Kurt Cobain

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Musicians
Im so tired of crying and dreaming

Kurt Cobain may as well have been a Water sign poster-child. The
former Nirvana musician had an astonishing number of planets in Water,
including all of his personal planets. And, with his Sun, Mercury, and
Venus in Pisces (and add to that a Sun square Neptune which attaches
even more Piscean flavor to his chart), Kurts sensitive loner image was
no doubt far more than just an image.
Some bio facts about Kurt: He was born February 20, 1967 in Washington. He first formed
the grunge rock group, Nirvana, in 1987. He married Courtney Love in April 1992, and his
daughter was born in August of the same year. He shot himself dead in April 1994, when he
was 27 years old. Plenty of controversy surrounded his death not everyone accepted it as a
suicide.
Some Astrological Notes: If his birth time is to be believed, he had a Virgo Ascendant with
Uranus and Pluto rising (conjuncting his Ascendant). Whether or not his time is correct, these
transpersonal planets opposed his Moon, Mercury, and Venus. These latter planets, naturally,
were descending in his chart.

All apologies
Kurts lyrics revealed pain in withdrawal, anger, and some cynicism (likely born out of
extreme sensitivity). Despite his feeling of being all alone and disconnected, he managed to
truly connect with, or speak to, a massive audienceeven if it was a one-way relationship.
Besides the striking number of planets in water signs, a number of things stand out in Kurts
chart. Among these, most interesting to me is Pluto rising (conjunct the Ascendant), but found
in the twelfth house. I always consider planets just behind the Ascendant as quivering on
the edge of expression. While Uranus is within approximately the same distance from the
Ascendant as Pluto, Uranus is right out there for everyone to see. Pluto, on the other hand,
would have been as strong an influence on Kurts character as Uranus was, and may even
have been more so because it didnt quite have the opportunity to express itself fully, living
just below the surface in the private 12th house.
In any chart I look at, I consider a planet in this position (in the 12th house, conjunct the
Ascendant) as a point of much preoccupation and, often, troubles in the natives life. Any
planet conjunct the Ascendant can show some level of immaturity, but its place in the 12th
house also suggests a drive towards mastery or maturity. The resulting mix is unusual and
contradictory. That planets energy is powerful in the natives life, and has an almost selfconscious need to be seen and expressed. Still, its under the surface, on the verge of
expression, yet not quite out of the closet.
Im so happy because today Ive found my friends
Theyre in my head
In this case, Pluto is the rising 12th house planet. Pluto rules death and rebirth. A strong Pluto
in any chart gives the native a powerful need to regenerate and a striving for meaning and
purpose. It desires power, and is sometimes obsessively attached. It is dramatic in its need to

get to the bottom of things, to bring to light our inner darkness. When the healing and
regenerative process of Pluto is not understood or used constructively, the native can be selfdestructive and have an overwhelming feeling of purposelessness. Plutos contacts and house
position can show us where the native seeks power and control. Since the 12th house rules,
amongst other things, isolation, we can safely assume that Kurt had a strong preoccupation
with, and feelings of, being isolated. Pluto in this placement would show a tendency to selfanalysis that is almost obsessive and often counter-productive, as well as a brooding quality. A
compelling need to bring to light his own inner darkness would be emphasizeda need so
powerful that it would have been a driving force behind almost all he did.
I wish I was like you Easily amused
Find my nest of salt
Everything is my fault
Ill take all the blame
Aqua seafoam shame
The strong Pisces, Neptune, and water in Kurts chart suggests enormous wells of sensitivity,
creativity, and longing to belong. Theres a Pisces/Neptune yearning for connection to
someone or something higher, a receptive and feeling Cancer Moon, combined with both the
passion and the bite of Mars in Scorpio.
Water signs: From Arroyos book, Astrology, Psychology, and the Four Elements :
The sensitivity of the water signs is so great and the vulnerability to hurt so pronounced
that, if the emotional reactions are not controlled and channeled properly, it can lead to a
state of emotional instability and predisposition to being too easily influenced by the slightest
wind that blows.

Im too sensitive.
In Kurts alleged suicide note, he refers to himself as the sad little, sensitive, unappreciative
Pisces, Jesus man. (but I still cant get over the frustration, the guilt and empathy I have
for everyone. Theres good in all of us and I think I simply love people too much, so much
that it makes me feel too ____ing sad. The sad little, sensitive, unappreciative,
Pisces, Jesus man!).
Feelings run deep for Water signs, sometimes to the point of being allconsuming. With the element of Air virtually missing in his chart, he would have
a particularly difficult time dealing with others in a superficial or light manner.
(The worst crime I can think of would be to rip people off by faking it and pretending as if
Im having 100% fun.)
Im so ugly, but thats okay, cos so are you Weve broken our mirrors
Uranus and Pluto rising in Virgo suggests a need to project himself as unique and deep in a
nondescript (Virgoan) way. By emphasizing a glamour-less manner, he sought to express his
rebelliousness and originality. It also suggests a desire to bring change, to go against what is

expected of himthings that run counter to his need to belong shown in the strong Pisces
emphasis. This simultaneous need to be one with humanity and to rebel against society may
have been one of the sources for much inner conflict and restlessness.
Wherever you find Virgo, you are sure to encounter humbleness and some lack of selfconfidence. In Kurts case, Virgo was rising (on the Ascendant). The Ascendant represents,
amongst other things, our physical appearance and presentation to the world.
A strong need for relationship is seen with many planets near the Descendant and with Kurts
many oppositions on the Ascendant/Descendant axis. Inner turmoil and unrest is evidenced by
Uranus and Pluto opposing his many personal planets.
A grand trine in water can be found in his chart, involving Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune. Any
grand trine reveals powerful possibilities and latent talents. This trine suggests an idealistic
and romantic personality, capable of loving and feeling for not only individuals, but mankind
in general. These personality traits could be the source for much creativity. Love, empathy,
and good will would generally be associated with this configuration. In the real world, grand
trines can go wasted when there is insufficient drive to put the talents they proffer to
practical use.

References & Links:

Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt A revealing look at Kurt Cobains life, this
biography focuses more on the man than the music he made. This is one of the more
compelling biographies of Kurt out there.
Nirvana: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! This video is our favorite Nirvana video, featuring
awesome live performances.
Nevermind The ground-breaking Nirvana album.
Journals This book, Kurt Cobain Journals, features Kurts lyrics, doodles,
drawings, and journal entries.