Sep 30, 2016

Death by Fumes: Emile Zola (1840--1902)

If you've ever wondered about the mysterious demise of French author Emile Zola (born April 2, 1840 11:00 pm LMT Paris, France with 2 Sagittarius rising; data rated AA; died September 29, 1902), the excellent publication History Today provides details of the tragedy. Zola's wife Alexandrine survived but rescue efforts for her husband sadly failed. And according to the confession of a stove-fitter years later, he and his workers surreptitiously blocked the chimney of the Zolas which caused Emile's death by carbon monoxide fumes. Allegedly this act was perpetrated due to political disagreements over the Dreyfus Affair.

If you wish, have a view of the natal horoscope of Emile Zola and you'll see a rather astounding multiple conjunction of Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, and Pluto in Aries which trines Saturn in fiery Sagittarius. A Mercury-Saturn trine is a plus for any writer wanting to put Mercurial thoughts into Saturnian form for Mercury-Saturn is *the signature of the professional writer.

And of course, the involvement of any kind of fumes hints at surreptitious planet Neptune which was floating through early Cancer on September 29, 1902 with transit Mars in mid-Leo opposing his natal Neptune in mid-Aquarius. Yes, Mars (males, aggressors, opponents) opposing natal Neptune describes a time of danger and unexpected attacks when illusion and deception are used--in this case, it was Neptunian fumes that were the danger.

Fools Rush In...

Now let's consider the Sun-Moon blend of Emile Zola whose funeral in Paris was attended by 50,000 people including government officials and Freemasons (as was he). A very eager double Fire blend, Sun Aries-Moon Aries denotes a quick-thinking innovator, one with a forceful personality and an independent spirit. Self-interested, Zola was a 'force to be reckoned with' who saw himself as a hero along the lines of Hercules. His incisive intellect was formidable yet his tendency toward blunt bossiness must have caused trouble in his personal relationships; a one-track mind invited antagonism from the many enemies he is said to have made and his Mercury-Mars conjunction with its political leaning probably caused some of the disagreements--especially in Mars-ruled Aries.

Similar characteristics were shared by two men who were born under the same double Fire personality blend: educator Booker T. Washington, and actor Marlon Brando who famously informed us that, "An actor's a guy who, if you ain't talking about him, ain't listening." That sums up really well the 'self-interested' tendency, doesn't it?

Well, that's my astro-tribute to the great Emile Zola, a tribute inspired by the History Today article linked above. And may I say,

R.I.P. Emile Zola.

~:~

For more Sun Aries-Moon Aries details, Sun Sign-Moon Sign by Charles and Suzi Harvey is highly recommended.

*As noted previously, Mercury-Saturn as "signature of the professional writer" is a quote from a consultation I benefited from years ago with world renown astrologer and author Noel Tyl. jc


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