Analysis of Richard Branson's astrological chart

The Complicated Childhood of a Cancer in Need of Protection

Richard Branson is living proof that it is possible to live an extraordinary destiny without necessarily having been a brilliant student, the son of a millionaire, or endowed with exceptional athletic talents.

The billionaire founder of the Virgin empire has nevertheless repeatedly illustrated the fundamental advice given to every entrepreneur: the ability to turn problems into opportunities.

A Cancer native, Richard Branson also demonstrates that, according to the highlighted planetary aspects, the homebody characteristics associated with this sign can be largely transcended.

Let us also not forget in this regard the Cardinal mode of Cancer, like that of Aries, Libra, and Capricorn, which drives him, despite his strong desire for protection and natural mistrust, to decide and act.

Coming from a family of magistrates, Richard Branson did not seem destined to follow in their footsteps from an early age. Dyslexic and hyperactive, he did not spark enthusiasm regarding his potential.

The Ascendant Leo and Dominant Pluto Drive Him to Shine

Even the idea of a sports career, entertained under the influence of Mars conjunct Neptune in the 3rd house and well connected to his Ascendant and Pluto, floundered.

Yet, this dynamic astrological configuration is one of the essential elements of his birth chart, endowing him with capabilities for action and visionary insight.

Faced with initial obstacles, his desire to shine, characteristic of his Leo Ascendant, drove him to bounce back. However, with the Sun ruling his chart, positioned in Cancer and in the 12th house—the house of trials—the challenge was significant.

However, thanks to a distinctly dominant Pluto, Richard Branson was able to overcome all the difficulties of life.

We can suppose that initially, he may have experienced a sense of inferiority or doubts about his natural environment, pushing him to prove his worth by himself.

Richard Branson proved to be a true autodidact, as evidenced by the presence of all his planets, except Jupiter, in the Eastern hemisphere of his chart. He has always made his own decisions, without the need to be advised or influenced.

Thus, at the age of 9, he already harbored the dream of becoming an entrepreneur, starting a Christmas tree plantation intended for sale during the holiday season, then moving on to breeding budgerigars.

A Moon Well-connected to Uranus, a Sign of Enthusiastic Creativity

In his chart, the well-aspected native Moon to Uranus shows creative, curious, and enthusiastic tendencies. This jack-of-all-trades used his early experiences to carve his path, which he later envisioned in publishing.

Mercury, close to the Sun and also in the 12th house, likely influenced this choice, but the planet forming a tense aspect with the Midheaven could have hindered this ambition.

Yet, it was while seeking sponsors for his magazine that Richard Branson finally pinpointed what would become the project of his life.

With Uranus in sextile to the Moon, he displays a changeable and opportunistic character in the best sense of the term.

He then had the original idea to launch a mail-order record company, Virgin, an intriguing name that suggests we are all "virgins in business."

The stores of the Virgin Megastore network remain iconic of the 1980s in leisure, marking a global success.

Subsequently, this British citizen with blond hair and a chic hippie look typical of Cancer, set no limits for himself.

He then launched an airline, which would become Virgin Atlantic. It has become one of the best in the world according to rankings in this field.

This extraordinary enterprise illustrates several aspects of his chart, namely a well-connected native Moon to Uranus and the conjunction of Mars to Neptune that we discussed earlier.

Adventure and Sports with the Valorization of Mars and Aries

Capitalizing on his fame, Richard Branson has embarked on ever more audacious or nearly insane projects—the hallmark of Uranus—alternating publicity stunts and enthusiastic actions, such as mega-concerts with pop stars to support major causes.

He has sincerely sought to change the world, aided by an iron will and a fervor that nothing can stop. With the Mars-Neptune duo in the 3rd house, in sextile to Pluto conjunct his Ascendant as we have seen, this visionary has never lacked energy or flair.

After having to give up a sports career in his youth, he then—probably—sought to compensate for this by setting records: he holds at least seven world records according to the Guinness Book, including several oceanic records.

His latest madness, a journey to the edge of space aboard his own spacecraft, the VSS Unity, is the ultimate symbol of this.

A North Node in the 9th house (adventure) and in Aries, under the rule of Mars, completes the idea of a dynamic and adventurous destiny, with a 10th house in the first sign of the zodiac.

Venus and the Moon Describe Emotional Contradictions

In this chart, any astrologer would be curious to learn more about his intimate life and affective relationships. A Venus in Gemini, in a wide trine with Mars, certainly gave him an initially seductive and flitting side.

However, as a Cancer native, ruled by the Moon, he probably needed a stable and secure home even more. He met his wife in 1979, with whom he had three children, one of whom was stillborn.

Reserved, he once confessed that to be happy, one must live in the present moment and undoubtedly in discretion.

We also note an opposition between the Moon and Jupiter in the financial axis 2-8, indicating that the man tends to go big on expenses and can sometimes be very (too?) optimistic.

However, this opposition has an escape route that mitigates its negative effects with Uranus in sextile to the Moon and in trine to Jupiter as we have seen: the solution to the difficulties he encounters often involves innovation or actions that are off the beaten path.

Richard Branson

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Author: Chatham House
Credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chathamhouse/16528067458/
Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

Tuesday, July 18, 1950

Blackheath, London (United Kingdom)

25°03' Cancer

1°37' Virgo

14°45' Leo

27°28' Aries

DominantDom. Signs

DominantDom. Planets

DominantDom. Houses

DominantDom. Elements

Metal Tiger

Birth Path

6' (1m83) tall

107,837

Biography of Richard Branson (excerpt)

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, born July 18, 1950, is a British business magnate and founder of the Virgin Group, which controls over 400 companies. Starting his entrepreneurial journey with a magazine at 16, he ventured into music retail and airlines, eventually expanding into railways with Virgin Trains. In 2004, he founded Virgin Galactic for space tourism. Knighted in 2000 for...

Reliability

From memory or autobiography

Frank C. Clifford

You can also read the Astrotheme astrological portrait of Richard Branson.

You will find below the interactive horoscope of Richard Branson:

^* A planet less than 1° from the next House cusp is considered to be posited in the said House. 2° when the AS and the MC are involved