This fall,
two big movie queens, Bette Midler and Geena Davis, will be coming to
small screens everywhere. Ms. Midler stars in Bette on CBS,
while Ms. Davis stars in The Geena Davis Show on ABC.
Looking at Geena Davis' chart, it's not surprising that she might seek
out the consistency of a regular sitcom. Geena is an Aquarius with
Moon in Taurus, both fixed signs, and her whole chart is dominated by the fixed
modality. In astrology, the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius)
represent a stubborn, persevering nature. Usually, fixed people have a
hard time starting things, but once they are in a groove, they stick to
their goals with memorable tenacity. With seven (!) fixed planets in her
chart, Geena seems likely to succeed in television, which is to movies
what a marathon is to a sprint. It takes endurance! However, the initial
season could be rocky. In her show she plays a career woman who impetuously
moves in with a family man (played by Peter Horton, formerly of Thirty-Something).
Horton,
a Leo, was also born under a fixed sign. So were Jerry Seinfeld (Taurus)
and Lucille Ball (Leo), who went on to become television icons. Geena's
Sun in unconventional and innovative Aquarius makes a square (stubborn,
learning aspect) to her Moon in sensual Taurus. In films, Geena has experienced
great success by letting her blend of Aquarius awkwardness (Aquarians
are often so ahead of their time they often feel painfully "different"
from others) with her Taurean sexiness. She won a best supporting-actress
Oscar for her role in The Accidental Tourist and was nominated
for a best-actress Oscar for Thelma and Louise. But being
a little different is sometimes a hard sell on TV, a much more conservative
medium. Geena has a better chance for success if she pushes the envelope
with her show, rather than settling for a bland formula.
Upcoming
Events for Geena
Pluto,
planet of major self-transformation, transits Geena’s North Node in
Sagittarius in Februay 2001. Sagittarius is a sign of major optimism, and it likes
to teach as well as learn. Geena's Sag Node is in her Second House of
security and values. If she feels she is able to make a significant change,
and teach something valuable using TV as her medium, she'll be a happy
camper indeed and may end up with a long-running hit. But that will call
for a lot of Aquarian/Sagittarian courage. Both Aquarius and Sagittarius
are prominent in Geena's chart. They are great optimists and believers
in making the world a better place. With that idealism comes bravery—for
Sag in the form of fiery courage and in Aquarius in the form of visualizing
the best world possible. To take advantage of this, Geena has got to be
willing to push television forward, not just rest on her laurels. Let's
hope this show lasts longer than her previously stints on Family
Ties and Buffalo Bill (Buffalo who?).
Whether
Geena Davis succeeds or fails on television, her movie career will still
be waiting for her, and so will her athletic career. She made it into
the trials for the Olympics in 1996 and 2000, in archery, and says she
is still shooting arrows and may try again to go for the gold. And file
this under "too perfect” metaphor: Geena has Mars (physical vitality
and passion), Saturn (discipline) and North Node (destiny in this lifetime)
all in the sign of the Archer: Sagittarius!
Bette
Midler
As for Bette Midler, her charisma may be a little too strong for television.
She's a bawdy Sagittarian with two powerful, aggressive planets—Mars and
Pluto—both in dynamic Leo, sign of the performer. She is definitely at
her best when given room to perform in grand style. She did become famous
as a singer and live performer, after all.
And
as she was becoming known as a singing diva, she was offered the role
of a lifetime—playing the Janis Joplin-esque rock and roll diva, The
Rose. For her performance she received an Oscar nomination and
won a Grammy for her song of the same title.
With
Aries rising (Aries rules force and aggressiveness, as well as extreme
independence) and Moon and Venus in tough, single-minded Scorpio, it's
likely that Bette could experience run-ins with network producers and
execs, just like Scorpio Roseanne did back in the '80s. Of course, after
all the brawling, the show did become a huge hit.
Upcoming
Events for Bette
As
with Geena, transiting Neptune will be squaring Bette's Scorpio Moon soon,
so she too may not enjoy playing the role of herself as much as it might
seem. Pluto, the planet of self-transformation is hovering over her Sun
as we speak. So this stint in the public eye (and in millions of people's
living rooms) could spark a lot of publicity for her. (It already has—she
was on the cover of the New York Times Magazine this month).
However, since Pluto is about hidden changes, she may be secretly wondering
"is this what I really want from my life?"
A
major eclipse in Capricorn will be passing over the top of Bette Midler's
chart, the area which is most closely associated with fame and being in
the public eye. Eclipses tend to be extremely emotional, and this particular
one hits Bette's South Node, one of the areas of the chart that signifies
past lives. With her South Node in Capricorn being transited while her
North Node (destiny in this lifetime) in homey Cancer is being opposed,
Bette may feel uneasy having to work so hard and spend so many hours a
day away from her husband Martin and daughter Sophie.
In
July 2001, just when the eclipse cycle is completely over, Jupiter (good
fortune, and Sagittarian Bette's ruling planet) will go over Bette's North
Node in family-oriented Cancer. If the show is cancelled, it may be a
relief to Mama Bette. And if it lasts, she may aim to get her daughter
on the show!
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