MY WORK
examples of my work and process including birth time rectification
Mad Man: A complete natal chart rectification for the complicated protagonist of “Mad Men”, Don Draper, born Dick Whitman
“Draper? Who knows anything about that guy? No one's ever lifted that rock. He could be Batman for all we know.”
— Harry Crane, Season 1, “Mad Men”
To give potential clients some idea of what my work is like, I’ve created, rectified, and interpreted the natal charts of some of my favorite fictional characters from literature, film, and television. I’m starting with the mercurial, dualistic, traumatized yet brilliant Don Draper, protagonist of “Mad Men”, born Dick Whitman. If you haven’t seen the show - and you should; it’s a masterpiece unlike any other - please be warned, there will be a lot of spoilers here.
Don grew up abused and unwanted. He ran away and joined the Army as soon as he could to get out of there. In Korea, his commanding officer, who was actually named Donald Francis Draper, is killed in an explosion and Don switches their dog tags before passing out himself (he too is injured), and then eventually awakening in a hospital being called Lt. Draper. He decides this has to be better than the life he left behind and continues to live under this assumed identity for at least 20 years - 1950-1970, where the show concludes. For the majority of the series, set in 1960-1970, Don is a very successful creative director for a NYC advertising agency, but he’s living a lie every moment, and struggles with many problems connected to this. It all stems from his abuse as a child, and not being aware that this and the war gave him PTSD, he attempts to self-medicate his symptoms with too much alcohol and a long series of self-destructive affairs with women.
The astrological sign of Gemini is symbolized by twins and is characterized by duplicity or a two-faced nature. Given the central focus of the show about Don's dual identities and grappling with concealing and revealing the truth, this fits well. Geminis are also said to “die twice”. This is also very fitting on multiple levels. A famous scene in the show features the song “You Only Live Twice”. Metaphor and symbolism of duality surround him.
Gemini suns have quick minds, as they are ruled by Mercury, the planet pertaining to Mercurial qualities, such as all things connected to Mercurius, the Roman god, and Hermes, his Greek counterpart. Geminis are swift minded, curious, witty, and can be very charming and persuasive. Both likable and emotionally closed off at the same time, they are a paradox, and generally very hard to pin down or define. One of their common characteristics is never or rarely opening up on a personal level but being able to speak publicly with great ease. This is Don to a T. He hates and avoids ever speaking about himself on a personal level the vast majority of the time, even to his wife of 10 years. She knows none of this for 9 years, and almost 3 seasons of the show, having three children with him, until one day he accidentally leaves a key to his desk drawer in his bathrobe. What she finds there is a box full of unsettling evidence that he is not the person he claims to be.
In S3 E1 “Out of Town”, Don drunkenly tells the stewardess that it’s his birthday but that looking at his driver’s license won’t help, meaning it’s Dick Whitman’s birthday, which isn’t the date on his driver’s license. This episode takes place in April 1963, as evidenced by the state of his wife Betty’s pregnancy, by the weather, and by the fact that the following episode runs from late April to early May. It cannot be earlier than March in S3 E1. Yet in S5 E1-2 “A Little Kiss”, Don celebrates his birthday on June 1, and he also discloses that he was born as Dick Whitman six months before that to Megan, his new wife, which would make him a probable Sagittarius or Capricorn sun. I tried this, especially the Capricorn angle because that is something I could see as potentially being true but it didn’t add up in other ways, with other major planets. Don says to Megan, his new wife, in June 1965 that he’s been 40 for “half a year” = six months. That puts us back to January. Since Don isn’t the most precise or accurate at telling the truth about himself, perhaps December or even February at the very latest. January or February would make him an Aquarius or Pisces sun and neither one is fitting. Again I attempted it. Doesn’t work. We unfortunately can never know the precise location or his exact birth time, both of which are essential to do an accurate natal chart reading. Viewers do know the farm he spent his childhood on was in rural Illinois, so I chose southern IL as a touchstone as it is still more rural than northern IL (the Chicago area) for his birthplace. If I’m remotely close, the longitude and latitude should be close enough. For the birth time, I rectified the chart based on my years of study and knowledge of Don’s personality, character, actions, things he has said, and his physical appearance until every different facet of the chart worked together as a whole. This took a lot of time but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This chart would make him a Gemini sun with an Aquarius moon and Leo rising.
The astrological sign of Gemini is symbolized by twins and is characterized by duplicity or a two-faced nature. Given the central focus of the show about Don's dual identities and grappling with concealing and revealing the truth, this fits well. Geminis are also said to “die twice”. This is also very fitting on multiple levels. Gemini suns have quick minds, as they are ruled by Mercury, the planet pertaining to Mercurial qualities, such as all things connected to Mercurius, the Roman god, and Hermes, his Greek counterpart. Geminis are swift minded, curious, witty, and can be very charming and persuasive. Both likable and emotionally closed off at the same time, they are a paradox, and generally very hard to pin down or define. One of their common characteristics is never or rarely opening up on a personal level but being able to speak publicly with great ease.
I ended up choosing Leo rising and assigning him a birth time of roughly 10 am. People with Leo rising tend to be emotional, proud, can be vain, egotistical, courageous, sentimental, confident, showy, and they want to succeed always, wherever they go and whatever they do. They are highly adaptable and can survive in any situation or circumstance. They can be chameleon-like and change in half a second depending on the people they’re with - he is a master at this. They are usually a little too comfortable with taking risks and can sometimes be make major missteps in doing so. They want to always be in control of their outer self and appearance (ring a bell?). Natives of this ascendant usually have a charming smile (check). Some of the most hurtful things someone can do to them is wound their pride, ignore them, or be unappreciative of them. They want a SO/partner/spouse they can be proud of and want the same in return. They can have a temper for sure but tend to not stay angry for long. A lack of loyalty will anger them. They are direct, outspoken, and lucid in their speech and will have demonstrative mannerisms. They can be impulsive and forceful when challenged. They generally like being the center of attention and will do things often for no reason other than to get attention. They can be stubborn, and talk a big game, but their bark is usually worse than their bite. If their ego is bruised though, watch out. They can forgive, but never forget. Generally they enjoy sports and physical activity (Don’s love of swimming comes to mind - in addition, this supports his being a water sign dominant person). Leo risings are usually healthy, active, and vital except if or when heartbroken. Their need for love and affection is great. If frustrated and thwarted at many turns, they may become so dejected they lose all desire to live. Leo rules the heart - Leo risings and suns both tend to be generous people. They can be lavish with money and gifts. Career-wise they are highly aspiring, conscientious, inventive, and intuitive (yep). They are also flexible as they rule the 5th house of children, fun, intimacy, romance, and creativity. They must always have fun in their career. They are natural born leaders who hold an incredible amount of power and command, making them excellent leaders under any circumstances. Leo risings generally have a balanced and easygoing temperament, although they can be high-strung and somewhat quick to anger when aroused. They’re generally lucky in many ways. They attract and receive favors and good fortune in some of the most unusual ways, circumstances, unexpected times etc. (this has happened to Don so many times and saved his butt). They will succeed the most when they have the most authority and leadership. A Leo rising will be happiest in a position of authority, leadership, executive level, and/or management.
Leo risings are usually broad shouldered and strong. They tend to have a strong muscular system, large bones and above average upper body strength. Their upper body is usually bigger than their lower body. They tend to be tall, though at times their “big personality” can make them appear larger than life. They tend to have striking, shiny, luxurious, and attractive hair. Their faces are usually oval in shape with strong chins/jawlines (certainly true for actor Jon Hamm).
They are quite analytical and practical when it comes to tackling a situation, and enjoy reading (he does), music, painting, and poetry (all evidenced in the series). Their primary goal and desire in life is to excel in any profession of their choice (I’d say so). They either become confident and generous people or they become overly extravagant towards others, which could actually be hiding a deep seated insecurity within them (both, I think - giving away his car, etc.?) They tend to overburden themselves with stress and exhaustion and are prone to depression and anxiety (he certainly is).
In this chart, the planet Neptune is almost exactly conjunct his ascendant which gives a dreamy, illusionary quality to the person, distorting both their own view and others’ views OF them. It can be mysterious, involving a sense of loss and longing somehow, and imparts a natural creative gift that is ideal for a filmmaker, actor, or *advertising maven* - they are good at pleasing others in a way by creating something that is idealistic (the Carousel, Glo-Coat, Burger Chef, etc. award winning advertising campaigns).
Having their 6th house in Capricorn adds the quality of discipline in a Leo ascendant’s work life. They’re disciplined, hard workers. They value the security of a stable job and will not make frequent job changes. They don’t work halfheartedly. They either give 110% or do not want to try at all (I think so). They don’t have a casual approach to any job. Their 10th house of career is Taurus which can mean they long to earn more and more money and spend more on luxuries. Regardless of their actual fiscal status Leo ascendants tend to want to be seen as a person of wealth and significance (yep).
Specifically referring to heterosexual cisgender men, a Leo ascendant man, if he feels lacking in or denied of attention and flattery in his relationship, has the tendency to move on to another partner who provides him with that. He is often incapable of taking the feelings of his partner into consideration (I’d have to say so). At times he may be harsh unwittingly and end up hurting his partner. A woman’s strength, affluence, and social status may attract him, and he is drawn to these things in women (yes - Betty, Rachel, Bobbi, Joy, Faye, etc., etc. etc.) However in a serious relationship, he prefers to be the one who has more influence financially and socially and wants to get more attention than his partner (could’ve been an issue with Betty?). He would like to be the best looking one in the relationship, but he also wants his partner to always look good too, so that he can be proud of his beautiful partner. Yet he would also be unhappy if all eyes were on her and her alone. A Leo rising man is generally uninhibited in intimate matters. His biggest turn-off is a hypocritical person (tying Bobbi to the bed?). As a romantic partner he can go to any lengths to get what he wants, but also may have a controlling attitude towards his partner. He can be highly demanding.
Where work is concerned, people with the moon in the 6th house might have their productivity strongly affected by their emotions. Unemployment for these individuals may be tremendously stressful. They may need steady employment in order to feel safe and secure even more than the average person does. With the moon in the 6th house there is an immense hunger for significance, for being known for doing good work. Unless other chart factors indicate otherwise, they may lack the self-confidence to work on their own. They may idealize their boss and be very disappointed when that person (Roger probably much more so than Bert) falls short of their unrealistic expectations. This causes a lot of tension for the 6th house moon person.
This is also a position of the moon that could indicate *employment as a writer or in other creative fields*. If the moon is close to the 7th house cusp or descendant (as it is here), the person with a 6th house moon will be *more likely to rise to a position of importance*.
When people with 6th house moons feel emotionally threatened or inferior in any way, they can revert to how they felt as a small child, but even more intensely. If they were frightened then, they could be completely terrified and have panic attacks as an adult (he does). The pitfall for those with the moon in the 6th house is staying stuck in these memories forever. The challenge is to grow through them.
Mental health is often a concern for a 6th house moon. They may be likely to suffer from anxiety (Don clearly displays every symptom of PTSD and often). But they also can develop a capacity for nurturing and caring for others, assisting them toward greater health and well-being. This is tied in with his North Node which has the same goal. A drive for perfection may overwhelm them. *They may be convinced of your own worthlessness and lack of lovableness. They constantly seek emotional comfort and attachment, but fear rejection and criticism and therefore coldly pull away from emotional commitment*. They place themselves under severe emotional stress and strain. 6th house moons “are likely to be emotionally anxious, overly protective and controlling of others, and generally fearful. You know that you have not been able to attain self-perfection and, so, you fluster your way through life, “sticking your nose” into everything and “acting like a mother hen.” In this way, your hope is that no one sees your own imperfections.” (quote from Gargatholil’s “In Depth Astrology: An Astrological Handbook”)
Don’s birth chart is dominant both in water signs (emotional) and fixed signs. Fixed sign dominant people tend to be stubborn, determined, persistent, inflexible, powerful, strong-willed, and often resistant to change. They may be slow to get started at times but they are powerhouses with their eyes on the prize once they determine their course of action. They will be resistant to changing direction or someone else’s new idea or new plan, and can obstinately refuse to be pushed, pulled or pressured. It's easy for them to set their eye set on a specific goal, make a plan for it, and put in the work that's necessary to achieve that goal. Fixed sign dominant people prefer to stay within their personal comfort zone and pride themselves on following through on what they've started. Usually they are very honest, and because Don is not, I perceive this to be an intense source of distress for him. Show creator Matthew Weiner has said that Don is a decent person at heart who is trying his best. I agree.
The sign in which the ruling planet or rising sign of the ascendant is located in fine tunes the style of personality described by the sun and ascendant. In this chart, the ruler of the ascendant IS the sun’s. This specific feature means that the sun in Gemini’s characteristics previously delineated are strengthened.
With Mercury also in Gemini, this person is the most capable of all possible Mercury signs at managing several simultaneous love affairs (Don is remarkably skillful at this). Their number of relationships is very high because they want to keep boredom and monotony at bay and frantically run away from any source of peace and calm. They will probably marry more than once (he does).
Venus in Aries often desires multiple relationships, too. Aries is forthright, demanding, dislikes monotony and boredom, and wants to take the lead. With Venus in Aries, someone may be very ardent and pursuing in relationships. Their feelings and passions are easily roused, and they often just go out and get what they think they want. The trouble with that is, once they have gotten it they may get tired of having it very quickly, as he does. The thrill of the chase is more important than the final catch. Their romances may start off in a blaze of excitement and glory only to end in boredom and monotony or worse. There are always fresh fields to conquer and they go after them. It's almost a game for you. Venus in Aries calls for you to be assertive and independent. They may have an impulsive approach to love, like competitiveness, and perhaps even start fights just for the action and excitement. They can be inconsiderate of others because they don’t always stop to consider other people’s feelings. Impatience and selfishness can be a problem.
Mars is the planet of action and assertion, and Pisces is a generally flexible, mutable, passive sign that rarely asserts itself in a directly. Mars in Pisces is an unusual combination. Sometimes these people are prone to feelings of guilt about their anger and issues with asserting themselves, Mars in Pisces individuals are good at adapting and going with the flow. However, those that don’t find creative expression for this energy can stir up a storm through indirect or passive-aggressiveness. Mars in Pisces people are often not opposed to manipulating and playing mind games to get what they want, even if they don’t always know exactly what they want. Their desires are changeable and moody, and it can be hard to really know where they stand on any particular issue. Some Mars in Pisces people do take a stand on issues that are especially Piscean in nature, making compassion and love their mission (the finale and the Coke ad!!)
The happiest Mars in Pisces people are usually the ones who have a creative outlet that allows them to express themselves freely and imaginatively.
Jupiter in Aquarius in the 7th house makes Don independent, intelligent, idealistic, open-minded, progressive (particularly for his generation and era, in many ways I think he was), inclusive (he was not racist as many other characters on the show were, and showed obvious distaste at Roger’s offensive blackface show in S3 E3 “My Old Kentucky Home” - as did Pete). With Jupiter in Aquarius, this person will do things their own way. They highly value their freedom to do, think, and be however they wish and relish in the fact that they sometimes go against the grain (his interest in counterculture, both in the beatnik subculture in S1 and the burgeoning New Age movement in the S7 series finale at Esalen). This is a creative person who stands out as an innovator. They have a persuasive way of communicating. They are not confined by the box that many others choose to live in (the hobo telling him something similar as a child in S1 E8). Jupiter in Aquarius makes one a big picture thinker, an ideas person who is less concerned with details and more focused on big changes.
Don’s Saturn is retrograde in Scorpio in his 4th house of home and family. Saturn RX can indicate an abusive father. Archibald Whitman was a monster. An alcoholic who beat his son and allowed his stepmother to do the same.
Saturn in Scorpio people are very determined. Once they’ve set their mind to do something, nothing will stop them from achieving it. That could be a bad idea but they are also usually fortunate to have high intelligence and many other various abilities that make everything look simple to an outside observer even when they’re anything but. This placement is usually resourceful, stern and intense, secretive, stubborn, and can be overly bold and risk taking sometimes. *This person can carefully hide almost anything from prying eyes, including their weaknesses. Being a vulnerable individual, they are often uncertain, but Saturn in Scorpio people usually become masters of their own destiny who work behind the shadows, with no one knowing exactly how they accomplish miracle after miracle*. It wouldn’t be surprising if they had some bizarre or controversial interests or habits.
Moreover, this also makes them quite determined to achieve a state of perfect mental discipline, of such tremendous willpower, that no one can “read them”. Emotional stability is something that they have to keep a eye on because all that intensity can and will eventually boil over and burn everything and everyone in sight if not channeled correctly. They prefer subterfuge to a direct confrontation, to weaken the enemy psychologically before delivering a coup de grace. Their investigative powers are off the charts, and they can be very clever and devious to the point that a lot of people would be awestruck if they knew the extent of it. Romantically, these people have very contradictory feelings much of the time, born from their uncertainties and fears.
They may be very affectionate and intense in intimate bonding, craving intense sexual experiences, but the truth is that they are ridden by a constant nagging feeling of ineptitude and self-pity because they are afraid they’re not good enough deep down (this is definitely true, he was called worthless and useless, and treated as a burden at best as a child). They feel the pressure of having too many secrets, a deep disappointment that no one truly knows them even though this is their own choice, and this is one of the things they should work on to become happier and more content. They should let other people in and be honest and direct. But to them, acting under the cover of secrecy is not only a good professional technique, keeping the secrets of success safe under lock and key, as well as having a restrained attitude that does the job perfectly, but also in their personal life.
Saturn in Scorpio people often *do everything they can make sure that nothing essential to their survival is accessible to the outside world*. All emotions are kept to a minimum. They don’t feel comfortable showing their emotions even when very positive. Love, affection, sadness, anger - anything intense could make them vulnerable to attack. Because they feel so deeply, most of the time, an offense on that level would leave them in shock and upset for a long time. Regardless of their own behavior, they may be prone to suspect their partner of adultery or deceit, whether it is true or not. If they believe it to be true or possibly true, they will generally become enraged.
Chiron at zero degrees (the most intense degree) in Taurus is about a very deep and painful wound that never heals (it actually can, but takes work). In Taurus in his 9th house, he would forever be afraid of losing something significant, whether it be safety, security, money, possessions, his job, or his family. The average Chiron in Taurus person will go to any lengths to avoid losing these things. Even if everything seems very secure and permanent in their life, they will always be scared of an unexpected loss.
In the 9th house, Chiron here shows one’s deepest wound is about expansion. This can be physically or mentally. They may go through a profound transformation of beliefs at least once in their life (series finale) and it can be extremely meaningful and life changing. They’re a life long learner and a great teacher or mentor (he mentors a young woman, Peggy Olson, throughout the series who would not have had the opportunities she did without his support) but if they don’t allow their own mind to expand and see other facets and perspectives to things, they can become arrogant and “stuck”. They have a fear of themselves on some level. To heal this Chironic wound, they must let the honest truth shine through rather than holding onto patterns and convictions they’ve grown out of and that no longer serve them. Individuals with Chiron in 9th house often have had experiences where their instinct and intuition have been traumatized by being forced to fit the norms of society somehow. They have been hurt badly by the thoughtless actions and words of others. They may have been gifted with abilities that go against the grain of societal norms. Their sexuality may go completely against any religious upbringing they received. They reject stereotypes and refuse to be pigeon-holed. They hate to feel controlled by others.
Don also has a grand trine in water signs here, with Pluto and the North Node in Cancer, Mars in Pisces, and Saturn RX in Scorpio. This indicates he has a very rich and vivid inner life, intense emotions, and creative talent, all of which he exhibits many times.
He could possibly dedicate his life to something only to discover it is a total sham later. If so, however, it’s not a complete waste of time, because they have learned valuable lessons and now have the skills and experience necessary to help others in similar situations, and for themselves to MOVE FORWARD - a quote from one of his most famous scenes on the show.
I added actor Jon Hamm’s natal chart. He was orphaned young, same as his character, and became a teacher before pursuing acting professionally. His exact birth time is unknown and unverified, so I did a standard noon chart first, another one that gives him a Leo rising like Don, since they have identical physical appearances, and a third version that would give him a Leo moon, because Mr. Hamm was born on a day when the moon was in Virgo most of this day, but if he were born very early, before 2 am-ish, there’s a chance he could have a Leo moon and Sagittarius rising, which would also be very fitting for his laudable performance here. A Pisces sun, moon, or rising or prominent Neptune placement is common in artists.
Eugene Scott Draper
An update: Don’s youngest child, Gene, is born in Season 3 episode 6 of the series, titled “The Fog”, centered around his birth and his mother’s drug induced visions during labor. I couldn’t help but be fascinated that his birth certificate is clearly shown with the precise date and location, a rarity for any fictional character!
So I decided to put it together and see what resulted. I was astounded how much this chart has in common with the one I rectified for his father. Many signatures of real life generational astrology are present. The series doesn’t show him beyond around six years old, but this gives an idea of what kind of person he might have been like as he grew up.
Eugene Scott Draper was born in June 21, 1963 at 4:58 am at Phelps Memorial Hospital in North Tarrytown, New York. He’s a TRIPLE Gemini (duality) with a big Gemini stellium spread across his 12th and 1st houses and Chiron in Pisces, a deep inner wound also with a duality to it - he may have felt deeply betrayed by the world/universe/God/etc. and that he never had a fair shot in life. He has Saturn retrograde in Aquarius near his midheaven which could indicate an absentee father and also being a quirky and unconventional person - he probably had a unique and interesting career, perhaps inventing something high tech. Uranus conjunct Pluto (and very loosely Mars) in his 4th house of home and family in Virgo means something unusual happened here too. He was probably rebellious growing up, especially after losing his mom (massive spoiler alert for the entire series: Betty Draper is diagnosed with late stage lung cancer near the end of the series and refuses treatment. She is only about 39 years old and was told she had maybe a year to live if lucky around the finale of the series. We are intended to presume she died in 1971.)
Gene may have left home very young, just like his father did. He may have been ashamed or embarrassed of his family, just like his father was. Jupiter in Aries in his 11th house may have been Gene’s saving grace. He was probably an optimist despite it all. This also could have made him very charming, sociable, and quick to make friends (as could all that Gemini energy) but he also may have been overly naive or arrogant somehow. People with Jupiter in Aries often become leaders somehow. He almost has a very significant aspect called a yod, sometimes referred to as the finger of fate or finger of God because it points at something of importance, and here the apex planet would be his Neptune in Scorpio in his 6th house. This would make his Neptune a focal point of his entire life’s journey. It’s not a great position for Neptune and he might be a hypochondriac (Neptune can be about illusions) or he might actually have some serious health issues. He probably would’ve been the most nonconformist of the Draper kids. Being the youngest strengthens that possibility psychologically. Sally, the eldest, is a Taurus Sun, born in early May 1954 (as every episode contains a real date in history, S1 E3 indicates her sixth birthday is Saturday, May 7, 1960 as that was Derby Day in 1960. May 7 is also my own birthday, decades later). I don’t think middle child Bobby’s birthdate is ever mentioned unfortunately, though we can safely say that it took place at some point several years after 1954 (he is at least two years younger than Sally) and several years prior to 1963 (he’s probably ~5-6 years older than Gene).
Queen Of Chess: birth time rectification and natal chart for Elizabeth Harmon, child prodigy protagonist of novel “The Queen’s Gambit” (turned award winning Netflix miniseries)
“"Chess isn’t always competitive. It can also be beautiful. It was the board I noticed first. It's an entire world of just 64 squares. I feel safe in it. I can control it; I can dominate it. And it's predictable, so if I get hurt, I only have myself to blame." —Beth’s interview with “Life” magazine as a teenager
Another example of my work: a natal chart interpreted for a fictional character whose birth data is mostly provided in source - but not a time. Another personal favorite of mine, as we share much in common, is Elizabeth Harmon, protagonist of the 1983 Walter Tevis novel and award winning Netflix miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit”. Her birthdate is shown clearly in her file (if you haven’t read or seen this, please be forewarned, spoilers will be abundant again!) at the orphanage where she’s taken by a social worker after her brilliant mathematician single mother commits suicide in front of her when she is 9 years old.
A glimpse of Beth’s file at the orphanage says her birthdate is November 2, 1948 and the location is mentioned multiple times. I would normally rectify a birth time by starting with a noon chart and then adjusting and readjusting until it “clicks” but in this case the noon chart itself struck me as remarkably accurate. I asked my astrological mentor and she, a fellow fan of the series, agreed that this chart made perfect sense to her. I noticed immediately that any time on this date and using the birthplace listed would make Beth a double Scorpio, both sun and moon. She would definitely be a very intense, strong willed person (she is). She may come across as intimidating to some people because of this powerful inner presence (and she does). She may be blunt and outspoken at times (she is, and it causes some social awkwardness and bullying at school). She is extremely determined and though she faces many obstacles, she is a fiercely dedicated person. Nothing gets between her and her goals.
This is where I think it gets really interesting. The noon chart put Capricorn on her ascendant. Capricorn risings are known to be “old souls” and often unusually mature children who eventually loosen up and “become younger” later, often after their first Saturn return. They are also known to look younger than their age all of their life. It is a very common placement for both a child prodigy and a traumatized child who had to deal with too much too soon to have. I know this very well, because I am also a Capricorn rising and all of this applies to me personally too.
Beth is very similar in many ways to my other example, Don Draper - both are orphans, loners, and geniuses. Astrologically, both are fixed sign and water sign dominant. He’s an advertising mastermind with no real formal training; her brilliant aptitude is for chess, and is largely self-taught also. She picked it up very rapidly from a janitor at the orphanage. He is astounded by her talent and brings in the president of his local chess club to watch her play and then to play against her. She beats both adult men multiple times, effortlessly, to the point of being bored. The chess club president invites her, and asks the permission of the orphanage director, for Beth to play a simultaneous game against all members of the local high school chess club. A simultaneous game in chess is where multiple boards and players are set up around a room and one person plays against them all, one by one. Again, little Beth defeats every single one of them quickly and easily. The club is comprised of all teenage boys, many of whom are visibly upset to have lost, and lost so quickly, to a meek looking little girl. Beth continues playing chess with her janitor friend, a gruff but kind man who is something of a father figure to her, any time she can sneak down to the basement of the orphanage. He is a very skilled player for an amateur and teaches her much of the foundational basics of chess, but she outpaces him rapidly. Shortly after this she takes a near lethal overdose of sedatives and tries to commit suicide at a tragically young age. As a “punishment” she’s forbidden to play chess for several years, but being prone to insomnia, she plays vividly visual games against herself in her mind, which are shown on the ceiling in the series. A few years after this, around the age of 14 (the first natal Saturn opposition which can indicate a lot of change in a young person’s life - hard Saturn aspects occur for everyone every 7 years, the best known one being the Saturn return), when she’s given up on being adopted as usually the youngest children are chosen, she is suddenly adopted by a local middle class family, the Wheatleys, and to her this is a life of luxury at first - she’s never had her own bedroom and revels in that and the privacy of it (one of the first things she does is close the door, looking rapturously happy- very Scorpionic!).
Mr. Wheatley soon abandons the family for his secretary but now-teenage Beth finds a caring and supportive ally in Mrs. Wheatley. She goes on to enter a local professional chess competition, where she is one of only two very young women (the other of whom is older and she immediately defeats) and by far one of the youngest players there at all. None of the boys and men take her seriously and treat her like an oddball who doesn’t deserve to be there. She has no national ranking score as serious chess players normally do, because this is her first official match. Some people even laugh at her behind her back. But even despite the onset of menarche occurring mid-tournament, she emerges victorious with a one hundred dollar prize (equal to almost $900.00 USD in 2022).
Alma Wheatley is impressed and encourages Beth to continue competing professionally and even sets up trips out of town and makes up excuses to her school for her absences. All the while, Beth continues to decimate her competition nearly every time and rises to the ranks of a world class chess champion. By the time she‘s in her mid to late teens, she’s a minor celebrity - Life magazine has interviewed her - but she has no friends, is socially awkward, and is mocked by the popular girls at school.
Almost all of Beth’s personal planetary placements are in the Southern Hemisphere, the upper half of her chart (houses 7-12). This can indicate a public figure or well known person somehow. She is seen and known by many. People with this chart pattern tend to be more objective, outgoing, and concerned with external events vs. internal. She strikes me more of an introvert, though, so it may simply be saying that she was destined to become world famous, and she does.
Her sun is in her 9th house of post secondary learning and travel, which fits well with what viewers of the series and readers of the novel know already. Her sun also squares Pluto and this is also accurate in that her natural double Scorpio intensity often causes others to be unsettled by her. She likes to be in control and when she feels she is not, she often panics and becomes very anxious, which she attempts to repress but can result in others feeling threatened by this energy. She will be likely to have battles for control with people in positions of power and authority - and she does. Unless a letting go of control and more relaxed attitude can be achieved, she would experience some personal crises and may fall far into the abyss of depression. She may have secret desires to act out and flirt with “forbidden” experiences with sex, addiction (definitely this one especially here), and other risky behaviors. Sacrificing the need to control so much can be transformative and a release from the pain and suffering is that is common with hard Sun-Pluto aspects. This is evidenced in the ending of the series when Beth has fought a mighty battle to become world champion and then realizes she would like to return to playing chess more for the simple joy of it, and enters a public park where a group of older men (perhaps symbolic of her first teacher and mentor, Mr. Shaibel, the janitor). Remaining ambitious while being less worried about her competition could actually lead to a position of increased power and authority, the same thing that caused control issues in the first place.
Her moon is conjunct Chiron in the 10th house of career and life purpose. In many ways, Beth hides behind chess so she doesn’t have to deal with her troubling emotions. She also has her moon square Saturn which is a deeply felt aspect that can provide many opportunities for emotional growth. The symbolism of the moon has to do with emotions, home, mother, nurturing. Saturn in hard aspect with the moon can suppress the moon’s natural need for nurturing. The native with this square may have grown up in a home where there wasn’t much love or affection shown - if you haven’t seen the show, trust me- that orphanage was bleak. Dickensian bleak. They handed tranquilizers out everyday as though they were vitamins to the children to try to keep them quiet and well behaved. The native also might have had to grown up too early, learning to act like an adult before they were able to get their basic emotional needs met. This is also often true for Capricorn ascendants. Saturn square the moon can also suggest a negative or tense relationship with the father, but in Beth’s case she never really knew her father. It’s implied that he was a married man her mother had an affair with. Sometimes a moon square Saturn person needs more alone time than others. They can also feel a strong need for structure In their lives.
Beth has a T-square involving her Venus in Libra to her Sag Jupiter and Uranus in Cancer. Jupiter is opposite Uranus, making Venus the focal point of the T-square energy. This planet can serve as an mediator, a diplomatic role, between the two planets in opposition, and all three points can indicate areas of struggles, stress, and tension. Venus square Jupiter people are usually generous, kind, and warm. They can have some problems with following through on their promises, though not because of any malicious intention, but because they sometimes overestimate their abilities, and want to do more and give more than is actually possible. Moderation is one of the most important and often most challenging lesson in these people’s lives.
She has Mars in Sagittarius, indicating a passionate person with a strong inner drive, in her 11th house which is a social house, along with Jupiter, which tends to bring either (or both) luck and/or abundance and expansion to the sign and/or house it’s placed in. People are drawn to her. This Mars placement is mutable, which means Beth thinks very rapidly and can think on her feet, make decisions quickly, etc. and she does. Her instincts, hunches, and gut reactions tend to be VERY accurate. She should (if she were a real person) aim to listen to them and to stay flexible and go with the flow more.
A Mars-Saturn square in the natal chart means the native sometimes alternates between enthusiasm and apathy and can change moods very quickly. People born with Mars square Saturn are generally detailed perfectionists (Beth is). What they want the most is to identify their emotional and psychological needs to make them feel stable and secure in life. They’re austere, precise in thinking and most of the time looking to follow only their own interests. They can be selfish, impatient, and unkind at their worst. Natives born during a Mars square Saturn transit are usually healthy but they may need to release energy by engaging in physical exercises as often as possible. (Beth, like Don Draper, is shown swimming often. She also seems to enjoy talking long walks alone.) People with this aspect are usually working hard to achieve their goals, and can be very headstrong and persevering, regardless of how many difficulties they may be facing or how discouraged they may be feeling. When focusing on their goals they can accomplish a lot. They may feel their journey in life is so full of roadblocks and obstacles and all the burdens of that rest on their shoulders. If rejected or defeated, they can shut down emotionally (she takes it very hard and personally the few times she loses an important game). They also may be full of self-doubt. Mars square Saturn people work best on their own, but when cooperating in a group effort, they can cope with a lot. A square between Mars and Saturn puts a lot of pressure and tension on people. Many celebrities have Mars square Saturn. They are usually confident people with a great desire to become successful. Beth’s Mars is also trine Pluto which gives her a strong will and determination to succeed. Beth is indeed very courageous, bold, and confident when it comes to chess and can be a very intense person in general. She has an intimidating stare that she often gives her opponents. Her Mars is also conjunct fixed star Antares, which can indicate bad habits strongly affecting her life and a bad temper. People with this aspect are often angry about the overall state of society, the government, and social justice as well as any personal limitations placed upon them which they have no control over. I think the personal limitations part is spot on, especially Beth’s frustration that she isn’t treated equally to men and boys who are skilled chess players and that the press about her is so often focused almost entirely on the fact that she’s a girl and woman. She doesn’t care about that and says so. She only wants to be recognized for her chess abilities.
She has both Mercury and Venus in Libra but too far apart to call it a conjunction technically, though we can call them “co-present”. Speaking broadly this can indicate a certain detachment both mentally and romantically. These are qualities that actually benefit her in her chosen profession and life. Mercury is representative of the mind and communication. Hers is swift and decisive, and her Mercury is also conjunct the fixed star Spica as well, which can indicate a remarkable talent that seems to come so naturally to the native that it’s astounding and almost magical to other people. This is very much who Beth Harmon is. My mentor pointed this out to me - she herself has Spica conjunct her Libra moon in the 3rd house near her IC and she is a tremendously gifted and deeply intuitive world renowned professional astrologer of half a century. I have Spica conjunct my midheaven indicating a strong potential for success in my career(s)/calling in life. Beth’s Mercury trine Uranus makes her intellectually curious, original, and progressive in her style of thinking. She can have many great ideas that go so far beyond average everyday life and situations (Beth is able to visualize a giant chess board perfectly in her mind and play entire games this way alone since childhood, playing both the black and white pieces.) Her mind is always focused on the future. An area of self-expression in which they’re exercising their intelligence and their intuition is very motivating (extremely accurate here). Mercury trine Uranus can be very open minded and flexible, and can think of innovative, original solutions to problems. Their mind seems to be always stimulated (so true) - Beth has insomnia often and her mind cannot shut off and be quiet. I have the same problem. My brain never stops. Even as a small child I would describe it as being like a wild horse running so fast and dragging the rest of me behind it because I couldn’t keep up. People born with Mercury trine Uranus are intuitive and inventive, as well practical in their way of thinking. They usually possess an excellent memory (true) and can be single-minded and impatient (also true). Additionally Beth also has Mercury conjunct Neptune, indicating being very intuitive and creative with a great appreciation for the arts. She is excellent at visualization (she imagines a giant chess board over her head to be able to fall asleep at night) and creative expression. She may not have a lot of confidence in her own ability to communicate effectively, but generally others find her to be intriguing and creative (often, yes). Mercury/Neptune aspects indicate an active imagination, sensitivity, and heightened intuition. In competition or adversarial situations (such as a chess march) she can easily zero in on her opponent’s motives and lpotential strategic moves (100% accurate).
These Libra placements are all located in her 8th house which can be dark, curious, and melancholy. However, a Libra Venus also indicates someone who loves and appreciates beauty, art, and aesthetics deeply. This is evidenced in the fact that Beth revels in having the most beautiful and stylish clothes as soon as she’s able to afford them. By the end of the series, her wardrobe is remarkably chic and sophisticated for a young woman of 20 years old (but the orphanage lied about her age to the Wheatleys to make her seem more desirable to be adopted, so the world considers her to be a couple of years younger.) The interest in beautiful clothing is also appropriate for a Venus in Libra. Her Venus squares Uranus too and that indicates a desire for frequent stimulation and to test boundaries or break social norms or rules. Venus square Uranus can confuse any prospective suitors by being hot and cold in a romantic or intimate relationship. They can alienate partners with acting like “I don’t care what you do” when they feel fearful or threatened (Beth does this). They fear rejection like most others do but they don’t always want to admit it and they can turn their own feelings off if they suspect their partner really doesn’t care about them. Venus-Uranus in hard aspect needs a lot of personal space even from loved ones. This aspect is common in the charts of people who maintain long distance or otherwise erratic, on again/off again relationships (Beth does some of this). There can be abrupt beginnings and endings in relationships. These natives sometimes disdain conventional, traditional relationships. They often loathe social pretenses and insist on being direct and bluntly honest. Being liked by others takes a very distant second place to total authenticity for them. There is a pull of attraction to anything unconventional and unique and all that is “taboo” or unusual in love and sex. Nonconformity appeals a lot to them, and they’re attracted to unique, creative, or sometimes unstable people (her main love interest is Benny Watts, a fellow chess genius and one time child prodigy himself who is very quirky and unconventional - I suspect he would have a strong Uranus or Aquarius placements).
Her Jupiter is in Sagittarius in her 11th house. This means was born during a year of expansion- a time when things seemed to be going well in the world and society in general, was optimistically and confidently moving forward. This is true of the post-WWII, mid 20th century era of 1945-early 1960s in the US at least. America was largely positive and hopeful in 1948. Everyone was mostly happy about the war being over and peace time returning. Searching for knowledge, understanding, and truth is an important factor in the lives of those with Jupiter in Sagittarius. Someone with Jupiter in Sagittarius is wise and curious about everything in life. They spend their lives looking at the big picture, asking "why?" and seeking answers. In her 11th house, Beth could benefit herself by aligning her goals with friends and colleagues, and she does more so toward the end. Since Jupiter is in the sign of its rulership in Sagittarius, this increases the intensity of this placement. Sag Jupiters can get bored easily. They love traveling (she does) and being around and learning from different cultures and people. Their restlessness often means they will live in several far away places during their lives - at one point she talks about maybe wanting to live in Paris someday.
The Jupiter-Saturn trine in her chart is an indication of someone who is confident in their own abilities and believing in their destiny. They may appear lucky, though others can usually admit their success is well-earned. People born during a Jupiter trine Saturn aspect earn respect and admiration of others for being disciplined and having a strong work ethic (she does and is gradually accepted by some of her male competitors, even becoming friends). They probably know intuitively what they want to do in life when very young. These people are original and progressive in their way of thinking and will sacrifice pleasure and happiness in order to achieve a mission in life. These natives are constructive and practical because they know their limits and tend to have realistic goals. They have common sense and dignity, though can be far-sighted, but usually honest and responsible. They also can have a tendency to decide on escaping through the fastest possible route. People with Jupiter trine Saturn natally tend to have a personal vision that can only be matched by their life experiences and practicality. Jupiter trine Saturn people are usually good at organizing things. They’re practical, honest, and serious/literal minded.
Her opposition between Jupiter and Uranus is suggestive of someone is somehow far ahead of their time, and Beth most certainly is. Women didn’t play competitive chess much at this time, and she was treated as very odd, unconventional, and atypical for this many times. Jupiter opposite Uranus in birth charts can bestow brilliance (very much so here), but it comes at a price. The rebelliousness of this aspect can turn others against them and they could become social pariahs (she is very isolated as a child and sometimes by choice as a young adult too). Though travel they can open their minds to new perspectives and become more conscious. Sometimes Jupiter square Saturn people are such unique visionaries that others can’t even understand them (true). It’s very probable to have some relationship problems with this aspect because these natives need to feel free and to have their own space (she does) and they may not ever want to lead a conventional, ordinary, partnered life and be perfectly content being single.
Beth has the fixed star Regulus conjunct Saturn in Virgo in her 7th house. This can bring success, makes its natives magnanimous, ambitious, loving power, control, and command, and very independent. It may convey royal properties (it’s been called “the royal star”, honesty, and courage. Its effect is similar to Jupiter and Mars. When Mars or Saturn are in conjunction with Regulus, often very dramatic world events occur, such as assassinations, coup d’états, revolutions, revolts, demonstrations, overthrow of heads of state and similar events. Regulus is one of the most fortunate stars according to some. It can indicate glory, wealth, and power. Specifically, Saturn conjunct Regulus is someone who cares about justice and right ve. wrong, usually becomes wealthy, gains more through taking risks and speculation, and can indicate public recognition. Saturn in the 7th house in Virgo indicates a preference for partners who show care through practical acts of service and concern. These natives can be very picky and perfectionistic when choosing a romantic partner. Relationships can be strained by holding back frustrations about things that are bothering them. High standards and expectations can be a challenge. Saturn in the 7th house in general is a placement that can be difficult for relationships as it may represent a certain amount of time emotional detachment and isolation in the way the native relates and connects with others. These people generally prefer to maintain a lot of independence even while in a relationship. Codependent, needy people would be a huge turnoff for them. Selfishness and detachment can drive a wedge between them and their partnerships. With Saturn in the 7th there may be an attraction to people who are older, more experienced and more successful than they are (Beth’s first big crush is on a man about twice her age at the time, and she does think he can teach her to be a better chess player) because subconsciously they could seek or long for a mother or father figure. Saturn makes the native to be more of a loner who doesn’t necessarily feel a need to commit themselves to anyone, though.
Her North Node is in Taurus in the 4th house of home and family, indicating that her life’s journey is, deep down, somehow about finding a sense of home and family somehow. For someone who never really had those things when she was growing up, it makes perfect sense. This placement can also mean having a position of in the public eye and possibly an inheritance - when her adoptive parents both died in short succession, she would have been their legal heir. Taurus NN people should try to give back to the community, too. An example of a way Beth could have hypothetically done so might be by establishing a scholarship at the orphanage where she spent most of her childhood for another gifted child, or even perhaps someday adopting an older child who was much like herself later in her life.
Uranus is at 0°, making it extremely strong, in her 5th house of Cancer which representing romance, creativity, fun, and children. This would imply she is exceedingly unusual from the norm in these areas somehow, and she certainly is. She’s a late bloomer socially and shows absolutely no interest in boys, dating, etc. as a high school student, which other girls at school make fun of her for. With her sun trine Uranus, Beth certainly is a very unique individual who is unconventional by the standards of what a young woman “should be” for her time, and she doesn’t care. She disdains and critiques that the media attention she gets is largely focused on her being a young woman, and less about being a phenomenal chess player, which is what she would prefer to be known for. Her gender isn’t related to her skill, so she doesn’t understand why it’s such a big deal to many other people in the 1950s and 60s, and finds it to be irritating.
Her Pluto is in Leo in her 7th house. Learning how to work together with others is a key lesson here but can be very challenging. This can be difficult as she tends toward logic and reason over emotion. This can be a challenging placement. It suggests she might be attracted to a Plutonic personality - a partner may have Pluto in their first house or Scorpio rising. Not just a romantic partner or spouse, but also business partners and even close friends. These natives are flexible and adaptive but power struggles can be a problem. They’ll find a way to survive any situation they encounter, no matter what it takes or who they have to fight in order to win. Pluto in the 7th house can indicate a deep fear of bonding, intimacy, and commitment. Betrayal, jealousy, and a lack of trust can be major issues here. The 7th house is the house of public relations as well as partnerships, so Pluto in the 7th can be a helpful asset when it comes to dealing with the public or being in the public eye. These natives are very good at stepping over limits, over societal norms, and generally doing whatever they think is best, because they aren’t very sentimental about or attached to the past or to traditions.
Mr. Tevis said he wrote the novel as a tribute to all “brainy women”, and this one (me) would like to thank him posthumously for this gem of a story with a very realistic and relatable protagonist.
References:
"The Queen's Gambit", Walter Tevis, 1983
https://amzn.to/3B5RCby
"The Man Who Brought ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ to Life", David Hill, 2020
https://www.theringer.com/tv/2020/11/9/21555790/the-queens-gambit-netflix-book-walter-tevis