The Passing of Robin Williams

Comedian and actor Robin Williams died today (Monday, 11 August 2014) of an apparent suicide.  He was found unconscious at his home in Tiburon, California at about Noon.  A glance at his chart and today’s transits as well as his solar return for this year is revealing.

 

Robin Williams natal chart with transits for Noon 11 August 2014 when he was found unconscious.

Note in his transits that Saturn occupies his 1st house where it applies to square natal Pluto in Leo in the 9th.  Pluto is the modern ruler of his Ascendant which rules his body and life force.  Saturn is the traditional planet of death.  Transiting Mercury, ruler of his natal 8th house of death, is almost exactly conjunct the Midheaven.  Transiting Pluto in Capricorn opposes his natal Mars in Cancer.  Natal Mars rules the Ascendant and occupies the 8th house of death.

His solar return for this year emphasizes Saturn.  Here is his solar return for his birth place:

Williams current solar return for his birthplace

Note that Saturn rules the ASC and conjoins the MC in this solar return, making this a very Saturnian year.  Saturn generally suggests setbacks, frustration and depression.  At its extreme it is a traditional symbol of death.  Note also the retrograde Pluto in the 12th of suicide and undoing opposing Mercury, ruler of his natal 8th house of death.

Relocating the solar return to his current residence in California, we have the following chart:

Williams current solar return for his home in California.

The solar return for his California residence has the Sun conjunct the cusp of the 8th house of death.  The SR Sun is conjunct Jupiter which rules the return Ascendant at this location.  Retrograde Pluto in the 1st house (his body and vitality) opposes Mercury, ruler of the 6th of illness of the return chart and of the 8th of death of the natal chart.

This series of charts suggests a difficult year in which the native is struggling with frustration and depression, ill health, and thoughts of death and suicide.  It is striking how closely the events fit the astrological symbolism.