Severus Snape is a Capricorn. That’s it, thank you, NEXT (jk, keep reading.)
(But maybe read this first: Astrology Introduction.)
Plugging in the information we know from canon (born: 9 January 1960 in Cokeworth, England), plus some time guesswork (or: me figuring out what time I needed to get Scorpio Ascendant), and this is what Severus' chart looks like:
Capricorn Sun, sure! And Capricorn Mercury. And Capricorn Saturn. Taurus moon, too; and Virgo Pluto. A lot of Earth in this chart. A lot of solid, grounded energy.
But that's not all! There is also a ton of Sagittarius there. Venus, Mars, and Jupiter! Plenty of fire there. A specific flavor of fire. Sagittarius is a bonfire, or a campfire. A place of fun and gathering; exploration and storytelling and wisdom. It is the torch held by a seasoned adventurer. Passionate and searching, is Sagittarius energy. And that energy is found in love & pleasure (Venus), sex and violence (Mars), fortune and expansion (Jupiter.)
Sadly, the spontaneity and creativity of fire clashes with the practicality and responsibility of earth. Lose the war and you have scorched earth -- a person burnt out and exhausted. Or you lose control there's a volcanic eruption; all the hot danger of fire, channeled through the cool efficiency of earth. How do you balance energy that is so at odds?
As someone just as earth-and-fire heavy as Snape, I can tell you, I have no clue.
But in all fairness, neither does he.
Our man clings to control; clings to it. The sun is our core, and his core is the goat: responsible, resourceful, steadfast, reserved, practical. Capricorns have a deep sense of personal excellence that they strive for. If they have high expectations of others, they have higher expectations of themselves.
So: control. Control of the self. Control of your life, and your future. And...control of your surroundings. Control of others, even. Capricorn isn't only his core, but his ego and his pride. If he can't stay in control, he at least wants to be perceived as controlled.
His sun is also in the second house: money, material possessions. The second house isn't greedy, but desiring of material goods for the sake of security. That is where he stands, at the core of him, is that need for stability.
Then you factor in his history. The abuse, the bullying, the unending trauma...He was built for control, and his circumstances in life have him clinging to it like a lifeline.
It isn't only his ego that is colored by Capricorn, but his means of receiving and expressing information (Mercury: communication, learning.) And Big Daddy Saturn himself, planet of Discipline, is domicile in Capricorn (meaning the energy of the sign works seamlessly alongside the nature of the planet.) Severus is a man of structure, within and without.
Then we look at the moon, exalted as she is in Taurus. Sensual, romantic, and nostalgic...so too is it steadfast and loyal. His heart was built for affection. To share, to receive.
Worse still, his moon is in the seventh house: the house of Relationships. At the heart of him, Severus yearns for connection. There is a deep seated need to have deep, meaningful relationships.
And think about it. The few relationships he has in canon are pretty deep, and pretty meaningful, if not necessarily in the ways he might want. Think of his friendship with Lily. Their friendship meant the world to him. He was so devoted to her. His whole heart was in her hands (whether you see it as platonic or romantic is up to you.)
Then: Voldemort. He promised his allegiance in exchange for...what, exactly? Respect, maybe. Prestige. But more than that, I think. Saturn in Capricorn is telling. That placement is about law and order in some ways, and prestige in others. It was the dual need for success and righteousness. He believed in the cause, truly believed, for a time. And by committing to the cause, he was part of a community. He was given responsibility, and respect. For a time, he must have thrived as a Death Eater.
After, when he realized how wrong he was, he recommitted himself. He turned away from crime and looked towards redemption. He did so by transferring his allegiance, his obedience, to another: Albus Dumbledore. And with all of the relentless, merciless, flagellating drive of earth he gave his all to the cause. For what was right (Sun, Saturn) and for love (moon, second house.)
And what is being a spy if not connection? Not the connection he sought, maybe; not the connection he needed. But Severus is a man of control and practicality. He clings onto what he has. And he makes due.
I hate to tell you it gets worse, but...it gets worse.
The fire, remember? The passion! The liveliness! The creativity! All caught in the chokehold of earth's iron grip. Control, remember? But you don't control fire. You let it rage on, or you kill it.
Look at where you see Sagittarius. In Venus, the planet of love and pleasure. Mars, the planet of action and desire. Not only just sex and romance, but joy and fun. There is a spark in his heart. A raging inferno. He is made for drama, for experience! He craves a bit of adventure. It's a sign for idealism and optimism! It sounds nice, yeah?
For a man like Severus, all it means is undying hope. He clings to faith as much as he clings to anything else. In the darkest of times, in the roughest of circumstances, it keeps him going.
It's there in Jupiter, too. The planet of fortune is domicile in Sagittarius. This joyful energy entwined so perfectly with the planet of luck.
It's a lucky placement, they say, Jupiter in Sagittarius. Perhaps it's what kept him alive, what helped him succeed. It kept the spirit chained to his body when it might have fled from weaker men. Was it lucky for him? Maybe. Was it happy? Not so much.
We must also look at his ascendant. The mask we wear, in some respects; our defense mechanism in others. It is reactive. It is what is perceived.
And what do you think when you think of Scorpio? Dark intensity. Deep obsession. Scorpio is a curiosity. It is seductive. It is dangerous. It is the drop of water in the desert of Severus' life. But as all matters of Severus Snape, it isn't fun or pretty. Not an array of color on the ocean's surface, nor the splashing of the waves. Scorpio is the bottom of the sea. Hidden, and out of reach.
More than that, the ascendant tells us our chart ruler. Severus' chart is ruled by Pluto: planet of death and transformation.
Death is transformation, when it comes to divination. Death is change. Death is the end. Usually the end of one matter to begin another. One door closed so that another might open.
Death means cutting away the rot. Or being torn away from what we love, for our own betterment.
Death is renewal. And who has been cast through the crucible time and again? Who has walked out of the fire, shaped into a new tool, a new weapon, more times than Severus Snape?
Severus' life has been ruled by death, the way his horoscope is ruled by Pluto. The death of his time in Cokeworth. The death of his friendship with Lily, then the death of Lily herself. The death of his ideals. The death of hope. Time spent among the Death Eaters, working with and against them. Death hanging over his head like a pendulum. Death defeated in the Shrieking Shack once, perhaps twice (if you're as hopeful as I am.)
Death changed him, time and again. And time and again, he was reborn in the ashes.
There are pieces of Severus' chart that look so pretty on the surface. Taurus Moon in the second house. Sagittarius Jupiter in the first. In better circumstances, it might have worked well for him. In another world, he might be a prestigious potions master, lauded for his many achievements, and the envy of his peers as he lives on in domestic bliss.
He was built for it, as surely as he was built for the rest.
Instead, all of his ingenuity and courage and drive were sacrificed on the altar of the greater good. He stepped up and met every challenge. And when life shoved him down, he stood back up and kept trudging on. Driven by expectation and by courage. Torn between control and passion. Haunted by Death.
Severus never had it easy. Not from the world. And not from himself.
Tomarry Synastry: Make Love, Not War (HP Astro # 18)
It might help to read Harry and Tom's respective horoscopes first, because we're about to dive into their synastry!
So...what what does synastry have to say about it? Are they starcrossed, or is this love story written in the stars?
Before we get into synastry proper, let’s take a brief moment to appreciate some of the smaller details. The fact that both were born on the 31st day of the month; not only the last day of the month, but the thirty-first exactly. Then think of the seasons: Tom, our “cold hearted” monster born in winter; Harry, our sweet summer child with a lion’s heart. There’s a certain feeling of symmetry here that appeals. And while I say this isn’t synastry (and truthfully, it isn’t), astrology itself is built as a language of symbols and connections and deeper meanings.
The birth times even (though in fairness, neither are canonical) tell a story. Tom born in the early hours of morning, when it’s still dark out. Harry midafternoon, when the sun is bright and shining. Darkness (morning) and coldness (winter); brightness (afternoon) and warmth (summer.) Tom born in the third (almost fourth) hour of morning; Harry in the third hour of the afternoon (though earlier in the hour.)
Of course, I’m sure you’re here looking for more than just the vibe (though a lot of astrology certainly is a vibe, at least the way I read it!)
So let’s take a look at the actual chart, shall we?
The most telling point of all is the ascendant: their ascendants are conjunct in Scorpio. Harry’s is at seventeen degrees and thirty-five minutes, Tom’s at seventeen degrees and fifty-nine minutes. Only twenty-four minutes of separation, not even a full degree apart! This is very, very close.
Conjunctions are very close relationships, very tied up in each other. The same energy in the same place mirrored back at each other. Ascendants represent how we react, and how we are perceived. It's first response, first impressions; immediacy.
There is ease in the conjunction, but it can be argued there is such a thing as too much ease. There is good and bad to all things, after all. Ease can lead to stagnation can lead to negativity, even destruction. Especially when you look at Scorpio energy. Scorpio is intense, dangerous. The sharp edge of a blade. The black of night where monsters lurk, and you can't see them. The water overtaking you when you swim out too deep.
Here, I think, we can look at the prophecy, at fate, and find it telling. Was it predestined, or was it Voldemort's decision? It's the whole free will argument that always accompanies talk of fate. But there was a prophecy, and it was fulfilled. And for all the darkness, for all the carnage, it would feel wrong to call it "easy." But wasn't it easy?
Why did Voldemort choose Harry over Neville? Because he saw himself in Harry; and in seeing himself, he saw danger.
And if the ascendant is first meetings, first impressions, when would we say their first meeting was? That fateful night in Godric's Hollow? At Hogwarts, from the back of Quirrell's head? The graveyard? Perhaps none of these were easy on the individuals themselves, but might we see that, perhaps, their enmity itself is easy? Natural? An exchange of energy, of hatred, of fear? Are they so alike that they clash?
Can we imagine where they would stand without the prophecy? (I imagine so, there are many an AU telling that story.) That dark, throbbing Scorpio energy meeting its match in one another.
Challenge accepted.
Of course, the ascendant tells us something more. Sharing a rising sign means they share a chart ruler. Both Harry and Tom are ruled by the same energy.
In classic astrology, Scorpio is ruled by Mars, planet of anger and aggression and sexuality. In modern rulership, Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, planet of death and transformation. I think we can easily see how both could be ruled by both planets. How deeply affected both were by war, and by death.
Tom was born between World War I and World War II, and lived to see WWII in action. Harry was born during the first Wizarding War. And both the First and Second Wizarding Wars were centered around Tom. One could argue Tom began the wars, and Harry ended them.
Then: Death. Merope died after birthing Tom. Lily died saving Harry. The death of their mother cosigned them to life among Muggles, unaware of their heritage. Both were awed by magic. Both found a home in Hogwarts. At Hogwarts, Tom would begin to kill, while Harry would continue to lose those who mattered to him. Tom caused many deaths, while Harry worked to prevent them. And Tom worked tirelessly to elude Death, to become the Master of Death; Harry succeeded in becoming Master of Death, though he hardly wanted it. Voldemort's followers were called the Death Eaters; Harry was called the Boy Who Lived.
But death in astrology is more than Death. Death means endings, renewal, and transformation. Regeneration. Both more or less "became" wizards (as they didn't know beforehand, and were estranged from the magical world.) Tom transformed into Voldemort. Harry transformed from a scrawny, abused boy to a famous hero. Voldemort made Harry his Horcrux (whether he intended to or not.) Voldemort gave Harry his destiny by choosing him as his foe. Voldemort was "resurrected" in the graveyard. Harry came back from King's Cross. He survived the Killing Curse not once, but twice. He was in possession of the Resurrection Stone.
Not only do they share a rising sign, and a ruling planet. For Harry and Tom it is more than that. They share a destiny. And, it could be argued, they share a soul.
Their rising signs aren't the only point of connection in their charts. Aspects, such as the conjunction, are the relationship between two planets, which makes it a big focus in looking at the relationship between two charts (or people.) Not all of them are major, but I will note that Harry and Tom have 37 "main" aspects in their chart (there are many, smaller aspects, but I only look at the big ones.) I won't explain them all, just the ones worth talking about, but I will list them all, if only to point out the scale (such as I did in Snarry Synastry 2: Love, and Other Aspects.)
I'll list Harry's planets first and Tom's second, for ease.
Conjunctions: arguably the strongest aspect. Like energies that amplify one another. Strong similarities.
Ascendant - Ascendant
Ascendant - Moon
Uranus - Ascendant
Moon - Uranus
Uranus - Moon
Mercury - Pluto
Neptune - Mercury
Oppositions: a deep, destabilizing relation. These points are reverse images of one another. Stimulating, competitive.
Sextiles: also harmonious; similar to a trine, but more stimulating.
Ascendant - Venus
Saturn - Moon
Uranus - Venus
Venus - Neptune
Pluto - Mercury
Jupiter - Pluto
Squares: stress, tension. Challenging, and compelling.
Mars - Sun
Sun - Mars
Moon - Mercury
Pluto - Venus
Mars - Pluto
Venus - Uranus
Saturn - Mercury
Uranus - Jupiter
Uranus - Neptune
Neptune - Uranus
Let's pause here for a few notes. Firstly, the number of "easy" aspects versus "difficult" aspects. 24 of these are the "easy" ones, and 13 the "difficult" ones. I also can't recall if I've seen so many conjunctions (7!) in a synastry chart before.
Most interesting to me are the amount of "flipped pairs"...I'm not sure how to explain this, but such as: Harry's Uranus squaring Tom's Neptune, and Tom's Neptune squaring Harry's Uranus. I don't know that I've seen so many of those either. And I won't lie and tell you I know what it means, because I don't, but I feel as though it must mean something. Even if it's not definable by astrological standards (though, again, I'm no expert, so it might just be outside of my personal studies.)
Look:
Moon conjunct Uranus
Uranus conjunct Moon
Mercury opposition Venus
Venus opposition Mercury
Mars square Sun
Sun square Mars
Uranus square Neptune
Neptune square Uranus
It's fascinating. There is obviously so much between them, and this makes it feel closer. The red string of fate pulled taut between them; or like a noose around their neck. There is so much symmetry to their story, and we can feel it, even if we don't always know what it means.
But let's return to the realm of what I do know: the next item of importance is their moons trining each other. Now that is a gorgeous aspect to have.
The moon represents emotions, comfort, subconscious, and instinct. When they trine, we see two people on the same wavelength emotionally. A trine (often) means the same element, the same energy expressed. Harry and Tom both have water moons, which shows emotional intensity and a fear of vulnerability. When they connect on an emotional level, it's easy. Harmonious, even. There is mutual understanding, a give and take, an easy-flow between them.
Tom's Scorpio moon reflects (as Stephen Arroyo terms it in Person to Person Astrology) "emotional extremism", and a struggle to hide or express emotions. The moon is in fall in Scorpio, meaning the moon's arena cannot run at full capacity with Scorpio energy. There is difficulty in the moon's domain. Difficulty with emotion. Scorpio is passionate, and has a need to connect emotionally and express their surging passions.
Harry's Pisces moon is generous, compassionate, and idealistic. There is a dreaminess to Pisces, and a drive towards escapism. It longs to connect to and heal others. And while Scorpio energy is one of hidden depths, Pisces is more head in the clouds. At least on the surface. Pisces looks to connect to the spirit and the universe; self-awareness and higher learning. The vibe of Pisces is transcendence, where Scorpio's is transformation.
As water signs, they are both curious and intuitive, and with an air of mystery. If Tom longs to share his passion, Harry is one who can see and accept it. The fire of Tom's heart won't burn Harry, but rather will invigorate him. And if Tom is initially unimpressed by Harry's placid demeanor, he is surprised to find those deep, dark layers he hides. They provide a challenge for one another, and can stimulate each other's desire for hunting and searching and learning.
A brief glance at some other points: staying on the moon, Harry's moon trining Tom's Saturn is an interesting aspect. This is an example of a trine out of element, with Harry's water (Pisces) moon and Tom's fire (Sagittarius) Saturn. There is balance here, with Tom's sense of power and wisdom taking the lead, supported by the security and comfort of Harry's heart. And it is Harry being Tom's safe space that allows Tom to grow, and reach new heights. (Moon here being emotional support and Saturn being discipline and ambition.)
Then we see Harry's Mercury in Cancer trining Tom's Moon in Scorpio. This shows open, easy communication on an emotional level. Being vulnerable with one another, and honest. For Tom this might mean opening up in ways he never has before, and learning (Mercury's ties to communication) more about himself and his feelings in sharing that side of him with Harry. Scorpio tries to hide, remember? As for Harry, Cancer's ties to the moon give a link to feelings of home, nurturing, comfort, and protection. Of course Harry's ways of expressing himself make Tom feel safe. Even if it takes them a while to get there.
Harry's Mercury also trines Tom's ascendant, implying a similar way of thinking and expressing themselves.
As for trickier aspects, we see both of their Suns and Marses squaring one another. Their differences could mean their downfall. In both cases we see men unsure of themselves (sun) being rubbed raw and wounded by the other's aggressive nature (Mars.) We do see them fearing one another's power. Voldemort attempted to kill Harry as a baby from that fear. And Harry himself was daunted by Voldemort's power, and his violent (and evil) actions.
Harry's Mars also squares Tom's Pluto. This means conflict. Big conflict. It feels like a fight for survival. For Harry (Mars) it is his independence, freedom, and sense of self; for Tom it is a matter of power, spirit, life and death. This is a brutal, primal conflict. With luck, the high spark of sexuality will batter down those walls and give them a place to mediate and find common ground.
There is so much between Harry and Tom. They are meant to be, however it plays out. Lovers, enemies, both. Foes fighting to the death. A conquerer and a prisoner, or a king and his consort. No matter the universe, or their circumstances, and wherever fate leads them, they can never be nothing to each other. They will always play a grand role in each other's lives; for better or for worse.
HOW ON EARTH DID I WRITE A WHOLE ASTROLOGY READING FOR HARRY FRIGGIN' POTTER AND I MISSED THE GRAND CROSS IN HIS DANG CHART???? WHAT IN THE UNHOLY HELL???? FRIGGIN' MUTABLE GRAND CROSS OH MY GOD. HELLO SOURCE OF EXTREME TENSION. HELLO. I MISSED YOU SOMEHOW. IN THE MESS THAT IS THIS BOY'S LIFE.
Ahem.
So. Apologies for screaming. It was that or putting my head through a wall. But anyway. So...do you see the giant red square in the below image?
THAT is a Grand Cross. And Grand Crosses are...yikes.
Grand Crosses are made up of 2 oppositions and 4 squares. So...basically it's entirely made up of very tense aspects. (You can skip to the section titled "Getting to the Point" to bypass a bunch of technical nonsense.)
Technical Mumbo Jumbo
Oppositions are signs that are in the same polarity, the same modality, but different elements. So...the fixed earth sign and the fixed water sign are in opposition, the cardinal fire sign and the cardinal air sign are in opposition, and so on. On the circle they're opposite each other. You can think of oppositions as being either a tug of war or a balancing act. There is a lot of good potential, yes, but generally it's potential reached after a lot of work. I like to think of oppositions as being too similar and too different at once. Therein likes the tension.
Squares are signs that are ninety degrees apart. Opposite polarities, but the same modality. The mutable air and fire signs will square the mutable water and earth signs, and so on. Generally, you will see the signs in the same polarity having more chemistry and compatibility (i.e. fire & air, earth & water), so it's a somewhat different struggle from an opposition. Prone to conflict, squares.
The Placements
In Harry's chart we see...a lot going on.
Saturn: Virgo at 24 degrees and (rounded up to) 1 minute
Venus: Gemini at 25 degrees and 36 minutes
Moon: Pisces at 29 degrees and 34 minutes
Neptune: Sagittarius at 20 degrees and 9 minutes
I mention the minutes because Harry nearly had a Grand Trine, too, and it took me too long to check the minutes and seconds haha. I should have considering if there was a Grand Trine, it would be barely. Similarly to how the Moon and Neptune are pushing on that 10 degree orb.
The Aspects
Virgo Saturn opposition Pisces Moon (5 degrees out)
Gemini Venus opposition Sagittarius Neptune (5 degrees out)
All are in the mutable modality. Mutable signs are changeable, malleable, adaptable, flexible. The mutable signs mark the end of a season, and thus: change. Gemini marks the end of spring, Virgo marks the end of summer, Sagittarius marks the end of fall, and Pisces marks the end of winter.
Getting to the Point
Basically...our boy has...challenges.
Face, meet palm.
There are a lot of areas of stress and tension. Grand Crosses are grand challenges for the native to overcome. They can build strong characters, but great character doesn't come without a price.
Looking at the planets involved, we see great sources of stress in his emotions and subconscious (moon), his relationships and interests (Venus), feelings of responsibility and morality (Saturn), and his ideals and dreams (Neptune.)
Think about it. Harry has a great destiny! He has a responsibility to the world (Saturn), and to stand by his principles (Saturn), but it isn't his great dream to play hero (Neptune.) In fact, the Sagittarius Neptune gives a sense of wanting to roam and be free, but he is shackled to his fate.
Then look to the moon and Venus. Difficulty between his emotional needs and his relational needs. Specifically there is a great inner need for love and affection. There is a great emotional and comfort value in being loved. Which is a big ouch on a good day but a bigger ouch when you can see why this might be. He grew up without any love or affection at all. (I will not elaborate because my eyes are already watering.) There is a tendency to jump too quickly into making connections. Which, think about it...while Ron ended up being a great friend, they were joined at the hip pretty much from the get go.
Moon and Neptune squaring is a sense of getting lost in dreams. ("It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.") Pinning too much of an emotional stake on hopes and beliefs. A strong emotional connection to one's ideals. This can indicate unrealistic goals, dreams that stay out of reach, being disenchanted by reality. I can imagine Harry dealt with a lot of this quite young and probably found himself crashing back to earth time and again by those relentless, merciless Dursleys. But there is a very strong, powerful sense of idealism here, not only for the aspects, but the sign placements. Sagittarius is all about philosophy, and Pisces is all about higher power and spirituality. Both are very idealistic signs. Sagittarius searches for wisdom in experience and connection and adventure. Pisces has a deep inner wisdom born of intuition and empathy, and a sense of what is beyond. (Pisces as the oldest sign of the zodiac, closest to the next life, and connect that to Harry as Master of Death.)
Saturn and Venus?? Yikes. This indicates an issue in giving and/or receiving love. (I'm not crying, you're crying.) Blockages in relationships. A need to learn to love oneself and find self worth before getting involved with others, lest they end up in very miserable relationships. This can indicate awkwardness in social scenarios, and a great fear of rejection. There can be a sense of needing to "earn" love and affection. This can also look quite serious, and an inability to let loose and have fun. For Harry, this can indicate earlier life, when he wasn't really allowed to be happy or have fun. Then, later on, while there is probably more room for pleasure at Hogwarts, this is sort of hindered by his sense of duty when it comes to the war.
Moon opposition Saturn...actually, let's do that one last.
Venus opposition Neptune can indicate romantic delusions. A very romantic nature, in love with being in love, a sort of blurry sense of love. Might have imbalanced expectations of relationships; standards too high or too low. Back to that issue of big ideals and disenchantment. This sort of feeds into an ongoing headcanon I have of Harry and how he goes towards the life he thinks he should have and doesn't really question it. And how he might try to replicate the life his parents missed out on, without really fully understanding what it is he actually wants and needs. Think of his awkward "crush" on Cho, and then Ginny (the Lily Replacement.) The Epilogue is more or less what Harry thinks he should aim for, where he and Ginny become James and Lily and live that picture perfect, white picket fence, happily ever after. But his Venus is in Gemini; Gemini is too playful and charming and variable by nature. Harry realistically needs more of a challenge and more intrigue in his romantic life.
Now let's look at the Moon and Saturn. I realized I had to save them for last because it occurred to me...The Moon represents the Mother, and Saturn represents the Father. Moon opposition Saturn.
This aspect indicates fear and rigidity. Trust issues. Difficulty in receiving care from others. You know...which might happen when one was never properly nurtured in their formative years. This can indicate having had "conditions" placed on love (or even basic care) growing up, and how that colors their perception of love. There is a sense of growing up too quickly. And a sense of there being a very fragile inner soul that others don't see for the outer appearance of independence and capability. Might even be a full suppression of those emotional needs. So even Harry might not see just how fragile he really is inside.
Then you pit this very critical, perfectionistic (Virgo) sense of duty and morality (Saturn) against a very whimsical, romantic (Pisces) sense of emotions and comfort (moon.) That is a very hard jab to a very soft place. And that rigid, disciplined Saturn forms the outer shell around that gooey, wounded Moon.
I find this most interesting with the Mother/Father connection. Oppositions are a very challenging, "hard" aspect and often imply an imbalance. And there is much one can learn and grow from with this opposition, however, it's especially hard to find appreciation in this one, when I can't ignore the connection it must have to Lily and James.
Moon as Mother as Lily. Saturn as Father as James. Parents dead, family torn apart, and their loss landed him in the Dursleys' dubious care. And it is their neglect and downright abuse behind that fierce independence, those emotional wounds, that inability to let others care for him. (He has to do it all alone, it's all on him it's his responsibility, etc.)
Then they're all in mutable signs, and mutable signs represent change. Change from one season into the next. One era of life into the next. Rolling with life's punches.
Gemini is playful, charming, curious, variable. Virgo is adaptable, skilled, practical, resourceful. Sagittarius values freedom and adventure and wisdom. Pisces is whimsical and dreamy and looking beyond, into the next life. There is a restless sense to mutable signs, and resourcefulness. Virgo's need to find security through purpose and perfection. Pisces' fear of vulnerability leads to escapism. Sagittarius' yearning to learn and grow by stretching its wings. Gemini's need to try new things and meet new people and need for stimulation.
There is a sense in the mutable Grand Cross that life has beaten one down and put them through the ringer again and again, until the native was molded into someone who can tackle any and every problem. But what happens when there is no challenge left? Restlessness, remember?
And what happens to Harry when the war is won? When there are no more battles to fight?
Anyway yeah hello welcome to my Big Tender Feelings about Harry James Potter, my precious baby angel.
You can read more about Harry's astrology here. And if you're so inclined you can support my nonsense on Ko-fi.
HP Astro # 23: Snack (or Snirius) A Fine Line Between Love and Hate
In the unholy name of the lord, what the ever-loving heck is this????
Okay, so it's a synastry chart. For Sirius Black and Severus Snape. But also...what??? Is happening??? Are they...compatible, actually??? As @ashesandhackles kindly reminded me: "They are intentional narrative parallels with many traits in common between them" so like I guess.
No ship shaming ever, but there are a handful of ships that, while I can see the appeal of on paper, they just never clicked in me. Snack is one of them. I always thought "okay enemies with benefits, but beyond that??? Pffff." To me, it seemed like there is too much mutual loathing to move past. And far too much history.
It does help to remember that "there's a fine line between love and hate" and also: "all's fair in love and war." So now I'm going to deep dive and see why two men with so many arguably harmonious aspects ended up such vehement adversaries. And what, if anything, can rectify what went wrong?
Part 1: Aspects
Now, when I say "harmonious aspects", what does that mean? In astrology, aspects are the relationship between planets. Every planet falls within a degree and minute of a sign; and planets within a certain number of degrees from one another form angles, or aspects.
General compatibility works on the concept of "sign-based aspects", meaning that water + earth get along, and fire + air get along. Water + water = trine, water + earth = sextile. Water nourishes earth, air feeds fire. But water + fire?? Not the best idea, right?
But proper aspects are forming those angles, usually within what we call an "orb." You generally have an orb of within 10 degrees, so aspects don't have to be exact to form aspects, but they do have to be close.
And obviously, when it comes to relationships, the relationship between your planets will be very important. And looking at Sirius's and Severus' charts, they have 33 aspects. I'll break down what this looks like, though this is more to give you an idea of their points of connection. I'll later go into a bit more detail about important and interesting points.
Oppositions: just what it sounds like. Planets opposite one another. Oddly, they have no oppositions in their synastry. Oppositions are generally thought to be unharmonious, but to me I think of it as being more intense "love or hate" potential.
Squares: unharmonious aspect. These are planets 90 degrees from one another. Squares are always in the same mode (cardinal, fixed, or mutable.) Squares create tension and conflict. (Aspects will all be listed with Severus' first and Sirius' second.)
Sun square Ascendant
Mars square Venus
Venus square Pluto
Ascendant square Uranus
Moon square Uranus
Jupiter square Venus
Pluto square Mercury
Pluto square Jupiter
Trines: harmonious aspect. Planets 120 degrees apart. Generally in the same sign. This gives a vibe of synchronicity. Water understands water, fire understands fire.
Sun trine Venus
Moon trine Venus
Mars trine Ascendant
Jupiter trine Ascendant
Uranus trine Ascendant
Uranus trine Moon
Mercury trine Pluto
Mars trine Uranus
Jupiter trine Uranus
Saturn trine Pluto
Pluto trine Saturn
Sextile: harmonious aspect. 60 degrees apart. In compatible elements (water + earth, fire + air.) Where trines are about similarities, sextile is more about being complementary. And can be argued to be a better connection, being both harmonious, but also offering a bit of spice with their differences.
Ascendant sextile Venus
Mercury sextile Sun
Pluto sextile Mars
Mercury sextile Mars
Saturn sextile Sun
Saturn sextile Mars
Mercury sextile Neptune
Saturn sextile Neptune
Conjunction: harmonious. Planets within 0 degrees of one another. Same sign. Very similar, but arguably too similar.
Mercury conjunct Saturn
Venus conjunct Mercury
Venus conjunct Jupiter
Jupiter conjunct Moon
Neptune conjunct Sun
Neptune conjunct Mars
Which gives us 8 unharmonious aspects and 25 harmonious. Which, at first glance, really shocked me! There's so much hatred between them. Why, when there should be so much connection?
This brings us to a key difference between modern astrology and ancient astrology. Ancient astrology had a big focus on benefic and malefic points in a chart. It was a very good/bad, black/white ideology. Whereas modern astrology looks at "ease vs struggle" and the pros and cons of both. So while there this is immediate sense of "harmonious is good", we have to remember the weaknesses there. Harmony can lead to boredom, stagnation, complacency. So, when I thought about it for more than two seconds, it started to make a bit more sense.
Arguably the most powerful point of connection we see is an unharmonious one: Severus' Sun squaring Sirius' ascendant. Severus' sense of self and core identity at odds with Sirius' outward nature. That innermost core of him getting its hackles up at what he sees of Sirius at first glance. The arrogance and reckless nature of Aries Rising pitted against Severus' very stable, responsible Capricorn Sun.
We also see Severus' Mars (aggression and sexuality) squaring Sirius' Venus (love and pleasure.) You see this really hot, vibrant sense of attraction, but the needs of those planets struggle to align. Sagittarius Mars (Severus) is driven by purpose, a need to travel and be free, to philosophize, to be creative. He is driven by fiery passionate purpose. Whereas Virgo Venus (Sirius) is about structure and routine and organization. Sagittarius Mars wants adventure. Virgo Venus is acts of service, and a bit more subtle and grounded.
However, Sirius' Virgo Venus has happier connections to Severus' Capricorn Sun (trine), Scorpio Rising (sextile), and Taurus Moon (trine.) So the sense of who Severus is (at his core) is quite ambitious and purposed and grounded. That same earthy reliability as Virgo. Then we see his Taurus Moon (moon, being the center of emotion) in sensual, romantic Taurus. Taurus, an earth sign, just as focused on security as Virgo. And Scorpio Rising, Severus' outer nature, in mysterious and intuitive Scorpio. More reserved and inner-focused, like Virgo. And perceptive, able to sense those Virgoan needs.
Next up: Severus' Sagittarius Mars trines Sirius' Aries Rising. This gives a sense of mutual interests. Mars being drive and action, rising being outward focus and appearance. Both very outer focused. Mars rules action, rising rules reaction. Both in fiery signs. That similar passion and creativity and energy.
On a similar vein we see Severus' Capricorn Mercury sextile Sirius' Scorpio Sun. Another area of mutual interest, but also more importantly of understanding. Mercury is knowledge and communication. There's this idea of being able to share and express ideas, and ability to cooperate. Because Severus can see and meet Sirius at the core of who he is.
So there is a great potential here. All of those sextiles and trines can be heaven! Even the conjunctions could be, but I think the conjunctions might be spelling trouble.
So let's break it down a little more. Severus' Mercury (learning, communication) conjunct Sirius' Saturn (discipline, responsibility) in Capricorn. This is the most dire one, I think. Mercury is learning. Saturn is life lessons. So...let me ask you: does learning life lessons sound fun to you? (Makes me cringe, personally, but y'know.) There is also this sense of, Mercury's aim is to learn, so perhaps Mercury seeks to learn from Saturn, and perhaps gets more than it bargained for (i.e. Saturn being the taskmaster.)
We also see Jupiter (Severus) conjunct Moon (Sirius) in Sagittarius. Jupiter rules expansion and excess, while the Moon rules emotion and the subconscious. There is a sense of optimism to Jupiter, but also wisdom, and the idea of Jupiter being able to enlighten the Moon. This can result in the Moon's emotional range broadening.
So, this can be great if it unfolds smoothly. Both can help each other learn and grow. With Mercury (Severus) it is the sense of wanting to learn, whereas with the Moon (Sirius) there is this level of vulnerability and feeling comforted and healed. Then we see the bigger, broader planets playing the role of "teacher" or "guru." Jupiter (Severus) being fortune and expansion; a great sharing and abundance. Saturn (Sirius) is about teaching and being shaped by life and the ordeals we overcome. Both play the role of "student" and "teacher" for each other, in different areas and in different ways.
This also, as you can imagine, creates a sense of imbalance. Between Mercury and Saturn, there is a sense of Mercury needing to gain Saturn's respect. And, if I could hazard a guess, Saturn being "above" Mercury in the realm of morality (which Saturn governs.) While Jupiter might feel "above" the Moon, in being more enlightened and wise. Saturn's is an arrogance of the body and rule of law. Jupiter is a sense of arrogance by way of mind and spirit (philosophy, spirituality.)
So if you have that sameness of energy (Capricorn and Sagittarius) but in areas that might be argued as being at different levels (smaller planets like Mercury and the Moon versus larger planets like Jupiter and Saturn), well...of course there's that potential to be at odds and rub each other the wrong way. Especially if you're seeing parts of yourself in the worst light, in how it's expressed by another person.
Part 2: Houses
Another thing we can look at is where each of their planets falls into the other's houses. I won't go through each one, but I did see a few worth noting. The most telling of all, in my opinion, are Severus' Chiron in Sirius' Eleventh House, and Sirius' Mars in Severus' Twelfth House. But first I'll hit the high notes on a few other points.
Sirius' Moon (emotions) are in Severus' First House (House of Self); and the reverse is also true, with Severus' moon being in Sirius' First House. This sort of implies a sense of ease, caring, acceptance. This could be good potential, I think, at being able to really have a place to come together and connect once they break through other barriers.
Severus' Sun (ego, core) in Sirius' Tenth House (House of Status), which leads to Severus seeing Sirius as having some sense of authority (whether he's conscious of it or not.) This seems odd, but you can see it perhaps by way of their enmity. Sirius is in a position of power. Wealthy pureblood versus the poor half-blood? C'mon. Sirius is handsome and popular and backed by his ever-loyal friends. Severus does not fit society's ideals of beauty, and he's far from charming or well-liked. So there is this very overt sense of Sirius is above him, but more by real-life application than moon-eyed subservience. There is also the implication of the Sun Person (Severus) giving creed to what the Tenth House Person (Sirius) says, and can be very detrimental if we see it as all of Sirius' insults and jibes really sinking into Severus' head, so that he fully believes all of the nasty things Sirius says about him. And you really see Severus' self (sun) pitted against Sirius in the arena of Sirius' public image and reputation, his house of status and success. This could shift into a happier vibe if worked on, but as it stands...Not such a fun place to be.
Weirdly enough, Sirius' Venus (love, pleasure) is in Severus' Tenth House. Sirius sees Severus as someone who can help him attain his goals. If we look at their history at Hogwarts, we can see this at its worst, as Sirius using Severus to boost his own image. If we imagine his bullying makes him top dog and if Severus is meant to be a lesson to others. Or if others hate Severus so much they enjoy seeing him taken down a peg. (This is, of course, speculation.) It does sort of imply happier tidings later on, if they work on things, and an ability to work well together.
Meanwhile, Severus' Venus is in Sirius' Eighth House (House of SEX.) (Yep. House of Sex. Also House of Taboos, Secrets, and Death.) This is really friggin' intense. This sort of shows Severus (where he feels love) is captivated by Sirius (in the realms of sex and secrets.) Sirius gives Severus this sense of being able to experience all forms of deep and dark pleasures. And Sirius knows this and feels empowered by it. But however arrogant this might make him, this placement it mutually impactful. Venus rules love, yes, but the Eighth House reveals a need for deeply intimate connections. The Eighth House rules all manner of intensities from death to transformation to secrets and taboos. This is deeply personal and vulnerable. This suggests a highly sexual charge between them (whether they surrender to it or not) that is extremely emotionally meaningful to them both, and very transformative for them both. Neither gets away unscathed.
And here we can maybe see seeds of the problem. Between Sirius' sense of power over Severus (in a conscious way) and perhaps unconsciously aware of how much of a threat it could be for him to give in. This very high level of sexual tension, that might drive both a bit batty if left unresolved. And if Sirius is aware of how explosive this relationship could be, perhaps part of it is fear, and so he pulls back, and actively pushes Severus away? And that level of fear is quite dangerous in the Eighth House. House of Death, remember? (Near death experience, anyone?) (You know...the Shrieking Shack, maybe??)
Two left I want to examine.
Next we see Severus' Chiron (old wounds) in Sirius' Eleventh House (House of Friendship.) Chiron represents what hurt us early on in our lives, and how we heal. The Eleventh House further covers organizations and community. The more positive spin in modern astrology makes this placement seem happy enough. How mutually beneficial it is for Chiron (Severus) to help Eleven (Sirius) overcome through social networks. And how Eleven (Sirius) helps Chiron (Severus) heal through encouraging them to take part of something bigger than themselves.
But if you get to the root of it, and hold it up against their past. Can't we maybe see how...Severus' Chiron (in Aquarius, which makes his the Wound of Belonging) was if not created, but further damaged by Sirius & co?
Severus left a very traumatic upbringing for Hogwarts, which was meant to be the land of hope, only for hope to be dashed almost immediately by Sirius and James. And he would spend years being tormented by the Marauders at Hogwarts. Torment/trauma = wounds = Chiron. The Eleventh House = Friendship = the Marauders. There is potential here, yes. Potential for good, yeah. But this also shows how every area has it's good and bad. I literally cannot see Severus' Chiron in Sirius' Eleventh House and not see how horribly wounded he was by the Marauders, and particularly Sirius.
We'll round out this section with my favorite part, which is arguably the worst part: Sirius' Mars in Severus' Twelfth House. Mars, planet of action and drive. Twelfth House: the House of the Unseen Realm.
(As someone whose moon and Chiron are both in the Twelfth House, let me tell you...ancient astrologers went a bit too hard with this good/bad nonsense but they had it right with Twelve: this House is Actual Hell.) (Not to be dramatic or anything.)
The Twelfth House governs the following: fantasies, hidden desires, dreams, nightmares, fears, secrets, shadows, sorrow, karma, endings, surrender, and invisible enemies. All things that exist without physical form. All things awful and horrible, please help. It is also called The House of Self-Undoing, and The House of Reckoning.
This indicates passionate and secret love affairs. There is a strong sexual desire, and deep need to explore each other's inner depths, and explore each other's secrets. Secrets such as hidden desires, and fears, both of which could be used against you. Mars represents drive and aggression. There is a high level of conflict potential, and potential for misunderstandings.
So we really see the crux of all issues here, I think. Sirius' Mars (domicile in Scorpio btw, so his Mars is like...boosted) is assertive and challenging and barging in and trampling over all these very deep, vulnerable parts of Severus. All that hurts him and haunts him. Sirius pokes and prods at it (intentional or not.) In its best light we can see it as curiosity and adventure that makes Sirius a bit reckless, and Severus perhaps lashing out because Sirius is awakening and harming sensitive areas.
There is potential benefit here, in Sirius being able to help Severus understand himself better, and help shed light on all those shadows, and help him explore them safely. They have a lot of baggage and history to wade through first, but they are more or less built for this. There is so much potential between them that, while they perhaps ran rampant and broke pieces of each other along the way, they still have the ability to conquer that and help each other grow and feel connected once they move past it all and work together.
Part III: Chart Ruler
I want to end with my personal favorite subject, and one I found very fascinating here.
The Rising sign determines the chart ruler.
Sirius has Aries Rising. Aries is ruled by Mars. Mars is the chart ruler.
Severus has Scorpio Rising. Scorpio is ruled (modernly by Pluto, but traditionally) by Mars. Mars is the chart ruler.
Both of them share a chart ruler. But both of them got that ruler by different means.
Both of their ascendants are colored by that Martian rulership. Mars (again) being aggression, action, drive, and sexuality. For Sirius this is Aries, the cardinal (forward moving) fire sign (energy, spirit.) For Severus, this is Scorpio, the fixed (stubborn) water sign (emotion, intuition.) In war, Sirius is the warrior, and Severus is the spymaster. Bold brash Aries. Subtle, dangerous Scorpio.
And where is Sirius' Mars? In Scorpio. Where it is domicile. They're too far apart to be conjunct, but Sirius' chart ruler is domicile in Scorpio, and Severus' ascendant is also Scorpio (ruled by Mars.) I'm not quite sure what it means exactly, but there's a vibe there, imo.
Then Severus' Mars is in Sagittarius, a fire sign. A fire planet in a fire sign, it works. But then also: Severus' Mars trines Sirius' ascendant! Severus' fiery Mars finding common ground with Sirius' fiery ascendant.
Fire is quite passionate and water quite intense, so there's a lot of energy and emotion running rampant here. In the way they express themselves and interact with each other. There's a spark there for sure and it's intriguing to see that very bold Martial energy shared between them, albeit in different ways.
If you like, you can explore their individual horoscopes: Severus | Sirius
Then: look at the confusing pretty chart and read on!
Sirius Black. Birthdate: 3 November 1959. Birth place: probably London. Birth time: my best guess.
Right off the bat, I find this deeply fascinating. Big Three: Scorpio Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Aries Rising. All of the depth and intensity of water, and the passion and aggression of fire. Ruled by Mars: God of War, Planet of Action and Desire. He's magnetic. He's a mess.
Let's take a closer look.
First, we see the Sun, the self, in Scorpio. Secretive, intense. Controlled, possessive. Sirius is the Scorpion: a hard outer shell protecting soft inner meat; deadly when on the attack. His Sun is also in the Seventh House, the House of Relationships. Meaningful connections to others are vital to him. (Think: his dedication to his friends, the Marauders.)
Sun in the Seventh shows how we learn about ourselves by relating to others. Then think: what are the first relationships we have in life? Our family. Sirius' family means the Blacks. Blood purists. Dysfunctional. Familial obligation, the expectations as heir.
Pause. Look to the moon. Sagittarius moon needs freedom, and space. It craves independence, and expansion...Movement and travel, both in the world, and within the self. His moon is in the 8th house: House of Intimacy, and Secrets. Sirius' moon needs travel (Sagittarius) and transformation (8th house.) He needs room to stretch and grow (Sagittarius) but also security (8th house.)
The 8th house is a dark, quiet room; safety or prison. Sagittarius optimistic and cheerful; a light in the darkness. Warmth in the cold.
If we don't know much about Orion and Walburga Black, we at least know they weren't meeting Sirius' needs. Strict and demanding at best, neglectful and abusive at worst. Their hate and vitriol staked a claim in Sirius, whether he knew it or not, whether it was the way his parents wanted or not.
The dark side of humanity is what Scorpio sees and connects to; the same can be said of the 8th house. Both his sun and moon have some connection to all things secret, and hidden, and dark, and dangerous. There is a core part of him (sun) touched by that darkness, and his sensitive soul (moon) mirrors the darkness around him. The subtle digs of polite society don't go unnoticed by Sirius. He's drawn to dark corners, raging fires, drops of blood.
The cold distance of his family does not fulfill his Seventh House need for connection. The chokehold of their expectation is a cage his Sagittarian heart rails against. And so he rebels. Muggle girls and motorcycles. Gryffindor and Marauders. The Order of the Phoenix.
Family connections showed Sirius a side of himself he didn't want. He found true identity, and true partnership, among his friends. The core need for relationships met. The opportunity to explore more of the world, more of people, and more of himself satisfied a deep emotional yearning that had never rested easy until then.
The final of the Big Three, the Rising sign, is the most telling. Aries is on the Ascendant. The sign rising is how we are perceived by others, and how we react. Aries is brash and bold. Sirius is loud. A bright, shining star. Sirius was named for the brightest star in the night sky. It is only fitting he would be one himself.
Aries is the youngest of the signs, and thus childlike: over-honest and excitable. Aries is also the warrior: motivated and competitive. From a child wrestling on the playground, to a man marching to war. That is Arien energy, and Sirius exudes this. So bright is his fire, you don't see the danger or the darkness lurking within.
This Aries demeanor is likely what connected Sirius to James Potter. James was an Aries sun. Aries Sun and Aries Rising -- the two of them got along like a house on fire, as the saying goes. Together, they were warm and colorful, drawing others to them.
They were also fierce, and combative; charm turned to a curse aimed at foes.
For Aries is ruled by Mars. And Mars is Sirius' chart ruler.
It only gets more interesting from here. Sirius' Mars is in Scorpio, in the Seventh House, conjunct his Sun. Conjunction are where energies blend: the core of his self entertained with his center for action, aggression, and sex. Sun conjunct Mars is confrontational, combative, competitive. This is high energy and brute force. Running ahead without a plan. Gut reaction, rather than rational thought.
This is also a placement for challenge. Mars in Scorpio is about challenging the self; in the Seventh House is a desire for being challenged in relationships. Mars in Scorpio means endurance. Mars in the Seventh means assertiveness, be it exercising his own assertiveness, or having others' assert themselves over him. With Sirius, I don't think he minds either way, as long as he can give his all and receive their all in turn.
Sirius' Mars placement speaks to an attraction to the taboo. Think his rebellion against his parents. This walks hand in hand with his 8th House moon, at home amongst all things hidden and secret. His Mars is provocative; seductive and appalling at once.
Better yet: for all that Mars rules Aries, it also rules Scorpio. Mars is domicile in Scorpio. Meaning Mars' functions work seamlessly and powerfully fueled by Scorpionic energy. Mars is boosted by being not only the chart ruler (which plays a prominent role in the native), but also by being domicile. Not only that, but conjunct the sun, the center of the self? Sirius is a powerhouse of Scorpio energy.
Which brings us to the final point on Mars. Its ties to enemies, and the war.
Sirius has two big planets in the Seventh House. But the Seventh House isn't only partnership. It is also the House of Open Enemies. Hand in hand with Mars, which represents war. Mars is action, aggression and anger.
Sirius was a born fighter. He was raised on the purity of his blood and the poison his parents spewed. He fought against the gilded cage they trapped him in. The Black family bred true. Sirius is one of them, however hard he fought against them. He met a likeminded warrior in James Potter, and together they joined the House of the Brave.
They saw themselves as paragons of what was good and true. And they set their sights on evil. Severus Snape made a good target for them. He was a Slytherin. Sirius was meant to be Slytherin. His whole family were Slytherins. Severus was ugly, and crude, and had an eye for dark curses. James and Sirius were young and overzealous. They called Severus enemy, and they raised Hell against him; did they ever stop to see that Severus was really their victim?
Fire (Aries, Sagittarius) is impulse, water (Scorpio) is intuition. Why stop and think when you know? Or think you know.
Sirius defines himself by his relationships. He is himself only because of what he learns from others. How he compares himself to others. He saw a Black in the mirror, and he turned away. He saw a Gryffindor in James Potter, and he followed his lead. He called himself defender against slimy Slytherins like Severus Snape. He called himself a solider; a member of the Order, fighting against Death Eaters.
More than anything, he was a Marauder at heart. The Marauders were a team. They were closer than brothers. He was Padfoot, more than he was Sirius Black. Sirius, the Marauder. He prided himself on his loyalty. He was devoted to his friends. Where would he be without them? Who would he be?
Seventh House: Open Enemies; Mars: God of War. Sirius stepped up to the plate, eager to prove himself.
And he lost it all.
But we'll return to that at the end.
We'd be remiss not to look at the other 2 inner planets. Mercury in Sagittarius. Sirius is direct and honest. Not one to beat around the bush. Open minded, forward thinking. Sirius has grand ideas, and he aims for the stars, but often without a plan, without anything to cushion his fall. Rushing recklessly forward. Spouting his thoughts without tact or care. Led by his principles, Sirius relies on faith that the right path will sort out all wrongs. Why mind the wreckage you leave behind, when you should be looking at Utopia ahead of you?
Then there is Venus, planet of love and pleasure, in Virgo, the sign of practicality and perfectionism. In the Sixth House, the House of Service and Health. For all of the wildness in Sirius, when it comes to romance and leisure he is...tame.
This seemed strange at first glance, but looking deeper...Think of all the theatrics and turmoil of every other aspect of his life. Look at those Seventh House needs, his core need for partnership. The Eighth House desire for intimacy and emotional security. When it comes to love...when Sirius finds the one...it is sacred. Love is worth slowing down for. Love is worth thoughtfulness.
In this area, when Sirius finds what he's looking for, when he finds what he needs, he seeks to meet their needs in turn. In quiet, everyday ways. Working every day to serve the one he loves. Foot massages over flowers. Homemade meals over fancy restaurants. The work of his hands to prove his devotion.
In his own way, isn't that the grandest gesture of all?
Sadly, his Venus squares his moon; an uneasy relation between the two areas. This aspect values harmony and affection at a cost. For those important to him, Sirius will compromise. And compromise can lead to resentment. His moon (emotions) and Venus (relationships) are at cross-purposes. His emotional needs rely on freedom and creativity. His relationship needs require security and dedication. These issues could be hard to reconcile, especially when he's younger. Too naive and immature to figure out what the issue is. Here, Sirius thinks he knows what he needs, but he doesn't. Not really.
And does he ever have a chance to find what he needs?
If canon is to believed...no.
There is one point left to look at to finish our story: Chiron. Where Chiron is shows where we are wounded, and how we are healed. For Sirius, this is Aquarius in the Eleventh House. Both Aquarius and the Eleventh House point to others. Aquarius represents individuality, expression, and connection to others. Eleventh House is the House of Friendship, of Community, of Shared Goals.
Sirius' core wound is here. Look back to where he came from. The Black Family, who he pulled away from. His name blasted off of the family tapestry. According to society, if we belong anywhere, it is with our family. But Sirius was the black sheep of the Black Family. The disconnect from others began early.
All the harder to stomach when you remember his core need for connection.
Chiron in Aquarius means disappointment in the self, and self-desctruction (wound on individuality); it means disconnect from the collective, not fitting in (wound on expression and connection.) But with Chiron, one must face their pain to heal. To heal, Sirius must rely on others and become involved. You face the fear to conquer it, yes?
Sirius left home and threw himself into the collective at Hogwarts. He latched onto the Marauders (11th house: Friendship.) He zealously joined the Order (11th House: Organization.) He fought in the First War (11th House: Shared Goals.)
Chiron is the Healer. So why was the wound reopened?
In one fell swoop, Sirius lost everything that mattered. He lost the people closest to him (7th House.) He lost his freedom (Sagittarius.) The innermost needs of his heart and spirit were ripped away from him. He lost his identity, or very nearly. What the war didn't take, Azkaban did. Aries' power, Scorpio's intensity, Sagittarius' passion all fizzled out. All extraneous bits and bobs gone to the abyss, and only the core of Sirius remained, and all thanks to Padfoot.
At his core, Sirius is the Scorpion. And Scorpio represents regeneration. Death and rebirth. Scorpio is about endurance and survival. His 8th House moon thrives along a similar vein; the 8th House covers secrets, intimacy, shared resources, and transformation. Might we look at his Animagus abilities in such a way? Sirius can transform into Padfoot, a shared secret among the closest of friends. Padfoot helped keep him sane in Azkaban.
Look again at the Houses of the Sun and Moon. 7th and 8th both cover relationships. 7th House Relationships are relations of promise, and 8th House Relationships are those of intimacy. 7th House represents Open Enemies, 8th House represents Death.
What pushed Sirius to break free from Azkaban? The need to protect Harry.
Harry is Sirius' godson (7th House), son of his chosen family (7th & 8th House.) The supposed risk to Harry's life (8th House), from an enemy (Peter, 7th House.) Azkaban might have sucked Sirius dry, but it never really stole what mattered most to him. He was still Sirius, deep down. And what makes Sirius Sirius? His connection to the people and the world around him.
And in true Scorpio nature, Sirius emerged transformed. More wounded (Chiron), and changed (Scorpio), but alive.
And if canon is to be believed, and Sirius died in the Department of Mysteries, it might almost be fitting. The connection of both Scorpio (his sun) and the 8th House (his moon) to death, and mysteries.
But we love Sirius, don't we? Can't we imagine a world where the rebirth happens? Sirius living in peacetime, with the opportunity to heal Chiron and to reconcile his moon's and Venus' needs. With the chance to really grow up. A chance to live life surrounded by people he cares about, who care about him in turn. How Sirius might thrive in those conditions.
Did you know our hot-headed, red-headed hottie is a water sign?? In fairness, water signs are pretty sexy...Just look at him!:
What a watery king.
Let's begin with the surface level; what Ron shows us: Cancer Rising.
The crab is moody. There is a hard outer shell protecting soft, tender innards. Cancer is nurturing, and protective; Cancer is ruled by the moon, which has connections to the mother and the home.
Sensitive, and defensive. Devoted, and sympathetic. Ron is all of these things.
Above all, Cancer Rising points to the Moon as the chart ruler. The Moon as Mother, and Home. Ron's roots are hugely important to him, and to who he is. There is a level of bitterness towards those roots; his low-income, large family. Overshadowed by five older brothers. But there are strong bonds there, too; and pride. And love. It is the way of families to annoy each other, antagonize each other, while also defending each other to the death.
I'd argue that, more than all of his siblings, Ron most embodies that maternal energy; the mama bear vibes shared by his mother, Molly.
Ron can be a grump. He takes slights to heart. This is because he cares. He cares, arguably, "too much." He loves others "too much." And he wants to be loved, and valued, by others as much as he loves and values them.
And if that Cancerian need to withdraw, or lash out, in defense of the self hurts loved ones, Ron always comes back around. Because love and loyalty will always take priority to him, no matter how he missteps. No matter what, Ron will always be there for his loved ones at the end of the day; providing the structure and support for them that he craves for himself.
Ron is hearth and home. He is a creature of comfort. He wants to eat good food and snuggle up by the fire. He wants familial bonds; connecting over games of chess or flying with his brothers.
From the start, Ron (the family man) connects with Harry (the orphan) and more or less adopts him. They share (as families do) food (source of nurturing; food's connection to love.) They are joined at the hip from the start. They join the same House (home), and Ron never leaves Harry alone. He joins him on adventures. He rescues him from Privet Drive. Ron follows Harry, not as an admirer or an acolyte or annoyance, but as a brother. A brother in arms, a brother at heart. A caretaker, in some ways, and protector.
Let's take a closer look at Ron's Moon. His moon, center of emotion and the subconscious, is in Virgo: the Maiden. Virgo is the sign of service and health. (Doing for others, as mothers do.) It is fulfilling to his soul to look after others. Virgo is also the critic, and a perfectionist. Analytical, and practical. This is a sign of planning, and adaptability; of strategy, as chess-masters should be. He is patient, and driven, and again, values structure.
Ron is not, perhaps, academically driven, but he is not lacking in smarts. This is out of the box thinking; problem solving as problems come. He is curious and intuitive; he thinks on his feet. He is dedicated to fixing what is broken, and building what is useful and helpful.
Caring for others in less overt, fussy ways. An acts of service sort of man, our Ron.
His moon is also in the Fourth House: House of Home. The Fourth House is roots, and family. Your history. Where you come from. Where you feel at home, and who you feel at home with. The family you were born to, and the family that you make. How you are shaped by those who and what made you.
The moon is at home in the fourth house; their aims are similar. Both have a connection to the mother, and to nurturing and comfort.
Ron's emotional needs are connected to his roots. To the connections he's made with others. Family time matters. Being there for family matters. Building a family matters. Building and maintaining a home. Having a place to return to after a long day; a place to put up your feet and relax. It is sitting by the hearth and sharing your heritage with the next generation.
Wherever life takes Ron, whatever adventures he has, whatever goals he strives for, he needs that support of a home base to feel content. And he needs people in his life to share those experiences, and stories, with.
Remember when Hermione told Ron he had the emotional range of a teaspoon? She wasn't quite right (blasphemy, I know), but we can see where she might have seen this.
Perhaps it is the Virgoan moon, and its cold, over-analytical (and critical) energy in the arena of emotion.
Or, perhaps, it is this: Ron's moon opposes his sun.
The two luminaries in opposition. This is an internal struggle we can't envy. Torn between wants and needs. Torn by indecision. Torn by the see-sawing between one focus and the other. His sense of self at odds with where his heart lies. There is a fluctuation of energy and drive; why he can be seen as lazy and gluttonous in some moments, and leap into fierce, grand action the next.
And what opposes his Virgoan moon? His Piscean Sun, of course.
The sun, the core, the ego, the self in Pisces: the Dreamer. Whimsical, romantic, head-in-the-clouds Pisces.
Pisces has a placid surface, but its waters run deep. The vastness, the beauty, the splendor; the horror, and danger, and depth of the ocean. Pisces is the last sign in the zodiac, the oldest. There is wisdom in Pisces. It is transcendent. But Pisces is no aged mage preaching his philosophies; Pisces is your kooky, quirky grandfather. They are looking ever upward; looking towards higher-learning, and higher-power. Their focus is heavenward. On dreams, and other dimensions. The sort of soul-deep knowledge and intuition that can't be put to words, and is scoffed at by others.
Ron is smarter than he seems, remember? And with a better grasp on feelings and relationships than he is often given credit for.
Pisces has lived a long life, and so they let go. They let the tide carry them away. They are prone to addiction, and curiosities. They are fascinated by love, and by magic. A sort of hippie energy. A philosopher who has done too many drugs, and you can't decide if they sound coo-coo for Cocoa puffs, or if they are wise beyond human understanding. If they have met with aliens or fae who have shared the secrets of the universe, which are too great for human language.
Too great for even human Pisces to fully understand. It is comfort and knowing in the soul, not the mind. Ron follows his gut, follows his urges, follows pleasure and adventure. For the experience. To live life fully before it's gone.
He is compassionate, and yes, again: sensitive.
His sun, his core self, is also in the Tenth House: House of Status. Public image, career achievement, aspirations. This is the center of ambition! Ron wants to be great. He wants to stand out from the crowd. He wants to be important. All the harder to manage with five older brothers. And a very famous, heroic best friend. And an insanely smart, driven friend. With wealthier, classier peers. With little resources to help carry him along.
A dreamy, enlightened self versus a practical, critical heart. What's a wizard to do?
Pisces' influence also colors Ron's Mercury; his center of information. Mercury is how we learn, how we teach. How we communicate. How our minds work. For Ron, his ways of knowing are not hard facts or what can be read in a book. He has little patience for books. Where he thrives is in subtleties and nuance. What information his gut gives him. Pisces can be indirect, impressionable, and unrealistic. Expressing himself might not always go as planned, and can lend itself to miscommunication. Remember, it's hard to pin Pisces down in words.
Mars, Ron's center of drive and action, share the Virgoan of the moon. He is prompted to motion by his need for structure, stability, perfection, and service. Driven by the need to help others. To make things better for others. To provide support for others.
Venus gives us those sparks of fire in Ron, powered by Aries the ram. However unsure and wrong-footed Ron feels elsewhere, in the realm of pleasure (relationships, hobbies, preferences) he is assertive, passionate, and demanding. Love is a slow burn that steadily rages and consumes. What the ram wants, the ram chases after. This is, funnily enough, the place Ron can be most selfish. Where he gives in every other aspect, he is so enraptured by his own desires, it can be hard for him to focus on others.
Aries energy is bright heat. It is movement, and athleticism, and adventure, and boldness. Ron enjoys (Venus) his adventures (Aries) with Harry and Hermione. He likes (Venus) the thrill and the heat of the fight (Aries.) He has fun (Venus) with the competition and aggression of sports (Aries.)
The objects of his desire (Venus) inflame him (Aries), and he chases them (Aries) and fights for them (Aries), and, with luck, he can woo them (Venus.) Have fun with them, make them happy. Venus in Aries is heat and thrills and fun. And any lover of his has to be able to keep up.
That Ron can be both a gentle nurturer, and a passionate lover...any partner of his is very lucky indeed!
Venus is also in the Eleventh House: House of Friendship. House of Organizations and Community. He is drawn to interests he can enjoy with others (chess, Quidditch); he is sociable, and has fun with, and is entertained by, others. A good time for Ron means being surrounded by those he has bonds to, however casual. And he is more likely to choose romantic interests from those shared groups: Gryffindor (community), the Order (organization), Quidditch (team), a friend (...friends.)
The man, the myth, the legend...Born 31 December 1926. Nighttime. London.
I can't help but feel the intent was to have Tom Riddle born just before the New Year, and just missing it. However, the moon sign changes during this day, and I just cannot wrap my mind around a Sagittarius moon. And I couldn't even land on a Scorpio Rising once it switches moon signs that day. So instead I've given him a 4 AM birth. It would still be dark, maybe called "night" still.
And c'mon. Being born 31 December is still so close to the New Year, even if it's less dramatically close as say 11:59 PM.
This man is a Capricorn Moon, Scorpio Moon, Scorpio Rising. No, I am not accepting criticisms at this time.
Let's look first at his Rising sign: Scorpio. This colors how Tom is perceived by others, and how he reacts to his environment. There is a dark charm to Scorpionic energy. There is intrigue; his guard is up, and there's this sense of there being more than meets the eye. Scorpio is all depth and intensity; a mystery that scares and tempts you in equal measure.
There is also a sense of manipulation in Scorpio. An intuitive, perceptive nature driven by the need to be controlled. Controlled of self, controlled environment.
The ascendant sign also tells us the chart ruler. Scorpio rising, Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, making Pluto the chart ruler. Pluto: death, rebirth, destruction, transformation. Death represents endings in divination.
So let's look into Tom's history, for a moment. Conceived by rape. And, when the truth came out, Tom Sr. abandoned Merope. The end of their marriage. Merope was alone and heartbroken. She gave birth at an orphanage. She died soon after. He was born on a cold, dark night. On New Year's Eve: the end of a year. His very birth was the end of so many things. All the potential that could have been his life, gone before his life really began.
Pluto also represents power. Pluto's name means "the wealthy one." He was the god of death, and riches. He was the King of the Underworld. Power, wealth, status, death. All tied back to Pluto. All tied up within Tom himself.
More interestingly to me, is that Scorpio Rising also made sense for Severus Snape and Harry Potter. Scorpio makes sense ascending for all of them alone, not even factoring chart rulership into it. But once you do take the chart rulership into consideration, it makes all the more sense. How Death was so important, and left such an impact, on all of their lives. And looking at how Tom himself was a catalyst of so much of the Death in Severus and Harry's lives.
It also strikes me that these three specifically would share something. Not only tied up as they are with each other. But thinking of it as: these lost, lonely boys. These boys whose first real home was Hogwarts. Boys who came from such humble beginnings. Who arrived at Hogwarts with such hunger. Boys who were smart and skilled and powerful in their own rights. Boys who were let down, in various ways, by Albus Dumbledore.
But we're not here to talk about Snape or Harry or Dumbledore. We're here to talk about Tom.
Let's begin with his chart ruler, shall we? Where is Pluto?
I should point out that Pluto is not a planet I often care about. It's a "generational planet", and many people within the same generation will share the same Pluto sign. But for Tom, he is ruled by Pluto. And Tom's Pluto is in Cancer.
Cancer represents home and family. Tom's generation faced great challenges; he was a child during the second World War. So many people died; a genocide (destruction) of a group of people; all in the name of the "homeland." Pluto's intense nature feeds into Cancer's drive for closeness and protectiveness. Family values. Pride in ones' culture and background. Commitment to tradition.
Look at how a Muggle war shaped Tom's life. Born after one world war, just in time for a second. A man who would go on to lead not one, but two, Wizarding Wars. All in the name of magic and the culture of Wizardkind. All for the protection of their blood and their power. "For the homeland."
Linger here a moment. Cancer represents family history, and our roots. The pride Tom feels in being a descendent of Salazar Slytherin. The shame he feels for his Muggle blood, and his common Muggle name. There was wealth (Pluto) from his Muggle family (Cancer), whom he killed (Pluto); there was power and greatness (Pluto) ruined (again: Pluto) by his maternal family (Cancer.) A sense of greatness and prestige he longed to bring back. Driven by power, yes, but also by what was lost to him. A history and culture he was separated from, by virtue of being raised in a Muggle orphanage. But so little remained of the Slytherin greatness by even Merope's time.
Then onto Hogwarts: home. His first experience being surrounded by magic. This was where he belonged, among Wizards! But more than the way Snape and Harry saw Hogwarts as home; Tom felt a sense of entitlement to Hogwarts, I believe, due to his Slytherin connection. Hogwarts felt more his home than it could be for anyone else. Hogwarts is where his roots are, after all. A rich, colorful history all in his blood.
For Tom it is more than just the generational impact of Pluto in Cancer. It was, for him, quite personal indeed. And it was that obsession with roots and history, that thirst for power and greatness, that led him down the path of destruction and death.
...but we also need to look at the house Pluto is in. Pluto is quite at home in the Eighth House: House of Death and Regeneration. The eighth house covers inheritances (hello, Parseltongue), regeneration (hello, graveyard shenanigans), sexuality (who doesn't thirst for the villain, am I right?), psychic powers (Legilimency), and occult studies and knowledge (HORCRUXES.)
So I think we can all agree: Pluto is pretty much driving this train. But I will also note, that Scorpio is ruled by Pluto according to modern rulerships. Traditional rulerships would put this as Mars, instead. And so for that reason, let's take a look at Mars and work backwards through the inner planets, all the way to the sun.
In traditional rulerships, Mars (god of war) ruled both Aries and Scorpio. Its intense, martial energy can be seen in both of them. So Tom can be argued to be ruled by war as much as by death.
For Tom, Mars (planet of action, aggression) is in Taurus (perseverance.) Taurus represents the material. Money, and sex. Sensuality, what feels good, what provides stability and structure. If Cancer is the feeling of home, Taurus is the reality of home.
Tom was an orphan. No home to call his own. No possessions of his own. He is driven by the need to possess. Think of his Horcruxes. They weren't just any items, were they? They were items of value. They were important. They were beautiful.
But also this: Taurus is the physical, and stability, yes? Home as more than just a place, but his body. His physical self carrying on. Another point towards his obsession with immortality. Keeping himself rooted in the physical world.
Taurus is willing to put in the work. Tom has the persistence and determination to carry him on. He is driven to action by his need for stability and his want of material goods. Taurus is stubborn, Taurus is the bull; Tom digs in his heels, puts his nose to the grindstone, and works his way to the top. No one and nothing will stand in his way. But by the same token, that stubbornness can make him rather set in his ways.
Mars is also in the sixth house, House of Health and Wellness. Another point towards physical wellbeing and immortality. This also means hard work and routines.
As for Venus, planet of love and leisure; for Tom this is Capricorn. Not just in romance, but in all relationships, Tom is looking for dependability, loyalty, and commitment. Taken to its extreme, this can create followers and servants rather than friends or lovers. Tom is cautious when it comes to interpersonal relationships. There is fear of rejection. Is it any wonder he might keep people at arm's length? There is a reserved and dominant energy to Capricorn. It is also an earth sign; another point towards sensuality and the material.
Capricorn is also a sign of status, and connection. It is duty and diligence. Tom is looking for hobbies and people that will benefit him.
His Venus is also in the Second House: House of Possessions. Again, that theme of the material and security.
Were Tom to ever fall in love, it would need to be someone he could count on, someone he could work with. A person who will enrich his life. Someone he feels secure with, and supported by. He will also be jealous and possessive in love. His lover would be another possession he covets and cares for, and who ultimately belongs to him.
Mercury, planet of information, in Sagittarius, the sign of expansion, the Second House, house of possessions.
Mercury covers how we receive information (learning, communication) and how we share information (teaching, talking, writing.)
By looking at Sagittarian energy, there are reasons I discarded this as his moon sign, which makes an interesting look at his Mercury. Sagittarius is warm and optimistic; open-minded. That energy feels wrong for his moon, his center of emotion, but for Mercury? Well, we know Tom is charming. He had plenty of people fooled in his schooldays. Perhaps it is him interacting with that bright, bold energy that makes him appealing.
Sagittarius is the philosopher, the explorer. Tom wants to learn all that he can. To push the bounds of knowledge and magic. Expansion, remember? Expanding his mind, expanding his power. Tom will go the distance to learn all he can, to experience all he can. Tom is also a storyteller; all of that monologuing? Yeah. That's Sagittarius for you. Sagittarius is passionate and creative! Mercury is speech and interaction. The way he speaks is grand, genuine, promising. He makes you believe. He is a man with a mission, and he wants you on the mission with him.
Sagittarius is about beliefs, and spirituality. It is about great causes. Fighting for what's right. For freedom. Freedom from the chains Mugglekind has put on them, perhaps? Freedom to use their magic? To take their rightful place as rulers of the world? It isn't world domination; it is returning the world to its rightful order. Magic doesn't belong in the shadows, or chained up in a cell! It isn't meant to be restricted! Tom knows all the right things to say; he believes it himself, and he can make others believe, too.
And because his Mercury is in the second house...Tom is pretty good with budgeting and knowing the value of things. He's also pretty good with bargaining. (His time at Borgin and Burkes.)
Now: the moon. The moon is emotions, instinct, unconscious. It isn't Sagittarian zeal at the heart of Tom. It is Scorpio's willpower and forcefulness. It isn't optimism in his heart, but ambition.
The moon is in all in Scorpio. Planets in fall or detriment struggle. Scorpio is not the optimal energy for moon's emotional states to run on. The moon signs most prone to being emotionally stunted are going to be Scorpio (fall) or Capricorn (detriment.)
There is imagination, idealism, and intuition here. Tom has the mind to make waves, and the awareness of others' emotions to do so. But there is an emotional disconnect from others. Scorpio is secretive, reserved. It can be obstinate, domineering, and jealous. Controlling, even. Scorpio seeks self-control, but can lead to a need to control the external, as well.
There is also obsessiveness in Scorpio. A drive for vengeance. Tom doesn't forget anything. This does not mean all Scorpio moons are cruel, but for Tom...well, he is. It is about protecting the self. There is fear of vulnerability, and being emotionally exposed. Tom is resourceful and self-reliant. If he keeps to himself, and relies on himself, then he'll always be safe.
After all...who has Tom ever really been able to count on? When has he ever learned he was safe? Secure? At peace? There was never a time for his heart to rest, to learn to let others in. Between nature and nurture...Well, it will take a lot to break down those walls.
Finally: the Sun. The sun is our core, our ego. Who we are, deep down, stripped of all else. The sun is what sustains us, and energizes us. For Tom, it is Capricorn: a sign of ambition and success. Capricorn is a steady, earthy energy. It is practical and no-nonsense. It isn't about frills or pleasure; those are icing on the cake, sure, but the cake is: goals. Purpose.
Tom has nothing if not a sense of purpose, of importance. He has an inner sense of prestige, and pride. This is what moves him. What energizes him. He is hard working and self-contained. He is resourceful, reserved. Tom is the goat, trekking ever onward and upward, letting no one and nothing stand in his way.
Capricorn is authority. Tom is the CEO, the Father, the Ruler. He is in charge, and he gives the sense of being worthy of that responsibility. He is steady and strong. He can be relied on. Don't worry, Tom can handle it. He will handle it.
HIs Sun is also in the Second House. Again: possessions. He is powered by his ambition for security. And, when able, the desire to bask in luxury. He can be greedy. He looks on his possessions as status symbols. He gains in life through influential people; making all the right connections as he climbs his way to the top. And, once at the top, he uses his own influence to continue to gain. Gaining power, knowledge, secrets, wealth.
The Sun is ego; Capricorn is pride and status; the Second House is wealth and influence.
Tom has so much potential for more. So many signs point to the path he followed, but that wasn't the only path available, or the only one he could have walked. Down one path, maybe Tom would have never achieved greatness at all; at least not on the scale he wanted. Another path, greatness in another form. He could have changed the world in other ways. Or focused his skills and his drive to other ventures.
Tom has the intelligence and the capabilities to achieve whatever he wants. But it was those inner cravings and needs, and sense of entitlement, supercharged by a sense of loss and fear, that drove him down the path he took. The need to become more. The Capricornic ambition and status; Scorpionic regeneration, and power; both pushing him, and twisting him, into Lord Voldemort.
Snily Synastry: Best Friends? Brother/Sister? True Love? (HP Astro #20)
An intense friendship, or a great romance? Practically brother and sister, or friends to lovers? Whatever flavor you prefer, there's no denying Severus and Lily were very close, and had a lot of love between them.
Also read: Astrology Introduction, Severus Snape, Lily Evans
According to sun sign compatibility, Capricorn and Aquarius just...do not jive. But we know there's more to the story than that, don't we?
First impressions: the Ascendant. At first glance, what did they see in each other? Severus, with Scorpio Rising: dark, mysterious, dangerous. Lily, with Aquarius rising: friendly, quirky, different. Severus' emotional water energy, Lily's sociable air energy. The two signs don't necessarily get along, but they're both fixed signs, and share a certain stubbornness and firmness.
Both share Chiron in Aquarius; a shared Wound of Belonging. Both feeling like they don't quite fit in. Lily, the witch in a Muggle family; Severus the wizard son of a magic hating father. Both magical children in Muggle communities. Both too clever for their own good. Both stand out, for better (Lily) and for worse (Severus.)
For me, if Severus' Scorpionic energy made Lily wary, her Aquarian energy appealed to Severus. Not only for the innate kindness, and for her intellect, but also for the sense of connection. Someone else like me, someone I can belong with.
This is further supported by Severus' Chiron sitting in Lily's First House, her House of self. Severus is drawn to Lily at first glance (1st), and Severus helps Lily with her own wound (Chiron.) Where Lily needs to accept who she is and be proud of her differences, Severus supports this. His appreciation of who she is, for all of her uniqueness, is what aids Lily in loving who she is. And helping to heal her own Aquarian wound.
Lily's Chiron is in Severus' third house; the House of Early Learning. They meet as children. They live in the same town (Third House also represents neighbors.) Lily helps teach Severus in her own ways, helps challenge and change his beliefs. She can also help Severus express this inner wound; best done through shared experience. She understands what he feels, and urges him to talk about it (3rd.)
This bond over something so deep and painful only helped strengthen their friendship. But while Lily worked on healing this wound (see: Lily), Severus never really caught a break in healing his own (see: Severus.)
Their moons (emotions) have an easy flowing nature between them. Severus' sentimental and sensual Taurus moon to Lily's whimsical and empathetic Pisces moon. Water (Pisces) nurturing earth (Taurus.) A loyal Taurean heart, and a compassionate Piscean heart; stable Taurus and dreamy Pisces; romantic Taurus and idealistic Pisces. Both are soft-hearted, and sensitive, and can nurture each other emotionally.
Further supported by this: both of their moons are in each other's Third House. They speak (3rd) about their emotions (moon); they communicate easily, and deeply. They are close physically (3rd) and emotionally (moon.)
Individually, their moons are in opposing houses. Lily's in the First (House of Self), Severus' in the Seventh (House of Relationships.) Lily is closely tied to her emotions, well aware of them. They impact how she expresses herself. She can be sensitive, and moody. Meanwhile, Severus has an emotional need to connect to others, and belong to others. The Seventh House means official, labelled relationships. Pinky promises, blood oaths, best friends on paper, and shouted to the world.
In Severus' case...he never really had that connection before Lily. She was the only person he trusted and counted on for many years. His parent's marriage (7th) was rocky. He didn't have other family, or friends. He had no comfort or safety in anyone before Lily. And due to Lily, the only other relationships (7th) he had were of the contractual, business partner sort (7th.) His connection to future Death Eaters disrupted his friendship with Lily, and likely played a part in him calling her "Mudblood", which for her was the straw that broke the camel's back. From there, he dedicated himself to Voldemort. And when Voldemort threatened Lily, he turned away from the Death Eaters and swore service to Dumbledore. The Seventh House also represents Open Enemies (again, known and labelled connections), tying back to Voldemort.
There are several conjunctions between Lily and Severus. Conjunctions are close ties to planets; this speaks to a very intense relationship in those areas. For an idea, these are their conjunctions (Severus' planet first, Lily's second): Sun - Mars, Sun - Saturn, Mercury - Venus, Mercury - Mars, Mercury - Saturn, Mars - Jupiter, Jupiter - Jupiter, Saturn - Mars, Saturn - Saturn, and Uranus - Uranus. That is 10 points of extreme connection!
Let's take a closer look at the most telling ones:
Severus' Sun conjunct Lily's Mars. Severus' self, his sun, energizing Lily's Mars, her center of action. The sun's ego and Mars' aggression can speak to competitiveness, but can also create common interest. This also tells of a progressive relationship; two people connecting and bettering one another. Both are in Capricorn; to me this says that Lily's Capricorn Mars sees that structured, ambitious Capricorn energy in Severus (his sun, his core) and is inspired by it. Severus' very being pushes Lily's drive. His energy pushes her into motion. And in motion, she takes his hand and pulls him along with her. Her drive pushing him forward, as well.
Severus is competent and goal-oriented; he is drawn to Lily and tells her all he knows of the magical world. They lay in the grass, under a summer sky, and make plans for their future. They work towards achievement together. They have shared interests, shared goals. (And for Snily shippers, this conjunction does speak to sexual attraction, and quite intensely. Lily drawn to Severus' physicality and emotionality. Severus drawn to Lily's focus and drive.)
If Severus' sun energizes Lily's Mars to action, then Lily's Saturn helps harness Severus' sun's power. Saturn is discipline. Saturn is work. Lily values Severus' strictness, and sureness; she helps him realize his potential, and pushes him to grow. There is wisdom to Lily's Saturn that Severus can learn from, and make use of. (For Snily shippers: it is said this is a strong connection for marriage.)
Lily and Severus both benefit from being in each other's lives.
Severus' Mercury (communication) conjuncts Lily's Venus (hobbies), Mars (action), and Saturn (discipline)! Again: all of these planets are in Capricorn. Capricorn is tenacious, resourceful, reserved, and ambitious. That energy colors all of these places.
Mercury is information -- how we receive information, how we communicate it; how we learn, how we teach. How our minds work. And it is Severus' mind that connects with Lily on so many levels. They have shared ideas (Mercury) of art, beauty, and romance (Venus.) Severus has the ability to express (Mercury) Lily's ideas and creativity (Venus.) Complementary tastes, and easy communication.
Lily stimulates (Mars) Severus mentally (Mercury.) His curiosity sated by her liveliness. Lily also guides (Saturn) Severus to learn (Mercury) important lessons (Saturn), especially with regards to responsibility, morality, law and order (Saturn.) Severus seeks (Mercury) this wisdom (Saturn) from Lily. And Lily admires and respects Severus' sharp, open mind.
Jupiter conjunct Jupiter speaks to shared philosophy and cultural values. Saturn conjunct Saturn speaks to shared opinions on politics, duty, and material stability. Severus' Mars conjunct Lily's Jupiter says expansion; helping each other move to grow.
There are points of stress between them, too. Severus' Venus square Lily's moon; disharmony between Severus' social/romantic needs and Lily's emotional needs. The stress can be worked through, and can make them stronger for it, but it is a point they need to work through.
Severus' Pluto in opposition to Lily's moon. This can be an unstable point. Severus (Pluto) can be too intense for Lily's (moon) more delicate constitution. Severus can be seeking a deeper connection (Pluto) than Lily is able to give; it can scare her, or she might be wary of it. This can be explosive together. They can grow together and make it work, or it can drive them apart.
They do have many sextiles and trines between them, which are easier connections. Comfortable, though it is wise to remember that one can be too comfortable, and grow lax where things are too easy. Severus' Venus sextile Lily's sun and ascendant, Severus' Pluto trine Lily's Venus, Severus' Saturn sextile Lily's moon, Severus' Neptune trine Lily's moon, Severus' Mercury trine Lily's moon, Severus' Venus sextile Lily's Mercury, Severus Mercury sextile Lily's Neptune, Severus Mercury trine Lily's Pluto, Severus' Neptune sextile Lily's Mars, Severus' Jupiter trine Lily's Uranus, Severus' Uranus trine Lily's Jupiter, Severus' Saturn sextile Lily's Neptune, Severus' Saturn trine Lily's Pluto, Severus Neptune sextile Lily's Saturn.
If your eyes glazed over all of that...I don't blame you! What I hope you take away is just how many points of connection there are, all "easy" relations. Areas they can bond over, move together with, but also areas they can become complacent.
There are a handful of squares, areas of stress. Venus - Moon, Venus - Pluto, Ascendant - Uranus, Neptune - Ascendant, Moon - Uranus, Neptune - Sun, Neptune - Mercury.
They have several intense connections (conjunction, opposition), many easy connections (trines, sextiles), and a handful of stressful points (squares.) Without looking at the specifics, what sort of story does that tell? Two people with a strong bond, aided by so many areas of comfort, and a few areas of conflict. All relationships, be they familial or platonic or romantic, are going to have conflict.
For Severus and Lily, who they are as individuals, and the many easy connections between them, turned them lax, I think. And rather than using all of their conflict to learn and grow together, it eventually drove them apart. Neither of them worked hard enough on their main issue. We can argue that Lily tried to draw Severus back to the "light", and it can be argued that she didn't try hard enough. We can argue Severus should have listened, should have paid more mind to his oldest, dearest friend. We can argue that Severus never should have said that word, and that Lily should have listened. They let things slide until it was too late. They stayed friends, in spite of the ways their paths were diverging, not really working towards resolution.
We can chalk it up to their youth. That's fair. We can remember that, however similar their circumstances, they do come from different backgrounds. (Muggle-born Lily in the magical world, half-blood Severus among purebloods, a wizard with a magic-hating father, a witch with a magic-envious sister, a boy from an abusive household, a girl with happy parents, a boy in poverty, a girl in stability, a strange boy, an enchanting girl.)
Had Lily lived, what would have become of them? With enough time and space apart, maybe they could have healed. There could have been a road to forgiveness when Severus turned away from Voldemort. With age and maturity, they could have worked through their issues together. In my mind, there is too much history between them for it to be easy, and too much baggage for either of them to fully let go. Severus would have to work for forgiveness, but it could be done.
And for me, I always read them as deeply, intensely platonic. True friends down to their soul. I always see Severus as needing more challenge in his life than he could truly have with Lily. He met her too young, and she's too much a place of comfort and safety to truly challenge him. But that is, of course, my personal headcanon. I believe there is enough in the stars to point towards romance, if that's what you see in them. It's up to you to look at the pieces, separately and together, and see what you make of it.
