By: Elizabeth Weihmiller
I recently finished reading the book The Magnificent Lives Of Marjorie Post and WOW! I had heard about her before as I had visited her home Hillwood many times in Washington DC. For those that have not heard about her she was a fascinating woman who lived a fascinating life. Of course, me being me, I was so curious as to what her astrology would look like. So today I will be digging into her astrology to see triggers and why things played out the way they did.
She was the heiress to the Post Cereal Company fortune which her father started in Michigan in 1895. She inherited at a time when women could not be in charge so she needed her husband to act on her behalf. She had four husbands and three children. She went through four divorces at times when divorce was not considered acceptable.
Marjorie was born on March 15, 1887 at 10:00 pm in Springfield, Illinois.
Let’s dive in to her chart.
Marjorie was a Libra ascendant which made this her first house. In her first house she had Jupiter. Jupiter in the first house can indicate that she was someone who would see the glass as half full. She was happy and optimistic. She could have a need to have others see it her way. She could be inspirational and compassionate. Jupiter here could make her generous and give her a vision for the future. She would need to have watched out for being overly optimistic – which I believe we saw when it came to her relationships. Jupiter also gave her a love of art, music, beauty and luxury. She could have gains through business, art and beauty. She had a strong intuition. She could face legal problems in her life – which given the divorces she did. Venus was the ruler of her first house and it is in her sixth house. This indicates that she was someone who had a respect for discipline and hard work that truly gave her a strength of character. She was someone who could work hard and long hours. Health was important to her and she was always concerned about her diet and exercise. She was someone who had the capacity to deal with opposition and adversity. With this placement she was someone who would come out ahead in conflicts. She could have good resistance to disease. Her ascendant is in the lunar mansion of Vishakha indicated that she could appear soft but was very powerful underneath. She could benefit through marriage, traveling and through change. She was someone who could concentrate on her goals and overcome obstacles that stood in the way. She was someone who would not give up until she achieved her goals. It could have been hard for her to hide her feelings of jealousy. Jupiter is in the lunar mansion of Swati. This indicates that she could be good at business. She could be prosperous. She was someone who was blessed with impeccable communication skills – knowing when and how to reveal her knowledge and interests to others. She was someone who was curious and eager to learn. She was a survivor and someone who strove for independence. She was someone who was more intelligent than she appeared. At the time of her birth, she had Jupiter retrograde which indicates that she was someone who could spot opportunities during times of disaster that others might miss.
In her second house of Scorpio, she had the Moon. This indicates that throughout her early childhood she could have had many changes and disruptions. Her family could have been under financial stress and/ or circumstances that caused unrest. Her mother may have been under duress and mental turmoil. This can indicate a change in residences in her early life. It can indicate her having a comfortable life and being charming. She could be imaginative. She could enjoy jewelry and other fashion trimmings. Financial matters could cause problems in her marriages. The Moon being in Scorpio can bring problems with marriage. It can on the positive side indicate that she could be clever and have the ability to act quickly. She could be open-minded but at the same time conservative. She would have needed to be cautious as she could be too critical of others at times. The Moon rules her tenth house and being in her second house indicates that she could earn money through the food industry. She was someone who could have an influential voice. Money could also come through a family business. Mars rules her second house and was in her sixth house indicating that she could make her money through food and drink. She did inherit a food company and grew it into what became known as General Foods. She was someone who would make money through hard work and perseverance. Moon is in the lunar mansion of Jyeshta indicating that she could keep friends and build a good support network. She was self-reliant with a take charge attitude. She could be impatient but others may not have seen that side of her. She could be very protective of herself and her loved ones. This can indicate that she was the matriarch of the family. Others may have perceived her as arrogant and at times hypocritical.
In her fifth house of Aquarius, is the node of the Moon, Ketu. This indicates her as being someone who could think of creative ways to increase profits. Cash flow could have increased suddenly for her. This could indicate that she could have unfulfilled romantic love. She could have a profound understanding and compassion of and for others. For her, her children may have been a source of worry at times. The ruler of her fifth house is Saturn and it is in her ninth house indicating that for her there was an ease and comfort that came from a certain amount of luck in her life. She was someone who was spiritually open and evolved. She could find romance in long distance travel. Ketu is being in the lunar mansion of Dhanishta indicates that she was someone who believed in charitable giving. She was a good conversationalist and likely enjoyed music and/ or dancing. She could do well in foreign countries. She did live in Russia for a while as wife to the ambassador of Russia for the United States. It indicates that she likely enjoyed old and mysterious things. She was not someone who liked to be told what to do and could be argumentative. It indicates that she is someone who would select partners who were very different in personality and outlook from herself. She could have considerable material wealth and ownership of real estate.
In her sixth house of Pisces, she had the Sun, Mars, Mercury and Venus. We will break this house down into smaller segments as it is a lot of planets in one house. I will start by saying that her Venus is exalted at its exact degree of exaltation making this an extremely strong planet. Even more so because as a Libra ascendant her chart is ruled by Venus. Her Mercury can act as an exalted planet because of the fact that it is retrograde in its sign of debilitation. This would give her stronger powers of communication combined with the grace and charm of Venus. Mars and Mercury being within two degrees of each other can indicate that at times she could have been very sharp with her words and too brusque and harsh. She would have needed to watch out for that.
Sun in the sixth house indicates that she could have had strong vitality and health. Focus on her health would be part of her daily routine. It could give her a powerful work ethic and drive to achieve. She could be supportive with a strong sense of service. It could indicate her father struggling some in life. I know this to be true as the reason they moved to Michigan was for him to go for treatments for his health. This can also indicate the potential for divorce. She was someone who would give aid and support to others. She could be a dreamer, sociable and well liked. Mars in the sixth house indicates an ambition and drive that would build a strong character. She could have been prone to high fevers in her early childhood. She was someone who could decide quickly and who could be a good goal setter. She could have a brave outlook on anything that came her way. Mercury in the sixth house could indicate that for her she would need to watch her stress levels and nervous stress could have taken a toll on her body. She could be a clever planner and strategist. She had a desire to improve things. She could have a quick mind and speech. It indicates she was someone who could argue for or worked to convince others of her needs. She may have enjoyed picking intellectual fights. She is someone who could provide great service through humanitarian activities. She could be intuitive but also mentally probing. Venus in the sixth house can indicate that for her, her partners could have had many secrets and possible health or emotional problems. She was someone who would have been ready to fight and defend what she loved. She likely enjoyed strong willed partners and could have been drawn to more aggressive partners. She could have a love of luxury and beauty. She likely had a good sense of humor and cared deeply for others.
Let’s take a look now at the rulership of all these planets residing in the sixth house. Jupiter ruled her sixth house and was in her first house. This meant that Venus and Jupiter are in a parivartana yoga as they are in each other’s signs of rulership. Jupiter in her first house indicated that for her competition could increase her ambition to get ahead and improve. She was someone who would prevail in conflict situations. Sun ruled her eleventh house and in the sixth house indicated that friends and associations could come through her work. Friends could be supportive in times of need. She could have a strong physical constitution with good recuperative powers. Mars ruled her seventh house and in the sixth house indicated that conflicts and struggles could have been a part of her marriages and relationships. Her partners could have been frustrating but not improved over time. Her partners could have been in the field of law, medicine or administration. This could indicate the potential for divorce. Mercury ruled her twelfth house and being in the sixth house indicated that she could have an interest in health matters. She was someone who could win legal battles. Venus ruled her eighth house and in the sixth house indicated that lawsuits or accidents could bring gains and money to her. She could prevail over her problems and come out ahead.
The Sun, Mars and Mercury are all in the lunar mansion of Uttara Bhadrapada indicating that she could have discipline with her speaking and writing abilities. She had the capacity to control her anger. She was someone who could be very protective of her loved ones. She may have had a love of solitude and seclusion. It indicated being blessed with good children and getting wealth as a gift or inheritance. She would have needed to be cautious as she could sometimes think too much about her own outcomes, even though she could be very charitable. Venus was in the lunar mansion of Revati indicating that she was granted protection for safe travels. She had a true love of connecting to humanity and society. She could have had disappointments in her early life. She was someone who could benefit from living by the water. She did have a couple homes that were on the water.
With four planets all in the same sign that too provides us more indications about who she was and her life. Sun with Mars, Mercury and Venus indicates that she could have strong resistance to disease. She could stay youthful in her approach. She could have, at times, had rough or overbearing speech if she didn’t watch her words. She could be well organized and have a good mind for business. She could have some friction in her love life.
In her ninth house, Gemini, is the Saturn. This indicates that she could be very focused and mentally disciplined. She could have an interest in literature. This could give opportunities for travel. It can indicate her desire to help others. It can also indicate her fortune building over time. Saturn ruling her fourth house and being in the ninth house indicated that she could find mental stimulation through higher forms of knowledge. She could benefit from long distance travels. International travel could make her more tired. Mercury ruled her ninth house and was in her sixth house indicating that her father could struggle or have health problems. Which he did and that is how he eventually started the Post Cereal Company eventually. This placement can indicate her being fortunate through hard work. Saturn is in the lunar mansion of Punarvasu indicating she could be friendly and generous. She could have limitless inner resources and there were no boundaries in terms of what she could accomplish. She was someone who could love to travel but would want a home base to come back to.
In her eleventh house of Leo is the other node of the Moon, Rahu. This indicates that she could have many very influential and powerful people in her life that would give opportunities. It shows her father being successful. It indicated her being connected to the movers and shakers of the community. She could be shrewd at cash flow management. She was someone who could get unusual opportunities. She could work well with foreigners. This can indicate her father living an unusual but successful life. Rahu is in the lunar mansion of Magha indicating that she was someone who had self-respect and because of this she expected respect from others. She was someone who likely honored traditions. She could have a generous heart and a deep loyalty.
Marjorie Merriweather Post was a strong woman who persevered through four marriages and the same number of divorces at a time when they were frowned upon. She helped to grow a company through both good times and extremely challenging times with her foresight and intuition creating one of the largest companies that is still in existence today – Post Cereal Company became what we know today as General Foods. She was a strong, independent women who lived an incredible life. If you have not read about her, I highly recommend the book The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki. Another well done biography is: American Empress: The Life and Times of Marjorie Merriweather Post by Nancy Rubin Steward. And if you find yourself in Washington, D.C. be sure to visit Hillwood Museum and Gardens where you can learn more about her and her lifestyle.
Book your personal birth portrait consultation at elizabethweihmiller.com/contact
