Passing of Natasha Richardson

Actress Natasha Richardson shockingly passed away today due to injuries caused by a fall during a skiing lesson. She was only 45 years old. She is survived by her husband, actor Liam Neeson, and two sons and famous family including mother Vanessa Redgrave and sister Joely Richardson.

This chart is really eerie to read, after the fact. The progressions and solar arcs confirm the transits and I'll only mention the transits.

Natasha Richardson
b. May 11, 1963 5 pm London, England

Sun 21 Taurus; ASC 14 Libra; Moon 23 Sagittarius; MC 18 Cancer; NN 24 Cancer

Death is said to show up in one's chart through the 8th House and through the 12th and 4th Houses which show endings in one way or another. The 1st House or Ascendant rules the Physical Body.

Accidents are ruled by a combination of Mars and Uranus due to Mars' tendency to act rashly and Uranus' tendency to create sudden, shocking events. Transiting Mars, Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune are all in opposition aspect of some sort to Richardson's natal Mars 20 Leo-Uranus 1 Virgo. This past week-end transiting Mars was passing over the Aquarius-Pisces cusp in close opposition to her natal Uranus (Accidents).

Natally, Richardson had an out of sign opposition of Saturn in Aquarius to Uranus which is mirrored by the current Saturn-Uranus opposition that is occurring by transit and is layered very closely over her 6th/12th house cusps showing some sort of extra stress having to do with Health. Saturn rules Richardson's 4th House and is conjunct her 12th House cusp. Emotionally she may have feeling a little lost.

(I said I wouldn't mention it but her Solar Arcs show a double whammy of Uranus to Angles: SA Uranus conjunct natal Ascendant and AS MC conjunct natal Uranus. )

This week-end, transiting Mars was passing over the Leo-Virgo cusp which can create a vulnerability to accidents. Mars, in particular, indicates accidents to the head and brain which I think was where Richardson's damage was.

An Accident alone doesn't indicate Death. In Richardson's case I think that the current Venus Retrograde in mid degrees of Aries really exaggerated the problem for her. For one, Venus disposits to Mars. For two, Venus is transiting over her Descendant, a major angle which opposes her Ascendant (ruler of Physical Body). And for three, Venus rules Richardson's Ascendant (Libra) and 8th House Cusp (Taurus). This is a triple whammy aspect which would have happened almost every two years, the amount of time it takes for Venus to pass through all the signs. The difference here is that Venus is moving in Retrograde which is a very long transit.

Her Sun, which represents Vitality, is also in her 8th House along with Mercury. This can mean many things, including accounting for her many charms as an actress. In this case both Sun and Mercury disposit to that nasty Venus Rx which in turn disposit to Mars which is opposing itself by transit. Again, Solar Arc Jupiter is in Richardson's 8th House and in conjunction to her natal Sun. I believe that Lois Rodden said that she would rather go out on a beneficial Jupiter aspect of some kind. I guess this is when the parties are better in Heaven.

I can't help it but I'll add some significant Progressions because they are so significant. Richardson's Progressed Moon was at 8 Virgo conjunct natal Pluto 10 Virgo and also widely conjunct natal Uranus. In her Progressed Chart Uranus and Neptune are both within a degree of conjunction with the MC and ASC respectively. As they don't rule anything in her chart having to do with Death I wouldn't have been able to read them as such but would notice that they indicate a big change of some sort. I have found that both planets can throw off one's sense of balance on many planes of existence at once.