Lincoln, William Wilberforce & Abolition of Slavery

We saw the movie Lincoln at the weekend. Enjoyed it a lot. I'll not expand on that, there are already lots of reviews on the net. I'll just say that all praise is well-deserved. There are many super performances from some of movie-land's best.

To access earlier posts touching on Abraham Lincoln and/or his astrology, just scroll down to the Label Cloud in the sidebar and click on his name.

Instead of waxing lyrical further about the USA's famous abolitionist, I decided to give some space to an earlier, British politician whose name is not nearly as well-known as Abe's, but who abolished slavery in Britain, in the early 19th century, some 50 years before events chronicled in the Lincoln movie. This is not written in any "Neener neener, we did it first...." attitude. It's really just to bring a name to the fore that has been too oft forgotten.

William Wilberforce: a book review online described him as ".... the most famous person in the world that no one knows". His name isn't widely remembered outside of the UK, and especially outside of the city of my own birth, Hull aka Kingston upon Hull where he was born, on 24 August 1759, into a fairly well-off merchant and banking family. Hull is a port on England's East coast, and from there his family carried on trade with merchants from the Baltic.

Wilberforce's greatest achievement, as Member of Pariament for Hull, was in winning his crusade against slavery, first against the slave trade itself, then against the owning of slaves. He gave his first speech on the abolition of slavery in 1789; presented his first bill to abolish the slave trade using British ships in 1891. With 12 later bills he fought this issue for 18 years before a bill was finally passed. The Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was passed by the House of Lords on 4 February 1807; by the Commons on 23 February 1807, receiving Royal Assent on 25 March 1807. Wilberforce continued to fight for 26 years to see the owning of slaves banned as well. In 1833, just after his death, his bill passed its final reading three days before his death.

If we were to happen upon William Wilberforce in a time warp, today, he wouldn't fit into any known standard political "box". He was, in many ways, the epitome of what's now called progressive or "bleeding heart liberal". Yet in other ways he was a thorough-going right-winger, as befitted the conservative farmers and land owners of Yorkshire who had sent him to represent them in parliament. To place him in historical context these references might help: he met Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Tsar Alexander of Russia, and the future Queen Victoria, aged 1 year. He was friend and confidant of William Pitt Jr., Spencer Perceval and George Canning. He saw figures raised up or destroyed in twenty three years of war and revolution.

Sickenly horrendous details of the slave trade are these days often skimmed over at best. As a reminder this excerpt from a 1980 biography of Wilberforce by Garth Lean:

Two hundred years ago, Britain was the world's leading slave-trading nation. From Liverpool, Bristol or London her ships sailed for the West African coast; and there gathered their cargo by direct seizure, purchase from Arab traders or barter with local chiefs. Often chiefs would sell the entire population of one of their own, or of a neighbour's, villages. The British officials were just as ruthless. Once, a British military governor delivered up a hundred African guests whom he was entertaining in his fort when the slave captains arrived.

Once captured, the slaves were herded into barracoons to await the arrival of the ships. The fit were branded with their new owner's mark, while the old and deformed were often killed as useless. Many had to be flogged to force them into the canoes which took them through the surf to the slave ship. There, they were chained in pairs between decks on shelves with only two and a half feet head-room. A ship of 150 tons often carried as many as 500 slaves. The crew, who had often been press-ganged into service, generally took their pick of the women.

It was obviously in the slaver's interest to keep their cargo in as good health as possible. When weather permitted, therefore, they were taken on deck and forced to jump around under threat of the whip.

In bad weather, on the other hand, they would lie for weeks in their own filth and the stench could be smelt across a mile of ocean. By the time a ship reached America or the West Indies, ten per cent of the cargo would normally have died, while many others would be desperately ill.

On arrival a few days would be spent tarting them up for market. Their bodies were fattened and oiled, their sores disguised. Finally, they would be paraded naked through the streets and auctioned. Strong men would fetch as much as £40, while the sick and wounded were sold off in cheap lots with the women and children. Families were ruthlessly split up. Those who were too sick to be marketable were left on the quay to die. Nor was that the end of their ordeal. A third of those who survived thus far died from the vicious discipline imposed by their new owners. The process was politely known as 'seasoning'.

Wilberforce's other mission he described as "the reformation of manners".
From biography by Stephen Tomkins:

His other enthusiasms—improving morals and Christian missionary work—amount, by twenty-first-century lights, to censorship (by very punitive measures, including imprisoning and fining poor printers) and cultural colonization. He was anti-war, to be sure, but to keep England safe, he approved the kinds of tactics — suspension of habeas corpus, preemptive military strikes — that today's peaceniks abhor. He exhausted his fortune and advocated laws to improve the lot of poor working people, but he also sought to make trade unions illegal. Loyal to his friends, supportive of his family, humbly self-critical, incorruptible, and implacably abolitionist throughout a nearly half-century-long career, he was a very good man. But he was of his time and station, therefore unacceptably paternalistic to us.

When I first looked at Wilbeforce's 12 noon natal chart (no time of birth is known) I decided that - well - this is one of those times when there's no clear correlation between what we know of the man and what the planetary positions are indicating. I wanted to see some Aquarius emphasis, or prominent Uranus - preferably both. Not so. But then, I wondered whether, in the 18th and early 19th century, if to be a successful radical reformer, would one need to also display certain other qualities in order to reach a status where actions would count for something? This applies today, of course, but to a lesser extent, due to vastly improved education, communication etc. So, perhaps it's the "other" side of Wilberforce that will show most clearly in his chart.

Maybe.

His Virgo Sun at 00 degrees, Moon also in Virgo whatever time he was born, and Mercury there too denote a man of meticulous mindset, excellent communcator - which by all accounts he was: sociable charismatic and popular. Chiron (the wounded healer) lay in Aquarius, but no planet was there. Uranus was at 00 Aries- degree known as "the Aries point", thought to be the strongest degree of that sign - that should count towards his humanitarianism - Uranus being the ultimate radical and revolutionary. The fact that Uranus lies in exact quincunx , an uncomfortable 150* angle to his natal Sun, could indicate the uneasy mix within his political nature and missions.

Jupiter in Capricorn (religion, expansion) and Saturn (conservatism, legislation) in Pisces lay in harmonious sextile and in what astrologers call "mutual reception". Each is in the sign of the other's rulership, bringing about extra emphasis on both planets and both signs.

So....although the social reformer in this chart may not jump out to hit one in the eye at first glance, it is represented there, as is Wilberforce's more conservative side.

I well remember our school class being taken on a day trip, many long years ago, to look around the Wilberforce House and Museum.

FOR THE WEEKEND: Spielberg's Abraham Lincoln & David Strathairn

I'm eagerly looking forward to the release, later this year, of Steven Spielberg's movie Abraham Lincoln. Apart from the obvious historical interest of the biographical movie, rarely have so many of my favourite actors been seen together in one film: Tommy Lee Jones, James Spader and David Strathairn - a hatrick! If only Paul Giamatti were in the cast too I'd be so overcome I'd need to be tied down in my cinema seat. Throw in Sam Elliott and I'd probably implode!

Leaving aside Tommy Lee Jones and James Spader for the moment (I'm sure they'd be relieved), I'm concentrating on David Strathairn today. He's an actor I'd often recognised in character parts, but until fairly recently hadn't connected the name to the face. Once I did, I began collecting DVDs and tapes of movies in which he has appeared over the years - more on that later.

Picked to play Abraham Lincoln himself is Daniel Day Lewis. Brilliant actor, of course, and is said, once in makeup to look uncannily like portraits we have of the man himself (see right). Liam Neeson was slated to play the part originally, but withdrew as he felt he's too old for the part. Appearance is half the battle in biographical movies. I'm sure DDL will turn in an Oscar-worthy performance, and yet, astrologically, David Strathairn would be much, much nearer to Abraham Lincoln in nature. He could easily be made to look like Lincoln too - though perhaps, like Liam Neeson, he is a tad too old.


David Strathairn was born on 26 January 1949 in San Francisco, Ca. at, according to Astrodatabank, 2:37 AM He will play William H. Seward (right), Lincoln's Secretaty of State, an outspoken abolitionist and a core member of Lincoln’s wartime cabinet. Seward was born on 16 May 1801 in Florida, New York at, according to Astrotheme 2:00 PM.

Daniel Day Lewis was born on 29 April 1957 in London. No time of birth available. He will play Abraham Lincoln who was born on 12 February 1809 in Hodgenville Ky. at, according to Astrodatabank, 6:54 AM.

On the face of it David Strathairn matches Lincoln's astrology better, and Daniel Day Lewis, astrologically, has more in common with William H. Seward.

Lincoln and Strathairn share Aquarius Sun and Capricorn Moon. They share that Aqua/Cap look too!

Daniel Day Lewis and William H. Seward share Sun and Mercury in Taurus.

Just a quirk of fate, I guess.

Back to David Strathairn's earlier movies seen recently. I've enjoyed every one. They're not listed in chronological order of release, but in the order in which we've watched them.

Common thread of David Strathairn's portrayals, for me, is a sense of quiet stability, reliability, and steadfastness. He's well able to portray these characteristics because they're part of his own nature, or so I suspect: reflections of Cardinal Capricorn Moon/Jupiter/Venus, and Fixed Aquarian Sun/Mercury/Mars.

Son of the Morning Star (TV 1991): Two-tape 3 hour VHS set . It's a "Custer's last stand against Crazy Horse and his braves" story, in more detail, clearer context, than most movies featuring the same scenario. Gary Cole (who I remembered as the Nighthawk from an old TV series Midnight Caller) plays George Armstrong Custer and gives the old war horse a more believable side than the usual stereotyped version. The presentation is longwinded, not for the faint-hearted, but worth the effort for anyone like myself, eternally fascinated by US history. Oooh - and David Strathairn (above), bedecked with startlingly blond wig, as Captain Benteen - launched me on a David Strathairn film search.



Limbo (1999): Set in a small Alaskan town, this movie defies any clearcut description. It's not a feel-good kind of movie, not a romance, not exactly in the horror or thriller genre either, but trace elements of all are there. Interesting characters, trying hard to re-program their lives, are its basis; excellent performance by David Strathairn in particular, with female lead Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Kris Kristofferson features in a more minor, though pivotal, role.



LA Confidential (1997): Film noir-ish tale of police corruption in 1950s Los Angeles. David Strathairn plays wealthy Pierce Patchett, who runs a stable of high-class call-girls who, having been altered by plastic surgery closely resemble popular glamourous female movie stars. Good movie, based on James Ellroy's novel. Leading roles went to Kevin Spacey & Russell Crowe.



Goodnight & Good Luck (2005): A movie where David Strathairn plays the lead: Edward R. Murrow, veteran radio and television journalist. The film tells of his conflict with U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy and the anti-Communist "witch-hunts" by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. David Strathairn was nominated as Best Actor for his performance, the film received 6 nominations in all. Written and directed by George Clooney who also played the role of Fred Friendly, co-producer of the show See It Now, with Murrow. Excellent film, amazing performance by David Strathairn!



Lathe of Heaven (2002) is a second adaptation of Ursula Le Guin's short novel. Ms Le Guin did not approve of this adaptation - and, having read her book since seeing the film, I can see why! The film omits some of the most intriguing parts of the book! It's a very engaging sci-fi/fantasy tale even so. In this adaptation David Strathairn plays the part of Mannie, a character who doesn't actually appear in the novel in the way he's presented in the film - which is odd. His role is mysterious, but is probably there to present a continuous stable presence for the main character, George Orr (hmmmm) to rely on throughout the chaos his dreams bring upon the world around him. I'm glad David Strathairn was in the movie - it was the only reason I bought the DVD that led me to the book - which I thoroughly enjoyed.


Return of the Seacaucus Seven (1980): One of those "reunion" films - story of seven friends, former activists, who spend a weekend together in New Hampshire ten years later. Written and directed by John Sayles. David Strathairn, (far right) in what I think was his first film role, plays a character who, though a friend of The Seven, is not a part of the group. The Seven are more yer white collar types, while he's a mechanic and gas station hand with, probably, more common sense than all the rather precious navel-gazing Seven had in total! Though film critics admired the film, we struggled through it and came out distinctly underwhelmed.



Matewan (1987) another film written and directed by John Sayles. It's fiction, but based on factual events around a coal mine-workers' strike and attempt to unionize in 1920 in Matewan, a small town in the hills of West Virginia.

The struggles of coal-miners, through the years, and in countries all over the world, are legend. Mining coal before the advent of technological aids, was one of the hardest, most dangerous and valuable occupations of all, yet the men who did the job received some of the worst treatment. Makes my blood boil! I loved this film.
The excellent Chris Cooper (another character actor who doesn't get nearly the acclaim he deserves)plays the lead as union organiser. David Strathairn plays fair but firm police chief Sid Hatfield. A ten-out-of-ten movie for me, this one. Again, I have David Strathairn to thank for leading me to it!





Sneakers (1992) a "caper" movie based on juggling electronics, computer hacking, technology in general (as it was in 1992, anyway). David Strathairn plays Erwin "Whistler" Emory, a blind telephone expert, with an exceptionally acute sense of hearing. Well played Mr. Strathairn! Robert Redford has the leading role.
Entertaining movie - by the last scenes I remembered I'd seen it before many years ago - but that was BDS (Before David Strathairn)!



O Pioneers!(1992)A TV movie adaptation of the novel by Willa Cather. Set in late 19th century Nebraska it's a story of a Swedish immigrant family, and their challenges. Left as head of the family after her father's death, Alexandra Bergson (Jessica Lange)discovers a fierce love of the land she has inherited. It's a simple story, simply told and is a touching tribute to a part of the US often derided. David Strathairn plays Alexandra's love interest, Carl Lindstrum. He doesn't have a lot to do, but as always he turns in a solid performance.



Steel Toes(2006) ~~~ A Canadian film described in my previous post.






I half-suspected that I'd noted David Strathairn's name at some time in the past in one of these posts. After a bit of digging I found these words from a 2010 post, about a movie My Blueberry Nights: "Other characters the heroine meets on her travels are played by Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz and, best acting of the movie: David Strathairn - an actor who deserves a starring part - SOON!" It took a while for me to catch up with his body of work, but now I'm on board and on a roll! Still many more DS films to sample, and no doubt blog about.

AQUARIUS PRO & CON (Progressive & Conservative)

We don't have to look far to see how unwise it is to expect people born with Sun in the same sign to have similar natures and outlooks on life. Aquarius may well lead the field of 12 when it comes to such differences, though Libra and Gemini come close in my experience. Perhaps it's due to their Airy Suns. Air is never static, even in the case of Fixed Air Aquarius.

Aquarius is usually represented by a human figure pouring water from an urn - symbolic of the circulation of ideas, pouring knowledge into the world at large. (I am womanfully trying to stifle my cynicism here; I know what's coming next!)

What brought me to these thoughts was the realisation that Sarah Palin and Glen Beck, described by one wag as "lipstick and dipstick" both have natal Sun in Aquarius, born a day apart - 10 and 11 February 1964. They might well have similarities one to another, but there IS another Sun Aquarian type, exemplified by Franklin D. Roosevelt (30 Jan. 1882), Adlai Stevenson (5 Feb. 1900), or Abraham Lincoln (12 Feb 1809).









Those men represent the way Aquarius presented in past centuries, however. Question: Are Palin and Beck representative of today's version of Aquarius, due to different positions of outer planets decade to decade, century to century? Especially bearing in mind that outer planet Uranus is Aquarius' modern ruler? Not really. Keith Olbermann (27 Jan.1959) and Glen Beck, though in the same business, broadly same age group, doing essentially the same job are almost the direct opposites in attitude and demeanour.

Although astrology links Aquarius to social reform and humanitarianism, and one road to these is politics, not all Sun Aquarians think alike as to how to bring about reforms and improvements. Take Ronald Reagan, Dick Cheney, US Chief Justice John Roberts - all VERY conservative in outlook - all would run screaming from the very idea of even the mildest, European form of democratic socialism, which I (also Sun Aquarius) see as being the best way to create a just and fair society and world.



Ayn Rand (2 Feb.1905) and Bertolt Brecht (10 Feb 1898), both writers, both politically inclined, one extreme right the other extreme left - opposite sides of the political divide.

Perhaps the best way to safely describe Aquarius Sun people is to say that many, or most have a inclination towards politics. My Pollyanna-ish idea, formed years ago, that Aquarius Sun people are always going to think as I do is wrong, wrong, wrong!

Another factor which could be in play here is that Aquarius has co-rulers: Saturn and Uranus. Saturn traditionally ruled the sign, before the discovery of Uranus. That these two planets stand for opposite ideas is significant. Saturn = conservative, status quo, authoritarianism, Uranus = forward thinking and change. Two other zodiac signs have co-rulers: Pisces has Jupiter/Neptune; Scorpio has Mars/Pluto. They do not suffer from the clash of opposites as does Aquarius. This could be a symbolic key to it all.....or not.

Dissecting natal charts of all those named in this post might present us with "evidence" for their variations in character and outlook, based on Moon sign, ascendant and other placements. But some fundamental differences lie not in the stars but in education, environment, experience and family background. Sun sign is just one component in a natal chart, astrology is just one component in the structure of character and personality.

Snap Judgment in Astrology

Delving into my hoard of second-hand astrology books, lucky-dip style, I came up with "Astrological Keywords" by Manly P. Hall, who is described here as:

"One of the metaphysical giants of the Twentieth Century, Manly P. Hall spent decades researching eastern philosophy, occult studies, astrology, and a wide variety of related topics at a time when such subjects were still unknown territory in the western world. It is in no small measure due to his extensive writings and teachings that these subjects are so widely known today.
A prime example of the visionary Balsamic Moon type, Hall had Sun in Pisces, Moon in Aquarius. He earned an honorary Ph.D. in literature, was a 33rd Degree Mason, was a Rosicrucian initiate, and wrote over 200 books."


This book has been re-printed many times from 1958 onward, my copy is the 1978 version. It contains a treasure trove of astro information. I'm borrowing, here, from the last chapter, "Snap Judgment".

M.P. Hall tells us that "While a detailed analysis of character depends upon a profound knowledge of the science of astrology, the possession of certain fundamental keywords enables the student to arrive at remarkable conclusions, which, while not complete, will adequately demonstrate the accuracy of astrology."

Yes, and for me this kind of pencil sketch is often far more convincing than pages and pages of scholarly interpretation.

Mr. Hall provides 8 examples to illustrate his point. I'll borrow his snap judgments about three of the best known personalities he features.


"Abraham Lincoln -
Aries rising - courageous, ambitious, idealistic. Sun in Aquarius - humanitarian, religious, progressive, tolerant. Neptune, Saturn and Antares (fixed star) conjoined in 8th house: a tragic and violent death. Mars and Uranus in 7th house: unhappy marriage. Capricorn in Midheaven: high honor and great sense of public duty and responsibility. Venus opposing ascendant in Aries - features irregular but conveying an impression of beauty, sweetness or kindliness. A glance reveals these elements in the horoscope of America's martyred president, Abraham Lincoln.

Sir Francis Bacon
Aquarius rising with Sun opposite ascendant "spiritual and scientific progressivisim and diplomacy. Sun in 12th house: disgrace or imprisonment. Mercury conjunct Sun in 12th: the brilliance of his mind left unrewarded and obscured by the enmity of his contemporaries. Sagittarius on midheaven: high philosophical and religious attainments. Uranus in 10th house: erratic fortune and public place. Mars in Scorpio in 9th house: religious and political intrigue. This is an astrological sketch of the personality of Sir Francis Bacon, Chancellor of the British Empire and father of modern science.

Thomas Edison
Scorpio rising, a scientist. Leo on 10th house, a leader. Sun in Aquarius, a mind turned to Aquarian concerns - an inventor. Mercury in Aquarius, electricity. Neptune in Aquarius an inventor and investigator. Thus we may sum up the outstanding characteristics of Thomas Edison." (Inventor of the light bulb, among other things).

I didn't realise until I'd typed these that they're all Sun Aquarians. I looked quickly through the other 5 examples in the chapter and oddly there's another Sun Aquarian, an Aquarius rising, a Pisces rising, a Sun Pisces, and a Leo Sun with Uranus in Aquarius. The author, Manly P. Hall, had Sun in Pisces, Moon in Aquarius (as stated in his memorial above). I wonder whether there was a little astrological nepotism going on here? Or are Aquarius and Pisces, for some reason, best able to demonstrate the efficacy of snap judgments? Curious.

Impatient

Astrologer C.E.O. Carter says in his Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology, "Patience is a Saturn virtue. If this planet is afflicted by Mars or Uranus, or indeed, if these are more prominent than Saturn, there is usually impatience. Mercury can also be considered in this respect."

I'm impatient by nature, and have always put this down to natal Moon in Aries (ruled by Mars). My natal Saturn is in Aries too, 12 degrees from Moon, this probably adds to the problem. Natal Mercury is in Saturn's home sign of Capricorn, not an impatient Mercury, but with Capricorn's ruler in Aries - who knows?

I'm needing to curb my impatience currently. To date the cheque which accompanied my application for US citizenship, sent to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service on 26 July, almost 8 weeks ago, has still not been cashed. USCIS has issued notices on-line indicating that they have what they call a "front-log" of cases. In normal circumstances cheques are cashed and applications get underway within a week to 10 days of receipt. We've now been told that it's taking up to 90 days to issue receipts due to this front-log.

It'll be interesting to see whether things start to move around the time when Venus reaches 2* Virgo again, the point at which the recent retrograde started, but I shall not hold my breath - even that is far too optimistic an expectation as things are turning out. I must also bear in mind that Mercury will turn retrograde on 12 October, almost dovetailing Venus. Nice! Citizenship in time for the 2008 presidential election is looking ever more unlikely. I'm beginning to wonder why I bothered to apply in the first place. Grumble....grumble.

A man watches his pear tree day after day, impatient for the ripening of the fruit. Let him attempt to force the process, and he may spoil both fruit and tree. But let him patiently wait, and the ripe fruit at length falls into his lap. Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865.

That was easy for you to say, Abe - you had Aquarian Sun like me, but you didn't have my impatient Moon in Aries - in fact, Moon would have been in much more patient Capricorn if you were born before noon. Your Mercury lay in Pisces, with Saturn/Neptune in Sagittarius trining Venus in Aries. That lineup delivered some amazing things, but it seems that impatience wasn't among them.