Whitney Houston was born August 9, 1963 at 8:55pm. Several major aspects dominate her natal chart, contributing to events that led to her death. Neptune falls at 12 degrees of Scorpio, lying in her eighth house of death, drugs and other people’s money. It creates a T square between Venus/Sun and Saturn. A T-Square is a configuration involving three planets that include a 180 degree opposition and two 90 degree squares. When a chart is dominated by a major transit such as this, the individual’s life will be troubled according the nature of the planets involved and their house positions, and an aspect like this one will make or break the individual. On one hand, it gave her the magnetism and creativity to become one of the world’s most loved entertainers, and at the same time it led to her distorted personal life. Venus at 11 degrees of Leo falls in her sixth house of work and health, squared by Neptune in the eighth house of drugs, other people’s money, and death, then opposed by Saturn in her 12th house of self-undoing. Venus rules love and money and the T square involving these two planets would lead to a difficult, if not impossible love life, permeated with problems and obstacles. Drugs/alcohol lies, debt, prisons, isolation, self defeating behavior and betrayal could all be part of the nature of this configuration, and it would not be an easy road to travel. Venus opposes Saturn in a wide orb of eight degrees. Venus-Saturn individuals often have a difficult time finding love, and when they do, it frequently leads to relationships with Saturnine type themes-restrictions, lack of sensitive feelings from others’, hard times, and problems imposed by a partner who can be too harsh, restrictive or problematic in some way. Neptune in her eighth house tells us part of the problem is related to drugs or alcohol, along with a very romantic attitude regarding love. Neptune-Venus individuals are highly romantic, often creative, and frequently ‘in love with love.’ They will go the distance for their partner and sometimes accept behavior from their significant no one else would. Sometimes they cling to a relationship when all hope is lost. Those born under this transit often have an idealized image of their love, as opposed to a realistic one. It can also describe a partner with drug or other addictions associated with the planet Neptune-the planet of illusion, delusion and confusion. Whitney fell in love with troubled singer Bobby Brown, and then spent a decade on the front pages of the tabloids as she herself became addicted to drugs during the marriage. Venus-Neptune individuals can desire love to the extent they are destroyed by their own actions. Marilyn Monroe had almost the same exact fixed T-square in her natal chart! Her Neptune at 24 degrees of Leo fell in her sixth house squaring Saturn in her 8th house of death, and opposed her Venus at 20 degrees of Aquarius. Marilyn was another beloved performer who tapped into the magical energy of Venus-Neptune, but never found lasting love, and in the end died alone of a drug overdose. She too, was the architect of her own undoing, along with the others’ who helped her along her personal path of destruction.
Whitney’s Sun at 16 degrees of Leo opposes Saturn is her twelfth house and is part of the T-square involving Venus and Neptune as well. Saturn in the twelfth house represents an individual who is often their own worst enemy, as well as ‘secret enemies’. These individuals might go unknown and undiscovered for years, posing as a significant entity in the individual’s life. These people could be thought of as friends, family members, or even lovers, before the person discovers they are not actually playing a helpful role at all. Sun in twelfth house is considered the house of karma, and the individual often follows what is seen as a life where most events whether good or bad are outside the individuals control. The Sun represents the soul of the individual and in a woman’s chart it represents the Father, and the primary men in the woman’s life, including husband. Often the father is not really present in some way, or emotionally unavailable, abusive, or weak, and entire identity of the individual becomes affected. The primary relationships to parents often set the tone for what is to come in life and women with Sun-Saturn oppositions in the natal chart often end up with partners who repeat the patterns of limitation learned in early life through the Father. Whitney’s Father was divorced from her Mother Sissy, and married a woman 40 years his junior. He passed away in 2003, and Whitney recently won a lawsuit against her step Mother over the insurance policy that was meant to be hers, according to news reports. This is indicated in her chart by Pluto squaring natal Mars, and Whitney must have felt very angry about her right to collect the life insurance. According to published reports her Father owed her money that was supposed to be repaid years before. The younger Mrs. Houston was angered, and allegedly wanted the money to pay off her mortgage. Whitney was dealing with issues surrounding her father up until the end of her life.
Whitney’s moon at 17 degrees Aries opposes her Mars in the eighth at 8 degrees by a wide orb. Mars-Moon individuals frequently experience a great deal of emotional turmoil, especially in relationships and marriage. In a woman’s chart this can indicate associations with violent men. Mars in the eighth indicates an abusive, dangerous partner, and Pluto in the seventh house of marriage indicates difficult relationships, possibly with someone who has could have criminal tendencies. Pluto events can be life or death situations and this placement indicates a partner that could have something to do with her ultimate demise. Numerous reports indicate husband Bobby Brown contributed to her drug abuse, he was arrested on more than one occasion, and accused of battery. Pluto conjunct Mercury/Uranus in the seventh house would indicate an obsessive-compulsive quality about relationships, and the combination is sometimes fatalistic in terms of attitude. This transit gave her a perfectionist drive and a keen intellect with her music, but it kept her connected to the wrong type of individual for too long a period of time. Uranus in the seventh house indicates a person likely to divorce or not sustain a stable relationship.
By looking at the prominent transits in Whitney’s chart we can get an idea of the major themes of her life during her last year. Transiting Pluto-Mars transits bring out the inner rage in an individual and they often feel pushed beyond their limits. It is a transit that can indicate violence, break ups, and power struggles, along with a need for self-regeneration. There is often conflict over money and joint finances. During the Uranus-Pluto square in spring of 2011, life would have been filled with explosive, sudden events, and power struggles and rage, as well as life threatening dangers. This is the realm of Pluto-Mars. Add Uranus to the mix and events happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Add to that Saturn conjuncting her Mars in the eighth house (drugs) and spring of 2011 would have been a draining, volatile time with many unexpected events taking place in Whitney’s life. Published reports say she entered rehab in May of 2011. During the same period Neptune entered Pisces, creating an opposition to Uranus in her chart. Neptune rules drugs and alcohol, and these tendencies are often triggered by transits of this type. By fall of 2011 Saturn was opposing her moon at 16 degrees of Aries. Saturn-Moon transits often coincide with issues and struggles with women, self reflection, loneliness and feelings of isolation or depression.
Eclipses are timing factors and the December 2011 lunar eclipse fell very close to her fourth house cusp. Along with the eighth and twelfth houses, the fourth is often linked with end of life.
By January 2012, Pluto was moving forward again squaring Mars in her eighth house of death, (exact at time of death.) On February 4, Neptune moved back into Pisces, the sign ruling drugs and alcohol, opposing her Uranus in Virgo. The new moon on February 7 fell in Pisces and conjuncted Neptune, the sign (and planet) associated with drugs and alcohol, opposing Uranus, Pluto and Mercury. Moon-Uranus transits often deal with sudden and unexpected events, and Pluto concerns life altering events.
Last 48 hours
Both the Sun and Mercury in Aquarius conjuncted Saturn in her twelfth house. The twelfth house is sometimes referred to as the ‘end of the journey.’ While Whitney has been portrayed in the media as being social and having fun (Jupiter trines her Uranus, a transit indicative of exuberance and over-indulgence) the influence of both Mercury and the Sun conjunct Saturn show a far different picture than what was portrayed. Sun-Mercury/ Saturn transits, especially hitting the twelfth house would be considered generally prone to tiredness and exhaustion, depression and desirous of spending time alone. There is often a sense of self doubt, worry, responsibilities and critical developments can affect reputation and career. These transits would represent insecurities, potential arguments with others, and problems with romantic opportunity. By the time her body was discovered on February 11, the moon in Libra had crossed Mars, the planet in her eighth house (death). Pluto was squaring Mars at time of death, exact. (2-2012)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Heavenly choir has a new voice now. The voice is angelic and yet familiar to us all. Whitney’s voice stands out strong among the many others. She sings with the vigor of her youth, in days unhampered by years of abuse. Her voice does not waver or crack now and her passion will continue inspire us all long after she is laid to rest. Whitney Houston, Thank You for so much- RIP.