THE BRIDE – “KILL BILL”

“It’s mercy, compassion, and forgiveness I lack, not rationality.”

Beatrix Kiddo, aka “The Bride,” is a former professional assassin, who seeks revenge for the attempted murder on her life that had left her in a coma for four years.

Her Sun is in Scorpio, the Moon is in Aries, and the Ascendant is in Capricorn.

The Sun in Scorpio (as well as Sun trine Pluto) reflects an individual who is transformative in nature, and whose life experiences are percieved with depth and force. Issues with power and control are often prominent, as are matters of shared resources. This sign is expressed in the Bride’s driving force to claim revenge on all her previous associates, who were involved in the attempted assassination on her life. It is also highlighted by the many life and death themes and frequent crises around which her life revolves, and through her vindictive spirit and deep-rooted intensity. Rising from the ashes (figuratively, but here, also physically!) and gaining total control over her own life are also strong characteristics in her personality that reinforce this Sun sign position. Interestingly, ‘Black Mamba,’ her code name before she became known as ‘The Bride’ is just another confirmation that fits her Sun in Scorpio perfectly, as both the color black and snakes are associated with Scorpio and its ruling planet, Pluto.

The Sun in the 11th house relates to the Bride’s association with a group (‘The Deadly Vipers Assassination Squad’), as well as ultimate goal to kill Bill. (Scorpio on the 11th house cusp points to one’s fixed goals and aspirations. One will not quit until these are achieved, even if it takes two movies to execute them. 😉 ) Sun opposite Uranus (the natural ruler of the 11th house) portrays an extremely willful, individualistic, and nonconformist person, whose behavior can be erratic at times; a rebel, who has a strong desire to be free and who may have problems with men and/or the father in general. (In a woman’s chart, this aspect also describes her husband/significant other.)

The Moon in Aries fuels the Sun in Scorpio with its aggressive temper and its angry, violent, and confrontational spirit. It points to the woman’s fighting temperament, in addition to her extreme independence and assertiveness. (These characteristics are repeated by Mars Rising and Sun sextile Mars.) The moon in the 4th is accidentally dignified as it is placed in its natural domain. As such, this position is of great significance in the life of the individual, positively or negatively: One’s home life and emotional security are stressed, and depending on the aspects the Moon makes, it can be concluded whether one has a permanent residence and a stable emotional well-being, or not.

Capricorn Rising (as well as Saturn conjunct Sun) benefits Beatrix with great discipline, concentration, and patience, with which she can control the impulsive Arian/Martian characteristics in her personality. This Rising sign also provides her with a serious disposition, endurance, and great ambition to succeed in her endeavors, and forces her to learn to overcome personal restrictions throughout the lifetime. The wisdom beyond her years by which Bill is impressed (“One of the things I’ve always admired about you, Kiddo, is that you appear wise beyond your years.”) is one manifestation of Capricorn on the ASC, as is the sense of responsibility with which she is struck toward her unborn child once she learns of her pregnancy.

In addition, there are four standouts in this chart that must be addressed:

1. Strong Planetary Energies
2. A Cardinal Grand Cross
3. Venus – Most Elevated and Dignified
4. Jupiter – Dignified and Accidentally Dignified

The combination of three of the four strongest signs in the zodiac (Scorpio, Capricorn and Aries; Leo is the fourth one) exposes an extremely powerful individual, of one who will never let a soul dictate her life. This signature cannot be neglected when one studies a chart that is made of emphasized signs that desire Control (Scorpio), authority over the self and others (Capricorn), and being in the lead (Aries). The Moon in Aries in a female’s chart would especially reflect a woman who is anything but a wallflower. She is strong, decisive, assertive (and aggressive), and highly independent, who oftentimes finds herself achieving accomplishments in life on her own.

A Cardinal Grand Cross is a configuration that is expressed in extreme drive and a remarkable energy; having an inner pressure to constantly act and initiate new things in the life. There is a tendency to start new ventures, but usually not bringing them to fruition; instead, initiate new activites before finishing what had been started. However, depending on the level of Fixity in one’s chart, this can be modified, as the case is here: With the Sun and additional four planets in the Fixed modality, the Bride is determined to finalize what she started.

Since this configuration is so dynamic, it must be broken down to its parts in order to be more understood:

Venus square Mars is suggestive of problems with the opposite sex, corresponding here to the love-hate relationship Beatrix has with Bill: Although she loves him to the bitter end, she also resents and has very strong angry feelings toward him at the same time. Both of these planets are extremely powerful here: Venus is dignified and most elevated and Mars is exalted, accidentally dignified, and very close to the rising point and in its sign. The battle between these two heavenly bodies is expected to manifest through harsh events, mainly in personal relationships. (This aspect in this particular chart also describes a fighting/militant career through Venus’ rulership of and conjunction to the MC.) This aspect is additionally intensified with Venus square Pluto, which describes toxic relationships that involve manipulations and power struggles with the partner.

Moon square Mars (accentuates the Moon in Aries) points to inner anger and an emotional need to act, possibly in aggressive ways. Moon square Pluto (accentuates the Sun in Scorpio and is somewhat like the Moon in Scorpio) intensifies the feelings of the Moon in Aries and its square to Mars and adds revengeful qualities to them. It also reflects occasional crises in the domestic and emotional spheres. Moon opposite Venus points to issues between the maternal and the erotic and implies of possible emotional insecurities in relationships, as well as a need for balance.

Mars opposite Pluto and their 1st and 7th house placements suggest that the subject’s self-will (Mars) is constantly challenges by another’s controlling hand (Pluto), possibly through ruthlessness and acts of violence, the nature of these two planets in a hard aspect. This is expressed in the film not only in Bill’s part in the attempted murder, but also through the antagonistic relationships and individual battles that the Bride has with each of her former associates. A massacre is also a very possible manifestation of this aspect, as well as rape (which the woman undergoes multiple times while in a coma).

As both the Moon and Venus are applied to a female native’s sense of femininity (they point to the women in men’s charts), it should be noted that these planets’ involvement in forceful aspects with the most aggressive and destructive planets in the zodiac, Mars and Pluto, highly contributes to the extreme vigor and masculine energy that our character exudes.

Venus’ instinctual nature is to find balance, harmony, and justice in life in general and in personal relationships in particular. Venus in Libra, where she is dignified, highlights these tendencies even more. But since Venus is mostly involved in hard aspects in this horoscope, her natural expression is manifested in quite intense and forceful ways: The justice that Venus in Libra naturally seeks is accomplished through Martian and Plutonian ways – aggressive and deadly. As Venus is also the most elevated planet in this chart, her expression for good or bad is of high importance in Beatrix’s life. After all, the events in this film express the results of a love relationship gone wrong! It’s worth noting that Venus in Libra in the 10th house perfectly describes the native’s reputation as ‘The Bride.’ (Brides are ruled by Venus.)

More positively, Venus sextile Jupiter expresses charm and blesses the native with luck and assistance from authority figures through Venus’ rulership of the MC. These are manifested in Hatori Hanzo’s agreeing to create a new sword especially for her, Pai Mai’s helpful guidance, and even Bill’s taking her under his wings throughout the better parts of their relationship. Professional exposure to foreign countries and/or cultures (Jupiter in connection to the MC, as well as in Sagittarius) is also a natural expression. This aspect is extremely beneficial and a much needed positive factor in this very harsh horoscope.

Jupiter in Sagittarius, a dignified position, highlights many of this sign’s qualities in Beatrix’s personality traits and life in general: An adventurous spirit, athleticism, confidence (maybe even exaggerated), optimism, and luck, as well as a natural attraction to foreign cultures, traditions, and languages (in her case, Chinese and Japanese), and international travel. Jupiter’s accidental dignity in the 12th reflects protection and assistance that comes one’s way when needed, whether spiritual, inspirational (rising out of the ashes by meditating on Pai Mai’s training), and/or material in nature (Hatori Hanzo’s sword). Jupiter trine Moon may suggest living abroad at some point during the life (while being coached by Pai Mai, for example), and stresses a sense of hope that takes away some of the melancholic tendencies that Saturn in the 12th house and the strong Capricornian energy carry within them.

Jupiter’s lucky sign position and house placement cannot be stressed enough. Its positive connection to one of the troubling axes of the Grand Cross (Moon-Venus) definitely adds the much needed luck, confidence and optimism the woman requires in order to follow through on her grandiose execution plan. As examples, Jupiter’s aid is illustrated in the Bride’s ability to survive the massacre, being helped and spared to live by others (Hatori Hanzo, Lisa), and surviving each of the fights with her enemies (regardless of her massive training and skills under her belt).

The Bride is probably the most comprehensive character on this website. This is expressed in a chart that is comprised of so many planetary positions, placements, and aspects that make for a complicated individual – one who also happens to be a Scorpio. Had one given a reading to a real person in this caliber, he/she would probably find themselves entangled in a massive web of character signatures, which would most likely result in a feeling of giving an insufficient chart analysis after a standard 1 ½ hours of a one-on-one meeting. I, personally, am amazed by the intricacies of this fake person’s character structure designed by Quentin Tarantino’s brain, who – probably unbeknownst to him – created one of the most amazing movie humans, at least from an astrological point of view.

A Transit: 

Although Beatrix’ age is not verbalized in the film, it can be assumed that her life and relationship with Bill changed during her first Saturn Return, at the age of 29. This maturation period generally begins when transiting Saturn enters the sign in which it is positioned natally. When it gets closer to its exact degree, the restrictive and sobering feelings and events that come along with it become more pronounced and demand attention from the native. One is forced to make some serious decisions in her life that will dictate the next seven years (at least, when transiting Saturn reaches an opening square to its natal position) in her existence.

Natal Saturn is placed on the 12th house cusp in Beatrix’s chart. During the time that transiting Saturn was in the process of closely approaching its natal degree, the native disappeared by faking her death (arguably an act of self-undoing, a 12th house matter) and was consequently manipulated (scorpio) by hidden enemies (12th house). Matters involving her unborn child emerged, and the fog surrounding her pregnancy was forming, as Saturn transited at the midpoint of Venus and Jupiter, opposite Neptune (and Uranus) in the 5th, forcing Neptunian elements out to the open (as well as a sudden turn of events). (Natal Neptune is the Apex of a Yod created with the two benefics, Venus and Jupiter. Neptunian chracteristics of unseen elements, confusion, and deceit have certainly revolved around the woman’s child since her conception.)

Her Saturn Return began with a bang that brought on a four-year coma. It must be noted that natal Saturn’s close conjunction to the Sun (and Mercury), as well as its rulership of the whole chart intensifies the manifestations of its return tremendously.

As it happens here, transiting Saturn entered the 12th house and advanced in that domain in the woman’s horoscope for approximately four years, or 48°. Therefore, a coma, or a state of an extended mental sleep and isolation is more than a logical manifestation to have our subject experience. This, of course, is one of the many possible life experiences which are implied by transiting Saturn in the 12th and by no means is a standard event that all natives with this placement go through. (Transiting Saturn moves at an approximate rate of 12° per year, 30° – or one sign – every two-and-a-half years, and 48°, as it is the case here, in four years.)

When Transiting Saturn finally crosses the ASC in Beatrix’s chart (a period of a few good days if not weeks) four years after the assassination attempt , the woman wakes-up to a new beginning, in which she claims resposibility and authority over her life. This is often the case when Saturn crosses this specific threshold and, therefore, it is highly significant and personal. Our movie, then, is essentialy a representation of one possible manifestation of transiting Saturn in the 1st house.

 Bibliography:

“Aspects” – Robin Antepara

“Dynamics of Aspect Analysis” – Bil Tierney

“Planets in Transit” – Robert Hand