Astrological glyphs can illuminate archetypal stories that are not widely recognized. The glyph of Juno (⚵) and Uranus (♅) brings together the committed and stately Queen Consort and the rebel. In Libra, this infuses the event with themes of justice and partnership. Of course, an example of an archetypal story like this might have the backdrop of a joyous wedding atmosphere filled with matrons (Juno) dressed for a wedding cheek and jowl with lawbreakers (Uranus) dressed for a wedding. Wives and lawbreakers. A new bride and her gangster husband celebrating their wedding. Behind the scenes, Pluto in the 12th house might be the undertaker imploring the communities’ father (Gemini Saturn) for murder (8th house) as revenge for his daughter’s beating. “You don’t even think to call me Godfather.”
So begins the first scene of The Godfather. The wedding of Connie Corleone Rizzi and Carlo Rizzi is never shown just the reception with its singing and dancing. It’s all movement and action. It is also the battlefield. The retrograde Juno and retrograde Uranus are in the 1st house conjunct the Ascendant.
The Godfather invited us to go behind the scenes of the Corleone organized crime family. While the wedding where the wife and most of the children of Vito Andolini are outside celebrating the wedding, the Godfather sits down and directs business and violence. This Godfather isn’t so much a religious position (Jupiter) as the traditional Sicilian title of the older man who in American business would be called the CEO (Saturn) of the Corleone Family.
Saturn rules Capricorn. And a godfather is Jupiter. The natal chart’s Capricorn Jupiter is the planet representing the Godfather and he is situated in the 3rd house (the natural house of Gemini) of the local neighborhood. The 3rd house includes the neigborhood and also libraries both settings in The Godfather. The theme is echoed in the Gemini Saturn in the 8th house. To the outsiders like the FBI trying to crash the wedding, this older man is the Godfather dancing and walking among his neighbors and relatives.
But this Godfather is also obligated to hear and act on the requests for his assistance at the wedding and this he does in a hidden place. He goes into his library. The Capricorn Jupiter in the 3rd again. This library however is also his secret lair (8th house).
This is where the undertaker comes in. The regular man of the neighborhood who wants something. He represents all the neighbors asking for violence, debt collection and favors. Unused to the Godfather’s secret lair (8th house), the Godfather’s library is a 12th house place for them. Luca Brasi, the Taurus Mars, represents the gangsters who want to pay their respects to their boss. Concerned with resources. Taurus. In this case, Brasi is giving money to the daughter but making sure the Godfather knows. The Taurus Venus is resources (Taurus) of money (Venus). Notice Venus sits on the cusp of the 7th, the bride’s purse, and the 8th, the underworld lair of Don Corleone. Unlike the undertaker, these men are quite familiar with this lair and are in the 8th house. Johnny Fontaine is the Gemini Pallas who wants to be cast in a picture. The neigborhood boy made good come back because he needs something he can’t get on his own, he needs help. The Sabian symbol of 8° of Gemini is an “industrial strike”. They all want something and they are all Pluto willing to commit violence, if necessary, to take (Pluto) what they want.
The film flips the camera lens. Not a guest of the wedding, we are observers of the action but behind the scenes we are seated across from the Don. Above the horizon, the inner workings of the Corleone Family are on display.
The nodal path of the Moon gives the arc of the story. This is about the balancing act of Leo and Aquarius. Leo is ruled by the 24° Pisces Sun whose symbol is “an inhabited island”. One guess on what that refers to. Sicily. Aquarius is ruled by the retrograde 17° Libra Uranus. His position in the wedding celebration as the groom points to Carlo Rizzi. He isn’t with the Godfather and he is a rebel. He is also on the battlefield. “Give him a living, but never discuss the family business with him.”
The Sabian symbol of 17° Libra is “a retired sea captain” so Carlo Rizzi is hardly even noticed at his own wedding reception with most of the action dominated by older caporegimes (captains). Tessio dancing, Clemenza drinking wine, Barzini destroying pictures, Sonny destroying cameras of the FBI. The middle aged gangster Barzini, the picture of an old sea captain or old hand, is plotting to break up the Corleone Family. Don Corleone is the even older lawbreaker (Uranus) who is steering the ship of state (Juno). Juno is on 15° Libra the symbol of “circular paths”. Too many captains. They are going in circles.
The entire story begins with the Pisces Sun, the romantic recall of Sicily and its traditions, and the action of the marriage of Juno and Uranus but then Uranus’ actions drive the plot forward. Back and forth, we move from Uranian action followed by the secret conference steering the Family resulting in violent reaction. Conterbalancing Juno-Uranus is the Aries Mercury. The Godfather opposes the break up of his Family by his Mercurial wits and commands. Until he becomes the Godfather, Michael Corleone is the Aries Mercury, the young man dressed as a soldier opposing the old sea captains. His ascent as the Godfather of Connie’s baby and the Corleone family takes him out of the action now completed by his soldiers. All the old sea captains are dead. “Today, I settled all family business…”
Finally, with steering restored, we with Juno (Kay Corleone) can continue on our path and we exit the inner sanctum of the Godfather, the secret lair. The door closes and we are once again outside.