the 12 Signs of Alice

Several of our favorite planets are converging on March 5th with the release of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp et al*. Not only are we huge fans of the Burton entourage, but this extraordinary story reminds us of our favorite astrologer who wrote the most entertaining "who we are" astrology book, Linda Goodman's Sun Signs. Goodman used verses from Lewis Carroll’s works to introduce her chapters; a brilliant connection with amazing insight!

With this blog, we pay homage to all of these exceptionally talented people by picking our favorite Goodman/Carroll astro-pairings and sharing them during the 12 days up to the movie release… enjoy!

“It was much pleasanter at home,” thought poor Alice,
“when one wasn’t always growing larger and smaller,
and being ordered about by mice and rabbits.
I almost wish I hadn’t gotten down that rabbit-hole
and yet – and yet it’s rather curious, you know,
this sort of life!”

Yours, through the looking glass,
Chef Cosmo and p.a.Sous
(note: we are indulging in a temporary diversion from all things foodie to celebrate our passions for cinema and life :)

aries

march 21 - april 19

They would not remember the simple rules their friends had taught them; such as that a red hot poker will burn you if you hold it too long; and that, if you cut your finger very deeply with a knife, it usually bleeds.
----------
“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen… “why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

taurus

april 20 - may 20

“I shall sit here,” he said, “on and off, for days and days.”
----------
“It’ll be no use putting their heads down and saying, ‘come up again dear!’… if I like being that person, I’ll come up; if not, I’ll stay down here…”

gemini

may 21 to june 20

“It takes all the running you can do to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”
----------
“I could tell you my adventure– beginning this morning–”
“At least I knew who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.”

cancer

june 21 - july 22

“I sometimes dig for butter roles, or set lined twigs for crabs; I sometimes search the grassy knolls for wheels of hansom cabs; and that’s the way,” (he gave a wink)
“by which I get my wealth – and very gladly will I drink your honor’s noble health.”
----------
“Yes you see,” he went on after a pause, “it’s as well to be provided for everything.
That’s the reason the horse has all those anklets around his feet.”
“But what are they for?” Alice asked, in a tone of great curiosity.
“To guard against the bites of sharks,” the Knight replied.

leo

july 23 -august 22 

“’Tis an honor to see me, a favor to hear; ’tis a privilege high to have dinner and tea
along with the Red Queen, the White Queen and me!”
----------
The Queen turned crimson with fury, and,
after glaring at her for a moment
like a wild beast, began screaming,
“Off with her head!”

virgo

august 23 - september 22

“If seven maids with seven mops swept it for half a year, do you suppose,”
the Walrus said, “that they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter, and shed a bitter tear.
----------
But four young oysters hurried up, all eager for the treat: their coats were brushed,
their faces washed, their shoes were clean and neat-

libra

september 23 - october 22

And so she went on taking first one side and then another and making quite a conversation of it altogether… she generally gave herself very good advice (though she seldom followed it…)
----------
“I wish they’d get the trial done… and hand round the refreshments!”

scorpio

october 23 - november 21

“The question is… which is to be the Master – that’s all.”
----------
“Keep your temper,” said The Caterpillar…
“you’ll get used to it time,” and it put the hookah
into it’s mouth; and began smoking again.

sagittarius

november 22 - december 21

“You may change me with murder – or want of sense (we are all of us weak at times); but the slightest approach to a false pretense was never among my crimes!”
----------
“No, no! The adventures first,” said the Gryphon in an important tone: “explanations take such a dreadful time.”

capricorn

december 22 - january 19

“You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “and your hair has become very white; and yet you incessantly stand on your head – do you think, at your age, it is right?”
----------
“If everyone minded their own business,” said the Duchess, in hoarse growl, “the world would go round a deal faster than it does.”

aquarius

january 20 - february 18

“What sort of things do you remember best?” Alice ventured to ask.
“Oh, things that happened the week after next.”
----------

So Alice had got so much into the way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the common way…

pisces

february 19 - march 20

Eager eye and willing ear
Lovingly shall nestle near.
In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream
Lingering in the golden gleam-
Life, what is it but a dream?

_____________________________

*Our Wonderland’s all-stars
(the astrological connections here are pretty amazing, just sayin’)
Tim Burton (Director), Virgo
Johnny Depp (The Mad Hatter), Gemini
Helena Bohnam Carter (The Red Queen), Gemini
Mia Wasikowska (Alice Kingsley), Libra
Anne Hathaway (The White Queen), Scorpio
Crispin Glover (The Knave of Hearts), Aries
Stephen Fry (The Cheshire Cat), Virgo
Alan Rickman (The Caterpillar), Pisces
Michael Sheen (The White Rabbit), Aquarius
Christopher Lee (The Jabberwock), Gemini
Danny Elfman (Music), Gemini
Richard Zanuck (Producer), Sagittarius
Linda Goodman, Aries
Lewis Carroll, Aquarius

Resources:
Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs (1968) by Linda Goodman
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and other works by Lewis Carroll
Wikipedia: Alice in Wonderland, (movie 2010)
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
aliceinwonderlandmovie.org fansite
Photos: Walt Disney Pictures via movies.yahoo.com