hemisphere, represents the impact of the world on a person. The keyword for people who have many planets in this half of the horoscope is that they are molded by circumstances. These people are influenced by their surroundings and by the people in their lives; each experience becomes a part of their personality.
The top half of the circle, called the southern hemisphere, emphasizes social and public life. The keyword for this half of the horoscope is outer aim. People with many planets in this top half of the horoscope tend to be oriented toward career or professional life. They are usually involved with the community or the world at large; the approval of the public gives them satisfaction.
The bottom half of the circle, called the northern hemisphere, emphasizes self and family. The keyword for this half of the horoscope is inner aim. People with a majority of planets in this hemisphere are primarily interested in personal pursuits and pleasures, inner goals and satisfactions. This does not mean they don’t achieve in life; it means their primary motivation for achievement is to satisfy themselves.
THERE IS ANOTHER way in which the horoscope is divided. It is divided into quarters.
The first quarter of the horoscope consists of Houses One, Two, and Three. People having many planets in this quarter are highly individual and have strong personalities. They are primarily self-assertive and self-motivated. In their early lives they usually develop the character that will make a mark on the world later in their lives.
The second quarter of the horoscope consists of Houses Four, Five, and Six. Those who have many planets in this quarter are relationship-oriented. They need companionship in their lives to feel satisfaction and harmony. In their early lives they usually develop an instinct for dealing successfully with other people; their associations are likely to bring them contentment later in their lives.
The third quarter of the horoscope consists of Houses Seven, Eight, and Nine. People who have many planets in this quarter are outer-directed and ambitious, but need the cooperation of others to achieve their goals. They are adaptable to a wide variety of situations and people. In their early lives, they usually develop an instinct for cooperation and diplomacy; their relationships are likely to bring them success in their careers.
The fourth quarter of the horoscope consists of Houses Ten, Eleven, and Twelve. People with many planets in this quarter are the most independent and ambitious of all. They make their own way in life, and gain through their own efforts rather than those of other people. In early life they usually learn to depend on themselves; their self-sufficiency is likely to bring them success later in life.
What Is the Ruling Planet of Your Chart?
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Every chart has a ruling planet, which is easy to discover. Simply look at the sign that represents your First House. The planet that naturally rules this sign in the zodiac is the ruling planet of your chart. For example, if Virgo is your First House, the ruling planet of your chart is Mercury. If Sagittarius is your First House, the ruling planet of your chart is Jupiter.
Now carefully note in what sign and in what house your ruling planet appears in your chart. Its position has great influence in your life and to a large extent colors your personality.
Be sure to find your ruling planet and check its position in your chart. This is an important clue when interpreting a horoscope.
What Is the Ruler of Your Sun?
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In a chart, the planet that rules the Sun sign has great significance. This planet (called the dispositor of the Sun) strengthens the power of the Sun in your chart.
If, for example, your Sun sign were Libra, you would study the position of Venus (the ruler of Libra) to see how it influences you.
It is useful to study the planet that rules your Sun and to see its influence in your chart.
What Is the Ruler of Your Moon?
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Just as you looked at the ruler of your Sun sign in your chart, you should study the planet that is the ruler of your Moon sign. If, for example, your Moon were in Aries, the planet Mars (which rules Aries) would be important in your chart.
The Moon, as you remember, gives an indication of your emotional life, of the hidden currents in your personality The position of the ruler of the Moon in your chart underlines the kind of emotional impact you have on others.
Be sure to look at the ruler of your Moon sign. You will find it interesting to figure out how this planet motivates you.
The Four Power Points in Your Chart
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The first things an astrologer examines in a chart are the four Angles of a horoscope. These four Angles are the most important points in a chart; they indicate power, strength, and activity. In astrology, they are sometimes called wide-open
doors, because planets here can act freely and unimpeded.
The four Angles (Power Points) of a horoscope are:
1. the Ascendant.
2. the Descendant.
3. the Nadir (also called the Imum Coeli, the Latin word for “lowest part of the heavens”; often written on charts as I.C.).
4. the Midheaven (also called the Medium Coeli, the Latin word for “middle of the heavens”; often written on charts as M.C.).
The line in a horoscope connecting the Ascendant and Descendant is called the Horizon.
The line in a horoscope connecting the Nadir and the Midheaven is called the Meridian.
In a chart, the line of the Ascendant marks the cusp of the First House.
The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need Page 39
