Biography Maria (known in France as Marie) was the youngest of five children. Her mother was a piano teacher and her father a mathematics and physics professor. Marie had an exceptional memory and studied hard. She graduated top of her class. In 1891 Marie went to Paris to study physics and mathematics at the Sorbonne where she met Pierre Curie a professor of the School of Physics. They were married in 1895. The Curies worked together investigating radioactivity and found that the ore from which uranium is extracted is more radioactive than the uranium itself. In July 1898 they announced the discovery of a new chemical element which they named ‘polonium’ in honour of Marie’s native country of Poland. Later the same year they announced the discovery of another which they named ‘radium’ due to its high radioactivity. In 1903 the Curies, along with Professor Henri Becquerel, were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Marie was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize. In 1906 Marie’s husband Pierre was knocked down and killed by a carriage. Marie took over his teaching post and became the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne. She devoted herself to continuing the work that they had begun together. In 1911 she received a second Nobel Prize and this time for Chemistry. Marie Curie is one of only two people to win a Nobel Prize in two different fields. The Curie's research was crucial in the development of x-rays in surgery and during the First World War Marie helped to equip ambulances with x-ray equipment, which she herself drove to the front lines. The International Red Cross made her head of its radiological service and she held training courses for medical orderlies and doctors in the new techniques. Despite her success, Marie continued to face great opposition from male scientists in France, and she never received significant financial benefits from her work. By the late 1920s her health was beginning to deteriorate. She died on 4th July 1934 aged 66 from leukaemia caused by exposure to high-energy radiation from her research. The Curies' eldest daughter Irene was herself a scientist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Astrology - Marie Curie paved the way for women in science and her discoveries have revolutionised medicine and the treatment of cancer. I would expect to see a lot of Scorpio for research and Aquarius/Saturn for scientific ability. The Ascendant or rising sign (your appearance, how you are seen) is in Aquarius and this shows Marie as unusual, scientific, independent, detached and ahead of her time. There is also an element to this position of doing good for mankind. The Sun (your personality, how you experience life, your essential energy) is in Scorpio in the 8th house and Marie’s life was focused on hidden issues with intense and thorough research. She was very determined and put her energy into collective enterprises. The Moon (your instinctive natural reaction, moods, habits and your mother) is in Pisces in the 1st house and this shows Marie to be perceptive and highly sensitive, even psychic. She would expect perfection and could make quick adjustments for the demands of the moment. This position of the Moon may also indicate a musical mother. Mercury (your mind, intellect, communication, learning, mischief and criminal activities) is in Sagittarius in the 9th house and on the Midheaven giving great importance to searching for the truth and a sharp expansive mind. Venus (your relationships, love, affection, harmony and sociability) is in Scorpio in the 9th house giving an attachment with foreign countries and a strong sense of personal pride. Mars (your physical energy, initiative, action and how you get what you want) is in Scorpio in the 9th house giving Marie her courage of conviction and ability to promote her own ideas. This position of Mars provides lots of energy and someone strong, efficient and highly disciplined, even hyper-active. Mars is also conjunct Saturn which gives a constructive use of energy and the capacity for hard work with much endurance. Jupiter (your belief system, expansion and also representing the world of publishing) is in Aquarius in the 1st house and for Marie this allowed her to approach major projects with original ideas where she would become an authority in her field. Saturn (your limitations, lessons to be learned, the key to your career, professional performance and your father) is in Scorpio in the 9th house and this influence made Marie exacting, focussed, scientific, practical and gave her an intense approach to responsibility. Uranus (your power to invent the new, desire for change, originality and unpredictable behaviour) is in Cancer in the 5th house showing Marie to be highly inventive and unconventional. Her efforts were for the good of others. Neptune (the collapse of your boundaries, mysterious behaviour, elusiveness and dreams) is in Aries in the 1st house and although Marie was an intuitive pioneer, she was also physically affected by drugs which could explain her early death from leukaemia. Pluto (your hidden issues, compulsion and dark side) is in Taurus in the 2nd house showing that Marie could perceive hidden opportunities and would achieve success from “mining” (looking for something hidden).
Midheaven (your career, aspirations, public face and what you become) is in Sagittarius showing her need to be challenged and ability to work in difficult conditions to search for the truth. |
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