Princess Diana

Astrologers around the world are arguing over Princess Diana's birth time. Diana herself reported that she was born at 7:45 p.m. on July 1, 1961 in Sandringham, England. The other time being touted as her correct birth time is 2:15 p.m. If Diana herself said 7:45 p.m. was the correct time, why would astrologers question it? One explanation may be that Diana purposely gave the wrong time to throw tabloid astrologers and psychics off track. As a Cancer, Diana had a definitely secretive side and would go out of her way to avoid what she consider evasive questions. This doesn't necessarily mean the 2:15 p.m. time is correct. It just provides a speculatively theory for why Diana would deliberately mislead people. The date, time, and place of birth reflects the birth potential. While the planets will generally stay the same throughout the day, the time reflects how we interact with our environment. Differences reflect differences in our character, priorities in life, and how we interact in relationships, among other things. In examining each chart for Princess Diana, we can see that a case could readily be made for each one--which is why I'm sure so many astrologers disagree. Chart rectification (finding the proper birth time) generally takes two approaches. One defines the person's time based on character analysis and what's promised in the birth chart. The other looks only at events by predictive techniques such as transits, various types of progressions, and solar arcs. In reality, the old saying that "character is destiny" applies; but if astrology works and we can in fact predict the future, then we must be able to apply predictive techniques in determining past events. So, a combination of these two techniques is needed to assure the time of one's birth. In looking at the two charts, we see that much of the symbolism can be applied to both charts. In the 7:45 p.m. chart Sagittarius is Rising. In the 2:15 p.m. chart, the Sun falls in the ninth house, associated with Sagittarius. In either case, this emphasizes Sagittarius tendencies--a need to be free, independent, and to follow her own destiny. (This, of course, conflicts with the Sun in Cancer, but we'll get to that later.) Diana taught kindergarten in Central London before she married, and teaching is associated with Sagittarius. While early education is usually associated with the third house and Gemini and higher education in usually associated with the ninth house, many teachers, in fact, have a Sagittarius or ninth house emphasis. The third - ninth house axis is the education axis in the horoscope. The 7:45 p.m. chart puts Diana's Sun and Mercury in Cancer in the seventh house, Libra's house, of marriage and partnership. The 2:15 p.m. chart has Libra Rising, again emphasizing the importance of marriage and partnership. In either chart, the need to be liked and approved of exists with the Libra emphasis. (This also conflicts with the Sagittarius' need to be oneself.) In the 7:45 p.m. chart, Neptune falls in the tenth house. The tenth house represents career or public image. Neptune relates to fantasy, idealism, spirituality, compassion, and helping. This placement certainly fits with Diana's good deeds, her concern for the less fortunate, and her reported compassion. It also reflects the public's idealization of her. The 2:15 p.m. chart places Neptune in the first house. The first house represents the image you project to the world and way others see you. Neptune in the first house portrays some of the same characteristics as Neptune in the tenth house. Financial well being can also be shown by each chart. The 7:45 p.m chart places Jupiter, planet of luck and abundance, in the second house of finances. The 2:15 p.m. chart places Venus, also ruling fiances, in the eighth house of joint resources, or money through marriage. The fourth-tenth house axis represents a person's family life - the family they come from and the family they build for themselves. The 7:45 p.m. chart has Aries on the cusp of the fourth house with no planets posited therein. For further clarification, we look to Mars, the ruler of Aries, and its aspects in order to determine what Diana's childhood was like. Mars in Virgo conjoins Uranus and the North Node in Leo and Pluto in Virgo, all oppose the Moon and the South Node in Aquarius, and square Venus in Taurus. Neptune falls in the tenth house. Mars and its aspects show a difficult early life with lots of disruptions. When Diana was six years old, her mother left her father for another man. Certainly this is something that would be difficult for any child, but especially difficult for a child with the Sun and Mercury in Cancer and Venus in Taurus. These two signs need stability and security and to know whom they can rely on more than any others. Mars' afflictions, particularly to Uranus and the Moon, show that Diana was not afforded that emotional security early. Her Moon in Aquarius tells us that the emotional message she received from her family was to be detached and objective--another clear contradiction to a Cancer Sun. The Neptune in the tenth house tells us she would likely idealize one parent who was far more caring and compassionate than the other. This appears to have been her father. The 2:15 p.m. chart places Capricorn on the cusp of the fourth house, Saturn in Capricorn and Jupiter and the Moon in Aquarius in that house. Cancer is on the cusp of the tenth house and Uranus and the North Node in Leo and Mars in Virgo posited in that house. Once again, we have the repeated pattern of the Moon and its Nodes' opposition involving Uranus, Mars, Pluto, and Venus. With Saturn in the fourth in this chart, the message to grow up and be responsible early would have been strong. The eighth house in the horoscope rules death. In the 7:45 p.m. chart, the malefic and badly aspected conjunction of Uranus, Mars, and Pluto fall in the eighth house. This planetary combination warns of the possibility of a violent or accidental death. President John F. Kennedy had the Sun in the eighth house as well as Mars on its cusp. For an event to happen in a person's life, it must be promised in the birth chart. The 2:15 p.m. chart puts Venus, the ruler of the Ascendant, in the eighth house. Once again, this brings us back to the afflictions among Venus, the Moon, Uranus, Mars, Pluto, and the Nodes. It also gives us a clue that death can come through romance or some type of excess. However, the violence shows in a much more pronounced way with the 7:45 p.m. chart and having the Uranus, Node, Mars, and Pluto conjunction in the eighth house. These aspects in either chart reflect Diana's attraction to dangerous or exciting men. Her Cancer nature with Venus in Taurus would attract her to traditional, conservative men, whom she could count on. Both Cancer and Taurus want to know, "will you love me forever" before they go on their first date. Security is of tantamount importance. However, the Moon in Aquarius wants to go her own way. The Moon and Venus' afflictions to Uranus, the Nodes, Mars, and Pluto paint a very different picture. This combination creates a craving for excitement, not wanting to be fenced in, and an attraction to exciting and perhaps volatile mates. The 7:45 p.m. chart has the Sun and Mercury in the seventh house of marriage and partnership trine Neptune in the tenth house of public image. This chart does not indicate a volatile husband; and while Prince Charles may have been faithless, he has never been accused of volatility. If anything, he was steadfast in his love for Camilla Parker Bowles. Early on, Diana and Charles were idealized as the perfect couple. So Diana would get married and expect to live happily ever after. Unfortunately, even with favorable aspects, Neptune tends toward illusion. The 2:15 p.m. chart has Aries on the cusp of the seventh house and its ruler Mars in the tenth house of the public conjoining Uranus, the North Node, and Pluto in the eleventh. While Charles and Diana were known for their marital troubles, they were not known for public volatility. Diana's fatal accident occurred on Sunday, August 31, 1997. Her death preceded the lunar eclipse on September 1, 1997 at 9 degrees of Virgo. This eclipse conjoined Diana's Uranus, Mars, Pluto conjunction. At the time of her death, transiting Uranus at 5 degrees of Aquarius conjoined her natal Jupiter at 5 degrees. Transiting Pluto at 2 degrees 55 minutes of Sagittarius, just having turned direct on August 12, formed a square to Diana's Mars at 1 degree 39 minutes. Mars natally conjuncts Uranus and Pluto. Transiting Neptune at 27 degrees of Capricorn conjoined Diana's Saturn at 27 degrees of Capricorn. Transiting Mars had three days earlier conjoined her Neptune and had formed a trine to her Sun two days earlier. Mercury Retrograde was conjunct the eclipse degree. In the 7:45 p.m. chart, the eclipse conjoining Mercury Retrograde occurred in Diana's eighth house of death. Transiting Pluto falls on the twelve house cusp of secret enemies in this chart. Pluto's square to the Uranus, Mars, Pluto conjunction involves the eighth house where these planets are posited. Conspiracy theory advocates believe that Diana's death may have been a plot to get rid of her. Some whisper the Royal Family wanted her out of the way. Others believe that Dodi al Fayed, Diana's paramour was the intended victim. Uranus' transit to Jupiter involves the Ascendant as Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, is the Ascendant ruler. Neptune's transit to Saturn also affects the Ascendant it rules Capricorn which is intercepted in the first house. So, here we have the eighth house of death and the first house of the physical body both highly activated. Also, on that day, transiting Saturn was at 19 Aries and transiting Chiron at 27 Libra. The planetoid Chiron signifies the wounded healer. Diana's fourth - tenth house axis 23 Aries - Libra falls in the middle of this opposition. The progressed chart for 7:45 p.m. has 24 Capricorn 33 Rising with progressed Saturn at 25 Capricorn 13 R. Once again, the Ascendant receives a heavy affliction, warning at least of ill health. Progressed Mercury in Leo, ruling the eighth house of death, in progressed chart had passed the opposition to Jupiter, ruler of the Ascendant in the natal chart. Transiting Uranus' conjunction to Jupiter opposed progressed Mercury. Once again, the first house of the physical body and the eighth house of death are involved. Interestingly enough solar arc Jupiter was trine Diana's Sun. Possibly death provided her a welcome escape from life. All of the same planetary aspects, of course, apply to the 2:15 p.m. chart. This chart places the eclipse and transiting Mercury Retrograde at Diana's progressed Midheaven conjoining her natal Mars. Certainly her accidental death was a public affair. Based on this analysis, my vote goes to the 7:45 p.m. time - as the death is promised in the birth chart.