The pain of being overweight is something many of us can relate to. Food is not just necessary for life, it's also a source of emotional nourishment. But when the desire for food becomes a compulsion - whether we're eating the wrong things or too much of the right things - then something's out of balance, usually on an emotional level.
Assuming your weight gain doesn't have a purely physical cause, overeating usually fills an emotional need. That's where astrology can help. We're going to take a peek at the charts of spokesmodels Valerie Bertinelli, Sarah Ferguson and Queen Latifah to discover their secrets for weight loss.
Grazing at the Moon
In your chart, your Moon represents your emotional needs and how you nurture yourself and others. The Moon's sign and aspects (aspects being the influences from other planets) reveal how you deal with stress and other problems that affect you emotionally - and if you turn to food for comfort. Every Moon sign can have "nourishment" challenges. But when the Moon is "afflicted," that is, influenced by negative aspects, then it's difficult to find emotional balance, as we'll see in the following dramatic examples.
Valerie Bertinelli
Being rich, famous, successful and gorgeous didn't stop actor Valerie Bertinelli - the star of the '70s hit One Day at a Time and numerous TV movies - from having a lifelong battle with weight gain. In her new memoir Losing It - And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time, she shares her struggles with poor self image, depression and the use of cocaine to keep her weight under control.
Red Responds
I don't know much more I can take. Please help!
Truth-telling
Then last year, she had a breakthrough - she became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig and shed 40 pounds. So what's behind her transformation? Actually, her tell-all book doesn't leave much to the imagination, but there are a few astrological secrets to reveal. Born on April 23, 1960, Bertinelli has Sun in Taurus and Moon in Aries. Aries is a very forthcoming sign, hence Bertinelli's openness in revealing her flaws and letting the world see her transformation from fat to slim.
However, Aries is also an impulsive fire sign and given to impulsive eating. But here are the main hurdles: Bertinelli's Moon-Saturn and Moon-Neptune afflictions are the demons plaguing her emotionally. The Saturn influence gives her low self-esteem, while Neptune, the planet of illusion, is responsible for her distorted self-image. It also enabled her to hide her food addiction and drug use from the public.
But it's not all doom and gloom in Bertinelli's chart. She has some powerful strengths to draw upon. Her positive Moon-Venus aspect says she's nourished by sharing her love and creativity with others. And her Moon-Mercury aspect says she's nourished by speaking her truth, which is perfect for an author of a memoir. It also makes her a great spokesmodel. Sharing her story and speaking the truth are the tools of healing for Bertinelli.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
Weight Watchers spokesperson Sarah Ferguson is a Libra, born on October 15, 1959. Intriguingly, she shares Bertinelli's Moon in Aries and her Moon afflictions as well. Ferguson's Moon-Saturn aspect is even stronger than Bertinelli's. For Ferguson, it indicates low self-esteem and an overload of family responsibilities, like having a prince for a husband, which was no piece of cake, and raising two royal princesses as a single, outcast (from the royal family) mom. Her 10-year marriage to Prince Andrew required her to keep up conventional (Saturn) appearances - not easy for an impetuous Moon-in-Aries woman. She probably tramped down her "unacceptable" impulses with food. Then there's her Moon-Neptune aspect. Neptune rules drugs, so she undoubtedly used food like a sedative, just like Bertinelli did.
Gorging on good attitude
So where did she get the strength to live a healthier (and slimmer) lifestyle? The answer, in part, lies with Jupiter. Ferguson's uplifting Moon-Jupiter aspect gives her a positive attitude. It also gives her the ability to envision herself as healthy. Remember, it's much harder, if not impossible, to enact a permanent change if you can't visualize it actually happening. What's more, Jupiter is the planet of faith - in oneself and in a higher power. Support from her inner resources and spiritual life were necessary for Ferguson's transformation.
Queen Latifah
This talented Pisces actor/rapper has starred in such films as Hairspray, Last Holiday and Chicago, for which she earned an Academy Award nomination. Her newest role is spokesperson for Jenny Craig, so she's just now embarking on her own healthy transformation.
Born on March 18, 1970, Latifah has Moon in gregarious Leo, which is a fire-sign like Aries. Leo loves to do things in a big way, including dining at fine restaurants and entertaining friends with lavish food and drink. This living-large lifestyle is intensified by her Moon-Jupiter affliction. Jupiter, after all, is the planet of abundance.
However, her biggest challenge is her Moon-Saturn affliction - yes, just like the one for Bertinelli and Ferguson. For Latifah, emotional gratification (Leo) battles with emotional control (Saturn). Additionally, her Moon-Mars affliction says she eats when she's angry or frustrated.
Okay, enough about her challenges. What can she draw on to lose weight? She'll be successful if she taps into her lovely Moon-Venus aspect (similar to Bertinelli's). Latifah has an abundance of artistry and lots of love to share. Also, her Moon in Leo says she's a leader. So the way to nourish her heart and soul (and thus get her weight under control) is to lead others on the path toward love, creativity and living large through a healthy lifestyle.
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