Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse’s short life of extremes and fame catapulted her to sudden highs but desperate lows.  She lived life on her own terms with rebellious abandon. Many talented and passionate musicians hit the road to fame and success fast and furious but crash and burn out before their time. The lives of noted rock stars such as Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain came to an end at the mysterious age of 27.

This phenomenon is explained in astrology by the cycle of Saturn. It takes 27-30 years for Saturn to transit through the entire zodiac of the 12 signs. As Saturn completes a full cycle through the zodiac it returns to the original starting place where it was in a birth chart. This is called a “Saturn Return” and it begins around age 27. This will signify a time for growing up and maturity. Saturn represents discipline and responsibility and the resistance to this development creates destructive behaviors that prevent our growth to another phase of our lives. The Saturn Return is usually the turning point and defines the generations of those in their 20s from those in their 30s.

In reality around 27-30 years old we have to begin to be responsible and look at life in a new and different way. Rock stars who are suddenly rich and famous try to escape the reality of growth, age and maturity for they feel they are entitled and immortal. They follow their own rules that unconsciously destroy their own lives with their belligerent willful behavior. There is always a defiant rebellious attitude.

Along with the cycle of Saturn there are other very specific planetary indicators for rebellion and addictions in a chart. A look at the astrological chart of Amy Winehouse will explain these variables of addiction.

When Amy was 9 years old her parents divorced. This emotional event scarred her, and she was never the same after this. She became self destructive by cutting herself. These were the early signs of self destruction and the inability to accept change. Her emotional pattern of self destruction is set off when she is forced to change. In this circumstance where her parents split and divorced she felt out of control. Her anger at the situation and lack of control turned into her non-acceptance to move forward with the changing events. So she turned her anger onto herself. This is the pattern that led to the destructive behavior that took her life so young.

It takes the lunar nodes (Rahu and Ketu) around 18 and half years to circle the zodiac, therefore 9 years is the half cycle where they will form the nodal inversion. During this difficult time in her life transiting Rahu was on natal Ketu and transiting Ketu was on Rahu. So every 9 year cycle marks a time of transition. Interestingly, these were the same placements of the nodes when she died at age 27.  This is another reason why this age (27-30) is so significant in terms of growth and maturity.

Amy could not handle loss around emotional attachments such as her parents and marriage. For each time she had a break-up of close emotional relationships she felt she had no control over the loss and became destructive. This inability to accept changes around emotional attachments creates anger that becomes self destruction. Her destructive behavior manifested from her deepest desire which was for stability and security which was lost when her parents divorced. This loss created the destructive patterns that controlled and directed her behavior throughout her life.

Moon Chart (chart using the Moon as the ascendant)

The birth time for Amy is not known but I am sure it must be before 9 am because the Moon is in Scorpio conjunct Ketu. If she is born after 9 am her Moon moves out of Scorpio into Sagittarius. The Moon represents the mind and when it is close to Rahu or Ketu (Rahu is the north node of the Moon and Ketu is the south node of the Moon) it can give an obsessive nature. The Moon in Scorpio is the debilitated sign (weakest sign placement). But the Moon in Scorpio makes for a very passionate and devotional nature. With the Moon next to Ketu, Rahu will always be opposing Ketu so this means Rahu is in the 7^th house (house of marriage and relationships) from the Moon which points to extremes and obsessions in relationships. Amy would go off the deep end emotionally whenever she was involved in a serious relationship. Rahu in the 7^th house is not good for marriage and relationships, for it can cause separation, difficulties and addictions either with the partner or themselves.

Jupiter is closely conjunct Uranus and is also with the Moon and Ketu. Uranus is the planet of rebellion and unconventional ways. Jupiter expands and multiplies this energy which makes her very rebellious and unconventional. Jupiter and Uranus with her Moon add to her extreme highs and lows in her emotional behavior.

Mars is debilitated in the sign of Cancer and the Moon is debilitated in the sign Scorpio but notice that both Mars and the Moon are in each other’s signs of rulership, making them uniquely connected by mutual reception (parivartana yoga). Because Mars rules Scorpio and the Moon rules Cancer. When a mutual reception occurs these planets are intrinsically connected on all levels. So when either planet is aspected by transit or when the dasha is activated they connect and activate each other. The Moon was activated each time she went through emotional turmoil, and because of the mutual reception Mars became activated as a result. This will be further explained with the transits.

Rectified Birth time: 6:30am, 25 degrees Leo Ascendant (Lagna)

I suspect that Amy was probably born around 6:30 am. This places the Moon in the 4^th house and Mars in the 12^th house. Both these houses pertain to the past, hidden and emotional issues and the 12^th house is the house of endings and loss.

Rahu in the 10^th house with the aspect of Jupiter, Uranus and the Moon casting their light by opposition will give fame and recognition.

Mercury changes signs and is retrograde on her day of birth. Around 8 am Mercury changes back into Leo and I believe her Mercury must be in Virgo for it is more powerful in the sign of Mercury’s exaltation. This is another indication that she is born early in the day. Amy was known for her keen sense of humor and wit which are key attributes for Mercury in Virgo. Plus if she was born around 6:30 am Mercury would be in the 2^nd house of the voice which focuses energy around her amazing singing voice and wealth. But Mercury retrograde can indicate a misuse of the assets ruled by the 2^nd house.

Her sudden death was indicated by the transit of Mars and Ketu. Amy died on July 23, 2011. On this day transiting Mars and Ketu were conjunct at 28 degrees of Taurus. They were exactly opposed her natal Moon in the 4^th house which is known as the house of the end of life, and rules the 12^th house of loss. The transiting nodes (Ketu and Rahu) are conjunct the natal nodes (Rahu and Ketu). In this case it is a nodal inversion when Rahu conjoins Ketu and Ketu conjuncts Rahu. This represents a change of direction in life. This transit of both Mars and Ketu is very dangerous, and it conjoined her natal Rahu aspecting by opposition her natal Moon and Ketu. This is an indicator of a tragic and dangerous event.

A transiting planet will carry the meaning of its placement in a natal chart. Her natal Mars in her 12^th house carries the 12^th house energy as Mars transits and aspects natal planets. Therefore, Mars in transit for Amy has the signature and meaning of the 12^th house, which indicates loss.

Since the nodes (Rahu and Ketu) do not have rulership of any signs their dispositors determine their results. Her natal Rahu is in Taurus ruled by Venus and natal Ketu is in Scorpio ruled by Mars, both dispositors Mars and Venus are in her 12^th house of loss.

Looking back at the last time she almost died from an overdose in August of 2007, transiting Mars was again in Taurus activating her natal Moon/Ketu by opposition and conjunct natal Rahu. But additionally during this time she had transiting Neptune at 26 degrees Capricorn exactly opposed her natal Mars. Neptune rules drugs and alcohol. This transit activated her addictive personality.

Another important variable is her Venus at 29 degrees of Cancer which is the last degree of a water sign indicating a Ghandanta planet. This literally means drowning. Figuratively it refers to being out of control. This combination of Mars and Venus represents her emotional drowning and out of control behavior that led to her addictions and death.

The psychological issues that led to her addictions and the deeper layer of her emotional problems are marked by the water signs and houses where the Moon/Ketu and Mars/Venus reside. As the Moon and Mars are connected by their mutual reception, Ketu conjuncts the Moon and also aspects Mars to the exact degree. Ketu and Rahu both cast tines as their full aspect (120 degrees). These placements point to her inability to let go and instead hold on to the past (4^th and 12^thhouses rule the past). In addition both the signs Cancer and Scorpio deal with deep emotions and attachments to the past.

Amy had a tortured life of great musical achievement with brilliant talent. She rose to the peak of success at a very early age but could not handle any emotional loss for she wanted security and love more than fame and fortune.