You have a moral obligation to finish the job you said you would do.
Viggo Mortensen
Viggo’s filmography is linked above, his artworks (as well as artworks of his friends) including paintings, photographs, poetry and music can be found at Perceval Press, also linked on the sidebar. His paintings were also featured in A Perfect Murder. I have written about Viggo before here and here.
He’s a savvy, soft-spoken traveler who prefers privacy, though he surfaces to fight (speak) for causes he cares deeply for…Democracy Now earlier this week, here.
( I will relay Viggo/Aragorn astrology throughout, note resemblance to Strider above.)
Viggo is one of five knights from The Lord of the Rings production; the others being Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee and Peter Jackson. Viggo was knighted on April 16th 2010 by Queen Margarethe II of Denmark. This pleases me, knights are Jupiter.
An accomplished horseman in his spare time, Mortensen requested Aragorn be given more saddle time than was originally scripted. He also kept his on-screen horse nearby during the entire principal photography schedule in order to ride in his off-hours and strengthen his relationship with the horse. He also did all his own stunts in Hidalgo, including a breakneck bareback ride that even the stuntman couldn’t handle. (Viggo has Saturn in Sagittarius: truth in the work, steady on a horse)
Sagittarius rules horses and Jupiter rules Sagittarius.
Yes, I think Viggo is Sagittarius rising, and yes, there is horse info in the GMA Viggo links above, although I am adding a recap and an addition/correction, here.
Viggo loves horses, has bought several post wrap:
Kenny (Hasufel) aka Eomer’s horse, that Aragorn borrowed in TTT
Brego (Uraeus) aka Theodred’s warhorse Aragorn set free who later found him wounded (pictured above)
Tecontender (T.J.) aka (one of the 5 horses used in) Hidalgo
In addition to Asfaloth aka Florian (Arwen rode in Ringwraith chase) that Viggo gave to Arwen’s stunt double, Jane Abbott.
Viggo’s book: The Horse is Good here. He supports wild horse preservation here. You can also read about Viggo’s horse filming experiences at Horse Nation here. You can read his experiences with the horses in Hidalgo (specifically) here.
“One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master, he told me to go slow to go fast. I think that applies to everything in life. We live as though there aren’t enough hours in the day but if we do each thing calmly and carefully we will get it done quicker and with much less stress.” source
Viggo is a late degree Libra Sun conjunct North Node of Destiny conjunct Venus (rules Libra) within a degree. He is a man of balance and thoughtful consideration, promoting justice and fairness in all he does. The majority of personal planets are in air, he’s a thinker/communicator. Mercury in Scorpio is the lone personal planet water placement – perceptive and sharp, nothing escapes notice. Here lies the power of mental prowess, regeneration and rebirth, intensity of focus. Viggo is a life path Eight.
Outbound actions (Mars retrograde aka internalized, revision mode) involving observation, thinking, speaking are versatile, spontaneous yet alert to stir compassion (Neptune). Mars Rx quincunx (health/altitude adjustments) Scorpio Neptune (healing spirit conjunct Mercury) informs improvisation aka thinking on his feet.
Gemini Mars Rx squares Virgo Pluto – Mercury rules both signs – he knows the power of words, the transmutation they hold. Words…what odd things…singular symbols strung together like prayer beads or notes on a scale – they form unified shapes, summoning mental images, evoking emotions that enable collective understanding. Scorpio Neptune/Mercury/Jupiter measures words to the point of struggle, for to speak is to finitely define what is in essence esoteric, alchemical and forever in flux.
Viggo is a word wizard – conscientiously smithing his craft. Mars retrograde quincunx Scorpio Neptune is forever making adjustments, resurrecting or furrowing the mindfield searching for new subconscious emotional reserves. Fluctuating Aquarius Moon also supports this restless quest for information but from the mental perspective – intake and processing of moods, feelings, vibes of surrounds are highly instinctive and intellectual in nature.
Viggo is kind, artistic, thoughtful, informed, enigmatic, funny and quirky. He actually quit speaking for a month (4 weeks) to better understand his role as a deaf/mute woodsman in The Passion of Darkly Noon. Released in 1995 (presumably filmed in early/mid ’94) Viggo was having a Jupiter transit to his stellium near natal Neptune with Saturn in Pisces in trine to same with Uranus/Neptune conjunct in Capricorn square his Libra Sun, Venus, NNode conjunction. Curiously, the social/outers were all retrograde mid ’94. I knew and loved this story, but went digging up the deets for y’all, and the story is pure Viggo – read it here.
Desire to penetrate the mysteries of pure creative heart and soul (Leo) as well as higher mind and communication (Uranus) are enhanced by Jupiter (student/teacher) square Uranus in Leo (creation/curiosity/play). The drive to experience differences and see and think through another’s eyes and experiences lends to heightened growth of the craft. (Sun/NNode/Venus in Libra) Jupiter in Scorpio square Uranus in Leo seeks to disrupt complacency by investigating all manners of philosophy on life and death – each deserves respect (Jupiter). The Road – the only movie I felt was so intense that I had to stop half way through and walk it off a bit before beginning again. That’s high praise from a Plutonic.
“Each time I make a movie, it’s like a paid scholarship to a different university course.” source
Mercury rules eyesight, Uranus (its higher octave) rules the aetheric sight. In Viggo’s case, Jupiter (conjunct Mercury, square Uranus – I think it’s his ruler) links the two. He’s a philosopher grounded by Saturn in Sagittarius – he sees how ideas manifest on the material plane, it informs not only his philosophies, but also his self-discipline.
Sagittarius Saturn conjunct ascendant in good aspect (trine Uranus, sextile Venus exact) is serious about the long-term ramifications of any and all energetic exchanges. Saturn also gives structure and support (work) to wildcard Uranus in Leo. Uranus in Leo insists on creative diversity, fingers in all the pies. Double fixation (Leo/Uranus) driven by independence, innovation, invention and switch-hit artistic perceptions, he’s the courageous boho gypsy revolutionary who knows that all that glitters is not gold. Uranus separates from Leo (rules gold). Viggo desires respect for the craft, understanding, co-operation and kindness rather than fame, recognition or piles of money. He is a humanitarian, who cares deeply about people. (See Perceval Press.)
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
The Riddle of Strider
Personal: This tiny moment above was one of my (many) favorite RotK scenes, subtle indeed. Got me right in the feels, speechless. I respect your opinion, but I humbly disagree.
Viggo has Libra Sun quintile (genius expression) Uranus (in the sign Sun rules, Leo) indicating boho creative spirit expression, forming strong bonds with others – while remaining individually independent and true to self within said partnerships.
This aspect signals awareness of sensations in the aether heretofore unspoken – felt with the heart only. The ego separates, the heart unites. Sun is both heart and ego and both are electric – a conscious choice (Venus) resides in this aspect.
A couple of quick asteroids:
Lucifer 1930
If you have seen The Prophecy, then you know why I chose to look up Lucifer, I very briefly wrote about it here. Damage Control: It is a representation of the fight between good and evil raging within us all. Please also note Venus the morning star is Lucifer, Venus the evening star is Hesperus and the pentagram is the shape of the her orbit. See it here. Viggo has Lucifer in Capricorn, trine Pluto and quintile Venus; both exact, hence the role in the creative arts. Note also that many astrologers don’t give account to anything but tight conjunctions for asteroids. I pitch ’em out there for interest, flavor.
Varda 174567
Previous post here. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythology, Varda is queen of the stars, aka the star-kindler. Varda, the bestower of blessings is in exact conjunction with Viggo’s natal Venus. This pleases me… for two reasons.
One: Varda bestows charm and grace upon Viggo through Venus.
Two: The ring (Venus rules rings) Aragorn wore was called Elessar, the Elfstone, the stone of Eärendil. Crafted by the Noldor, it was of the deepest green and held the light of the Sun, bestowing healing powers upon the wearer. The ring was given to him as a gift (Venus) from Galadriel (for his marriage to Arwen) at the time the Fellowship left Lothlórien. Aragorn took Elessar as his royal name as was foretold. History of Elessar here and here.