A Natural Mystic
Exploring The Muse of Bob Marley
Wake up and live
Life is one big road with lots of signs
So when you riding through the ruts
Don't you complicate your mind
Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy
Don't bury your thoughts
Put your vision to reality, yeah
-Wake Up & Live
The Muse
A creative impulse is one of the most magical and human experiences, moving us into a numinous space that extends beyond our five senses. To locate the muse in any chart, look to the following signatures: the 5th house condition and the planet Venus.
The 5th house in the chart is the house associated with creativity, passionate expression, and one’s libido. In psychological terms, libido is associated with intimacy and sensual passion. It’s an inner pull towards something or someone that excites our desire and stimulates our creative energy. When expressing libido through our passions, hobbies, or artistic endeavors, we are tapping into a natural psychic field that activates our subconscious and brings it forward into the world.
One should also look at the planet Venus, the creative genius herself. Venus, associated with creative impulse, sensual pleasure, and various states of love, will also lend clues to how we express the great muse in our own lives. Venus is the libido in our chart.
The Muse of Bob Marley
Exploring the muse of Robert Nesta Marley, a reggae singer-songwriter, whose discography spans the years 1965-1983, we will zoom in on the conditions of the 5th house and Venus.
Bob Marley’s 5th house falls into the realm of Aries, cardinal fire. Ruled by the planet Mars, we will expect his muse to express through acts of courage, rebellion, and a drive towards independence. Aries, overseeing the 5th house, can express itself by initiating new art concepts, centered on a cause, fighting to be seen and heard.
Mars in Bob’s chart lands in the 2nd house of personal assets, resources that support him in his lifetime. Often associated with the place that reflects the state of personal finances, it is also the house that can speak to one’s resources, including strengths like education, skill & craftsmanship, but also weaknesses, like overspending and dysfunctional budgeting.
Mars is in a place of exaltation as it falls into Capricorn’s realm. Mars in Capricorn lends the image of the goat’s resolute dedication and focus to move oneself from a place of weakness, like poverty, and push up the mountain towards pure independence and success, against all odds. Mars would be Bob’s engine, pushing him past the impoverished conditions he was born into, including British rule, and fighting for the downtrodden while independently supporting his journey and his loved ones. Mars opposes and separates from Capricorn’s lord, Saturn.
Born Feb 6, 1945, in the rural interior of Nine Mile, Jamaica, Bob Marley was born to a young Jamaican woman, Cedella Malcom, and a white British Army father, Captain Norval Sinclair.
Marley spent the early years of his life in poverty. He lived his first 12 years on his grandfather’s farm, and was reunited with his mother in 1957, who lived in Kingston’s west-side ghetto, Trench Town. Living with his mother in impoverished conditions, including open sewers, malnourished children, and violence, these would be the early foundational stones laid, shaping his musical talents and philosophy.
Dropping out of school by the age of 14, Marley began pursuing music, uniquely blending musical elements of rocksteady, ska, and reggae, ultimately creating his signature reggae style that would make him the unspoken ambassador of Jamaica.
Venus burrows firmly into Marley’s 5th house of Aries. Lending a gentle touch to an otherwise hot and fierce fighting spirit. Marley’s messages were immensely spiritual and political, continuously speaking out against British imperialism and the liberation and unity of all Africans globally.
If you were just a casual listener, and the reggae was pumping in the background, you may miss the message and instead focus on the upward, sunny beats of reggae, hypnotizing you. But his music was always something more profound, moved by the power of the Almighty.
Bob fought for the oppressed, spoke out against apartheid, and was a devout Rastafarian. In his later years, he converted to Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. His approach was not one of anger, but of education, love, and unity. Venus is in a Mars-ruled house, equally a lover and a fighter, and this is the message of his muse.
Bend Down Low, Let Me Tell You What I Know
Let us reflect on some key albums and their messages via the influential role of both Mars and Venus.
The album that first put Marley on the map was released in late 1965, with no exact date recorded. This is the Wailing Wailers album, a trio including Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, who would come to be known as Bob Marley and The Wailers. This album compiles various recordings from 1964 to 1965.
The first half of 1965, Mars resides and retrogrades in Bob’s 10th house Virgo, his place of public persona and career. Here at high noon in the chart, Marley steps out into the world for the first time. Mars will station over his natal Jupiter in the 10th, charging and expanding his public reputation and putting him on the map. Under the release date, Mars and Venus are now in his 1st house, aspecting Mars’ last retrograde station degree in Virgo.
The album that started to generate international attention for The Wailers is Catch A Fire, an album more focused on the current state of poverty, alienation, rebellion, and love. The term, Catch a Fire, came from a Jamaican patois expression, to catch hell. Bob’s Rastafarian friend and spiritual advisor, Mortimer Planno, warned him that he would either grow in his spirituality as he became more famous or he would “ketch a fire.”
Echoing the fiery 5th house realm, Catch A Fire tracks that range from African oppression with “Slave Driver” and “400 Years” to themes of love with “Kinky Reggae," “Baby We Got a Date,” and “Stir It Up," which focus on lighting that libido fire despite the injustices.
Released on April 13, 1973, the Sun and Venus were cazimi, a burning muse caught. The love goddess herself was spreading her blazing wings, blessing his melody, as he remained focused on the message of his music. Marley had a real gift of taking a concept like slavery and oppression and injecting love and spiritual messages of strength. Never directly encouraging violence, but attempting to uplift listeners beyond the walls of Babylon and awaken the downtrodden.
This album is considered one of his greatest works and his first album with producer and founder of Island Records, Chris Blackwell. Island Records would produce Marley’s remaining studio albums.
Natty Dread, Bob’s first solo album, was released on October 25, 1974. What a day! Mars and Venus are both conjunct Uranus in Libra in his 11th house of good fortune. The two muses are going off on their own in the temple of Venus, searching for the perfect balance of spiritual and political commentary! Observing that Mercury, the transmission god, is also conjunct the Scorpio Sun, another Mars’ temple. The heavens are nodding in approval to a new creative risk.
This album is highly spiritual and interwoven with charged political statements. Marley is a master weaver, keeping it balanced and harmonious. Natty Dread is his first album to reach the Top 100 in the US and UK, and get gold status.
Don’t care what the world seh.
I’nI couldn’t never go astray.
Just like a bright and sunny day.
Oh, we’re gonna have things our way.-Natty Dread
So Much Trouble In the World
Venus and Mars become activated at sensitive degrees in Marley’s chart, a turning point for both the creative engine and the zealous champion of the people.
Released on April 30, 1976, Rastaman Vibration would shoot through the charts. A separating Venus return graces Aries, but now conjunct the wounded-warrior in Chiron at 27°. A solar eclipse at 10° Taurus, Venus ruled, was also just separating in the 6th house.
Mars is in trouble, pacing in the 8th house of Cancer at 21° and is opposing natal Mars. Saturn is also co-present at 27°, wrapping up his first Saturn return, and receiving the square rays of Venus and Chiron. The presence of both malefics in the 8th suggests financial entanglements around contracts and debts swirling around his art, and one’s own home and safety may be under attack.
Political violence fill ya city
Don’t involve Rasta in your say say
Rasta don’t work for CIA.-Rat Race
Album success aside, this year would certainly prove challenging. Marley was in contractual legal battles with Cayman Music, which would continue posthumously. Even more difficult was the assassination attempt on both his and his wife’s lives, which many assume was politically linked.
The assassination attempt would lead to the album Exodus, since he fled to England after the incident and recorded it. Released on June 3rd, 1977, this album would receive multiple gold certifications in the US, UK, and Canada.
With Neptune sitting directly on his Ascendant degree, one could feel the Neptunian fog rolling in with “Natural Mystic.”
There's a natural mystic
Blowing through the air
If you listen carefully now you will hear
This could be the first trumpet
Might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don't ask me why- Natural Mystic
Venus and Mars are conjunct at 27-28° Aries, the exact degree Venus Chiron conjoined on Rastaman Vibration. This album is the first retaliation of the assassination, returning the shots fired at both him and his wife. Venus and Mars reconvening at this sensitive degree is the medicine that moves him closer to healing. Bob fights with his words, his ideas, and his music.
Men and people will fight ya down, tell me why!
(When ya see Jah light) ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Let me tell you if you're not wrong, then, why?
Well, everything is all right
So we gonna walk, alright!
Through the roads of creation
We the generation, tell me why!
(Trod through great tribulation), trod through great tribulation
Exodus! Alright. Movement of Jah people!”-Exodus
Another repetition of sensitive degrees occurs during the release of Kaya, which is his first album after he returns from exile. Released on March 23, 1978, Mars is back in Cancer and at 24°. Mars in Cancer archetypally suggests one’s own home is under attack, and we have seen the very real attack on his life the last time the martial planet stirred the lunar waters of Cancer. Now he returns home as Mars marches back on through the exact same degrees two years later. Venus has made her return again to the 5th house under this album’s release, for the 4th time in his music career! Another notable transit is that the album is released under a Libra lunar eclipse, opposite his 5th house, and the Sun will be conjunct his natal Venus, suggesting that his creative spirit is transmuting.
Kaya, another term for marijuana, is more of an earthy, sun-washed album. The south node in the 5th house may suggest that he is running from the past ghosts that have haunted him. Perhaps the herb and his spirituality provide a safe haven for the moment. Many critics think that this album is too poppy and clean, and that he has given something away with tracks like Sun Is Shining, focusing too much on the light and avoiding the current global political oppressions.
“I’m not running away, no, don't say that, don't say that 'cause I'm not running away, I've got to protect my life, and I don’t want to live with no strife”
-Running Away, Kaya
Is Marley recognizing on some level that he cannot avoid exploring the notion of running from life’s toils, but also needs a respite?
Dready Got A Job To Do, and He’s Got To Fulfill That Mission
The muses firmly assert into the soul’s drive to move closer to the message, to Jah. There is a fortification and a knowing that a culmination point is coming.
He doesn’t run away; he was resting in Kaya, and he returns with what I consider his most political and militant album, Survival. This is the complete antithesis to Kaya; the fog has lifted, and he is ready to fight with words and the beat. Initially, he wanted to title it Black Survival, but in the end, he knew this was an album for everyone in the late 70’s. As certain wounds of decolonization are attempting to heal, South Africa and Zimbabwe are still seeking liberation. Survival was an album for everyone fighting the struggle.
We refuse to be
What you wanted us to be
We are what we are
That's the way it's going to be, if you don't know
You can't educate I
For no equal opportunity (talkin' 'bout my freedom)
Talkin' 'bout my freedom
People freedom and liberty!-Babylon System, Survival
Released on October 2, 1979, Mars was transiting his 9th house of higher wisdom and trining his natal Venus. Venus herself was in power in Libra and conjunct Pluto, lifting the hood on the sins of the world, crying out for freedom and liberation.
In this life, in this life
In this oh sweet life
We're coming in from the cold-Coming in From the Cold
Closing this out with the final studio album released on June 10, 1980, we are given Uprising. A phoenix from the flame, each dread flying like a plume, Marley didn’t ketch a fire; in fact, he dug even deeper into his spiritual world. Uprising was undoubtedly his most religious album as Jupiter was returning to its natal position in the 10th house and eclipses were hitting his 9th house of spiritual philosophy, Leo, the Lion of Judea. Mars and Saturn are also present in the 10th house with Saturn directly over his MC, possibly signifying that this is his final album.
Marley’s Finale
In July 1977, Marley was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in his big toe. This diagnosis comes after the 1976 eclipses along the 6th and 12th axis of health and hidden enemies. Treatment required amputation and Marley rejected this treatment due to religious beliefs. Mars was in his 6th house during this period.
Maybe Kaya was born from this diagnosis, and he was privately grieving. The spirited muse always erred on the side of optimism; that was her medicine. Marley went on a major European tour in 1980 for Uprising, but the cancer had spread throughout his body and into his brain. Attempting to make it home to Jamaica to pass, his vital functions plummeted during the flight home, and an emergency landing was made in Miami. He passed away on May 11, 1981. This was Marley’s opening Saturn square.
Marley’s last words on his deathbed were, “On your way up, take me up. On your way down, don’t let me down.”
Mars had returned to his 6th house at the same degree as the initial solar eclipse of his original diagnosis. Venus was just parting her fellow daemon, as she moved off from the 6th up to the 7th on that very day, squaring the Moon in the 10th house and opposing his natal Mars-ruled moon. The quiet, lurking enemy within finally overcame him.
Venus and Mars: a lover and a warrior. Fighting for one another. Surviving for one another. Creating music for everyone.
Molly Curtis is a practicing astrologer and archetypal tarot reader, based in Michigan. You can connect further with her astro-musings or schedule a reading at Analogskyastrology.com.
Molly! This must have taken tons of research 🤩 I love how you're weaving in the charts of the release dates. They all have a story to tell. Wonderful work ❤️
Thank you for this deep dive into Bob Marley's life. Interesting how I had only been reading about him on Friday!