Juno Incarnate: Madame de Pompadour

This is an essay I wrote in 2021 which was then published in the May/June 2022 edition of the Astrological Journal – “King Louis XV’s famous, long-term consort had many of the attributes of Juno – and the asteroid is a prominent and telling presence in the many charts of her sensational life……“

Introduction

Who would have thought that in my recent research and work on the asteroid Juno I would find myself  enticed into the intrigue of 18^th century French Salons, the Palace of Versailles and Madame de Pompadour’s involvement in the Enlightenment Movement?

The culprit or perhaps raison d’être is a piece of art which has inspired much of my work: Jupiter and Juno on Mount Ida[i], by French classical artist Antoine Coypel whose son Charles also became first painter to King Louis XV and Director of the Académie Royale, but most importantly a favourite of Pompadour. Not only has it drawn me into Pompadour’s Juno-esque world and the power she wielded as King Louis XV’s mistress, in so deepening my perspective on the astrology of Juno, but it has reawakened an appreciation of beauty and art I believe is a much needed salve as we strive to find some form of new status quo in the uncertainty of current times.

So, here I will begin an astrological journey of Pompadour’s life and legacy through the eyes of Juno, whose essence is so beautifully captured in a quote from Jacques Levron’s auto-biography “Pompadour”

….”a woman whose strongest feeling was for the grandeur of France, who defended it to the end in the midst of intrigues and cabals at a court that was wholly against her. She was patroness of art, who gave her name to the style of the time, and in social life she used her influence to bring some harmony and moderation to a world in effervescence.”[ii]

Juno

In Roman lore Juno’s complex mythology and theology is reflected in her numerous roles and epithets. Highly revered in Roman culture, many towns had temples and Capitolia devoted to her which were prominent hubs of political and religious life in Rome. As Jupiter’s wife she wielded much political influence – one just has to look them pictured on Mount Ida, her sitting in an elevated position of seductive power above him whilst she as her Greek counterpart Hera was simultaneously manipulating the course of the Trojan War.

To understand Juno in more depth it helps to look at her various epithets in the Juno Discovery chart.[iii] One of these, Juno Sospita Saviour of Rome, Protector of Rights, Defender of Home and Family sits well with the Cancer Mars and fire trine from Juno to the Leo Moon Venus (Moon degree is speculative). Here we have a true homebase of feminine, courage, leadership and pride in her home and people, something very much echoed in Pompadour’s feelings for “the grandeur of France…who defended it to the end…”

The Libra stellium brings another epithet, Juno Regina Queen and Consort which embodies her political influence and stance regarding the rights of her people, fairness and justice for all. Juno likes to manage the status quo and from a mundane perspective the applying Saturn Uranus conjunction (using a wider orb as suggested by Richard Tarnus in Cosmos & Psyche) brings Juno into the realm of change and progression, moving forward and recalibrating.

Juno’s dutiful Virgo Sun opposes Pluto and she certainly didn’t suffer fools. Power dynamics were familiar territory as her marriage to philandering Jupiter certainly wasn’t wedded bliss. Saturn Chiron is her stoicism, the weight of responsibility but perhaps also wisdom gained from the “sins of the father.” It might also suggest a sense of alienation as we shall see later.

With a Grand Cross the chart is complex, multifaceted and potentially crises prone, however it is cardinal, proactive and with the mystic rectangle able to trouble shoot and solve problems.

Madame Pompadour’s Background

So what is it in Pompadour’s[iv] horoscope that suggests a Juno-esque life? Christened Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson it is apt she should have natal Juno in the balsamic sign of Pisces. Fish (poisson), like Juno, are associated with wisdom and creativity which enabled her to swim through troubled waters and wield her power in a self-controlled, demure way. Her mutable Juno Chiron opposite Pluto (echoing the discovery chart’s Virgo Pisces opposition) cuts through a talented mystic rectangle with Juno on one corner (another echo) so it is no surprise she was adept at manoeuvring though difficult situations.  Fixed Jupiter and Moon Neptune form the other opposition enabling her to hold true to her beliefs and spirituality in a life of divide.

Jeanne-Antoinette loved finery and the regency period she was raised in was certainly not austere shown by her Taurus planets. Indeed both hers and the discovery chart have a strong Venusian  energy with Venus in fire and Venus ruled stelliums. Brought up and educated in a highly reputable convent she was intelligent with a retentive memory (Sagittarius stellium). A high quality education in the arts and etiquette then followed which equipped her to navigate the intricacies of  high society and channel her natural elegance and charm. However, although renowned for having a sweet singing voice she suffered from throat problems so at times was quite frail (Taurus Moon Neptune).

But her Moon Neptune also tells another story: Jeanne-Antoinette’s paternity was questionable due to her mother’s lack of boundaries when it came to indulging in pleasures of the flesh. Her adventurous father experienced legal and financial troubles raising questions around his honesty (Sagittarius Saturn) resulting in a period of exile in Germany in order to clear his name. During this time Madame Poisson lacked personal resources so accepted “help” from the fermier-general, Charles Le Normant de Tournehem, one who was rumoured to be Jeanne-Antoinette’s biological father. So her bourgeois lineage and reputation of both parents were something that would ultimately undermine her acceptance by the nobility.

However, Madame Poisson was shrewd and her powers of suggestion (or manipulation?) came to the fore when her daughter was age nine and told by a fortune-teller “one day this child will become the King’s mistress”.[v] Thereafter her mother called her “little queen” or “Reinette”, a French variant of Regina. Perhaps Moon Neptune opposite Jupiter speaks of not only grand dreams and deep foresight but also suggestibility. Aged nineteen Jeanne-Antoinette fell in love with and married an eligible young man, in so becoming “Madame d’Etioles”. Although a happy and good-fortuned union she told him “I shall never leave you, except, of course for the King”,  and this is exactly what she did.

Life at Court

Her synastry with King Louis XV[vi] is nothing short of preordained with a Juno opposition and his Moon Juno trine her Moon Neptune. Her Pluto also sits close to his Juno. Jeanne-Antoinette’s main goal became to protect the King and “anything that undermined the grandeur of France moved her to the depths of her soul” [vii]  and she was to become helplessly devoted to him, sacrificing her former life, marriage, and essentially herself.  She was born for a higher purpose and her Pisces Juno Chiron had found its calling.

Their actual meeting demonstrates her ambition (Capricorn Sun) and desire to fulfil the fortune-teller’s prophecy. Dressed in blue driving a pink carriage she purposely drove across the King’s path whilst out hunting, then another time in a blue carriage dressed in pink. Her meticulous plans worked as she received an invitation to the King’s masked ball held in celebration of his son, the Dauphin’s marriage.

Jeanne-Antoinette dressed as Diana the Huntress, interesting as another Juno epithet Juno Lucina is associated with Diana, the Moon Goddess. The King was dressed as a Yew Tree, his “masking” conveys the myth of Jupiter and Io in which he disguised himself as a cloud and Io as a white cow to hide their affair from Juno. The Yew tree itself is associated with longevity and regeneration, perhaps an augury of  their longterm bond to come.

The astrology of that evening[viii] is fascinating: Jean-Antoinette’s progressed Juno had just ingressed Aries followed soon by progressed Moon (speculative). A new energy and epithet is emerging, Juno Curitis of the Spear and undeniably she would need to defend herself. It forms a fire trine with progressed Jupiter also freshly in a new sign and domicile which foretells of the impending conflict with the church. This was a new phase in Jeanne-Antoinette’s life bringing elevated status but also divided opinion. Progressed Moon Juno are opposed by transit Juno and Saturn suggesting a serious, longterm relationship. It would be lovely to also use the progressed angles too, but logic must apply with the unclarified TOB!

The directed Capricorn stellium sits on her Sun, and Juno forms a T-Square with her Capricorn Cancer nodes. She certainly would become the King’s chief source of “nurturing” physically and emotionally, indeed his rock. Directed Juno also trines natal Venus Saturn so her faith in the prophecy was now manifesting into reality suggesting that believing is sometimes the same as knowing.

The King’s previous mistress had recently died and his wife Queen Marie-Leczinska, tired of multiple pregnancies, had retired from “wifely” duties. The heavens had colluded and this was opportune for Jeanne-Antoinette who by March was installed in an apartment above the King. In June she was bestowed the formal title “Marquise de Pompadour”[ix], separated from and never to see her husband again (recall transit Juno and Saturn opposing her progressed Juno Moon.)

Transit Juno and Saturn were conjunct natal Pluto and trine natal Moon Neptune. Transit Pluto once again  trined natal Juno as she slipped into her foretold role with ease, and in September made her formal entry at court before the King. However, she met with constant resistance from courtiers who, hoping she would be but a fleeting fancy, deemed her too bourgeois and disapproved of her friendships with the “new waves” such as Voltaire (more later).

To amuse the King she hosted intimate gatherings with close friends often giving incredibly accomplished theatrical performances during which he could relax, kick off his shoes and talk freely without the boundaries of court etiquette. Might it not be said that Pompadour’s entire life at Versailles was an elaborate performance? She fed him with all that was sensual and refined, in so feeding his love and her growing influence. The clergy, courtiers, Dauphin and particularly the Queen were hostile so the Marquise did everything possible to appease her from sending gifts, paying off her gambling debts to redecorating her apartments. Jeanne -Antoinette was very aware of her origins and continually strove to gain respectability for herself and family as well as ensure their financial security. Perhaps today this would be called “imposter syndrome” and certainly a sense of alienation can be seen in her natal Juno Chiron conjunction. Possibly she sought to remedy this through the sextile to her Moon Neptune, the innate generosity and selflessness she was renowned for, for example donating to the nuns who educated her and paying a pension to the fortune-teller who disclosed her destiny.

Life at court continued but by Autumn 1748[1] her spell over the king was waning. Exhausted with the rigours of court and health problems she was unable to please him physically. In her own ironic words “sometimes he finds me a cold as fish”.[x] One thing that troubled the Marquise was their adulterous relationship preventing them taking Holy Communion despite both being believers and attending services. Her devout Sagittarius stellium shows her strong faith and awareness that her presence was an obstacle, and their conjoined Jupiters opposing her Moon Neptune describe her longing for the King to return to God and the church. Her conscience overrode her desires and in Winter 1751[xi] she renounced herself as the King’s mistress, much to the joy of the clergy. Transit Saturn squared natal Juno having just travelled through her Sagittarius stellium along with progressed Saturn closing the natal conjunction with Mercury which needs little in the way of further explanation.

Hence forwards her role became that of trusted friend and advisor (prog Mars sextile natal Juno Chiron and transit Jupiter sextile progressed Juno) which was in line with her deepfelt desire to win the King’s mind as much as his heart. She was always a woman of intellect and vision, often pictured surrounded by academia.

Politics

Although their romantic relationship was over the Marquise still desired to remain of value (how Taurus) and began participating more openly in public affairs. In October 1752 she was elevated to Duchess[xii] as transit Chiron and Neptune formed a Grand Fire Trine with progressed Juno and Jupiter. Transit Saturn and Juno formed a mutable T-Square with natal Juno.

Then in February 1756 she was promoted to Lady in Waiting to the Queen which coincided with her formal return to the church and some public acceptance. The French economy was unhealthy at this time and there were struggles between all factions of hierarchy. Public opinion was generally confused and mostly uninterested in the war in Europe. So Pompadour effectively played the role of a high statesperson, becoming involved in both domestic and foreign policies, at home trying to unite the bankers and King to reform finances, but further afield leading the negotiations for the Treaties of Versailles.[xiii] Created as an alliance with former enemy Austria it was pivotal in altering the balance of power in the Seven Year European War, quite reminiscent of Juno (Hera) and the Trojan War.

Perhaps the Treaties were Pompadour’s Piscean way of negotiating some peace during a time of social and political unrest. The Uranus Pluto square of 1755-1758 (which become an opposition during the French Revolution) picked up her natal Juno, progressed Mars squared her Juno Chiron and transit Juno South Node sextiled her Sun, perhaps explaining why whilst skilled in delicate negotiations unfortunately she was not so in military tactics. The joint armies suffered unfortunate defeats and this, as well as her extravagant spending, gave the public more reason to hate her.

Whilst she was adept at “getting people on side” she was also determined to remove ministers opposed to the King and her policies in order to integrate friends into the government. But why her involvement in politics and reform? Natal Saturn Uranus is in an early waxing phase with Uranus at 24Libra and the discovery chart’s applying Saturn Uranus conjunction exacted at 23Libra Nov 1805 echoing Juno’s progressive values and that she fights for the rights of her people.

Enlightenment

Pompadour’s intent was not to disrupt but instead tread softly whilst accomplishing great change. Her Uranus is unaspected except for a quincunx to Neptune therefore worth looking at in terms of this cycle. And with her Jupiter Neptune opposition her ideologies were part of a grander scheme, of enlightenment and the wave she was immersed in. During the early to late 18^thC intellectual and philosophical ideologies flooded Europe, mostly centred around individual freedom, knowledge and reason but also the separation of the church from the state. In short this was about awareness of people’s rights. How Juno! It could be said from Pompadour’s chart she might be impressionable although also altruistic and forward thinking, however with her Sagittarius Saturn, never truly free from the confines of religious indoctrination.

The philosopher and writer Voltaire[xiv] was a close friend after meeting in the “salons”,  his raison d’etre being freedom of speech and religious orientation. So when Jeanne-Antoinette became the Marquise, Voltaire et al were delighted with their personal conduit to the King and royal court. Voltaire’s Juno Saturn conjoins Pompadour’s Sun and it could be argued he utilised her status as a platform to establish his beliefs – his Mercury Mars conjoins her Sagittarius stellium and their relationship was actively belief driven. His Neptune on her Juno shows a shared philanthropism but also their combined collective reach. Imagine Voltaire with Instagram!

The Arts

Pompadour’s innovation also extended to the arts, the place where she found creative and spiritual fulfilment. Paris being a central hub of European culture was much to do with her influence – the Louis XV and Rococo styles exemplified fine craftsmanship and have often been called the “Pompadour” styles, unsurprising with her Venus energy and Capricorn Sun. She loved designing new buildings or converting old ones and as life at Versailles was somewhat stressful she enjoyed retiring to her little “hermitages” (Pisces Juno Chiron conjunct sextile Moon Neptune) which she built employing the best architects, sculptors and painters, as with all her homes. She placed great demands on the French treasury but equally employed many thus helping sustain other lives as well as industries. There is no doubt she always remained generous, whether on a personal basis or collectively “…everybody laughs at me because I am mad about building. For myself , I like this so called madness very much; it provides many poor people with bread. I take pleasure, not in looking at gold in my chests, but in distributing it..”

Yes she was extravagant, but wholly committed to the development of the arts. She was able to insinuate trusted people into influential positions and encouraged the King to develop enterprises such as porcelain manufacture. The works were transferred to a newbuilt factory at Sevres which became established as an influential European manufacturer and where the statue of Friendship was moulded, a piece she commissioned to the artist Jean-Baptiste Pigalle[xv] to mark the transition of her relationship with the King (Pigalle’s Venus and Moon aspect Pompadour’s Juno.)

But if one artistic relationship is worth viewing in more detail, it is with Coypel[xvi] which has a shared appreciation of art. Coypel’s Juno is apex to a versatile mutable T-square of ethereal Moon Neptune in Pisces opposite intricate Virgo Mars. No wonder his dramatic religious and mythological scenes were favoured by Pompadour with his Juno apex conjunct her Sagittarius Venus Mercury. His Moon (speculative) Neptune sits on her Juno Chiron and sextiles her Moon Neptune showing a shared connection to something pure and divine via the medium of art. Just as art can weave a spell, so too could Pompadour, using a touch of “the Glamour” to make her way in life.

Drawing to a close…..

Pompadour succumbed to TB aged 42 and an elaborate funeral fitting for her reverence was held at the Church of Notre Dame. The King entered a period of seclusion as not only was his love and closest companion gone, but his voice of reason. Transit Juno squared Venus, sextiled Mercury and opposed Saturn, also transit Saturn trined progressed Juno (not shown).  But it is his directed Neptune forming  a T-Square with their natal Juno opposition which most clearly describes his loss along with his directed Ascendant conjunct her Moon Neptune conjunction.

From little Jeanne-Antoinette to wife, marquise and mistress, duchess, then lady in waiting her life was one of resourcefulness, and like Juno far more than a wife, consort or mistress which is summed up in her own words “…use your brains, your skill, your gift of persuasion, in a word, all your talents….”[xvii] But it is Voltaire’s words that capture the spirit of both her and Juno “…Born sincere, she loved the King for himself; she had righteousness in her soul and justice in her heart; all this is not to be met with every day”[xviii]

Copyright Lianne McCafferty 28/12/2021

References & Endnotes

• Pompadour” by Jacques Levron, C Tinling & Co Ltd.  printed by C. Tinling & Co. Ltd. Prescot. This translation by George Allen & Unwin Ltd and by St Martin’s press, New York 1963. Translated from the French “Madame de Pompadour” B. Arthaud, Paris, 1961.
• “Juno: More than Just a Wife & Mother” Lianne McCafferty 26/07/2021
• Juno (mythology) – Wikipedia
• Louis XV | Biography, Accomplishments, Wife, & Facts | BritannicaJeanne-Antoinette Poisson, marquise de Pompadour | French aristocrat | Britannica

[1] New Jup Sat cycle sextile Sag stellium

[i]      Jupiter and Juno on Mount Ida, oil on canvas by Charles-Antoine Coypel. ANTOINE COYPEL, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

[ii]     Quote from Cover jacket of “Pompadour” by Jacques Levron, printed by C. Tinling & Co. Ltd. Prescot. This translation by George Allen & Unwin Ltd and by St Martin’s press, New York 1963. Translated from the French “Madame de Pompadour copyright B Arthaud, Paris, 1961.

[iii]    Celestial: Juno Discovery, horoscope for birth date 1 September 1804, born in Lilienthal, with Astrodatabank   biography – Astro-Databank

[iv]    Mme de Pompadour, horoscope for birthdate 29 December 1721, born in Paris, with Astrodatabank biography – Astro-Databank, Astro.com

[v]     “Pompadour” p19

[vi]    King of France Louis XV, horoscope for birth date 15 February 1710, born in Versailles, with Astrodatabank biography – Astro-Databank

[vii]   “Pompadour” p246

[viii]  “Pompadour” p32 no specified time, set for 8pm

[ix]    “Pompadour” Madame Pompadour -Wikipedia

[x]     “Pompadour” p121

[xi]    “Pompadour” p127

[xii]   “Pompadour” p135

[xiii]   “Pompadour” p179

[xiv]   Voltaire TOB Wiki, set for noon

[xv]    Jean-Baptiste Pigalle TOB Wiki, set for noon

[xvi]  Charles-Antoine Coypel

[xvii]  “Pompadour” p158

[xviii]   Illustrious People (wga.hu)