Claude Debussy

Leo is the ultimate sign of Summer. Ruled by Fire it represents Pure Light more than any other sign. Leos bask in the light, they shine, it emanates from their big Cat hearts. It is no wonder that the composer of music titled "Afternoon of a Faun" and "Girl With the Flaxen Hair" would be a Double Leo.

Claude Debussy
b. August 22, 1862 4:30am Saint-Germaine-en-Laye (Paris), France.

Sun 29 Leo; ASC 23 Leo; Moon 22 Cancer; MC 11 Taurus; NN 22 Sagittarius

Although he is said to have not liked the term Debussy was called an "Impressionist" composer. Actually his music appears to be about light and airy subjects but on a technical level the harmonies and rhythms are very complex and avant-garde. It seems (at this point to me) that Leos make Art that looks simple so it appeals to most people. Although academic, they don't demand advanced education, superiority complexes or swooning sensitivities that many of their peers shoot for. Leo always has to think about having fun, being playing, and making sure that people are not only enjoying themselves but following along. Debussy had a bowl shaped chart showing that he was very concerned about what was missing in his own character (see Bob Marks' description, much better). The Boundary planets for this are Neptune in Aries and Jupiter in Libra

Looking at Debussy's chart it isn't completely obvious (to me at any rate) that he would become a composer. With Leo Rising conjunct 1st house Sun I suppose it makes sense that he would be attracted to theater and music but he could have equally been attracted to speculation or law. He had a signature trine between Venus in Leo and Neptune in Aries which is definitely an artist's signature. But Debussy also had a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction squaring the Nodes and Uranus which makes him seem more suited to business. Noel Tyl's MC extension process really helps clear this confusion up. One can immediately see the strong musical career expressed. Taurus MC could indicate Banking as well as the arts but its ruler, Venus is in Leo trining Neptune in the 8th House. It brings the musicality right into the fore of the Career House. Pluto is conjunct his Midheaven promising a powerful projection onto the world. And Neptune would have passed over it and spent much of his formative years in his 10th house.

Most of Debussy's music is named after elements in Nature, especially those of water and sky. It's interesting to look at the distribution of elements in his chart and how they project through singleton planets. Uranus in Gemini is a singleton in Air and Moon in Cancer is a singleton in Water. "Clair de lune" was actually written during his first progressed Lunar Return (in Cancer no less). My favorite music is his symphony piece "La Mer" which was composed during a heavy t-square between his Nodes, his progressed ASC and MC and Pluto, Venus and Saturn in Gemini-Sagittarius and Virgo. The missing leg of Pisces shows up loud and clear in this piece that's a tone poem about the Sea.

From what Wikipedia says about his love life, it sounds like a total train wreck. A couple of early lovers tried to kill shoot themselves after he left them. Of course he left them each for the next one which always creates problems. The one he finally settled with because she became pregnant. Of course, the music he wrote for this child is delightful. It's interesting to notice that his Mars in Aries never really progressed off of itself during his lifetime. This could have severly frustrated his relationship with his male side. His music is kind of lacking it. Only planet in his 7th house is Chiron in Aquarius and this is opposite his Sun in Leo which can have trouble in relationships due to self-centeredness and ego. His 7th House ruler, Uranus, is conjunct his South Node showing not that he was expressing problems in his psyche through his relationships. It also shows that inventiveness came easily to him through his subconscious (or past lives).