Johnny Depp: Transcendence & Jupiter in Pisces

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Johnny Depp built his movie name in a series of quirky roles that peaked in the billion-dollar Disney franchise Pirates of the Caribbean. Yet his latest outing, Transcendence is his third box-office flop in a row and the former teen-idol, now aged 50, finds himself at a career crossroads. He is a beloved entertainer and more than a pretty face, but he is still searching for a truly defining performance. 

Despite some handy placements and high earning potential, his chart lacks the powerful yogas one finds in the most enduring stars. On first glance, Jupiter in Pisces in the ninth house seems like first prize in the astrological lottery: faith, luck, God's Grace, you name it. Yet a closer look reveals Jupiter as a not unmixed blessing, ruling also for a Cancer ascendant the Sixth house of enemies, illness and debt. 

More pressingly, Jupiter picks up aspects from both Mars and Saturn, without any mitigating benefic glance. One malefic aspect is tough, two is punishing, and the effects of this unfriendly energy will be felt especially in Jupiter's Mahadasha, beginning in 2013. Angular Saturn in his own house and yogakaraka Mars are both strong, creating tension between relationships, money, and spirituality. Guru's placement in gentle Revati nakshatra has a lot to cope with, and the best one might say is that it will allow Johnny to rise above some difficult times.

June 9th 1963, Owensboro Kentucky, USA. 08:45am

Rahu, exalted and vargottama in Gemini, brought him material wealth and hyperfame during its mahadasha, which began in 1995. Rahu is governed by Mercury in the 11th, which picks up a Dhana Yoga of Venus and Sun. Johnny was famed as a charming maverick and cult favourite, who for years could not cross over into the mainstream. He finally got his hit playing Captain Jack Sparrow, but he has not built on his leading man status. It is said that whatever is given during Rahu's dasha is taken away at its close. 

This would appear to include Johnny's 14 year relationship with Vanessa Paradis, whom he broke up with in 2012. Rahu in his Navamsha seventh house brings an attraction to foreigners and outsiders, though Mars there too makes for a volatile romantic life. Shani is also strong in his Rasi seventh house, even if it brings a rather dutiful relationship atmosphere and a basically marriage-averse nature. It is typical of this placement to bring a large age difference in a relationship, and Johnny was recently engaged to actress Amber Heard, 20 years his junior. 

Jupiter is also debilitated in the Navamsha, further diluting its essence. What seems like his strongest planet is in many ways his weakest, and the next fifteen years of Jupiter dasha might see whimsical decisions and high hopes not borne out. Transcendence is an apt project title for a Jupiter-Jupiter period, but by all accounts the film is a muddle. It is too soon to write him off, but Johnny might do better looking for some real-life transcendence and it would be no surprise to find him embracing religion or studying with a guru at some point in Jupiter's jurisdiction.

Eddie Van Halen: The Sound of One Hand Tapping

Eddie Van Halen has been the most influential electric guitarist since Jimi Hendrix. While Jeff Beck and Steve Hackett both used fretboard tapping before him, Van Halen took the technique to a new level and spawned an army of spandex and big hair clones in the 1980s. For any young guitar nut, he was the Man - the top of his field at the best thing in the world to be.

Western astrology does not say much about why certain people achieve such eminence. Yet Dutch-born Eddie's Jyotish chart reveals a powerful, success-laden signature. Moon-Mercury in his fifth house of creativity, ruling his 9th and 10th houses, forms a potent Raja Yoga, showing intelligence and originality, with the promise of wealth and protection. This pairing is disposited by exalted Shani in the lagna, making a Sasa Yoga and an all-round irresistible case for fame. A surprisingly conservative first-house perhaps, but equally one showing discipline, dedication and a lasting legacy.

Eddie Van Halen: 26/1/1955, 01:05, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Rahu in the 3rd house of arts and dance is a maverick, showing innovation and a touch - no pun intended - of genius. Strong Mars in the navamsha lagna shows a pushy character who knows what he wants: successful people generally do. Exalted Jupiter rules his 3rd from the 10th house of career, giving Hamsa Yoga (a second Mahapurusha yoga). Despite being in Bhava Sandhi and receiving an aspect from Saturn, Jupiter is doubly exalted,  vargottama in Cancer in the navamsha 9th house, and reasonably promises big things in his mahadasha. Sure enough, Eddie and his brother Alex formed their self-titled band in 1973, just as Jupiter period began. 

Eddie's personal superstardom peaked during his Jupiter-Venus period, with his 1983 appearance on Michael Jackson's Beat It. This spell also saw Van Halen's only #1 hit, Jump, in 1984, and second-house Venus would have brought money along with the acclaim. His stellar Jupiter mahadasha lasted until 1989, which was about the end of Van Halen's golden period. Frontman David Lee Roth had already quit and the band were never the same again. 

Shani mahadasa, beginning 1989, has brought very mixed results. Van Halen remained an iconic act, but with a sense of living on their laurels. First house Shani suggests health problems, specifically the bone structure, and Eddie has had spells in rehab, along with hip replacement surgery in 1999, a consequence of too much stage diving (rockstars' occupational hazard). He has also had repeated cancer diagnoses, first in 2000, which has caused him to lose parts of his tongue. Second house lord Mars in the Sixth may bring diseases of the mouth; there may also be a predisposition to the disease, plus of course any chain smoker with long-running alcohol problems is likely to suffer ill health. 

Still, his Shani is exalted and his potent Jupiter should offer Eddie faith and protection. He is 60 this year, and his reputation is secure as being one of the few - only? - truly game-changing musicians to come out of the heavy-metal genre. 

Crystals in Astrology

Crystals are the ultimate New Age cliche, though when was the last time your astrologer suggested you wear one? In Jyotish, there is a consistent model of nine precious stones relating to the planets and Nodes, even though the rules for prescribing them vary from astrologer to astrologer. This picture is at least clearer than in the West, where there is not even agreement as to which gem relates to which planet. 

This state of affairs was not helped in 1912 by the decision of the American National Retailers Jeweler's Association to declare a list of 'birth stones', according to month. This purely commercial move exploited the public's fascination with astrology and added mystique, and therefore value, to many common semi-precious stones. Their bogus list was widely adopted, muddying the waters of Western astro-gemology forever afterwards.

This, like other questions of correspondence such as the chakras for instance, makes the subject very difficult to research. One comes across an intriguing online article where the learned author lays it all down. A grand theory brings in the Chakras, the Tree of Life, Biorhythms, you name it, and the outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are ingeniously thrown in too. You finish the article and look for the provenance of the web-swami's claims, only to find it is entirely their own work, based on a personal whim, or dream-induced revelation wherein they have cognized the mysteries of the universe.

Yet even when the recommendation comes on good authority, there are differing attitudes to the therapy. Inflated expectation is the first, with a belief that a costly multi-carat ring set in purest platinum is the key to wealth and fame, and a panacea for all life's ills. Should this scenario not play out, the disillusioned wearer goes to the opposite extreme and declares that astrological gemstones are all hokum. 

Medieval and Renaissance astrology had many techniques and practices to remedy planetary influence: crystals, amulets and talismans, and in a more otherworldly age, belief in the power of prayer. By association with overt magic or credulous superstition, these methods were driven underground at around the time as astrology's more general influence began to decline (c.1700). Today, Western astrology is psychologized to the point where, other other than a few herbalists or those promoting a positive mental attitude, it is all diagnosis and no remedy.

Jyotish gemstones are only one of a number of Upayes, or remedial measures to propitiate the planets. A jyotishi might recommend a mantra, a Vedic ceremony, a special fast or charitable donation in addition to a precious or semi-precious stone. This gem might be for a planetary period (Dasha/ Antardasha), a benevolent natal planet, or a house in a chart whose affairs need a lift, for example wearing the ninth house ruler's gemstone to promote travel and study.

The Vedic planetary gems are:

Sun - Ruby
Moon - Pearl
Mercury - Emerald
Venus - Diamond
Mars - Coral
Jupiter - Yellow Sapphire
Saturn - Blue Sapphire
Rahu - Hessonite Garnet
Ketu - Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye

At the most, there are probably only three gems that any one person can safely wear. Ask an expert: prescription is a delicate art and should be undertaken with great care. It is generally advised to strengthen a benefic planet, rather than attempt to rectify a malefic. You do not wish to boost an already difficult influence. For this reason, blue sapphire and coral are treated with caution, along with the stones for the Nodes. Some ascendants can support a Shani (Saturn) or Mangala (Mars) gemstone, but tread carefully, and if there are any problems or bad feeling, remove it. 

Choose the correct finger: Sun, Moon and Mars are ring finger; Jupiter is index finger; Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketun are the middle finger; Mercury is the little finger.

There is a protocol too for wearing the gem for the first time. Happily, Vedic weekdays agree with the Western model: Sun - Sunday, Moon - Monday, Mars - Tuesday, Mercury - Wednesday, Jupiter - Thursday, Venus - Friday, Saturn - Saturday. Find the planetary hour too, if possible and, aloud, say your name, your ascendant and its Nakshatra, and the purpose you are wearing the gemstone for: "I wish to attract all the blessings of [planet's name] for protection and success". 

No one gemstone or japa mala will solve everything, but many people do report subtle effects, both personally and in their practical lives as a result of a carefully chosen crystal. Planetary remedies on the whole exist to ward off tomorrow's problems and to create opportunities today. As Patanjali says in the Yoga Sutras: "Avert the danger that has not yet arisen". Fate is ever-present in astrology, but generally negotiable.