A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Bless. We watched this film last night, for the first time. Up until now I had always managed to avoid it. It’s not hard to work out why…

Yes, the film is based on (and inspired by) the life of John Nash. But, even so, it’s a harrowing journey through schizophrenia. I suspect that Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory is based on Nash.

John Nash (June 13, 1928 – May 23, 2015)

(See what I mean? The real man looks nothing like Russell Crowe.)

The timing of his birth chart is based on a birth certificate, so I will accept it as true. It therefore comes as no surprise to see Pluto conjunct his Cancer Ascendant. If you are going to be crazy, this aspect is perfect. Interesting enough, the only two inconjuncts are formed by the Pluto/Ascendant and Saturn.

Saturn Inconjunct Pluto

If either of these planets is close to conjunction or opposition with the Ascendant or Midheaven, its effects can be quite strong. It signifies a feeling that you must work extremely hard merely to keep your life running smoothly on a day-to-day level. Often this aspect is associated with quite a bit of tension, especially in your muscles, but also in your emotional approach to life. You need to learn that the world is not always a place of struggle and that occasionally it is good to let go and relax.

Even under favorable circumstances, this aspect usually means that you are resistant to change, that you hold on to any situation, no matter how bad, until it is totally intolerable. Then when change does take place, it has to create a revolution and a total breakdown of everything that came before it. You must learn to adapt to circumstances a bit more gracefully and not be afraid of occasional compromise.

You may find it difficult to get along with others, because you are unnecessarily afraid of what they want from you. Learn to associate only with people whom you can trust.

Saturn Inconjunct Ascendant

With this aspect you probably have a rather serious attitude toward life and other people. It may be quite difficult for you to simply go out and have a good time. You want to be serious and to spend all your time performing significant tasks. This attitude may have developed because you were discouraged from enjoying yourself when you were younger. You may have been made to feel that only work is important, that play serves no purpose. This is not true, however, because playing has a positive and useful function in the development of the adult mind and body. Not only does it serve to release tensions, but it also actually helps train you in social and physical skills that will be useful in any work you do later.

You need to be encouraged to believe in yourself and to recognize your personal strength. You have to be helped to realize that you as an individual are worth a lot and that you need to get some satisfaction from life as much as the next person does.

You may find it rather difficult to express yourself to other people. This is another expression of your lack of self-confidence, which will change if you get positive emotional support from the people around you.

The last word from John Nash is quoted in his Nobel Prize speech from 1994 at the end of the film:

Amen.