This essay is written by frequent guest contributor to About.com, Eileen Grimes, a Seattle astrologer and author of Titanic Astrology.
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A few days ago, we posted some initial information on Susan, and its funny - the first reports said she was an Aries, born April 1, 1961 - then a conflicting date (June 15, 1961), then back to April 1, again. What with the Venus retrograde situation - both during her sudden entre into the spotlight, and her actual natal chart -- it seems that venus Rx had a hand in delaying the information astrologers were seeking.
In the last several days, we now have the corrected full birth data of Susan Boyle - 4/1/61; 9:50 a.m., Blackburn, Scotland. This chart does fit the story that is now being told about Susan Boyle’s life.
Here are some of the major points:
Cancer rising at 01 degree at an “Aries point,” a specialized “mark of sensitivity” that can often bestow fame and notoriety if prominently placed in the horoscope). Cancer rising can sometimes indicate that the mode of established behavior, or personality development, centers around the mother figure in the family. It can mean that if the actual mother was taken out of the picture, the Cancer rising person would take over the maternal role in the family. Indeed, she assumed the maternal role with her own mum, after the loss of her father, taking over her care until her death two years ago.
Venus (retrograde) squaring Saturn: The delay, or not choosing a romantic life. The big furor over her being a virgin and never been kissed has been a big part of this story since it broke a couple of weeks ago. Capricorn is on the 7th, coupled with a Venus retrograde/Saturn square. The Venus retrograde alone, in Susan’s chart, certainly denotes a Venus searching for its own meaning, irrespective of what others think - and with Saturn, it was, in her case, the exclusion of all romantic attachments.
All of these indicators certainly indicate that her own romantic aspirations would not come early in life - perhaps delayed - or maybe never even acted upon. We can certainly say that Susan might have felt very afraid of sexuality and intimacy - however, that need seemed to detour itself into another channel - her family and her mother - and her singing. (Saturn is also placed in the 8th, which can certainly mean that the father was standing at the threshold of her womanhood and sexuality - not that she was abused, but that his presence was “in the way” of being able to fully develop sexually).
The majority of planetary activity shows up in the parental 4/10th house axis. To give additional framework to all this, most of the activity is happening in the parental axis - the 4th and 10th houses. This is what she’s working to resolve - the family and parents would have taken center stage in her life. To further put emphasis on this dynamic, there is the full moon - Sun/moon in the 10th/4th houses. All of her ego and emotional energy are channeled into family. The putting off of her own needs, perhaps relationship needs, to be the primary caregiver in the family. Indeed we mix the fourth-house Moon in Libra - the intimacy shared with her mother was the replacement for relationships.
April 11, 2009: The moment of profound change: a massive planetary traffic jam in Susan’s 10th house. Six planets plus Chiron were all lined up in this house. Susan’s transformation was out there where we all could see it. Jupiter was close to her midheaven - certainly indicating the global impact of this event, next to Neptune (a musical event) and add Chiron in between these two, we had a massive healing taking place - not only to the public, but to her, as well.
Add to this fact was that this trio was in Aquarius - most of what happened was internet-related; in the space of only a few days after the broadcast, at least 20 million-plus had seen the video of her performance on British TV. On Facebook, alone, her fan sites were multiplying - from my early calculations - about 1,000 or more per hour.
At the time of the broadcast, (April 11) Venus was squaring her Asc/Dsc axis very closely, with Pluto in square to the ascendant as well. All the forces of the moment when she burst into the public eye, collected in her chart to literally ignite an enormous release of energy. The thrusting of her into the limelight, through that square, will likely be a huge jolt to her (as it was to the rest of the world).
This was a moment that a woman found her force of nature within, and the rest of the world got to witness it.
And change our views of what constitutes beauty. The London Times asked Boyle if she’d consider a makeover: "Maybe I'll consider a makeover later on," she told the Times with a laugh. "For now I'm happy the way I am – short and plump. I would not go in for Botox or anything like that. I'm content with the way I look. What's wrong with looking like Susan Boyle? What's the matter with that?"
Nothing, indeed, Susan - as you have well shown all of us.
