by Jude Cowell, partisan for the common good
"It is the nature of man as he grows older...to protest against change, particularly change for the better." John Steinbeck
However, current changes proposed for the American people and our government are definitely not for the better. See Project 2025 Ideas Have Failed Before.
And so today, SO'W departs from the hateful realm of US politics to consider the life, death, and a few flawed personality traits of one of America's greatest authors, John Steinbeck (C-rated horoscope shown). His novels, some controversial in their time, such as The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row - the list goes on and if you need to check them out, a Thought Company list provides an overview, plus, added are few biographical details concerning Steinbeck as well.
And yet this Great-Depression-era author could be considered an appropriate subject for a Political Astrology spotlight because the writer's topics during his era, such as greed and the suffering leveled against America's working class by plutocrats such as bankers, politicians, and others of an exploitative nature - are the same crimes against humanity that elite classes continue to perpetrate in our day. Yes, Mr. Steinbeck's 6th house Saturn in Capricorn was strongly determined toward career sucess, but for me, it's his sadistic treatment of his wives and children that land him in the character flaw category. In this, Steinbeck's similarity to the current crop of Republican cabinet member nominees is apparent. Misogyny then, misogyny now. In fact, they share a strong-armed paternalism of cruelty and control.
And yes, there are indications in the author's natal chart of trouble with Mama and thus in adulthood, serious issues with women. His Scorpio Moon squares his Mercury-Venus conjunction (planetary signature of a popular writer) and Luna also squares Jupiter (an aspect of taking the easy way out, and one that can lead to religious zealotry - perhaps his Mom's?). Plus, there's a complex sesqui-square with spiritual Neptune, a suggestion of deception, misunderstandings about or with Mother, and/or overblown religious beliefs. Plus, a Scorpio Moon can be problematic and suggests difficulties of its own: some form of betrayal is possible, or perhaps the smother mother syndrome afflicted John in childhood.
Meanwhile, Steinbeck's natal Sun in Pisces fares little better other than his deep well of imaginative creativity via Pisces, but serious health threats were suffered in his younger years (Sun = Saturn-MC: illness with Pisces often a sign of contagion or infection). Understandably, these weakening experiences marked him with depressive tendencies. And then there's his natal Ascendant (physical body) in Leo, sign of vitality - that's Leo, sign of the heart.
A Recommended Documentary: John Steinbeck: Flawed Genius. (You may need to rewind.)
As for his double water Sun Pisces-Moon Scorpio blend, a measure of intuition is obvious along with brilliant creativity, and overflowing feelings. The will to expose hardship and the exploitation of others (but not of his family's, it seems) was clearly expressed in his literary works. Yet we know that turbulent relationships often come along with this passionate combination of conscious-unconscious energies as can a tendency toward harboring irrational suspicions (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Charles and Suzi Harvey #ad).
So click the link, above, for a view of his natal horoscope as you wish. No need to show it here as a stand-alone chart so how about a speculatively timed Death Horoscope for the cold-hearted, emotionally complicated yet talented John Steinbeck surrounding his natal horoscope so that we see the two Angular planets of destructive energies, Mars and Saturn, upon his natal MC-IC axis - and 1968 Saturn at Rx station and defiantly demanding a major change of direction:
