Mythology in Synastry: Prince & Vanity [Part 1]
*Update: I now have Vanity’s birth time. This post will be revised in the future.
Very rarely do celebrity couples intrigue me, or should I say the current crop of famous duos that grace the covers of glossy magazines and social media, yet Prince and Vanity’s coupling was always a fascinating one and even more so since they died within 2 months of each other. The both of them were approaching their second Saturn returns when they transitioned.
In terms of mythology they remind me of Jupiter (Zeus) and his consort/wife/sister Juno (Hera). As we know, Zeus was a notorious shapeshifter with a roving eye. Jupiter and Juno’s union played out like a literal Greek soap opera steeped in power struggles and betrayal. Juno was known for seeking revenge on Jupiter’s lovers, unleashing her fury and wrath; yet Vanity and Prince’s union played out in different ways. The myth also speaks of Juno/Hera bathing in the streams of Argos, cleansing herself of Jupiter/Zeus’ influence and regaining her virginity. This aligns with Denise eventually leaving Prince, finding Christ, and abandoning the persona of Vanity for good.
The definition on Juno in Astrology
Juno is often labeled the asteroid of marriage even though her meaning goes beyond that. While she can certainly point to what we want in a marriage partner and how we commit to those in our intimate lives, she also can trigger jealousy and give us insight into the ultimate relationship: our relationship with ourselves.
The beauty of astrology is in how mythological archetypes often play out literally in the natal chart. This is very much the case when I looked at the charts of these two. While
there is no birth time available for Vanity (Born Denise Katrina Matthews, January 4th 1959, Niagara Falls, ON) there is a time of birth for Prince (Born Prince Rogers Nelson, June 7th 1958 at 6:17PM, Minneapolis, MN)
While Prince had a plethora of muses, girlfriends (and two ex-wives under his belt) Vanity was the first “official” Prince girl in terms of visibility and public notoriety. I suppose she is the construct or blueprint (Prince’s Aphrodite, goddess of beauty, in Cancer, opposes her natal Venus in Capricorn,making her the ideal canvas for him to project his creative/sensual fantasies onto, hence the name, “Vanity.”) that spawned those who came after her.
Juno in Synastry
Prince followed me, he took off his jacket and asked me to take off mine. I asked, “Why?” He said, “So I can try yours on and you can try on mine.” So we tried on each other’s clothes and realized that we fit each other’s clothes. I thought that was wonderful. – Vanity, JET magazine, May 1986
One of the first aspects that jumped out is Prince’s Jupiter in Libra at 21’59 degrees conjunct Vanity’s Juno in Libra at 21’32 degrees. Here we have the myth played out strongly in the Synastry chart! Vanity’s Juno falls in Prince’s 11th house, the house of hopes, friends, ambition and goals. Vanity certainly benefited from her association with Prince at that time and the 11th house functions as a benefactor of sorts. Juno in Libra often attracts a partner that is quite beautiful and artistically inclined and Prince was both. There’s a strong sense of attachment, support and loyalty between Prince and Vanity’s Juno/Jupiter aspect and it’s obvious that Vanity wanted a stronger commitment. Unfortunately, Prince’s Jupiter is Rx, and the Venusian influence has him on the look out for beauty at all times, even outside of “commitment.” Libra is also quite diplomatic and even though the two parted ways ages ago there wasn’t much mud slinging (Vanity often spoke fondly of him) Peace and balance are strong virtues for Libra and during that time period Vanity confessed to writing a manuscript for a tell-all book yet changed her mind. This is the loyalty aspect that I often see from Juno in synastry charts.
The Dark Goddess: Lilith
Black Moon Lilith is a major player when it comes to these two. In synastry she can unleash obsession, lust and issues surrounding power. Black Moon Lilith is the feminine archetype of dark primal energy. She’s the seductress and the mystical side of sexuality. These themes are quite strong in the charts of both Prince and Vanity individually and in synastry.
In part II I’ll explore Lilith in depth and how their union triggered both the good and bad in each other.
Venus In The Fifth 