Celebrity Sun Sign Series- Morgan Freeman and Mercury

"I gravitate towards gravitas."- Morgan Freeman. Sounds like Mercury in Taurus sure enough! Photo by Alan Light.

Throughout history, there have been many actors and orators who move us when they speak, and have a comforting presence that can't be denied. A few rouse us to action, striking our hearts with joy or sadness. Fewer still have had such presence that they could portray God himself. The man capable of such a feat, and our topic for today's Celebrity Sun Sign Series, is Morgan Freeman.

Morgan Joseph Freeman was born on June 1st, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee. This gives Morgan Freeman the sun sign of Gemini, the twins. Ruled by the planet Mercury, Gemini is the sign of communication, mental acuity, diversity and duality. Geminis are quick-witted and curious. They also embody the philosophy that "variety is the spice of life."

After moving several times as a child, Freeman began acting at age 9. Although offered a drama scholarship after graduating high school, he joined the US Air force. His career as an Actor began in the 60's, with the typical Gemini love for variety in his roles (everything from Hello Dolly to soap opera's to children's television on PBS.)

Freeman has had a prolific acting career in many genres of film, but his most memorable roles exemplify his calm, authoritative demeanor and way of speaking. He has a commanding presence that has allowed him to play roles such as Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding in The Shawshank Redemption, the U.S. President in Deep Impact, and Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. It takes an awful lot of charisma to play Nelson Mandela, as he did in 2009's critically-acclaimed Invictus.

Then, of course, there's Freeman's role as God in the movie Bruce Almighty. Though not one of his more critically-acclaimed movies, Freeman certainly shows his prowess by taking on the somewhat daunting role of playing God in film.

It comes as little surprise that Morgan Freeman's birth chart packs a one-two punch of charismatic charm and speaking ability. Below is Freeman's birth chart. Though birth time is unknown, it is set as a noon chart (placing his sun on the MC at the top of the chart, an appropriate placement for such a public individual).

While the focus of the Celebrity Sun Sign Series is, of course, the sun sign and how those attributes show up in the lives of famous people, there are several key aspects of Morgan Freeman's birth chart that distinguish his Gemini Sun. Freeman's Sun in Gemini is circled in green at the top of the chart. Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury, which in Freeman's chart is in Taurus (circled in green as well). This Mercury in Taurus gives Freeman's Gemini Sun a strong dose of down-to-earth stable. Taurus is known for practicality and security, and Mercury in Taurus provides concentration and a thorough, deliberate style of thinking. As you can see in the red square at the top of the chart, Mercury in Taurus is also conjunct Uranus in Taurus. Uranus, the planet of electrically-charged change and innovation, takes a major chill pill in Uranus. Uranus in Taurus provides the innovative spark of creativity Uranus is known for in a practical, concrete way.

Freeman's Mercury and Uranus are also trine his Neptune in Virgo (the red box on the left side of the chart), which in his noon-based chart is on his ascendant. Neptune, the planet of imagination and illusion, is commonly associated with the film industry. In Virgo, the creative muse of Neptune manifests in a more calculated, cautious way. Freeman's Neptune supports his Mercury and Uranus with careful, reserved charismatic charm.

These aspects in Freeman's chart seem to paint a fairly accurate picture of reserved charm, careful and deliberate speech, and a powerful presence, grounded by the gravity of so many planets in earth signs. Freeman's career continues, both in acting roles and narration for shows and charitable organizations.

"But..." you may ask, "Morgan Freeman doesn't sound like a stereotypical Gemini... does he?" Sure enough, there are some aspects of the "typical" Gemini personality that Morgan Freeman does not seem to exemplify as strongly. A Gemini sun sign is often associated with a youthful personality, an affinity for the lighter side of life, and a versatile and ever-changing mentality. This is one of the limitations of "Sun Sign Astrology." The energy, the personality and the underlying themes of an individual's life are often most strongly exemplified by their sun sign (which is part of the fun in our Celebrity Sun Sign Series), but more often than not, the identity of the sun sign is conditioned by the other aspects of the chart. Morgan Freeman has the communication and mental focus of Gemini, but having Gemini's ruling planet Mercury located in and supported by earth signs provides that double scoop of gravitas that distinguishes his personality.

Morgan Freeman's chart shows the many layers of astrological interpretation, and how important it is for us to penetrate the surface of the chart and appreciate the complexity within!

How about you, readers? How do you feel about your sun sign? Are you a Morgan Freeman fan? Leave a comment!