By Jeff Jawer
Provided by Tarot.com
Heath Ledger died on Tuesday, January 22 in a Manhattan apartment, presumably due to an accidental overdose of sleeping and anti-anxiety pills. The Australian actor was born on April 4, 1979 with the Sun in impulsive Aries and the Moon in sensitive Cancer. This combination of fiery passion and watery sensitivity earned him an Oscar nomination for his role in 'Brokeback Mountain' and put his career on the fast track to success. At the time of his death, he was under the influence of stern Saturn, as this demanding planet had recently returned to the position it held in his birth chart (the Saturn Return, astrology's mark of maturity) while opposing artistic Venus in vulnerable Pisces. This could indicate depression due to a sense of isolation, yet with professional success and two new movies about to be released, this can also symbolize his artistic achievement. Venus is presently joined with dark Pluto not far from a tense 90-degree square with his Mars and closely aligned in an edgy 150-degree angle with his Jupiter. Individually, these are not commonly associated with death, either by accident or suicide, yet the convergence of all these challenging transits can add up to a transforming experience.
The shocking end to the life of one so young, talented and rich in prospects can also be associated with the transit (current movement) of surprising Uranus to Heath Ledger’s Lunar South Node in Pisces. This is a point of weakness, a karmic trap where we can be caught in a whirlpool of old patterns. Uranus' presence here corresponds with his quick exit and reflects a desire to exchange Saturn's world of hard cold reality for a Piscean dreamland. Whether his death is ruled a suicide or not, a spiritual choice was made to leave this world behind. He likely felt disconnected as a recently separated father of a young child and as an idealistic young man struggling to match his delicate feelings with the superficial world of fame. Heath Ledger’s demise is a loss to his family and his craft, yet he may have found the freedom he desired that only death could bring.
About the Author Jeff Jawer is the co-author of Barnes & Noble's 'Your Astrology Guide 2008.' A professional astrologer since 1973, his articles have appeared in astrology journals, 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.
