 Just
in time for the millennium, Sting released the Grammy Award-winning CD
entitled Brand New Day. He was born Gordon Matthew Sumner
on October 2, 1951, in Wallsend, England. This birth date makes him a
(Sun in) Libra, and what a Libra he is!
We
often think of Libra as the "relating" sign, and that’s exactly right,
but it doesn’t just relate people. It wants to relate everything: people,
concepts, numbers or musical notes and instruments. This is what Sting
does. He links tones, chords, voices, and instruments into lush musical
tapestries.
It’s
also the Libra in him that writes the love songs. Love is that eternal
mystery we all seek, but for Libra it’s something more—the basis for connecting
with all of life. When Sting embraces the theme of a renewed love relationship
in the title song, "Brand New Day,” what begins as a standard love ditty
ends sounding like a mantra for the new millennium. The feeling of rejuvenation
becomes global, and we feel as though we are in harmony with a universe
reborn. In any of his songs, Sting never misses the chance to express
a deeper message within the alluring surface lyric, connecting yet two
more facets of life in his Libra way.
More
Libra Influence
Sting
has other planets in Libra, too, making him a “Super-Libra.” They strengthen
the Libra in his self-expression, but they also bend Libra to suit their
own tune. We can see this through what he creates and how he performs
his creations.
These
planets feed his eclectic approach. He’s done every style of music imaginable,
veering away from the new wave-reggae fare of his days with the Police.
He is also known for his unusual "signatures,” for instance using
nine beats to a measure (most rock pieces use four or eight).
Often,
Sting will change styles two or three times in a single song. In "Desert
Rose,” he interweaves a passionate song of desire with a mystical Arabic
voice singing to a beautiful counterbalancing melody. In "Fill Her Up,”
he switches from a country-and-western style to gospel while he blends
two levels of meanings. Working in a gas station (fill ‘er up with unleaded)
becomes a story about a young man’s quest to "fill up" his life.
Sober
Saturn
One
of Sting’s Libra planets is Saturn. Saturn adds a sober approach and serious
demeanor. Sometimes it is somber and depressive. On the flip side, Saturn
represents structure and accomplishment. If we stick with things, Saturn
brings us success.
Sting’s
lyrics often carry weighty themes—he has written about the dangers of
nuclear energy, the “disappeared” of Chile and the plight of working-class
men. This serious—and sometimes dark—side reveals to us Sting’s Saturn,
tied intimately with his Libra Sun. Saturn has also given Sting ambition
and the ability to work hard, making him the success that he is.
Mystic
Neptune
Neptune
in Libra adds a mystical tone. Spirituality can be attributed to Neptune,
which is also part of Sting’s Super-Libra grouping. You
may have noticed this more than the themes of "seriousness" and "love
and harmony" in Sting’s music. Sting is not shy about his spirituality,
at least not in his music. On Brand New Day, there’s a song
about reincarnation ("A Thousand Years") and another about a man’s awakening
through love ("Ghost Story").
Another
keyword for Neptune is "universal.” His music has a broad appeal
that is felt across age groups, cultures and language barriers. He has
a world-wide audience of all ages. Whether it’s jazz, country, Latin,
R&B, gospel, Middle Eastern or plain ol’ rock ‘n’ roll, something
in his music taps deeply into our common psyche and speaks a universal
language. This is Neptune’s domain.
The
Moon Makes it Personal
What’s
more, Neptune finds a partner in Sting’s Moon. This Libra Moon makes his
work a part of his personal journey and something that he feels in the
innermost ways. The Moon represents how we respond to the world around
us in light of our past experiences. This is the realm of feelings, instincts
and habits. The Moon is also where we store those things that we are sensitive
about and share only with those we trust. Many of Sting’s songs are about
things that affect him privately, from "If You Love Somebody Set Them
Free," reflecting his rocky period of self-liberation, to "All Four Seasons,”
a song about his daughter Coco’s stormy temperament.
No
matter what, the Libra themes of harmony, balance, connectedness and love
stand out. They are primary, consistent and enduring in Sting’s creations.
While there’s more to Sting than his Libra planets (you can thank Pluto
for his intense gaze and Uranus
for his irreverent view of religion), he is truly a Super-Libra superstar.
Tune in to his music and find out!
Notes
Pluto
is deep and intense, and it influences his appearance because of the time
he was born. It connects to his super-Libra planets, deepening their expression.
Uranus
can be an in-your-face revolutionary, shocking us into a new understanding.
Uranus also connects to Sting’s super-Libra planets, but in a challenging
way (square or challenging right angle), giving him a tendency to shock.
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