Keanu’s Natal Chart (This is for entertainment purposes only. You can’t sue me. Neener. Neener. Neener.) I don’t have Mr. Reeves’ actual time of birth, so I ran a chart with his Sun on the Ascendant (called a solar chart). For that reason, I will not be including an interpretation of house positions. I will only be interpreting the planets in their signs and in relation to each other. The chart drawing can be found here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/cwtabbs/Happy%20Birthday/reeveschart.gif. In looking at this chart, these features jumped out at me: · Two stella: one in Virgo (including his Sun) and the other in Cancer (including his Moon). · The opposition between his Sun and his Saturn: Papa Problems. · The connection between his personal planets, Neptune, the ruler of film and cinema, and Jupiter, Mr. Luck. Hey, Stella! The very first thing that jumped out at me in looking at this chart is that Mr. Reeves has two stella. A stellum (pl. stella) is a grouping of three or more planets that are conjunct (between 0 and 5 degrees away from) each other. In one stellum, Reeves has two personal (inner personality) planets conjunct two generational (affecting everyone born during the same period of years) planets. This shows a person who is possibly an embodiment of the values of his generation, like a spokesperson. Think Matrix films: his (and subsequently our) generation’s love-hate-obsessive relationship with technology and the advancements of science. Do we want to go farther, or can we listen to that small voice that warns us to retreat before we destroy ourselves? I don’t know about you, but I love looking at the blue sky. First we will look at the four planets in Virgo. Because Reeves’ Sun is in Virgo, let’s look more closely at that sign. Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac and is an Earth sign ruled by the planet Mercury. Virgos are known for being practical, down-to-earth, perfectionist, critical, and helpful. They are flexible and good organizers, and seem to be more interested in doing the best job possible than applause or personal acclaim for its own sake. This makes them humble and self-effacing at times. Since they are ruled by Mercury, Virgos like to talk, but don’t favor idle conversation. They can even be considered shy. Virgos are greatly interested in health and hygiene and are known for preferring to keep clean. Virgos have natural healing abilities which make them great friends and sounding-boards for those they care about. They are good listeners and counselors of the first water, offering the distressed well-considered and practical advice. Virgos also make superbly loyal friends; once you earn his trust, he is your friend indefinitely. There is an appealing vulnerability about a Virgo, even when he is protesting to the contrary. That springs from the symbolism of the virgin. This does not always refer to the sexual connotation of virginity; this is a deeper sense…a purity of spirit, and an innocence that remains through life, no matter what has happened to him. This inner sense of purity often leads the Virgo to seek the same in his surroundings, giving them the reputation for being obsessed with neatness. Coupled with this purity is an earthy sensuality that manifests itself in a preference for natural fabrics and fibers, a green thumb and a gift for growing things. This earthiness makes the Virgo enjoy being outdoors as nature soothes his often-frazzled nerves and puts him at peace. You know you’re looking at someone with Virgo influences in the chart by noting the veiled, impossibly clear eyes; widow’s peak, (slight or fully) pigeon-toed gait, chipmunk-like cheek pouches, high forehead, and intelligent, forward look. Virgo rules the stomach and all Virgo natives struggle with stomach issues throughout life. Oftentimes, you will see a distressed or disturbed Virgo clutching or rubbing the abdomen in an effort to relieve it. Because of this intestinal sensitivity, the typical Virgo needs to be careful with his diet. You will find a great majority of Virgo natives who eat macrobiotically, or are vegetarians, or eat to live more than live to eat. The Sun represents a person’s basic personality traits, those that are present no matter what the person does or how he behaves. The sun is also the embodiment of the ego. In the guise of Virgo, however, this is an uncomfortable arrangement. The urge is to be of service to others, to give without expectation of receiving; this goes against the self-serving nature of the ego. This manifests as the uneasiness and nervousness of the typical Virgo. This nervousness makes the Virgo worry incessantly. It’s no use telling a Virgo not to worry, he can’t help it. This can come out as excessive need to keep things (mental, physical, abstract) in order and the need for organization of mind, body, and/or surroundings. Observe any sun-sign Virgos you know. This need for organization will be apparent somewhere. Even if he or she is a slob, the organization is there. The friction also manifests in the apparent perfectionism for which those under the sign of Virgo are known. The perfectionism is the result of that need for order, and when that need isn’t met, the next quality for which Virgos are well-known shows up: criticism. This goes for the Virgo himself as well as those who live and/or work with him. The problem with this, though, is that the criticism is used as a defense mechanism when the Virgo is feeling out of sorts or that his needs aren’t being met. Why can’t he come out and just say it? It all goes back to that need to give unconditionally. It’s a cycle. Every sign has to potential to evolve, and for the Virgo to do so, he must break that cycle. When that happens, the Virgo becomes more content in himself and can focus on using his natural healing powers on himself and others. He also grows in self-confidence (which is often lacking in the Virgo native—does the phrase “I’m a meathead” ring a bell?). Reeves’ perfectionism has been observed by those who know him, and he has admitted to it himself. He demands that everything he does is perfect and that the product he delivers is of the utmost quality. He is hard on himself and expects optimum performance at all times. Add to this three other planets: Mercury, Uranus, and Pluto. This only emphasizes the above qualities. Mercury controls how we consciously think and communicate with others and ourselves. Since Mercury rules Virgo, the planet is right at home there and brings to bear the preciseness, exactness, practicality, clarity, logic, analytical ability, and insight that the sign offers. A Virgo Mercury is a logical, sequential thinker with an aptitude for work that requires attention to detail. He tends to analyze, measure, and dissect everything, sometimes missing out on nuances, subtleties, and shades of feelings or meaning. A Virgo Mercury tends to develop specialized skills in whatever field in which he is interested and tend to be very good at what he does. Virgo Mercury people love to play with words, phrases, and puns, and can be killer Scrabble players. They take delight (and pride) in developing a great vocabulary and enjoy games that require use of strategy and great attention to detail…like chess (My Mercury is in Virgo. I love chess! And logic problems…). Did I mention that Virgo Mercury babies are very easy to amuse? In Reeves’ case, his Mercury is retrograde (appears to be traveling backwards). When a planet is retrograde in the natal chart, its same qualities apply, but are often directed inwardly—less obvious to outside observers. A person with retrograde Mercury seems to think differently from everyone else, sometimes seeming to “come out of left field”. This uniqueness lends itself to a highly inventive and creative mind. In interviews, Reeves seems to offer answers and make comments that don’t make sense on the surface. He seems to use certain phrases often and will drop an unexpected word in. He tends to play with his words and (when he isn’t in a dark mood) will engage in a verbal tennis-match with the interviewer (mostly with a huge smile on his face). The conjunction between Sun and Mercury gives a person a subjective turn of mind. He loves to talk and spar verbally. His personality can be described as “mercurial”, and he has a quirky personality. Quirk-eanu. The other two planets in the stellum are Uranus and Pluto. These are called generational planets. Because they move so slowly throughout the zodiac (Uranus can stay in a sign up to seven years; Pluto around fifteen to thirty-two), they are known to influence an entire group (generation) of people more than just the individual. In Reeves’ case, they are conjunct his Sun and his Mercury, thus coloring his personality more. Uranus is the planet of electricity, lightening intuition, and eccentricity. It rules Aquarius. Thusly, any personal planet that has connection with it is given an Aquarian flavor. In Reeves’ case, his Sun conjunct Uranus brings out his rebel side. There is an electric, magnetic aspect to his personality. He may also receive lightening flashes of intuition without quite knowing the how or why. He is a person who is not in the mainstream when it comes to thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. Uranus also bestows restlessness—mental, physical, and/or spiritual. The native is a seeker. When Mercury is conjunct Uranus, the aspect is often called “the genius” conjunction. In esoteric astrology Uranus is often seen as the “higher octave” of motile Mercury, given to vibrating at a higher frequency—thus the restlessness. Reeves has spent his life on the move, only settling down and buying a home of his own very recently. Mentally, he is supremely curious (a Virgo trait, magnified by that Sun-Mercury-Uranus conjunction), devouring books, art, anything everything in his hunger for more knowledge and experience. Pluto is the planet of death and transformation, mystery, and visceral response. It rules Scorpio. For that reason, any personal planet connected to Pluto is given a Scorpionic “cloak”. Pluto conjunct the Sun gives the native a deep, mysterious appearance. There is an ability to hide what he is thinking from others, often adopting a mask of impassivity and a “blank” expression. Read a review, any review, of Reeves’ performance in a movie, and see if that blankness isn’t mentioned. There is a pronounced need for privacy and a secretive nature. The other aspect of Pluto is the desire to control others as well as self. Due to Pluto’s inward-working nature, this desire is often expressed subtly. How many articles and interviews describe Reeves as “inscrutable”, “enigmatic”, “mysterious”, “intensely private”? Scads, right? You may thank his Sun-Pluto conjunction. Pluto is an all-or-nothing planet, imparting the urge and desire to push experiences, feelings, etc. to the very limit. This intensity is very tangible sort—and noticeable. It imparts a charisma that draws people against their conscious wishes (eliciting a visceral response). Ever notice that people either love Keanu Reeves or they hate him? All or nothing. Speaking of visceral responses and deep, primal…bass guitar, anyone? Now for the stellum in Cancer. Reeves has his other personal planets here: the Moon, Venus, and Mars. Mommy and Love. Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac, a water sign that is ruled by the Moon. Cancers are known to be sensitive, caring, home-loving, moody, and a little on the conservative side. They can be artistic and nurturing, and are nicknamed “the mothers of the zodiac”. Because of the Moon’s rulership, Cancer natives have wildly fluctuating moods. They can’t help it. Cancers are protective of those they love and are sentimental about the past and events in the lives of those for whom they care deeply. Home and family (whether it be children, other people’s children, pets, friends) are very important. Since Cancer is a water sign, its natives are deeply sensitive, even somewhat psychic. They can soak up other people’s feelings without realizing it, and often need to be alone to shake it off and replenish. Cancer is symbolized by the aquatic creature Crab: a tough outside shell with a soft, vulnerable inside. The apparent outer defensiveness and protectiveness covers a very tender core. Stress and upsets can show up as nightmares and other subconscious disturbances. You can tell that you’re looking at a Cancer-influenced person by looking into his eyes. They are large, deep, and “moon-like”. It’s like looking into the luminosity of the full moon. This moon-like quality extends to the round face, and often round shape. Cancers (for the most part) enjoy cooking and eating; sharing a meal prepared with love for those they love. The Moon is the planet of instinctive response, emotional nature, and dictates how a person views the mother (or mother-figure). While the Sun is conscious, the Moon is all about the subconscious, the responses that emanate from deep within (instinct). Since the Moon rules Cancer, it is “at home” in the sign. Cancer Moon natives are, first and foremost, sensitive. There is a vulnerability there that makes others want to nurture and “mother” them; whether the person wants such treatment is open to debate. They are also victims of widely fluctuating moods, and absorb other’s feelings like sponges. Because of this, they are incredibly self-protective, seeing it as a matter of survival. Cancer Moons have been known to be homebodies, often carrying prized possessions and bric-a-brac that remind them of home everywhere they go. Look into a Cancer Moon’s hotel room or rented house and you may see a favorite stuffed toy (from childhood or more recent), pictures of loved ones, even china or glassware that he just couldn’t leave: all objects of sentimental value. Reeves’ sensitivity isn’t always apparent at the surface, but it is there in his not-so-guarded moments. Look in his eyes; in those big, pretty eyes. It’s also there in the sometimes sad look in his eyes (makes you want to mother him, doesn’t it?). It’s also there in his work for charity, and yes, in his love for animals. And, yes, it is especially there in his devotion to (and protectiveness of) his sister Kim (and his other family and friends). The Moon also signifies how a person experiences his mother (or primary mother-figure). Reeves would see the nurturing, “maternal” qualities in his own mother, though she may not see them herself. He would have found some way to experience her as the “traditional” mother. Failing that, he would spend the rest of his life looking for Mommy. Venus is the planet of love, beauty, sociability, and the arts. Venus rules Taurus and Libra. Venus determines how a person expresses love, and in a man’s chart determines the sort of woman to whom he is attracted. Someone who has Venus in Cancer is a “softie” who is sentimental, romantic, and tender in love. There is a great affectionate streak and a desire to please the partner. Birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events do not go unnoticed (My natal Venus is in Cancer. I remember my second-cousins’ birthdays). Cancer Venuses are happiest when creating a cozy nest. They seek emotional security and caring in love and are very protective (and somewhat possessive). However, they are intensely loyal to the beloved and make his/her happiness a high priority. Mars is the planet of action, aggression, passion, energy, and expression of anger. Mars rules Aries and was the traditional ruler of Scorpio (personally I see Mars and Pluto as co-rulers of Scorpio, but that is for another discussion). Mars isn’t very comfortable wearing the duds of Cancer. Cancer is a feminine sign, Mars is a masculine (often overdoing it, if you ask me) planet. Get the dilemma? His traditional traits are pushed inward, making for an uneasy warrior. When Mars is in Cancer, he is more subtle in his aggression and anger more often than not is turned inwards. But…when it builds and becomes too much to hold in, it comes bursting out…LOUD, CLEAR, and EXPLOSIVELY. Ask anyone who has worked on a movie set around Mr. Reeves. They can attest to the outbursts of anger, more often than not directed at himself. A Cancer Mars prefers to manipulate situations from behind the scenes (as does a sun-sign Virgo) rather than obviously and nakedly pursue whatever he wants. He still has an aggressive side, but it is well-hidden. In karmic astrology, Mars in Cancer denotes someone who is angry with the mother or primary mother-figure. Does anyone remember Reeves’ mentioning his discovery of his anger at his mother when he was portraying Hamlet? Mommy issues abound, and when you have three planets in Cancer, they are exacerbated. Whereas Venus symbolizes how a person expresses love, Mars symbolizes how a person expresses passion and his sexuality. When a person has a conjunction of Mars and Venus, there is an abundance of passion. Love and sexuality are linked up. This makes for a person who falls quickly and passionately in love, but who falls out just as quickly. The conjunction of the feminine Venus and the masculine Mars also indicates a person who is attractive to both sexes, and since Reeves’ Mars and Venus are conjunct in Cancer, this attraction is increased (male with planets in feminine signs). A person with Mars in Cancer expresses his sexuality tenderly, gently, and a little hesitantly at first, but when he gets his bearings (or finds himself falling for that someone), watch out. There is an underlying sensuality that is unleashed, and the love/lust object may not be let out of bed until after a long while. Turn-ons? Breasts, for a start (since Cancer rules that part of the body—as well as the belly). He craves deep, satisfying relationships. That superficial stuff does not hold for long. A Moon-Venus conjunction gives a person who finds himself remarkably comfortable around, an appreciator of, and fascinated with women. He most likely has many female friends, and finds their company refreshing. So I don’t believe that Reeves is humping every woman who shows up in public with him. This aspect also places an importance on children, especially as this aspect is taking place in the sign of Cancer (more of that nurturing stuff). Reeves wants children, eh? Why am I not surprised? With Moon and Venus conjoined, there is very little problem attracting affection and companionship, and the native is usually not without either for long. What we have here is a friend-magnet, if he wants them (I’ll explain why he may not want to in the next section). Moon-Mars? Mommy issues again. With those three planets together, and sextile (60 degrees away from) that stellum in Virgo, Reeves would make an excellent chef or vintner (I love that word. Say it with me, now: vint-ner). Personally, when I look at him, I see vines and grapes—and this was before I saw A Walk in the Clouds. Good-bye, Papa: Sun opposite Saturn The sun represents a person’s basic personality traits, but when looking at relationships between that person and his parents we look at the Moon (and sometimes Pluto) for Mama, and the Sun and Saturn for Daddy. Reeves’ Sun and Saturn form a tense aspect to each other called an opposition. This means that they are about 180 degrees away from each other, in opposite signs and on opposite sides of the zodiac. While the opposition is considered a stressful aspect, it forces and fosters action on the part of the native to deal with it. He can’t just coast, he has to move. Saturn is the planet of maturity and responsibility. It rules Capricorn and was the traditional ruler of Aquarius. Saturn is considered the kill-joy, everyone’s least-favorite teacher. He symbolizes the father of the birth chart because traditionally the child learns how to handle responsibility and how to present himself to the outside world from the father (or primary father-figure). In the case of Reeves, his Saturn is positioned in the nebulous sign of Pisces. This position is ironic: the planet of boundaries and limits in the sign that symbolizes the exact opposite. A Pisces Saturn makes for a confused, and sometimes impressionable individual who matures slowly, or isn’t sure how to mature. After all, maturity isn’t bestowed, it is acquired. Pisces engenders escapism, often at any cost. Usually a person who has Saturn in Pisces has to deal with a father who was attracted to alcohol, drugs, spirituality, or any other mood-alterers—often as a crutch and often to excess. This leaves the child confused and wondering just how to go about this growing-up thing without a role-model. Reeves’ father left the family when he was very young, and his mother remarried several times. This left him without a steady male role-model (Saturn) and caused him to have to figure it out for himself. Any aspect between the Sun and Saturn indicates a tendency towards being a “lone wolf” (Sun-Saturn conjunction in my case), so Reeves would be more inclined to want to work all this out for himself, by himself. Once again, observe the retrograde motion of a planet. The fact that Saturn is retrograde means that this all will have played out in a more internal matter. Those who know Reeves well (or as well as you can know someone with a Sun-Pluto conjunction) have attested to the fact that he doesn’t like to talk about his father, his experience of his father, or how he really feels about him. Add to this the planetoid (or comet, depending on whom you ask) Chiron (discovered in 1977). Remember the myth of Chiron, the centaur? He was a great teacher and doctor. He was immortal; so that when he was shot with an arrow he could not die (thus releasing him from his agony). He begged Zeus (Jupiter) to let him die. The King of the Gods took pity on him, and allowed him this. He was raised to the sky as the constellation Sagittarius. Chiron’s themes deal with deep wounds, and using that experience of that wound to help heal others. It has been suggested that Chiron may actually be the ruling planet of Virgo. With that in mind, Chiron is important in Reeves’ chart…and lookee—it’s in Pisces, not in a direct aspect to Saturn, but part of that opposition to his Virgo planets. Chiron here illustrates just how much of an effect his father’s departure had on him. He doesn’t just feel abandoned, he feels deeply wounded by that feeling. The wound that Chiron symbolizes never heals completely, but the experience of it can be used constructively in helping others with their wounds. Chiron not only symbolizes the deep wound (and everyone has one, whether one is conscious of it or not), but often how one deals with it. In Pisces, Reeves’ is even more inclined to indulge in some sort of mood- or mind-altering substances to staunch the pain (Big bag of pot…drinks a lot…head on the bar…). On the upside, Chiron (or any planet in) Pisces bestows a deep empathy on one, which goes a long way towards understanding and healing (there’s that word again) others. As I mentioned above, the stress of an opposition forces the native to action. In Reeves’ case, it is more reaction (planets in feminine signs). He has decided to be as little like he perceives his father to be as possible, going so far as to deny that he has inherited any more than his blood (Virgo). However, that is deceptive (Pisces). In reacting against what he perceived his father to be, Reeves is only showing that he is his father’s son. When planets are opposed to each other, not only are they forcing their differences, they betray the similarities inherent in their polarity. The two oppose, but they also complement each other. The signs of Virgo and Pisces are polar, yet they complement each other. Virgo gives form to Pisces; Pisces gives feeling to Virgo. While Reeves is striving to separate from and prove (mostly to himself) how unlike his father he is, he is only emphasizing their connection. His father may have left him physically, but he will always remain imprinted on Reeves’ subconscious and will affect every decision Reeves makes for the rest of his life. How will Reeves heal himself of the hurt that he feels towards his father for abandoning him? I don’t know, he will have to, or he will continue to suffer the pain for the rest of his existence. He will have to forgive his father; that is one of the lessons of the Virgo-Pisces polarity…both Saturn and Pisces force one to let go of what is not useful in order to heal and move forward. That is the fundamental definition of forgiveness. The Camera Loves You! Neptune is a generational planet that rules Pisces. Pisces is the domain of the artist, the escapist, the image-generator. Neptune rules, among other things, film. Looking at Reeves’ chart, his Neptune is in Scorpio, sextile (60 degrees away from) his stellum in Virgo, and trine (120 degrees away from) his stellum in Cancer. That puts Neptune in direct aspect to and influence of seven planets (Sun, Mercury, Uranus, and Pluto in Virgo; Moon, Venus, and Mars in Cancer). With that in mind, it would seem inevitable that Reeves would become a film actor. Not necessarily. Neptune is the artist. It is likely that he would have been a musician, painter, writer (all those planets, especially Sun and Mercury, in Virgo), dancer, whichever he preferred. The deeper lesson here is that this Neptune-connection bestows a love of the arts, making it a part of his very being (especially with that trine to the planets in Cancer, another artistic sign). Creating (Sun, Neptune) makes him happy (Venus), fulfills him (Sun), allows him to express himself (Sun, Mars), allows him to rebel in his own way (Uranus), is what he needs deep, deep in his soul (Sun, Pluto); is his way of communicating with the world (Mercury). Creating an image (which is what acting is, right? Neptune) is what how Reeves feels he can experience life, and when he was younger it perhaps enabled him to escape (Neptune rules Pisces, remember?) any pain and trauma he suffered. Those with Neptune in aspect to the Sun tend to have very active imaginations and are moved by beauty in all its forms (I’ve got Neptune sextile my Sun, I speak from experience here). It seems that Reeves (somewhere down in there, past the pyloric sphincter) feels that reason he is here is fundamentally to create beauty. Kind of gets you right here, doesn’t it? The other planet that figures in this, that makes all this creation possible—even sees to it that his endeavors in this direction are successful (no matter what others may think or how they feel about it) is Jupiter. Jupiter is in Taurus…the sign of, among other things, material success gained through hard work. Jupiter is the planet of abundance (sometimes a mixed-blessing) and luck. The theme for Jupiter is expansion: broadening everything it touches. In Reeves’ chart, Jupiter is sextile his stellum in Cancer, which in turn is sextile his stellum in Virgo, which in turn is sextile to Neptune…you get it. It’s all connected. It’s all good. Considering Reeves’ already considerable interest in and love for artistic, creative, and imaginative activities, Jupiter adds prosperity and success in those fields. The down-side is that Jupiter is so much of a giver that it can turn into too-much-of-a-good thing. One has to learn to how deal with the gifts that Jupiter is more than happy to bestow. Reeves has worked hard (Virgo) for years to get what material wealth (Taurus) he has now, but does he appreciate it? He seems to take it very well in his stride, preferring to play it Mr. Ordinary Guy. If that’s the image (Neptune) he prefers, so be it. Aspects to Jupiter also makes for a generous person, so with it in Taurus, Reeves is inclined to give some of that material (and spiritual, creative, and artistic—planets in Virgo, Neptune) wealth away to those who can benefit. Jupiter in an Earth sign also magnifies loyalty and common sense. Ask those close to Keanu. See what they say on this subject. I’m sure there are stories. In200 Words or Less… Reeves’ overall natal chart shows someone who is intense, loyal, passionate, creative, hard-working, a bit of a worrywart, and loving. However, the boy’s got issues. He’s reckless, restless, deeply wounded, and a little insecure. Yep, the boy’s an artist. He’s also a punk, and if you had any sense, you’d stay away from him, girls. You realize I mean punk in the nicest possible way, right? I love punk music… The abundance of Earth and Water in his chart combine to make him practical, sensitive, down-to-earth, sensual (and sensuous—look at those lips), and one not to puts on airs and graces. The lack of significant amounts of air and fire in his chart makes him diminish his ability to detach. Detachment is not a natural state for him; it must be learned. His emotions are deeper, more ingrained, and more of an influence on him whether or not he chooses to admit it. He has had to learn not to let them overwhelm him, and sometimes he succeeds, and sometimes he doesn’t. It’s a lifelong learning process. Hey, Virgos love to learn, right? © Tabitha Williams, November 2004. Got it? Good. You may release them, Mungo. Mungo! Bad, Mungo! Bad!