Since writing this article in 2005, it has come to light that Joanne Rowling did have more than a passing interest in astrology (as originally speculated on this page). To find out more about Rowling's Astrology ...
Astrological symbolism lurks in the background of the Harry Potter books. Like his creator, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter is a Leo (Sun sign) and personifies the heroic qualities of the sign. Here are some thoughts on the books so far [1 to 6 out of 7]
The four school houses at Hogwarts sound like the four elements: Gryffindor (Fire), Hufflepuff (Air), Ravenclaw (Earth) and Slytherin (Water).
Harry is taught by Firenze, the Centaur who foretells the future using his observations of the heavens. Firenze is the closest character to an astrologer in the book. He is something of a Promethean character as his herd in the forbidden forest rejected him for working with the human wizards. Prometheus was punished by Zeus for teaching humans how to make fire and so become like gods.
Harry's godfather, Sirius Black is able to transform into a dog (his animagus). Ancient Egyptians called Sirius the 'Dog Star', after their god Osiris, whose
head in pictograms resembled that of a dog. Sirius had a younger brother called Regulus. Because Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation of Leo, could Regulus transform himself into a Lion or a Cat?
J. K. Rowling, the author was born on 31 July 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol. However, her time of birth is unknown. If pushed I would rectify her chart so that she was born in the early morning (between 2 or 3am BST) to give Gemini or Cancer Rising and a packed third house of writing. A stellium in Virgo here would account for her great attention to detail and wizard technology. Jupiter in Gemini and Saturn in Pisces possibly in 9th house her ability to bring all the information together into an overall plot.
While Harry's birth day is well established (same as JKR), there is much uncertainty about Harry's birth year. Near the beginning of the Sorcerer's Stone JKR states that "then tomorrow, Tuesday, was Harry's eleventh birthday." Working back for Tuesday 31st July from the year 2000 (well after the first books were published), possible 11th birthdays were 1990, 1984 or 1979 or 1973 making possible birth years 1979, 1973, 1968 or 1962. However, later in the Chamber of Secrets, Harry who was then 12 years old, celebrated Nearly Headless Nick's deathday anniversary on 31st October 1992. So this brings up a 5th possible option ... that Harry was born in 1980.
If I had a choice, I would favour the 1979 chart as it brings out Harry's heroic, adventurous and impulsive qualities. He also comes out as being romantic and considerate. Or maybe this is one part of the fiction that must remain a mystery ...
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