Mr. Rogers

[Jim Eshelman]

Fred McFeely Rogers was born March 20, 1928, 8:20 AM, in Latrobe, PA. The data is rated A, having come in a letter from Mr. Rogers, based on the concurring memory of several relatives.


He died December 27, 2003 (time unknown) in Pittsburgh, PA, of stomach cancer that had been discovered about two months earlier. Transits included
t Pluto conj. r Saturn 19'
t Uranus ssq. r Jupiter 54'
t Venus conj. r MC 48'

His final SLR (February 3) looks more like the chart of the start of a great adventure than anything else. His natal Sun-Uranus conjunction straddles Midheaven, as his Pluto rises. The only transiting planet angular is Mercury. But his Demi-SLR of February 17 is quite lethal and probably painful, with Saturn at MC opposite Mars-Pluto on IC - Mars 23' past conjunction with his Saturn, Pluto 28' before it. The mundoscope is staggeringly, painfully exact, giving me doubt of the accuracy of the birth time.

Saturn 0°52' before MC
Mars 0°56' after IC
-- Ma/Sa on meridian 0°02'
r Saturn 1°14' past IC
Pluto 1°16' past MC
-- t Pluto conj. r Saturn 0°02' in mundo
-- t Mars conj. r Saturn 0°18' in mundo
-- Mars-Pluto conj. 0°20' in mundo
-- Saturn-Pluto op. 0°52' in mundo
-- Mars-Saturn op. 1°48' in mundo
-- t Saturn op. r Saturn 2°02'

I became interested in his chart today because we just saw the documentary (making the rounds of theaters) Will You Be My Neighbor?, which is an exceptional and moving telling of the story of his life's work. It's possibly the most powerful movie of the year, though of course it won't be the most profitable. We recommend it.

One basic observation is that his Pisces Sun and Aquarius Moon are perfect. In dozens of separate ways, one can say that hese two sign placements define most of what is basic to him - way too much to go into, but those interested in him can easily uncover what I mean.

I had expected a reigning Venus. That was my blind spot. Several times they snuck in (quietly, but openly) that his character was shaped by anger that he and his sister were never allowed to express. Accordingly, his only angular planet is Mars in Capricorn square his Ascendant partile.

His one main Venus factor won't surprise anyone: Mercury conjoins Venus 0°56'.

[Jim Eshelman]

Here are some boiler-plate highlights of the chart:

Moon in Aquarius
Instinct for interconnection of things & breadth (diverse interests) as sources of genius. Intellectually rebellious, curious, investigative, futuristic. Science, analysis, discovery. Free spirit + social responsibility. Sexually curious; strange marital conditions. Humane: sympathetic to others’ troubles. Social idealist, reformer. Avoids “herd mind.” Occultists. Space, astronomy, astrology, sci fi, etc.

Sun in Pisces
Drawn to the foreign, exotic, wondrous, theatrical, mysterious, glamorous. Wanderlust. Drama, acting, music. Eros vs. moralism. Socially charming. Visionary, romantic, dreamer. Seeks idealistic relationships. Hardened personal reality, stuck patterns. Slavery-bondage. Fickle allegiance, betrayal.

Mars in Capricorn
Courage, stands own ground (prefers action to complaining). Confrontational, discontent: creates unnecessary struggle & conflict (over authority, control, father issues). Private, secretive, self-veiling. (Mysterious façade, or deceptive; to avoid control, look good, or not be found out). Much unresolved shadow; vulnerable to dark moods; carries past darkness around. Sexually forthright (strong needs + practicality).

Mercury in Aquarius
Unconventional clever mind unfettered by formality & standard practice. Idealist, futurist, needs intellectual freedom. Objective, less personal thinking. Doesn’t mince words (words come easily). Varied interests (well-rounded breadth or dissipation). Musical.

Mercury Conjunct Venus (0°56')
Gracious expression, charmer, persuasive, maybe even a “sweet talker.” Light-hearted, pleasant. Delights in learning (learns easily). Probably a happy childhood; retains a playful, childlike sense, a charm of immaturity.

Venus in Aquarius
Realists in relationships: take others as they find them. Cool, aloof; often disinterested, dismissive. Won’t surrender autonomy or “get lost in someone.” Pragmatic in relationships; okay with (desires?) many variations. Many identify with purposeful community (often idealistic). Private about their personal lives. Not prone to marry. (Moody, depressed.)

[Lance]

I had expected a reigning Venus. That was my blind spot. Several times they snuck in (quietly, but openly) that his character was shaped by anger that he and his sister were never allowed to express. Accordingly, his only angular planet is Mars in Capricorn square his Ascendant partile.

That's really surprising to me.

It reminds me of his defense of PBS funding before the U.S. Senate. Very controlled, calmly articulated passion.

In this clip, he mentions the importance of children learning to deal with anger three times, centering importance on that theme.

The song he uses as an example of his work:

"What do you do with the mad that you feel?
When you feel so made you could bite,
when the whole wide world seems oh so wrong
and nothing you do seems very right
What do you do?
Do you punch a bag?
Do you pound some clay or some dough?
Do you round up friends for a game of tag,
Or see how fast you go?
It's great to be able to stop
when you planned a thing that's wrong
and be able to do something else instead
and think this song"
(...continues...)

So, here he is calmly fighting for what he believes in, which seems primarily focused on teaching children to control aggressive feelings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q

[Lance]

So that's Mars partile square the Ascendant being modified by

Jupiter partile sesquisquare Neptune - Idealist
and
Mercury partile conjunct Venus - Gracious, persuasive, charmer

Aggressive peacemaking?

[Danica]

A Mars in Capricorn person speaking about importance of controlling own aggression - I don't find this strange at all

[Lance]

A Mars in Capricorn person speaking about importance of controlling own aggression - I don't find this strange at all

Would you see that as a function of being secretive/not wanting to be negatively judged? Suppression/repression?

[Danica]

A Mars in Capricorn person speaking about importance of controlling own aggression - I don't find this strange at all

Would you see that as a function of being secretive/not wanting to be negatively judged? Suppression/repression?

My thoughts were: self-control and aggression - those two words are quite fitting for Capricorn and Mars.

P.S. Thanks for the link. It was very interesting to watch, having in mind his chart.

[Venus_Daily]

I know this is an old thread, but I just saw the trailer for the Mr. Rogers biopic starring Tom Hanks.
Mr. Rogers was a true humanitarian, and although he had his Mars in Capricorn, he was very gentle due to his strong Piscean and Aquarian disposition. I was always teased as a child because I had a very large crush on Mr. Rogers. Now, I can see why through the synastry. His Pluto opposite is my natal moon within a few minutes. His moon is opposite my son within a few minutes. His Uranus opposite my Venus within a degree, and his Sun opposite my pluto within a degree or two. His Jupiter is also losely square my moon, and his neptune is conjunct my mercury. Very strange, I always found him so soothing and hypnotic. I know its weird.

[Veronica]

I love him too and I dont even need to look at a chart.
He was an Earth Angel.
I cant wait to see the movie and Tom Hanks was the perfect choice.