Part Two: Best Supporting Actress & Actor

Every nominee has to be hot, astrologically speaking, to get to the point of an Oscar nomination. But as for actually winning, the question becomes: Who’s the HOTTEST come Oscar night?

Also read: Part One: The Oscar Ceremony & Seth MacFarlane

Sometimes it’s like choosing between an inside straight, a flush, or a full house: which nominee’s chart––and its energetic aspects––trumps the others? That is what we are here to discern. Maestro, the nominees, please!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

First up, here is the chart of Jacki Weaver, who played the snack-baking mother and wife in Silver Linings Playbook. Her birth time’s unknown, so we’ll use a noon chart:

Jacki was born a Gemini, and Mr. Good Luck himself, Jupiter, is transiting now close to her Sun, or sense of self—filling her with buoyancy and giving her the good fortune of a nomination. Uranus, planet of sudden changes, also makes a direct opposition to her natal Neptune, associated with film, and her role in Silver Linings was not that big, so the nomination was a bit surprising. But we also find Saturn, Mr. “Not-So-Fast, Bub,” sitting in a square (hard 90-degree angle) to Pluto, lord of power. That’s a “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” sort of energy—so I think we’re safe in saying that Ms. Weaver appreciates the opportunity but will not take home the gold.

Next, let’s look at another Gemini, Helen Hunt…PLEASE!

Her performance as a sex therapist in The Sessions certainly gives new meaning to the term “attractive older woman.” At age 49, Helen was completely naked, both physically and emotionally. That fits astrologically, because for the last year she has had Uranus, planet of youth and rebellion, crossing over her Moon and bringing her image as a woman into a more freedom-oriented state. But does she have the astrological signature of a winner?

With Jupiter (expansiveness) caressing her Venus (arts/pleasures) in early Gemini, but also sitting at cross purposes with Mars (willpower/aggression) in Virgo (pickiness), odds are that she is admired for her courage in taking on the role, but not rewarded for it. Saturn (hard luck) conjunct Neptune (creativity) confirms it. She—and we—must be contented with her bold choice and empathetic performance.

Next up, “The Flying Nun” who’s still flying high—Sally Field:

Sally’s sign is Scorpio, a sign of passion and willfulness, and her performance as Mary Todd Lincoln was powerful and direct. Portraying a slightly unhinged woman who suffered from depression, Sally currently finds her own chart under similar Uranian and Saturnian aspects. Uranus-Moon aspects are sometimes associated with mental illness, and in Sally’s chart they are currently conjunct. This can indicate brilliance, domestic chaos or emotional breakdown. If nothing else, this energy helped her understand Mary’s character.

Saturn in one’s Sun-sign often brings recognition after long effort, and the sobering Saturn square Saturn-Pluto aspect in her chart illustrates the seriousness of the role as well as the challenges of her current life, but this tough transit is not what you’d normally see in the chart of a winner. Sally, the planets and stars like you—they really, really like you—but this year the nomination is your reward.

And now, someone who could really pull an upset, according to the stars—Amy Adams.

Every nominee should wish for aspects like Amy has this year: transiting Saturn (rewards for long effort) in a harmonious trine to its own natal position and also in a trine to Jupiter, giver of blessings. That’s a winning combination. With a Moon-Pluto conjunction in Libra to go along with her radiant Sun-Mercury conjunction in Leo, Amy is a smarter and more emotionally intense individual than her previous roles have given her room to show. Her role as the manipulative wife in The Master showcases her chart’s strength.

Jupiter is also in a flowing trine to Amy’s natal Pluto, another indicator of empowerment or success. And transiting Uranus, that lightning bolt full of surprises, also trines Amy’s Venus, which rules the arts. Meryl Streep had a similar trine in her chart when she won last year. You could do worse than bet on Amy Adams to pull an upset, and I will not be surprised if she wins. You heard it here first.

You have to have an inside straight to beat an astrological hand like that. But however unlikely, someone does. Here is the chart of Anne Hathaway:

Named after William Shakespeare’s wife, Ms. Hathaway has an intense chart, with all the planets grouped together in basically four signs. This indicates a highly focused individual whose life is one of great passions. She just turned 30, and during the traditionally harsh Saturn Return at age 29, Anne played, in Les Miserables, a desperate young woman who turns to prostitution. Like Sally Field, Anne has a Sun-Jupiter conjunction in Scorpio, which is where Saturn (earned rewards) currently sits. Does that mean an Oscar this year?

Jupiter (blessings) is currently sitting in an opposition to Uranus (breakthroughs), a very lucky combination. Transiting Uranus is also very close to the Nadir, or bottom of the chart, and thus by polarity electrifies the Midheaven (career point) at the top. This looks like a career breakthrough. Neptune is also square Uranus, another indicator that change is afoot. But the aspect that looks like it will give Anne a golden statuette is the transiting North Node, or life destiny point, crossing over her extraordinarily lucky Venus-Jupiter-Sun conjunction. Time for the big speech! Looks like she’s earned it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

This is a strong category this year, with several upset possibilities being supported by the stars. First we’ll cast our glance upon the chart of Django Unchained actor Christoph Waltz:

Lack of a birth time restricts us from waltzing in and being even more precise, but we can see enough to determine that perhaps this is not Christoph’s year to win. While he does at the moment have a lovely Jupiter sextile Uranus aspect, which can give unexpected good fortune, as well as Uranus in a flowing trine to its own natal position, these are aspects which peaked in December when Uranus turned direct at 4 degrees Aries. The recognition which has flowed from that energy has carried through to a nomination—but that, I think, will be about as far as he goes this year.

Now here’s the chart of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who made a dark spectacle of himself in The Master. With an unknown birth time, this is a noon chart as well:

Hoffman, no stranger to authoritative roles with that Sun in Leo, finds himself between cycles this year. While the Vegas oddsmakers think it possible for him to win, I am afraid that the cosmos does not agree. Yes, Uranus is approaching his Saturn (recognized accomplishments), giving him a shot at an upset, and Jupiter is blessing his natal Venus, ruler of the arts…but Mr. Saturn is by transit also sitting in a hard square to buoyant Jupiter, giving his Oscar chances a bit of a cold shower. However, with that approaching Uranus transit, it looks like he could be back next year, being recognized for an unusual role.

Next up is Alan Arkin, whose unprintable catchphrase was one of the best things about Ben Affleck’s Argo.

Arkin, who has made a superb late career out of playing snarky old men, has one great astrological aspect going for him on Oscar night: Uranus (breakthroughs) sitting next to his natal Sun in Aries and also making a flowing trine to his Midheaven (point of recognition). It’s a revolutionary aspect and even the plot of Argo had to do with revolution. The Oscars’ Moon is in Leo, as is Arkin’s natal Moon—a good sign—and it rises above the chart’s horizon by the start of the ceremony. Still, it’s coming off an opposition to Saturn (restrictions) and I think that means that for Alan Arkin’s chances this year, it’s close but no cigar.

Two other actors have even better aspects. Here’s the chart of the favorite in the race, Tommy Lee Jones:

His wily Congressman in Lincoln was a thing of beauty, and Jupiter, ruler of the law, currently sits in Jones’s 1^st House of personality, bringing him an expansive period in his life. On Oscar night, that lucky planet also sits in Jones’s chart in an exact flowing trine to Neptune, ruler of film… in the 5^th House of creativity. That could well be victory. What’s more, transiting Venus (pleasure) is in an exact trine to his natal Jupiter, in the 6^th House of work. The transiting Moon in Leo makes a lovely sextile (60-degree opportunity angle) to Jones’s Jupiter on Oscar night as well. So far, so good.

But now we come to some less-than-auspicious aspects. Tommy Lee’s natal Moon is in Taurus, and the Oscars Moon makes a hard 90-degree square to it, usually not indicative of success. Transiting Jupiter also is making a quincunx—a 150-degree, “Sorry, there’s more work to be done” angle—to Jones’s natal Venus, ruler of the arts. So even though Uranus (sudden change) is making a nice flowing trine to Saturn (achievement), there are enough mixed aspects here to give us pause. Does he win? I think his odds, astrologically, are no better than 50-50.

Who does that leave as a potential upset victor? None other than the great (but not rewarded lately) Robert De Niro.

A Sun-sign Leo like Hoffman, De Niro’s status as an actor is unrivaled and he now gives us an OCD-prone father to bipolar Bradley Cooper in the delightful Silver Linings Playbook. Like Arkin, he also has a lucky Jupiter-Uranus connection occurring; but in a twist of astrological fate, De Niro is now experiencing two of them at the same time!

First is a conjunction by transiting Jupiter, lord of luck, to his chart’s surprise-prone Uranus—which screams “UPSET!” Transiting Uranus is also in a harmonious trine to De Niro’s Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in Leo—which translates as empowerment. People win lotteries under aspects like these.

The Moon on Oscar night is also in late Leo, close to De Niro’s Sun. The astrological rule of thumb is that when the Moon is crossing through your Sun-sign—especially if you’ve got multiple planets there, as De Niro does—you’ve got a lot of extra pizzazz going for you! President Obama, also a Sun-sign Leo, won reelection under a Leo Moon. The Oscars Moon also well-aspects De Niro’s Saturn, rewarder of past efforts.

Just to add a smidgen of doubt to the mix, Saturn (Mr. “Forget About It!”) is currently in a hard square to De Niro’s Jupiter, a restrictive aspect that mitigates the possible lightning-strike victory. On Oscar night, Mercury (communications) is also retrograde, which could mean snafus. But it’s transiting only a few degrees away from De Niro’s Pisces Moon (for an actor, the Moon represents the audience), with Mars (action) also close by.

The last time De Niro won (for Raging Bull, in 1981), he was also under similarly auspicious astrological energies (Sun-Venus-Mars trine his Jupiter-Pluto conjunction, among other aspects). Tommy Lee Jones’s chart does not show similar aspects to his last victory—in 1994, for The Fugitive. We’ll never know, of course, but I do think the vote will be close.

Still, I’m going out on a limb and giving the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor to Robert De Niro in an upset victory. This year, it looks like the planets are once more revolving around his star.

Just don’t touch his remote.

NEXT UP: BEST ACTRESS AND BEST ACTOR!

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That’s right, we don’t have to endlessly peruse statistics, corner Academy members, make our own guesses or even trust Harvey Weinstein’s considerable clout: no, the very patterns of the heavens will tell us the winners.

As proof, last year we were 7 for 7 in our predictions, including Meryl Streep’s surprise upset of Viola Davis for Best Actress, which occurred precisely as stated in these pages–standing ovation, teary speech and all. How did we know it was Meryl redux? Neptune trine her Sun, Uranus trine her Ascendant. That’s astro-speak for: “THE ASTROLOGY SAID SO!”

We all live within a matrix of greater energies, cyclical cosmic patterns which begin at the moment of birth and continue throughout our lives. Good fortune and honors tend to occur when patterns are harmonious, as they were in Meryl’s astrological chart in 2012. Despite Viola Davis’s status as the favorite in the race, her energetic aspects were not as favorable, and those things are clear to the professional astrologer. So relax and come along for the ride as we see once more what the stars above are saying!

First we’ll look at the chart for the ceremony itself, set for Sunday, February 24th in Hollywood, CA. The official start, according to the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is 5:30PM pm PST, which corresponds to the actual start of the telecast. This is the astrological chart for that moment:

We first notice that most of the planets are on the right, or western side of the chart, indicating that cooperative themes will be spotlighted. The solitary hero is out of luck this year. Indeed, the Sun, representing the ceremony’s sense of identity, is in the 7^th House, associated with partnerships. While this is the case every year, with the ceremony beginning just before sunset, this year the Sun has some planetary company in this sector. This says that relationship movies and conflictual “us vs. them” themes have a central place in this year’s show.

The ceremony used to be held in late March, but was moved up in order to shorten the seemingly interminable Oscar campaigns. With the shift to late February, the Oscars’ Sun-sign changed from Aries to Pisces—fire to water. The celebs may shiver more in their skimpy gowns, but the compensation is that the energy of the show seems more in alignment with old-time glamour and the “magic” of Hollywood.

Pisces, after all, is a sign associated with the imagination. Its ruling planet is Neptune, which in this year’s chart is transiting near the Sun (as it will be for the next three years or so) and is also in its own sign. Neptune is associated with creativity, spirituality, dreams and glamour. Fantasy films, or those with a lighter touch, do well under this aspect, as was evidenced last year with “The Artist” winning Best Picture under a frothy planetary alignment.

This year’s chart has that same (often very confusing but creative) Neptune-Sun aspect, but here it also straddles the 7^th House cusp—the point given in astrology to marriage and relationships, war and peace, and direct dealings with others. This seems to correlate with several movies nominated, such as Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and Amour.

And the Moon, a few hours from being full, has just risen and inhabits the 12^th House, which in astrology is given to secrets, clandestine activities, caregiving, suffering, confinement and subconscious habit patterns. Let’s see—that describes, wholly or in part, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Life of Pi, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Les Miserables and Django Unchained. And the Moon’s cruising through late Leo, a sign associated with leadership—also a theme this year. It’s no accident that, under these energies, serious dramas take the limelight now rather than lightweight fare. Expect one of them to win Best Picture.

This year’s ceremony takes place under a Mercury Retrograde, so glitches and misspoken speeches may be part of the milieu. Jupiter, planet of expansion and good fortune, sits prominently in the 10^th House of social status and reputation. Jupiter also rules ethics and the law, and several films concerned with legal issues were nominated this year…Lincoln, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Django, Les Miz…you get the picture.

Saturn, planet of hard work, frustrations and accomplishment through sustained effort, sits in the 3^rd House of communications. Make sure you have a pillow handy, because this says the ceremony will be as long as ever. Saturn also rules history, and several hard-hitting historical dramas made the cut. Mercury (communications) is also hanging out with Mars (god of war), in the 7^th House of partnerships. The word “gritty” comes to mind. Hearts-and-flowers films are a bit out of place this year.

Now let’s look at the birth chart of the host, Seth MacFarlane:

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The weather had been great—a little too consistent, in fact. Things had gotten a little boring. Lots of sun, waves that were clear and perfect, a social life that reminded you of why you’d come to the warmer climes. To be honest, you’d gotten a little lazy.

But just as you thought to yourself that you’d rather relax than finish that novel, came the phone call you’d been waiting for. The agent said, “Good news! We want the book. It’ll be great, high visibility. But we’ve got a specific timeline we’re looking at for the promo campaign. Can you get the completed manuscript to us in a month?”

Well, you’d stopped listening after you heard the phrase “We want the book.” You’d embraced your significant other and were crushing lips when you realized you had only half the book written and the agent was saying, “We want it in thirty days.” So you just said, “Of course!”

Then you dropped the phone and panicked. You put your protesting partner on a plane and promised another vacation after you’d put this novel to bed. Then, with a sigh but with determination and a Red Bull in hand, you confronted your unfinished manuscript.

And that’s the energy of this week. With the Sun entering Virgo, a sign which loves things to be “just so,” and Mars, the planet of action, moving into Scorpio, a sign of extremes, THE KEYNOTE THIS WEEK IS MOTIVATION! It’s a big shift of energy that can take us from creative conceptualizing into actual implementation.

On Wednesday, August 22^nd, at 9:07 am PDT (12:07 pm EDT), the Sun moves from “living large” Leo into “let me analyze it all” Virgo. This is a more cerebral energy which supports narrowing down big ideas and getting down to the details of how it’s all going to work out. Creative energy made useful is the hallmark of Virgo.

Three keywords to describe Virgo energy: perfectionistic, practical and serviceful. Virgo natives are idealists at heart, but it is more of a mental construct than an actual reality. (Virgo, after all, is ruled by Mercury, also the ruler of Gemini and given to pure intellect.)

To understand Virgo energy you must understand the concept of purity. Something or someone without a perceivable flaw appeals to Virgo natives. Virgo doesn’t mean “virgin” in Latin for nothing. Virgo’s strength is the ability to see the perfection of system, and there may be some neurosis in those who have prominent Virgo aspects in their charts as they strive to attain their cherished ideal.

Virgo natives have an innate comprehension of how things fit together, so if one figure on a spreadsheet or one hair on your head is out of place—oh my God! Their whole day is destroyed. Virgo’s world is orderly, precise and usually very clean! Something that is out of place does not contribute to the perfection of the whole, and Virgos notice this. That’s why they worry so much! They are idealists in an imperfect and disorderly world, often so concerned with details that they overthink and miss the bigger picture.

But there is a positive side to all this emphasis on perfection. For creative artists, the month of Virgo is the time to fine-tune the details of your work. A scene in your screenplay may not be working, or perhaps that one perfect dance step still eludes you. Used well, Virgo energy can be your friend and help you attain your goal of a flawless creative work.

And it’s also brought along its muscle. On Thursday, August 23rd, Mars (Mr. “Go Get ‘Em!” himself) sprints into the power-oriented sign of Scorpio. Mars was considered the ruler of Scorpio until 1930, when Pluto was discovered and astrologers felt it better fit Scorpio’s known qualities. For some astrologers it still is, and in any case Mars is very strong here.

Scorpio is renowned (or notorious, take your pick) for its intensity. Passionate, brooding and not satisfied until the core issues are revealed, Scorpio energy is insight, determination and personal power made manifest. This is a sexy and compelling time, fraught on the darker side with the possibility of terrible violence, but on the more noble side with a phoenix-like dose of transformational energy. People (and planets) who embody Scorpio tend to partake of its compelling qualities: there is an innate intrigue about them. The femme fatale and the Tantric sex therapist are both likely to be Scorpios. So are the vengeance-blinded terrorists and the secretive bankers.

So expect the news, sadly, to be full of sex and violence, or just violent sex. The controversy over Rep. Todd Akin’s remark about “legitimate rape” has erupted just before Mars (in astrology, the ruler of sex) goes into the sign most often associated with sex. Coincidence? I think not! Power issues. Sex. 50 Shades of Grey, anyone? Mars moving from romantic Libra into raw Scorpio is like the difference between a dozen roses and a dozen condoms.

Exuding sexual charisma and entering, detective-like, into the unknown and perhaps forbidden, are Scorpio’s favorite hobbies. The higher element of Scorpio is the ability to grasp the Unseen and hold onto it until a personal resurrection occurs. The very mysteries of life belong here. Mars in Scorpio—in effect until October 7^th—will trigger much personal transformation.

So this is a time period that can be used for positive purposes by creative artists to enhance their personal charisma and status in life. It’s about going deep and pulling out the word, image or physical move that imprints that power onto the art and the audience.

Find your creative power now, fill in all the details until the work is flawless, and you will have fulfilled the promise inherent in this month-long energy cycle.

Weekly forecasts for the 12 Sun Signs, dates approximate for convenience:

ARIES (March 20-April 19): The doctor is calling you into the office for a checkup and you’re resisting. Why don’t you just let the doc do what the doc does best? This week for you is like sitting in the waiting room reading old magazines and then finally standing up to be counted. (Or lying down.) So stop it. If you’d just listen to the inner doctor now, your life would be easier.

TAURUS (April 20-May 19): Sometimes a tussle is good for you, like when the coach calls you names just so you’ll be motivated. This week is one of those times. It’s not certain that you’ll outperform your usual efforts, but the odds are you’ll be more motivated by what is wrong in your life than what is right. And you know, right now that just seems right.

GEMINI (May 20-June 19): The picture frame seemed level a minute ago, but now you’re not sure. So you go back to it, straightening it again. No one else does it, and no one else seems to care. But for you, it must be done. This is a week with a lot of picture straightening in it, a time when your efforts to balance things so they appear perfect preoccupies your mind. To the wall!

CANCER (June 20-July 19): The cherry pie in the oven is about done, and so are your efforts at delaying hunger. You’ve already had an appetizer, and now, halfway through the main course, you’re ready for dessert. This week is about you savoring that pie with a dollop of ice cream and not worrying much about the pounds. Enjoyment calls now. The Weight Gods will help.

LEO (July 20-August 19): Careful on the home front—you don’t want to walk into or cause any wars there. It’s actually not your fault that the pipes in the bathroom burst, but don’t take any unnecessary showers in the meantime. Tone down the bombast this week and your reward is getting what you want without having to raise your voice. Or the shower head.

VIRGO (August  20-September 19): Who takes such delight in working out a personal equation that only you know the answer to? You do! This week, your inner calculator is set on high, as things conspire to hand you a perfect package of fulfilled desires…provided you don’t let others in on how you gamed it all out in your head beforehand. Just smile sweetly and say thanks.

LIBRA (September 20-October 19): You just found that book that spoke to you in childhood of finding buried treasure. Now you’re rereading it and deciding whether you should actually quit your job and go searching for it. The answer is yes—provided you know where to look. This week is about setting goals that have a reasonable chance of success and then hitting it!

SCORPIO (October 20-November 19): You just opened the door and flames struck you in the face. They aren’t coming from anything visible, though, so it must be something within you. To say you’re on fire is a cliché but true this week. The outpouring energy sweeps you away from your stagnant past, putting spring in your step even if it’s summertime. Look! A burning bush!

SAGITTARIUS (November 20-December 19): What was old is new again. A sense of familiarity overcomes you this week as the closet overflows with old projects you abandoned long ago and have just now found again. Completion of unfinished things benefits you now. Make it fun and you won’t resent it. Maybe you should play that “Operation” game again.

CAPRICORN (December 20-January 19): The answer is yes! It’s always yes, but it’s particularly true this week for you. With the fairies sprinkling magic dust on you, you may feel like running into the woods. Go ahead! The worst that can happen? Maybe you end up covered with glitter and have a dreamy time before coming back to reality. Or maybe THAT’S real reality!

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 19): The annoying thing is that you know better than anyone right now what’s really going on, but no one will listen. So you decide to put out a notice that you will be unavailable for consultation until further notice. Your fit of pique actually works and people start phoning you incessantly. Happy now? Just be cool this week.

PISCES (February 20-March 19): Nice that your old philosophy teacher is in town; maybe he’s worth a visit. Or maybe you should just exercise those parts of your brain that make you swim in delirious delight because your thoughts are so original. Who cares if everyone else is confused about you? This week, even your own mind likes surprises. Feed it! Then share.

NEXT WEEK: The North Node changes signs (a bit like changing lanes on the 405 at rush hour), and Mercury tangos harmoniously with Saturn. Learn how their May-December romance is actually good news, next time, right here in STAR PRESENCE!

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