(28 May 2024)  There is lots of talk about declining fertility these days.   Women are not having as many children as they used to.   As a growing number of countries fall below the 2.1 live birth replacement threshold, many Western countries have chosen to increase immigration in order to prevent a long term demographic collapse.  With mass immigration seemingly off the table in Asian countries, Japan and South Korea may be simply accept having smaller populations in the future.  There is no single cause for the worldwide decline in birth rates, although the economy is likely part of the reason as the cost of raising children continues to climb while incomes are flatlining.

I’m not sure how we would address the declining birth rate in astrological terms.  Since family size in developed economies have been declining since the industrial revolution more than 200 years ago, one would have to invoke some very slow-moving exoplanets beyond Pluto or perhaps alignments involving some distant fixed stars.  That question should be better addressed at another time.  At an individual level, however, astrology does offer some useful clues about the likelihood of progeny and the number of children a person will have.

Currently, Tesla founder and X owner Elon Musk has been a fierce proponent of having children as a means to avoid social stagnation, and even species extinction.  With his eleven children, Musk is certainly the poster boy of modern fecundity.  I guess it’s easier to have lots of kids when you’re the richest man in the world!  Unfortunately, his birth time is not known with certainty and thus his horoscope cannot be used in an analysis of children.  The 7.30 a.m. time in common use (June 28, 1971) is not rated “AA” (i.e. from official records) but is rather taken from a biography of Musk.  With its authenticity in doubt, It is only rated a “B”.  Therefore, we have to look elsewhere to find reliable horoscopes to illustrate how children are seen in the chart.

Chart indications for predicting offspring

First off, we should review how astrologers predict children in the horoscope.  While Western astrology often sidesteps the specifics of children and progeny, Vedic astrology discusses the matter at considerable length. As a system of prediction that focuses on life outcomes, Vedic astrology offers valuable tools to assess the relative probability of a person having progeny.  (It should be noted that many pre-modern forms of Western astrology also addressed this question)  If the chart indications are especially favourable, the individual may be blessed with more than the average number of children.

The 5th house and its ruler are the primary determinants for children, both in terms of number and their characteristics.  Jupiter is the planetary significator (or karaka) for children, and it must also be considered, although this is often a somewhat lesser influence.  Briefly stated, if the 5th house and its ruler are in fair or good condition, the individual is more likely to have children.  The better the placement of these chart factors, the more likely the individual can look forward to having more than the usual number of children.  Secondarily, we can also consider the Moon since it symbolizes the mother and motherhood and fecundity in general.  If the Moon and the 5th house from the Moon are strong, the person is more likely to have offspring, even if the 5th from the Ascendant looks weak or afflicted.  The converse is also true, of course, as an afflicted 5th house and 5th house ruler will tend to reduce the number of children.  In cases of multiple afflictions, children may even be denied completely.

Now let’s look at three celebrity horoscopes that have been rated “AA” for accuracy and which highlight some of these basic principles.

Kris Jenner

Kris Jenner is the mother to the Kardashian siblings and became famous through the long-running reality TV series, Keeping Up With The Kardashians (2007-2021). She divorced Robert Kardashian in 1991 and married Olympic athlete, Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner).  She has six children in all — four from her marriage to Robert Kardashian and two from her marriage to Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner.

While there are some of the expected placements denoting fruitful progeny, there are some ambiguous placements that require some interpretation.  Let’s start with the 5th house.  The 5th house contains Chiron (7 Capricorn), located just two degrees from the equal house cusp at 5 Capricorn.  While the planetoid Chiron (located between Saturn and Uranus) is not used in standard Vedic astrology, it nonetheless can be a useful adjunct to the classical visible planets.  Based on the findings of the Magi Society, Chiron can be seen as a mostly benefic influence, and does well in the 5th house, perhaps like a lesser version of Venus or Jupiter.  Its placement close to the 5th cusp should be seen as conducive to offspring.  The opposition aspect from the Moon to the 5th house should also be seen as favourable.   And we should also note that Venus and Neptune both align with the 5th house cusp within one degree, if using the 60-degree and 90-degree alignments.  While not full strength aspects, they are close enough that they deserve special consideration.   Therefore, the net effect of the 5th house is positive.

The 5th house contains the sign of Capricorn which is ruled by Saturn.  Saturn is well-placed in Libra, its sign of exaltation.  It is somewhat weakened by virtue of its wide conjunction/combustion with the Sun, but this does not negate the exalted state of the 5th house ruler.   The condition of Saturn is also improved through its 120 degree/5th house alignment with the Moon in the first degree of Cancer.  While this is not a full-strength aspect from the Moon, its near-exactness is significant as the Moon lends its natural fecundity to Jenner’s 5th house ruler, Saturn.  Saturn is disposited by Venus, which is placed in the 3rd house in Scorpio.  Venus is especially powerful since it is just one degree from the 3rd house cusp and hence aligns with the Ascendant and the 5th house cusp.  It also forms a helpful conjunction with Saturn and is also within range of a 120 degree alignment with the Moon.  Thus, as Saturn’s dispositor Venus is is another positive influence for having many children.  The net effect of the 5th house ruler is very positive.

As the karaka of children, Jenner’s Jupiter is poorly placed in the 12th house in Leo in a close conjunction with Pluto.  However, it is partially redeemed by virtue of its close alignment with Venus and Chiron.  Jupiter is disposited by the Sun which is in mixed condition since it is fallen in Libra but in a wide conjunction with the 5th house ruler, Saturn.  The 5th house from Jupiter is Sagittarius, which it rules but receives a square aspect from malefic Mars.  Given this range of influences, the net effect of karaka Jupiter is neutral.

Using just these three chart factors, the estimated net fertility effects are clearly positive.  While we could also consider other factors such as Saptamsa (D-7), Nakshatras, or Chandra Lagna, the three core chart indicators for children are strongly favourable for Kris Jenner.  Her chart is sufficiently positive for children to indicate a larger than normal family size.

Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg has directed some of the most successful Hollywood movies, including Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List.  His films have earned over $10 Billion, making him the highest-grossing director of all-time. Besides his successful career, Spielberg is also a father to six children from two marriages.  His horoscope is a textbook example of a strong 5th house.  With Gemini rising, the 5th house contains the sign of Libra.  It is tenanted by no less than four planets and all are benefics.  The 5th lord Venus is there in its own house and is closely conjunct Jupiter, the karaka of children.  It doesn’t get much better than that for having a lot of kids.  The 5th house Moon and Chiron are also supportive of progeny, especially the Moon which is situated just four degrees from the cusp which is the most sensitive point of the 5th house.  The net effect of the 5th house is very positive.

Many of these positive influences are duplicated when considering the 5th house ruler, Venus.  It is strong in its own sign of Libra, and it is closely conjunct Jupiter in the 5th.  The conjunction with Jupiter is the only significant aspect to Venus.  The net effect of the 5th house ruler is very positive.

As karaka of children, Jupiter’s condition is also favourable.  It is conjunct with its dispositor, Venus.  The 5th sign from Jupiter is Aquarius, which does not hold any planets. Its ruler is Saturn, which is in a mixed condition since it is a good house (the 10th house from Jupiter) but it receives a malefic aspect from Ketu.  Nonetheless, Jupiter should be seen as a net positive for offspring.  The net effect of karaka Jupiter is moderately positive.

Overall, the positive orientation of the three essential chart factors are supportive for having many children.  With average family size shrinking in the second half of the 20th century,. Spielberg’s six children stand out as an usually large brood.

Kevin Costner

Another Hollywood personality with a large family is movie actor, Kevin Costner.  Known for his starring roles in films such as Bull Durham, JFK, Hidden Figures and Yellowstone, Costner has seven children with three different partners.  While Costner’s 5th house is not as obviously strong as Spielberg’s, his 5th house is nonetheless quite good.

With his Virgo Ascendant, the 5th house contains the sign of Capricorn. The Sun (5 Capricorn) is in a close conjunction with the 5th house cusp (2 Capricorn).  The Sun is a mildly malefic influence by nature and this is compounded by virtue of its rulership with the dusthana 12th house representing loss and sorrows.  Nearby Chiron (6 Capricorn) is a more positive influence on progeny and partially offsets the malefic influence of the Sun.  The wider conjunction with lagnesh Mercury (ruler of the 1st house) is also broadly favourable.  So far, this is a very mixed picture for children in Costner’s chart.

But the negative influence from this 12th lord Sun is likely offset by the near exact opposition aspect from an exalted Jupiter (1 Cancer) in the 11th house.   The Jupiter aspect is only one degree from exact and should be seen as nullifying the negative influence of the Sun on the 5th house cusp.  We should also note that Jupiter is just two degrees away from its most exalted degree of 3 Cancer, therefore its positive influence is further enhanced.  I read the effect of the Uranus opposition to the 5th house cusp as neutral.  Overall, the net effect of 5th house is mildly positive. 

With Capricorn on the 5th house cusp, the ruler of the 5th is Saturn.  Saturn is exalted in Libra in the 2nd house.  The exaltation of the 5th lord is a big plus for children, particularly since it is unafflicted by malefics. Moreover, its dispositor, Venus, is also well-placed in Scorpio in conjunction with the Moon and aspected by Jupiter.  Net effect of the 5th house ruler is very positive.

The third chart chart factor for determining progeny is Jupiter.  As already noted, Costner’s Jupiter is very strong since it is just two degrees from its highest degree of exaltation in early Cancer. Its placement in the 11th house with Uranus without any aspects from malefic planets should also be seen as favourable.  The 5th house from Jupiter is Scorpio, which contains benefics the Moon and Venus. This is also a positive influence on children.  The ruler of the derived 5th house, Scorpio, is Mars which is in the 7th house and also aspected by Jupiter. The net effect of karaka Jupiter is very positive.

Since all three of these main chart factors are positive, we can better understand the astrological rationale behind Kevin Costner’s large family.  Even if the 12th house Sun in the 5th house is a negative for children, it is certainly nullified by the positive influences on the 5th house, to say nothing of the 5th lord and Jupiter.

While a more thorough examination of a chart is possible through other factors such as Nakshatras or Saptamsa, it is often more productive to focus on the “big three” factors for predicting children, at least as a point of departure.  If there is ambiguity in these basic factors, additional factors can be brought into the analysis as needed.

Now I’m suddenly curious if astrology can illuminate the larger question of our current demographic decline.  Something else to put on the to-do list.