The Astrology of Heath Ledger
The shocking planets of a fallen star
by Cortney Litwin
The sudden death of actor Heath Ledger has stunned his family, friends and fans around the world on January 22, 2008, when the 28-year-old Australian film star was found dead on the bedroom floor of his Manhattan apartment.
Sleeping pills, a rolled up $20 bill and other prescription meds were found in his apartment suggesting a drug overdose that was later confirmed as "accidental." What happened to this talented young actor? Ledger's astrological chart reveals a complex man who was both willful and extraordinarily sensitive - and under extreme pressure from planetary influences. Let's take a closer look at his chart to see what the stars say about his destiny.
Man of a thousand faces
He was headstrong, daring and independent, but also empathetic, home-loving and reclusive. Born on April 4, 1979 in Perth, Australia, under the sign of Aries, Ledger ascended to stardom from his role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain, for which he won an Oscar nomination for best lead actor. Ledger also starred in such popular films as 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot and A Knight's Tale He had just completed a masterful portrayal of The Joker in the box office smash The Dark Knight, shortly before his death.
Water and fire
Aries is known for being impulsive, even reckless. And Ledger's Sun-Pluto opposition heightened his willfulness. It gave him the urge to test his own limits by living life on the edge. But he had another side as well. His Moon in home-loving Cancer gave him a sensitive heart. However, his water-sign Moon was at odds with his fiery Sun in Aries, making for an emotionally volatile tug-of-war inside him. On the plus side, this internal struggle was undoubtedly a catalyst for his creativity. Adding to his volatility - and to his brilliance as an actor - was his Venus, Mercury and Mars in Pisces, the sign of empathy and psychic sensitivity. The Pisces placements allowed him to tap into the psyche of the characters he portrayed, giving his performances a riveting realism.
Star-crossed in love
In relationships, Venus in Pisces says Ledger was easily hurt and disillusioned, a feeling that was intensified by an opposition from Saturn in Virgo. This influence made him unusually sensitive to rejection and quite defensive when he felt vulnerable. He reportedly took the breakup with fiancée Michelle Williams last fall very hard. The couple met on the set of Brokeback Mountain, in which they played husband and wife. Williams has Sun and Moon in sensual, analytical Virgo. They had an "opposites attract" type of relationship because Virgo and Pisces are opposite signs. Most important, his Saturn in Virgo near her Virgo placements was an undeniable karmic tie, one that included parenthood - they have a 2-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose, a Scorpio.
True love
Matilda's water-sign Sun dovetails with her father's Cancer and Pisces placements, indicating a profound emotional bond. After her birth, Ledger was quoted as saying, "Before, I felt like I was floating through life, like a ghost; I may not have even existed." These feelings undoubtedly stemmed from his ethereal Pisces placements. Also, his sense of disconnection was heightened by an afflicted Neptune, which indicated he may have felt disillusioned with life in the "real world." Having a child gave his life a new meaning. Matilda Rose's sun sign, Scorpio is the ruler of death and transformation, which will eventually help her heal from the tragic loss of her father.
Saturn Return
So what was happening in Ledger's chart at the time of his death? Since September, he was undergoing a "Saturn return," when Saturn transited into Virgo, the sign it was in at his birth. Saturn returns are notoriously difficult. He probably felt like an albatross had descended on him, challenging him to be more responsible and face up to his actions and choices in life. Even worse, transiting Saturn opposed his Venus, triggering his natal Saturn-Venus opposition. That's a depressing aspect that can make one feel isolated, even when surrounded by friends and family. Only those closest to Ledger know how he handled this influence, but it probably brought out the worst in his Pisces placements by making him depressed, withdrawn and drawn to excesses. Because Pisces rules escapism, the temptation to use drugs to escape the pain would have been overwhelming and nearly impossible to resist.
Whatever he was going through then, he's at peace now. And the love of those he cared for will be felt by him in the afterlife.