In the article above, we found that Timothée Chalamet’s Mercury was peregrine. A planet is peregrine if:
- It doesn’t have essential dignity—it’s not in its own sign, exaltation, triplicity, term or face.
- It doesn’t have essential debility—it’s not in its detriment or fall.
When a planet is neither dignified or debilitated, it’s is said to be like a homeless wanderer.
On her extensive website Skyscript, Deborah Houlding writes:
The word ‘Peregrine’ comes from a Latin term meaning ‘alien’ or ‘foreigner’ (pereger = beyond the borders, ager = land, i.e., ‘beyond one’s own land’). In old English, to ‘peregrinate’ means to wander far from home. Such a planet is therefore seen as having little influence or control over its environment. In symbolic terms, it describes a drifter – someone with no title or stake in his or her environment.
We can imagine what it’s like being homeless, wandering in a strange land, with no security, support or easy way to communicate your needs. We might feel as though we’re perpetually stuck at the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. This is the condition of peregrine. Peregrine planets must work much harder than everyone else just to survive.
Chalamet’s Peregrine Steersman
What about Chalamet’s Mercury? In the creative 5th House of self-expression, I wonder if this Mercury has found purchase in playing roles that inhabit the role of alien, outcast and wanderer?
Let’s take a quick look:
Dune.
Chalamet plays a young royal who leaves comforts of home for a desolate, dangerous planet to fulfill his destiny. In Vanity Fair, Chalamet shares: “The immediately appealing thing about Paul was the fact that in a story of such detail and scale and world-building, the protagonist is on an anti-hero’s-journey of sorts…” to which VF responds: “In other words, he’s not dreaming of adventure. He’s resisting it. Afraid of it.”
The King.
The description on Netflix reads: “Hal (Timothée Chalamet), wayward prince and reluctant heir to the English throne, has turned his back on royal life and is living among the people. But when his tyrannical father dies, Hal is crowned King Henry V and is forced to embrace the life he had previously tried to escape.
Here’s a line from the movie: Hal, “I’ve been forced to rely upon the counsel of men whose loyalty I question every waking moment. I need men around me I can trust. I came because you are my friend.” Response, “The King has no friends. The King has only followers.”
Call Me By Your Name.
Coming of age movie where Chalamet plays a 17 year old who is tormented by feelings of longing and desire towards another man, occupying a liminal space of uncertainty. Poetically peregrine! He has no experience to buoy him.
All planets want to express themselves, even peregrine ones. I like to think that Mercury is elated with the manner that Chalamet masterfully provides to bear forth his significations, dignified or not.