Gisele Pelicot, an ordinary housewife, drugged by her husband and raped by an estimated 72 men over a decade, became ‘a figure of astonishing power’ when she insisted on an open trial and has now written an inspiring memoir A Hymn to Life. After her husband was arrested for upskirting, the police having seized his computer found evidence of the assaults on her. She said when faced with the evidence she felt she’d “been struck head-on by a high-speed train”. When it came to the trial the French system would have allowed for a closed hearing but she insisted.
“It was those bastards I wanted in the spotlight, not me.” And she references the title of her book “shame has to change sides.” Her decision enraged the rapists, evoked the fury of their lawyers and drew crowds of supportive women to support her outside the court.
She was born 7 December 1952 1.17pm Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, and has an upbeat Sagittarius Sun fittingly in the 9th house which rules legal affairs. Her chart is riddled with yods onto Sun, Uranus and Moon Pluto respectively making her a unique individual despite her seemingly ‘ordinary’ life. Her Sun (boosted by Jupiter and Uranus), when the moment came, rose to the challenge and she refused to be suppressed. Her Uranus (boosted by Mars and the Sun) may well prove to be a catalyst for reform. Her Moon Pluto (inconjunct Venus sextile Ascendant) certainly gives her the potential to be an influencer for women’s rights.
She has Saturn Neptune conjunct in her 7th house of marriage hinting at a neurotic partner whom she describes as a ‘weak man.’ Her Mars in Aquarius conjunct the North Node will give her the impetus to promote a cause for the improvement of society and it squares Jupiter giving her confidence.
During the excruciating past few years her Solar Arc Mars has been opposing her Neptune Saturn for a punishing challenge though her Solar Arc Jupiter would help to boost her optimism.
Chariklo in her chart representing the eternal suffering of the wife sits on her Midheaven.
Her Solar Arc Sun on final degree Aquarius is about to change sign as she looks ahead a new future with a new partner.
Dominique Pelicot, 27 November 1952 2.30am Quincy sous Senart, France, is also a Sun Sagittarius with a dependent 7th house Aries Moon. His 10th house wayward, socially defiant Uranus opposes his Venus and squares Neptune Saturn in his 1st house – making him highly-strung, fanatical, autocratic. His Mars in stubborn Aquarius in is 5th plus Jupiter in his 8th suggests a playboy streak. He has one yod of Sun sextile Mars inconjunct his Midheaven, hinting at a direction in life tied into his pleasure-seeking Mars in the 5th.
His midpoints are much more stark than his former wife – in his case with sexually manipulative Venus/Pluto, ruthless Mars/Pluto and copious quantities of Saturn Neptune.
Ebertin describes Saturn Neptune amongst other attributes – as having a dual character, a struggle between the lower and higher nature, connected also to sacrifice and neuroses.
Their relationship chart has experimental, unconventional Uranus in the 8th house of sexuality.
[See previous posts under Pelicot in Search]Unbelievably grim but she has managed to rise above it.
The New Yorker currently has a story about the impact on her family (which I have not been able to read, due to the paywall, relying solely on the summary), most specifically about the unfortunate divide which grew between Gisele and her daughter Caroline, whose photos were also found, and who had wondered whether she herself had been unknowingly assaulted (perhaps by her own father). Caroline felt that her mother did not give the support she (and we) might have expected, focusing primarily on herself during this ordeal. I don’t know whether this shows in her chart (and no idea on Caroline’s chart), but Gisele’s Leo Moon, ruler of her 5th, might be more self-centered than supportive, esp with a Pluto conjunction. It could also be that, as can often happen when children are abused by one parent, the other parent unconsciously wants to reject any blame (even in this case where Gisele herself was unknowingly victimized). According to the article’s summary, they have, however, begun to reconcile since.
Gisele Pelicot is amazing…. not in any famous way, for me…. simply that she has dug deep inside herself, at this time in her life!!!, to find such a strong core of integrity and honour. What an intriguing chart for such an “ordinary” woman!
One never knows when “that time” will come in your life.
I find courage/bravery to be an interesting thing…. what she has demonstrated.
In my own life, those times never felt like courage, just that I had to do it. Period.
There is a sense of calm and of surrender, even!
Gisele had to do this. Be this.
Wow.
Thanks Marjorie. Gisele Pelicot’s story is both painful and inspiring. Her strength and dignity are deeply moving.
I see you write:
“Her Solar Arc Sun on final degree Aquarius is about to change sign as she looks ahead a new future with a new partner.”
So yesterday’s Solar Eclipse was on that SA Sun, just as her book is published. I also noticed that the Black Moon in this chart here is the Osc. Apogee, while the Mean Apogee (BML) is 28 Leo on her birthday. Also activated by the eclipse? I’m happy her decision to go for an open trial enraged the rapists. Shame must indeed change sides. I hope this marks the beginnings of that long overdue process.