Astrological Profile – Martin Luther King, Jr Part I

‘All I’m saying is simply this; that all life is interrelated, that somehow we’re caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A confluence of planets in relevant places is required to indicate an individual who is a revolutionary, a seer and someone with an intense amount of passion and profound understanding. As I mentioned in a previous article, such souls do not feel so comfortable within this realm of existence. They are here for a reason, to make a mark upon the planet. And in order for this to occur, they must be quite a step above the status quo. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s astrology bears many of the aforementioned hallmarks. The temptation is there to touch upon every aspect of his birth chart in minute detail. But the scope of such a work would be momentous.

Although the Sun Sign is an indicator of the outward expression of an individual, the rising sign and its associations show the inner impulse of the individual.

King was born with his ascendant (rising sign) in the early degrees of Taurus. So, with his ascendant having just recently exited the sign of Aries, many of the passionate and impulsive qualities would have carried over into the stubborn sign of Taurus. Martin Luther King, Jr. was actively driven, but for all the right reasons.

His rising sign was very closely conjunct Jupiter, also in Taurus. Both occupy the lunar mansion of Ashwini. connected with swiftness but also to a healing presence. His charisma was obviously a result of this energy. But most importantly, here was a man deeply concerned about the comfort (Taurus) and welfare of all humans. His mind moved deeply and swiftly, as was necessary for his purpose and position. He was ahead of his time (Ashwini) with a mind more expansive (Jupiter) than most.

Jupiter conjunct the ascendant bears the mark of a teacher, and is extremely potent. But intensifying this is the fact that Jupiter forms what is known as a Grand Trine with at least two other planets. A trine is a harmonious aspect of approximately 120 degrees (+ or – 7 degrees). The planets involved work together well to bear their fruits. A Grand Trine is when 3 planets are involved in such a configuration. Their positions form a triangle. Involved in this aspect are three transpersonal planets; Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune.

Jupiter, as already expressed is in the sign of Aries and the lunar mansion of Ashwini. King’s natal Neptune was in the sign of Virgo and the lunar mansion of Magha. The critical nature of Virgo was put to positive use in the case of King. He was not only able to express the manner in which much had gone wrong in humanity. There was also the visionary creativity of understanding how to set them right once more. Neptune in Magha, in MLK’s chart, created an imagination capable of freeing minds from their entrapment.

Both Neptune and Jupiter form a trine with Saturn, making the Grand Trine complete. Saturn is in the sign of Sagittarius and the lunar mansion of Mula. Saturn is placed in his eighth house, connected with wisdom and sufferance. Such a placement gave him a deeply philosophical mind. But with such great foresight and understanding, he likely suffered due to the knowledge of deep unconsciousness within humanity. Mula gives an ability to see to the heart of a matter. His was a mind and a heart in empathy with the plight of the downtrodden.

An astrological penchant of many great souls is the placement of the North Node in the sign of Taurus and the South Node in Scorpio. The North Node in Taurus gives the propensity to find contentment in all that is right and rich in life, but the insight to know that such things are transient, and the true nature of physical existence is constant transition. Such a soul is often not shaken from connection with their Consciousness by the ups and downs of mundane existence. The South Node in Scorpio gives deeply penetrating insight and intuition; an ability to see with cutting lucidity.

With the North Node in Krittika for King, their was a passion for Purification and Truth. The South Node gave him deep devotion to these virtues.

As mentioned at the onset, King’s is a study of great depth. Due to this, his Astrological Profile will be a two part series. Look for the second part next week when I will touch upon his Sun, Venus, Moon and Mercury; all in meaningful positions of prominence.

In parting, in order to demonstrate the Profundity of the Cosmic Language of Astrology, then, with the harbingers of destiny, the nodes, transiting MLK’s Mars (by the South Node) and Saturn (by the North Node), take note of his prophetic words of decades ago:

A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth. With righteous indignation, it will look across the seas and see individual capitalists of the West investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa and South America, only to take the profits out with no concern for the social betterment of the countries, and say: “This is not just.”

Originally Published 10th April, 2011