Not Funny, But Brave: The Lajjitaadi Avasthas of Lucille Ball
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 fifth semester, which explores how Lajjitaadi Avasthas help the astrologer access deep insights into a clients’ 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.
Not Funny, But Brave: The Lajjitaadi Avasthas of Lucille Ball by M Criticos
Lucille Ball won the hearts of America as the zany heroine of the sitcom “I Love Lucy,” which she created and starred in with her husband, Desi Arnaz. But beyond her trademark red hair and physical comedy, Lucy had to work smarter and harder to get by. A thorough examination of the lajjitaadi avasthas of Mercury, Mars, and the Sun reveal deeper insight into the inner workings of a complex and charismatic icon.
Lucille Ball Birth Chart
Garvita Mercury is at the pinnacle of his potential. The native with this avastha plays the game of life well. She is capable of juggling many tasks, of efficient management and organization. She communicates clearly and is proud of all forms of accomplishment.
These indications are supported by a deeper analysis of Mercury. Here, he stands tall in the third house of communication, courage, skills, and the arts. When exalted, Mercury allows for ease of communication, business, and management. He refines skills and makes for a playful and adaptable individual who can take on different personas. All these qualities can be seen in Lucy, who excelled as a comedian, actor, and businesswoman.
Mercury is in a vriddha state, which brings wisdom but lacks vitality. His jagrat nature makes for a conscious and insightful engagement with all he represents, with his sideways gaze always looking for opportunities. A raw shadbala score of 426.4 places him mid-rank, fulfilling 101.5% of his overall shadbala requirements capably.
Venus fortifies Mercury by bringing the support and grace of a natural benefic. These two rajasic planets combine to create a sense of curiosity and striving that compels Lucy toward betterment. “Her commitment was about always improving. You never saw her let up.” (10)
Mercury manages third house affairs well, and Venus brings a sense of fulfillment – specifically in communication, media, and the arts. This combines with Mercury’s vaishya qualities to push the native towards developing skills related to commerce and a sense of success that comes from being yourself and expressing yourself.
Indeed, Lucille Ball earned her place in the hearts of the public by playing a sitcom version of herself. But she was not content as the writer and star of her own television show; she and Desi formed Desilu Studios, which pioneered a number of production methods still in use today. (12)
Due to Mercury’s exaltation, bhava yoga indications for the third house lord in the third house are primarily positive. There is strong evidence for success in acting pursuits. Ball is someone who refined her skills and hobbies for acting and comedy, receiving four Emmy Awards over her lifetime (4).
She is self-motivated, brave, and has good life energy. Lucy accomplished many “firsts” over her lifetime: the first pregnant woman to appear on television, the first female head of a production company, and the first housewife shown to resist domestic dependence on her husband.
Lucy is detail-oriented and a self-described perfectionist. She says of herself, “perfectionist, I’ve decided, is attention to detail, which I’m proud of, and that’s the way I learned my craft. That’s one [...] thing I’m proud of, that I’ve learned my craft.” (12)
As ruler of Gemini, positive bhava yoga indications for twelfth house rulers in the third house include intelligent management of expenses and taking action to be autonomous. At the time of her death her estate was worth $40 million, almost twice as much as Arnaz’s. (3)
Mercury’s successes point the astrologer toward the eleventh house of gains, where Mars is delighted by Jupiter. The latter offers an expansive viewpoint that tempers Mars’ potential aggression or reactivity, with intuition informing instinct. Jupiter also brings a sense of higher purpose, validating Mars’ innate sense of right and wrong. He gives the confidence needed to achieve goals, and the native can do so with a balanced use of willpower and action.
An in-depth analysis of Mars reinforces these indications. Eleventh house affairs include gains and prosperity, groups, personal goals, and awards. Mars’ upward gaze and masculine energy make for an native who is inspired by goals, with her eyes fearlessly on the prize.
This bhava also has a high score for annihilation, detracting from Jupiter’s delight. Lucy certainly had everything that qualifies as the American Dream: celebrity, wealth, and a “happy family.” But her marriage was marked by his infidelity and substance abuse, and she filed for divorce after 20 years of marriage (15). She said of this time, “We certainly did have everything and worked very hard to get it. I couldn’t understand [the loss].” (17)
Additional challenges come via Saturn, whose oppression produces a frustration that comes from not effectively being able to use one’s willpower. This can lead to explosivity, and Lucy did have a reputation for being a “fiery redhead.” (9) This conjunction also gives a tamasic drive and a quadruped diligence that urges the native to work hard toward their goals. “She was very serious-minded, and an incredibly hard worker. [She] was the first to say she was a workaholic.” (11)
Support for Mars comes via rasi and planetary aspects that are entirely benefic. A rasi aspect from the bright Moon intensifies Mars’ focus on eleventh house goals and dreams by making them feel like a natural extension of the self. Benefic planetary aspects from Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter boost his superior raw shadbala score of Mars from 543.4 to 584.2. He is fully capable of tending to his affairs, meeting 181% of his overall requirements.
The first of two bhava yogas relevant to Mars is the fifth house lord in the tenth house. The native knows how to make money and knows how to make the most of opportunities. “Lucy was [...] a businesswoman who had command of her career.” (7) She made her income through entertainment, and received social recognition and fame for her work.
Indications for the bhava yoga of the tenth house lord in the eleventh house include dealing well with wealth, finances and business. The native rises to a high status in life and is well-connected. She receives awards and recognition via her career. Significantly, Lucy received the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Governor’s Award of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. (4)
It’s indisputable that Lucille Ball was successful. Examining the garvita Sun reveals how much of that success translated to wealth. Second house affairs include wealth and resources, early childhood, family, and speech. True to the Sun, Lucy’s speech was “blunt, [...] challenging, direct, competent.” (5)
Standing proud in the second house, the Sun gives good management of wealth and resources. By doing this, the native shines brightly and feels accomplished; she is following the Sun’s sattvic inspiration.
A garvita Sun stays true to its path despite obstacles. The native knows what she wants out of life and does her best to achieve these goals without hurting others. There is a sense of intelligent leadership and proper initiative in second house affairs. The Sun’s masculine and kshatriya nature compels the native to gain strength through resources, and legacy-centered Leo offers the ambition to create an estate that endures.
Ball succeeded in all of these areas: Desilu Studios became a major player in Hollywood, and made the couple rich. Lucy empowered and trusted the people she hired after Desi left the studio, and this was one of the keys to her success. “She really did care that there [was] a family feeling at her company. She was trying to recreate some of the happiest times of her own childhood, so she had company picnics for the staff and their families.” (2)
A strong Sun in the second house gives intelligence in maintaining wealth, echoed by the overwhelming prosperity of this bhava. Both yuva and jagrat, this Sun is at the peak of his power and wields it consciously and effectively. His raw shadbala score of 468.4 ranks him second only to Mars; he meets his overall requirements by 120.1%. Significant planetary aspects from Mars and the Moon support this strength, adding 813.8 points. The only damage comes from Saturn, who subtracts 273.1 points. This brings the Sun’s amended raw score to 1079.2, putting him in first position.
The support of the Moon – by both planetary and rasi aspects – gives adaptability and receptivity, as well as a heavy dose of charisma. Mars adds his courage and assertion, making for an individual who may be a bit hot-headed, but who can get things done. Cruel Saturn detracts by providing high standards and a rigidity that can serve as obstacles, but he also offers a sense of responsibility that suits second house affairs well. “She wasn’t lucky; she wasn’t a genius; she wasn’t innately talented. She really built her success.” (10)
Bhava yoga indications for the second house lord in the second house are positive. They include having a beautiful face. Additionally, the native manages resources well, understands finances, and is financially secure. Lucy “has long been touted as a hard-nosed, shrewd businesswoman.” (5)
One significant negative indication for this yoga is a difficult early childhood, perhaps the influence of Saturn. Lucy’s father passed away when she was four years old (12). Her father's death set into motion a series of difficult childhood hurdles, including being abandoned by her mother to be raised by her step-grandparents. (1) “Her mother had nothing, so [Lucy] ended up being the head of the family and had to take care of them for the rest of her life.” (10)
Regardless of these difficulties – or perhaps because of them – Lucille Ball became one of the most recognizable faces in America. Examining the lajjitaadi avasthas in her chart illuminates her immense courage: she lived her life to the fullest and fiercely pursued her goals. She famously said, "I'm not funny. What I am is brave." (13) Her trailblazing legacy and unwavering determination continue to resonate as a reminder to fearlessly follow our dreams.
WORKS CITED
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Brady, Kathleen. PBS, “Why We Still Love Lucy.” October 2017. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/why-we-still-love-lucy/
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Encyclopedia Britannica Online, “Lucille Ball.” https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lucille-Ball
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ball-being-the-ricardos.html
Graham, Adrienne and Kristi Hedges. Forbes, “Long Before Oprah, There Was Lucy.” September 27, 2011. https://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/09/27/long-
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Henry, William A III. Time Magazine, “Lucille Ball: 1911-1989: A Zany, Redheaded Everywoman.” May 8, 1989. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,957590-1,00.html
Lucy and Desi. Directed by Amy Poehler. Amazon Prime Studios, 2022. Prime Video app.
Mansky, Jackie. Smithsonian Magazine, “Who Was the Real Lucille Ball?” March 22, 2022. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/who-was-the-real-lucille-ball-180979763
National Women’s History Museum, “Lucille Ball.” https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/lucille-ball
Peikert, Mark. Town & Country Magazine, “How Lucille Ball Went From B-Movie Queen to Comedy Superstar.” December 21, 2021. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/
arts-and-culture/a38552141/lucille-ball-being-the-ricardos-true-story/
Smith, David. The Guardian, “‘She Was Very Complicated. She Was A Conundrum’: Who Was the Real Lucille Ball?” December 8, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/
2021/dec/07/she-was-very-complicated-she-was-a-conundrum-who-was-the-real-lucille-ball
Walters, Barbara. 1977. “Lucille Ball & Barbara Walters: The Interview of A LifeTime.” https://youtu.be/xQR5BzN4EKg