Fame Doesn’t Fulfill You

An Astrological Look at The Life of Marilyn Monroe

Instability, neglect, and trauma, these were the early years of her life. In such circumstances it is easy to see why finding a sense of belonging would be difficult. Reports indicate she was shuttled through around eleven different foster homes and one orphanage during her childhood. This was all the result of her mother Gladys’s ongoing mental illness and institutionalizations. At an early stop where she was placed with the Bolender family at just a few months old, it is said she had a relatively stable environment and felt part of the family. But after this, the road got bumpy.

One specific story indicates how at around age 9, after her mother was institutionalized, she was placed in the Los Angeles Orphans Home Society (later known as Hollygrove Home for Children). She hated the orphanage and was traumatized by multiple moves between foster homes. She resisted entering the orphanage and reportedly cried and screamed that she was not an orphan. She was also sexually abused in some of the foster homes. These hardships contributed to a deep fear of abandonment and feelings of insecurity that stayed with her throughout life.

It was here the dreams began to form. It is said that while at this orphanage, Norma Jeane would look out at the Hollywood studio water tower and feel inspired to dream of becoming a movie star, imagining a better life through performance and acting.

In an effort to escape the world of orphanages, Norma Jeane married James Dougherty on June 19, 1942, at the age of 16 to avoid further institutional care. This marriage was short-lived. Soon after marrying, Norma Jeane began working in a munitions factory during World War II, where she was discovered as a model, leading to a successful pin-up career. Due to this success, promoters and studio executives saw tremendous potential in Norma. They pressured her to end the marriage as part of her contract to become a movie star, as the studios did not want a married and potentially pregnant actress. During her rise to fame, there was also a name change, Norma Jeane became Marilyn Monroe.

In 1946 she signed her first movie contract and gradually climbed the ladder of fame to become one of the most iconic American actresses and a major sex symbol in the 1950s. Despite the image of the blonde "bombshell" that rose to notoriety in movies such as her standout roles in films like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953) and "Some Like It Hot" (1959), she was known to be curious, articulate, and a quick learner. She was passionate about reading and education, reportedly consuming a wide range of books including literature, philosophy, and art, much different than the "dumb blonde" stereotype that her screen persona often portrayed.

Let's now explore the birth chart of Norma Jeane Mortenson born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. She was a woman whose life and persona continue to fascinate as a symbol of both American beauty and the complexities of fame.

Here is her birth chart:

Marilyn's restlessness, curiosity, and cleverness can be clearly seen through the placement of her natal sun in the sign of Gemini in her tenth house. Further, it's in conjunction with the planet Mercury, also in Gemini, which is the ruler of this sign. This powerful combination speaks loudly to Marilyn's desire to communicate, move, explore ideas, and see things from various perspectives. Also, with these archetypal energies, the persona can give an aura of distraction, fickleness, and lightheartedness, but at the same time possess a quick-wittedness. This showed up most prominently through her ability to handle interviews with humor and deflect intrusive questions, displaying her quick thinking and social intelligence. Legendary qualities of the Gemini archetype. Little did Elton John know that the title of the song he wrote about Marilyn Monroe would provide such an apropos description of Gemini... "Candle in the Wind"

And speaking of legendary, Marilyn Monroe had her sun placed in an angular house, the tenth house. In astrology, the placement of a natal sun in one of the four angular houses of a chart speaks to a person of some type of notoriety. The angular houses correspond to the points in the sky where the Sun is most visible and influential, rising in the east, culminating at the highest point, setting in the west, or lying beneath the horizon. And the tenth house is the most visible point in the horoscope. This is the place of our public image, our goals and ambitions, and how we contribute to the world. With one's identity (the Sun) placed here, this speaks to a purpose that connects the persona with having a strong public presence and impression.

Another noteworthy point about Marilyn's natal sun is its proximity, just 9 minutes away, to her eleventh house cusp. In astrology, using a quadrant-based house system, a planet within 5 degrees of a house cusp is considered active in both houses. Thus, besides influencing the tenth house, Marilyn's Sun also affects the eleventh house. This house is associated with forming friendships, embracing causes, participating in groups and associations, and joining endeavors that one believes in, often with a focus on benefiting society at large. Marilyn's Gemini Sun also shines in this domain, complementing the public persona for which she became known.

This is evidenced by Marilyn Monroe's involvement in several causes, memberships, and organizations that aligned with her hopes, dreams, and social conscience during her life. She was an advocate for civil rights, openly supporting causes related to racial equality and pushing for opportunities for Black artists, such as helping Ella Fitzgerald secure a nightclub engagement. Politically, Monroe was vocal about peace and social justice, becoming a founding and active member of the Hollywood chapter of SANE, an organization advocating against nuclear weapons and for disarmament.

Building on this, the friendship dynamics of the eleventh house become even more profound when considering, for example, Marilyn's support for Ella Fitzgerald. Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald were friends. Monroe was not only a huge admirer of Fitzgerald's singing, but she also leveraged her celebrity status to advance Ella's career. When Fitzgerald faced challenges booking performances at top-tier clubs, Marilyn stepped in, using her influence to secure Fitzgerald a spot at the Mocambo nightclub in Los Angeles, pledging to attend every night and bring other celebrities to support the performances. This significantly boosted Fitzgerald's career, and Fitzgerald always acknowledged Monroe for this vital support. It illustrates how Marilyn's prominent public image played a role in helping a friend achieve success as well.

She was also known for her generosity and charitable contributions to various organizations, including benefits for underprivileged children, the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation, and the Milk Fund for Babies. Marilyn supported causes related to mental health; notably, she left a large portion of her estate to fund psychiatric institutions through her former psychiatrist. Additionally, she used her influence to challenge the Hollywood studio system and supported the anti-communist persecution struggle alongside her then-husband Arthur Miller.

This was likely influenced by Marilyn's Cancer Pluto also located in the eleventh house. In many ways, Marilyn's efforts to support underprivileged children through the Milk Fund reflect Pluto's themes of empowerment, situated in the zodiac sign associated with motherhood and protection. She was being the mother she never had. Here, we also observe the 5-degree rule, as Marilyn's Pluto is positioned just 7 minutes from her twelfth house cusp. This indicates Marilyn's role in empowering those who are marginalized and unheard (the underprivileged children) by leveraging her celebrity voice (Gemini Mercury in the tenth house) and channeling it through her Pluto, which is ironically linked to orphans and orphanages. Her support was evident through direct visits, donations, and advocacy.

Probably the most talked about aspect of Marilyn Monroe's life was her tumultuous relationships, which included multiple marriages and love affairs. The two most notable marriages were to Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller. Her most high-profile affair was with two of the Kennedy brothers. Her romantic life was complex and widely covered by the media. Analysts and biographers alike have postulated that due to the absence of a father in Marilyn's life, she was fueled by deep-seated feelings of abandonment, low self-esteem, and a yearning for validation from men. Reports indicate that she often called partners "Daddy".

Sadly, it seems that it was this restless and insatiable drive for attention from men in power that Marilyn reached an emotional breaking point. Much debate surrounds her actual cause of death. The official account was an overdose of barbiturates. Psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson broke into Marilyn's bedroom of her Brentwood home through a window and discovered her nude body lying face down on the bed, covered by a sheet, clutching a telephone receiver in one hand, with empty pill bottles (including Nembutal and chloral hydrate) on the nightstand nearby.

Other speculation about her death includes suggestions of a staged suicide, perhaps as a cover-up to protect the revelation of her affairs with the Kennedys. These allegations have never been proven but to this day remain persistent rumors and theories. Given Marilyn's death left this shadow still hanging over her life, this begged the question if there was an asteroid Kennedy, and if so, could it add any insight into things. Upon checking there is an asteroid Kennedy, officially designated 7166 Kennedy. It is a main-belt asteroid, and the name honors Malcolm Kennedy, an astronomer associated with the Astronomical Society of Glasgow. What you are about to read is my best interpretation this asteroid placed in Norma Jeane Mortenson's birth chart.

At Marilyn's birth, the asteroid Kennedy was located in Leo at 22 degrees and 34 minutes in her first natal house. Notably, it was in a tight conjunction with the planet Neptune which was domiciled at 22 degrees and 13 minutes of Leo, also in the first house. Further, Kennedy is in an aspect of opposition to Marilyn's Aquarius Moon at 19 degrees and 6 minutes in her seventh house. Finally, this opposition is part of a larger configuration known as a fixed T-Square that has the planet Saturn in Scorpio at 21 degrees and 26 minutes domiciled in Marilyn's fourth house, at the apex point.

In simpler terms, the asteroid Kennedy is influenced by the typical traits of Leo, which are linked to being very expressive, craving attention, engaging in romances, taking risks, and a correlation with government officials. It shares its energy with Neptune, a planet connected to deception, unpredictability, drugs, alcohol, infidelity, and secrecy. Additionally, this is in Marilyn's first house, which affects how others perceive our character, the impression we leave, and their opinions of us. Clearly, her relationship with the Kennedys influenced these aspects.

The Kennedy/Neptune conjunction opposes Marilyn's Moon in the seventh house, indicating that Marilyn's emotional needs are linked to her close personal relationships and the people in her life. An Aquarius Moon tends to approach feelings in a cerebral manner, processing emotions mentally. It is also susceptible to sudden upsets and outbursts, which can be quite disruptive to one's persona. This Moon also gravitates towards idealism. Combining these traits, it becomes clear how Marilyn often reacted emotionally in her close relationships, desiring attachment to others while also craving freedom, a trait characteristic of Aquarius.

A key consideration in astrology is the nature of an opposition. This aspect presents challenges and creates situations with fluctuating dynamics, opposing agendas, and can sometimes be excessive. As previously noted, this opposition is part of a fixed T-Square. Fixed energy is persistent and stubborn, likely reflecting the intensity and depth of emotions stirred by Marilyn's affair. Notably, the apex of this configuration is a Scorpio Saturn, which in astrology is where the challenges of an opposition are directed for action. These actions can be either positive or negative.

In this astrologer's opinion, this was a very difficult and unfortunate apex for the matter of an affair, a situation that encompasses a wide array of emotional complexities and challenges. Saturn, often regarded as a harbinger of hardship and lessons learned through struggle, represents not only the burdens of life but also themes such as depression, isolation, endings, grief, heavy things, loneliness, numbness, pain, and ominously, death. Its influence can cast a long shadow over personal relationships, particularly in times of emotional turmoil or crisis.

When we consider the placement of Saturn in an individual's astrological chart, it reveals profound insights into their emotional landscape and the trials they may face. Adding to the depth of this situation, it is particularly significant that Marilyn's Saturn was positioned in the sign of Scorpio. Scorpio is known for its archetypal energies that delve into the realms of crises, the deep psyche, sexuality, and toxins—both physical and emotional. This placement suggests an intense struggle with deep-seated fears and insecurities, as well as a tendency to confront the darker aspects of life and relationships. The Scorpionic influence often brings about transformative experiences, but these transformations can come at a high price, involving significant emotional upheaval and the necessity to confront painful truths.

Furthermore, the placement of Saturn in the fourth house of Marilyn's chart adds another layer of complexity to this narrative. The fourth house is intimately connected with our deepest emotions, our sense of home and belonging, and, significantly, the end of life. This house governs our roots, family dynamics, and the emotional foundations upon which we build our lives. When Saturn occupies this space, it can indicate a heavy burden related to family matters or unresolved emotional issues that stem from one's past. The presence of Saturn here often signifies a period of introspection and emotional reckoning, where one must face the realities of their emotional life, leading to potential isolation or feelings of inadequacy.

It seems the combination of Saturn's placement in Scorpio and its position in the fourth house paints a vivid picture of the emotional struggles Marilyn may have faced. It illustrates a complex interplay of deep emotional pain, the challenges of navigating intimate relationships, and the inevitable confrontations with mortality and loss. This astrological configuration suggests a profound journey through the darker aspects of the self, ultimately leading to a potential for transformation, but only after enduring significant trials and tribulations. Such a difficult and unfortunate apex for the matter of an affair, therefore, becomes not just a personal crisis but a reflection of the intricate and often painful dance between love, loss, and the quest for deeper understanding of the self.

When Marilyn Monroe passed away on August 5, 1962, at approximately 3:30 a.m., her quest for peace in a life marked by extremes tragically ended. Even 63 years later, numerous questions linger about that day's events. Interestingly, the presence of the asteroid Kennedy in Marilyn's natal chart adds complexity to this sorrowful tale. The stars conceal many secrets...