Oprah Winfrey is one of the most visible as well as highest paid celebrities in the world, and she has set a high standard for show-biz royalty as well as every day people. Her astrological chart and Astro*Carto*Graphy maps reveal much about her personal and professional life. Oprah has a powerful natal chart, but that alone does not pre-ordain the beacon which she has become.
She has, through her “free will choice” commitment to compassion and excellence, developed into a shining star.
As Universal citizens sharing a synchronicity of time and space, we are all born into a blueprint which is revealed in the natal astrological chart. Created in the image of a Higher Power, however, we also have “free will choice.” Evolving through the combination of astrology and free will, we co-create in a unique world which empowers us to determine how and what we wish to manifest. Oprah Winfrey is a shining example of confirmation for astrology combined with the triumph of personal will.
Oprah’s chart reveals her gift of beauty, her courage, and mystique. It also exposes her challenges. She was born with her Sun in the sign of Aquarius. This fixed air sign, also known as the Water Bearer, is distinguished by its desire to dispense knowledge and wisdom. Ruled by the planet Uranus, Aquarius is also independent in both lifestyle and thought. Oprah’s Sun is also joined by the planet Venus, Goddess of beauty and love.
Yes, Oprah, you are beautiful! The photographers love to capture your image,
the public adores you, and your pets; and, you always look – gorgeous!
With her Sun, Venus, and Mercury all in Aquarius, what we see is what we get. Oprah doesn’t pull punches. She also thinks well on her feet. Three planets grouped together congeal into a personality that is verbal, and quick witted; what a great combination for a talk show host. Being a fixed air sign, Aquarius is also known for holding steadfast to an opinion; another quality which enhances her strength. She will entertain ideas other than her own, but only after careful evaluation.
An 11th house Moon in the mutable fire sign Sagittarius readily enhances her positive Aquarian qualities. Inside the Sag Moon, we see more of her drive for independence, combined with frank speech – she’s sassy! And, considering that she also has Mars in Scorpio, (which squares, or challenges her natal Pluto) this makes her potentially armed and dangerous. Unfortunately, she had to develop her strength through battles against worthy opponents. Oprah, however, exemplifies a positive example of Mars in Scorpio (in the 11th house); a passionate fighter for the causes which she believes in, especially those which reconstruct or uplift a troubled society.
Another major piece of any astrological profile is the ascendant, or rising sign, which is determined by one’s time of birth. Oprah’s ascendant is also Sagittarius, the same sign as her Moon. Her Moon is in early Sag, 4 degrees, and her ascendant is in the late, 29th degree of the sign.
The Sabian Symbols are an oracular branch of astrology developed in 1923 by Marc Edmund Jones. They offer a synchronistic message for each degree of the zodiac, and those related to Oprah’s Sagittarius Moon and ascendant are compelling. The Sabian message for her Moon or emotional essence is: “An old owl up in a tree. This is a symbol of the necessary element of steadiness in human affairs, and of . . . normality. Positively, this notes exceptional wisdom or effective self-restraint in each detail of personal accomplishment.” (1)
The Sabian message for Oprah’s ascendant, a reflection of her personality and how she presents herself, is equally fascinating: “The Pope. A symbol of human excellence and special values exalted in social and political hierarchies of modern civilization; man’s ambition to meet some exceptional need of everyday experience and proceed to . . . .sanctity. A person strengthened within himself by the appreciation he succeeds in winning from his fellows. Positively, this notes an effective and spectacular sacrifice of self in some enduring service to the race at large.” (2)
Isn’t astrology amazing? Consider that these messages were randomly formulated years before Oprah was even born! The Sabian Symbols are a source of wisdom for us all, and I promise you will be equally pleased by those for your own personal astrology, too. Marc Edmond Jones, widely recognized for his contributions to astrology, notably challenged the notion that astrology creates destiny. Instead, he taught that astrology helps people see their own tendencies clearly, so that they can decide what they want to do for themselves.
The planets already mentioned do explain some of Oprah’s drive, but, still, what makes her “tick?” And, why does the public love her so much? Could it be that she also loves the public? Ahh, Neptune, the planet of glamour is in her astrological sector of career and public image. Part of her universal appeal is that each person sees themselves in her. Monday through Friday, at 4 PM, she dispenses benediction to us all; the female Pope, becoming Sophia, supreme goddess of wisdom. We love her, and because of her outstanding development of free will choice, she has become deserving of our admiration.
Next, what do the stars reveal about her personal life? Here’s a shining example for astrology 101 – Uranus conjunct the South Node in the 7th house. We already know she’s independent, but now we see that she has “issues” around personal relationships; deep, soul issues. Astrologer Stephen Forrest teaches that the combination of Uranus and the South Node is a karmic wound marker of past lifetime chaos; someone whose stability, or in this case, loving relationships, were uncontrollably swept away. So, in personal relationships, Oprah naturally has a deep and unconscious fear that vulnerability in personal love creates an opening for loss of control in every aspect of her life.
Always opposite the South Node, or karmic past, is the North Node. Here is our future, what we came into this lifetime to learn about. Oprah has her North Node in Capricorn, conjunct the wounded healer planet/asteroid, Chiron. She could be a great hand’s on healer. Instead, she heals the world through her hands on approach. With Jupiter in the 6th house, she also grows spiritually through her good works.
She has made no secret about her early struggles which include the death of her first and only child, as well as sexual abuse. These are experiences which might be expected of someone with Pluto, the planet of transformation, in the 8th house of life and death. Through courage and positive manifestation of her free will, Oprah has publicly shared what might otherwise be dearly held as a deep secret. Indeed, we must all learn to bring light into out darkest places, and Oprah, again, is an example for us all to behold.
As an expression of her desire to empower those less fortunate, in January of 2007, Oprah opened the Leadership Academy for Girls, a private school just outside of Johannesburg, South Africa. In her own words, she “fell in love with the beauty and spirit of Africa.” Astro*Carto*Graphy is a branch of astrology which looks at resonant earth locations based on the planetary information portrayed by the natal chart. The A*C*G maps illustrate how and where particular planets influence the earth for each individual. Look at the planetary lines which Oprah has directly over Johannesburg; Sun, Venus, and Saturn. Immediately, her self expressed (Sun) love for the girls (Venus) is evident. Her sacrifice and commitment to them are sanctioned by Saturn.
Natal A*C*G Map for Oprah Winfrey, South Africa
So far, we have examined Oprah’s natal chart. The term “transits” refers to where the planets are in the sky today. Not surprisingly, she has been influenced by some powerful transiting planets over the past year, most notably the archetype of wholesale change, Pluto. Using a birth time of 4:30 AM, which appears to be accurate, based on the credibility of her Sabian Symbol messages as well as the placement of her A*C*G lines, Oprah faced some fearsome challenges in 2007, and she will have more transformations in 2008.
One of her most publicly daunting events was the abuse scandal which rocked the girls’ academy in South Africa. With Pluto transiting her ascendant, and having this planet in her natal 8th house of sexuality and hidden things, it is not unexpected, (from an astrologer’s point of view) that she would have to deal with such a challenge. She also had the planet Neptune transiting her natal Mercury. Predictably, she was deceived, and most likely had to untangle a web of deliberate misinformation in order to get to the truth. However, based on the strength of her natal chart, it’s no surprise that she took on the task like a warrior.
The next map, calculated for August of 2007, illustrates the wounded healer planet/asteroid Chiron, traveling over Johannesburg. This map confirms the accuracy and power of Astro*Carto*Graphy, (also known as Astro*Locality.) As Chiron moves over her beloved Girls Academy, a sexual abuse scandal is bought out into the public eye; she must, and does, face the injury and brings closure to a wound from her personal past.
C*C*G update map for Oprah Winfrey, August 2007
The year ahead holds both promise and change for Oprah. With transiting Pluto on her ascendant for most of 2008, it’s a sure bet that parts of her old life will be transformed. Already, she has broken new ground by endorsing Presidential candidate Barack Obama. And, as transiting Uranus begins to trine her natal 7th house Uranus, she will likely open the doors which guard her heart, and allow a true love to enter at long last. After September, as her progressed Moon enters her 12th house of solitude, she will want even more time for personal reflection. Even the queen of publicity deserves some privacy.
This short analysis barely scratches the surface of all that is revealed by a birth chart. Truly, astrologers are never bored, because we can always dig out more relevant information on every little detail surrounding any person. It’s a great past time! What astrology cannot predict, however, is that marker of true individuality, how each person opens their box of love for humanity. This is what truly makes life, and people, interesting.
Oprah Winfrey has taken her unique set of astrological gifts and challenges and created an elegant symphony. Through her mastery of free will choice, she has brought in light where there was darkness. She is beacon of courage and grace who has touched so many lives in a personal way. Thank you, Oprah, for being beautiful you.
