I recently began watching The Spanish Princess on Starz; it is based on the early life of Catherine of Aragon and the rocky path she traveled to become the first wife of Henry VIII and the Queen of England. The way the relationship is displayed on the show Catherine and Henry had a natural affinity toward one another.
According to the website: www.historyextra.com
“He adored her: she was, we are told, ‘the most beautiful creature in the world’. She was 23, plump and pretty, and had beautiful red-gold hair that hung below her hips. Henry spoke openly of the joy and felicity he had found with Catherine.”
I believe that Henry loved Catherine of Aragon – I believe she is reflected perfectly in his natal chart. Prior to comparing a couple’s synastry we have to look at each partners natal potential.
Henry’s moon sign was in the bold sign of the warrior; Aries. The Moon sign reflects what Henry needed and sought in a woman combined with Venus and the 7th house. When you google Catherine of Aragon; one of the first phrases to pop up are the words: Catherine of Aragon daughter of the Warrior Queen. (The moon also reflects how we experienced our mother)
You can read more about women with Aries Moon here:
ARIES MOON WOMEN AKA WARRIOR QUEENS
Catherine of Aragon was not some wife that was seen but not heard. She was the true embodiment of the Aries Moon attributes (she too possessed an Aries Moon) while Henry was off at battle it was her that he left in charge to command forces; serving as Regent. It is rumored she even put on Armor and was prepared to fight. She was many things including a survivor having to live in “aristocratic poverty” in between her marriage to Arthur and Henry.
Henry also had Venus in Gemini; while many sites contribute this to his fickle love nature Venus in Gemini also strongly suggests he valued a woman that was intelligent and interesting. Catherine was highly educated and studied a variety of subjects from law to dance to genealogy and weaving to name a few. Her natal Mercury was in Sagittarius while this may be in detriment it does indicate someone that is high-minded. Some sites even state Catherine was a pioneer for women’s education.
Pioneer by the way is another Aries Moon adjective.
Henry has Venus elevated, you can see it all the way up near the Midheaven this does suggest a variety of things; marrying someone that can enhance your status is one manifestation. Venus in the 10th house is not the most comfortable of placements; it does suggest relationships have an element of formality. Henry marrying Catherine was a Venus in the 10th house affair; Henry had a lot to gain from being with Catherine considering Spain was a powerful ally. I do believe this was a mutually beneficial relationship; Catherine had the Sun in Capricorn the Sun is what a woman seeks in a man and Capricorn is a sign that is concerned with status (though it has various ways of manifesting). His Sun also conjoins her Midheaven indicating this is a man she thought could assist her with accomplishing her worldly ambitions and life goals.
When we superimpose Henry and Catherine’s charts on top of one another we can see they have:
Moon conjunct Moon; this strongly suggests they had similar needs and can find they are at home with one another quite easily.
Henry’s Saturn conjoins Catherine’s Venus; this shows the coming together. I have no doubt at all that this aspect alone strongly contributed to them enduring 24 years of marriage.
Catherine’s North Node (The North Node indicates where we are headed) falls in Henry’s 7th house which tells us this relationship was destined. This doesn’t necessarily indicate long term success but it does reveal that this connection is one that will assist both parties in terms of spiritual development.
When we look at Anne Boleyn natal chart she has Venus in Aries; here we find another woman that is the embodiment of what Henry sought in a woman. When I google her I find an array of terms; a bitch, a feminist, bold, mean and ill tempered. Let me first say women with personal placements in Aries believe we can do whatever a man can do. We consciously or unconsciously make strides toward uniting the gender gap. With the Moon and Venus being feminine planets placed in Aries a masculine sign you can see how this manifests.
I will say this as well about Aries placements we are not necessarily moral but we are certainly selfish. Aries has a strong desire to be first. Venus in Aries has no desire to play 2nd fiddle to another woman.
While Anne had her natal Sun placed in slow moving Taurus she had a dignified Mercury in Gemini which would contribute to her being an interesting conservationist and someone that was quick witted.
Anne has 2 charts erected with different times of birth I am using the one that places the moon in Pisces as that is the one that makes sense based on the events that have taken place.
Anne had her Natal Sun in the 10th house similar to Catherine of Aragon this is woman that wants a man that is “someone”. She is attracted to men that are in charge and have power.
Anne Boleyn had her natal moon in the dreamy sign of Pisces; her moon conjoined Henry’s Descendant. The Descendant represents the qualities we often reject in ourselves and seek in a mate. I live for 7th house overlays to be honest and though relationships can thrive without them I prefer to see them in synastry. When a person’s moon falls in our 7th house you desire to be emotionally close with them; this relationship is based on feelings. We have a sense of connecting with lost parts of ourselves when a person’s personal planets fall in our 7th house; it is a powerful connection.
When we look at the house overlays we also see
Henry’s Venus in Gemini conjoined Anne’s Mercury in Gemini I believe this is the aspect that strongly contributed to his desire to express his affection verbally through letters. When Mercury makes an aspect to another person’s Venus we enjoy speaking to them, with these planets being in Gemini I believe this element is strongly enhanced. Communication can even become flowery and romantic.
Henry’s Moon in Aries also formed an almost perfect conjuction to Anne’s Venus in Aries. I have personally had this aspect with someone (In Aries) and I can tell you it is romantic and affectionate. When the moon meets Venus the 2 parties can have a telepathic link with one another and a desire to dance, listen to music and enjoy life is strongly enhanced in one another’s presence.
If you read King Henry’s love letters to Anne you will find this aspect speaks for itself.
Anne of Cleves was the only other wife with a published date of birth. Henry had this marriage annulled and it is widely reported he found Anne of Cleves unattractive. I personally find her to be one of the more interesting of the women he married. She was a Libra Sun oddly considering she never remarried. However that Libra Sun reports to her natal Venus in Virgo. Venus in Virgo can very much be the sign of the single woman. If we take a look at the 9 of Pentacles in Tarot; this is the card associated with Venus in Virgo. Here we find a woman in a lavish garden surrounded by all she needs.
Out of all the wives I think she made out best with homes, a full staff as well as financial compensation. Most importantly she was not locked away or beheaded. We do not have Anne of Cleves birth time so I cannot tell in which house Henry’s Venus and Jupiter fall for her. You will often find one person financially benefiting from another with hard Venus/Jupiter contacts or Jupiter/Venus falling in the others 2nd or 8th house. I am not sure as to why she benefited from him nor can I say why he found her unattractive other than the fact that Anne of Cleves was a Libra Sun and Mercury. Libra is the sign opposing Henry’s Moon in Aries. With that being said her Sun formed an opposition to his Moon which strongly suggests this was a Karmic connection. Perhaps with her natal Jupiter conjunct his natal Sun for reasons unbeknownst to us she manifested a level of generosity with in him. Jupiter has an expansive nature. Could it be that her Jupiter in Cancer conjoining his Sun in Cancer -the sign of family-was the reason she became known as “The Kings Beloved Sister”? Interesting to note Anne of Cleves Libra planets Sun, Mercury and Mars fell in the Kings natal 2nd house. The 2nd house is how and where we spend our money.
