Can Amy Winehouse Handle the Planetary Pressure?

It's sad that we Americans are no longer number one in anything, not even train-wreck celebrities. We may have Lindsay and Britney, but the Brits have one-upped us with Amy Winehouse, who is not only more talented than those two put together (let's reserve judgment as to whether that's saying much), but can apparently ingest twice the amount of drugs (er, according to British tabloid reports). How did this woman with a tightly wound, perfectionist Sun-Mercury conjunction in Virgo get so out of control? See Amy Winehouse's birth chart (Astrotheme, no birth time)

A look at her horoscope suggests that maybe it's precisely because Amy does have such an intense need to be in control -- as well as a rebellious streak that wants to be wild and free -- that the pressure of success has led her into a spiral of self-medicating. Along with the Sun and Mercury, there are other conjunctions in Amy's chart that signify intense concentrations of potentially volatile energy.

First, the conjunction of the Sun in Virgo with its retrograde ruling planet, Mercury, can signify a hyper-perfectionist with a tendency to turn on and be critical of herself. There can be some hypochondria or health worries with this placement.

But despite the Virgo self-criticism, Amy also has a need to shine and a craving for the spotlight with her Venus-Mars conjunction in Leo. Venus is retrograde, suggesting Amy may not go about seeking love and attention in the healthiest way. With Mars close by Venus, she could definitely have a temper and act out dramatically when relationships don't go her way.

Amy also has a close conjunction of free-spirited, expressive Jupiter and radical, unpredictable Uranus in exuberant, spontaneous Sagittarius. Adding to the fire of her Leo Venus-Mars conjunction, this configuration gives Amy a definite don't-tell-me-what-to-do wild streak. With the opposition to Chiron, planet of wounding, this rebellious streak could possibly, again, turn inward and self-destructive.

Currently, and at the time of her alleged OD on August 8, retrograde Uranus in addictive, self-destructive Pisces has been opposite Amy's Sun/Mercury. Aggressive, impulsive Mars in Gemini is on Amy's Chiron, activating the opposition to her natal Jupiter/Uranus. Pisces' ruler Neptune, the planet signifyng addiction and self-delusion, is opposing Amy's Venus-Mars conjunction. And Pluto, the planet of transformation, is right on Amy's natal Neptune. All this planetary pressure adds up to a very volatile picture.

The Uranus-Sun opposition is perhaps most troubling, suggesting that Amy's identity and life are very much in a time of chaotic flux. And Neptune's connection with Venus-Mars suggests that Amy's turbulent relationship with the man in her life, new hubby Pete Doh--er, Blake Fielder-Civil, is very much connected to her addiction demons. Neither of these aspects is going away anytime soon (think, like, 2010 for them to be completely out of orb). Hence, even if early reports that Amy and Blake have entered rehab are true (pause for requisite joke playing on song title), I fear that this talent is not done wrestling with her demons.

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