Jon Stewart is a comedian who makes a living joking about serious subjects. The host of 'The Daily Show' since 1999 has made Comedy Central a prime source of news for his millions of fans. Stewart's playfulness comes through with a sly smile, even when he's making the most caustic remarks. Only a Sagittarius could mix serious and silly with such aplomb. Born November 28, 1962, Jon has the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in this outgoing fire sign. Sagittarius is both teacher and clown, philosopher and fool, all roles that Stewart plays to perfection. The close conjunction of communicative Mercury with his Sun makes him a natural talker, but not one who sees the world the way the rest of us do. It's part of his comic genius to look at familiar issues from an unfamiliar angle, producing that twist of perception that creates laughs. Uranus, the planet of originality, was in a sharp right angle square to the Sun and Mercury in Stewart's chart, sparking his personality and intellect with spontaneity and freshness. With this lightning fast pattern of thinking, you could probably wake him up from a dead sleep in the middle of the night and he'd come up with a quip.

Uranus is also the planet of the innovator or revolutionary, and Jon has certainly taken topical comedy where no one has ever gone before. But the nature of this eccentric planet often corresponds with a sudden unexpected arrival on the scene, followed by an equally rapid exit. Stewart, though, has staying power thanks to the strength of relentless Pluto in his chart. Like Uranus, it also forms squares to the Sun and Mercury, which adds persistence to Sagittarius' otherwise escapist nature. Significant connections between Pluto and Mercury often indicate sarcasm as words are turned like a knife to cut through hypocrisy. And Pluto's square to the Sun, symbol of the monarch, is ideal for puncturing pompous egos. Jon applies the same cutting edge to himself, as he frequently deflates his own balloon with caustic comments.

Stewart makes it look easy, but a daily comedy show requires an enormous amount of work. Fortunately, he has Saturn, the planet of discipline, in a favorable relationship with his Sun. He also has Sagittarius' ruling planet, expansive Jupiter, square his Sun, which constantly pushes him to raise the level of his game. There's not an ounce of self-contentment in this chart … Jon's Cheshire cat grin passes quickly after a particularly cutting remark, as the ever-hustling comic hurries off to the next joke. Stewart, though, doesn't come across as cold or calculating, perhaps as a result of an intimate relationship between his Venus and Mars. The love planet is in Scorpio in his chart, right next to compassionate Neptune and square passionate Mars. We do sense that he's a cynic, but Neptune makes him seem like a caring one. And his Mars, the action planet, in creative and expressive Leo, gifts him with a generous manner that allows even those he skewers to share in the laughter of his seriously humorous game.

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 websites 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 U.S. and abroad.