I’ve written about my girl crush on Nigella before, but it was only recently that I dove into her chart.
There doesn’t appear to be a birth time on record for her, not that I could find hunting online. (If you know of one, please advise!)
While we can’t be sure, not having a specific time can provide a useful exercise in informed speculation. It’s a teaching tool I’ve used to encourage students to think deeply about symbolism.
Based on her gorgeous appearance – curvy, solid, busty – my money is on either Taurus or Cancer rising. I’ve used a faux time of 3pm in the chart. This gives Cancer rising, which puts the Moon in the whole sign 10th. For a woman whose career is based on food, (a very Moon thing!) this seems apt.
Nigella has a fire grand trine in her chart, something she shares with another domestic dynamo, Martha Stewart. This gives energy, drive and determination. It blesses the individual with staying power. Some would say the secret to success is just that – sustained effort, come what may.
Given her background as a book reviewer and restaurant critic, and the success of her books, it’s no surprise Nigella has three planets, including Jupiter, in Sagittarius – a sign connected to publishing and writing.
The problem I have with Cancer rising, and thus a mid afternoon birth time, is that it tucks those Sag planets into the 6th. However, even though Nigella was involved with food (as a critic) from early in her career, her focus was primarily on books – wiki states Nigella was the deputy literary editor of The Sunday Times in the mid 80’s. Nigella’s first cook book didn’t come out until she was 38, which may be symbolic of the delays which can occur from cadent house planets.
If, instead Nigella were to have a Taurus asc, the Moon would be in the 12th. Given so much of her life is about food this seems like a misfit.
Nigella did lose her mother in her mid 20’s and while it’s simplistic to say having the Moon in the 12th would mean loss of mother, the Moon there can indicate sadness or absence around mother.
The Taurus asc would place the Sun, Saturn, Mercury and MC in the 9th House (whole signs), which may better describe her publishing and journalistic career. After all, that’s been the backbone of her work – the subjects have shifted but the writing and publishing realm have remained a constant.
In the end, it’s all speculation, but you may find it interesting to consider astrological concepts and how that might fit, based on a lack of birth time.
You can read more about Nigella in her wiki bio here.
Do you know much about Nigella? What are your thoughts on her chart and possible ascendant/birth time? Do you have a 12th House Moon? What’s your mother experience?