The Astrology of Capricorns in Black Liberation: Madam CJ Walker

The Astrology of Capricorns in Black Liberation: Madam CJ Walker

Madam CJ Walker is the first American woman millionaire and also the first Black American woman millionaire. Known for building a hair empire of Black American hair products she used her earnings for charity and philanthropic causes that will support black people.

Sarah Breedlove aka Madam CJ Walker was born on December 23^rd 1867 near Delta, Mississippi plantation. She was born after slavery had ended and became the first child by her parents born “free” (she was her parents 5^th child). Her mother died in 1874, a year later her father died so she was orphan at age 7. She sent to live her older sister and brother in law, eventually relocating in 1977 to Vicksburg, Mississippi to pick cotton.

At the age of 14 Sarah married Moses McWilliams to escape her job, and abuse by her brother in law. She had her daughter, A’Leila in 1885 on June 6^th. A few years after her daughter’s birth, her husband died becoming a widow at 20. So she moved to St. Louis where her brothers had established themselves as barbers, while Sarah became a washwoman. She was paid pretty well at the time so she was able to afford to send her daughter to public school. She also attended public night school to better herself.

The reason is started her haircare business was to combat her own hair loss due to a scalp disorder that caused extreme hair loss. This was during 1890s and she began to experiment and research with home remedies, products, and ingredients. During this time she also married her second husband John Davis in 1894 until 1903

It’s important to note that hair is extremely important to a woman, but especially to a black woman; where respectability was (and unfortunately still is) important when navigating a white segregated overtly racist environments. 

Respectability is the idea of being seen as respectable to not draw further attention to yourself. It means “speaking proper”, dressing proper, non-offensive, and dapper. It means being closer/have proximity to white and whiteness as much as possible, so having lighter skin, being thinner, and straight, long looser texture hair and marrying, having children with someone that is whiter or lighter skin. It means developing a meek, humbled, personality that not meant to be seen as competition, a threat, or a target. Respectability is about survival first.

Respectability isn’t a bad thing, it’s definitely helpful and can protect but it also isn’t a solution. Racism is a system, a near perfect system. No matter how respectable you appear to be there are still stereotypes, anti-blackness, and other side effects of racism you have to deal with. A black person with tattoos, piercing pink or green hair is seen as oftentimes seen as scary, ghetto/ratchet, or a trouble maker. Whereas a white person who does the same maybe seen as edgy, alternative or cool, maybe even low class (but classism is not the same as racism).

In the system of racism no matter how far and high you go, you can’t fully eliminate or escape the stigmas surrounding black skin, black features, and general blackness because it’s been programmed in all of us (black people included). This is why I feel black liberation is an ongoing process, maybe forever. FYI this is not a lecture, an argument, nor a debate, this is my opinion as of now (March 2021).

Respectability in Madam CJ Walker’s time meant higher paying jobs, more tolerance and comfortably by white people which led to more opportunities.

Her pursuit to improve her hair led her to take up an agent job in 1905 with another famous and successful, black woman hair entrepreneur (and later rival) Annie Turnbo Malone in Denver, Colorado. In 1906 Sarah married Charles J. Walker (whom she met back in St Louis) and changed her name to a more eye-catching, memorable, recognizable name: Madam CJ Walker Charles J. Walker worked in advertising & marketing, and helped Madam CJ Walker with her hair business. Madam along with her husband in 1907 began traveling around the US (mostly the South) where she gave lectures and product demonstrations calling them the Walker Method or the Walker system. Her products were hot combs (heated combs that straighten natural black coily curly kinky hair), pomades, and brushes.

Madam CJ Walker experienced success allowing her to open a beauty school and factory (named after her daughter) in 1908 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. By 1910 she was a multi-millionaire, and had established her business headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana because it had access to railroad system and a large black population. This is where she manufactured her own products and cosmetics, and training sales beauticians known as Walker agents or as she called them beauty culturalists. Walker agents sold her products door to door. Walker agents were trusted and respected nationally among the black communities of her time. Madam CJ Walker was a black owned business that serviced black people and that provided jobs for black women such as herself. Her daughter managed her Pittsburgh headquarters so it was also a family business too. At height of production, Madam CJ Walker employed over 3,000 Walker agents

In 1913 she and her husband divorced (he was an alcoholic who cheated on her) after only 4 years of marriage. This didn’t stop her or slowed her down. She went on a 3 year international tour throughout Latin America and Caribbean tour where she promoted her brand, her products, teach others her hair care methods and recruit others. During this time, her daughter A’Leila helped run the business (outside of the Indianapolis location who was run by another woman) and helped with the purchase of her home in New York. It’s important to note how “womanist” “feminist” her mentality was for her business. She established a rule that forbad men from serving as president in her company. Only women could be presidents. It maybe be seen as sexist to some (I don’t), but she was trying to preserve her company and her own autonomy. This is women’s history month so my blog post isn’t only about a zodiac sign’s energy in Black Liberation but also a women’s energy in Black Liberation.

In Black Liberation there are many battles and being both black and women is seen as a battle. Some view being both black and women as a double handicap (as a black woman I don’t) but it does create a lot of problems. In Black Liberation there is often a choice, which comes first being black? or being a woman? 

We live in a patriarchal society where male energy is protected and chose, even if they are black/we are all black. Black women in Black liberation spaces are constantly being undermined and our issues are seen as less important, not as relevant in comparison to black men or many other groups despite minority status. 

This is where misogynoir (sexism against black women) comes in and oftentimes we as black women have to compete and fight for ourselves because others see as a threat and won’t. Men know how to protect other men, despite their race and women unfortunately and fortunately have to do the same. Black women in Black Liberation have to protect/ self-preserve ourselves, our image, and work to fight against erasure.

An direct and relevant example as such is Booker T. Washington refused to give Madam CJ Walker a platform to speak at one of his conferences, the National Negro Business league. She spoke anyway (an impromptu speech on the floor), a bad bish will not be silenced. Supposedly it was because Madam CJ Walker sold hair straightening, and skin bleaching/skin lightening in her products (which unfortunately she did sell) which Booker T Washington believe encouraged self hatred in black women. That's a valid reason but there could have also been some misogynoir going on with that too.

Anyways Madam CJ Walker also set up conventions and clubs to not only further promote her business but also to delve in and provided support to black charity and philanthropic causes. Madam CJ Walker donated elderly homes, to Black YMCA, and the NAACP. She funded scholarships for women to attend Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. She supported political causes such as anti-lynching (which till this day anti-lynching is not illegal, fyi lynching is still going on today). Not only was she a successful multi-millionaire but she was also a cultural icon and rubbed shoulders with everyone and played an early role in the Harlem renaissance.

In 1918 she moved to a town outside of New York called Irvington-on-Hudson where she built an Italianate classical mansion called Villa Lewaro. It was designed by African American architect Vertner Tandy. Villa Lewaro was used a popular meeting place and host for many artists in the Harlem Renaissance. Villa Lewaro was later designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

Unfortunately Madam CJ Walker died on May 25^th 1919 at age 51 of hypertension in her home in Villa Lewaro. She left one third of her estate to A’Leila, her only child and daughter and left the rest of her estate to a variety of charities. Her daughter, A’Leila Walker would later become an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance. A’Leila Walker would later also dying of hypertension in 1931. In 1981 Madam CJ Walker Manufacturing Company stopped operating after about 75 years of business. Though her company is no longer around her legacy is important and incredibly inspiring and powerful.

Long biography aside let’s FINALLY GET INTO HER ASTROLOGY. Her astrology chart via astro-charts below:

Sun in 1 Degrees Capricorn

Moon in 6 Degrees Sagittarius

Mercury in 14 Degrees Sagittarius

Venus in 23 Degrees Capricorn

Mars in 3 Degrees Capricorn

Jupiter in 3 Degrees Pisces

Saturn in 0 Degrees Sagittarius

Uranus in 11 Degrees Cancer (Retrograde)

Neptune in 12 Degrees Aries (Retrograde)

Pluto in 14 Degrees Taurus (Retrograde)

North Node in 8 Degrees Virgo (Retrograde) 

Themes in Astrology chart

- Bastard Stellium in Capricorn (Sun, Venus, and Mars in Capricorn, Sun exact conjunct Mars)

- Stellium in Sagittarius (Moon, Mercury, and Saturn in Sagittarius, Moon exact conjunct Saturn)

- Uranus in Cancer exact opposition to Mars in Capricorn. Uranus square Neptune

- Bastard Grand Trine in Earth (Sun, Venus, and Mars in Capricorn stellium), Pluto in Taurus and North Node in Virgo abundance, practical, earthy, logical

-Bastard conjunct between Jupiter and Chiron both in Pisces

- Oppositions between Pisces/Virgo, Cancer/Capricorn, t square between Pisces/Virgo and Moon, Mercury, and Saturn in Sagittarius stellium, T Square between Cancer/Capricorn stellium and Neptune in Aries

Madam CJ Walker had a Bastard Stellium in Capricorn (Sun, Venus, and Mars in Capricorn, Sun exact conjunct Mars)

Madam CJ Walker had a bastard Stellium in Capricorn (Sun, Venus, and Mars in Capricorn, Sun exact conjunct Mars). Her ego/personality (Sun), sense of beauty/relationships (Venus), and drive/passion/stamina/work ethic (Mars) are in alignment. Especially Sun exact conjunct Mars, she was literally a force to be reckoned with, energetic, assertive (sometimes aggressive/confrontational), and full of spirit and life in the most Capricorn way possible.

This shows that Madam CJ Walker was a hard-working, practical, grounded, strategic, pragmatic, entrepreneurial woman capable of making lemonade from lemons.

This is Capricorn Cardinal EARTH energy at its best when it’s in it’s entrepreneurial bag and creating something. Creation brings life, only the living can bring life.  Capricorn as a Cardinal Earth has natural leadership, entrepreneurial skills, talent and the work ethic to back it up. When Capricorn isn’t ruled and consumed by just fear and insecurity (unfortunate side effect of being ruled “malefic” “bad” “mean” planet Saturn), Capricorn has the ability to be the sea goat, swimming past the rough currents of water, shedding it’s scales, and slowing trekking up the mountain.

Venus in Capricorn shows her more practical approaches to love and relationships. She was a woman (beyond and also of her times), FYI as a black woman and the nature of black women lives we have to be, there isn’t a choice. She turned her own sense of beauty, which is traditional femininity and turned it into a business. Long, healthy hair is traditional femininity.

Straighten hair is Euro-centric femininity and in women of Madam CJ Walker’s time respectable, safe femininity that allowed them access to opportunities. Afro, African American hair in it’s nature state is seen as threatening, political, racial. During slavery times, slave women weren’t taught to really do their hair, nor could they really, and always had to be wrapped up. 

If you noticed that a lot of times in the rare portraits and depictions of black women of those times; their hair and the beauty of it was covered up (for a lot of reasons). Madam CJ Walker wanted the beauty and femininity she thought she lost when she was going through her scalp disorder/hair loss period. So she went after solutions, found it, and she then turned what she learned to a business. She knew her worth and wanted to be paid for her skills, talent, and service so there is a very transactional side of Venus/Capricorn energy too, and this is peak Venus in Capricorn energy.

The delays, limitations, her source of pain, and her Saturn wound is in the area of relationships especially romantic relationships with her Venus in Capricorn. She had 3 marriages with her last one ending with an alcoholic, cheating husband. Especially with a loose aka bastard opposition between her Venus and Uranus in Cancer there is a level of unpredictability in relationships too. Her first husband died when she was just 20, so she was. Outside the scope of romantic relationships, she became an orphan before the age of 9 losing both her parents, so this unpredictability isn’t just in romance but in close relationships too.

It’s important to note Madam CJ Walker had her Uranus in Cancer exact opposition to Mars in Capricorn and bastardly conjunct her Capricorn stellium. Uranus in Cancer is rebelling against Cancer/Moon themes and systems so family, gender roles, and home/country roots. She was a child orphan, then widow with her a young child, then a divorcee (3 times), being limited by not only her race but gender who went onto being a multi-millionaire. A lot of this rebellion wasn’t her choice with the various circumstances in her life but she survived, defied, and thrived despite it.

Sun, Venus, and Mars bastard opposite to Uranus can show someone that has developed their personality, energy, and relationships with a level of unpredictability themselves, chaos, drama, and a changeable persona to protect themselves against the trauma. By being unpredictable, it helps you cope with the unpredictability and transient nature of life by allowing you to control the change being constantly brought in your life. I think this is what Madam CJ Walker had to do.

Stellium in Sagittarius (Moon, Mercury, and Saturn in Sagittarius, Moon exact conjunct Saturn)

Madam CJ Walker had a Stellium in Sagittarius (Moon, Mercury, and Saturn in Sagittarius, Moon exact conjunct Saturn). So her emotions/habits (Moon), thinking/communication/learning processes (Mercury), and her sense of responsibility/limitations/restrictions (Saturn) are all in alignment and working towards similar things. I think her Sagittarius allowed her Capricorn energy to flow easier and loosen/freed it the coldness/ice up a bit.

Sagittarius energy is naturally fearless, confident, and risk taking. Sagittarius energy likes to take a gamble on their self because there is always a chance that their efforts will pay off. If there efforts don’t pay off, it will eventually, or it won’t. If it doesn’t they lose but they lowkey really won because there was a lesson learned. The perspective being you never really lose, you learn.

Madam CJ Walker peak Sagittarius energy is her travelling for her business to promote it. Sagittarius is all about expansion and one thing to help with expansion is to travel. She got to understand the needs of others, got to self-promote, and expand her business acumen and prowess. Think of it like studying abroad or a traveling salesman career externship. Learning while on the job. This is Madam CJ Walker’s mercury in Sagittarius energy especially.

It’s important to note that after her divorce to her 3^rd and last husband, she went on a 3 year international tour to the Caribbean and Latin America. I think her Capricorn side convinced her Sagittarius side to do this because it was practical and they both decided because it was a great opportunity for her business. However I think she also used this time to heal emotionally from her divorce. This shows her Moon in Sagittarius side, habits, and sensitivity. She needed to heal, she needed to escape, and this is a Moon in Sagittarius trait. 

She did it under the guise of her business (Capricorn) and as a fun vacation (Sagittarius) but I think it was also to lick her wounds and to heal. Madam CJ Walker’s Moon is exactly conjunct Saturn both in Sagittarius so she had the emotional wisdom via experience and maturity and discipline to be able to do both.

Bastard Grand Trine in Earth (Sun, Venus, and Mars in Capricorn stellium), Pluto in Taurus and North Node in Virgo

Madam CJ Walker had a Bastard Grand Trine in Earth (Sun, Venus, and Mars in Capricorn stellium), Pluto in Taurus, and North Node in Virgo

Her life purpose was to educate/inspire (North Node in Virgo) via her business (Capricorn stellium), while at the same time experiencing the fruits of her labor and give/receive earthy abundance via her Pluto in Taurus.

Pluto in Taurus, especially abundance in the form of capitalist pursuits, a generation where abundance/resources

In speech she once gave, she said: "I want to say to every Negro woman present, don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. ... Get up and make them!"

She taught via her North Node in Virgo and employing female saleswomen how earn money and thrive despite the times (Reconstruction era). It's the Biblical proverb and idea of give a man fish fed for a day, teach a man how to fish, fed for life

Two oppositions Pisces-Virgo & Cancer-Capricorn, two t squares between Pisces/-Virgo/Sagittarius and Cancer-Capricorn stellium/Aries. Bastard conjunct between Jupiter and Chiron both in Pisces

Madam CJ Walker had two oppositions between Pisces-Virgo & Cancer-Capricorn, two t squares between Pisces/-Virgo/Sagittarius and Cancer-Capricorn stellium/Aries. Bastard conjunct between Jupiter and Chiron both in Pisces

It’s like being double Jupiter with Madam CJ Walker having Jupiter and Chiron both in Pisces

Her life purpose (North Node in Virgo) was in conflict aka in opposition with her beliefs (Jupiter in Pisces). I think she navigate it well by being of service, teaching, being charitable, donating and supporting black causes

The oppositions between Uranus in Cancer and her Capricorn stellium which forms a t square to Neptune in Aries is interesting. All strong, Cardinal placements that shows the self-starter tendencies and independent leadership abilities.  The oppositions between Uranus in Cancer and her Capricorn stellium has to do with security. Capricorn achieves security through hard work, being traditional, and career achievements. While Cancer achieves security through nurturing and family. Uranus running through all that as I mentioned before denotes a level of unpredictability, and managing this unpredictability via being unpredictable and open to change. 

Not only that but also through establishing a legacy. Madam CJ Walker probably didn’t get the family dynamic she envisioned exactly but she was able to establish a legacy, a physical, and spiritual heirloom that she passed and blessed her daughter with. Madam CJ Walker brought down the boundaries, illusions, disillusions (Neptune) associate Aries themes, independence, and individuality.

She was an individual, she was an independent woman that stood out and was outspoken (Aries). Her individual energy and personality allow her to find other individuals (black men but especially black women), nurtured them via her own individual goals, who in turn experienced their own forms of security, provided for their families and achieve independence as black women. She broke down those barriers for herself, first and foremost and then for other black women. This is peak Neptune in Aries and showcases her t square energy well.

It was between Zora Neale Hurston and Madam CJ Walker for Capricorns in Black Liberation energy. I still at some point want to talk about Zora Neale Hurston but I chose Madam CJ Walker because she is peak traditional Capricorn (and woman) energy in Black Liberation and represents an important philosophy in Black Liberation.

The Astrology of Capricorns in Black Liberation is oftentimes traditional, entrepreneurial, working through systems to get things done, perspective going through the system, change the system but not get rid of the system. There is a belief in black liberation movements that capitalism will not save black people and that capitalism is the root of all evil. Makes sense modern capitalism and the modern world was built off the backs of black slave labor. Black people have lost the most due to the system of capitalism and have benefited the least. I agree Capitalism won’t save us but I don’t know/believe that socialism/communism will save us either. I don’t think this is an either or situation.

Martin Luther King Jr is a prime example of Capricorn energy in black liberation. FYI I wrote an astrology post about MLK Jr. in 2016 before I started my The Astrology of Black Liberation project. The link is here: http://theastrofiend.blogspot.com/2016/01/martin-luther-king-jr-model-of.html. Martin Luther King Jr. worked within the system to make structural changes. This brand of black liberation is always seen as the most legitimate, smart, and less radical way for blacks to follow. This fight for black liberation being through legal more traditionally “sophisticated” means and the “right way” by going through the law and being respectable (no violence/retaliation, being dapper etc.). I have problems with this but I see why it was done at that time. To my knowledge Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t a capitalist.

Madam CJ Walker by the nature of her business/career was a Capitalist and represents another side to Capricorns in Black Liberation.

Capricorn energy being and pursuing material, “superficial” (rolls my eyes) wealth, and abundance. Black Capitalists wanting to experience and indulge in the system that directly benefit from the labor their ancestors worked, died, and developed ongoing generational trauma for this country and most if not all the major Empires of Europe and the rest of the world. There is no shame in that and I feel this is Capricorn’s energy in Black Liberation.

Capitalism’s nature is exploitative, the richer get richer (and even more richer in a pandemic, #sideeye) but money and the pursuit of money is not the root of evil. Exploitation isn’t wrong, it’s neutral but a lot of people exploit in bad ways.

Money is also not evil, it’s neutral and a tool. You are not noble or a bad person automatically because you are poor and meek. You are not inspirational and a good person automatically because you are rich and outspoken. How you get that money specifically the methods used to get it and how you spend it shows you more your character.

Slavery is wrong. The way the United States, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, etc got their fortune and resources is wrong now and then. A reckoning with Black Liberation at the forefront is here, has been here for a while, and will always be for the people/family/institutions/spirits who benefited off of slave labor. A reckoning, revenge, redemption, retribution, justice, the right thing, whatever you or I call it; is ongoing.

In some regards being a black woman Capitalist, and supporting other black people with your capital is revenge/justice against the systems of capitalism, racism, white supremacy, and patriarchy. To succeed and win at the game, you were chosen to be excluded from and then fail at, is the biggest fuck you, and slap in the face to the game-makers and game enforcers. It’s like giving someone a taste of their own medicine. It’s like using the same weapon used on you on the person that used it on you. 

There is a saying by Audra Lorde (her quote in the picture above) you can’t use the “masters” tools and methods to free yourself and just have to be better. I don’t know and I somewhat agree but Madam CJ Walker found a way to make it work for her and the people she impacted then and now. There isn’t one way to go about Black Liberation, sometimes you got to fuck things up from the outside, and sometimes you got to fuck things up on the inside. I think that the latter is what Madam CJ Walker did and why I chose her as the Capricorn selection for my The Astrology of Black Liberation series.

The Astrology of Sagittarius in Black Liberation: Shirley Chisholm

The Astrology of Sagittarius in Black Liberation: Shirley Chisholm

For this astrology of Black Liberation throwback post for originally meant for the 2020 Sagittarius season. However since March is women's history month, it works out. I will be talking about Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to take a position in Congress and to run for president of the United States of America.

The astrological themes and energy of Sagittarius in Black Liberation is one of breaking boundaries, of freedom seeking, and achieving higher planes of existence. Sagittarius is the archer, the centaur, half man, half beast explorer that shoots his arrow out. Jupiter traditional ruler of both Sagittarius and Pisces. If you want to get technical and gritty Jupiter themes and what it rules over is the following: LUCK. EXPANSION. TRAVEL. BELIEFS. FAITH. HIGHER EDUCATION. WEALTH. ABUNDANCE. GROWTH. RISK. OPPORTUNITY. GENEROSITY.

I chose Shirley Chisholm for the Sagittarius Sun for my Astrology of Black Liberation archetype because she represents the true spirit of mutable fire sign Sagittarius, the archer that is constantly breaking boundaries and going higher.

Shirley Chisholm is a 1st generation "foreign" American woman who symbolized both the American Dream and the American Nightmare. Who soared past her social coding, and was the exception to a system designed for her to fail.

If you don't know Shirley Chisholm is a pioneering Caribbean American politician who was the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination and the first African American candidate for a major political party's nomination for President.

She is of Guyanese and Bajan origin (with her dad being Guyanese raised in Barbados and her mom from Barbados). She was born in Brooklyn New York but moved and lived in Barbados from aged 5 (in 1929) until 1934, so until around age 9 and a half, 10 years old. This led to her developing a slight Bajan accent that lasted throughout her entire life.

She went to high school and college in Brooklyn New York. In college she was known for her debating skills and advocating for her people. Her stances at the time included courses focusing on African American history, and the inclusion/integration of black soldiers in military in World War II (because you know black soldiers exist). Education and politics were important to her partly because her father was a supporter of Marcus Garvey, trade unions and anti colonialism independence movements. 

Her early career she was a teacher and educator. During this period of time she got a Masters in Elementary education at Columbia University. Holding many child care positions such as a Teacher's Aide, Director at a Childcare Center and an education center. During this time she advocated for wider education and child welfare/wellness.

She entered politics in 1953 advocating to elect the first black judge, Lewis Flagg Jr. in Brooklyn. Her stances were against housing and economic discrimination against blacks and for more women decision makers. She got involved in white dominated women's political groups including being the Brooklyn branch president of Key Women of America. She used her position to recruit more black people and to get black people more involved structurally in political organizations.

She ran for the 1964 New York State Assembly winning and became a member from 1965-1968. She won by appealing to and mobilizing women voters despite pushback because of her gender.

During this time she was against English language only state literacy tests which unfairly discriminated against non English speakers. She also advocated unemployment benefits for domestic workers and access to higher education for disadvantaged students.

In 1968 she ran for Congress and won in a close race with her slogan Unbought and Unbothered. She was the first black woman elected to Congress and made sure to hire only women to her office staff; half being black women. She was assigned to the House Agriculture committee, an assignment she was unsure of due to her more urban background (being from and serving communities in Brooklyn, NY and NYC). She used this position to help and advocate for feeding the poor. Some of accomplishments include expanding the WIC and food stamps programs. Later she was assigned with the prized Education and Labor committee. 

In 1971 Shirley Chisolm decided to run for president and in 1972 she did. Her slogan was Unbossed and Unbought

She was of course met with resistance. Speaking of her experience she received more resistance for being a woman than black. Many of her black male colleagues did not support her. Her campaign was underfunded and people saw her more as a symbolic figure than a serious choice.

In 1983 she left Congress because of President Ronald Regan and his policies that directly affected her job and interests.

She became the Purington Chair Mount Holyoke College (an all women college) in Massachusetts. Over those years she taught classes and also gave speeches visiting over 150 college campuses.

She campaigned for Jesse Jackson for the presidential elections in both 1984 and 1988

Shirley retired from everything in 1991. She was made an US Ambassdor to Jamaica by President Bill Clinton in 1993 but declined because of her poor health. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.

Shirley Chisholm unfortunately died on January 1st 2006 at the age of 80.

Bio aside let's get into her astrology

Shirley Chisholm

Born: November 30, 1924, New York, NY
Died: January 1, 2005, Ormond Beach, FL

Sun in 8 Degrees Sagittarius
Moon in 3 Degrees Aquarius
Mercury in 26 Degrees Sagittarius
Venus in 3 Degrees Scorpio
Mars in 19 Degrees Pisces
Jupiter in 26 Degrees Sagittarius
Saturn in 9 Degrees Scorpio
Uranus in 17 Degrees Pisces
Neptune in 22 Degrees Leo retrograde
Pluto in 13 Degrees Cancer retrograde
Lilith in 9 Degrees Gemini retrograde
North Node in 16 Degrees Leo retrograde

https://www.astrotheme.com/astrology/Shirley_Chisholm

Themes in her chart

- Stellium in Sagittarius (Sun, Mercury, and Jupiter in Sagittarius)

- Venus conjunct Saturn both in Scorpio

- Mars conjunct Uranus both in Pisces bastardly squared Sagittarius stellium

- Bastard Water Grand Trine: Venus & Saturn in Scorpio. Mars conjunct Uranus both in Pisces and Pluto in Cancer

- T Square: Opposition between Sagittarius stellium & Lilith in 
Gemini and squared Pisces

- Neptune conjunct North Node both in Leo trine Sagittarius stellium

Stellium in Sagittarius (Sun, Mercury, and Jupiter in Sagittarius) Mercury exact conjunction with Jupiter in Sagittarius

Shirley has a stellium with Sun, Mercury and Jupiter in Sagittarius. She's a super Sagittarius optimistic, born lucky/to win, and the fascinating ability to venture out and achieve past her position in society.

The emphasis on Sagittarius/Jupiter energy can show success and achievement for foreign born/foreign people that achieve success in another country. 

She literally embodies the themes of Sagittarius and the 9th House (ruled by Sagittarius). Travel, higher education, justice, and crossing boundaries (in her case borders).

She's a first generation American with a unique foreign perspective. Her foreignness and her being a first generation American born is a much different experience and perspective than being an American without foreign influence. The most important and meaningful early primary years from 5-10 (the years where a child learns to socialize, read, write, taught values and belief systems was spent in Barbados). This is very Sagittarius/Jupiterian because this energy represents having international perspectives outside your home country and an early upbringing/education/home outside your native country

Her parents wanted the American dream for themselves and herself. So she also grew up with a different mentality than those of her peers.

Shirley pursued higher education which is very 9th House and again Jupiterian. Imagine how difficult but really how unusual it was for a black woman without as much connections other than grit, intelligence, and occasional support/opportunity to pursue and have access to quality and higher higher education (she not only earned her Bachelor's degree but also her masters) in the 1930s and 1940s pre civil rights era. So she has higher, higher education.

Her early career is was an educator (more 9th house higher education themes) and then pursued a career in government which is also very 9th House. It's amazing how astro synchronicitistic Shirley Chisholm's ego/personality (Sun), mind/thoughts/communication (mercury), and sense of belief systems, education, travel, justice (Jupiter) were aligned to help achieve her life's purpose.

Her Sagittarius stellium gave her a no limit mentality, where she had the confidence to take a gamble on and take risks for herself and also to have faith. The downside to Sagittarius/Jupiter energy is making promises you can't keep, having dreams you can't live up to, and self-righteousness.

Moon in Aquarius sextile her stellium in Sagittarius ( Sun, Mercury and Jupiter in Sagittarius
Moon square Venus & Saturn

Shirley had her Moon in Aquarius which I think held down and grounded her flighty changeable Sagittarius nature and created a more stable sense of self. Moon sextiled her Sagittarius placements so it's like a good/close friend kind of relationship between her moon and Sagittarius stellium.

Genderless, gender fluid sign Aquarius placed in the realm of emotions points to a more genius detached, cool intellectual who intellectualizes emotions instead of allowing feelings to fully feel/ be felt.

Moon in Aquarius could be at odds with the traditional female/feminine archetypes/habits and more in favor of more unconventional and unexplored feminine archetypes/habits.

She said she received more pushback being a woman then black in her career which is why she leaned more into her womeness and didn't run away from it. She advocated for women, because she is a woman. Her womeness gave her strength and the necessary emotion, drive, and pushback to go after what she wanted and to prove others wrong.

Her moon is squared her Venus and Saturn both conjunct Scorpio. So Shirley's emotions/feelings/habits (emotions) was at odds with her sense of beauty/relationships (Venus), and her sense of discipline, limitations, and responsibilities (Saturn). Aquarius is detached, personal on a global/group level but impersonal on a personal level. Scorpio is intense, personal on a personal/one to one level and impersonal on a global/group level. Aquarius likes to be in the center, middle, and on the outskirts of attention. Scorpio prefers to be behind the scenes.

In terms of positives of her Moon in Aquarius squaring her Venus conjunct Saturn in Scorpio is that it allowed her to be less changeable and more steadfast. It gave her strong willed, reliability, a practical and focused mindset, and tenacious/fierce nature.

Venus conjunct Saturn both in Scorpio

Shirley has Venus conjunct Saturn in Scorpio

I think this a major part of her staying power. Mutable Sagittarius energy is flighty and doesn't want to be held down preferring a more nomadic and non traditional existence. A downside to mutable energy is the tendency to run off, change course or bow out when things get tough.

Shirley having Venus conjunct Saturn in Scorpio allowed her to be focused, intense, intentional in her pursuits and passions. Scorpio is a very intense, focused sign and Saturn strengthens the resolve of the Scorpio and reinforces Scorpio's natural power and ability to control things.

She was definitely in control of image. Shirley Chisholm ironic style uniform where she had a bouffant hair style, cat-eye glasses, bows, pearls, on top of bright colorful, bold and interesting prints on her suits.

Her Venus with Saturn gave her a serious approach to what she found beautiful and pleasurable and a sense of wanting quality in her relationships.

Venus conjunct Saturn can represents limitations and issues regards to their own self esteem and perception of their beauty in regards to relationships.

Venus conjunct Saturn can also represents a more mature, pragmatic, fearful, dutiful, strategic, and disciplined approach to love, beauty and relationships (Venus) and needed/wanted these things to give her a sense of responsibility, duty, and limitations (Saturn). Saturn aspected people often times feel more comfortable with limitations (as long as they are in control of what they are limiting and not being limited).

Maybe she didn't think she was as attractiveness or had legitimate access to the traditional feminine wiles. I think it was more probable that she couldn't, wouldn't, and refused to rely on her looks and romantic relationships so decided to focus on her other beautiful and bountiful less popular feminine traits such as intelligence, ambition, resourcefulness, willingness to collaborate and listen to the needs of others, and work ethic which helped her achieve the career she wanted.

Especially with her Scorpio energy she had intuition, and knew how to size people up and find supporters/people that she needed on her side.

Bastard Water Grand Trine  Venus & Saturn in Scorpio. Mars conjunct Uranus both in Pisces and Pluto in Cancer

Shirley has a bastard Water Grand Trine  Venus & Saturn in Scorpio. Mars conjunct Uranus both in Pisces and Pluto in Cancer. 

This shows she was intuitive and could emotionally tap into the collective unconscious. 

Her Mars is in Pisces,  so she had a strong need to serve and to help others. She did it by advocating for others and through her public service. Specifically for the working class and for families/children

With her Pluto in Cancer she had a nurturing/maternal energy towards her. Looking out for others

Neptune conjunct North Node both in Leo trine Sagittarius stellium

Shirley has Neptune conjunct North Node both in Leo trine Sagittarius stellium (Sun, Mercury, and Jupiter in Sagittarius)

The traditional ruler of Pisces was Jupiter before Neptune was discovered in 1846

Her higher idealism (Neptune) was aligned with her life's purpose and destiny (North Node). In Leo her destiny was to stand out and to be brave and confident enough to break down certain boundaries that kept black women and black people from achieving.

I chose her for my pick for Sagittarius energy in Black Liberation because 1. she's inspiring and inspirational and 2. because she truly represents Sagittarius energy in Black Liberation. She was a teacher/educator (higher education), she was in Congress (justice)

Her story also particularly hits home for me because like her I am also a 1st generation American born. I was born here in the United States and my parents are both "foreign born" from the Caribbean (Haiti and Jamaica). Both sides of my family came here to pursue the American Dream.

Technically all Americans are foreign because we are all on stolen land. Since the Caribbean is part of the "Americas/Southeast North America." if you really think about it; I am also not really that foreign because both sides of my family are from the Americas via the Caribbean (which is in North America). Foreign to the United States but not to the North America region. The people of Caribbean have majority African blood, a little European, and very very very very very distance native Arawak and Taino indigenous blood. Rambling aside, her "foreigness" didn't stop or prevent her from going after her goals. She was able to appeal to different kinds of people because she wanted to help people and reach as many people as she could.

Sagittarius does things and breaks boundaries that people think of as impossible

She's the prototype for a Jesse Jackson, a Barack Obama, a Hilary Clinton, or a Kamala Harris. She lost so they can win or learn.

Sagittarius does things that people are afraid to do because they know that the possibly of an reward or even a lesson is motivation enough for them to at least attempt it. Sagittarius is philosophical so they understand that the effort and the journey is worth it no matter if they win or lose.

Anyways RIP to Shirley Chisholm!. Cheers to the end of Women's History Month and Pisces Season!

The Astrology of Pisces in Black Liberation: Nina Simone

The Astrology of Pisces in Black Liberation: Nina Simone

Nina Simone

February 21^st 1933- April 21^st 2003

Nina Simone was a “jazz & blues”, (she doesn’t like those labels), classical music, African American folk and spiritual music, protest music singer and pianist. She’s also known for being an outspoken civil rights activist. She’s known for songs such as “I put a spell on you”, “Sinnerman,” “Mississippi Goddamn,” and “Feeling Good.” Her astrology information (via astro-charts) below:

Sun in 2 Degrees Pisces
Moon in 28 Degrees Capricorn
Mercury in 13 Degrees Pisces
Venus in 17 Degrees Aquarius
Mars in 14 Degrees Virgo (retrograde)
Jupiter in 20 Degrees Virgo (retrograde)
Saturn in 10 Degrees Aquarius
Uranus in 20 Degrees Aries
Neptune in 8 Degrees Virgo (retrograde)
Pluto in 21 Degrees Cancer (retrograde)
North Node in 8 Degrees  Pisces (retrograde)

Chiron in 23 Degrees Taurus

* Ascendant in 28 Degrees Aquarius *

Themes in her Astrology chart

- Bastard Pisces stellium (Sun, Mercury, North Node in Pisces)

- Virgo stellium (Mars, Jupiter, and Neptune in Virgo all retrograde)

- Oppositions between Pisces and Virgo

- Bastard Grand Earth trine Virgo stellium, Moon in Capricorn, and Chiron in Taurus

- Bastard stellium in Aquarius (Ascendant, Venus, and Saturn in Aquarius)

Overall: Sensitive, vulnerable Pisces that’s more earthy/grounded and restricted via oppositions and Saturn/Capricorn/Aquarius energy.

Pisces bastard stellium and conjunction (Sun, Mercury, North Node in Pisces)

Nina Simone has a Pisces bastard stellium with Sun, Mercury, and North Node in Pisces. This means her ego/personality (Sun), thinking/communication skills (Mercury), and life’s purpose/destiny (North Node) are in alignment and working together. Nina is a pianist, musician (singer/songwriter), and activists. She’s the embodiment of following her passions and interests.

Her Pisces stellium is sextile her Moon in Capricorn and Chiron in Taurus, so her emotions and wounded healer supports her Pisces energy and work together to support her goals. Her Moon in Capricorn and Chiron in Taurus ground her Pisces energy. While her Pisces energy loosens and frees her earth energy.

Nina’s Pisces energy and stellium is one of mystical, spiritual, and emotional fluidity. I feel she was channeling when she was singing and playing her music. She loved, she needed and wanted to love. Her existence was all for love.

Moon in 28 Degrees Capricorn

Nina Simone with her Moon in Capricorn is emotionally disciplined, ambitious, and conservative. How can one be ambitious with their emotions? Well Capricorn can, by diverting energy used to feelings and expressing emotions and channeling it to their goals, work, and more practical endeavors. Earth and air moons do this well. This is especially the case when astrology wise her Virgo stellium is bastardly trine to her Moon in Capricorn. So her emotions/feelings/habits (moon), desires/ (Mars), opportunities, higher self (Jupiter), and higher love, delusions, (Neptune) all retrograde in Virgo, is working together and supporting each other. Especially moon trining Jupiter gives her boost emotionally, allowing her to feel optimistic, productive, and feel her way through her darkest moments.

Moon in Capricorn feels (all moon signs feel) it’s just that they don’t like it, and it’s not as natural for them to express it and show it.

Moon in Capricorn is detriment in astrology and considered (the worst) place for the moon to be. I don’t believe that BUT it is a hard placement. It freezes, it hardens. Due to Capricorn being ruled by Saturn, experiences the hardness of life. Whether it’s poverty, homelessness, parental neglect, depression/mental illness, various kinds of abuse, or societal issues (racism, sexism, xenophobia). 

No matter the placement Capricorn but especially Saturn influenced placements can show hardships, delays, and having to learn lessons the hard way. A good side to this through these hard lessons (and your willingness to learn from them) you develop wisdom, strength, courage and a fearlessness that is not grounded in ignorance but experience. You come out better and more refined (like a diamond pressurized out of coal).

Nina Simone is said to have mental illness (bipolar disorder). She experienced racism which caused her to alter her course of life, particularly her dreams/career. She wanted to a classical pianist but due to racism she switched over to making popular music (first as a way to earn money for her pianist career goals). Then as a way to express her creativity. She had a lot of hardships, some lifelong but she did the best with what she had. People look up to her, because she lived her truth, she was who she was and she got comfortable in it (even though it was hard/difficult).

Her Moon is also square Uranus in Aries unpredictable, volatile, temperamental, sometimes inappropriate emotions, and emotional outbursts. With Uranus in Aries (these emotions can turn violent). Nina remarked about how she almost killed a record executive who stole music royalties from her and was cheating her. She was not ashamed and the only thing she regretted was that she missed* (she fired a shot at him).

An upside with Moon square Uranus is that Nina is naturally more independent, strong minded, and more comfortable with change. Change is exciting and emotions from change is inspiring.

Venus in 17 Degrees Aquarius

Nina had Venus conjunct Saturn in Aquarius with Uranus in Aries sextiling both placements. Her ascendant is also in Aquarius

Nina’s Venus conjunct Saturn in Aquarius can show insecurity in terms of beauty and physical/sexual attractiveness and a highly. I see Nina as someone who could be original, insecure, highly rebellious, unpredictable, and autonomous.

I also see Nina Simone as unconventional but traditional in relationships. It sounds like a contradiction but it isn’t. She was the breadwinner in her relationships. A woman being a breadwinner during her time was seen as unconventional and unusual. However the men tried to control her, use her, and made her choose between the music/career and the relationship. She did not allow this to happen and she fought back. The men were competing with her and using her. Her lifestyle/career/personality was unconventional (especially during her times) but her views on relationship loyalty, trust, companionship, and protection are more traditional viewpoints.

Nina had 2 failed marriages (or successful depending on your perspective). She believed in the institution of marriage even though it evaded her. In an interview she remarked she loves marriage but couldn’t make it work.

Virgo stellium (Mars, Jupiter, and Neptune in Virgo all retrograde)

Nina had a Virgo stellium with Mars, Jupiter, and Neptune in Virgo all retrograde

Nina was an exceptional, genius pianist and child prodigy. Being exceptional at something requires technical skills, dedication, and long hours practicing techniques. This side of her artistry is part Pisces energy but also her Virgo energy mostly. Nina was probably hard on herself, a perfectionist. Especially with her Mars conjunct Jupiter are both retrograde problems with boundaries and overextending herself.

A big part of her Virgo energy is her stellium is in retrograde. Retrograde is internalized energy. When internalized it can be repressed/suppressed or it can go another way. This way being that this internalized energy has led to someone that is reflective, inspired, and focused. Not much opportunities for distraction. Usually it’s a mixture of both.

Nina had an opposition between Pisces and Virgo. So her personality/ego (Sun), (thinking/communicating processes) (Mercury), and destiny/life purpose (North Node) was in opposition with action/desire/stamina/energy (Mars), expansion, higher knowledge, beliefs (Jupiter), and higher love (Neptune) in Virgo all retrograde.

Pisces and Virgo are opposition signs that go after similar things in oppose ways. Virgo goes after things by being organize, doing research, putting in effort, and being logical, while Pisces goes after things by tapping into their intuition and self-belief, by allowing the universe, law of attraction, and other spiritual “irrational” forces bring what they what they want. Pisces and Virgo meets in the fact that they are both service oriented. Nina was an entertainer, she put her efforts, creative talents into her craft. As an entertainer and performer she wants to service and satisfy her audience and give them what they paid for. Her Pisces and Virgo energy comes together to make sure she puts on a great show and she is beholden to her audience and supporters/fans.

Nina Simone is part of the Pluto in Cancer generation (astrologically from 1914-1939. Random but I truly respect the Pluto in Cancer generation. In normal world the Pluto in Cancer generation are known as the Silent Generation [born in the years 1925-1945]. Pluto in Cancer generation is known as being very protective, humbled, patriotic, loyalty, enterprising, and self-less. The downside is very traditional (patriarchal/matriarchal/sexist/racist possibly), can be close minded, and greedy/materialistic (partly due to sense of security being threaten because of the Great Depression and WWII). A lot of civil rights leaders were part of the Pluto in Cancer generation.

Nina Simone is no exception. She has Moon in Capricorn oppose her Pluto in Cancer. So she wrestles with financial/mental security and emotional security. A way I think she resolved this was being intensely ambitious and fiercely creative. Her Pluto in also trine her Pisces stellium so she has very protective/nurturing, unselfish energy especially in her art/music. 

She spoke out (look at her song Mississippi Goddamn or her cover of Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit) for her people. Specifically Mississippi Goddamn was written for murdered Cancer sun activist and friend, Medgar Evers and for the four little girls that were murdered in a white supremacist church bombing terrorist attack. She wore an Afro, her hair natural which at the time was very political at the time. She was influential because she knew this was her power and this is what she had to do. Here are some quotes from her below:

“An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times. That to me is my duty,” Simone said in an interview with Black Journal. “And at this crucial time in our lives when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don’t think you can help but be involved.

“Young people, Black and white, know this. That’s why they’re so involved in politics. We will shape and mold this country, I will not be molded and shaped at all anymore.”

Watch her BBC HARDtalk, 1999 and her 1988 The Wire interview on YouTube to get a feel for her energy

Nina Simone’s Pisces in the Astrology of Black Liberation is first her willingness (and sometimes regret) to be the artist, be the protest singer, and to be a voice to the Civil Rights movement at the time. She made herself a target (like many other activists).

When doing my research on Nina Simone is very complex nuanced person and artist. She performed “blues” songs but hated the Blues genre (and being compared to Billie Holiday).  She regretted pursuing a career in show business but loved her music/songs. She was abused by her husband, she abused/abandoned her daughter at various points in her daughter’s life. It’s important to note that this partially due to her mental illness and the intensity of it BUT she also has to be held accountable for the trauma she inflicted on her daughter. This is not an indictment on her or me disrespecting her legacy just shows the intricacies of her character especially as a mutable sign Pisces.

Nina Simone, to be a Pisces, a Pisces in the Astrology of Black Liberation, to be real, to be imperfect, be hypocritical, to be maddening, upsetting, to be wise, and naïve, to be what the world needed, to be what she loved (and despised/hated at times), to be the hero and villain, and the victim and victor. This is the Pisces energy in the Astrology of Black Liberation.