Your name is written in the stars: how natal placements describe ones name
Many people believe that your name influences your personality and has a spiritual meaning. We think very seriously about the choice of name of our children, pets and ourselves. In ancient times people believed your name is your destiny, and we still do today (on some level). A name often contains a wish. We wish to give a person a name that will make them be brave, or smart, or as warm as the grandparent they're named after…
We can find this name in our charts. How? Astrology does not show things literally, but figuratively. Astrology is a language that does not consist of letters: astrology is a symbolic language. So we have to pay attention to the meaning of your name.
If we go back to how words and names are formed, they do originate from meaning. When you read ancient writings, individual letters show not only a 'sound', but also a concept. Open any etymology book and you will find that most words can be broken down into basic concepts and natural phenomena. So astrology leads us back to the original meaning of words!
In this article I’ll discuss some random famous people with interesting names! As in every delineation, we take into account:
- The sign on the Ascendant
- The ruler of the Ascendant, and its natural signification
- The sign the ruler of the Ascendant is in
- The house placement of the ruler of the Ascendant
- Tight conjunctions (5°max) with Ascendant ruler
- The dispositor of the Ascendant ruler
- Fixed stars
One extra thing to be mindful of:
In the case of people who changed their names for whatever reason, it is good to take into account that not everybody is comfortable with sharing their birth name. For these examples below, I picked out people of whom I was fairly sure they changed their name for artistic and spiritual purposes, and aren’t uncomfortable with the mentioning of their birth names on Wikipedia. In the case of trans people, there are still resources out their that cite someone’s deadname. Even if some trans people are okay with sharing this, most of us aren’t (and definitely not in public). It is best to not use it in this kind of research, even if a trans person mentions their deadname freely online. And there are tons of other reasons why someone (cis people too) would be uncomfortable with the mentioning of their birth name.
Ione Skye
Ione Skye is a British actress with a fascinating name. Her full name is Ione Skye Leitch.
Ione means 'amethyst' in Greek. Jupiter is conjunct Ione's Ascendant. And, no surprise: according to William Lilly, Jupiter rules over amethysts. [In the furure I’ll write an article about the planetary associations with precious stones].
The name 'Leitch' originates from before the 7th century in England, and its meaning is 'leech'. It was used as a name for doctors, because it was common at the time for docters to use leeches in their medical application. This traditional practice existed in Europe until the nineteenth century, but it is still in use today in different parts of the world. Leeches suck blood, so they were used in the context of bloodletting practices.
To find these leeches in Leitch’s chart, we look to the ruler of the Ascendant: Mars in Virgo. Mars is in the 11th house, but it is still within 5 degrees of the MC, so we can expect that the name might have to do with a profession. Mars rules doctors, and especially surgeons, because it is a profession associated with blood. Mars also rules blood when it is outside of the body. So Mars is an excellent signifier for the name Leitch, a doctor who works with 'bloodsuckers'. In addition, the Ascendant is also in Scorpio: Scorpio rules over mirky waters and creeping animals. This refers to the even older meaning of Leitch, which comes from the word 'lacu', meaning water.
Next, we examine the surname by which the actress has become famous. Although we would assume at first guess that the name Skye derives from the word 'sky', its origin actually points to The Isle of Skye off the Scottish coast. Etymologically, the name Skye originates from the Gaelic 'sgiath', meaning 'winged', because the shape of these Scottish peninsulas resembles a wing. Incidently, Scorpio, the sign that rules her Ascendant, is also the sign that traditionally rules Scotland. The most obvious fact is, that both of the surnames of the actress refer to water, and her Ascendant is ruled by a water sign.
When looking for the name that Ione became best known by, we have to look at Mars on the Midheaven. Mars was literally very high in the sky on the night of Skye’s birth. The Midheaven shows our public image. Skye lives and works in America, where her name is associated with the word 'sky' (and not with the Scottish islands). The name by which she is known to the general public, means 'air, heaven' - with the designator literally on the Midheaven.
Surnames often follow a certain pattern. Even if it seems like there are an infinite number of surnames, in reality they can often be traced back to a limited number of characteristics. Many surnames show locations or occupations, sometimes also physical or psychological characteristics.
Born James Vernon Taylor, James Taylor is represented by Mercury, a planet of artisans and thinkers. With the Ascendant in Virgo, we expect a name that may have to do with the element earth and craftsmanship. The ruler of the Ascendant, is also in an air sign. Air signs are the human signs, so it’s clear that Taylor is name that refers to human activity. The 6th house symbolizes workers. Taylor obviously means 'tailor', and according to Lilly, Mercury is the planet of tailors (among other types of artisans).
Mercury rules Gemini, the Twins. ‘James’ is a derivative of the name of the Biblical figure Jacob, who was born holding the heel of his twin brother Esau. Vernon is of Old French origin and means 'alder forest'. The discriptor of 'Vernon' in the chart is not as obvious as the rest, but the ruler of Mercury is in Leo, a sign that rules forests. Mercury itself is also generally associated with trees, especially those that move in the wind (as opposed to old, gnarled, static trees, which fall under Saturns domain). James Vernon Taylor is a very Mercurial name, which is fitting for a musician.
Teal Swan
Teal Swan is a spiritual leader who once started out by making Youtube videos about spiritual subjects. Many people consider her as a cult leader, since her approach to healing is very controversial, and quite reckless.
Swan's Moon is conjunct the star Albireo in the Swan's beak. A good designation for someone who goes through life with the name Swan! I reckon it is not a coincidence that her second birth name Teal refers to a teal duck, which reminds us of the duckling-transforms-to-Swan fairytale, and is probably a conscious choice in this regard. The teal duck is where the actual word for the color teal comes from too: this kind of duck has a blue-green colored stripe on its head. The sign Aquarius, where Teal’s Ascendant ruler, the Moon, is located, is associated with green-blue colors.
Swan's birth name is Mary Teal Bosworth. A huge number of first names, like Mary, in dozens of languages, are derived from the same source, the biblical figure Miriam. The oldest mention of the name Miriam is in The Old testament or Hebrew Bible, as the name of the heroine Miriam, who leads her people out of Egypt. Since Swan grew up in a Christian culture, we can assume that Mary refers to the other Miriam, the mother of Christ. So here we have the Biblical figure Mary, who is traditionally associated with the moon and water (both biblical heroines are associated with water, by the way). Teal Swan is therefore indicated by the Moon, the ruler of the Ascendant.
The Moon is a symbol of pregnancy and fertility, and many statues and depictions of the Virgin Mary show her with a crescent moon at her feet. Many of Teal's followers also call her - creepy but true - 'divine mother'...
We’ll end with her official surname. Bosworth means: 'cattle enclosure', refering to the place where cattle are kept in a fenced place. The Moon is lord 12 of big animals, farms and cattle. The ruler of the moon is Saturn conjunct Mars. Saturn symbolizes fences, Mars represents cattle. In addition, Bosworth is a historic site where The War of the Roses was fought, the last battle that ended that war. There may well have been noblemen whose name refers to this place. Malefice Saturn (symbol of death, and whatever comes last) conjunct Mars (symbol of war) is an accurate indicator of a final carnage.
Does the chart also mentions nicknames? I think the chart does this, though not in a straightforward way. Nicknames derives essentially from the things we do in life and who we are, and consequently become known for. Swan’s designator - the Moon - is on the first degree in the 8th house. The theme of ‘death’ is very important to her. The Moon also rules the 12th, traditionally the house of suicide and mental health crises. She is nicknamed 'the suicide catalyst' because of her controversial therapies based on her preoccupation with death, calling suicide dangerously ‘a reset button’.
The Dalai Lama
What about people whose name often changed during their lifetime? The astrological chart shows this complexity. A good example of this is the current Dalai Lama, who has had many different names during different phases of his life.
With the sign of Cancer on the Ascendant, and the Sun in the first house, we can expect generally sea-like names (as in: the literal sea, or the symbolism of the sea as a mysterious and deep entity) and Solar names.
The title Dalai Lama refers to the one who holds the spiritual and political leadership of the Tibetan people. It is always difficult to translate words from another language, but the name of the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, presumely means 'ocean' and 'protector of knowledge'. The ruler of the Ascendant is the Moon conjunct Neptune. Neptune is a symbol of the ocean, just like the Moon.
His title has a similar meaning. 'Lama' means 'teacher' or 'wise person'. The Moon is in Virgo and the third house. The third house rules speakers and teachers. The bigger theme of third house-ninth house axis is bringing spirituality to the people, in a pracitical, day -to-day manner. In this sense, the third house symbolizes the believe that the enlightened Dalai Lama came back to earth to teach and guide his people through practical, political matters, as well as spiritual ones.
The birth name of the Dalai Lama is Lhamo Thondup, which means ‘wish-fulfilling goddess’. The Moon is associated with goddesses, and is often referred to as a goddess herself. In addition, the third house, in which this moon resides, is called the 'House of the Goddess' in Hellenistic astrology.
Last but not least, we can’t ignore that the Dalai Lama was born at sunrise: the Sun is conjunct his Ascendant in Cancer. This often predicts the birth of remarkable, prestigious people who take in a leadership position in life (the grandness of this position is dependant on the context of the native). It is still the case today that monarchs and rulers all over the world are ascribed some kind of divine power, even if it’s more oblique (and not always very ethical, even in regard to the person themself!). Some names that are given by the people for the Dalai Lama, are names like ‘Presence’ (Kundun), ‘The Wish-Fulfilling Gem’ (Yeshe Norbu) or 'Valuable Victor' (Gyalwa Rinpoche)– very solar names, indeed!
It is fascinating that the Dalai Lama has the fixed star Alhena on his Ascendant. Alhena is the brightest star in Pollux, the immortal half of the twins. Alhena represents a divine soul in a vulnerable, human body. The Dalai Lama is seen in Tibetan cosmology as an immortal, reincarnating soul, who visits this earth again and again in a different body. Alhena represents the double-ness of his being.
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt is a powerful artist, performer, writer and peace activist. Eartha is born with Saturn on the Ascendant, in Sagittarius. Saturn naturally rules the earth and agriculture. Further more, Saturnus' dispositor is Jupiter exactly conjunct the cusp of the fourth house, which is the house of the earth and everything beneath it, since it's the lowest point of the chart (and also literally the lowest point 'under' the earth globe at that moment). Saturn on the Ascendant and Jupiter on the 4th house cusp, are in mutual reception. No better placements for a name meaning 'earth'.
Kitt's surnames changed a few times according to the different caregivers she knew during her very unstable and traumatizing youth. The last one was named mamie Kitt, a name she took on for the rest of her life. It is very clear that, even though Kitt is not her 'official' name, it is the name she identifies with. It's definitely more than a stage name, so I won't research her 'official' name in this article. To show the importante of this name, here is an anecdote: Kitt found it ridiculous that a child gets the name of the father, so she gave her daughter the first name Kitt to make absolutely sure that hers would be passed along.
'Kitt' derives from Christopher, a name which contains 'Christ' and means 'follower of Christ'. The reception between Saturn and Jupiter can show a very religious and pious name. Especially Jupiter, is a planet that shows religious figures. Saturn makes an aspect via antiscion with the Sun in Capricorn, so this gives the configuration a little extra dash of holiness.
Christopher is the patron Saint of travellers. Sagittarius is often associated with travelling for it is a mutuable fire sign, which makes it very dynamic. Kitt herself also travelled a lot in her life and spoke many languages.
Last but not least: we can't ignore that in the name Kitt, there is of course the allusion to 'kitten' - a reference Eartha Kitt loved to play with. In her public persona, Eartha was often associated with... cats. One of her music albums is named 'I'm a different kind of cat'. Eartha loved cats, took her cat to the set where she played her famous role of Cat Woman, advertised for the adoption of cats and is photographed tons of times with cats and kittens in her arms. One of her nicknames was 'kitty Charles'. And of course Saturn rules... cats.
Saturn rules cats because they are seen as lonely, untrustworthy night animals, suffering from a bad reputation (and they even survived some genocides during history). Kitt stood up for all communities with a bad reputation, like the queer community, saying things like:
"We're all rejected people, we know what it is to be refused, we know what it is to be oppressed, depressed, and then, accused, and I am very much cognizant of that feeling. Nothing in the world is more painful than rejection."
Saturn on the Ascendant in a night chart shows a person who has known a lot of serious hardship, death, rejection, and loneliness in life. So in a way, her kinship with cats, as a rejected species, makes sense in the cosmology of her life!
I wonder if you can trace back your own name in your chart! Let me know if you do!
Resources
- Christian astrology by William Lilly (published by Astrology Center of America)
- Wikipedia.com
- https://www.dalailama.com/
- The Gateway, an investigative podcast series about the work of Teal Swan
- The fixed stars and Constellations in Astrology by Vivian Robson
- Constellationofwords.com
If you or a loved one struggles with suicidal thoughts, here are some (Belgian) resources:
- https://www.lumi.be/ (LGBTQ)
- https://www.zelfmoord1813.be/ik-heb-hulp-nodig/chat-met-de-zelfmoordlijn
- https://www.tele-onthaal.be/
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