The new Netflix series Baby Reindeer has taken the world by storm with its raw emotional depth and complex character dynamics. In this blog post we delve into the astrological underpinnings of the series.We’ll look at why the topics of the series resonate so strongly with our current societal climate and analyze the personality of its creator, Richard Gadd, in terms of how his astrological make up aligns with his experience and the evolutionary lessons that come with his birth chart.

Read on to get a deeper understanding of the psychology behind Baby Reindeer and learn how evolutionary astrology can help you to understand, make sense of and grow through difficult times in your own life.

Note: It is in noway our intention to expose intimate details about Richard Gadd. He has already done that in an artistic and impressive way in his series Baby Reindeer. We honor and respect his bravery to share details of such a difficult experience publicly. We have written this article with the intention of bringing even more understanding to the psychological dynamics at play and displaying how powerful astrology can be in supporting any person going through a challenging time in their life.

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How baby reindeer captures the zeitgeist of 2024

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Let’s first look at why this series has gained such a huge response and media presence and how this aligns with the astrological weather of spring 2024. Here's the chart of the Baby Reindeer Launch on April 11 2024 in London.

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Aries North Node - Libra South Node: Embracing Self-Assertion and Transforming Relationships

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The series' exploration of themes such as unhealthy relationship dynamics and personal assertiveness align with the astrological transit of the North Node through Aries and the South Node through Libra. The transiting nodal axis represents the collective evolutionary lessons we are meant to learn at any given time. This transit inspires a collective learning process about releasing unhealthy patterns of relating, with the Libra South Node pointing to our tendencies to be overly accommodating to others at the expense of our own needs. In contrast, the Aries North Node urges us to learn to assert ourselves, become more self-reliant and say NO to what does not feel right.

Donny (played by Richard Gadd) displays typical Libra South Node traits in his attempts to maintain harmony and avoid confrontation, even when stalked and harassed. However, his journey towards recognizing his own needs and asserting his boundaries is a direct reflection of what we collectively learn now under the influence of the Aries North Node. The increasingly difficult situation forces him to prioritize his own well-being over maintaining harmony and avoiding conflict.

While the stalking situation took place before the the nodal axis moved into Libra and Aries, those kind of evolutionary lessons are clearly written in Richard’s birth chart as we’ll see in a bit. The collective resonate with this theme now due to this transit of the nodal axis and I believe this series will help many to increase awareness around their own unhealthy relationship tendencies and encourage them to stand up for themselves.

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Pluto in Aquarius: Challenging Norms and Embracing Inclusivity

Pluto's entry into Aquarius in January 2024 marks a significant shift in society's focus, particularly around issues of freedom, equality and the deconstruction of old structures and power dynamics.

Baby Reindeer being released early during this 20+ years astrological transits hits the zeitgeist in the way the series explores complex sexual identities, freedom in relationships and societal responses to them. Donny's interactions and relationships with women, men and transgender therapist Teri act as a microcosm for larger societal debates about gender and sexual orientation, highlighting the challenges faced by those who do not conform to or are ready to break free from traditional norms. The series also tackles the issue of sexual assault with unflinching honesty, reflecting Pluto's role in exposing the darker, hidden sides of society and it’s old power structures.

As Pluto transits Aquarius, the air sign known for its progressive, revolutionary and humanitarian qualities, it amplifies the exploration of new ideas and systems that challenge the status quo. Pluto, the planet associated with transformation, power and deep psychological insight, intensifies this focus, bringing to light aspects of society in dire need of reform. During this transit, Pluto profoundly influences issues of gender and sexuality, highlighting Aquarius's values of individuality and freedom from traditional norms. This period supports the undoing of existing barriers and encourages a more inclusive understanding of identity beyond conventional binary notions. It seeks to disrupt and transform structures that have historically marginalized certain groups, making this a time when previously taboo or complex issues are brought into open discussion.

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Personality and evolutionary lessons of Richard Gadd

Richard Gadd is born on May 11, 1989, in Wormit, Scotland. Following we’ll look specifically at the character traits and evolutionary lessons of Richard Gadd that stood out in the series Baby Reindeer and were responsible for the challenges Richard faced during this time of stalking. Our intention is to foster a deeper understanding about the astrological and psychological underpinnings that can lead to shine a light on how evolutionary astrology can help you understand your own challenges.

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Ascendant in Virgo: The Server

We don’t know Richard’s birth time but choose to work with a Virgo Rising due to its fitting characteristics - his lean build, sharp features and expressive blue eyes - for this analysis.

Individuals with a Virgo Ascendant are often driven by a desire to help and serve others, but they frequently struggle with setting boundaries. This trait is evident in Richard's roles as a bartender and comedian, professions that involve significant interaction with and service to others.

With a Virgo rising chart, Richard's Midheaven (MC) falls in Gemini, aligning perfectly with his career as a comedian. Gemini MC individuals are known for their communication skills, wit, and versatility, which are essential qualities in the entertainment industry. Richard’s ability to engage and entertain audiences through his sharp humor and storytelling reflects this placement. His initial struggles as a comedian are a reflection of Mercury on his MC, which is not only his chart ruler, but also squaring the Nodal axis, speaking of important evolutionary learnings.

Pisces on the Descendant can indicate challenges in relationships like a lack of boundaries or falling prey to illusions. Richard's interactions with his stalker Martha, as well as his abuser who leads him into drug use, exemplify this influence. Pisces Descendant individuals can struggle to see their partners clearly, often idealizing or misunderstanding them, which can lead to toxic relationships.

In Baby Reindeer, Richard’s Virgo Ascendant traits like his desire to help others, his analytical approach, and his struggles with boundaries are central to his story. For example, when he says, "I felt sorry for her. That's the first feeling I felt. It's a patronizing, arrogant feeling, feeling sorry for someone you've only just laid eyes on, but I did. I felt sorry for her," he demonstrates the Virgo Ascendant's tendency to serve (and judge) others, often to his own disadvantage.

Sun in Taurus opposite Pluto in Scorpio: Intense Life Experiences

Richard's Sun in Taurus provides him with steadfastness and patience, essential qualities for enduring lengthened hardships like being stalked. However, the opposition between his Sun and Pluto in Scorpio signifies a life marked by intense experiences and profound transformations. This aspect often brings significant challenges that act as catalysts for personal growth and evolution. The following statement underscores his intense experience and transformative journey influenced by his Sun-Pluto opposition but also by his Virgo Ascendant and Pisces Descendant: "I hated myself so much more than I loved her, and I loved her so very much."

Furthermore, Richard's Sun is widely conjunct Venus, bringing relationship issues to the forefront of his life and consciousness. This conjunction also indicates a need to learn self-worth in relationships, as it is easy for a person with this placement to make their value dependent on others' opinions or their relationship status.

The conjunction of Uranus and Jupiter in April 2024, which occurred near Richard's Sun, brought an energy of liberation, breakthrough, and expansion to his personal life. This astrological event that took place only shortly after the release of the Netflix series aligns with his newfound success and public recognition, highlighting the rewards of sharing his story publicly after enduring years of darkness.

Leo Moon: The Performer

Richard's Moon in Leo emphasizes his need for creative expression and performance,  this of course aligns perfectly with his career as a comedian and actor. The Moon in Leo indicates a strong desire to be seen and appreciated, driving Richard to the stage to share his emotions and receive recognition from an audience. Richard’s rise in popularity and his viral success as a comedian when he dared to tell his real story on stage and later on Netflix display the Leo Moon’s effect. His emotional investment in his performances brings authenticity and depth, which resonates deeply with audiences.

Assuming Richard is born around 2 pm, his Leo Moon would square Pluto, indicating (again) intense and transformative emotional experiences in his journey through life. This aspect also brings a dramatic flair and emotional depth to his performances, which we can see in his powerful portrayal of real-life struggles.

Mars in Cancer conjunct Chiron: Wounded Self-Assertion

Mars in Cancer in one’s birth chart indicates a tendency to avoid direct confrontation and competitive scenarios. A Cancer Mars prefers to assert himself sideways or indirectly and it’s protective nature is particularly strong when it comes to protecting loved ones. This last aspect is clearly seen in the series where Richard switches to a completely different mode of assertion as soon as his parents started to get stalked by Martha. This shift mirrors his instinct to protect his family, despite his usual aversion to direct conflict.

Chiron, the wounded healer, conjunct Richard’s Mars underlines the topic, indicating a deep-seated wound related to self-assertion, that makes it even harder for Richard to stand up for himself. But, as always with Chiron in the mix, this placement also carries the potential for profound healing. The oppositions of Mars to the outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Saturn (all in retrograde motion) further complicate the dynamic. These aspects brings an erratic and confusing energy to his efforts at self-assertion, making it a prime evolutionary lesson for Richard.

Enforcing boundaries was one of Richard's significant struggles during those years of being stalked, as vividly portrayed in Baby Reindeer. His tendency to avoid direct confrontation and his wounded sense of self-assertion made it difficult for him to take decisive actions against Martha.

Virgo South Node in the 12th House: The Shackles of Perfectionism and Hidden Fears

Richard’s Virgo South Node in the 12th house indicates a past life marked by intense self-criticism and a need for perfection. This placement points to a deep-seated fear of judgment and an ingrained habit of seeking control and order. In Baby Reindeer, this is showcased in Donny's relentless pursuit of fame and his belief that being in the spotlight would shield him from his flaws.

"I feared judgment my entire life," Donny admits in his moving on-stage monologue. This line encapsulates the Virgoan trait of fearing inadequacy. Moreover, the 12th house placement of his South Node also brings subconscious fears and self-undoing into play. "Sometimes you create such a web of lies that you almost forget what you started running from in the first place," Donny confesses. This quote highlights his tendency to avoid vulnerability through dishonesty, a classic 12th house trait. His secret relationship with Teri, where he pretends to be someone else, reveals his difficulty in facing and showing up as his true self. This deception of course ultimately leads to more problems, illustrating the karmic cycle of the 12th house.

Richard’s inability to set boundaries and his sacrificial nature are other significant themes of his 12th house Virgo South Node. "It made me this sticking plaster for all life's weirdos," he says, delving into how his trauma attracts damaged individuals and makes it hard for him to protect himself. His interactions with Martha, who becomes dangerously obsessed with him, illuminates his struggle. He allows her to dominate his life because her obsession flatters his ego’s need to serve, even though it wreaks havoc on his well-being. This behavior reflects the Virgo South Node's tendency to serve others to the point of self-destruction, particularly when placed in the 12th house of hidden enemies and self-sabotage.

In a past life, Richard may have been someone who meticulously served others, possibly in a monastic or caregiving role (given the people he attracts it could have been a mental institution), where his identity was deeply tied to perfection and self-sacrifice.

For a deeper understanding of the North and South Nodes and their impact on your life, you can read our full article on evolutionary astrology and the nodes here.

Pisces North Node in the 6th House: Empathy and Spiritual Healing in Everyday Activities

The North Node in Pisces in the 6th house invites Richard to transform his approach to daily work and health routines. This placement highlights the need to apply empathy, creativity and spiritual healing into everyday activities. The Pisces North Node in the 6th house also encourages finding balance between service to others and nurturing one’s own well-being, blending the practical with the spiritual in everyday life.

This nodal position encourages Richard to dismantle the old service paradigm that equates service with self-sacrifice and instead adopt a more modern and holistic view of service that includes self-care as a fundamental component. This approach not only aligns with a healthier lifestyle but also enhances his ability to serve others authentically without compromising his well-being.

In Richards career as a comedian, moving towards the Pisces North Node can mean exploring more deeply intuitive and empathetic content, perhaps focusing on themes that resonate on a universal level. This might involve using his platform to discuss broader psychological and emotional healing processes, which can be therapeutic not only for himself but also for his audience. Comedy can become a medium for healing, offering insights into human nature with compassion and depth. Richard has clearly showcased this with the public sharing of his own story through the Netflix series. He surely made a lot of progress towards his North Node!

The experience of being stalked and sexually abused, which is profoundly challenging and invasive, aligns with the lessons of the 6th house in learning to set healthy boundaries. The Pisces energy here calls for a compassionate but firm approach to personal space and psychological health. It's about finding strength in vulnerability, acknowledging personal struggles and using these experiences to foster a greater understanding of personal boundaries and mental health care.

Overall, the North Node in Pisces in the 6th house directs Richard into a direction where work and health are interwoven with spiritual growth, empathy and the healing arts, transforming routine service into a meaningful, soul-nourishing practice.

The Influence of Venus and Mercury in Gemini: Skipped Steps and Crucial Lessons

Adding complexity to Donny’s nodal story are his Venus and Mercury, both in Gemini and both squaring his nodal axis. In evolutionary astrology, planets squaring the nodal axis indicate skipped steps from a previous life that now require special attention. Skipped steps refer to unresolved lessons or issues from past lives that are carried into the current life and that need to be addressed for the soul's growth. In Richard’s case, these placements bring lessons related to communication, relationships, values and the duality of his desires.

Venus in Gemini can indicate a tendency towards superficial relationships and a fear of commitment. Venus squaring his nodes highlights a need to confront these patterns. This is not voluntary – the universe will provide ample opportunities to learn the lessons. In Baby Reindeer, Donny’s relationships reveal his struggles in those areas.

Mercury in Gemini, on the other hand, brings a sharp intellect and a love for wit and humor, which are evident in Donny as a comedian. However, on the less evolved spectrum, this placement can also suggests a tendency to use words as a defense mechanism, creating confusion and miscommunication. The square to his nodes indicates a karmic challenge to use his communication skills more authentically and compassionately.

With Teri for example, when she asks him to kiss her in the subway and he then steps away, leaving her alone in the subway without saying a word, the issues of both Venus and Mercury are clearly illustrated.

Pluto in Scorpio in the 3rd House: Transformative Communication

With Pluto positioned in Scorpio in the 3rd house (assuming a Virgo Ascendant), Richard's communication style is not only intense but can be deeply transformative. This astrological placement tells us that his soul has chosen a path where he is asked to use the power of words and ideas to effect significant change and reflection not only in himself but also in others.

Pluto’s placement in the 3rd house reveals that Richard's major transformations occur through the processes of learning, speaking and exchanging information. He has the ability to delve into and articulate deep, often taboo topics (like he did with Baby Reindeer). This involves not just sharing his own experiences, but also facilitating a broader dialogue about difficult subjects on the collective level. This way the transformative power of Pluto is used to challenge societal norms through storytelling.
Baby Reindeer brings dark and complex themes into the public consciousness, illustrating how communication can act as a catalyst for psychological and emotional change. Richards raw and candid depiction of stalking and sexual abuse and its impact reflects his ability to use storytelling as a tool for deep psychological exploration and societal commentary.

Looking at Richards personality and his evolutionary lessons through the lens of evolutionary astrology provides us with the insights needed to compassionately understand how this situation was able to unfold over years. It also helps to comprehend why we all have to go through terrible difficult times and lessons at times – it’s because our soul chose those experiences to grow through them into its next level of being.

Evolutionary astrology is an excellent guide when it comes to understanding your deepest life lessons and where your soul wants to grow towards. As seen in Richards example, his Virgo South Node carrying a tendency to self doubt while his wounded Mars made it difficult for him to assert himself against Martha.

If you are looking for insights into your own karmic journey, our in depth evolutionary astrology report The Compass - exploring the journey from your South Node to your North Node in detail - will uncover your own karmic past and lessons as well as guide you towards your unique soul mission to be achieved in this lifetime.

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