Tinnitus - William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy

There are zillions of reasons to study the charts of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, but when I found out that they both suffer from Tinnitus and that they were born within 4 days of each other I figured there might be a signature within their charts for this hearing disorder. A person suffering from Tinnitus hears a ringing sound in their ears that can be very debilitating. I know that there isn't much information available to astrologers on these types of oddball hearing disorders and I'm doing this with next to no outside research materials so take it for what it's worth. Neil Young and Barbara Streisand also have Tinnitus. Here's a link to a list of famous people with the disorder: http://members.fortunecity.com/nrbq1/tinnitus.html.

Often Tinnitus sufferers know the cause of their affliction, usually exposure to loud sound. Apparently a loud sound effect on the Star Trek set was the cause of Shatner and Nimoy's problems. This show aired in January, 1967 so I'm using a September, 1966 date for inner planet progressions and outer planet transits to understand what may have caused onset. Apparently, it looks like progressed Mars hitting an angle in their charts could be an easy explanation for the onset. Also, their natal charts show some vulnerabilities for this type of stress.

William Shatner
b. Mar. 22, 1931 4am Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Sun 1 Aries; ASC 20 Capricorn; Moon 4 Taurus; MC 18 Scorpio

Leonard Nimoy
b. Mar. 26, 1931 8:30am Boston, MA

Sun 5 Aries; ASC 8 Gemini; Moon 27 Gemini; MC 13 Aquaruius

Natally both men have conjunctions of Mercury-Uranus-NN in Aries which disposits to Mars. Nimoy's Sun is also included in this conjunction (which makes sense since he's the Vulcan). Mars is on the last 2 degrees of Cancer, signature for hypersensitivity. Mars is opposite Saturn in Capricorn, a sign which can indicate a hyper state of awareness in the senses due to need for control. Saturn is further afflicted by opposition to Pluto in Cancer (not in conjunction with Mars). These aspects together explain very well how they fit into their roles as Commanders (Mars-Saturn-Pluto combination) on the Star Ship Enterprise (Mercury-Uranus-NN in Aries). It also shows a highly strung nervous system through the Mercury-Uranus conjunction which is amplified by their Rising Signs which are ruled by Mercury and Uranus. Shatner's is Aquarius and Nimoy's is Gemini. Both men have natal Neptune squaring an angle from an angular house so I think this might enhance hypersensitivity and disrupt the ability to let vibrations flow through their systems.

In 1966, as I said before, progressed Mars (Noise) was within conjunction of angles in both Actors' charts so it was prominent. On the one hand, their careers were taking off, on the other hand they were under stress. Mars hit Nimoy's Leo IC and Shatner's Leo Desc. During September, transiting Jupiter was conjunct their natal Mars in Cancer. In Nimoy's chart this is a 3d house aspect opposite Saturn. In Shatner's chart this is a 6th House aspect. Both 3d and 6th houses are ruled by Mercury, which rules nervous disorders. The transiting Nodes were also conjunct their Chiron, wounds that are difficult to heal. In Shatner's chart this affects the 3d House (nerves, senses) and in Nimoy's this occurred in the 12th house (chronic health).

There's so much more, including Venus aspects, Eris, Chiron and the Centaurs, which I'm just offhandedly noticing seem to come up strong in charts where there's some kind of chaos. But, to be honest, I scribbled so much down in my notes I can't read them anymore.

I don't know if Leonard Nimoy has "cured" his Tinnitus. It seems that his didn't have as debilitating an effect on his life. Shatner was severely affected and he did manage to find a cure through a retraining technique for which he has become a spokesman. It's interesting that his progressed Sun was conjunct n.Moon during 1966. This is in his 2d house within 2 degrees of his 3d house cusp (ruled by Taurus). He struggled with the ringing sounds through the entire time that his progressed Sun was going through his 3d house and began to find relief in 1995 just as progressed Moon was moving into his 4th house (Gemini IC).

I quickly looked at Barbra Streisand's chart and Neil Young's as well. Streisand is a Taurus Sun with Aries Rising. Her Tinnitus apparently began when she was 7 years old. This is near the time of the progressed Moon square and Saturn square. Transiting Saturn was in her 6th house conjunct her Virgo NN. Transiting Uranus was near conjunction with her natal Mars which is close to her IC. Who knows? She may have had a Mars Return at the same time. And t. Neptune was conjunct her Descendant.

Young supposedly only played acoustic music for much of his career because electronics hurt his ears. He contracted Polio when he was 6 years old; don't know if that's related. He's got a Mercury-Uranus opposition crossing the 3d-9th house axis. Also, he's got a conjunction of Mars and Saturn in Cancer in the 10th house. Both of these repeat the elements I spoke about in Shatner and Nimoy's charts.

Eris stands out very strongly here. It is conjunct Streisand's ASC and Young's DESC. Shatner has Sun conjunct Eris.