Captain Jack Sparrow's Moral Compass, Gemini Johnny Depp and Mercury the Trickster

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was not as bad as the critics led me to believe. (SPOILER ALERT!) If Verbinski had cut the entire sequence when Captain Jack Sparrow was held captive by cannibals, it would have been a much better movie.

However, I'm not a movie critic, I'm an astrologer. After the entertainment buzz lifted, I was left with two indelible images: Captain Jack Sparrow's compass, and Elizabeth Swann's angry ambivalence about her feelings towards Sparrow. The movie would have had no emotional weight without these two themes.

Johnny Depp is a Gemini, and Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury. (See my essay Johnny Depp: Messenger of the Gods.) In mythology, Hermes/Mercury is the trickster, the master of duplicity. Hermes invented lies. And what better a character than Captain Jack Sparrow to embody this archetype? Sparrow is duplicitous to the bone -- we (as well as Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner) never know where his loyalties lie. Like a true Gemini, Sparrow often switches sides. He is both good guy and bad guy.

An interesting conceit in Dead Man's Chest is that Sparrow's compass points its user to what he or she wants more than anything else in the world. However, the compass is not working for him. This makes sense: Gemini's attentions go in so many directions. Mercury has no "moral compass." Gemini explores the world without regard for right or wrong. Sagittarius, on the opposite side of the zodiac, rules morals and ethics.

Sparrow convinces Swann to use the compass to find the Dead Man's Chest -- she apparently wants it more than anything in the world, because getting the chest will get her to Will Turner. Later, the pirate attempts to seduce her, claiming that "curiosity" (a key Gemini word) about him and his lifestyle will win her over. She retorts that the compass does not work for him because he is dishonest -- if he were honest, he would know what he wants more than anything else in the world. She seems to be saying that he must not exist solely by his Mercurial nature if he is to get what he wants.

Swann seems to have more of a single-minded nature (Keira Knightley is an Aries), yet the power of the Gemini archetype does take hold of her. When the crew finds the island where the chest is buried, the compass temporarily points at Sparrow. In horror, Swann denies to herself that it is Sparrow she wants.

And later, when the Kracken is attacking the Black Pearl and Sparrow is rowing his boat to safety -- thus abandoning his crew -- he finally feels a conflict between saving himself and saving his ship and shipmates. Only then does the compass point him towards what he wants more than anything else in the world.

Sadly, it is after his return to the ship (and the Kracken's temporary retreat) that Swann (presumably in her rage at him for his duplicity, and at herself for her attraction) handcuffs him to his boat, leaving him to be devoured by the Kracken.

To be continued next summer...

Tags: Johnny Depp - Keira Knightley - Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest - Mercury - Gemini - astrology - movies

Johnny Depp profiles galore

Lynn Hayes has written an excellent profile of Mr. Depp.

I also have a long list of Depp astrology profiles under my del.icio.us tag. (And see what you can learn about me by looking at my tags!)

And don't forget my own essay on Johnny Depp as Mercury, which outlines all of its archetypal meanings, including the trickster, messenger, hermaphrodite and guide between worlds.

Superman: Aries or Gemini?

Michael WolfStar has an interesting blurb on Superman's natal chart, which includes an Aries Sun square Pluto, based on the release of Action Comics #1 on April 18, 1938, according to Bob Hughes. However, Samuel Reynolds writes about Superman as a Gemini presumably based on a different source which states Action Comics #1 was released June 1938. Wikipedia also states it was released in June, and has a picture of the cover to "prove" it.

WolfStar has some interesting data to back up the Aries chart, since George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, and Brandon Routh all have personal planets exactly aligned with Superman's Sun at 27 Aries.

Surely, Aries Sun square Pluto is an apt archeypal combination for a nearly invincible superhero, but Gemini also accounts for his multiple identities.

One point to consider is that comics and magazines frequently hit the newsstand a month before the cover date. For example, August 2006 monthly magazines are probably available now. So just because the cover of Superman says June, it does not mean that it could not have been released earlier, but 6 weeks earlier? However, the synchronicities pointed out by WolfStar are compelling.

The April 18 chart has Mars in Taurus tightly conjunct the South Node. This could mean that Superman falls back on his strength, but that it is not a source of growth for him to be a fighter. Green kryptonite, created from the remains of Superman's home planet, has a weakening effect on him. It is interesting to note that the South Node itself has a restrictive quality to it, and relates to one's past (where Superman came from?). Additionally, it is placed in Taurus, associated with the color green. And, it weakens his strength -- Mars.

Anybody want to take on his relationship with Lois Lane? April 18 Superman has Venus in Taurus conjunct Uranus, whereas June 1 Superman has Venus in Cancer square Saturn in Aries.

Tags: Superman - astrology

Venus-Pluto People

Venus in Gemini opposes Pluto this month, and the uber-archetypal-astrologer Bill Streett profiles Venus-Pluto natives Brian De Palma and Elizabeth Taylor in his most recent newsletter. (Scroll to the very bottom.)

Superman and Saturn in Leo

Just saw Superman Returns. I had a gmail chat Wednesday with my friend and Superman-fanatic Samuel Reynolds -- who has written about Superman as Gemini on AOL Horoscopes -- after he had seen it opening night. Samuel illuminated me about the heavy Saturnian nature of this film (spoilers ahead!). Having seen it myself, it is pretty evident:

Saturn is the archetype of the father. At the opening of the film, we hear Jor-El's voice advising his son, the only remaining survivor of Krypton. At the end, Superman advises his own five-year old son -- sound asleep in Lois Lane's house -- about the duty that will be passed on to him.

Saturn rules crystals and structures of all kind. Lex Luthor hatches a plot to throw a crystal from Superman's Arctic lair into the Atlantic, which will grow into a new continent, displacing much of North America, killing billions of people, and forcing millions of survivors to buy real estate from him on his new continent.

Saturn rules loneliness and separation. Superman, as much as he wants to be part of humanity, will forever be alien, never truly have a home.

Saturn rules death. Leo is ruled by the Sun, the hero archetype. At the end of the film, Superman nearly dies after bringing a gigantic crystalline structure suffused with Kryptonite into outer-space.

Leo is also the sign of romance, and sadly, Superman's dalliance with Lois Lane, after his 5-year hiatus, is unfulfilled, as she is engaged. Fortunately, Leo is also the child, to which Superman will be forever committed, if only from afar.

Superman - Saturn - Leo - astrology