Thursday, July 29, 2010

Venus Kids: Let's Be Friends!

In a recent blog entry, Famecrawler suggested some "perfect playdates" for some celebrity kids. Suri Cruise and Zahara Jolie-Pitt should play together, it was suggested, because they are both girly girls and would love to play dress up. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt and Kingston Rossdale should be pals because they could both do boy things (since Shiloh loves to be 'just one of the guys'). Jennifer Lopez's twins Emme and Max should get along fabulously with Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt (hmm...are we seeing a pattern here...? or perhaps a PITTern...?) because, well, they're twins, and they're all 2 years old.

But Mademoiselle Kiddie knows there's a lot more to getting along than sparkly dresses and a twin sibling! While relationships can be ever so complicated, astrology's Venus can light the way to compatibility and getting along. So would these pairings really work, astrologically speaking?

Suri & Zahara
Suri's Venus is in Pisces, with Uranus very close by, in her first house. She may like the idea or fantasy of a best bud and can be pretty flexible up to a point with what her playmate wants to do, but Uranus is a very independent planet, and in the first house, Suri likes to be in charge (not to mention her Aries Sun!)

Zahara's Venus is in Sagittarius, with Mercury pretty close to it. She's going to be pretty easy going when it comes to making friends, since Sagittarius tends to be a sign that's not too picky or particular. She may enjoy friends that like to chat, and she'll always love to be on the go.

So is this a friend match? Strictly speaking, Pisces and Sagittarius are square to each other, which is a difficult pairing. Pisces tends to be more gentle and Sagittarius more bold, so it's quite possible that Zahara's style of relating could feel overwhelming to Suri, who might cope by distancing herself and doing her own thing (Uranus, 1st house).

Shiloh and Kingston
Since they were born so close together, Shiloh and Kingston both have Venus in Aries. They both will have a natural style of relating that is bold and direct, without a lot of caution or treading lightly. They may like to roughhouse with each other, and tease in their playing. However, they both have a square to Mars in Cancer, which can be challenging. If one hurts the other's feelings, there may be a tendency to sulk in the corner or go home in a huff, but if they really like each other, they'll bounce back (Aries) quite easily. Sounds like a good match!

Max & Emme and Vivienne & Knox
Max and Emme have Venus in Aquarius. They are likely to relate to really interesting characters, kids that have something unique or interesting about them. They also have Venus close to Mercury, and Aquarius is an air sign, both of which heighten the mental and communicative function of relationships. They aren't into the mushy stuff, but they will certainly have an entertaining time if they're free to experiment, even if it's with their friend and their friend's reactions!

Vivienne & Knox have Venus in Cancer, which is a tender sign. They are likely to be very affectionate and loving in their style of relating with their friends, always wanting to take care of them. They are likely to show great hospitality, inviting them over for tea parties and giving them gifts and hugs.

This is a pairing with not a lot in common. Aquarius is a more curious and intellectual energy while Cancer is a more feeling and soft energy. Max and Emme may be bewildered when something they did unintentionally hurts Vivienne and Knox's feelings, and Vivienne and Knox may be confused by Max and Emme's seeming indifference to some of their loving gestures.

Want to find out YOUR child's Venus sign? Just order a Kiddiegram! It's available securely online, simple and fast!

(Compatibility is a much more complex issue than just Venus sign to Venus sign, though! Mademoiselle Kiddie believes anyone can find a way to connect if they so desire).

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Bridget Moynahan's WhizKid

Bridget Moynahan (Sex and the City, Ramona and Beezus), a self-confessed book lover, says her son Jack seems to be following in those footsteps:

"I have pictures of him looking at books and flash cards when he's just sitting up. I have one picture where I was reading a book on Buddha and Buddhism and his face is in there, looking at the words.

"We went through four books" she says of reading with him the night before). "He's known his numbers and alphabet for some time now, and it's clearly from reading..."

It's easy to say that most kids have 'brains like sponges', feeding their curiosity ravenously with anything they can get their hands on, but there are a number of ways a child can do that, outside of reading. Jack, almost 3 years old, seems to have come out of the womb an avid reader, a fact that is no surprise to an astrologer.

Jack has the planet Mercury close to his South Node. The South Node represents our habits and norms, what we are used to and in many ways what we are naturally good at. Mercury represents anything to do with the mind or the voice, such as learning, communicating, and of course, reading.

Mercury is in the sign of Virgo, which allows Jack to easily take note of all the details and an inherent understanding of how the structure of something is set up and broken down. For instance, it probably makes great sense to Jack that sentences are made of words which are made of letters, so he can understand each component like a puzzle and fit them together easily.

It also doesn't hurt that he's got his Moon (the emotional heart of us) in Sagittarius which has a love of learning and new experiences, something that he's probably already discovered that books can provide for him. He also has Mars, a planet that represents our desires in the ever-curious sign of Gemini, so his love of learning will be lifelong. Future scientist? We'll see!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

And Daddy Makes Three: Bristol, Tripp, and Levi

Bristol Palin (daughter of presidential hopeful Sarah Palin) and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Levi Johnston, seem to be on again. On the cover of US Weekly magazine, Bristol and Levi smile happily while holding their 18 month old son Tripp.

Tripp has a striking natal chart, with a whopping 6 planets in the sign of Capricorn, including his Sun and Moon. Capricorn is a sign that thrives on responsibility and feeling like they are in control of things and on track with their goals.

As Tripp grows, it is quite likely that his predisposition to always wanting to do the right and responsible thing will have him maturing fast (perhaps even faster than his young parents!), maybe leading to him feeling like he bears more burden and responsibility than a young child should. With all these planets in the 2nd house, he will really have a desire to prove himself, to be productive, and to see results of his actions paying off.

As a young child, Tripp's parents are likely to see the great pleasure he takes in a job well done and how grown up he feels when he can handle things himself. Giving him tasks that he can accomplish and trusting him to do them in the way he sees fit will build a strong sense of pride for him. Here's more from his Kiddiegram:
"Tripp is an industrious, rather serious, practical little person, not the light, frivolous, happy-go-lucky type. To feel secure, he needs structure and a clearly defined set of rules and boundaries. He finds comfort in rituals and traditions. Little things like coming to pick him up exactly when you said you would mean a lot to him. He likes to know what to expect."

Want to find out more about your little (or not-so-little) one? Get their unique Kiddiegram instantly online!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Angelina Jolie's Bilingual Babes

In the August issue of Vanity Fair, Angelina Jolie discusses life in Venice, acting, and all of it accompanied by her troop of six children. She discussed how important it is to her for her children to have a sense of the wide world around them, and likes to have them learn about the local culture wherever they are. Of their education in and out of Venice, Jolie says:
"We have two teachers who travel with us, and we found a wonderful local man who teaches them the history of Venice and some Italian. It's a nice mix--this is what we do. They go to school every day 10 to 4 at home. They're on the Lycée curriculum.
Angelina is a jet-setter herself and would be even without the necessity of acting on location for her profession, so it's no wonder she enjoys opening up the cultural world to her children, including learning multiple languages. So how will the children fair with this curriculum and learning lifestyle? That's a question with a multi-faceted answer, no doubt, but initially we look to the planet Mercury for questions about learning style and preferences.

Maddox has Mercury in Leo, in a tight conjunction with his Sun. Angelina mentions in the Vanity Fair
article what an intellectual he is, is great at school and could be a writer. It's no surprise to Mlle. Kiddie! The Sun is central to our personality, and with Mercury there, that means his mind and what he can do with it is just as central to his sense of self. He'll gain a great deal of confidence from using and developing his intelligence.

Both Pax and Zahara have Mercury in Sagittarius, so they will take their multi-cultural education in absolute stride as if it were tailored just for them. Sagittarius is the sign of the philosopher, who loves discovering the principles of meaning inherent in all different cultures, joined by humanity. Zahara in particular has her Mercury in a tight conjunction with her Venus, which lends a quality of grace, creativity, and beauty to her mind. Her mom said in the interview that Zahara has "an extraordinary voice and is just so elegant and well spoken." All qualities of Venus (beauty) when connected to Mercury (voice and mind).

Shiloh has Mercury in Gemini which will give her a quick mind and an ability to pick up a lot in short amounts of time, but it is in a square (tough) relationship with Uranus in dreamy Pisces and in a trine (easy) relationship with Neptune, both influences which will make her challenge that of concentrating. Keep her interested, and she'll gobble it up, but here's a girl who will be so overwhelmed by the desire for input that she can get carried away with the next new and fascinating thing. Angelina says Shiloh is just like she was as a child "goofy and verbal." Mercury in Gemini is a playful and mischievious kind of energy, and adding it to Uranus in Pisces and Neptune (which has a resonance with Pisces) and her imagination is boundless. She's certain to be a storyteller.

Vivienne and Knox have Mercury in Cancer, which is a water sign. Water signs learn best when there is an emotional, personal, or subjective component to them, something they can attach meaning and memory to (they typically have great memories). Mercury is also in a sextile (easy) relationship to Saturn and Mars in the sign of Virgo, so they'll no doubt be dutiful students, who learn with precision and dedication.

A jet-setter herself, Mademoiselle Kiddie approves of the program! Bravo!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sandra Bullock Super Mom

Sandra Bullock, mom to 5 month old Louis, recently told The Daily Mail:
"I have been surprised by the fact that I really only need 3 hours of sleep," the doting mom said, and added, "A little person screaming at the top of his lungs can mean six things…and I will figure out which one it is and fix it."
She also said she is being a very hands on mom, wanting "[no one else] to have the pleasure of changing poopy diapers but me."

Moms know that you do what you have to do when it comes to baby, and if that means only 3 hours of sleep, so be it, but Sandra seems to be quite cheerful about it and taking it in stride. What's the Super Mom's secret?

Mars conjunct the Ascendant. Every new mom should have one! Sandra is probably keeping herself going on the fumes of willpower alone. Mars not only represents our will and our ability to act on our desires and passions, but often also our physical strength and our health. The ascendant, the cusp of the first house, and the first house in general, is also an indicator of health, and with robust Mars there, it can be an indicator of a strong constitution.

In Gemini, Sandra can be pretty flexible (and luckily it's in the sign of the twins so when one part of her needs to go to sleep, the other can take over -- *wink!*) 


Here's more about Mars on the Ascendant from Sandra's Kiddiegram Report:

Mars conjunct Ascendant

     Frank, forthright, and direct, Sandra makes her presence and her will known very clearly. She is inclined to act first and think later. Decisiveness and initiative are her gifts; rashness or insensitivity to other people's needs and desires may be her downfall. 
     She appears self-confident and brave; others are inclined to follow her lead or at least to leave her alone to do what she wills.
Appearing self-confident? I'd say so! She's had a lot to manage over the last few months with the men in her life: Jesse, Louis, and of course, Oscar. And she's definitely taken it in stride and managed it with flexibility and quirky humor, also characteristics of mutable Gemini. Go, Sandra, Go!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Sarah McLachlan: Music and Motherhood

Songstress Sarah McLachlan is heading back to the Lilith Fair stage after 7 years, with her new album, Laws of Illusion. She has 2 children, India and Taja. Will they be accompanying her on tour? Sarah has previously said that India has not shown much interest in Sarah's music, and would be complaining of boredom but Taja loves to sit by her mom and play the piano (this was at only 8 months old). In a more recent interview, Sarah has described India as "challenging."

India's south node is in Sagittarius and since it's coupled with Pluto, she probably entered this life with a bit of an intense personality. Sagittarius represents a broad spectrum of traits, which are typically listed as adventurous, friendly, and happy-go lucky, but often overlooked is the Sagittarian's desire for truth, knowledge, and meaning. She came into this life with her eyes open, and in intention to open them even further.

In this light, much of her chart reveals this quest for truth as central throughout her life. Her strong Mercury Sun conjunction in Aries shows just how central it is to her personality to learn, strengthen her mind, and speak her opinions. Her Moon in Aquarius reveals a central emotional need to pull away from the expectations of others to be able to know her own path to individuation. Her north node in Gemini, coupled with Saturn in Gemini, reveals that ultimately, her challenge will be to let what she thinks she already knows be challenged by her commitment to an open-minded discovery process.

Sarah's chart reveals a strong Aquarian component as well, with at least her Sun (and possibly her Moon since Mlle. Kiddie does not know her exact birth time) in Aquarius. Sarah has been quoted in People magazine as having a desire for her daughters to become strong women, and for Sarah, her Aquarian Sun reveals that it's of central importance for her to have the courage to be true to herself as well.

Sarah's Mars is in Pisces and her South Node in Libra, which reveal two important pieces in her chart that are oriented toward more gentle, compassionate, and supportive energies, so it may be challenging to have a little girl with such an intense personality from the get go. Even more than that, India's Mars squares her own Uranus, so she's often waging an internal war of stubbornness on herself. Couple that with the fact that her Venus in Taurus is square Sarah's Sun, and it can be a stand off between mom and daughter.

We all learn things from our children, and with India's strong Sun and Mercury on Sarah's north node in Aries, India is teaching Sarah to be stronger, more direct, and more healthily selfish, which can be a challenge for Sarah, but ultimately a healing one, even if she's learning it in self-defense!

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

No Spoilers for Sadie & Sunny Sandler

Adam Sandler recently said in an interview that he is concerned about his kids being spoiled and does his part to ensure that his girls, Sadie (4) and Sunny (almost 2) are grateful for what they have. He says to the Toronto Sun:

“The idea of my kids being spoiled, I go to sleep thinking about it and I wake up thinking about it ... I try to do the right thing, but with the amount of money I have, it’s difficult to raise the children the way I was raised.”
That's not a sentence you usually hear from wealthy parents, but Adam has a whopping 5 planets all clustered in humble Virgo. Virgo is a sign that is built on the foundation of constantly striving to better itself and to feel like the work they do is always at its best; Virgo also holds itself to very high standards at that, so it doesn't like to 'rest on laurels'. Adam probably gets quite restless when he's not working because it's an inherent attitude for him to feel like he's earning his keep (and Mlle. Kiddie is pretty sure he is!) 

Instilling the values of working for what you're given and appreciating what you have in his kids is going to be second nature to him. How will Sadie and Sunny take this lesson in? Sunny may be more likely to be a bit on the diva side than Sadie. With Sunny's south node in the sign of royal Leo, she may expect more attention and praise as a child than Sadie, who's south node is in Libra and may tend to be more on the people-pleasing side of things. Sadie has a down-to-earth Taurus Sun, so she can appreciate her dad's down-to-earth, humble nature, and Sunny's probable Capricorn Moon can appreciate his sensibleness, so he's got some good material to work with in his daughters!

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Parenting with Astrology: Encouraging Focus and Discipline

Amy Herring has been a professional astrologer for 15 years and a proud mother for 5 of those years. She has joyfully accepted Mlle. Kiddie’s gracious offer to share her thoughts once a month here at Kiddie Star Signs. To find out more about Amy and her personal readings for parents and children, visit her website at http://heavenlytruth.com.

Money and fame don’t solve every problem. Celebrity moms have their hopes and worries for their children too. However, I’d like to offer ‘everyday’ moms a chance to see astrology put into action to answer their parenting questions. After all, famous or not, you’re the world to your kids! If you’ve got a question about your child that you’d like Amy to answer, send your questions to amy@heavenlytruth.com.
Lara writes:
What is a good way for Milla to work on focus and discipline?
I'm not sure what you mean by focus and discipline, whether it's schoolwork or following rules or things of that nature, but her natal chart offers plenty of clues in general about the topic.

One of the most profound symbols that shape a personality and is especially strong in a child's chart, is the south node and any planets in a conjunction with that south node, such as Milla has. Uranus is conjunct her Aquarian south node. She entered this life with a strong orientation toward individuality and freedom, which can sometimes reveal itself through rebellious attitudes and contrariness.

Her chart reveals other symbols of a desire for freedom and independence, such as her Sagittarian Moon, which wants to experience life as it happens, doing things in a more casual and haphazard way whenever it interests or suits them. Her Mercury and Jupiter are together in Aries in the 9th house are also about developing a world view around her ability to take charge of her own life through her beliefs and opinions about the world and her part in it. Mars in Scorpio right on the beginning of the 4th house indicates this girl has a bottomless well of strength when she needs it, and is learning to develop an iron will.

It all seems to be boiling down to the likelihood that she's going to have a lot of restless energy that she will want to point in several directions, probably all at once, and a tendency to stubbornly adhere to what she wants to do, although in the face of an authority or 'rule-maker,' she may tend to be sneakier in her rebellion or may intially seem to acquiesce, but it can still lead to a stalemate, with her will against yours in whatever you're trying to get her to do.

I have a couple of strategies to offer. One, because of that Mercury and Jupiter in Aries, if you can help her see why she can be excited or passionate about something, that can make a big difference, especially if it has anything to do with what she's learning, like applying herself in school. She may not be able to relate to the day to day requirements of disciplining oneself to do daily work, but if you can help her see what it can lead to, what she will be able to be free to do, it can help.

The other strategy lies with her Saturn Sun conjunction in Taurus. She is likely to respond more situations that help her to feel that she's able to take matters into her own hands. It can be tough to be a child and having to listen to everyone else's rules with this kind of chart. She's trying to get to know and love herself and her own strengths, so she's got a lot built in that is going to want to reject others telling her who to be or what to do. So getting her behind her own goals and then giving her real support, but enough room to handle a situation in a way she thinks best, can also help.

There are no easy answers here, though, as her personality is never going to fit easily into the kind of mold that maybe a chart with a lot of Virgo or Capricorn might, where the work is its own reward. She's always going to want to do things in her own way and in a more haphazard fashion, but her passion can lead to discipline as she grows into adulthood. With Saturn and the Sun in the 10th house, she will find a lot of stamina and sensibleness when she discovers what she wants to apply it to, and the goals she wants to achieve.