Music is the only religion that delivers the goods. – Frank Zappa

Frank.
The world always needs more Frank.  Frank was a flat-out genius musician, an outspoken intellectual known for cutting straight thorough BS mass media rhetoric and speaking the truth.  No great surprise he was a Sagittarius rising with a 29 degree Sagittarius Sun, chart ruler Jupiter in the creative 5th house.

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Frank released more than 60 albums, counting both his solo work and his work with the Mothers of Invention. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

His lyrics—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship. (wiki)

First things first.
When I learned astrology, I went looking for oddballs (compliment) and their aspects.  I dig music, so Frank was at the top of my must know list. When I saw Frank’s 5th house, I immediately thought brilliant ! aural textures !

Frank was a master of layered sounds.  Once you hear Frank Zappa, there is no mistaking why musicians were lining up to collaborate with him.  Aside from the fact that you knew you could count on artistic genius – everything else – tempos, lyrics and the range of sounds were completely unpredictable and wild.  Each moment was totally up for creative theatrical grabs, each piece, rich with sensual crescendos and assaults.

Zappa considered soloing as the equivalent of forming “air sculptures”,and developed an eclectic, innovative and highly personal style. (wiki)

Frank’s music and philosophical vision was a cosmic wake up call to both musicians and the public.  (Uranus trine Moon – Neptune conjunction at MC)  He inspired artists around the globe (North Node of Destiny in Libra 10 conjunct MC) to do their own thing and do it well.  (Leo Pluto trine Sagittarius Venus)

To the delight of music fans everywhere, Frank went to bat against Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center in 1985.  He testified before the United States Senate Commerce, Technology, and Transportation committee. He was brilliantly succinct* and fair in his assessment of the proposed PMRC labelling music ‘sexually explicit’ or ‘satanic’ : “…in this context, the PMRC’s demands are the equivalent of treating dandruff by decapitation … The establishment of a rating system, voluntary or otherwise, opens the door to an endless parade of moral quality control programs “. (wiki)

For the record, when Frank testified, tr. Uranus was coming to conjunct his Sagittarius ascendant; tr. Sun and Mercury were conjunct his Virgo Neptune – Moon conjunction at MC*, and tr. Moon and Saturn were conjunct his Scorpio Mars.  haha take that PMRC !

Sun at the 29th degree of culmination in Sagittarius is visionary, trine his chart ruler Jupiter in conjunction with Saturn in 5th and we have precise execution of expansive philosophies made manifest on the earth plane.  Frank shunned the typical excesses of the late 60’s (hallucinogens) and instead turned his Jupiter in sensate Taurus to crafting sonic masterpieces – 30 years worth of musical innovation (Uranus quintile Leo Pluto which trines Venus).  One thing about (long-term career-driven) Saturn conjunct Jupiter – especially in Taurus – it is work and lots of it.  Ok, one more thing – hairy + that is one crazy head of hair with Uranus in 5th. Check out this quote: “Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid.”  Perfect for his 5th, yes..? haha This conjunction falls in his 5th, so Frank’s work was actually a labor of love and tons of fun.  personal aside: I must admit, I am growing fond of Jupiter conjunct Saturn folks – they are strict, but fair.  They are honest and they cut to the chase already – soOo refreshing !

Mercury as leading planet (oriental), conjunct Ascendant in Sagittarius 1st house is strongly intellectual, articulate and vocal regarding opinions and philosophies – in square (along with Sun) to Moon (public) and Neptune in Virgo; insightful, detailed and precise, bucking the national trend of delusion.  Frank was well-known as a family man with a strict work ethic who was quite vocal about his viewpoints.  He ended up a spokesperson, though this role likely did not set too well with him (Sun square Moon) – what he really wanted was everyone (Jupiter – Saturn conjunction square the Plutonian masses) to collectively get with the program and get politically involved.

How appropriate that Frank has an asteroid named after him – and that it is in his Neptune ruled 3rd house. (Gemini and Mercury naturally rule and they equal names) Indeed with natal (Mercury-ruled) Virgo Neptune conjunct Moon and MC:  the Internet campaign to name the asteroid, which apparently was the first worldwide on-line petition, involved Zappa fans in 22 countries and produced the most people supporting an asteroid’s name, according to the International Astronomical Union (IAU). (source)  Zappa is exactly conjunct my Uranus in Virgo. cool.

Frank also had Vesta or what I call the ‘fire in the belly’, (the passionate torch carried within) – at the saturation degree of creative Leo in trine to his powerful Sun in 1st. Sun rules Leo, so this is obviously beneficial.  Melpomene, the Muse of Music also breathes fire into his Leo creativity.  Chiron the centaur philosopher healer conjunct metamorph Pluto in Leo which trine Venus and Mars – Frank worked a charm on artists and showed them the way to actively create art for arts sake alone – not solely for profit !  (Venus in Sagittarius 12th)  North Node in Libra 10, and Frank was here to learn and project fairness, balance and creativity to the whole world.
Well done, sir.

Peace out Mothers ~
gneissmoonastrology.net