Since the unsinkable ship sank, debate about the event has raged via countless books, documentaries, articles and movies, including James Cameron’s 1997 epic.

As an out-and-out romantic, I loved the movie with Kate and Leo. The first time I saw it (and yes, I confess to having seen it more than once!) I remember sitting in the theatre, tears streaming down my face, as the credits rolled. The movie told an evocative and moving love story set against the backdrop of what Wikipedia describes as  “one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history”, and the events of that fateful night continue to arouse discussion and curiousity.

Many have written about this subject in great depth, so for comprehensive astro insights on the Titanic, you might also like Ed Tamplin, Sherrynne Dalby, AstroDatabank or Mystic Medusa.

The Titanic set sail from Southampton at noon on April 10, 2012. Mercury was retrograde, though Venus was strong in Pisces in the 9th House, as was Jupiter in Sagittarius in the 5th.

The Sun, ruling the Leo ascendant, was placed high on the MC, in the sign of its exaltation, (Aries), but was also involved in a murky square with god of the sea, Neptune, in the 12th House.

While they say never to read a book by its cover, it’s often appropriate to judge a chart’s tone by influences tied to its ascendant.

The chart of the start of the voyage has Leo rising, which highlights the Sun. At first glance, the Sun seems strong – it’s exalted, conjunct the MC and on the North Node.

However, the Sun is involved in an applying square to Neptune, showing the main theme of this chart to be tied to Neptune’s mythology. Neptune is named for Poseidon, God of the Sea, an obvious connection given the chart is for the first sailing of a ship. The square suggests difficulties in the expression of these watery themes.

With Mercury retrograde, the events foretold by this chart were always going to have a crossed wire/miscommunication theme. The Moon is also out of bounds, showing events and connections to the public that are beyond the realm of normal.

Titanic remains a fixture in modern history. While the events of the night seem simple, the magnitude of loss, which appears to stem primarily from bad planning and lack of communication (in particular regarding the use, number and availability of life boats) continues to capture our imagination.

What are your thoughts on the astrology of the Titanic?