Oprah Winfrey
Astrological Highlights:
Sun in 5th in Aquarius = Success through media and TV.
Sun trine Jupiter = Optimistic outlook and career opportunities.
Moon in Sagittarius = Likes philosophy and foreign cultures and people. Likes to educate and reform like a good preacher.
Moon opp. Jupiter = Excellent public response.
Moon semi square Neptune = Deep sense of sadness for the needy.
Mercury sq. Mars = Can be coolly sarcastic. Strong views.
Mercury in Aquarius trine Neptune = Oratory skills. Acting and communication skills. Verbal eloquence. Often singing.
Mercury opp. Pluto = Dictatorial. May violate Divine truths (conflicts with priests) without being able to undo the damage. Need for control.
Venus trine Jupiter = Love of luxury and comfort. Designer clothes. Wealthy but problem with sugar and weight.
Venus sq Saturn = Sign of loneliness and being single. Loyal.
Mars in Scorpio in 3rd = Danger of violence near home. Abused as child.
Mars trine Uranus = Uses inventive ideas constructively in television.
Jupiter in Gemini in 10th = Destined for mass communication!
Saturn in 3rd = Left handed like Marilyn Monroe!
Neptune sxt Pluto = Has the ability to immortalize inspirational works of art, music and writing. Spiritual mission
Here is the chart of the reigning queen of communication, Oprah Winfrey. Although her chart is a true rags to riches story, it is not just luck that brought this famous communicator in the eyes of the public. Jupiter in Gemini, hallmark of communication, especially when it is also trined to Mercury, is right at the top of her chart in the 10th house of fame. There is no other planet in the 10th house, so it was destined that she will make her mark in the field of mass communication.
Jupiter trined to Mercury and Neptune makes this a grand trine in air signs, which is an indication of someone who is rational, objective and can stand back and look at a problem from a totally detached perspective. Mercury Neptune trine gives her verbal eloquence and acting ability (at least the voice part of it).
However, Oprah is also an intellectual dictator! Mercury in Aquarius opposed to Pluto points to someone who can be very manipulative and put people in the right slot. It is an excellent position for someone in human resources as well as the media where you need to manipulate the audience or the guests to get the right answers. Gorbacev was also born with exactly the same aspect. This is a difficult aspect to have and often indicates one who can be coolly sarcastic. It also indicates someone who can violate Divine truths and not be able to undo the damage. She can say something without realizing that it could have adverse affects on the public. The meat case affecting the farmers is a typical example. She has to be careful if she speaks out against religion in any form or says anything which might be considered blasphemous. It also makes her a fighter for causes.
Moon in Sagittarius always makes one philosophical (Tiger Woods is also born with this) and also points to her early religious upbringing (also Sag. in the 4h house). Moon Jupiter opposition gives her public response and this is one of the best configurations to have for those who are in the public eye. It also makes her very visual as Mercury is aspected to the Moon as well. It gives her the ability to sense the mood of the audience.
Oprah may talk in plain language but she does have a brilliant and original mind. Underneath her cool Aquarius side, she has Mars and Saturn in Scorpio. In fact, Mars is squared to Pluto which can indicate violent outbursts or conflicts against anyone who represents authority.
It is interesting that her Mars in Scorpio was getting touched off by transiting Saturn in 1985 when she made her film debut in Color Purple. All the violence in her chart was sublimated through acting and she won an Oscar for her genuine feelings. In astrology, there is no difference between actual and vicarious events as long as she actually experienced those powerful emotions (and she must have).
Her father being a tough task master is indicated by her Saturn in Scorpio. Luckily, it helped turn her life around and she was able to finish her education under his stern upbringing and no-nonsense attitude. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are both born with Saturn in Scorpio but this placement gives a rather fatalistic attitude towards life. These individuals need more faith in God and less in their own abilities to find that Creator within. They are often drawn to Buddhism because it allows them to think that they can find God within themselves. But if you are left on the Sahara desert for two days, you will soon find out if God is within you! They have difficulty getting over any death but need to realize that it is not in their control and that it is God’s program and not ours.
Oprah always has to be careful of close relatives and “friends” who can be her worst enemies (Scorpio on 3rd and Mars and Saturn being there). However, she seems to have sublimated this by dealing with topics like drugs and criminals and fighting for causes.
In 1988, when Jupiter was in her 8th house, Oprah bought her production facility and became the 3rd woman in history to own a major studio. Saturn was still at the very bottom of her chart and she was just establishing her foundations. As Jupiter went into her 9th house, she was ready with her facilities to produce her own shows and syndicate them. Jupiter in her 9th-10th house in spring of 2000 motivated her to start her own Magazine “O”. Not only was it a vehicle for mass reform (preachers are born with Jupiter in 9th!) but also gave Oprah the fame and recognition she deserved.
She is now at the Zenith of her career and will consolidate her position in public within the next seven years and keep a low profile after about 10 years! She is just coming out of some very dangerous transits (Saturn opposing her Mars) which can indicate surgeries as well as legal hassles and authority conflicts. Mid May 2001 till end of July 2001 will be one of the best transits for Oprah when Jupiter touches off her grand trine. In 2002, this is touched off by Saturn which will give her the discipline to finish what she has started.
The humanitarian Aquarius qualities along with the need to save others and to fight for the underdog makes Oprah Winfrey a one of a kind person. She has a very simple chart on the surface but is very focused, ruthless with herself, easy to communicate, and above all, has never forgotten her roots. Oprah probably represents the best of the Aquarian qualities combined with the tenacity of Mars and Saturn in Scorpio which she uses to benefit the needy. To be her friend, one has to have a few problems! Without Jupiter in Gemini as part of a grand trine on top of her chart, it is hard to imagine how this chart could have found its mission. Even though Oprah can be very stubborn, she is extremely unselfish and truly wants to help the masses. Luckily, Nature has blessed her with strong roots which gave her the stamina and humility to undertake such a big mission in life.
Pluto now trining her Mercury will give her the wisdom to understand the deepest aspects of Divine truths at a conscious level. She was already born with Moon Pluto trine which gives the subconscious awareness of truth. Pluto touching off her grand trine is an indication that she will utilize some novel means of communication with the masses like holographic broadcast of her show on the Internet during the next four years. Uranus touching off her Mercury and Mars is still a dangerous aspect and points to very erratic brilliant flashes of insight but also shocks through which you recover. It is also an indication of freak accidents and she needs to be careful at least till the end of 2002.
In terms of love, Oprah is going through a sad Neptune Venus opposition which makes one extremely idealistic. It is a romantic aspect but also makes you look at the world through rose coloured glasses. However, it is excellent for encouraging romantic partnerships in her magazine.