Innokenty Annensky

Innokenty Annensky was a highly-placed beaurocrat in the state educational system of the tzar Russia. He was married to a much older widow with two children. His hidden passion was poetry that he was writing all his life without publishing (the first small collection of his verses appeared when he was already 50).

At the end of his life, he retired and joined some magazine editorial to start publishing his work - but imagine such a figure among young nihilists in the beginning of XX century. He certainly felt like a dinosaur and died soon, I think being quite unhappy.

His poems are beautiful and delicate, but there is one which is a real star, one of the most beautiful Russian verses of all times, in my opinion. I attempted to translate it, although not precisely, but keeping the original sound. I often read it to myself in Russian, such a wonderful music.

Among the worlds, in light of many stars,
I keep repeating name of only vesper,
I wouldn't say that I'm that much in love,
But it's so dark when I don't hear her whisper.

And when the doubts get heavier for me,
I seek the answer from her dear brightness -
That's not because it's lighter near her:
I need no light in presence of her rightness.

Guess what kind of chart Annensky had to write a starry poem about a star? He was Leo with Sun on Regulus:

Harry Potter

As Harry Potter book series has been finished this week (and next film has been released), this is an opportunity to think again over the phenomenon of stardom. Just as in case with Edit Piaf, J.K.Rowling does have influence of royal fixed star in her chart: the Mercury, which signifies writing, is exalted and in conjunction with Regulus:

Would it be surprising to see the same star accented in the chart of Mr Radcliffe? To receive the royal role, an actor should be supported by royal stars – and his Venus is on Regulus too.

Is this luck or is this a destiny to be lucky?

Stardom

When filming a portrayal movie, matching actor and personage, in both character and appearance, is essential. People of cinema find such matches intuitively, sometimes after a long and painful cast. The result might be successful or not, depending on the luck of director, actor, and not the least the personage.

In “La Vie En Rose”, the personage is incredible Edith Piaf, with her rises and downfalls of extreme amplitude, which can well be explained astrologically.

As Dorothy Kovach correctly wrote in her post on AngelicusMerlin Yahoo group, this chart has indications of remarkable voice (ruler of 2nd Jupiter in 5th in own sign Pisces) and public elevation (ruler of ascendent Mars in Leo in midheaven, on major royal star Regulus). However, one should remember that the nature of fixed stars is so variable and unstable that extreme luck is followed by extreme losses. An immediate example is Napoleon, who had Sun in Leo in midheaven on Regulus, with very similar picture of life fluctuations, from royal position to exile. Fixed stars have power to elevate – and to destroy.

Marion Cotillard, who performed Edith Piaf, is not just a talented actress similar in appearance under proper make-up. She is too a Regulus-person, with her Venus on the same royal star.

Since Venus is far less violent than Mars, one can expect her career to be smoother than that of Piaf – luckier, and still as pronounced. In addition, she has Mercury on another royal star, Spica. To be chosen for the role immediately bringing stardom, the actress should possess both talent and luck, and this is where fixed stars are so important. Talent without luck is bound to disappear unnoticeable.

Director Olivier Dahan said, “From the very beginning I had her in mind. There were some other actresses who called me - some really good actresses - but I was really sure of Marion without even knowing her. I don't know why."

I can tell why – because of Regulus and Spica. The story of great singer should be told by similar people. What seems to be spontaneous coincidence, in fact is a part of grand plan, which sometimes can be observed with our modest knowledge.

Illusionists

This film is a spectacular show about a showman. No wonder, the story was written by Leo Steven Millhauser and performed by Leo Edward Norton (I suspect director Neil Burger too has some point in Leo, but his info is unavailable).

Since the whole film is about the story, the storywriter is of the main interest here. Steven Millhauser was born in New York on 3 August 1943, and his career is an interesting plot in itself. He never completed the pursued doctorate at Brown University, but won Pulitzer Prize in later years. For such oddity in career, one needs influence of fixed stars.

Mercury on Regulus and Jupiter on Praesepe. Well, show me a chart where our art does not work…

This beautiful story about illusions is well-shot and has properly surprising final. I just do not quite understand why Crown Prince was pushed to suicide if there was no real reason to blame him? Ah yes, we Leos do not care about details…

Beauty

“Venus” was shot by the same person who made “Notting Hill”, Roger Michell. His London pictures are always beautiful - this is one advantage of the film. Another advantage is good cast, but unfortunately there are no others. This is a fault rather of the writer, Hanif Kureishi, who created a very dubious plot. What did he want to prove? That English youth has nothing in common with the ‘old school’? That any person after all (‘all’ means real meanness) is good and caring? That nothing is more important than physical beauty? That old age is hard to live and disgusting to see? What was all that about? The film is depressing not because of some idea but because of its absence.

Peter O’Toole is indeed a remarkable personality in the cinema. He is from that golden era when both talent and beauty were the must to start a career. He was rather careless and managed to become a heavy drinker and even underwent a surgery to cut parts of damaged stomach, but his extreme luck brought him back to long life and respectable career. His chart well explains this: he has Jupiter on Regulus and strong Sun in Leo providing excellent vitality.
Mr O’Toole is ironic about health. “My idea of heaven is moving from one smoke-filled room to another”. “The only exercise I take is walking behind the coffins of friends who took exercise”. This might be less funny for those listening to him, because they might have been living without that powerful support of the stars.