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Frida Kahlo was a passionate, emotionally dramatic, charismatic,
unconventional and rebellious Mexican artist. She was the foremost
female Mexican painter of her generation, and a tragic and mysterious figure
in the world of modern art. Her tumultuous life was consumed with
physical illness and emotional pain, so dramatically portrayed in her
wrenching self-portraits. Her volatile marriage and love/hate
relationship to artist and philanderer, Diego de Rivero, endured chronic
illness, infidelity, separations, divorce and remarriage. Throughout
her life, Frida battled drugs and despair in the shadow of famous Diego until
her own artistic accomplishments were seriously recognized twenty years after
her death on July 13, 1954. It is believed her death was possibly a
suicide by overdose. The last words she wrote in her diary
were..."I hope the leaving is joyful - and I hope never to return."
Can we see the extraordinary physical and emotional suffering suggested in
her soul's blueprint...her natal birthchart? Can we see that a
challenging marriage would bring dramatic change and powerful transformation
to Frida's life? Is the signature of a rebellious and passionate artist
powerfully depicted through her celestial symbolism?
Frida's horoscope reveals all this and more. Let's take a look...
Frida's natal birthchart initially suggests an early life development which
emphasized either being swept up by the circumstances around her, or
potentially victimized in some manner. The predominance of planets to
the East also suggest a life orientation that is
strongly conditioned by ego defensiveness or ego justification.
Her Sun (Cancer) and Moon (Taurus) blend in earth and water
signs denotes an artistic sensibility, expressed with dedication and
perseverance. Her emotional need to keep things as they are or make
things as they SHOULD be (Taurus), is focused in her vocation (Moon in 10th
house), seeking expression artistically and aesthetically (Taurus).
Those individuals with Moon in the 10th house of career and aspirations need
to make things happen ambitiously. In addition, they often appear to
embody lunar characteristics in their chosen profession...emotion, nurturing,
intuition and soul.
Frida's Cancerian energy which speaks of feeling and emotional security, is publicly expressed through her fiery, Leo
rising Ascendant. The Leo energy adds a dramatic sensitivity with a
touch of aristocratic pride, as well as a streak of stubborn self
absorption. These qualities are further accentuated by her Sun (ruler
of Ascendant) in opposition aspect to a Mars and Uranus conjunction in her
5th house of creativity, symbolizing her INTENSE individualism expressed
through her art, as well as sudden breaks from the past. Her Sun linked
to Mars and Uranus can be wild...one who seeks thrill through danger.
It suggests her pioneering fight for freedom of expression, aggressive eruptions,
rebellion, fits of temper and unconventional sexuality. Her love of
dance is aptly symbolized by this aspect as well.
Frida's emotionally intuitive, Cancer Sun is found in the 11th house of
spiritual visions and group aspirations. Her Sun closely conjoins the
planet Neptune, the archetype of sacrifice, compassion
and/or artistic vision. This aspect speaks of her close relationship with her
father (Sun), as well as the fragility and sensitivity of her physical body
(Sun, Neptune). Sun/Neptune individuals are often uncertain of their
identities. They are also romantic, idealistic and a pushover for the
underdog. Frida's battle against drugs is also symbolized by the
Neptunian need to transcend the earthly pain of her wrenching physical and
emotional existence.
This planetary combination also speaks of spirituality and art seeking
expression and validation in the greater collective (11th house). In
addition, the planet Neptune is found in what's
called "oriental position" in her birthchart, suggesting a calling
or vocation geared to that which is intangible or transcendent. Also,
the planet which rules her 11th house, is Mercury
placed in her 12th house, which makes no major aspects in this chart. A
planet which makes no major aspects is called "Peregrine"
suggesting it is an island unto itself...seeking a tie in or link. The
planetary archetype may have to make a a lot of
noise in efforts to connect and find fulfillment. Her Mercury in Leo in
the 12th house may be translated as..."a powerful drive (peregrine) to
communicate (Mercury) in a creative and dramatic manner (Leo), universal concepts through the collective
unconscious (12th house).
Frida's horoscope certainly suggests artistic vision and extreme commitment
to an ideal, however, her inspiration may initially
come from extreme sacrifice or loss. In addition to enduring Polio at
the tender age of six years old which left one leg shorter than the other,
Frida suffered a traumatic auto accident in Mexico City on September 17, 1925, when an electric
trolley crashed into the wooden bus in which she was riding. As a
result, her leg was shattered, her pelvis and spinal column were broken, and
her right foot was dislocated and crushed.
What was going on astrologically during this formidable time in her
life? There are several powerful and challenging configurations in
place at this time. To begin with, transiting Neptune was conjoining her
Ascendant (physical body) and squaring her Midheaven (public status).
When you consider that Neptune takes 165 years to
travel around a birthchart, not all of us will experience such a sensitive
time. Neptune transiting the sensitive Ascendant suggests
a time of either heightened spirituality or ego wipe out and
disillusionment. With transiting Saturn (ruler of her 6th house of
health) in opposition to her Midheaven angle, we know that this was a
potentially low period in her life, an extremely important time...full of
responsibilities, yet an important beginning of a brand new foundation which
has consequences for many years to come. Transiting Uranus was also
squaring Pluto in her 4th house of home, foundation and end of the matter,
suggesting drastic change, or an overturning of the status quo.
This revolutionary time ultimately is meant to give birth to an entirely new
life perspective!
In addition to the above major transits, Frida's progressions at that time in
her life corroborate major new developments. Her Solar Arc progressed
Pluto in opposition to Uranus suggest upset and great tension, yet it also
signifies attainment of far reaching goals through profound effort! Her
Solar Arc Mercury conjoined her Ascendant (physical body, movement and change
are symbolized here) and squared her important Midheaven angle as well.
If Frida had consulted an astrologer at this time, the nature of major change
leading to an exciting new life direction would need to be discussed.
In regard to relationships, Frida has several challenging aspects to her
planet Venus, corroborating her relationship difficulties as well as her
artistic genius. Venus, ruler of her Midheaven (reputation, career)
conjoins cathartic Pluto, linking love and profound change to both her career
aspirations and her love life. This aspect engenders transformation of
values in sexuality and relationships. An individual with this aspect
must confront issues of jealousy, possessiveness, secrecy and self
indulgence. In Frida's case, this combination describes her stormy
marriage to unfaithful Diego, as well as her all encompassing, grand
obsession with her art. Her Venus also makes a quindecile (obsession,
upheaval) aspect with Uranus, ruler of her 7th house of marriage and
partnerships. This aspect symbolizes Frida's desire to disrupt the
status quo through her unique and evocative art. She may also
experience upheaval around intimacy and monogamous relationships (Uranus,
Venus). Frida's relationship to Diego is poignantly
symbolized by this aspect as well her planet Uranus in quindecile aspect to
Pluto and oppose her natal Sun. These challenging configurations
symbolize powerful shifts and FIERCE individuality leading to a revolution of
some kind.
Frida has her Venus in challenging aspect to karmic Saturn, suggesting
control factors linked to her love nature, which may manifest as loneliness
within partnership. Positively, this aspect suggests the ability to
work hard (square) and create a solid foundation (Saturn) in the arts
(Venus). Frida's Saturn in Pisces (poetic, sacrificial, universal love)
is located in her 8th house of ego death and rebirth, crises and matters
related to joint intimacy. This aspect is also suggestive of health
concerns, as Saturn rules her 6th house of health and Venus rules her 10th
house of her change in status. The 6th house also involves the development
of techniques and skills to build a bridge between one's higher and lower
self. Her Saturn in the 8th house in square to Pluto suggests hard,
hard work concerning her 6th house affairs. Positively, she was
divinely guided to regenerate inhibiting structures in her life...basically
reconstructing herself from scratch!
Positively, Frida was able to channel much of this fierce individuality into
her art, thus increasing our awareness and perspective through her powerful
sense of style. The upheaval within her marriage fuels her artistic
mind, which subsequently sends a message to mass consciousness. Note
her powerful midpoint pictures which alert us to her courage...Neptune = Mars/Uranus...a
dream leading the action, Pluto =
Moon/Jupiter...major plans for major triumph, Mars =
Sun/Neptune...magnetism, and Sun = Mars/Neptune...nefarious scheming to
exalt the ego...new plans are illuminated (Midpoint descriptions are from
Noel Tyl's text Solar Arcs).
In conclusion, with Frida's prominent Neptune and Balsamic Moon phase birth,
Frida came here as a visionary soul...one who was destined to plant seeds for
the future. Many individuals who become famous after death are born in
this prophetic Moon phase. They are sometimes denied fame while on
earth, yet fame comes after their departure...their contributions live on and
become very meaningful when the collective is ready for their messages.
If you have not seen the recently released movie about Frida's passionate
life, called FRIDA, I highly recommend you do
so!
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