Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to the poor, the disenfranchised, the untouchable, the forgotten. I think that this Mother Teresa chart is the most tricky of the seven, considering whose chart it is. This is the chart of a saint (or near-saint–it’s hard to keep track of papal doings). Is there a point where a human being gives up its soul, through suffering, is through fighting, to end up as something else, something we might not recognize as human? This is where Mother Teresa stepped in. Through love, through compassion, she gave them back their souls again.
As you will clearly see, if you have any familiarity with reading a chart, that this chart is not on the surface full of love and grace and gentleness. If fact, it’s a fighting chart, and given the enormity of the task in front of her, highly appropriate.
There is our friend Pluto on the Descendant, with the South Node conjunct Lilith in the 11th house. Off the bat, this suggests previous lifetimes of confrontations with others, uses and abuses of power, arguments (Gemini) concerning social welfare (SN 11th house). Mars, the secondary ruler, is in Virgo in the 8th. You do not mess with this woman regarding what she believes is right, for the world or otherwise. A Scorpio South Node is usually deeply entrenched in confrontational behaviour. They don’t like to stick out, but they are always testing the waters, and testing you. On the whole, they do not trust, and faith does not come easily. The Mars in Virgo is highlighted in the 8th, the house it belongs in (via Scorpio). Mars in Virgo will whittle you to death with detail; it will split hairs until it exhausts you. It is relentless, and it wants results. It is very effective there, but also longing for transformation, internal and external. It wants to be delivered via ‘other’ in some way. We have a certain karma regarding this behaviour in this case of the SN.
Now, BML on the SN indicates a particular sort of power. Sometimes it can be a feminine, sexual power (You can see pictures of a very attractive young Mother Teresa chart online). Later, that feminine power becomes charisma, the ability to seduce in different ways. BML on the SN can suggest a misuse of this power. Sometimes it is misuse, sometimes it is simply a gift. We can only tell which way it goes by aspects and by watching how a person uses that charisma in this life. Here, the BML is sextile Mars, indicating more of a gift. The Moon is very tightly opposite. We have seen how BML opposite the Moon plays out in literary, artistic, and scientific talent. It causes one to break new ground, to make one’s mark. The same would hold true for the humanitarian field–where can we help where no one has helped before? How can I find new ways of breaking through to others for their help? How do I light the spark within?
It seems very clear that the way forward in this chart is developing the warm and earthy sensibilities of Taurus. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, for good reason. Taurus is the first feminine sign (Aries is the first masculine sign, and the Sun is exalted there). The feminine realm is all about the earth, about our material wealth and our material needs. Taurus is the natural guardian-keeper of all the good of the world. A fifth house Moon celebrates the worth of each individual, no matter how beaten down or rejected. That this is outside the realms of our usual experience/culture is shocking, but true nonetheless. We need BML, and the experience of the chaos, to remind us of the sanctity of each life. Rather than hiding behind a religion or an organization, Mother Teresa was meant to utilize her unique qualities to stand as a symbol for the work to which she was devoted. Mother Teresa Chart above
Dawn ~ I think most of us grew up believing in the myth of Mother Theresa as saint. I know I did. Several years ago, I became so intrigued (and so disillusioned with the coldness of the world), I decided to learn more about the woman who seemingly gave so much to those who had so little.
Unfortunately, I came to see the real Mother Theresa as a deeply flawed individual who turned a blind-eye to the wrongdoings of her supporters (including Father Donald McGuire, a convicted child-molester) and consistently denied available resources and care (as well as basic hygiene) to patients because of her own preoccupation with the suffering of others.
In keeping with your post, my understanding is she felt suffering *transformed* its recipients by bringing them closer to God, which was probably how she rationalized denying them. The problem wasn’t that she lacked resources (BM Lilith opposite Moon in Taurus), it was that she failed to use them for the benefit of the sick and dying.
For whatever reason, not the most loving or self-aware use of BM Lilith in Scorpio, though if the mythology encourages others, then maybe some good has come from it.
Though there have been several scathing critiques of Mother Theresa written in recent years, one of the most interesting books I read was written by a former nun who spent 20 years working with Mother Theresa’s order. It was an eye-opener!
LB, you’re right–I was trying to remain neutral here. But the phrase ‘piece of work’ came to mind.
Dawn ~ She was definitely a complex and controversial figure.:) Once we look past the myth, Mother Teresa’s actions and non-actions, for better or worse, speak for themselves.
Moon falls in the 5th house in classical astrology.
I, also, have read several accounts of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta by nuns/nurses/mission workers who had personal contact with her. The consensus was that she was a ferocious misandrist.
What is pertinent is that she operated in a native culture where Kamakhya Kameshvari, Renowned Goddess of Desire, is celebrated. She comes to that energy shrink-wrapped in Roman Catholic abhorrence of the sexual desire (Mars) after being inspired after praying at a shrine to the Black Madonna.
BML has a wicked sense of humour here!
She often does.
Very interesting article! Thank you, Dawn for your insights and the way you are sharing your knowledge. I’ve never thought about the artistic expression in Moon opposite BML – that was to keep in mind!, but what happens when BML is conjunct Moon or share the same sign? I was also wondering if you will continue the series about BML and examples of charts when BML aspect personal planets like Venus and Mars.
The first observation is the complexity of the 8th house, that of transformation, which was very evident both in her personal life and indeed in the lives she touched. Although there is great power contained within any planet in the 8th, and she certainly had a magnetic power of her own, it was not recognised or used consciously, but for greater good of others [sacrifice and transformation of others with Pluto on the 7th house cusp]. The Sun in opposition to Chiron reveals the incredible healing potential forcing her to find expression out into the world. With Jupiter conjunct the MC and the most elevated planet comes as no surprise that she became widely known throughout the world, encouraging and restoring the faith [Jupiter] of thousands.
With Pluto trine Chiron, this enabled her to transform the lives of many through her healing presence.