With the upcoming and intense Mars – Saturn opposition in mind, I came across Upton Sinclair’s birth chart. In Virgo, Mars, supported by the co-presence of every writer’s guardian angel, Mercury, who has just become visible after turning direct, intensely expresses Upton’s vigorous militancy through the pen. Pioneer of investigative journalism, Upton was said to write 8000 words a day, a Mercurial talent enthusiastically supported by the god of abundance, Jupiter, through a trine aspect.
All art is propaganda. It is universally and inescapably propaganda; sometimes unconsciously, but often deliberately, propaganda. - Upton Sinclair
Trailing behind a powerful Virgo stellium, a fallen Venus reveals that beauty comes last in Upton’s storytelling. Aphrodite might be undervalued in this four-planet-stellium that aims primarily for pragmatism. The fruit of creativity must be applicable and functional.
Focusing his readers’ attention on social and political issues, Upton is best known for his novel The Jungle (1906), which attempted to expose the unsafe working conditions in the meatpacking industry but instead brought about a food safety scandal, leading to sanitation reforms at the beginning of the 20th century.
I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident, I hit it in the stomach. ― Upton Sinclair
Indirectly he reached his goal, however, because, in part, his novel later led to labor movements. What happens in succedent houses such as the 11th house, often takes time.
Invisible Warrior
The 1st house ruler, Mars, describing Upton’s character, identity, and values, is hidden and invisible through its proximity to the Sun. As the natural significator of flesh, blood, and slaughter, Mars appropriately describes how Upton kept his true identity and intentions hidden when working undercover in one of Chicago’s meatpacking plants. For several weeks he gathered information for his novel. His motivation was admittedly fueled by his determination to advance socialism in the United States. We find this progressive and controversial signature in the mutually applying trine between Mars and Jupiter. In his role as the god of law and order, Jupiter attempts to establish a new ideological framework but since he’s in his fall in Capricorn, his demands may not always be well-received.
Indicating an innovative collaboration, Jupiter is closely connected to his ruler, Saturn, the father of resistance, not only through a close sextile aspect but because of an unconstrained mutual reception. Saturn resides in Jupiter’s home, and vice versa, permitting a fluent alliance that combines the forces of optimism and patience.
Pessimism is a mental disease. It means illness in the person who voices it, and in the society which produces that person. - Upton Sinclair
Opposing Forces
Saturn opposes the Sun and Mars from his location in Pisces. The opposition is the most difficult aspect of all in any birth chart. One side of the opposition tends to stir the other, often leading to frustration, but eventually also to transformation. In Upton’s chart, the Sun’s vision for the future and Mars’s reformist activism are goaded by Saturn’s relentless quizzical and critical demands.
The Mars/Saturn opposition is all about changing the status quo, tearing down the scaffolding that supports lies and corruption. Bringing injustices to light through his conjunction with the Sun, Mars exposes the dark Saturnian underbelly of a successful society. Upton considered himself to be a muckraker. The term muckraker eventually referred to investigative journalists who reported about fraud, waste, public health and safety, patent medicine, graft, and illegal financial practices. The Sun/Jupiter trine may speak to justice, but with a fallen Jupiter, it’s not necessarily the kind of justice that everyone wants to hear.
Human beings suffer agonies, and their sad fates become legends; poets write verses about them, and playwrights compose dramas, and the remembrance of past grief becomes a source of present pleasure - such is the strange alchemy of the spirit. ― Upton Sinclair, Dragon's Teeth
As always, the planets play many roles in one’s life. As the 4th house ruler of family, parents, and the father in particular, Saturn in the 5th house of pleasure, governed by a fallen domicile ruler as well as by a fallen exaltation lord, adequately describes the desperate situation of Upton’s alcoholic father. As the opposition between Saturn and the Sun suggests, in Upton’s eyes, his father symbolized the pinnacle of irresponsible failure. In that sense, oppositions and poorly dignified planets in the chart can catalyze decisive action and radical change.
Sharp Contrasts
In sharp contrast to the harrowing poverty Upton experienced at home, his mother came from a wealthy family. The Moon, a reliable representation of a person’s early childhood environment, and in particular the mother, is doing well in Cancer, the sign of her domicile. The time Upton spent with his prosperous maternal relatives provided crucial insights into the gap between different social settings. Suggested by the Moon’s dominant position in relation to the Sun, these experiences majorly impacted Upton’s ideas and vision later in life.
Despite the Moon’s happy position and the absence of harsh aspects between the Moon and the 1st house ruler Mars, Upton struggled in his relationship with his mother. He always argued with her until he decided to stay away from her for as long as 35 years. To understand this, we have to consider Upton’s rebellious personality. Mars, conjoined with the Sun speaks to his need to be sovereign, self-reliant, and independent. The trine to Jupiter emphasizes how much he valued his personal freedom.
Do not let other people invade your personality. Remember that every human being is a unique phenomenon, and worth developing. You will meet many who have no resources of their own, and who will try to fasten themselves upon you. You will find others eager to tell you what to do and think and be. But it is better to go apart and learn to be yourself. ― Upton Sinclair, World's End
I had not heard of Upton, but from the snippets you share, he seems to be a very interesting character.
This is a great chart to share as an example that a planet in domicile is not all sweetness and light, the whole chart needs to be taken into consideration.