The mythic status of the Kennedy family in the USA is well-trodden ground and a new CNN series American Prince: JFK Jr about the tragic son of Jackie and JFK killed in a plane crash when he was 39 apparently does little to dull the starry image. The reality is, as ever, another story altogether.
Trawling through the Kennedy family charts what is notable is the prominence of Fixed stars.
John F Kennedy Jnr, 25 November 1960 12.22am Washington DC, had his Midheaven exactly conjunct and Pluto square Aldebaran, one of the four Royal stars, of which Astrology King remarks – A splendid and illustrious life; glorious, mighty and commanding nature; fame, busy with many activities, bountiful resources. Prosperity from youth. Honour preferment, good fortune and favors from women.
His 12th house Uranus was also conjunct Alphard, the Fixed star which can give artistic appreciation, also strong passions, lack of self- control, and a sudden death by drowning, poison or asphyxiation. In particular Uranus conjunct Alphard can bring disgrace through love affairs, bad for marriage, downfall through love disappointment.
Carolyn Bessette, 7 January 1966 8.45pm New York, to whom he had an ill-starred marriage that was on the rocks after three years just as both were killed in the plane crash, has no Fixed star aspects; though her full-on, recklessly enthusiastic Mars Venus in Aquarius conjunct her Ascendant and Uranus Pluto in her 8th hints at a troubled and out-of-control personality. Their wedding on 21 September 1996 had the North Node conjunct Vindemiatrix, the widow maker. Their relationship chart had the composite Jupiter conjunct shipwrecking Scheat.
Their deaths on 16 July 1999 6pm Martha’s Vineyard MA, had Vindemiatrix hovering around the Midheaven and the Cancer Sun was conjunct Procyon, Fixed star of rise and fall.
One generation back. John F. Kennedy, 29 May 1917 3pm Brookline, MA, had rise-and-fall Procyon on his Midheaven, his Gemini Sun conjunct Aldebaran, his 8th house financial/sexual Jupiter was conjunct the destructive star Algol; and shipwrecking Scheat was conjunct his Chiron in his 6th house of health.
Sun conjunct Aldebaran gives great energy and perseverance, high material honors but the danger of losing them, danger from quarrels and the law, honor, and riches ending in disgrace and ruin, liable to disease, fevers, and violent death. Gains may be great, but always lurking in the background, even in the shadow of success is a loss, sometimes a tremendous loss. Violence is possible. Will gain a leading position but also will make enemies through whom danger will threaten.
Jackie Kennedy, 28 July 1929 2.30pm Southampton, New York, had Regulus conjunct her Midheaven and Neptune with Alphard close by. Regulus on the Midheaven raises the individual to a high position in life, far exceeding the environment they were born into. Connections with rulers or famous people. A splendid and illustrious life. Neptune conjunct Regulus: Prominent leader, influential friends, few if any enemies, domestic harmony, natural death in old age.
But the relationship chart between JFK and Jackie has Saturn conjunct Vindemiatrix square Pluto exactly – with the composite Pluto conjunct a composite New Moon on one side and Mars on the other. Saturn conjunct Vindemiatrix suggests secret difficulties with marriage partner.
JFK’s Inauguration chart, 20 January 1961 12.45pm Washington, DC, if the time is accurate, had Algol conjunct the Ascendant and Uranus conjunct Alphard. The latter as above with JFK Jnr – strong passions, lack of self-control, disgrace through love affairs, bad for marriage, and a sudden death.
When JFK died in Dallas on 22 November 1963 around 1 pm Aldebaran was conjunct the IC and Regulus conjunct the Descendant.
The Kennedys certainly provide a crash course in Fixed stars. Whether it reinforces the notion of the Curse of the Kennedys, or an indication that being intertwined with the Fixed stars makes for a noteworthy life, good and bad, I am not sure.
Carolyn’s twin sister was also in the plane when it crashed and of course she died as well. There was a lot of talk at the time as to whether the craft was sabotaged. But the general consensus was that he just wasn’t a good enough pilot.
Thanks Marjorie, much to ponder! I’m fascinated with the fixed stars. I sometimes think they appear to have a more striking presence in mundane astrology. Possibly very famous and influential individuals bring an expression of those stars to our notice? After all, countless people are born with, say, Algol aligned with their Taurus Sun, Moon, Ascendant etc. They can express the intense nature of Algol positively, as you say. Or, it seems, sometimes hardly at all.
The Ancient Egyptians did a lot of work with the fixed stars, noting their heliacal rising and setting – famously, the blazing Dog Star, Sirius – and those stars (visible to them) which are always visible. Their calendar, buildings alignments, and so on were heavily influenced by what they observed in the skies. Perhaps they also influenced Claudius Ptolemy, whose meticulous work on the fixed stars is always worth considering. He suggested that looking at the whole constellation was meaningful (ie a planet travelling through a particular part of the sky) alongside interpreting the brightest stars with individual meanings, and his ideas on their symbolic alliances with the nature of the classical planets.
“Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.”
Ptolemy (circa 100-170 AD)
Interesting.. and well said! My way of wrapping my head around astrology is what you describe.. although my fixed star knowledge is only being fed here lately!
I’ve said that, yes, there is free will (it seems! one hopes?? :-))…. we wander around for awhile!
and then, at times, Fate steps in.
I’ve called it a “crystallization” moment or time that is outside of your control.
The planets/stars really do seem to align.
I just looked up the definition of crystallization! It certainly fits!
“the process of becoming definite and clear.”
“the crystallization of rival factions was the result of a complex of factors”
It certainly has felt like this in my own life and those of clients. Sigh.
oh dear… I meant this to be a reply to Andre!
Another interesting Kennedy that has weirdly become unexpectedly erratic in recent times is Jack Schlossberg, 19 January 1993, New York City, NY, USA.
He has Mars conjunct Sirius (Canis Major) and Canopus (Carina), and Jupiter conjunct Algorab (Corvus).
Astrology King on Mars conjunct Canopus: “… there may develop a tendency towards poor temper control, thereby clouding their judgment. They may also suffer from imaginary wrongs. There may be a tendency to self-destruct or be subject to chronic, difficult-to-diagnose or possibly serious illness.”
Mars conjunct Sirius (again Astrology King), in its negative vibrations: “Domestic problems possible. Negatively, problematical actions, even accusations.”
Jupiter conjunct Alborab (means “the crow” in Arabic): “however, while there is not exactly a loss of respect, they do not continue to maintain the full respect they once enjoyed from their friends and public. They develop this void themselves. Natives with neutral Jupiter’s will appear to be constantly striving for acceptance.” Also found in the charts of Beyoncé and George Washington.
Funnily, I think all three placements speak of industriousness.
Lizzie: Plus Jackie Kennedy was a Leo……she was regal on steroids.
Marjorie, would you consider an add on ? Tragic Kathleen (Kit) Kennedy, married the heir to the Duke of Devonshire and widowed a months after the wedding. Her brother, Joe, who attended the wedding also died shortly after the wedding. She was killed in a plane crash with her lover age just 28. Her story is incredibly sad.
She is buried in the churchyard at Chatsworth House
I think I’ve mentioned it before here somewhere, but there are methods of how to work with fixed stars in astrology: one is what Marjorie’s doing, conjunctions by longitude on the ecliptic.
Another is the Bernadette Brady parans method.
There is the third method, Astro.com fixed-stars chart that you can access if you have a (free) account there.
But I keep thinking there was a fourth method, and I forgot which one was that.
Wow. Jackie Kennedy’s Regulus/Neptune conjunct her Midheaven really hits the nail on the head, doesn’t it. She was so regal, I still remember that program she did for TV, walking through the White House, sharing the history of everything. I was always confused by her voice, though. That baby-whispering thing. Maybe she had to talk like that so as not to threaten.
The fixed stars are the Arab astrologers’ contribution to Western astrology. Their traditional culture instills a strong belief in fate. This is quite different from karma, a Far Easten concept which can also be blended with Western views. You can work on karma to improve it. The fixed stars give a more rigid perspective that fate cannot be changed.
Helpful summary Andre.
The rigid perspective you describe is somewhat unnerving given the chilling descriptions of some fixed stars.
There are different ways of living out Fixed stars – if you look back to the post on Greg Wise and Algol, he has a much more constructive way of handling it.
That’s good to know Marjorie as my progressed Venus is about to conjunct fixed star Scheat.
There are plenty of examples of people with this star prominent expressing the positive manifestations of Scheat. So much depends on the whole chart, the aspects from Scheat and the other stars in the chart. It is possible for a positive influence to emanate from Scheat, but only for some people and have an effect on their mental creativity if these people are ready to receive such inflow.
Scheat is in the constellation of Pegasus, which is an allegory for the superior spiritual power that the hero first sought out to aid him in his task, and the Owl represents the wisdom side of that same power.
On the positive side it is also associated with communications, exploration, pioneering, science, invention and heroism.
Pegasus is primarily a symbol of creativity. So maybe connected to Venus it could spark off some artistic endeavour.
Ok read it now. So it doesn’t negate the suffering but with acceptance and fortitude, can help transcend the challenges faced. Thank you.
“So maybe connected to Venus it could spark off some artistic endeavour.” Thank you Marjorie. I will channel that.