Celebrity Astrology: Wealth in the Horoscope of Cardinal Richelieu
September 26, 2006 by admin
Finding the level of wealth and the sources for money in the natal horoscope has always been fascinating to me. Most of us will end up at a similar economic level that we were born into, plus or minus some amount. In other words, we will probably never leave the class into which we were born. Some would argue that money and class are two separate topics, but when I say class, in this article I refer to the level of economic prosperity. One of the challenges in looking at a natal horoscope with regard to wealth is that we must realize that we are not looking at an absolute prediction. This means that the horoscope will show gain or loss relative to the level at birth. This is why we typically do not see huge changes in class one way or another. Most horoscopes show preservation of the financial status quo with minor variations up or down.
This is why, when we do see a horoscope with strong promises of wealth, we sit up and pay attention. One such horoscope is that of the Cardinal Richelieu, France’s first Prime Minister, way back in the 17th century. Today, he is best known for his Machiavellian ability to direct the government of France (largely considered for its benefit), however, he made a fortune as Cardinal. He had come from minor nobility, so he was a better positioned for the gain of wealth than most people in France at that time. Regardless of this, however, his horoscope still indicates a clear ascent to wealth.
We must look to Richelieu’s second house of wealth, which in this chart is in 27° Scorpio. Scorpio is ruled by Mars, which in Richelieu’s chart is just inside the first house in its own sign, triplicity, term, and face. Thus, Mars is incredibly strong in Richelieu’s chart, and its prominent position in an angle shows that it is well able to act. This alone bodes well for Richelieu’s finances throughout his life, compared to the level toward which he was born.
However, the fact that his financial success is represented by a malefic (albeit a very strong malefic), the success will come but with difficulty, or through martial means. This means through strife, aggression, and war. The fact that Mars is in the first house of the self, shows that Richelieu will gain his great wealth through his own efforts, and also through who he is. So, who is he? As someone with Mars in the first house, he is going to be warlike, and will lead a martial, or militaristic life. Indeed, the fact that Richelieu became a Cardinal was largely an accident, as he had been planning to go into the military. So we can see that Richelieu will make his wealth through being warlike. This was very much the case, as he spent his career attempting to unify a fragmented country and raised money for the state by whatever means necessary.
What will be the source of Richelieu’s wealth? We already know that he would make his money himself, but of course that money still has to come from somewhere. Mars, in addition to ruling the first house (or most of it), also rules the sixth house and the seventh house. So he will make money through his servants, subordinates, and people working his lands. Those are all meanings associated with the sixth house. He also made money through partners and colleagues, and from his open enemies, which are all associated with the seventh house. Richelieu was given lands and high honors, and later founded the town of Richelieu, near which he built a large château. Likewise, he was given some rewards from the estates of the Protestant Huguenots, whom he helped persecute while in office.
His association with the Royal Court, however, was the chief reason for his wealth. We will notice that Mars is squared by Venus in Leo in the 10th house. Richelieu began his career at court via the French queen, who approved of his strict Roman Catholicism. The 10th house, of course, is the house of the King — with Venus being a female kind of King, or a queen. And yet the reception between Venus and Mars is difficult, with Mars being in Venus’s detriment, and Venus not caring for Mars much at all. Too, the fact that the aspect linking the two is a square, shows that there is tension and difficulty in this alliance. In his first two years of service to the queen, Cardinal Richelieu was exiled along with the queen from the French court, and only negotiated her return to the court with great difficulty. But once he returned to the Royal Court, he quickly ascended to become the King’s chief minister. The good ending of the story likely comes from the fact that Mars is so strong and dominates this Venus-Mars connection.
The Part of Fortune also has a role to play in Richelieu’s acquisition of wealth. It is in 3° Taurus, and therefore is disposited by Venus. This is the same Venus that is the source for Richelieu’s wealth. We are told by ancient authors that aspects to the Part of Fortune, especially from its dispositor (if it is strong), are highly beneficial for the acquisition of fortune. Here, Venus squares the Part of Fortune exactly. With a square, we again see that there are difficulties in the acquisition of the fortune, and the road to riches is not without some serious bumps. Mars opposes the Part of Fortune, giving the impression that Richelieu’s warlike personality and life was not without its financial costs. By the time Richelieu died, while still extremely wealthy, he was perhaps the most hated man in France. This reminds us that the Part of Fortune does not deal only with the financial fortune, but also with the overall fortune in life.
Fame and Fortune in the [Fixed] Stars
November 13, 2005 by admin
![orionmyth.0 Fame and Fortune in the [Fixed] Stars](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1893/74/1600/orionmyth.0.jpg "Fame and Fortune in the [Fixed] Stars")
This week, I wanted to spend some time examining a natal chart for the possibilities offered by the fixed stars. In many ways, the fixed stars are more important even than the planets, though ultimately the two must work in tandem to describe a life. William Lilly, in Christian Astrology, writes: “The fixed stars give great gifts, and elevate even from poverty to an extreme height of fortune, the seven planets do not do so.” We can thus see immediately that we are dealing with two different species here; the seven planets will tell you if you will have lots of money, but only fixed stars can give you a place on the Forbes 500.
To demonstrate the technique, I will look at the fixed stars in Oprah Winfrey’s chart. She certainly qualifies as someone elevated from poverty to dizzying heights. She grew up quite poor in the pre-civil rights American South, and today has a spellbound audience of millions who watch her show, read her magazine, and take her recommendations on everything from diet to spirituality. Her cultural influence is great and her personal fortune is estimated at over $1 billion. If Lilly is right, she must have some powerful fixed stars working for her. I will not hold you in suspense: she does. There is also a planetary significator of wealth in her chart, but on its own, it wouldn’t give her the great fortune she enjoys today.
Her chart is as follows (the data is Jan 29 1954, 7:51 pm, Kosciusko, Mississippi, 10 Virgo rising):
![oprah Fame and Fortune in the [Fixed] Stars](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1893/74/1600/oprah.jpg "Fame and Fortune in the [Fixed] Stars")
To start with, it is important to remember that millions of people are born in the course of a century with a planet on a good fixed star. For instance, given a 1.5 degree orb, Jupiter stayed within spitting distance of Regulus for months in 1955. And yet not all those people born then are extremely wealthy. This is because Jupiter conjunct Regulus must be highlighted in some way in a chart for that fixed star to really do its work. It should rule an important house or point (such as the Part of Fortune) and/or be in an angular house. Strong aspects are also an added perk. Also, there seems to be considerable strength in numbers when it comes to fixed stars: one, the stars need to really be of the bright magnitude to do some work (no dimmer than a 2 magnitude body). Two, the more planets on strong fixed stars, the better.
Aldebaran
In Oprah’s chart, we can see three important fixed stars. The MC is conjunct Aldebaran, a royal star. This is a most promising start, since the MC shows what we will make of ourselves in the world – becoming like royalty in whatever our circle of influence, in this case. Aldebaran is the Eye of the Bull in the constellation of Taurus. Ptolemy designates it as a Mars-influenced star. It is one of the four Watchers of the Skies of ancient Persia (the others are the royal stars Fomalhaut, Antares, and Regulus), and correlates with the four Horsement of the Apocalypse. Again, if you had any doubts, this is one of the heavy-lifting stars. Its constellation image is the bull, with his front legs emerging from the sea, in an image reminiscent of Zeus’s abduction of Europa. In a metaphysical sense, the image describes earthly manifestation (the bull) from desire (the sea), and both symbols are powerful images of generation and fecundity. We thus would expect wealth from Aldebaran. Vivian Robson writes of Aldebaran that it bestows honor, preferment, good fortune and favors from women (presumably referencing Europa, and especially apropos in Oprah’s case, since women make up most of her audience).
Sirius
The Part of Fortune is conjunct Sirius, the brightest star visible today, which is the mouth of the Greater Dog, Canis Major. It is said to be of Jupiterian and Martial influence. Robson ascribes a positive influence to it, stating that it brings honor, renown and wealth. In more ancient times, however, as Sirius made its appearance during the Dog days of summer, it was associated with an excess of choler (inward heat) and ferocity. The Dog in question, mythologically speaking, is one of the hunter Orion’s two dogs, symbolizing the senses of man, which were created to serve. Undoubtedly, the brightness of Sirius shows Oprah’s brilliant fortune. As someone who had made it big in the media – which by definition caters to our senses, the symbolism seems very appropriate.
Rigel
Jupiter in the midheaven is conjunct Rigel, the star on Orion’s heel. Rigel is of the nature of Saturn and Jupiter, and it is also the star at the end of the celestial river Eridanus. According to Rene Guenon, rivers are a special symbol, as they show the ever-changing but constant (yes, it’s a paradox – the water running through the river is never the same water that just flowed through, and yet it’s the same river) nature of the connection between Heaven and Earth. Orion was the tallest and handsomest giant (for he was a Titan born of Gaia, the Earth) who ever lived. As the son of Poseidon, he was able to walk across the ocean floor with his head above the surface. As a great hunter, he once boasted that he could wipe out all animals from the earth; his mother Gaia grew alarmed and sent a giant scorpion to sting Orion in the heel. In another version of the story, the lunar goddess Artemis, in love with Orion, shot him by mistake as he was crossing the ocean. In either case, the fruit of pure generation, which is what all the Titans are, was slain by generation itself. The Moon is the planet of generation, and creatures like scorpions, that breed in great numbers, are a manifestation of generation as well. So Rigel is at once a star of great abundance but also the threat of a sudden fall from grace when the plentiful blessings grow too profuse.
The 1st C.E. poet Manilius writes of Orion: “A son of Orion’s will be worth a multitude and will seem to dwell in every quarter of the city; flying from door to door with the one word of morning greeting, he will enjoy the friendship of all.” How appropriate for someone seen in nearly every home and regarded as a friend by so many!
Planetary Influences
We would be remiss if we ignored the promise of wealth by Oprah’s 2nd house. That house is ruled by Venus, which is cadent, so accidentally weak, but also cazimi (within a few minutes of the Sun). Lilly writes of cazimi planets that “they are wondrous strong,” since they are in the bosom of the king (the Sun). Alone, this Venus may have granted some wealth, but not the fabulous wealth and fame Oprah enjoys today.
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