This week we will again mark the birthday of civil rights legend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are so many interesting things about this chart – Venus, his ruling planet, (it rules his rising sign of Taurus) in the 11th house. He had a natural proclivity toward group leadership. The 11th house is where we come together for social change. Also in his 11th is his Moon and Ceres in Pisces – both signs imbue compassion in a person. It is clear that, even if not on such a grand scale, Dr. King would have been a person involved in social change.
Being drawn to the karmic aspects of Astrology, I find his north and south node axis very interesting He was coming from previous lives in Scorpio as his south node is in that sign in the 7th house, that which rules our intimate relationships with others. He came from a good deal of Scorpio drama, passion and control. Scorpios never back away from intensity. Instead they draw toward it – seek it – need it. This was not his first time around being in the center of some social strife. (It was also not his first time walking a tightrope in his sexual relationships.)
His goal in this life was move away from the drama toward the realization of his Taurus North Node in the first house, the house of the physical body and public persona. This was his call for peace instead of bloody conflict in the Civil Rights Movement. Taurus is the peaceful bull who enjoys the calm and beauty of life. Venus called him to lead a peaceful (Taurus) social movement (Venus in the 11th.)
Sadly, Scorpio ruled by Pluto, the god of death and rebirth saw to it that his life was ended in a very Scorpio fashion. That should not diminish either his dream or his huge leaps into message of Taurus.