Drowned in Moonlight: Exploring the Lunar Nodes of Carrie Frances Fisher

Are you interested in learning Vedic Astrology from an experienced teacher? Do you want to deepen your understanding of the ancient wisdom of the stars and planets? If so, you might want to check out the Asheville Vedic Astrology Apprenticeship Program, a two-year online course that covers all the essential topics of this fascinating discipline.

The Asheville Vedic Astrology Apprenticeship Program is offered on the teachable.com platform, where you can access the lectures, exercises, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace. You will learn about the fundamentals of Vedic Astrology, such as the rasis, the signs, the houses, the planets, the vargas, the dashas, the yogas, and more. You will also learn how to interpret charts, make predictions, and apply remedies.

If you are looking for even more rigour, you can also enrol in the Certification Pathway, a complementary program that allows you to submit your work for assessment at the end of each semester. There are nine semesters in total, and each one has a specific focus and theme. By completing the Certification Pathway, you will demonstrate your mastery of Vedic Astrology and earn an invitation to join the Practicum Year of supervised, applied Vedic Astrology.  Successful completion of the Practicum Year will entitle you to Certification from Asheville Vedic Astrology and its associated benefits.

But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself the quality of the work produced by students on the program. Today’s blog post is a paper written by one of our apprentices at the end of the seventh semester, which explores how Rahu and Ketu influence a chart.

We hope you enjoy reading this paper and find it informative and insightful. If you are inspired by what you see and want to join our program, please visit the Asheville Vedic Astrology Apprenticeship Program on teachable.com or contact me for more information. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you on your journey of learning Vedic Astrology.

Drowned in Moonlight: Exploring the Lunar Nodes of Carrie Frances Fisher by M Criticos

“I tell my younger friends that no matter how I go, I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra.” (1)

This quote from Carrie Fisher illustrates her signature wit in the face of adversity. In order to shed light on the mechanisms behind her struggles and her karmic development, the astrologer examines the lunar nodes in her chart. This paper takes a deeper look at these influences and attempts to make sense of a life that was undoubtedly complex, difficult, and – despite it all – fulfilling.

A Capricorn lagna signifies a path of hard work and endurance. In a twelfth house placement, lagna lord Saturn can signify a loss of self, both personality and vitality. And indeed, the native’s life was never truly her own. Born into show business, she was in the public eye until her early death at age 60. 

This placement also shows an individual who likes their privacy. And though much of the native’s life was public, she built a home for herself that was her refuge (2). This is echoed by a strong Taurus Moon, which solidifies the need for a haven filled with material things that bring comfort and security. Ketu’s presence in Taurus emphasizes this as a place of perceived safety.

A glimpse at Kala’s Yoga Judgment Table shows Saturn’s value as -15.43/+2.4. This implies that yogas for the lagna lord in the twelfth house will emphasize his krura nature. Indeed, relevant yogas include poor health; uncomfortable death; unhealthy emotional nature; and time spent in hospitals or jails (3 p319) – or in this case, substance rehab clinics.

Although he is in friendly dignity, Saturn is not helped by planetary aspects or lajjitaadi avasthas. What little aid Venus and Mercury offer does not go far. His shadbala score of 343 is reduced to -119.5 by inimical avasthas from Sun, Mars, and Moon. The Moon aspects Saturn to 57/60 points. This nearly-full aspect is echoed by the Moon’s rsi aspect to the lagna itself. Combine these influences with the Ketu-Moon conjunction, and the astrologer begins to see that this is a chart with a strong emphasis on lunar qualities.

From these preliminary assessments, the astrologer looks at the Moon itself. With mulatrikona dignity in the fifth house, it gives an individual with powerful intuition, a self-accepting mind and a potent sense of self. The Moon has the highest shadbala of 586 points, elevated to 1182 by support from the Sun and Mercury. He also has a high dig bala score of 111.2%. Jupiter’s trinal placement, like the Moon’s, shows a strong potential for grace, good fortune, and likeability.

Ketu brings his signature dichotomy of unboundedness and intense control to his close conjunction with the Moon. Since the Moon is a graha of individualization and is quite well-supported here, he provides the stability for Ketu to emit less of his trademark interference. It’s almost as though the Moon outshines the obfuscation of Ketu. This combination can give a deep intuition to transcend normal states of consciousness and profound opportunities to develop emotionally. But the native needs a strong, steadfast self as a foundation for this work. The Moon lends its support here, but – as lord of Ketu –  a debilitated Venus seeks escapism, and in Fisher’s life this manifested through substance abuse (4).

Fifth house affairs such as creativity and intellect are highlighted by the Moon’s presence there. Indeed, the native had considerable insight into the collective cultural consciousness (Moon), which served her creative process. She wrote a number of screenplays and books and edited others’ work as well. She was “one of the most sought after [script] doctors in town.”(5)

Additionally, the Moon’s significance as a karaka for the mother comes into play. Fisher had a strong, deep relationship with her mother, Debbie Reynolds. Along with Fisher’s younger sibling Todd, they were left behind when father and husband Eddie Fisher walked away from their family to marry Elizabeth Taylor in 1959 (6). The three who stayed were drawn closer together by this hardship. 

This dynamic is evidenced in the chart by the rsi aspects to the 9th house. Both Saturn and Mars exert their influence towards the field of Virgo in the 9th, indicating hardships and suffering. The presence of Venus and Jupiter here shows a capacity to overcome, although Venus’ debilitation and Jupiter’s weak shadbala mean that attrition will still be high. The three remained inseparable through Reynolds’ second divorce, and Fisher even joined Reynolds in her nightclub act (7).

The native’s adult relationship with her mother was not always solid, however, and Fisher struggled to establish her identity outside of Reynolds’ shadow. "We had a fairly volatile relationship earlier on in my 20s [...] I did not want to be Debbie Reynolds' daughter."(8). This estrangement may be the effect of Ketu attempting to liberate the native from overdependence on the mother (Moon) by challenging that relationship.

The two overcame obstacles to become so close that as adults they spent 15 years as next-door neighbors. They died one day apart in December 2016, and the intimacy of their relationship remained constant until the end, when the two were buried together (9). As 4th house lord representing the mother, Mars’ placement in the 3rd reflects the sibling-like bond that the two had toward the end of their lives. Reynolds said of their relationship, “Carrie and I have disagreements and stalemates, but we still walk away loving each other." (10)

Further insight into the nodes comes from examining their house lords. Venus, ruler of Taurus, is in the 9th house opposite Mars, ruler of Scorpio, in the 3rd. This opposition of their lords echoes the nodal axis, emphasizing the push and pull between extremes. However, both lords are in trines from the nodes they rule: Ketu is in the 5th and Venus in the 9th; Rahu is in the 11th and Mars in the 3rd. This placement lends ease and grace to the native’s experience of karmic development.

In Taurus, Ketu works through Venus and is innately linked to his strengths and weaknesses. Compounded with his debilitation and low dig bala (37.8%), Venus shows poor potential for the positive bhava yogas of 5th house lord in the 9th house. The trinal placement of both Venus (9H) and Ketu (5H) lends some grace to counteract this. Significant support also comes from Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn, boosting Venus’ shadbala score (1062) to the second highest. Mercury provides discernment; Jupiter offers divine inspiration and purpose; and Saturn shores up these efforts with endurance and focus. 

Despite these boons, Venus’ yoga judgment score of -23.3/+1.1 makes it more likely that his beneficial prospects will not manifest. Positively, the native has skills in writing, authorship and the fine arts (11), and is well known (12 p220). Negatively, none of the bhava yogas seem accurate – but perhaps that is because this astrologer does not have proper insight into a celebrity’s inner life.

A debilitated Venus has a strong effect on the mind, since it rules the 5th house. The native was diagnosed as bipolar and spent much of her adult life navigating these extreme psychological states (13). Confluence comes from Venus’ placement in the 5th house from the 5th house. The presence of the mulatrikona Moon in the 5th as a karaka for the mind lends some support to these struggles. 

Since the Moon represents popularity, it’s noteworthy that the native was famous for her mental health issues and put much of her creative energy (5H) towards writing about her experiences. Her books are well-loved, and her transparency in this realm made her a beacon of hope for many. “I’ve never been ashamed of my mental illness; it never occurred to me. Many people thank me for talking about it, and mothers can tell their kids [...] that Princess Leia is bipolar too.” (14)

This is an area of conflux for the nodes. Ketu in the 5th indicates that the native gained past security from self-expression and creativity. The impulse is to remain in this place of strength, using one’s creative endeavors to bring material stability (Taurus). In Scorpio, Rahu urges the native towards psychological transformation and self-acceptance. In the 11th, Rahu compels one to use these urges for the betterment of the collective. Fisher was able to channel her Ketu impulse towards a Rahu outcome. Further support for this phenomenon comes from Mars, lord of Rahu, in the 5th house from Rahu’s placement. While Venus’ and Mars’ poor dignity suggest that this was likely not a conscious choice, a potent Moon more than compensates with his intuition. In the 3rd house of skills and communication, Mars, ruler of Scorpio, provides confluence for writing and the arts as an effective outlet for these nodal compulsions.

In the 11th house, Rahu points to gains and titles from Scorpio-influenced affairs. One craves validation from one’s community, but it is not necessarily an easy path. Scorpio’s tendency to examine the metaphorical caves, pits, and holes (15) of the psychological underworld gave Fisher the fodder that fueled her creative process. As mentioned above, much of the work for which she was appreciated was inspired by the urge to expose her emotional landscape for the world to see. "I think I do overshare," Fisher says. "It's my way of trying to understand myself. [...] It creates community when you talk about private things." (16)

As lord of Scorpio in the third house of Pisces, Mars rules over Rahu’s experience. Both grahas are in upachaya houses, which indicates that the native’s experience will ameliorate over time. This was certainly the case, since the vast majority of Fisher’s awards and nominations came during the later part of her life; she even won a Grammy Award posthumously. (17)

Mars is neutral, with low dig bala (64.4%) and an overall shadbala score of 339 points. This gets a big boost from the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter, raising it to 941.9 points. The Sun and Moon encourage Mars through shining their sattvic light – both outer (Sun) and inner (Moon). This provides the solar inspiration and lunar intuition that guide Mars’ rajasic drive to excavate and transform in Scorpio’s terrain. 

Similarly to Venus, Mars is not in a prime state to manifest positive yogas. His yoga judgment score is -7.6/+2.4. Positive bhava yogas for eleventh house lord in the third house include generating financial abundance via third house affairs such as writing; skills are acknowledged by influential people; and writing is published (18 p299). For the same reason, it is not evident to this astrologer which negative bhava yogas apply.

In the D9, Ketu is in Virgo  and Rahu is in Pisces. Traditionally, looking at the D1 offers insight into the native’s concrete life path. In contrast, the D9 shows how the native will find purpose or make meaning out of their nodal experience. In both charts, Ketu emerges as the more-supported node. 

Mercury, ruler of Virgo, is in a GF sign in the D1. He is prominent in the 10th house. Although he conjuncts the Sun, he is outside of the orb of combustion. This suggests that Mercury can provide the discrimination and analysis necessary to make sense of Ketu’s lessons. Indeed, although Fisher has suffered much, she was able to use her suffering to carve out a place for herself in the public eye (10H) and ultimately to use this energy towards Rahu’s 11th house goals.

Jupiter, lord of Pisces, is neutral in the D1. Conjunct a debilitated Venus and in Mercury’s sign, he loses much of his power to them. Venus influences Jupiter to seek happiness from external affairs. For Fisher, this translated to self-medication through substances, particularly since Jupiter rules the native’s 12th house of loss. Mercury influences Jupiter to over-analyze instead of trusting the process. This astrologer doesn’t have the personal insights to speak to this phenomenon in the native’s life. However, this relationship reemphasizes Ketu’s predominance, since here Ketu’s lord in the D9 is undermining the lord of Rahu.

Neither Saturn nor Mars has sufficient power through dig bala to direct Rahu and Ketu (respectively) towards success. With a friendly dignity, Saturn gives a slightly better ability to endure the trials of Rahu. With low dig bala and neutral dignity, Mars has a diminished capacity to command or direct the native’s experience where Ketu is concerned.

Ultimately, although Fisher’s chart does not have a strong foundation for navigating the nodes, sufficient lunar reinforcement tips the scales in her favor. Her life was a difficult one, as is evidenced by a weak lagna lord in the 12th house and a debilitated Venus. But can it be said that Carrie Fisher “drowned in moonlight,” as she foretold? Certainly the Moon acts with saving grace, lending substantial support to Ketu and easing the native’s path. Perhaps drowning in moonlight is not such a bad way to go.

WORKS CITED

(1) Busis, Hillary. “Carrie Fisher Had Just One Request for Her Obituary.” Vanity Fair. 27 December 2016, www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/carrie-fisher-dies-strangled-by-bra-wishful-drinking.

(5) Cagle, Jess. “Whoopi Goldberg Duels With Disney.” EW.com, 29 May 1992, www.ew.com/article/1992/05/29/whoopi-goldberg-duels-disney.

(4), (11), (13), (14) “Carrie Fisher.” Biography, 7 Mar. 2023, www.biography.com/actors/carrie-fisher.

(2) Collins, Nancy, and Mary E. Nichols. “Inside Carrie Fisher’s House in Beverly Hills.” Architectural Digest, 29 Sept. 2016, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/carrie-fisher-los-angeles-home-article.

(10) Finn, Natalie. “Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds’ Singular Bond: Inside Their Complicated but Fiercely Close Relationship.” E! Online, 28 Dec. 2020, www.eonline.com/news/818644/carrie-fisher-and-debbie-reynolds-singular-bond-inside-%20their-complicated-but-fiercely-close-relationship.

(3), (12), (18) Fish, Richard, and Ryan Kurczak.  The Art & Science of Vedic Astrology, Volume 2.  Coppell, TX: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014.

(6), (7), (9) “Inside Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds’ Close — but Often Complicated — Relationship.” Biography, 2 Feb. 2023, www.biography.com/actors/carrie-fisher-debbie-reynolds-relationship.

(8) Miller, Mike. People, January 6 2017, www.people.com/movies/inside-carrie-fishers-complicated-relationship-with-mom-debbie-reynolds-and-their-close-bond-before-her-death.

(15) Sphujidhvaja. The Yavanajataka. “The Lunar Nodes, Class 5.” Uploaded by Ryan Kurczak.  http://vedic-astrology.teachable.com.

(16) https://www.npr.org/2016/11/28/503580112/carrie-fisher-opens-up-about-star-wars-

the-gold-bikini-and-her-on-set-affair

(17) https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000402/awards/