Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy

My immediate response would be chemistry, but, since I write an astrology blog, mainly, I probably should say it’s in their stars. I’ll look at Katharine Hepburn first, since they first worked together on “Woman of the Year” in 1942.

The timing of this chart is considered excellent. The T-squares all involving Venus (from Mars and Uranus in Capricorn, on one side, and Neptune in Cancer conjunct Jupiter, on the other) speaks of a love that could not be spoken of (even though it was an ‘open secret’ in Hollywood). Several subsequent writers have surmised that, in fact, her relationship with Tracy was a cover for her being a lesbian. That’s probably taking her proto-feminist persona a step too far. As Kate admitted in the documentary “Call Me Kate” she had no problems with the opposite sex. (We watched the film last evening, and I got astrological dreams all through the night.) There is one inconjunct.

Mars Inconjunct Midheaven

This aspect can mean that you have mixed feelings about all authority figures, including your parents. You may feel that you have to violate the rules laid down by your parents in order to get your way. This is a significant problem, because if it continues into adulthood, you will have great difficulties with employers.

Clearly you should spend a lot of time releasing your great energy in vigorous play. The more energy you use up in this way, the less you will need to assert yourself destructively. You must learn what society demands, such as going to school and doing schoolwork, learning to obey instructions for your own good and so forth.

Another way to solve this kind of conflict is to learn that you can say what needs to be said and not be forced to remain quiet. You can’t expect your elders to always go along with your ideas, but you should be able to feel confident of your right to say it. The exception to this, of course, is that you do not have any right to say something just to hurt others.

(As seen in the documentary last evening, the driving force in Katharine’s life was this Mars/Midheaven inconjunct.)

Spencer Tracy, on the other hand, has a birth time that is conflicting and unreliable. In fact, one astrology site has it listed as 1:57 am. The one, shown above, was already on my computer program, so I’m sticking with that. There are two inconjuncts, neither of which may be totally real. (But note the incomplete Cosmic Cross configuration: he was totally helpless to ‘fix’ his life.)

Sun Inconjunct Midheaven

While you are young, you will find it difficult to decide what to do with your life. The demands of the world may sometimes be hard to handle, because they don’t seem to take advantage of your natural abilities and instincts.

This aspect can mean some tension with one of your parents, although it is not likely to be serious or destructive. In fact it may play a very positive role later on by forcing you to confront certain issues that you would otherwise have ignored. However, while you are young, you may resent this parent quite a bit. Do not take this too seriously, unless some other area of your chart indicates a more negative relationship.

Moon Inconjunct Jupiter

This aspect indicates that you have a positive, optimistic outlook on life, and you enjoy socializing with good frioends. However, there are some dangers with this aspect. First, it can be a sign that you are self-indulgent and possibly even selfish, although this is not likely to happen if you have a good, strong relationship with your mother. You have a great need to be cared for and supported, to be accepted for what you are with no strings attached. If this need is fulfilled, the positive side of this aspect will flourish. But if your mother does not support your needs fully, you will feel insecure and will look elsewhere for support and fulfillment. In this case your concern will be totally for yourself with little thought for other people’s needs.

On the other hand, if you feel emotionally secure and accepted, then you will be able to give others the support that you would otherwise have been seeking for yourself. You will help others in their times of need, share what you have with those who have less, and find great satisfaction in taking care of people and animals.

(This last description may be why he and Katharine stayed together for so long, in spite of the fact they couldn’t marry.)

By now, anyone who has been following my posts should be able to see how the planets align between two individuals, so I won’t go through the usual recitation. Instead, I will reproduce the information provided by the Cosmo Compatibility Report from my Kepler 7.0 computer program.

Katharine’s Sun in Taurus and Spencer’s Sun in Aries

Spencer periodically becomes gripped with an idea and feels that the time to act on this idea is NOW. Katharine prefers to fully digest the whole idea and responds with a more practical and cautious attitude. If Spencer stumbles or falls, then Katharine may react with an “I told you so” attitude. This can be infuriating to Spencer and very detrimental to the relationship. If you can appreciate your different approaches, Katharine can help supply the practicality and consistent dedication needed to help bring Spencer’s ideas and impulses to a fruitful completion. You have very different rhythms. Spencer is faster but less persistent and steady than Katharine.

Katharine’s Moon in Taurus and Spencer’s Moon in Cancer

Both of you value matters of personal concern very much, and you enjoy sharing thoughts and concerns about family and personal interests.

Of the two of you, Spencer is the more emotional, sensitive, and moody, while Katharine is more steady, practical, and even-tempered. This difference, fortunately, is not likely to be a source of conflict and you appreciate each other. The two of you can be close, loyal friends to one another.

Spencer’s Sun Conjunct Katharine’s Venus

You enjoy a high degree of harmony and congeniality in your relationship. You have much in common in terms of styles, tastes, and entertainments. You work together well on projects that involve a strong aesthetic, artistic, or social element.

Spencer’s Sun Square Katharine’s Mars

This is a dynamic, energetic relationship, but unfortunately also a rather aggressive and combative one at times. As long as you don’t end up fighting and competing with each other, you can accomplish a great deal together. However, the aggressiveness of this relationship is prone to foster anger and hurt feelings – so be careful not to incite hostility in each other.

Spencer’s Sun Square Katharine’s Uranus

When the two of you get together, you make a lot of noise, and there is lots of excitement. There is a strong element of unpredictability and spontaneity as well and you enjoy improvising new ideas and playing together. Because there is a loose, spontaneous quality to your relationship, you find that very often you can not depend on each other and it is difficult for the two of you to focus on mundane, tedious, or onerous tasks together. This is a good relationship for exploring new possibilities and interests and for spurring each other to become more spontaneous, independent, and creative, but a difficult relationship if dependability and commitment to each other is a high priority.

Katharine’s Moon Conjunct Spencer’s Venus

Kindness, warmth, and consideration for each other are very strong. You share feelings, your pasts and family roots, personal tastes, and interests openly with each other and you understand and appreciate each other very well. This relationship grows into a close friendship.

Spencer’s Moon Conjunct Katharine’s Jupiter

You both really enjoy each other’s company. You put each other in a good mood and an optimistic, friendly, jovial atmosphere develops when you get together.

Spencer’s Moon Conjunct Katharine’s Neptune

You are very sympathetic and sensitive to one another’s moods and emotional needs. Katharine, especially, is very compassionate and aware of Spencer’s feelings. You also enjoy sharing ideals, social concerns, religious views, artistic, and musical tastes, and you are likely to engage in important social welfare, religious, and artistic areas together. However, if either of you has emotionally-based problems such as alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or fanatical religious attitudes, this problem will quickly become the focus of the relationship and undermine the relationship until the problem is overcome or the relationship dissolves.

Spencer’s Moon Opposition Katharine’s Uranus

Katharine is instrumental in freeing Spencer from many old habits and attitudes. Both of you find this relationship enlivening and you often get into a free-spirited, even zany, mood together. Any contracts or commitments you make to each other, however, may be short-lived as events and circumstances are likely to change so often that your plans need to be constantly revised.

Katharine’s Moon Sextile Spencer’s Mercury

You enjoy long talks and you feel very much at home with each other. You are able to openly share your feelings about almost any subject. You will find that as you spend more time together, your tastes, interests, hobbies, and activities tend to blend together harmoniously. Your friendship is a strong and lasting one.

Katharine’s Moon Sextile Spencer’s Mars

Your relationship is dynamic and energetic. If both of you enjoy athletic sports or other physical activities, you will have a wonderful time sharing these interests. You work well as a team and you are able to coordinate your efforts in a very harmonious, successful way.

Spencer’s Mercury Conjunct Katharine’s Saturn

You two can have serious communication problems. Katharine can help Spencer clarify and define ideas, but very often ends up criticizing or belittling them instead which makes Spencer doubt, withhold, or simply be quiet. Katharine needs to be very careful not to interrupt, ignore, or judge Spencer when Spencer is speaking. Also, your conversations tend to focus on serious topics, or practical affairs and business, which can become dull for one or both of you.

Katharine’s Mercury Trine Spencer’s Saturn

You work together well on practical problems. You help each other refine and clarify your ideas, and help “edit” each other’s work. Consequently you make a very effective team in business affairs and important or exacting work.

Spencer’s Mars Conjunct Katharine’s Saturn

The two of you are able to perform detailed tasks together, and really buckle down to a task at hand and successfully complete any task that you collaborate on. However, there may be too much caution and restraint when good opportunities arise and an unwillingness to take risks. Katharine is inclined to doubt Spencer’s ability to succeed in any kind of risky or speculative endeavor and consequently suggest a conservative approach to achieving goals. In some cases, this caution is unwarranted and very frustrating to Spencer, but at other times Katharine provides a realistic, clear, focused perspective on how Spencer can achieve goals.

On another level, Katharine may suppress Spencer’s natural desires, drives, and physical energy level, which can leave Spencer feeling drained and resentful. Beware of holding in anger and irritation with one another for it can slowly poison your relationship.

That look between Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, in the middle of this scene, was enough to make me cry in 1967, and even today, that emotional feeling hasn’t gone away. Bless.

So, if you want to know the answer to my question at the top of this post, it’s this:

be friends first, love will follow, quite naturally.