“Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.”
–Mame Dennis, “Auntie Mame”
Leo Buscaglia was an author and an educator in the field of Special Education. He taught at USC and spoke publicly. Some of his lectures have been compiled in book form, “Living, Loving and Learning.” He also wrote several books on loving. It was his central credo, love. He had an amazing way of speaking the Tao of love and actually coming across. At the end of his public engagements he would make himself available for people who wanted hugs, an amazing man. If you’re feeling dysfunctional, feeling bad about yourself or others, I can’t think of a better remedy than to immerse yourself in the writings of Leo Buscaglia. He was a master of love.
So what Sun sign was the master of love? Would it surprise you to learn that he was an Aries? Aries gets called arrogant or self-involved. Buscaglia certainly was an individual who lived his self fully, appreciated himself fully as he appreciated life in general fully. Aries is martial. Buscaglia was militant in spreading the idea that everyone needs and deserves and is capable of love!
I’m sure it’s less surprising to hear he had a Pisces Moon. Loving everyone as a divine ideal is one possibility for a Pisces Moon, loving everyone due the feeling that we are all connected. His Moon was part of a grand trine with Pluto and Saturn; he was a powerful, higher-love teacher. You could also say he was an active preacher for love with his Sagittarius rising with Jupiter conjunct, trining his Aries Sun, Mercury and Chiron.
What I found most surprising about Buscaglia’s chart was his lightly aspected Venus. It is well-placed in Taurus and there’s no better example of Venus in Taurus to my mind. He was the earthy, get down in the dirt and enjoy life lover (how he described himself as a person) you’d expect from this placement at its best. His Venus widely squares Neptune and that definitely shows in his idealism and ability to give the world the benefit of the doubt. His Venus’ closest aspects, however, are its trine to the midheaven and sextile to Ceres on the IC. He was the soul of nurturing and talked often of the role his loud, loving, economically poor, immigrant family had in forming his life’s path. Clearly it connected well to his Taurus aesthetic and in turn fueled his career.
It is interesting that this love expert never married and I never heard of anyone being romantically linked to Buscaglia. Something interesting of note with this fact is his Sagittarius ascendant with Jupiter conjunct. Sagittarius, though many do marry, is known as the bachelor of the zodiac. Jupiter conjunct makes for sort of a super bachelor in this case. He loved the masses and they loved him back.
Is it clear that I adore him? I suspect so. Who is your own icon of love?
Thanks Satori. I will put his book in my list 🙂
I can’t wait to read some of his work.
I am not sure I have an icon per se, but anyone who manages to stay lov-ING in this crazy, hectic, sometimes painful world gets my respect and appreciation.
He also had Juno in Libra opposing his Aries Sun. Juno in Libra is a commitment to partnering, to pleasantry, to balance.
“Buscaglia was militant in spreading the idea that everyone needs and deserves and is capable of love!”
This makes sense to me. I have Ceres conjunct my Chiron/Sun in Aries, and the Sun’s ruler is Mars in Pisces. I was looking at a book of his recently, but ended up buying Viktor Frankl’s book tonight.
I find it odd that I have a few bad nights, and I’m suddenly potentially seen as a major problem, but I’m too tired to care about it anymore. I spent the evening with someone who loves me, and makes me smile, and tomorrow we might be putting our one remaining cat to sleep.
I enjoy your posts and had wanted a reading with Elsa, but earlier on, thought that when I have the money, I’ll book one with you instead – precisely because of posts like this.
wow! thank you!
I love him, too!! His first book got me back on the path to living after my dad died when I was a kid. Such a big, kind, passionate soul. I hadn’t thought about him for ages. Thanks for the reminder.
Great post, Satori!! I love to read and need all the help I can in the “love” department. Whether its with myself, or someone else.
Oh and my icon of “love”, I guess would be Deepok Chopra. I think hes good at communicating, atleast he touches me.
I’d like to be big enough one day to have the next generation of astrologers try to decipher the essence of ME. Inspiring.
🙂 Awesome Satori! I’ll have to look him up for sure. My “icon of love” is Kahlil Gibran–ironically also never married.
Johnny Cash comes to mind. 🙂
Cool!!!
I loved his books. My favourite author on the topic of love is Don Miguel Ruiz of ‘The Mastery of Love’ fame.
very interesting guy.. i’m glad to have learned about him here!
i love hugs… i could use one now.
(True confession)
It sounds silly or maudlin, I know, but growing up & even as a young adult–whenever I was feeling particularly bereft or unloved–I would hole up with his videos or audiotapes and literally bathe myself in his voice and words.
Never read any of his books and quite frankly, as a non-American, I wasn’t even really familiar with him. But you make him sound very fascinating, so I might just have to get myself familiarized! Thanks satori 🙂
One good turn deserves another …((((Spacerockz)))) 🙂
I remember Leo B from my youth, but not from books. He was on PBS years ago I believe. I loved listening to him… wished he was my Dad in fact. Thanks for reminding me… wonder if any of his videos are available. He was a joy to watch, truly. Made you feel soooo special.
Thank you Satori.. I found them. Leo Buscaglia was mesmerizing like Bishop Fulton Sheen. Anyone remember him? I never seemed to get enough of either of them.
Thank you for this wonderful memory nudge, Satori. I’ve been hugged by Leo (and I hugged back!). A truly great spirit.