We Failed Amber Heard: An Astrological Portrait of Mass Deception and the Failure to Believe Women

With the ash having settled from the Depp v. Heard trial, I want to explore a loaded question: why don’t we believe women? The natal chart of this trial paints an evocative portrait of the grotesque intersection between public opinion, misogyny, and deception.

 Before diving in, here is a brief retelling of the circumstances: Johnny Depp (Depp) sued Amber Heard (Heard) for defamation arising from a 2018 article in the Washington Post titled I spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change. While Heard’s name is listed as author, it would later come out that the ACLU penned the piece (to which they later testified). Depp is not mentioned by name in the article. Previously, Depp lost a libel lawsuit against British tabloid The Sun, who printed in 2018 that he was a “wife beater”. Note that in the U.K., it is notoriously hard to win libel suits if you are a publication. As part of the trial, evidence of Depp’s abuse (as provided by Heard’s team) was found to be “substantially true.”  The Sun continues to label Depp a “wife beater” in all articles run about him.

 So, Depp sued Heard for defamation because of an article in which is he not named and sued Heard (not the ACLU or The Washington Post) to the tune of $50 million dollars, money he knew she didn’t have. Depp asserted that Heard partook in a years-long, elaborate hoax against him, and that she had violently abused him.

 The trial began on April 11, 2022, in Fairfax, VA. Based on the Fairfax County Circuit Court’s scheduled start times for civil cases that commence on a Monday, we can reasonably assume a 10:00am event time.

 Here are the most notable observations of the chart, paired with a recounting of the climate and media blitz surrounding the case:

 Gemini ASC. The amount of documentation, recordings, soundbites, testimony, etc. speaks to the energy of Gemini. Like most cases, this was information heavy. It also represents how, months later, views on the trial are shifting. Views on the case shifted in real time as well. An absolute flurry of opinion, which I must note substantially differs from fact. Gossip is also firmly in the Gemini ballpark.

Sagittarius is the 7th house, in part representing how the case was viewed from the perspective of the other. While the public forum lives in the 11th house, the collection of personal perspective in the 7th galvanized how the trial came to be viewed by the masses (trine). Sagittarius operates on belief, specifically societal/overarching belief, which also substantially differs from fact. The reactions to Heard were mostly formed from gut. And the collective gut reaction to a woman alleging abuse against a publicly admired man is to not believe her. And to place upon her the burden of having to be the “perfect” victim in order to be taken seriously. (Recordings of Heard criticizing and belittling Depp were justifiably awful to hear. Descriptions of her own erratic and violent behavior were also justifiably appalling. But policing a woman’s response to abuse, limiting her to a narrow set of expectations, represents a metastasized societal tendency to silence women who speak up.)

Mercury in Taurus in the 12th house. Ruler of the ASC in the 12th house exacerbates difficulties around understanding. In Taurus, Mercury has a slow and thorough approach to information, antithetical to the Gemini rush. Mercury is the only personal planet in Earth here, and hanging in the 12th, indicates that information spread born out of practical application of the facts was hard to come by. Mercury in the 12th can also indicate a degree of hidden information, lies, mistellings, and misgivings. The public couldn’t know all there was to know but postured as if it did anyway. Declarative statements of Heard’s guilt, her sociopathic tendencies, her body (Taurus) language (Mercury)—all contributed to Heard’s now damaged reputation.

Many times, Heard was called a liar, her words picked over with a finely judgmental comb. For instance, the kerfuffle around whether Heard “donated” or “pledged” money to the ACLU. She used these words synonymously. Yet in cross examination, she was unfairly grilled about if she actually gave all of what she intended to give to the ACLU. She pledged several million to the ACLU, to be donated over the course of many years. ACLU would later confirm this agreement and confirm that they had already received one million from Heard. This was not a gotcha moment. But the public ran with it as if it was.

So, see, in the 12th house, Mercury is subject to subterfuge and vagaries. A simple semantic error, despite evidence to the contrary, was held against Heard. (Note how Depp’s sarcastic remarks and smirks were publicly lauded, while Heard’s testimony and delivery was routinely mocked).

Mercury forms an out of sign square to Pluto, which deepens cruelty of speech and spiteful bandwagoning. Men’s rights groups and sympathizers, formed in the fallout of the Me Too movement, used this trial and the public humiliation of Heard to strengthen a fundamental tenet of their cause: women lie, and men are the real victims. The corrosive nature of Pluto undermined a Venus narrative. (Men can be victims of domestic abuse. But anti-Heard groups campaigned less on that legitimacy, and more on vitriol for women and reclamation of power over them.)

Jupiter and Neptune conjunct in the 10th house. This is perhaps the most telling area of the chart. On this day, Jupiter and Neptune were in an exact conjunction at 23 degrees of Pisces. They were also forming an exact square to the Gemini ASC at 23 degrees. In my view, this set up ensured there was no way Heard would have a fair trial. The Jupiter-Neptune conjunction is one of hype, mass confusion and ubiquity. The way this trial played out on social media was the most evocative manifestation of this planetary mirage. No matter where you went on the Internet, you were bombarded with footage of this trial. On social media particularly, campaigns against and jokes at the expense of Heard went viral. Jupiter is an expansive energy, made even more powerful by its dignified placement in Pisces. Jupiter is the bully pulpit.  And Neptune infused that platform lies and falsehoods that spread quickly. There was no seeing anything clearly or objectively. Jupiter with Neptune created both the negative hype around Heard, and the positive, almost hero-worship, hype around Depp. In the 10th house, this conjunction forms the legacy of this case.

The square to the ASC from both planets worsened misunderstanding and fueled the media circus. With Jupiter square a Gemini angle we see both information overload and aggrandizement. With Neptune square a Gemini angle we see glamorization and deception. The collection of small lies and misconceptions (Gemini) over time can be regarded as the truth (Jupiter).

As a personal aside, I, and maybe you, fell victim to the narrative spins of this trial. Tweets and Tik-Toks inundated me with a one-sided take: Heard was the villain. Regretfully, I ran with that. Under a Jupiter-Neptune conjunction, it is easier to drink the Kool-Aid. While I never steeped so low as to publicly mock her, sign petitions against her, or engage passionately in her humiliation (that I know of…we all absent-mindedly ‘like’ questionable takes on Twitter)—I still regret second guessing her. I was an unwitting accomplice in a culture that bashes women. Even pretty, white, and wealthy women. That’s just the programing we absorb. I am happy I exposed myself to information that in turn exposed my blind spots and inspired this piece.  

Sun in Aries in the 11th house, with Chiron. The life of this case was firmly steeped in public opinion and spectacle. The razzle dazzle of a celebrity trial. But the presence of Chiron amplified a public pain. In one interpretation, this can represent Heard having to re-live difficult events for the entire world to see. Heard’s own natal Mercury in Aries formed a conjunction to Chiron, representing speaking about and reflecting upon one’s own pain. Heard’s natal Chiron in Gemini is another astrological avenue through which we see salting of her wounds—on display in the 1st house of the trial chart. In another more symbolic interpretation, Chiron here can represent a societal wounding—what humanity still must heal. And that is the way that we treat women.

Moon in Leo in the 3rd house. This Moon placement underscores the entertainment element of this case. The soulful purpose of this case having been to bring things into visibility, to give them attention (Leo). The Moon can also, at least here, point towards the embodiment of the feminine. So, the Moon’s opposition to a dignified Saturn in Aquarius, representing the patriarchy at large, insists upon a contentious relationship between these polarities—what is traditional in a man’s world, and what is suffered as a woman in a man’s world. The Moon’s need for care is neglected when facing off with Saturn like this. Law, order, and courtrooms are a 9th house topic. Strengthen by a rigid Saturn, Heard ultimately fell victim to the larger patriarchal industrial complex (remember those rigid and narrow expectations mentioned above?) . The soul of this case was fundamentally weakened by long-standing system that reinforces the subjugation of women. Note also that the 9th house can be where we find firmly entrenched belief (especially with Saturn-rulership and presence), and the 3rd house is where we find individual perception that can run counter to these beliefs. In the end, Heard’s testimony wasn’t sufficient enough to crack a centuries-old, cemented view on women and the legitimacy of their stories.

Mars and Venus conjunct the MC. The midheaven of this chart sits between Venus and Mars. Instantly I thought of the classic he-said, she-said dynamic, with both Venus and Mars elevated and insistent on telling their sides of things. Also, this case hinged upon domestic abuse. Mars is violence and Venus is relationship. Venus is exalted in the sign of Pisces, which you may think is good here. But remember that close-by, Jupiter and Neptune sat in their intoxicating conjunction, sending tumultuous waves through the waters Venus found itself in. Mars on the other hand was conjunct Saturn in Aquarius. Venus’s placement in Pisces may have been more influenced by Jupiter-Neptune falsehoods, subjecting Heard (the woman) to widespread disbelief. Pisces is also far more impressionable than Aquarius, becoming whatever you view it as, or at the very least inspiring confusion. So, Venus was also subject to misconception and projection. We saw Heard how we wanted to see Heard. Venus was also unaspected by any other major planet, creating a quality of elusiveness that could be read as deceit. Mars on the other hand is in a fixed sign and supported by conjunction to Saturn. Mars also sees and influences the ASC via trine. The Saturn-tinged Mars outlook flowed more smoothly. Mars also formed a sextile to the Sun in Aries and ruled the 11th house. In the most basic terms, the man’s perspective won here through simple dominance of energy. And it didn’t matter if that perspective was founded upon misogyny and malice. We are more keen to believe that Heard was the evil mastermind behind a complex and years-long scheme to bring down Depp than we are to believe that Depp abused Heard point blank.

To add, asteroid Juno, which symbolizes marriage and partnership, was between Mars and Saturn at the time, giving a leg up to Depp’s experience of the marriage over Heard’s experience.

Saturn square the North Node (NN) in Taurus. Saturn sat at 22 degrees of Aquarius and formed an exact square to the NN in Taurus, also at 22 degrees. In short, Saturn could be seen here as obstructing the free flow of collective growth towards Taurean ideals. Amplification of the divine feminine is one of those. And that can include respecting women, security for women. With the NN in the 12th house, no doubt this case had and will have a continuing impact on the collective, even if imperceptible for now…with the Saturn square representing a kind of harsh redirect of fate. When Depp won, many feminist activists warned that his victory could start a slow regression of woman’s rights, that it could mark the end of what has been achieved under the Me Too movement. It was not only a loss for Heard, but a loss for women everywhere.

The 12th house highlights marginalized communities, segments of society that are thrown over to the margins. There is no light in the 12th. And if this sounds dramatic, think about all that has been stripped away from women this year alone, from the Roe v. Wade reversal to the stripping of rights from women in Afghanistan to the gender-based violence resulting from the war in Ukraine. When the nodes are in play, these individual events add up in remarkably important ways.

***

Reader, I hope this has been a valuable intellectual and spiritual exercise for you. I hope that you were able to learn more about how Astrology works in real life, through humans and events, and ground some of what can feel abstract at times. Moreover, I hope this has poked a restless nerve in you, that it can help you rewrite or at least think more critically about the narratives we hold about and against women. May this trial be a critical learning moment that helps embolden, not erode, women’s rights, women’s value, and women’s stories.

Jennette McCurdy & The Blessing of the Saturn Return

I’ve previously written about singer JoJo, and how her Saturn Return ended up being a prosperous time in her life. (Humble brag: she read it!)

Anyway, I wanted to examine Jennette McCurdy of Nickelodeon fame (Sam & Cat, iCarly, etc.). Her name has been buzzing around a lot lately due to the imminent release of her memoir: I'm Glad My Mom Died

TW: mentions assault

Here is Jennette's chart, Rodden rated A. Below is a listing of biographical events from her memoir matched up against what I've seen in Jennette's chart.

1) Let's address that title. McCurdy has Pluto in Scorpio in the 10th house, as the most elevated planet (closest to the midheaven). In some way, this indicates a public life, a career, and an image that is Plutonian in nature. Death is Plutonian--specifically humor around death, which McCurdy has used as a coping mechanism. There is something distinctly taboo about the paths 10H Pluto individuals take. Unfortunately, this raised up Pluto also predisposed her ascent into celebrity and status to be mired in controversy, control, and criminally abhorrent behavior. (Out on the other end, a public life that is transformational and healing for those on the receiving end of McCurdy's gifts)

2) Her Mom. McCurdy has a Moon-Pluto opposition between Taurus and Scorpio, respectively. This opposition can manifest as a mother or childhood marked by extreme control, abuse of power, and in more abject cases, sexual and physical assault. It at the very least indicates a degree of intensity always at play. With this 4H Moon-10H Pluto configuration, her mom and childhood inevitably factor heavily in her career trajectory. And such was the case--McCurdy's mom intended for her daughter to become an actor, a failed dream of her own that she forced upon her daughter and then lived vicariously through. Her mother was sexually abusive, emotionally abusive, and encouraged McCurdy to restrict calories, leading to anorexia and bulimia that began at age 11. Her mom also had anorexia, untreated. She also forced McCurdy to work very long and grueling hours and to undergo invasive physical "exams" to make sure she didn't have cancer (McCurdy's mom had breast cancer when McCurdy was 2, and subsequently died when the cancer recurred 19 years later).

The Taurus Moon opposing Pluto can present as an obsessive need to control one's body--how it looks, how it is being nurtured, how it is perceived. It can also present as anxiety around death and illness, with hypervigilent Pluto always directing the Taurus Moon (where the physical body reigns supreme) to look after the body and maintain the health/beauty of the body in excessive and dangerous ways. That this behavior wad made manifest through her mom speaks to the exalted nature of the Moon in Taurus (insistent) in the 4H. Exalted planets can become caricatures, and can represent both our tendencies and the way others show up in our lives. Especially so as oppositions tend to manifest outwardly in relationship dynamics. (Taurus caricatures: obsessed with beauty, the body, hedonism, materialistic, etc.)

McCurdy also has Mars in Taurus in the 4H--the battlefield was home (mother threw things at her and her siblings, etc.). Taurus things, like rest, food, beauty and self-care, were weaponized against McCurdy. (Note: Mars is debilitated in Taurus, which may not incline one to fight back or assert themselves. Mars in Taurus fights to maintain peace and stability, which sometimes means becoming passive)

Both Mars and Moon answer to Venus in Cancer in the 6th house, a sensitive and loving placement that can long to please and serve others to the detriment of caring for itself.

Also, McCurdy was forced into acting, among other reasons, in order to support her family monetarily. It also turns out her small fortune was mishandled (by...her mother?) (Taurus caricatures).

3) Holy T-Square. The Moon-Pluto opposition in McCurdy's chart is being square by Saturn rising in Aquarius, conjunct the degree of the ascendant forming the stressful T-square aspect, which between fixed signs is among the most difficult to deal with. Harder to deal with as both Saturn and Pluto can represent malefic energy, and because the Moon is involved--emotional well-being. Saturn's influence also looks like control, but where Pluto deploys psychological and emotional weaponry, Saturn's control comes to us in the form of real-world structures. Also, authority figures. Her mom played the role of one authority figure, who McCurdy recalled she was eager to please. But Saturn also came in the form of the patriarchal and predatory conditions at Nickelodeon, on the set of Sam & Cat. Forced to drink, called obscenities, bikini photos taken without consent. Her mom never stepped in, resigning it all to normal Hollywood dynamics.

So, she was failed by the industry and left unprotected. Also, she wasn't allowed to pursue other projects, in stark contrast to her co-star Ariana Grande. In her memoir, McCurdy's states that Nickelodeon offered her money, to the tune of 300k, to keep quiet about her experiences (Saturn square Pluto and the depths authority can sink to in order to maintain power), but she turned it down. (Yas!)

In a night chart, Saturn is her out-of-sect malefic, making it her most difficult planet. On the ascendant, the maleficence plays out through the identity and the body. Symbolically, Saturn rising represents a lack of expression or agency over one's life, and a type of life that is weathered and eroded by constant difficulty. Saturn limits. Saturn says NO. Saturn also represents that which shrinks...also: bones, teeth, and aging. So anorexia and bulimia (which rotted McCurdy's teeth) were evocative embodiment's of Saturn influence over the house of appearance and vitality. McCurdy notes that she was afraid of aging, because she thought her mother would not love her anymore (Saturn square Moon).

4) Saturn as apex. Saturn is the apex planet in this T-square, indicating that it is a point of release and mitigation out from the all-consuming intensity of the Moon-Pluto opposition. Positively, Saturn represents self-discipline, doing the work on yourself, and finding the practical and sustainable middle-ground out from the hysterics of Moon opposite Pluto. In 2013, when McCurdy's mother died, she quit acting. Around this time, transit Saturn was forming the opening square to her natal Saturn. It is also around this time (ages 21-23) that we start the process of striking out on our own (i.e. graduating college and entering the workforce). This period of time bears a semblance to the Saturn Return, with certain themes repeating (the Saturn cycle). It wasn't until McCurdy's Saturn Return (currently still in progress) that she penned this memoir, after years of therapy. (McCurdy's 8th house Jupiter can, among other things, represent the expansion and reclaimed joy that comes as a result of talk therapy).

Saturn Returns are an opportune time to look back in order to move forward. In fact, a lot of public figures end up writing memoir's during their first or second Saturn Return--coincidentally. The first Saturn Return marks a period of time where childhood (0-28/29 in Saturn speak) needs to be reckoned with. This reflection ushers in a new phase of adulthood with the clarity of a sobered and mature mind. Many endings, but also many beginnings. And most importantly, you have a huge chunk of lived experience that can contribute to wisdom and self-acceptance.

In McCurdy's case, the work she has put into reevaluating who she is out from under the influence of her mother appears to have at least partially paid off--with a popular new book on the way and a reemergence into the spotlight on her own terms. Plus, the love, support and adoration of fans and colleagues. Career-wise, she is finding success in being a TV-writer, a playwright, a podcaster, and novelist. All of this, finally, self-directed and chosen by herself, for herself.

On a more global scale, McCurdy's revelations about working at Nickelodeon, and outing a popular producer as a predatory (the internet sleuths found out who it was), will contribute to the on-going reconstruction of an exploitative industry, and lend testimony to other victimized women. Pluto in the 10H--she is a transformer.

Though, not without regret, McCurdy admitted how ashamed she is of her iCarly and Sam & Cat roles, calling them "embarrassing and cheesy". That, too, is part of the Saturn Return--owning up to past misgivings, mistakes, and regrettable actions. Hopefully intending not to make them again. (In her case, clearly had no control over it one way or another)

This Saturn Return has given McCurdy the gift of identity and dignity. To seriously work on yourself, to face the shadows in your life, in yourself, and to resolve to become stronger for them--all a testament to Saturn,. You are responsible for your life, no matter the cards dealt. And that is...freeing. Emotional and mental stability naturally arise, Saturn's influence fortifying what we strive towards. The intensity of her Moon-Pluto opposition has found solid landing ground, more able to do the transformational emotional work and (generational) healing potentialized in this configuration. The intensity now lives inside a very capable adult, and can be channeled cathartically.

Her next 30 years look bright :) And FWIW I think she is an emotional warrior badass (as Cancers are :) Very inspiring.

TDLR: Jennette McCurdy is glad her mom died, has overcome a LOT, and is kicking absolute ass at her Saturn return.

The Relationships Between all 12 Houses: Sextile, Square, Trine, Opposition

You know about the aspects between planets. Let’s dive into the natural “aspects” or relationships between the houses—how some areas of life are supportive of or flow with other areas of life. And how some areas of life pose challenges to developing other areas of life. This can be a great foundation when looking at any chart—to know how the houses interact with one another, how the signs color that interaction, and how the planets add their agenda to that interaction.

I’ve never seen this written about anywhere at length. So I wrote it myself. May it make your natal chart readings easier!

The Sextile; opportunity

1st house to 3rd house: The 1st house of identity and appearance is invigorated by the 3rd house of communication and familiarity. To communicate who you are. The way you see and perceive the world has an impact on who you are. Your early surroundings, schooling, and environments can shape who you are. Alternatively, the 3rd house is stimulated by the personality of the 1st. To have a unique voice and story to tell. The familiar faces in the 3rd house may be the first audience to whom we perform ourselves. Our appearance may be shaped by our surroundings (i.e., wearing what you see people at school wearing, or rebelling against it)

2nd house to 4th house: The 2nd house of material and immaterial security is supported by the 4th house of home, roots, foundation, and privacy. Acts of self-care may be performed in the sanctuary of home. Our relationship to value and material may be informed by the family we are born into. To feel rooted in the 4th house supports the growth of confidence in the 2nd house. Alternatively, the means we gain in the 2nd house may afford us home and privacy, or otherwise help us earn a sense of groundedness or belonging.

3rd house to 5th house: The 3rd house of communication and familiarity is supported by the 5th house of creativity, play and pleasure. All creative endeavors may start first with a unique point of view. Play and recreation can keep the mind fresh, and open to receive new information. We may first play in our immediate environments. The 5th house also supports the 3rd house by turning insight into expression. Children are very expressive and speak their mind freely.

4th house to 6th house: The 4th house of home, roots, foundation and privacy is supported by the 6th house of health, routine, service and mastery of skill. Being able to perform service to the world is enhanced by having a private and personal space to recharge in. Some may fall into trades that have a family lineage (i.e., coming from a long line of cobblers or actors). Our illnesses may be hereditary, and we are first modeled how to tend to our health by our parents. Standing proudly in our personal culture and ancestry may inform the work we wish to do in the world.

5th house to 7th house: The 5th house of creativity, play and pleasure is supported by the 7th house of others. Having fun with another person can be additive. Or some may wish to enjoy life with a partner, best friend, or confidant. Partnership itself may be the pleasure. Flirtation, dating and romance may be a delightful precursor to partnership. Our creations are enhanced when they are witnessed and received by others, or when we are able to share the process of creation with another (collaboration). It takes two to make a child.

6th house to 8th house: The 6th house of health, routine, service and mastery of skill is supported by the 8th house of shared assets, the occult, intimacy and complexity. The depth of the service we offer the world may be enhanced by a willingness to peer into the self. Compensation for a job comes from an employer with whom you share an implicit contract, and through whom you pay taxes. If you are the employer, you may be involved in large and complex transactions on behalf of another. Occult interests may turn into daily practice or devotions. Our physical health may be impacted by the baggage we carry or may be enhanced by closeness with another. To become deeply enmeshed with the work you do.

7th house to 9th house: The 7th house of others is supported by the 9th house of foreign experience, education, philosophy, and faith. Other people may support our discovery of meaning in the 9th house—partners, teachers, friends. Interactions with other human beings can spur experience and wisdom. The people we meet along the way inevitably factor into how we make sense of the human experience. Relationships are schools. To learn of a different culture takes willingness to sit down with or learn from others.

8th house to 10th house: The 8th house of shared assets, the occult, intimacy, and complexity is supported by the 10th house of reputation, legacy, and public image. The work we do on ourselves in the 8th house may show up in the character we portray at large. Intimate bonds may shape the trajectory of our lives. Occult work may be used to affect a real-world accomplishment or mission. And the investments we make in ourselves, financially and otherwise, may galvanize us into embodying the life we aspire to.

9th house to 11th house: The 9th house of foreign experience, education, philosophy, and faith is supported by the 11th house of networks, groups, and allies. We may perform our faith with groups of people (i.e., church, seminars, workshops). The education and experience we gain in the 9th house may find us with groups of people who have similar experience. To learn of the world helps us take focus off the self and put it onto the group. Our faith systems may make us sensitive to particular societal issues. We may campaign on ideologies and world views that are formed in the 9th house. We tend to seek out people who confirm our beliefs.

10th house to 12th house: The 10th house of reputation, legacy and public image is supported by the 12th house of loss, mental and spiritual health, and isolation. We may become moved to take certain actions in the world based on intuition. Our mission in the world may be born out of a need to help, support or heal. People, places, and things that leave our lives make necessary space for us to become wise to our true path. No accomplishment comes without sacrifice or surrender. Expressing the 12th house productively heals the tendency to become inert or self-destructive. Tending to our mental health may help us show up brighter in the world.  

11th house to 1st house: The 11th house of networks, groups, and allies supports the 1st house of identity and appearance. We express ourselves within the groups who accept and receive those expressions. We may come more into ourselves with the support of a community of others. We may be compelled to distinguish ourselves amidst the population at large. The 11th house is where we give the offering of ourselves.

12th house to 2nd house: The 12th house of loss, mental and spiritual health, and isolation supports the 2nd house of material and immaterial security. Through loss or isolation, we may come to figure out what we truly value. We learn that money and status isn’t everything. Contact with the divine may help us locate our own divinity, and the value that we intrinsically have.  Isolation may teach us self-reliance. Pouring into our own cup helps us to pour into others. We may use our own material abundance to uplift and support the unsupported. Philanthropy and charity.

The Square; cross-purposes

1st house to 4th house: The 1st house of identity and appearance may be impeded by the 4th house of home, roots, foundation, and privacy, and vice versa. Our families may malign our individuality or force us to live according to expectation. We may not have been allowed to be our full selves growing up. Or the conditions we endured growing up may have forced us to deny our true character. Our origin story and generational traumas may dwarf our ability to be self-assured, confident, and authentic. Our outer self may belie the true depth of our character. To perform a false identity, perhaps out of the fear of being found out or exposed. Alternatively, our responsibility to home or family may limit the freedom we have to be ourselves. Our attention to being perceived by others may be to the detriment of perceiving and being alone with ourselves.

2nd house to 5th house: The 2nd house of material and immaterial security may be impeded by the 5th house of creativity, play and pleasure, and vice versa. It is difficult to make a decent living as a creator. Artists, teachers (of children) and sex workers are not valued writ large. We may not have the income to pursue our passions, and our passions may not make us an income. Some may use sex as a throughway to importance or validation. Focusing too much on living a fun life may detract from creating a life of meaning and substance. We may overindulge with things like shopping or gambling. Taking unnecessary risk that jeopardizes our security.

3rd house to 6th house: The 3rd house of communication and familiarity may be impeded by the 6th house of health, routine, service, and mastery of skill, and vice versa. Our interests in the 3rd house may not parlay into an actual job, and our jobs may not be mentally stimulating. It may be hard to turn ideas into a workable reality. The mentors or information we need to build mastery may not be immediately obvious or available. Duty and responsibility may have a way of squelching out original thought. Work that doesn’t allow us to express all of what we know, or diminishes our feedback. The busyness of the 3rd house may jeopardize our health in the 6th house. The information overwhelm when trying to find a solution or cure to a chronic illness.

4th house to 7th house: The 4th house of home, roots and foundation and privacy may be impeded by the 7th house of others, and vice versa. Our partners may not be accepted by our families, or our partners may not like our families. Responsibility to home and family may jeopardize the bandwidth you have to be with other people. You can never truly know everything about someone. There is an urgency and tension around finding the “right” person to settle down and build a home with. Relationships with in-laws are notoriously wrought with challenge.

5th house to 8th house: The 5th house of creativity, play and pleasure may be impeded by the 8th house of shared assets, the occult, intimacy, and complexity, and vice versa. The tension between lightening up and getting serious. Too much attention to matters of depth, complexity or darkness may be to the detriment of seeing the bright side and enjoying life. Too much attention to having a surface-level and easy experience may be to detriment of acknowledging the depth and complexity of life. Taxes are no fun. Professional artists may have to negotiate with brokers, agents, managers, unable to have immediate access to their money. Dating, flirting and romance may be jeopardized by getting deep or getting attached too quickly. Chronic dating (i.e., the bachelor life) may deprive you of true intimacy and commitment. Authentic expression is the most vulnerable act.

6th house to 9th house: The 6th house of health, routine, service, and mastery of skill may be impeded by the 9th house of foreign experience, education, philosophy, and faith, and vice versa. Our duty to a job or service may limit our freedom to explore the world and its various beliefs and cultures. But constantly being on a quest for meaning may detract from committing to a path of actual service. Sometimes the education and experience we need to get a job is tedious, difficult, or hard to come by. Doing work that has no meaning to you. Getting a degree but being unable to get a respectable job. Having your faith be tested when confronted with the tedium of everyday life. Finding it hard to put faith, theory, and belief into practice or action.

7th house to 10th house:  The 7th house of others may be impeded by the 10th house of reputation, legacy, and public image, and vice versa. Our dedication to career and accomplishment may be to the detriment of nourishing healthy relationships. The commitments we have to others may limit our ability to reach towards our goals. Difficult relationships with people in your career or field. Liking the job but not liking the people. Liking the people but not liking the job. Other people may tarnish our hard work and our legacy. Having to let people down, or careers that involve difficult conversations or dynamics with others. Domineering personalities.

8th house to 11th house: The 8th house of shared assets, the occult, intimacy, and complexity may be impeded by the 11th house of networks, groups, and allies, and vice versa. This may demonstrate the tension of being an introvert in an extrovert’s world. Necessary introspection and self-examination that is complicated the societal messages we receive. Having to make the necessary investments to belong to a group or a club, both explicitly and implicitly (i.e., paying dues to receive the perks of belonging to a group or investing in law school to receive the societal status of being a lawyer). The advice of your therapist weighed against the advice from your friends. Occult practices are widely shunned or ridiculed by society at large. The taboos of society that weigh us down but that are routinely ignored. Being involved in community to the detriment of developing intimate one-on-one bonds. Being subsumed by a relationship so that you are effectively alienated from community.

9th house to 12th house: The 9th house of foreign experience, education, philosophy, and faith, may be impeded by the 12th house of loss, mental and spiritual health, and isolation, and vice versa. Rigid beliefs about ourselves and the world may jeopardize our mental health. Or our mental health may limit our ability to freely explore. Feeling burdened by unknown fears and suspicions. The 9th house may be where we fall into beliefs of convention, where in the 12th house we develop a personal religion and relationship to the divine—being unsure which to follow. Loss and hardship may spur crises of faith. 12th house sensitivities being triggered by exposure. The tension between alone time and galivanting. Wandering and also feeling lost.

10th house to 1st house: The 10th house of house of reputation, legacy, and public image may be impeded by the 1st house of identity and appearance, and vice versa. Sometimes the ways we show up in the world aren’t acceptable to the structures we wish to succeed within. The way we appear may limit our potential for worldly success (i.e., not getting hired based on your name or race). The tension between your professional self and your “real” self. The difficulty of finding careers and paths where you can fully be yourself. What you want versus what the world expects of you. To have your humanity be trampled by authoritarian people or regimes.

11th house to 2nd house: The 11th house of networks, groups and allies may be impeded by the 2nd house of material and immaterial security, and vice versa. Sometimes your personal values and the values of society or a community are out of step. The tension of pouring into yourself versus pouring into a group, community, or a cause. Not feeling you have the resources to affect the change you wish to see in the world. The ways certain populations of people have been disenfranchised and impoverished due to the sentiments of society. Wanting validation from a group to the detriment of validating yourself. Alternatively, being too self-involved when invited to contribute meaningfully to the collective.

12th house to 3rd house: The 12th house of loss, mental and spiritual health, and isolation may be impeded by the 3rd house of communication and familiarity, and vice versa. Often, it can be our thoughts that contribute to our self-undoing. Negative thinking. The tension between knowing something on a soul level versus needing to know something on a tangible or intellectual level. The war between what is knowable and what is unknowable. Possibly, the disconnect between head and heart. Busyness in the 3rd house keeps us away from the necessary isolation of the 12th house. Getting quiet enough to hear the whispers of spirit.

The Trine; seamless support

1st house to 5th house: The 1st house of appearance and identity is in harmony with the 5th house of creativity, play and pleasure. What we create in the 5th house leaves evidence of our existence, our unique mark on the world. These creations can take the form of art, children, or even protégés. To live on through what you create. The marriage of self and expression: self-expression. Wholeheartedly engaging in pleasure and play builds a bridge of connection back to ourselves. When we are dating, it is an act of showcasing the self. When we pursue pleasure, it is an act of loving and celebrating the self. When we are enraptured by activities that inspire flow states, we briefly forget about ourselves.

2nd house to 6th house: The 2nd house of material and immaterial security is in harmony with the 6th house of health, routine, service, and mastery of skill. When we become good at and dedicate ourselves to a skill, not only can it provide us an income, but also a sense of importance and value. The confidence we build in the 2nd house enhances how we show up on the job, and the quality of our work. We may also use our own resources to further our service in the 6th house. Caring for and maintaining our health is an act of self-care. Our 2nd house needs—food, shelter, water, sleep, dignity—when tended to daily, pattern themselves into a healthy lifestyle. From there we can keep showing up in the world and keep doing the work.

3rd house to 7th house: The 3rd house of communication and familiarity is in harmony with the 7th house of others. The partners and friends we find in the 7th house may naturally be receptive to our ideas and thoughts. Relationships thrive on healthy communication. Overtime, the bonds we form with people in the 7th house create a sense of familiarity or family. Or the people we keep bumping into become lifelong partners. Opinions thrive on being communicated to others, even if they do not agree. Other people can help us reframe or rethink how we see things or challenge us to grow and learn.

4th house to 8th house: The 4th house of home, roots, foundation, and privacy is in harmony with the 8th house of shared assets, the occult, intimacy, and complexity. The introspection we do in the 8th house is supported by the privacy of the 4th house. Naturally, we may engage in occult practices at home. For some, occult practices and psychic sensitivities are inherited from family, or supported by ancestral work. Inheritances tend to come from family--homes, land, or even the continuance of a legacy. The foundation of the 4th house can also provide a sense of safety and refuge when dealing with the complexities of the 8th house.

5th house to 9th house: The 5th house of creativity, play and pleasure is in harmony with the 9th house of foreign experience, education, philosophy, and faith. For some, education, philosophy, and faith are simply uplifting and enhancive. Travel, adventure, and education can support and deepen the joy we have for life.  The 9th house gives meaning to 5th house creations. In the 9th house, we are also exposed to many other avenues through which to enjoy life. If the 5th house is where we experience sensory and physical pleasure, the 9th house is where that pleasure expands into mental or cerebral territory, giving us a more robust experience of indulgence and gratification.

6th house to 10th house: The 6th house of health, routine, service and mastery of skill is in harmony with the 10th house of reputation, legacy and public image. The success we envision for ourselves in the 10th house is made possible by the day-to-day work we do in the 6th house. This is the seamless route from vocation to career. Taking ourselves and our work seriously is what will, overtime, lead to worldly accomplishment, recognition, and respect. Likewise, the image we create in the 10th house is made more meaningful by the attention to detail and competence in the 6th house. To be known for something that enhances the lives of others. Taking care of our bodies and creating sustainable systems also enhances our ability to reach for our goals.

7th house to 11th house: The 7th house of others is in harmony with the 11th house of networks, groups, and allies. Our involvement in community can introduce us to meaningful people with whom we create meaningful connections. The causes we align ourselves with may put us in contact with the individuals who we desire to help or uplift (i.e., a politician sits down to talk with a veteran).  Alternatively, the partnerships we form in the 7th house can benefit from a shared vision and direction. We may get along better with people with whom we have shared goals.

8th house to 12th house: The 8th house of shared assets, the occult, intimacy, and complexity is in harmony with the 12th house of loss, mental and spiritual health, and isolation. Both of these houses exalt the importance of reflection and being witness to your life. Our emotional bodies are wise counsellors and listening to them requires silence and isolation. The mental, spiritual, or emotional healing we receive in the 12th house can clear up our 8th house baggage. And the work we do on ourselves in the 8th house benefits from the intuitive wisdom of the 12th house. The attention we give to our 8th house wounds becomes the attention we can offer others’ woundedness in the 12th house. Occult practices can put us in touch with what we consider divine. Ultimate intimacy with another benefits from surrender.

9th house to 1st house: The 9th house of foreign experience, education, philosophy, and faith is in harmony with the 1st house of identity and appearance. The more we learn of the world, the more we learn of ourselves and our place in it. The 9th house supports the development of character by encouraging adventure, education, and experience. And the 1st house is the vessel through which the 9th house wisdom becomes expressed. We use religion, faith and philosophy to learn more about ourselves. In the search for truth, we find our own.  

10th house to 2nd house: The 10th house of reputation, legacy and public image is in harmony with the 2nd house of material and immaterial security. The more importance or recognition we gain the world, the stronger our convictions will be about our worth and value. Achievements can win you resources and upward mobility. Money and resource can also help you on your way towards achievement. So can a healthy dose of confidence. The 2nd house is where we matter to ourselves, and that is enhanced by the 10th house, where we matter to others. Holding steadfast to a personal set of principles or values can also make clear the path to success, without having to take routes that compromise our integrity.

11th house to 3rd house: The 11th house of networks, groups and allies is in harmony with the 3rd house of communication and familiarity. Communication and free exchange of thought enhances any community or group endeavor. Individual opinion in the 3rd house eliminates potential for groupthink. The 11th house introduces to us to an audience upon which we can present our thoughts and ideas. Yet can also provide a healthy variety of viewpoints that stimulate thinking in the 3rd house. We may tend to be more expressive with groups of people that welcome or mirror our perceptions. The 3rd house is where we formulate ideas, and the 11th house allows us turn ideas into vision.

12th house to 4th house: The 12th house of loss, mental and spiritual health, and isolation is in harmony with the 4th house of home, roots and foundation and privacy. Privacy is isolation with intention. Sacred isolation. No better place to be isolated than home. In the quiet and comfort of our personal space, we can commune with the shadows of the 12th house. The emotions sourced from the stillness of alone time can help us acknowledge and feel through what is otherwise locked up and shoved away. This may also support a deep spiritual connection to our home, family, land, and ancestors, from which we can receive ultimate catharsis. Spirituality and spiritual practice may also help us feel deeper into ourselves and understand our own motivations. The 4th house provides an easy setting for 12th house work.

The Opposition; tug of war

1st house to 7th house: The 1st house of identity and appearance conflicts with the 7th house of others. This is the classic war between autonomy and deference, independence and dependence, me and you. Other people can create obstacles to us being ourselves. We can also deny ourselves in favor of being there for others. This axis represents the pull between relying on yourself versus relying on others. Knowing when to stand your ground and knowing when to play diplomat.

2nd house to 8th house: The 2nd house of material and immaterial security conflicts with the 8th house of shared assets, the occult, intimacy, and complexity. This axis represents the pull between what is mine in the 2nd house and what is yours or ours in the 8th house. The 2nd house breeds self-sufficiency, where the 8th house can ask us to rely or share with outside entities or persons. The 2nd house is cash on hand. The 8th house is credit and debts. The 2nd house is where we focus on the physical—food, shelter, water. The 8th house is where we contemplate the metaphysical—cycles, the inner workings of our mind, peering beyond the veil, where we go after we die. The 8th house can be an unstable and scary place. The 2nd house is where we go to build stability, out from the psychological complexities and horrors of the 8th house. The 8th house is where we go to seek profundity and confront fears, out from the material indolence of the 2nd house.

3rd house to 9th house: The 3rd house of communication and familiarity conflicts with the 9th house of foreign experience, education, philosophy, and faith. The 3rd house is where we create the building blocks of knowledge—reading, writing and arithmetic. The 9th house is where we build upon that 3rd house knowledge and choose the subject(s) we want to study (i.e., elementary school versus college), and/or where we delve into philosophical and abstract thought. This axis represents the pull between perfunctory knowledge, opinion, and immediate surroundings in the 3rd house versus wisdom, belief, and exploration in the 9th house.

4th house to 10th house: The 4th house of home, roots and foundation and privacy conflicts with the 10th house of reputation, legacy, and public image. The 4th house is where we do family, and the 10th house is where we do career. The 4th house may be where we are our honest selves, where the 10th house can be a sort of persona or projection. The 4th house may also represent ways in which we play small and go along with what has been prescribed to us by family, tradition, or culture. In the 10th house, we play big and make our own way in the world.

5th house to 11th house: The 5th house of creativity, play and pleasure conflicts the with 11th house of networks, groups, and allies. The 5th house is where we are motivated by self-interest—what feels good to us. In the 11th house, there is more focus on serving the group or the collective. The 5th house may be where we stand out as ourselves, and the 11th house where we fall into a community role or strive to fit in. If 5th house is the creation, then the 11th house is the audience for that creation, where that creation goes to get validated, and hopefully where it can also serve a collective purpose. But sometimes creating is for the sake of creating, or for the joy of creating, and the 11th house can interfere with that process by creating an expectation of applause.

6th house to 12th house: The 6th house of health, routine, service, and mastery of skill conflicts with the 12th house of loss, mental and spiritual health, and isolation. The 6th house is where we get to work in the real world, and the 12th house is where we disappear into our inner world. The 6th house may imply physical healing or tangible service, where the 12th house is more about emotional healing and intangible service (i.e., prayer, or simply showing up with empathy). The 6th house requires us to tend to our physical systems of support—exercise, diet, check-ups. The 12th house asks for us to tend to our spiritual systems of support—meditation, sanctuary, contemplation, and sufficient emotional boundaries.

Listening to the Planets: Planetary Archetypes in the Billboard Top 100 Songs of All Time.

Using various Billboard rankings, I’ve cobbled together a short list of recognizable songs that I believe correspond quite nicely to planetary archetypes, both in obvious and subtle ways. Music has been a profound source of human storytelling since time immemorial. The planets are like characters, each coming forth with a different set of motives and messages. Songs therefore become narrative. We can not only find our stories reflected back to us in the most pervasive of pop hits but can also learn of and relate to the stories of others. What does it sound like when Mars is singing versus when Neptune is? What do these songs say about our collective experience with these archetypes? I invite you to tune into the messages of the planets by listening to some or all the songs below. You probably already know them. Of course, this is in no way exhaustive. If you are a music fan, I’d encourage closer listens of all your favorite songs, or even a playlist of your own! Who knows, maybe a planetary archetype is lurking.

Sun

Staylin Alive by the Bee Gees. The Sun is the source of all life. This song is a celebration of ego and existence but not because of vanity, rather, because of challenge and circumstance. The proverbial Hero’s Journey, and how, despite obstacle, we all fight to stay alive. The lyrics were specifically written about life in New York City, the city that never sleeps. A city where people go to find themselves, make it big, or strike out on their own. A city bathed in the energy of individualism. This is solar energy.

Lyrics of note: “Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother, you're stayin' alive.”

Royals by Lorde. While this song takes a more sobered stance against inflated personalities and flashiness, satirizing it even, Lorde does a great job of cementing her identity as other or anti which is still a strong solar statement—to not be some way. In demonstrating her humbler roots, Lorde wishes to establish a different kind of rulership but to still rule and take center stage regardless. Think Aquarius versus Leo.

Lyrics of note: “That kind of luxe just ain't for us, we crave a different kind of buzz. Let me be your ruler, you can call me queen bee.”

Moon

No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley and The Wailers. In this song, Marley tries to soothe the heart of a woman by helping her remember the good times in life. Nostalgia, the past, memories of a comforting nature—these are all lunar attributes. But so is the fundamental act of supporting or being with someone emotionally. Marley mentions an old yard and a bowl of porridge, rhetoric that conjures comfort. In 2012, the Wailers bassist stated that this song is about the strength of women.

Lyrics of note: “I remember when-a we used to sit in the government yard in Trenchtown, and then Georgie would make the fire lights, I seh a log wood burnin' through the night.”

Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys. This song is about vibes before the modern proliferation of the word. To suss out a vibration requires the intuitive qualities of the Moon. It is also about a woman, which shares lunar commonality with the Bob Marley song above. Both songs share a softness. Also, how could I not include a song by The Beach Boys when talking about the Moon? Mover of the waves and ruler of beach-dwelling Cancer the crab.

Mercury

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. Mercury is information oriented. In this mega-pop hit, the refrain is all about communication. To hope for a call, to spark a relationship through the simple act of writing your number down—it’s all Mercury. I find it fascinating that in the music video, Jepsen is crushing on a next-door neighbor, a similar Mercury-tinged theme of familiarity and locality. Plus, a vintage car is featured prominently.

Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. This song is all about how information moves from person to person, like a game of telephone. But Gaye also admonishes all the confusion that misinformation and gossip can cause and pleads with his lover to just tell him the truth. There are also a lot of open questions comprising the narrative arc of the song, and its perfectly like Mercury to be curious.

Lyrics of note: “People say believe half of what you see. Some and none of what you hear. But I can't help but be confused, if it's true please tell me dear.”

Venus

Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye. This is the ultimate love-making song. In the most basic way this represents the Venusian archetype of cohesion, to bring things together. But when you read deeper, Gaye is advocating for this brand of togetherness by saying that life is to be enjoyed while we are here, so why not? It also plays within the Venus theme of desire, to want, to ask, to implore understanding. It’s a soft song, with sweet words, and a gentle tempo.

Gold Digger by Kanye West. On the other side of things, Venus can be materialistic and build relationships based on status, image, and superficiality. Regardless of where you stand on West or this song, it’s effective in laying out all the complications of coupling up with someone who is just in it for the money and prestige.

 Lyrics of note: “She was supposed to buy your shorty Tyco with your money. She went to the doctor, got lipo with your money. She walkin' around lookin' like Michael with your money. Should've got that insured, Geico for your money.”

Mars

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. Even before the lyrics dawn, this song has such an iconic, pulsing, and driving guitar riff, reminiscent of the sharp, forward focused, and confident nature of Mars. It’s all about rising to the occasion of challenge, and the unwillingness to back down. Mars finds a “thrill” in battle, and in becoming singularly focused on a goal. Motivation is the name of the game with this one. Also, Mars rules tigers.

 Lyrics of note: “Rising up, back on the street, did my time, took my chances. Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet. Just a man and his will to survive.”

 Let’s Get Physical by Olivia Newton-John. Like the song above, this one gives you a pep in your step, and the music video is essentially a workout routine. I love this song for Mars because Mars is physicality, the way our bodies talk, the way we gravitate towards bodies we find attractive, and then do something about it. This song is straightforwardly about physical intimacy but also the underlying animal passion that compels us into action.

Jupiter

 Aquarius by The 5th Dimension. Of course, a song about Astrology belongs to the high-minded Jupiter! Even better that Jupiter happens to currently be in Aquarius. Boy, is this song an epic journey, complete with a tempo and key change, stoking a sense of Jupiterian adventure and joy even through melody. The message of the song is one of hope, inspiration, and togetherness in a broad sense. It also lays out an ideal vision of the world, which is something Jupiter is good at even if the follow-through never comes.

Lyrics of note: “Harmony and understanding. Sympathy and trust abounding. No more falsehoods or derisions. Golden living dreams of visions*.”

 *sidenote: what the hell is a dream of a vision? Get it together Jupiter…

 Happy by Pharrell Williams. A room without a roof? Say less. Jupiter is all about expansion and eliminating self-imposed limitations. Jupiter is also generally a happy planet. But what I like best about this representation of Jupiter is the way the music video and song itself spread like a wildfire across the planet, sparking joyous iterations of all kinds. Jupiter is the archetype of long-distance travel and what is foreign, but also ultimately what still connects us all despite our geographical or cultural differences.

 Saturn

 End Of The Road by Boyz II Men. This song is about the pain and frustration of a strained and dying relationship. I chose this for Saturn because of its allusions to time, death and loneliness—some of the harder-hitting themes of life. Saturn is all about limitations, restriction, and the foregone conclusion of all things—death. Saturn rules things that endure but is also the planetary function of stripping away or breaking down. See also: breaking up. Two things this song does well is acknowledge that a boundary has been crossed (cheating), and acknowledge that something is over, both Saturnian virtues. Even the name boys to men represents Saturnian maturity over time.

 Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie. This song’s is meaning is pretty obvious. It’s about stress, fear, pressure—all integral to the DNA of Saturn. Saturn can also represent the practical grit needed in order to maintain life, and how over time, all of that maintenance becomes exhausting and uninspired.

Lyrics of note: "It's the terror of knowing what this world is about. Watching some good friends screaming let me out!"

Uranus

Le Freak by Chic. What an electrifying song! This is another obvious choice. Between the use of the word freak and asking listeners about the new dance craze, a clear line can be drawn to the radical independence, innovation, and excitement of Uranus. Disco is Uranus. Think: discord. The genre came to prominence as the collective consciousness was reaching more towards inclusivity and equality, standing in direct opposition to the prevailing social norms of the time. Writer of the song, Nile Rodgers, said the lyrics came to him in a “light bulb” moment. Uranus is all kinds of sudden sparks and insights. It is also the breaking free moment that comes after Saturn.

Lyrics of note: “All that pressure got you down, has your head spinning all around. Feel the rhythm, check the rhyme. Come on along and have a real good time.”

Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry. Wild Cherry is actually a rock band but created this song in response to the increasingly popular disco genre of the time. Mixing unconventional elements is an act of Uranus. The song was clearly a success, which came to the Uranian surprise of everyone involved.

Neptune

Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. This song has not aged well. Neptune certainly blurs the line, makes things confusing, idealizes the mundane. Neptune also has a lot to do with glamour, all things gauzy and pretty. The music video is evocative of this, with supermodels parading around in full designer glam. But even outside of its lyrics and visuals, the song was shrouded in controversy regarding its originality and the blurred line between Neptunian inspiration and straight up infringement.

 I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. This is the beautifully sacrificial and compassionate side of Neptune. Even though you love someone, and will continue to love and wish them well, you know you must leave for them to really flourish. This is unconditional love. Even though all the songs in this write-up were/are impactful, this one is truly iconic, and associates itself with two larger than life legends (Dolly Parton & Whitney Houston). Its earnestness and purity can bring one to tears. To strike a chord in the zeitgeist is in and of itself a signification of Neptune and its broad cultural reach.

Lyrics of note: “I hope, life, treats you kind. And I hope, you have all you've, dreamed of. And I wish to you joy and happiness. But above all this, I wish you love.”

Pluto

Every Breath You Take by The Police. Surveillance is a key Pluto archetype. As is obsessiveness and becoming enraptured by another, thinking you are entitled to them or own them. Sting himself said he was thinking of Big Brother when he was roused in the middle of the night to write this song about a man trapped in “his circular obsessions” about an old love. Sting has also used Plutonic words like “sinister” and “possessiveness” when interviewed about this hit. The song conjures a certain chill inside of the listener, a foreboding. It also represents the sordid ways people can deal with loss-- unlike Saturn’s natural acceptance of endings, Pluto seeks to control and hold on.

Lyrics of note: “Every move you make, and every vow you break. Every smile you fake. Every claim you stake. I'll be watching you.”