 |
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Trust Your Vibes
By Dr. Sonia Choquette, PhD.
Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Healer & Author
Love Letters
by Erika Morrell,
Soul Mate Medium™
Astrologer's Notes:
Carin Martin,
Astrologer
Donna Cunningham, MSW, Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
MoonWatching with Dana Gerhardt and Friends
Starlight Musings
by Nancy Sommers,
Mundane Astrologer
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Act of Power
Discovering the Key to Living Your Sacred Dream
by Lynn Andrews
Avant-Gardening:
Insights
by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The Conscious Column
by David Ault
Spiritual Mastery
for the 21st Century
Dr. Gwen MacGregor
Encounters on the
Shaman's Path with
Dr. Hank Wesselman, PhD.
Anthropologist, Zoologist, Author, Shamanic Healer & Teacher
The Divine Human
by Ornesha De Paoli
Awakenings
by Karen Johnson
Worshipping by Wondering with
Sankara Saranam, MA Founder of the Pranayama Institute
Wisdom Walks in Circles
by Margaret Lewis
Author & Shamanic Practitioner:
Water For The Dry Sponge: Chronicles and Essays
by Shaun Brown,
Be Well Publications
“I of my own knowledge…”
by Frank DeMarco,
Author & Psychic
Crystals, Minerals
& Gemstones
Light and Love with Crystals, Minerals & Gemstones
by Raven,
Raven Crystals
Furry & Feathered Family Members:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Animal Insights
by Charlene Boyd, Animal Communicator,
talk-to-animals.com
Healing & Alternative
Health:
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
Medical Intuition: Tune
in to Your Body and Improve Your Health
by Caroline Sutherland, Sutherland Communications
Transformational Healing through the Violet Flame!
by Eva Kettles
Herbs for Health
with Kami McBride
Cure Your Cravings
...For Life
Rena Greenberg,
Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming & Hypnotherapist
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Interviews:
Watch for Upcoming Announcements
Kabbalah:
Kabbalah Revealed:
Rav Michael Laitman, PhD, Kabbalalist
Numberscope Forecast
by Vincent J. Barra
Oracle & Divination Systems:
Be Your Own Oracle
by James Wanless, Ph.D. Creator of the Voyager Tarot Deck
Resources:
Archives
Blessings & Messages
The Book Nook
The Directory
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
S.O.L.A.R.®:
S.O.L.A.R ®
Beyond Materiality. Beyond Spirituality. Toward the Complete Human Being...
by Martin Lass, Emissary
Tarot:
Moment to Moment
by Gigi Miner
Author, Tarot Consultant, & Teacher
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Educator
Tidbits:
Almanac of the Ancients
by TripleMoonGoddess
News Briefs
Op-Ed
Pearls of Wisdom
by Astro Aeon
& Astro Care
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Life's Other
Novel Moments
Publisher's Corner
General Information:
Advertising Information & Opportunities:
The Directory Advertising Rates
Premium Pages:
Groups 1, 2 & Display
Advertising Rates
The BookNook
Advertising Rates
About
The Meta Arts Magazine
Editorial Submission
Information:
Contact Us
Legal Notices
|
|
|
|
|
|
Astrologer's Notes:
Carin Martin, Astrologer:
|
|
|
When Thesbis Steps Out of the Chorus
Vocational Astrology for Successful Actors
|
|
|
by Carin Martin |
|
|
"It's one of the tragic ironies of the theatre that only one man in it can count on steady work - the night watchman."
--Tallulah Bankhead
"Will I make it?", acting student.
Part 1
Of the professions that use astrological services, entertainers, especially actors, are at the top of the list of repeat clients. It is not surprising since it is a profession that is marked by its unpredictability and is notorious for its extreme career highs and lows. It requires not only dedication, drive, and an emotional endurance that few can, or would, tolerate in other professions. To become a working actor _ ah there's the rub, working!- unless you fall into it by pure happenstance which happens rarely but does happen-requires a combination of both innate talent and practiced skills as well as the hand of fate. But most difficult of all for the hopeful performer, there is no underestimating the role of fate, connections, and blind good luck. No doubt the best advice given for prospective actors is to "do not do it unless you absolutely NEED to do it."
With so many unknown variables, this is still the best advice. Just one viewing of the television program of interviews at the Actor's Studio can be most telling of this fact of need. I taped one program to watch at a later hour and just happened to have the tape playing in slow motion while it panned the audience's faces. The audience is comprised of theatre and acting students at the studio. The faces of the students reflect not only an intense interest in the conversation but also an equally intense desire to be noticed by the host and the speaker, not to mention the camera. If nine-tenths of acting is reacting than numerous audience members were emoting up a storm. No, I have not been "talking with that venomous fish wife, Addison DeWitt". I am merely speaking the truth. I venerate actors and know that these flashes of televised close ups are rare opportunities for them to be seen and to shine. These eager faces plainly exemplify the adage that you must NEED to act to continue to tolerate the difficult life the profession demands.
I have known several innately talented actors who dominated the roles of the showcases of their college or acting school. Where it is often said that it takes an average of two years of auditioning to get your first part, these folks graduated and rather quickly obtained paying acting jobs. Then in a few years they discovered they did not NEED to act, and thus left the theatre for other more sane and reliable professions without a backward glance. Along with this scenario I've noticed another interesting quirk of the profession. While the innately gifted have often left the profession, their contemporaries, who awkwardly stumbled through bit parts or played in the chorus of the same productions as these student stars, went on to become successful working actors. Not major talents mind you, but steadily employed - i.e., successful actors. This is not at all unusual. An elderly acting coach once said "if you stick around long enough eventually you have the connections to get work. Either that or they hire you cause you are handy." The need, the patience, and determination was there even if the inborn talent was not.
Venus is traditionally the prominent avocational indication in an actors chart. I have also seen this planet be a major player in the charts of a successful politician and of an even more successful Tel-evangelist. Venus loves to be loved, Venus loves to communicate emotion, Venus wants you to know how she is feeling and wants you to feel it too. Music, mystery, fire and magic are all part and parcel of Venus's bag of tricks. It is often said that in the natal chart the moon represents our needs and Venus represents our desires. Desire in all its form is the food of acting and the property of Venus.
Thus the Moon in an actors chart is an important indicator if the need to act is present. I find more hard aspects to the natal moon in actors' charts than in other professions as a whole. Once again the NEED to act - to use the craft of creative, evocative communication is there in these charts. It is cliche to say that actors have a driving need to be loved, and one that I do not believe is any more apparent in actors than in many other professions. But the hard aspected Moon is often an indication of harshness in receiving nurturance in early life or the sign or placement of the moon an inability understand the emotions, either of these two factors can play a part in the making of an actor. Both the lack of nurturance or the inability to understand emotions lead the actor to want to own and express emotional motivations.
This love of subtext leads them to the profession. Just visit one of the prominent acting studios sometime and you will see this. Long discussions take place concerning the intonation of a line of dialogue or the motivation of a movement. Endless conversations that would tire a psychoanalyst. But looking long and hard into '"the heart of an artichoke one snowy evening around a fire" is part of the actors job and one that most actors relish. In other professions people with the same harsh moon aspects often either go into denial of the lack of nurturance or emotional understanding and sublimate it with other activities or go into therapy.
But the chart of a successful actor goes far beyond the prominence of Venus as desire or the needs of the moon. There are no simple patterns - if there was a pattern of ease for becoming a successful actor, the actor would be busy acting and running to the bank and not consulting an astrologer. Understandably actors usually make an appointment during pivotal decision making times and also during down times when they are considering quitting acting for good. Considering this and the precariousness of the profession, the astrologer must tread carefully not only in the interpretation but also in the communication of the interpretation with the client. The most talented of actors are empaths and as such need gentle treatment. They are to humans what a Stradivarius is to a violin. The world is a better place not only for what they teach people with their finely tuned instruments but by the many hours of work they so often volunteer for humane causes.
As in all interpretations, the chart must be taken as a whole. Before even looking at the transit aspects that would indicate a difficult or a propitious time in the near future, the astrologer must take a good hard long look at the natal chart for the indications of need, persistence, and innate talent. Fortunately or unfortunately of course the transits indicate opportunity. In this profession more than others though, the final results of an opportunity depends once again on how the natal chart indicates the person will utilize it. And the need to perform is inspiration to act to make the most of an opportunity. Just think of those faces in the Actor's Studio audience!
So once again we are back to the natal where vocational astrology starts with elimination of careers unsuitable to the personality of the subject. This is a start since all natal charts indicate that the innate abilities, personality, and aspects indicating good fortune can apply to several vocations. If the client is young and the natal chart indicates a stronger need for financial security rather than the need for excitement, variety, and the drive to express themselves, acting is not the profession for them. If a saturnalian or earth sign indicator of tolerance for routine is predominant, then chances are they will use their acting abilities in another less volatile profession.
Career choices are most often interpreted with elimination of careers leaving several choices as preferred ones. When someone comes to you as a prospective actor the Venus indications will not work if drive is not there. The drive is indicated by the strength of the natal Mars sign, placement, and aspects. Mars is not only ones force but the force of one's will, and will is a key factor for the determined actor. The drive may also be indicated by conjunction or hard aspects from outer planets to Sun, Moon, Venus or Mars. Hard aspects from outer planets to the personal planets bring not only the complexity of personality that inspires self analysis but also the feeling of universality that drives so many actors.
The need is often indicated by hard aspects to the natal Moon from Saturn or the outer planets indicating difficulties obtaining proper early nuturance. Or the need can be indicated by the moon being in an air sign indicating the subject intellectualizes emotions and needs to understand emotional motivation in themselves and others. The need can also be there due to hard aspects from Saturn or the outer planets to the Sun indicating a need for attention and self validation.
There are so many chart points involved with actors. The most well known are the sign of Leo and fifth house involvement. Most often it is not Leo Sun or Leo Moon but Leo or Libra rising that is present. The ascendant is the quality we project thus Leo rising can project the charisma of star quality. With the Libra ascendant the actor is often either blessed with an attractive appearance or an affable approachability that draws people to them. Venus in good aspect to the ascendant and particularly conjunct the ascendant is an indication of physical beauty and also often seen in the charts of actors.
Other variables depend on the range of the actor. Singing performers for example often have well aspected Taurus, second house or Venus. The dancer often has well aspected Pisces or Neptune whereas comedic actors often have the sign Gemini or strong 3rd houses or Mercury aspects indicating a facility for wit and timing. The dramatic actor of much depth often is shy with a strongly tenanted 12th house or water sign predominance.
Those capable of performing the classic tragedies from Sophocles to Shakespeare to Miller often have conjunctions of outer planets with their personal planets. A personal planet in a powerful conjunction with Uranus, Neptune or Pluto can be a conduit of transpersonal themes that classic tragedy requites. I cannot help but think of the Poe lines, ". . .and we loved with a love that was more than love, me and my Annabel Lee," when I think of Venus conjunct Pluto for example. Can't you just imagine how an actor with Pluto conjunct Venus might portray Medea?
Michael Gauquelin's research indicated that in the chart of many famous actors <the word is "famous," not many achieve this, usually we are just concerned with "successful working" actors which is in, and of, itself a major achievement> there was a specific placement of Jupiter. He found that Jupiter resided in one of two positions. By positions we speak of astrological houses meaning the placement of the planet in the heavens at the hour of birth. These placements of Jupiter for famous actors are either just above the rising sign in the 12th house or just past the Midheaven in the 9th house. It is an interesting point to know, and to use, when looking at the charts of actors who become famous, and certainly an aspect we hope to see in an acting clients' natal charts.
Vocational astrology itself is difficult and requires long practice but vocational interpretation for the actor is ten fold as difficult. Each actor's chart and the subsequent direction of their career offers some new nuance in vocational chart interpretation for the astrologer. I have found over the years of working with actors that there is an eleventh house connection that can indicate anything from everlasting fame, to short term fame, to a lessor form of fame such as moments of renown only within the profession. The 11th house connection I find involved in the natal charts of actors who became "actors' actors" but less known to the public, also those who became phenomenal successes as well as those who became pivotal figures in the evolution of the styles of acting.
With love and respect for actors I will not go into the specifics of the "one trick pony" phenomena of living actors whose connections with the 11th house gave them 15 minutes of fame, yet, sadly, life times of near obscurity. But we will look at the charts of several actors who achieved acclaim with focus on the 11th house connection. I do not want to be accused of going on longer than "an ancient actor recounting the history of theatre from the time Thesbis first stepped out of the chorus". So we will continue with examples of the 11th house connection and acting fame in the next issue. Part 2 deals with chart examples of the 11th house connection in charts of successful actors, and Part 3 deals with three "11th house connectors" who changed the history of the profession. Until then, "break a leg" and may all your stars be
|
|
|
|
|
Carin Martin,
Astrologer
|
 |
Carin Martin has been an astrologer in private practice for over twenty-five years. She has also taught seminars in astrology as well as lead group workshops in self revelational archetypal astrology.
She has published on several subjects in the field of metaphysics and been interviewed both on radio and for national publications.
Calling herself the "eternal student" she has attended numerous workshops and seminars over years including those of Jungian James Hillman, as well as astrologers Liz Green and Steven Arroyo amongst many others.
Her private practice covers most areas of western astrology but in recent years she has gained a reputation for her work in the synastry of business and creative relationships and for avocational astrology.
An avid animal lover, she is currently working on a book about human and animal communication as well as several astrological projects.
|
Send your questions to:
AstroCarinMartin
@aol.com
Please understand that due to time constraints, only questions chosen for the column will be answered.
|
 |
You'll find
it in
The Directory! |
|
|
|
|
