The King of Pop

An Astrological Look at The Life of Michael Jackson

I was born on February 25, 1960, at St. Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana. Why is this significant? Well, a few years earlier, in the same city and hospital, someone less well-known than myself was also born there, Michael Jackson. He never reached the level of fame I have, but that's how life goes... said with a wry smile. The hospital, an important facility in Gary during the 1950s, welcomed him on August 29, 1958, in room 207 on the third floor; it eventually closed in 1995 and now stands abandoned, though part of the site is now occupied by a police station. This newborn, the eighth of ten children of Joseph and Katherine Jackson, would eventually be known as "The King of Pop".

At the age of 5, Michael started his journey into stardom with his debut as the lead singer with the Jackson 5 (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael). Soon there was a Motown contract and a flurry of hits including "ABC," "I Want You Back," and "I'll Be There." These songs sold millions, and a grueling schedule of touring was the result. Behind it all was a hard-driving father, Joe Jackson. Joe worked full-time at Inland Steel in Gary, Indiana, while simultaneously being a highly disciplined and authoritarian manager of his sons. Stories of long, grueling practice sessions abound. Later in life, Michael shared in interviews that his father demanded perfection, sitting with a belt during rehearsals and whipping the children with switches or belts for mistakes. Such extremeness did lead to the Jackson 5 signing with Motown in 1968, topping charts with four No. 1 singles in ten months.

Like so many stories of a hard-driving parent being behind a childhood prodigy's success, this was one of hardship as well. Michael spoke of loneliness and sickness at his father's sight. Despite stardom, he suffered profound and lifelong emotional trauma from his abusive relationship with his father, sharing that he often vomited or became physically ill at the sight of him. He shared that he felt he had been robbed of his childhood. Michael said, "this upbringing led to adult struggles like insomnia, nightmares about Joe chasing him, and difficulty forming close relationships, often seeking surrogate father figures while expressing loneliness and a lost youth without play or friends." There were also, despite the outwardly wildly successful music career, self-esteem issues tied to the relentless criticism he received during childhood.

While still performing with his brothers, Michael also began to pursue a solo career. He officially launched this during 1971-72 with the release of his debut singles and albums. These included "Got to Be There" in 1971, followed by the album Got to Be There (1972), Ben (1972), Music & Me (1973), and Forever, Michael (1975). Later, in 1979, he released Off the Wall, his first adult solo album with Quincy Jones, which marked his full emergence as a solo superstar, surpassing the success of his work with the Jackson 5. This eventually led Michael to officially part ways with his brothers at the end of the 1984 Victory Tour during the final show at Dodger Stadium. Although the songs he released in the '70s initiated his solo career's momentum, the most significant breakthrough came with the release of the album Thriller (released November 30, 1982). This album built directly on that foundation, breaking records with over 70 million copies sold and seven Top 10 singles.

Here is Michael Jackson's natal chart:

When examining Michael's birth chart, the first thing that jumps out is the concentration of planets in his 6th house. Domiciled there are the Sun, two personal planets, Mercury and Venus, and two transpersonal planets, Uranus and Pluto. Not surprisingly, this is a house where we encounter very detailed work, day-to-day routines, as well as health and illness. Also of interest is the presence of ceremonial magic in the 6th house. When we examine Michael's natal Sun in Virgo, not only do we see the energies he put into his own career, but we also see the relationship with his father (more on this in a moment).

Virgo is characterized by a highly structured approach to life, emphasizing detail and perfection. This energy is also associated with criticism, fault-finding, and the sympathetic nervous system. Remarkably, Michael's Sun was also conjunct Pluto at his birth, indicating a personal identity destined to be shaped by the intense, watery themes of Scorpio that Pluto governs. Michael's life was indeed filled with extremes, marked by manipulation, compulsions, secrets, complexes, catharsis, and reinvention. When Pluto is so closely linked with the Sun, it often suggests a life marked by a series of metaphorical deaths and rebirths, much like a butterfly. Interestingly, he released a popular song titled "Butterflies" as a single from his 2001 album Invincible.

Viewing the Virgo Sun as the way Michael perceived his father, it seems fitting. Joe Jackson was known for being critical and harsh. Reports describe him subjecting Michael and his brothers to relentless 5–8-hour daily rehearsals, punishing mistakes with beatings using a belt or switch, and even stripping Michael and pouring hot oil on him as punishment. He mocked Michael's nose and terrorized him with midnight "monsters" disguised as ghosts. These experiences contributed to Michael's struggles with insomnia, isolation, and the need for therapy. However, this behavior isn't solely attributed to Virgo, which isn't linked to such depravity. It's the addition of Pluto that completes the picture of Joe Jackson.

Pluto possesses a dark and ominous aspect. Its extreme energy is linked to atrocities, debauchery, and callousness. It can have a very demonic inclination, one that can quickly descend into depravity and fanaticism. Unfortunately, in Joe's attempt to ensure his children avoided the harsh streets and poverty of Gary, Indiana, and achieved success, he succumbed to the intensely perverse and sadistic side of things.

Looking at the other three planets in the 6th house, we observe a symbolic alignment that perfectly represents who Michael was. Michael's Mercury in Leo governs his voice, speech, and communication, serving as the main planet for vocal expression, including singing. His Venus in Leo adds beauty, melody, and artistic quality to his voice, often associated with a sweet or captivating singing talent. Lastly, a Leo Uranus joins this favorable lineup, highlighting Michael's charisma and innovation as a pioneer of a new creative style, thriving in the spotlight with an extraordinary presence. Altogether, this paints a picture of a person who was self-critical, detail-oriented, focused on work, and driven to step into the limelight to entertain with his unique and captivating singing talent. Additionally, there is the narrative of a strict and disciplined father who allowed the darker Plutonian energies to fuel his ambitions for his children's success.

Turning now to the wonderful world of asteroids in search of additional insights into the life of Michael Jackson, I have elected to look at Terpsichore, Orpheus, Neverland, and Bennu. Here is Michael's chart with these included:

Asteroid 81 Terpsichore is named after Terpsichore, one of the Nine Muses in Greek mythology. She represents the joy of dance and choral song, inspiring performers with rhythmic elegance and artistic movement. At Michael's birth, Terpsichore was in the sign of Libra, located in his 7th house, and formed a sextile with his Leo Uranus. Two key observations emerge when examining this asteroid. First, it resides in the Venus-ruled sign of Libra and is influenced by Michael's Leo Venus. Libra's link to harmony, grace, and artistic expression, combined with Terpsichore's association with dance in the realm of interpersonal connections, strongly confirms Michael Jackson's achievements. Additionally, this asteroid has a positive aspect with his Leo Uranus, emphasizing his commitment to taking center stage and pursuing his unique path. One of Michael's most iconic dances was his version of the moonwalk, which he adapted from artists like Bill Bailey and Marcel Marceau, enhancing it with a smoother, gliding style and added flair.

At the pinnacle of Michael's chart, within his house of career and global contribution, lies the asteroid Orpheus. Asteroid 3361 Orpheus is named after the legendary musician, poet, and prophet from Greek mythology. It is positioned less than 1 degree from Michael's midheaven. This placement highlights Michael's musical brilliance, compelling artistry, and the poignant themes of love and loss in his work. His song "She's Out of My Life" reveals raw emotion, as he reportedly cried during its recording, while tracks like "Don't Walk Away," "Heartbreak Hotel," and "Remember the Time" explore themes of separation and regret. Furthermore, he often expressed a deep sense of loneliness, which he attributed to his childhood experiences, resonating with the Orpheus myth. Orpheus is said to have endured profound isolation following Eurydice's death, leading to his ultimate solitary wandering. This is reflected in Michael's 1987 song "Leave Me Alone".

So just leave me alone (Leave me alone)

Leave me alone (Leave me alone)

Leave me alone, leave me alone

Just stop doggin' me around

~Michael Jackson

Further adding to this loneliness and isolation theme, in 1971 when Donny Osmond was unavailable to sing a featured song for a film entitled "Ben", the writers of the song, also titled "Ben" asked then 14-year-old Michael to sing it. If you have ever heard the haunting verses of this song, you will immediately recognize its resonance with so many aspects of Michael's story. The single dropped in July of 1972 and catapulted Michael's solo career separate from the Jackson 5. The movie (and song) tells the story of dying boy's sole friend, a rat. The main character, Danny, discovers Ben in his work shed, forming a deep bond where the rat protects him from bullies and lifts his spirits amid illness and isolation. As is known, Michael in his attempts to escape the horrors of childhood experiences, also found solace in the world of fantasy and escape. This was the main reason he created Neverland in California. More on this in a moment.

In searching for an asteroid named Ben, there wasn't one. But as I have mentioned in other biographies, asteroids can be interchangeable and extremely nuanced. That said, there is a version of Ben found in the catalog of named asteroids, asteroid 101955 Bennu. Remarkably, when placed in Michael's chart it falls in his 3rd house in the sign of Gemini. The 3rd house as well as the astrological sign of Gemini deal with topics that precisely connect with this song, when it was performed, and at what point in his life. Gemini is all about communication. Danny and Ben communicated. In fact, there are moments during which Ben let's Danny know through squeaks as if they were language, warning him about police traps. This affords Danny the opportunity to be clever and nimble in his distraction of the police. Also, strong Gemini characteristics.

Additionally, the 3rd house is the place of children and their first friends, the place of conversation. Bennu sits in an almost perfect square to Michael's natal Virgo Sun. Squares act as antagonists in our lives. They push us toward some action. Once again, there is tremendous resonance between the story of Ben, that Michael could surely relate to, and his opportunity to sing this song. It played a big part in igniting his solo career and more fully expressing his true identity (Sun) as a transformational (Pluto) entertainer.

A constant theme in Michael's life was his yearning for the childhood he had missed. This caused him profound sorrow and suffering. As a result, after gaining fame and wealth, he decided to build what he never had. In 1988, he bought land in Los Olivos, California, with the aim of creating a place of escape. He transformed it into an everlasting playground. Inspired by the name of Peter Pan's Neverland, the boy who never grew up, Michael chose to call his newly created utopia "Neverland Ranch." It featured amusement rides, a petting zoo, and a movie theater.

This prompted me to investigate whether an asteroid named Neverland existed. Indeed, there is an asteroid called 5405 Neverland, named in tribute to the fictional land from J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan stories. Interestingly, it is also located in Gemini and Michael's 3rd house. Once again, we see a significant thematic asteroid in his life situated in the house of childhood and children, directly linking to an event in Michael's life and his pursuit to reclaim his lost youth. Additionally, it forms an almost perfect square aspect to his emotional foundation, a Pisces Moon in his 1st house. Pisces embodies the energy of fantasy, visions, and escape. The moon represents where we seek safety and nurturing, and this square to Neverland clearly reflects that effort.

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol intoxication combined with benzodiazepines, leading to cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles mansion. His death was ruled a homicide. It was concluded that Michael's personal physician, Conrad Murray, had administered a fatal dose of a surgical anesthetic that was often used to help Michael with his insomnia. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 and served two years in jail. To this day the timeline and sequence of events surrounding Michael's death are riddled with conspiratorial theories. This tragic end is amplified by themes of isolation in his life, from Ben's lonely bond, Neverland's fantasy escape, and the solitary Orpheus asteroid at the top of his chart, the King of Pop left us too soon.

SPECIAL NOTE: According to FamilySearch.org where I maintain my personal family genealogy, Michael Jackson is my 13th cousin with our common ancestors being John Convers and Joan Fuller.