By: Elizabeth Weihmiller
I was recently in Nashville Tennessee and visited the Country Music Hall of Fame. They had an exhibit on Chris Stapleton and it got me to thinking all about his astrology. So, I decided to take a look.
Chris Stapleton is a name that until the last few years was unknown to the majority. And if you aren’t a country music fan you still may not know who he is. But he is someone who we all know and have listened to the songs he has written. Chris is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer. He has co-written six number one country songs, for country artists Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Josh Turner and George Strait. He has appeared on artist albums including Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift. He has even co-written with Justin Timberlake and Ed Sheeran (the latter who will be another who’s in the news article). He released his first solo-album in 2015 which is certified four-times platinum. He has won numerous awards including the CMA Award for Album of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Country Album. In total he has racked up 8 Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and 14 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards.
Stapleton was born on April 15, 1978 at 3:50 pm in Lexington, Kentucky. The question becomes what in his chart indicates this type of career success? What other insights does his natal birth portrait give us?
Chris is a Leo Ascendant. This will set his chart up with all its indications. Leo becomes the first house and we will follow the planets around from here as we look at his chart. In his first house is the planet Saturn. This gives Chris a strong sense of responsibility. He has the ability to organize and structure many areas of his life. He is someone who is reliable, dependable and always on time. He is someone who will start slower but will make it to the finish line. Chris is a hard worker. His life gets better as he has more experiences. This can indicate him working more quietly in the background (which being a songwriter is absolutely true). The Sun rules his first house and is in his ninth house. This indicates that spirituality and philosophy could be an interest throughout his life. His father may have been an influence on him. Chris is someone who is fortunate with good finances. He can gain support from others. His father could have health issues. Saturn rules both his sixth and seventh houses. This indicates that he can have a good fighting strength He can have great stamina and resistance to disease, although he could be prone to acute illnesses that he heals from. He may at times work too hard. For him being with a partner they will do things together that unites and bonds their relationship (his wife is also a songwriter). Partnerships of all kinds will be important in his life. He can have good business skills. For him travel for business will bring success…can we say touring the country?? Saturn is in the lunar mansion of Magha indicating he is someone who has self-respect and expects the same from others. He is someone with a generous heart and deep loyalty. His ascendant is in the lunar mansion of Purva Phalguni indicating that he has an ability to communicate and influence others. He is loyal, generous and kind.
In his second house, Virgo, is the node of the Moon, Rahu. Chris is someone who will need his alone time to regroup. He can think in unusual and creative ways. He is someone who is resourceful and always figures out a way. There could have been some chaos during his childhood. He will need to be cautious of his spending because while he has the ability to gain large amounts of money, he can also lose it quickly through extreme spending. Mercury rules his second house and is in the eighth house indicating that his income could come from other people’s money. This is fascinating to me given how he is a co-writer on so many number one hits which will bring in money to him. Rahu is in the lunar mansion of Hasta indicating he is intelligent, persuasive and has an ability to weigh his words to avoid expressing anger. He is a hard worker. He can have a great sense of humor and make an entertaining speaker.
I will take this time to note that Chris does have what is called a Kala Sarpa yoga. This is when all the inner planets (Sun to Saturn) are on only one side of the nodes of the Moon. This can make for highs and lows in life. When he hits a low, afterward he will always go to a new high every time. So, the high will be higher than the last high period. There is a bit of fate and destiny related to this yoga. This yoga will also intensify all the other yoga’s within his chart the good and the hard.
In his eighth house, Pisces, are Mercury and the node of the Moon, Ketu. Mercury is the only planet that prospers in the eighth house. Add to this, Chris has a debilitated Mercury, but because it is also retrograde the debilitation is lessened. His Mercury is also uplifted because Mercury and the ruler of Pisces which is Jupiter exchange signs making both stronger. Mercury in the eighth house can indicate someone who has deep perception and uncovers the truth. Chris can be mentally vigorous and may have an interest in science fiction. He can be imaginative, intuitive and sensitive. Ketu in the eighth house can indicate that he has a deep spiritual side. He has the capacity to comprehend subtle knowledge. He may get money suddenly through unforeseen sources. This can indicate him being a source of inspiration to others. He may prefer to lead a simpler life but it could have changes that evolve and turn into growth opportunities. Mercury rules the eleventh house and being in the eighth house indicates that he could get unexpected advantages and financial windfalls. He may lack confidence at times. Friends may be a sore spot and could be more superficial. Jupiter is the ruler of the eighth house and is in the eleventh house indicating that he could gain money from unearned sources. Ketu is in the lunar mansion of Uttara Bhadrapada indicating that he can have discipline with writing and speaking abilities. He can be generous and self-sacrificing. He is someone who can be very protective of the ones he loves. Mercury is in the lunar mansion of Revati. This can give him a love of small animals. He could have had disappointments in his early life. He can be fortunate and sociable.
In his ninth house, Aries, are the Sun and Venus. Sun in the ninth house can indicate that his father could have been overbearing and controlling at times. He can have success in publishing and good fortune. This can indicate that higher education may never be completed, which interestingly enough he never did complete. He can be a leader who takes initiative. He can be courageous and ambitious. It can indicate the ability to achieve fame. This can indicate he has a love of sports and competition. Interestingly, when he was in high school he was also big into sports. There may be times when he is impatient. He could bruise more easily or be prone to headaches. Venus in the ninth house can indicate that he did have blessings from his father. It can reflect great social skills. He is someone who is emotionally developed. He can be aided by people in authority positions. It can show getting published. He can be skilled at persuading others. Venus rules both his third house and tenth house and being in the ninth house indicates that his father could have been an inspiration to him. It can indicate a life that involves traveling. It can show that a lot of effort will be required to complete degrees. He will have a lot of good luck in his career and publishing is a career he can have success in. (Which he has given the number of songs he has published.) Sun is in the lunar mansion of Ashwini. This can indicate that he is a pioneer and willing to chart his own course. He can have zeal and zest for life. He can be stubborn at time too. Venus is in the lunar mansion of Bharani indicating that any struggles or obstacles he faced would result in a personal breakthrough for him. This is all about personal transformation. He is someone who may desire new experiences. He does need to be sure to pace himself so he doesn’t burn himself out.
In his eleventh house, Gemini, is Jupiter. This placement can give him good communication and writing abilities. He can be financially astute with a good sense of humor. He can be mentally and emotionally balanced. His wisdom and wise council may be sought out by others. Influential people will be a great benefit throughout his life as a resource to him. He has the capacity to develop opportunities. Jupiter rules his fifth house and being in the eleventh house indicates that he can have strong connections to friends and associates which lead him to powerful connections that put him in a position of influence. He is likely well-liked by his friends. He will have plenty of opportunities throughout his life. His cash flow can come from sport, speculation and/ or the entertainment industry. Jupiter is in the lunar mansion of Ardra. This can make him quick acting with a good memory. He can be critical. His career could have ups and downs.
In his twelfth house, Cancer, are the Moon and Mars. For starters this conjunction makes a powerful yoga and with the Moon being in its own sign it uplifts the debilitated Mars. Moon in the twelfth house can indicate someone who is sensitive and nurturing. He could be spiritually oriented and at times in his life he could have lacked confidence. Chris can be very perceptive with a high intuition. Mars in the twelfth house can indicate that he has repressed anger and he could be more prone to passive aggressive tendencies. Part of what he needs to learn in this life is to productively express his anger so it doesn’t eat away at him. He can be passionate and someone who rejuvenates through solitude. This position could give him sleep issues but the Moon may help offset this. He has a sharp mind and enjoys independence. There could be friction with his mother. Mars rules both his fourth and ninth house indicating that he could lack a connection with or have a more strained relationship with both his mother and father. It could also indicate that he prefers to live in more isolated or quiet locations. He has a true ability to forgive. Moon rules the twelfth house and since it is in its own house this can indicate him being very generous. It can indicate he sleeps well but there are mixed indications on this as mentioned above. The Moon-Mars conjunction makes him someone who takes initiative and can have strong resistance and stamina. The Moon and Mars are in the lunar mansion of Pushya. This indicates that he likely has a close-nit family. He has a caring nature and is intelligent and self-sufficient. It could create a bit of a weight problem for him so that is something he will have to be cautious of.
Let’s take a quick look at when he won one of his awards and the transits that triggered that.
On February 15, 2016 Chris won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album for his Album “Traveller”. On this day Jupiter was transiting his first house creating opportunities for him. Transiting Jupiter was also sending its energy to the ruler of his tenth house, Venus, which created opportunities for his career. The Moon was transiting in his tenth house of career creating fame. Transiting Saturn was sending its energy to his first house too which created a point of manifestation for him. It is always powerful when Jupiter and Saturn send their energy to the same house. At this time he was in his Sun maha dahsa and Venus sub-dasha. These two planets are conjunct in his ninth house of luck and The Sun rules his first house and Venus rules his tenth house of career and third house of creativity. I would say the planets were in his favor on this day.
It never ceases to amaze me how accurate these charts are. Even though we do not know every detail of his life there is a lot that is spot on from what we do know.
