The Two Towers: The AstroChemistry of the Key Players
By Judi Vitale

When you take on a mammoth project like making films of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, you can figure (or at least hope) that the planets must be working on getting all the right people together. That's why it's so interesting to look at how the planets of Peter Jackson, the writer- producer- director of the trilogy, and the two actors that star in the movie, Elijah Wood and Liv Tyler, work together to make such a winning combination.

Peter's Vision
So what's the deal? Peter Jackson is a Scorpio - sensitive, tenacious and bent on excellence. His Sun is very close to the imaginative planet Neptune, and that gives him the ability to visualize worlds that the rest of us only see... well... at the movies! The action planet Mars was also in Scorpio when Jackson was born. Mars gives us energy and incentive to act, and his Mars is strong, and it has that Scorpio stick-to-it-ness, too. So... Jackson almost can't help himself once he gets started on a project. He is a driven, obsessive taskmaster, and he can push himself (and probably the people who work for him) into a state of exhaustion that can only be relieved by finishing the project.

It's no surprise that he would look to equally driven and intense people to bring his vision to life. And... it looks like he's found them in Elijah Wood and Liv Tyler.

 Elijah - Don't Stop
Elijah Wood is an Aquarius. His detached, otherworldly gaze tells us that his concerns run far beyond his own ego. Aquarians don't approach situations in an emotional way, so Wood is able to handle the intricate twists and turns of this story without getting lost in it. His Sun forms an exact square (a 90-degree angle) with Jackson's, and Mars in his chart is square to Jackson's Mars, too. This means that although the two of them may struggle from time to time to assert their respective wills, they see things in the same way. They fix on a goal and do not stop until they reach it.

The good thing about the fixed energy that Jackson and Wood have is that they both are committed to their projects, and they have the staying power that's needed to complete a project of these proportions. The bad part about it is that the two of them can get so involved in what they're doing, they find it hard to keep things moving! This goes for the behind the scenes interactions, and (not surprisingly), it's reflected in the movies themselves.

 Liv's Secret Ingredient
Liv Tyler's character and her function in the story are shown in her chart, and the way that it interacts with Wood's, and even Jackson's. Tyler is a Cancer, a nurturing person who likes to get things started. Although she's not the kind to remain fixed on a project for very long, her personality is perfect for the Fairy Princess Arwen, who assertively injects the confidence and spirit Frodo needs to rejuvenate himself and continue on his journey.

Tyler's Sun forms a quincunx (150-degree) aspect with Wood's Sun; this shows that although the two of them see things from entirely different perspectives, together they create dynamic energy. Tyler's chart also ties into both Jackson's and Wood's charts via her Venus. Her beauty, her desire to reach out to others, and even the sound of her voice resonate with the slow-but-steady ambience that this hefty, but awesome project is all about. Also, there's something romantic and sexy about the way that Frodo and Arwen interact. And although they're not romantically involved, they do awaken these energies in one anther and keep the energy going. This is because Wood's Mars (masculine sexual energy) sets off sparks with Tyler's Venus (feminine sexual energy).

As usual, we can see that astrology has everything to do with the successes and difficulties that come about when people work together on a large project, and that in this case, there's certainly enough chemistry to carry us on through the third film.

Success For the Two Towers - and the Spotlight on Liv
So - how will "Towers" play to the masses? The chart of the release date, December 18th, has excellent planetary energy for the release of a film like this. The Sun in Sagittarius harmonizes with Wood's Mercury (communication skills), and Jupiter (financial success) interacts well with Jackson's Mars and his connections through the Nodes of the Moon. Tyler's part in the film will be highlighted, because the Moon will activate her Neptune - which has to do with enchantment and beauty as well as illusion.

As it has in the past, the energy of this ensemble - plus the multitude of actors and technical experts that support them - will be greeted with accolades, both critical and financial. Jackson's tenacious approach will pay off, and he can count on his millions of fans to urge him on to the third picture - but that's for next December...