Multiple Marriages: Elizabeth Taylor

In my last post I discussed Carol Rushman's work on the natal promise for marriage. The technique used in the book is a traditional method. It simply involves the Sun and its applying aspects. I will use Elizabeth Taylor's natal chart as an example. The star has been married eight times to seven men (remarried Richard Burton), and this is a staggering number of marriages. Elizabeth has Sun in Pisces at 7 degrees - matching her number of husbands. The aspects the Sun makes before it leaves the sign of Pisces are as follows: The imaginary movement of the Sun forms one trine to Pluto in Cancer at 20 degrees. In Elizabeth's chart it promises one marriage, and this is way off, so we need to throw the rule book out! So let’s look at other factors in her chart which describe her falling in and out of love frequently.

With Taylor's notorious love life, divorces, sexual triangles and ongoing battle with alcohol addiction, it has left her acting career hiding in the shadow. In this astrological relationship analysis, I will take a look into the married life of Elizabeth Taylor and get to the bottom of why she has had so many relationships. The chart I am using for this study is from Astrodatabank, and the data given has a Rodden Rating of A. Other Elizabeth Taylor charts use Libra rising and this puts her Venus-Uranus conjunction in Aries in the 7th house. However, I will use the Sagittarian Ascendant, only because I enjoyed the film "National Velvet" (Sagittarius ) as a child.

Elizabeth's natal chart has Sagittarius rising with Gemini on the Dsc, (cusp of marriage). The descendant is said to symbolise those qualities which we seek in a partner. However, both sides of a pole need to be integrated into the individual personality, but often the qualities on the seventh house cusp are experienced through ‘others‘. All signs opposite each other on the zodiac wheel naturally "oppose" one another, but they are also incredibly complimentary. Both Gemini and Sagittarius are multiple signs and according to astrology; this can sometimes indicate more than one partner. Gemini on the descendant may indicate that she looks for men who are witty, intellectual, versatile, with a good sense of humour and entertaining.

Astrologers look to the planet Venus for further information on romance, courtship and pleasure. Venus is the planet of relationships, compatibility, harmony, love and beauty. Venus symbolizes what we value and has a lot say to about our romantic ideals. It is the feminine urge towards relating and adjusting in the sphere of personal relationships. Elizabeth has Venus in the self orientated sign of Aries. Venus in Aries is about the budding potential of a relationship and even when they are shackled up in a marriage, Venus in Aries needs to keep love new and fresh.

"Nobody tells me who to love or not to love, who to be seen with and not to be seen with." by Elizabeth Taylor

Venus trines expansive Jupiter, the ruler of her chart (Sagittarius rising), so she has a natural optimistic outlook on love and knows there will always be more. It doesn't take much for Liz to jump enthusiastically (Jupiter) into the next romance (Venus). According to James Braha, How to be a Great Astrologer (Venus trine Jupiter):

She is supremely lucky in gaining the affection of the love partner she desires. The person must be aware of occasionally taking her lovers for granted. Because she so easily fulfils her love desires, she may not realize how fortunate and blessed she is compared to the rest of the human race. There may also be a tendency to be too enthralled by money and material comforts. In certain cases there is the possibility of laziness and indulgence. Also, the person may be so comfortable by her charmed existence that she avoids at all costs the potentially gloomy and melancholy vibrations.”

Everything was handed to me-- looks, fame, wealth, honour, love. I rarely had to fight for anything." by Liz Taylor

The Venus-Uranus-Jupiter configuration in Elizabeth's chart trines her Sagittarian Asc and possibly shows why she leaps (Jupiter) into relationships (Venus) and those sudden and magnetic attractions (Uranus). Elizabeth herself has a stunning beauty and the Asc signifies how we come across. Taylor's blue eyes contrasted by dark hair is appealing. The Venus-Uranus conjunction falls in the fourth house of family home and background.

I researched Liz's early years to see if divorce or separation was a prominent feature. Uranus in the fourth house often signifies some of kind of change affecting the family. There may have been unstable affections around the father. Elizabeth’s parents were both American’s living in London, England. In 1945, at the beginning of war world II, the family moved back to America to avoid the hostility. Elizabeth's father stayed behind for seven months while he tied up his art business in England. Transiting Saturn (duty) in Elizabeth’s was in her fourth house signalling a move due to “necessity” rather than choice. It can also indicate responsibility and heavy burdens at home (fourth house). This small piece of information may shed light on later relationships with men.

Venus-Uranus is the classic divorce aspect in astrology; but relationships do not always divorce. The couple may have unusual or exciting lifestyle, different living arrangements. Partnerships can begin suddenly and end just as quickly. When a relationship becomes predictable, stale, boring, Venus-Uranus begins canget itchy, restless and unpredictable. Uranus rules independence, rebellion and  freedom. However, Uranus also rules "idealism". Elizabeth's relationship patterns did not follow the status qua and she didn't care about other people's expectations or judgements. The individual with this contact may choose unusual partners and attract a sparkling social life. Romance turns up out of the blue when least expected.

Venus-Pluto

Astrologer Liz Greene in the Astrology of Fate says, “Pluto introduces Venus to what lies beneath the flowers and elegant gestures of romantic courtship. This underpinning is often not ‘pretty’, and certainly not ‘fair’. For the individual with Venus-Pluto who has not yet reached the middle of life, the fate may not have made itself known. But it becomes apparent later, which is why the aspect has acquired a reputation for broken marriages.


Venus-Pluto also has a propensity for sexual triangles. These are neither fair nor wished for, but are a fact of life, generally compulsive and conductive to considerable suffering among all participants. Venus-Pluto is not cool or ‘liberated’ like Venus-Uranus, nor is it martyr like and self-sacrificing like Venus-Neptune. In terms of personality qualities, it is proud, passionate, intense and often achingly loyal. But the very intensity of its passion usually runs side by side with spite, vengeance, betrayal, loss, manipulation and a revelation of one’s own potential for the destruction of what one loves the most.”