Frida Kahlo’s destiny was on full display in her astrology chart. Throughout her life, her path continuously aligned with the cosmic shifts occurring in real-time! What activated those major events, and could the same cosmic energies bring about life-changing circumstances? Undoubtedly, her karmic contribution was destined to be inspiring, global, and enduring.
This series of posts will focus on the natal potential that was activated during significant major events in Frida’s life. These posts will evaluate the cosmic influences of illness (polio), accidents (tragic bus accident), and the planetary placements occurring the year of her amputation and subsequent death.
The Queen
The birth chart also described as the natal chart is a symbolic blueprint for one’s life. Based on the exact time of birth, it gives insight into the celestial symbolism occurring throughout one’s lifetime. Frida’s Leo Rising needed to shine and rise to the top in life. Known as the King or Queen of the zodiac, Leo Rising bestows a regal, proud character with artistic qualities and leadership skills. Interestingly, Leo’s have a distinct hairstyle. In some way or another, it will frame their face like a mane. Frida was well-known for her braided hair and floral crowns.
In general, the ascendant (rising sign) represents an individual’s physical health, personality, appearance, and the first impression they make. Ruled by the Sun, it signifies one’s vitality and life force. Physically, Leo rules the heart, spine, and spinal ailments. Difficult aspects to the rising sign and its ruler can indicate health challenges and a specific body part ruled by this sign or ruler. Frida was a magnificent artist; yet, she suffered from pain and spinal ailments that were a result of polio and a deadly bus accident.
To get a deeper understanding of the ascendant, the degree, aspects, and its ruler need to be considered in the overall interpretation. Frida Kahlo was born with a 23-degree Leo Rising. In fact, all four of her chart’s angles were in this same fixed degree creating a Fixed Grand Cross aspect. As both a difficult aspect and a red flag, it had the potential to activate a chain reaction across multiple areas of her life. Thus, when it was triggered by a transit, eclipse, or progression it created simultaneous events, changes, and crises. For her, 23 degrees in any zodiac sign would be a highly sensitive degree. In fact, this degree was activated when she contracted polio, was in a deadly accident, and years later when she died.
Frida’s Ascendant made some very significant aspects. Her rising sign squared her midheaven creating tension and challenges between her identity, physical body (ascendant), and her public image (midheaven). The angles are points of manifestation, and just because they made an exact square to each other didn’t guarantee an event; yet, she had her natal Moon there and that changed everything. In fact, her Moon at 29 Taurus held some incredibly powerful symbolisms that would later manifest during different periods of her life. Her Moon was located in the degrees associated with the Pleiades, and this elevated her Taurus Moon to a whole new level of analysis discussed later in the post.
Another significant aspect her ascendant made was to her natal Pluto. Discovered in 1930, Pluto and its cosmic symbolisms eerily played out during the milestones and turning points in Frida’s life. This intense, transformative energy was located at 23 Gemini conjunct her Venus and made a sextile aspect with her Ascendant. Typically, a powerful presence and intense personality would be notable traits associated with Pluto and the ascendant. But, let’s delve a little deeper. Pluto would also give an undertone of sexuality, jealousy, possession, power, affairs, and things that were considered taboo. It is notable to mention that Frida and her husband were not monogamous. In fact, Frida enjoyed the company of both men and women.
Asteroid Toro – The Bull
Asteroids and their myths are so interesting to see how they unfold. In Frida’s natal chart, the asteroid Toro (#1685) was also at 23 degrees Leo exactly on her rising sign. Discovered just after her death, the symbolism and placement in her chart was on point. Toro, the Bull symbolizes endurance, stamina, and strength. Due to it being on her rising sign, the interpretation is that others might have seen her as aggressive, assertive, and pushy at times. This would have been a result of life experiences. With her natal Moon in Taurus squaring Toro, it reinforced the bull-headed persona that is reluctant to change. Typically, Toro can at times be vulnerable to being bullied or be the bully. In hindsight, after Frida recovered from her polio, she was teased by other children for her “peg leg”. The upside of Toro is the ability to find one’s own inner strength to manage the internal or external negativity.
Chart’s Ruler
With Leo rising, the ruler of Frida’s chart was the Sun. In general, the Sun also represents an individual’s health, vitality, and ego. The Sun signifies the traits and qualities one aims to reach and receive both success and recognition. The Sun also represents one’s life force, father, and husband. Her Sun in Cancer had some very amazing aspects and points associated with it. The zodiac sign of Cancer is known for their heightened sensitivity, creativity, and at times fluctuating moods. Ruled by the Moon, they have a love of family, homeland, heritage, real estate, and domestic life. It is interesting to note that Frida Kahlo’s childhood home, La Casa Azul was made into a museum that was dedicated in her memory by her late husband Diego Rivera.
Critical Degrees
The degree of her Sun and its aspects were unbelievable! With her Sun at 13 degrees Cancer, it was in a critical degree! There are 360 degrees of the zodiac and only NINE are considered critical degrees.
This is very important due to the nature of the Sun’s symbolism (health, body, vitality) and its exact opposition to Mars, also in a critical degree, representing accidents, fever, inflammation, and operations. This emphasis on her Mars and Sun was important to monitor when beneficial or challenging transits, eclipses, or progressions connected to these points.
Fixed Star – Sirius
Frida was born with her Sun conjunct the Fixed Star Sirius. Known as the Dog Star, it is located at 14 degrees of Cancer. It brings fame, honor, and riches; yet, it also gives fame and honor beyond the grave. When Sirius is connected to the Sun by conjunction, it is considered auspicious (fortunate). It can signify tremendous creative talents. Frida’s artistic legacy and fame gained substantial recognition after her death. Her art has sold for record amounts and she is the highest-selling female artist. She is heralded as an iconic trailblazer, and all of this occurred after her death. During her lifetime, she sold very few paintings, had less than five exhibitions, and primarily did commission work. Thus, the fame and honor suggested by Sirius lives on as her art continues to inspire new generations over a century later.
Sirius is also associated with the hottest part of the year. According to Homer, the downside of Sirius brings fevers, plagues, and death. The Dog Star signified the summer solstice and brought with it the dog days of summer. This degree and fixed star would come to the forefront during three significant events in her life. In 1913, Frida contracted Polio, 1925 she was in a deadly accident, and in 1954 when she died.
Stelliums & Chain Reactions
A stellium is considered a very powerful cosmic alignment. It magnifies the personality traits of the zodiac sign it is in; yet, it can also create a crisis, change, and opportunities when one planet is activated. Thus, when one planet is triggered it creates a chain reaction. Frida’s Cancer Stellium with her Sun, Neptune, and Jupiter magnified her creative talents; yet, it took time and life circumstances to fully tap into those abilities. Combined with her stellium, she had her Part of Fortune and her North Node.
Creativity & Illusions
Neptune would have given her the inspiration and creativity to express herself. Neptune brings heightened awareness, intuition, creativity, sensitivity, and the imagination is usually expressed through the arts. Since Neptune is in Cancer, there can be a strong intuitive or subconscious connection with her family, home, and homeland. Yet, nebulous circumstances can be attributed to a conjunction between the Sun and Neptune. The individual can’t see or chooses not to see what is occurring in their life.
There is a shady side of Neptune, especially with difficult aspects. It can bring lies, deceit, addictions, and extramarital affairs. The Sun represents a woman’s partner or spouse in life. The aspects to it can describe their personality. Under the Neptunian influence, it was well-known that Frida and her husband both had extramarital affairs, including the infamous affair with her sister that she portrayed in her art. Neptune is also associated with escapism and the way an individual checks out from reality. Typically, with hard aspects, there can be a period in one’s life where addiction issues pop up, or they resort to alcohol, drug, and medication to dull the physical or emotional pain.
Expansion & Good Fortune
Jupiter was exalted and considered fortunate in Cancer. With her Sun, it elevated the potential for lucky opportunities, and the ability to accomplish her goals. For Frida, this aspect was in her 11th house of hopes, wishes, dreams, friends, and networking. She would have had more opportunities through her connections with groups, friends, and acquaintances. Jupiter brings luck, good fortune, and expands the traits within its sign. This aspect magnified her creativity and the Sun helped to bring about the modes of expression.
In addition, she had her Part of Fortune and North Node all conjunct her Sun. Oftentimes, the Part of Fortune gives clues into how one can find success, and where they have natural talents. With her Sun, it guaranteed something special would emerge during her lifetime that fulfilled her. For Frida, the Part of Fortune emphasized her creative talents and satisfied her Sun’s need to shine. The North Node conjunct her Part of Fortune gave tremendous talents, originality, and guaranteed some form of assistance. Since the North Node represents one’s future experiences, Frida’s Sun would have helped to propel her towards her destiny.
Frida’s Cancer stellium played a larger role in defining the timing of events that occurred in her life. Her Sun was the ruler of her chart, in a critical degree, part of a stellium, conjoined Sirius, and opposing Mars in a critical degree, and Uranus. Her Cancer/Capricorn axis was also conjoined her Nodes and Part of Fortune. Furthermore, this configuration would have been extremely important to track and note in the years ahead. Especially noting the years an eclipse, progression, or outer planet transited her Cancer/Capricorn axis.
La Luna – Moon in Taurus
The Sun and Moon are the two most important planets in one’s chart. The Moon represents the emotions and its sign, placement, and aspects determine how easy or difficult it is to express one’s feelings. Crowning Frida’s chart was her Moon at 29 degrees Taurus. It was the highest and most elevated planet in her chart. This alone was significant. Twenty-nine degrees of any zodiac sign is called the anaretic degree. It is considered a karmic degree and suggests the individual has a spiritual or karmic lesson they need to master in this lifetime. A Moon in Taurus is concerned with financial security, while the Sun in Cancer needs emotional security.
In Frida’s chart, her Moon gains even more power due to its amazing conjunction her Taurus Midheaven! In general, a planet conjoined this angle will play a big role in one’s life, and it will amplify the qualities of both the planet and the sign. The 10th house symbolizes fame, recognition, reputation, status, career, and public perception. With Frida Kahlo’s Midheaven connected to the Moon in Taurus, there is great emphasis on harmony, love, beauty, and art. This is where her divine talents emerged. The Midheaven describes the culmination, destiny, and what an individual is known for. Her destiny held something special!
Tragedy & Tears – Algol & Pleiades
Saddled between her natal Moon and her Midheaven was the Fixed Star Algol at 26 Taurus. This fixed star brings harsh circumstances and it is considered the most difficult and evil of all the stars. Its origins and symbolism go as far back as ancient Egypt. The symbolism of this star includes unfortunate circumstances, violence, and accidents, especially when conjoined with the Sun or Moon. It can manifest as constant obstacles that one has difficulty overcoming, and there is a handicap attached to its energies.
The Pleiades, also referenced as the Seven Sisters or Alcyone, is a configuration of fixed stars at 0 Gemini. They are the seven daughters of Atlas, also known as the Weeping Sisters. They are associated with tragedies and give one something to cry about. This is especially true for a natal conjunction with the rising sign or the midheaven. It carries the symbolism of violence, injury, and something to weep about. Unfortunately, Frida’s Moon in Taurus was conjunct the Pleiades.
Fame & Legacy
Frida’s Moon made a few aspects, including a difficult square to her rising sign, and a sextile to her Saturn. Saturn bestows an inner discipline, drive, and determination to accomplish something. Saturn represents responsibility, hard work, sweat equity, routines, maturity, and wisdom. If one does the work, they will reap the rewards. With Saturn, results or success comes with age, and it typically denotes fulfillment later in life. Interestingly, the Moon represents fame and one’s popularity among the masses. While Saturn, representing Father Time and Karma was in her 8th house of death and legacy. Frida’s success was not only later in life, in fact, it was after her death where she gained critical acclaim and fame.
Saturn in Pisces
Saturn represents reality and the cold hard truth. While Neptune, the planet of illusions, represents fantasies, dreams, intuition, compassion, and where an individual seeks to escape. Saturn in Pisces represented the need to find structure within a deep-sea of the unknown. With this placement, there is an incredible imagination that Saturn can help to ground and harness. There is a theme of surrendering to the process, and this directly relates to the cycles in life. One means of managing this cosmic placement is to nurture one’s solitude, to dive into the creative arts, and align with a spiritual practice.
Mercury in Leo
Hidden in the 12th house was her Mercury representing all forms of communication, including her learning style. The 12th house represents the sub-conscious mind, collective consciousness, and angelic realms. With her planet of thinking, learning, and communications here, it brought up the ability to tap into the higher realms for ideas and inspiration. It also highlighted a need for a constructive outlet to communicate her thoughts and ideas. Leo is a sign of creativity, acting, and the inner child. It is a playful, fun and artistic sign. There is an element of drama and flair attached to this placement.
Yet, in the 12th house, the element of conscious versus unconscious mind is highlighted. There is a possibility to repress thoughts and feelings. Thus, communication is hindered in some way. It is amazing that Frida Kahlo was able to take this aspect and express her feelings and life’s circumstances through her art. Art became her mode of communication. It is lovely to see how this energy gave her such a profound style to express herself and communicate what she couldn’t verbally express.
Saturn Square Venus & Pluto
Venus represents love and affection. Yet, combined with Saturn in a difficult aspect can bring a lack of love and affection in relationships. There is a fear of abandonment and rejection in relationships of love interests.
Venus & Pluto in Gemini
Think power, passion, possession, and deep feelings towards love and lovers. This can be expressed as an obsessive, magnetic, and transformational component in her love life. Pluto guarantees that love and relationships will not remain stagnant and that there is the potential for power plays and control issues to arise. Yet, it is also the connection related to fated love and the soul mate connection. Venus in Gemini brings an intellectual versus physical attraction. For her, there was a pleasure in the witty, clever, and intellectual conversations.
Mexican Independence
Frida was very involved in politics, and she was known to fabricate her birthday to align with the Mexican Revolution. In 1920, asteroid Hildalgo (#944) was discovered and named after a Mexican Priest known as “the Father of Mexican Independence”. As fate would have it, Hildalgo was at 24 Gemini in Frida’s chart, and it symbolically represented an attraction to power, assertion, and advocating for Spanish ideologies. It was conjunct her Venus, Goddess of Love, and represented who and what she loved. While a conjunction with Pluto brought passion and a deep loyalty to her homeland.
5th House
The 5th house represents creativity, creative expression, children, fun, lovers, romance, true love, and acting. Frida had both Mars and Uranus retrograde in Capricorn. This aspect was haunting, and unfortunate in how it manifested. Retrogrades in a natal chart often highlight that the individual acts differently than their peers or colleagues. Mars retrograde emphasized she may have expressed her sexuality, anger, conflict, aggression, and ambition different than the norm. It is well speculated that Frida Kahlo was bisexual and had extra-marital affairs with both men and women.
While a Uranus retrograde gives emphasis to the inner rebel or rebellious nature, there is a great desire for freedom that is often restricted by the retrograde. Frida was politically active in the communist party and had an affair with the exiled Soviet communist leader Leon Trotsky. Her lack of freedom became apparent through illness and surgeries. Throughout her life, she was restricted to bed rest, wore a body cast, and faced physical limitations.
Mars conjunct Uranus can symbolize out of blue events, which was elevated in her chart due to both planets being retrograde, and both her Mars and Sun in critical degrees. This aspect brought significant duress to her physical body (Sun), and as a result, she was in a deadly bus accident (Uranus) that resulted in a lifetime of pain and reoccurring surgeries (Mars). Another way this aspect can manifest is through impulsive behaviors, actions, and decisions. With the Sun, it can give way to a fiery temper.
Mars in Capricorn gave her an inner drive and determination to keep going despite the circumstances. Mars symbolizes courage, impulsiveness, and passion. It also represents fevers, inflammation, operations, and medical instruments. It is interesting to note that Frida Kahlo’s art was often autobiographical and depicted her various medical procedures and operations. The ruler of Capricorn is Saturn in her 8th house of death, operations, inheritance, and spousal support. It is reported she had over 30 surgeries during her lifetime, including re-breaking her spine to re-set it and amputating her right leg below the knee.
Chiron & House of Health
The ruler of her Mars and Uranus was Saturn, which also ruled her 6th house of health. Oftentimes, Saturn can indicate chronic health conditions, and it specifically rules the bones and spine. There were no planets located in Frida’s 6th house; yet, she did have the asteroid Chiron in the radical, freedom-seeking sign of Aquarius. This placement of Chiron is discussed in Astrology and Illness when she contracted polio. Then, it resurfaces in 1953 the year prior to her death, when she had a partial leg amputation. It is briefly mentioned in Astrology and Death.
To this day, Frida Kahlo lives on through her art and iconic self-portraits. Her astrology chart gives just a glimpse into the planetary components surrounding her life. In Part II, the natal chart is utilized for the predictive process. In Astrology and Illness, Frida’s chart is used as the foundation for the progressions, transits, eclipses that impacted her life.
Prominent Stars
