Mel Gibson has quickly gone from Hollywood royalty to Public Enemy #1. He recently lost his long battle with alcoholism and was arrested for drunk driving. The booze may have been what caused him to exercise such poor judgment and lash out, but astrology shows that the causes for his controversial behaviors and beliefs may run much deeper.
Mel Gibson is an international star, the wealthiest actor in Hollywood, and a brilliant director. He's a man of great faith and also faulty decision-making, now facing a critical juncture in his career. Born January 3, 1956 at 4:45 pm in Peekskill, New York, the Australian-raised star is a hard-driving Capricorn with his Moon in charming Libra and with conservative Cancer rising. At the time of his birth, Mars and Saturn were conjunct in the intense sign of Scorpio, which is one astrological reason why Mel goes to extremes. Mars wants freedom of movement, but Saturn craves order. The wild man (Mars) is hungry for the certainty (Saturn) provided by ancient church rules. And sometimes, as on July 28, 2006, the wild man pushes his car well above the speed limit on a windy Malibu highway, where he encounters the limits of the law. The alcohol-induced rant that followed leaves his career hanging in the balance.
It's well known that Mel Gibson has been exposed to the extreme and unconventional beliefs of his father. Jupiter, the planet of religion and philosophy, is in critical Virgo in Mel's chart. What pushes the purist qualities of this combination over the line is Jupiter's conjunction with Pluto, the planet of power, control and absolute authority. Jupiter's version of the truth is colored by Pluto's need to exclude the impure, unclean and imperfect. Mel may, in fact, turn out to be more tolerant than his critics and the Malibu police report suggest, but his chart reflects the likelihood that he has learned from his father that one group's truth (Jupiter) requires the demonization (Pluto) of other groups. Pluto is also the planet of transformation, though, so Mel's current crisis may lead him to a profound change of heart. Transiting Saturn will cross his Pluto-Jupiter conjunction late next summer, and will set the philosophical patterns that he will probably keep for the rest of his life.
Mel Gibson is an international star, the wealthiest actor in Hollywood, and a brilliant director. He's a man of great faith and also faulty decision-making, now facing a critical juncture in his career. Born January 3, 1956 at 4:45 pm in Peekskill, New York, the Australian-raised star is a hard-driving Capricorn with his Moon in charming Libra and with conservative Cancer rising. At the time of his birth, Mars and Saturn were conjunct in the intense sign of Scorpio, which is one astrological reason why Mel goes to extremes. Mars wants freedom of movement, but Saturn craves order. The wild man (Mars) is hungry for the certainty (Saturn) provided by ancient church rules. And sometimes, as on July 28, 2006, the wild man pushes his car well above the speed limit on a windy Malibu highway, where he encounters the limits of the law. The alcohol-induced rant that followed leaves his career hanging in the balance.
It's well known that Mel Gibson has been exposed to the extreme and unconventional beliefs of his father. Jupiter, the planet of religion and philosophy, is in critical Virgo in Mel's chart. What pushes the purist qualities of this combination over the line is Jupiter's conjunction with Pluto, the planet of power, control and absolute authority. Jupiter's version of the truth is colored by Pluto's need to exclude the impure, unclean and imperfect. Mel may, in fact, turn out to be more tolerant than his critics and the Malibu police report suggest, but his chart reflects the likelihood that he has learned from his father that one group's truth (Jupiter) requires the demonization (Pluto) of other groups. Pluto is also the planet of transformation, though, so Mel's current crisis may lead him to a profound change of heart. Transiting Saturn will cross his Pluto-Jupiter conjunction late next summer, and will set the philosophical patterns that he will probably keep for the rest of his life.
The uppermost point in a chart, called the Midheaven or the border of the Tenth House cusp, is associated with career and public life. Mel Gibson has sacrificial Pisces here, which may explain his public identification with martyrs. Pluto, the slowest moving planet, formed a tense 90-degree square to Mel's Midheaven at the time of the Malibu arrest. The event is certainly transformational, but while it could mark the beginning of a decline for the actor, perhaps he was unconsciously seeking a way out of his role as movie star. A man as deeply devoted to traditional religious practice as he is might want to bow out of public life. While he'd probably deny it, Mel chose to drink, drive and exceed the speed limit that night. He can say it was the alcohol talking, but the hateful words he spoke came from his mouth. Pluto is the planet of both shadows and the dark places in the human psyche rarely shown in polite society, and it's emerged to show Mel at his worst.
When 'The Passion of the Christ' came out in February 2004, idealistic and spiritual Neptune was crossing Mel Gibson's Venus, the planet of love. Accusations of anti-Semitism were leveled at him then, but he claimed that the point of the film was to inspire people, not to disseminate hate. This transit backs up his story, and regardless of whatever dark thoughts were lurking in Mel's mental closet, he did the film for love. Perhaps the fact that he made so much money from it helped to trigger the imbalance between the physical and spiritual worlds that led to his public humiliation. But then again, it would take a great fall from which to rise to make him the hero and the martyr he admires so much.
About the Author
Jeff Jawer is the co-author of Barnes & Noble's 'Your Astrology Guide 2006.' A professional astrologer since 1973, his articles have appeared in astrology journals and magazines and Web sites around the world. He holds a B.A. in The History and Science of Astrology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and teaches and lectures both in the United States and abroad.
When 'The Passion of the Christ' came out in February 2004, idealistic and spiritual Neptune was crossing Mel Gibson's Venus, the planet of love. Accusations of anti-Semitism were leveled at him then, but he claimed that the point of the film was to inspire people, not to disseminate hate. This transit backs up his story, and regardless of whatever dark thoughts were lurking in Mel's mental closet, he did the film for love. Perhaps the fact that he made so much money from it helped to trigger the imbalance between the physical and spiritual worlds that led to his public humiliation. But then again, it would take a great fall from which to rise to make him the hero and the martyr he admires so much.
About the Author
Jeff Jawer is the co-author of Barnes & Noble's 'Your Astrology Guide 2006.' A professional astrologer since 1973, his articles have appeared in astrology journals and magazines and Web sites around the world. He holds a B.A. in The History and Science of Astrology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and teaches and lectures both in the United States and abroad.
