Raoul Wallenberg

Raoul Wallenberg was born on August 4, 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden. He came to be known worldwide as the Swedish diplomat who in World War II saved thousands of Hungarian Jews from the Nazi death camps and then himself in unclear circumstances was abducted into Soviet captivity.

Raoul Wallenberg's father died of cancer before Raoul was born. It was his grandfather, the Ambassador of Japan, Gustav Wallenberg, who came to take on the boy's upbringing and education. His wish was that the young Raoul would have a broad international education for a future management position in banking. Raoul himself, however, chose to study Architecture at the University of Michigan, USA, a profession which he unfortunately never had the opportunity to practice.

At the outbreak of World War II, he worked with export and import of food between Sweden and Hungary. The work took some traveling and it was so he got in touch with the situation in Hungary. The Jewish population there was initially spared from Nazi ravages but at the end of the war, they were deported by force on a large scale to the Nazi concentration camps. At that point the U.S. government's War Refugee Board in Scandinavia suggested that a diplomat from neutral Sweden should be sent to Hungary to organize a rescue. The choice fell on Raoul Wallenberg, who accepted the assignment.

On location in Budapest and provided with financial resources, Wallenberg took the lead in organizing the rescue effort. So-called Swedish protective passports were printed and distributed to the Jewish ghetto population. Tens of thousands of Jews came to be spared from deportation to concentration camps. Wallenberg showed great personal courage and acted resolutely and with a special charisma that made even the Nazis to back off. On January 17, 1945, he was arrested, however, by the Russian troops occupying Budapest. The reason is unclear, but perhaps he was regarded as an American spy. His destiny has never been clarified.

Raoul Wallenberg's horoscope looks like this:

Raoul Wallenberg, 4 August 1912, 04:35, Stockholm, Sweden

(Source: Astro DataBank)

The three signs that dominate are Leo (with the Sun, the Ascendant and Venus), Aries (with the Moon, The North Lunar Node, Midheaven, Pars Fortunae) and Virgo (with Mercury and Mars). It describes a person who is confident, powerful and charismatic (Leo), one who takes initiative and is energetic, resolute and courageous (Aries) as well as one who has judgment and is practical and methodical (Virgo). The Fire element dominates the horoscope and demonstrates strong motivation and enthusiasm.

The most prominent houses are the Second (resources, assets), Ninth (foreign countries) and Twelfth (selfless service; and also disappearance). Wallenberg came from a rich and resourceful family and his own personal resources and talents (Second House) was tested to the limit in the dramatic rescue efforts. His life was played out largely in foreign countries (Ninth House) and the rescue action for the Jewish population in Budapest meant a selfless effort of major proportions (Twelfth House). His sudden and tragic disappearance is also reflected in the Twelfth House with Neptune and the Sun.

The distribution of the planets, which are mainly concentrated in the eastern hemisphere, also shows a self-motivated person with the ability to chart his own course and go his own way. The Ascendant in Leo speaks about creativity, warmth, enthusiasm and generosity. It also fits very well with the special charisma that Wallenberg is said to have displayed in his dealings with the Nazis, especially as his Sun is in conjunction with the Ascendant.

So is Venus, which stands for diplomacy and rules both the South Lunar node and the IC. Wallenberg had to use all diplomacy and charm he could muster, as well as bribery, to divert the hardline Nazi intentions - all things represented by Venus. The Moon in Aries in the Ninth House together with the North Lunar node form a trine to Venus on the Ascendant. At the same time this reflects Wallenberg studies in Architecture (Venus) at a foreign university (Ninth House in Pisces).

The Leo Sun in the Twelfth House forms trines to the Moon and the North Lunar node in Aries and to Jupiter in Sagittarius in the Fourth House. Mercury is in his own sign, Virgo, in conjunction with Mars in the Second House of resources. This reflects Wallenberg as a discerning, quick-witted and intelligent person who was also forthright and forceful in his communication (Mercury in conjunction with Mars).

That Wallenberg basically was something of an adventurer can be seen from Jupiter in its own sign Sagittarius in the Fourth House. It also shows that he came from a wealthy and successful family. The opposition to Mercury-disposed Saturn in the Tenth House - and the square to Mercury in the Second House - suggests something about the forces Wallenberg had at his disposal in the rescue operation. He was able to use his resources (Second House) and his background (Fourth House) in a public context (Tenth House) where action (MC in Aries) was required to prevent (Saturn) transportation (Gemini) of the Jewish ghetto population (also Saturn) to the Nazi extermination camps.

Saturn trining Uranus in its own sign Aquarius in the Sixth House reflects his ability to achieve the seemingly impossible by his own independent initiatives. Uranus placement suggests an unusual way to deal with everyday life and also the abrupt and sudden changes that were part of his life.

Neptune in Cancer in the Twelfth House speaks about a strong sympathy for the trapped and threatened Jewish community in Budapest. The planet rules the Eighth and Ninth Houses (death, transformation and foreign countries respectively). Also the arduously aspected Chiron in Pisces in the Eighth House - in sesquiqvadrature to Neptune, quincunx to the Sun, opposition to Mercury/Mars, square to Jupiter and half square to the Midheaven - shows a strong solidarity with the vulnerable and persecuted.

Most clearly emerges the theme of charisma-diplomacy-decisiveness if one considers the Ascendant/Sun/Venus in Leo in combination with the South Lunar node and the IC in Libra on the one hand and the Moon/the North Lunar node/Pars Fortunae/MC in Aries in the Ninth House on the other hand.

Pars Fortunae, disposed by Mars, shows a good potential to achieve one's goals through one's own willpower (Aries, Mars).

© Mats Bergman 2013