David Attenborough at 100.
This week, David Attenborough, the filmmaker and wildlife host turned 100. As a respite from the dismal politics in the world, I thought a look at a good man would be a suitable antidote to all the negativity in the world at present.
His longevity can be seen in that Taurus Sun. Taureans are fixed earth, they are often strong and their groundedness can bring a long life. The Sun makes a Fixed Grand Cross between Saturn in Scorpio, Jupiter in Aquarius and Neptune in Leo. Again, fixity, especially with Jupiter gives great staying power and tenacity. Fixed Grand Crosses can be a bane or a blessing. In his case, I feel the blessing was that he found his niche and worked at it his whole life, with incredible success. Taurus rules nature, Jupiter in Aquarius shows vision and forward thinking, plus excellence in communication, Saturn in Scorpio knows how to use emotion to make their case, Neptune in Leo is the film maker par excellence, stunning visuals, heartwarming dialogue, a soft spoken warmth and approachability.
We do not have a time of birth for him, which brings two issues, his Ascendant and his Moon sign. We have to look at transits to try and work these out.
His first big break in TV was in 1952, we do not have exact dates but during that year, Pluto was between 21′-23′ Leo, conjunct his natal Neptune at 22′ Leo, which feels like good symbolism for television (Neptune). At the same time transiting Neptune was opposing his natal Mercury at 21′-23′ Libra, repeating the Neptune theme with Mercury showing communication. Transiting Uranus was at 12′-18′ Cancer conjunct his natal Pluto at 13′ Cancer, Uranus being technology.
In 1965 he became controller of the new channel BBC2. Here, the transits were completely different, suggesting the admin and programming role may not have been ideal. In that year, Neptune was opposing his Sun at 19′ Scorpio, Jupiter was transiting his Sun at 16′ Taurus to 1′ Cancer, while Saturn was conjunct his Mars at 3′ Pisces. One of the shows he commissioned was The Money Show (Taurus) which lasted 44 years. He was also responsible for introducing colour TV (Jupiter in Aquarius).
In 1969 he became BBC director of programes, where he commissioned such groundbreaking programes as Monty Python, Pot Black (snooker) and Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation. In that year, Saturn was conjunct his natal Mercury (18′ Aries-5′ Taurus) and Uranus was possibly opposing his natal Moon at 3′-6′ Libra.
In 1973 he resigned from BBC management to make more programes. Pluto was possibly opposite his natal Moon (4′-5′ Libra) while Uranus was opposite his natal Mercury (22′-24′ Libra).
In 1977 he started the Wildlife series of programes, which ran for 28 years. In that year, Saturn was conjunct his natal Neptune at 15′-29′ Leo, while Jupiter was opposite his natal Saturn (21′ Taurus-6′ Cancer).
Blue Planet was released in 2001. In that year, Uranus was opposite his natal Neptune (the sea), Saturn was opposite his natal Saturn (24′ Taurus – 11′ Gemini) and Jupiter was conjunct his natal Pluto (2′ Gemini – 14′ Cancer).
Blue Planet II was released in 2017 and received 14 million views in the UK and was a massive hit worldwide. That year, Uranus was conjunct natal Mercury (20′-25′ Aries) and Jupiter was opposite at 21′ Libra – 11′ Scorpio.
So which transits showed up the most? Transits to his natal Mercury (1952, 1969, 1973, 2017) 5 times. Then transits to natal Neptune, (1952, 1977, 2001). Transits to early Aries (possibly his Moon) occurred in 1969 and 1973. Transits to his Sun only occurred while he was controller of BBC2 (1965) and to his natal Saturn in (1977, 2001) (Wildlife and Blue Planet I)
How about the Ascendant? One way to try to work it out if there is no time, is to look at relationships/marriage which encompass the 1st and 7th houses. Attenborough married in 1950 to Jane Oriel. She died suddenly in 1997 when Attenborough was filming in New Zealand, he said of her, she was,
‘The focus of my life, the anchor had gone… now I was lost’.
We do not have the date of either their marriage or Jane’s death. But in 1950, Jupiter traveled between 6′-27′ Aquarius. In 1997 Jupiter traveled between 26′ Capricorn and 13′ Aquarius and Uranus between 3′-5′ Aquarius. Her death was sudden, a shock and fast, all of which speak of Uranus. Jupiter was in early Aquarius both when he married and when she died. This suggests the 7th house was triggered by that transit. Which might give him a Leo ascendant and an Aquarius descendant (that anchor-Saturn in Scorpio in the 4th).
This rectification gives us an Aries MC with Sun, Mercury and Chiron in the 10th house. In 1952, his big break, Jupiter passed over his MC, between 5′ Aries and 16′ Taurus, while Saturn was conjunct the 4th house (14′-20′ Libra). When he was made director of programes in 1969, Saturn was conjunct his MC (18′ Aries – 5′ Taurus). When he resigned from BBC management in 1973 Uranus was opposite his 10th house Mercury and Pluto opposite his 9th house Mercury (and perhaps his Moon). The job obviously did not suit him, he wanted to travel and make films not be a desk bound administrator. When he started his Wildlife series of programes in 1977, which were to run for 28 years, Pluto was between 14′-16′ Libra maybe conjunct his IC.
One of his most famous series was Blue Planet released on September 12 2001. Neptune (the sea!) was a 6′ Aquarius, picking up his ascendant (maybe) and Mercury was at 14′ Libra. Blue Planet II was released 29th October 2017, Venus was at 18′ Libra and Mars at 3′ Libra. You could argue his MC was Libra making him Aquarius rising, but I feel he shows the warmth and playfulness of Leo.
We cannot know for sure, but I like a Leo Ascendant for him. He has inspired a massive following, and his demeanour is friendly and modest, but his power and influence is in disputable. Among the tributes for his birthday was a massive celebration at the Albert Hall. He walked into the celebration and acknowledged the birthday wishes with dignity and kindness, real Leo attributes. Multiple birthday wishes were recorded by wildlife organisations, ordinary people, which is the sign of a true leader and an inspirational man.
That his Moon was in Aries also fits. Aries are rule breakers, high energy, visionaries and future orientated people. He certainly showed bravery in some of his films. Looking into the eyes close up with a female gorilla comes to mind, there were many, many other occasions where he faced danger with equanimity. If the Ascendant is correct, then Moon, Venus and Uranus are in the 9th house of long distance travel, which also seems right. I think of the 9th house as representing the teacher/guru, which undoubtedly he is. He has brought nature into our living rooms to save it from ourselves and doubtless has converted many into cherishing this beautiful blue planet.
Elisabeth Brooke 