By Len Wallick

What passes for immortality in our time is attained by those who set young imaginations on fire all over the world so as to live longer in culture than in body. Such is the case for two of the most widely influential figures of our time, Bruce Lee and Jimi Hendrix — both double Sagittarians born on Nov. 27.

Jimi Hendrix

Sagittarius is the third of three so-called fire signs, following Aries and Leo. As such, Sagittarius represents the most evolved expression of the fire element in astrology — evoking spiritual inspiration and emblematic of the highest aspirations.

You can grasp the symbolism of superlative fire by Sagittarius’ ruling planet: Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, named after the ruler of ancient Rome’s pantheon of deities. Hence, it is not surprising that two of the most surpassing modern immortals were Sagittarius twice over in their natal astrology.

Bruce Lee was born on Nov. 27, 1940, in San Francisco, California. Jimi Hendrix was born on the same day two years later in Seattle, Washington. Both were born early enough in the morning to have Sagittarius as both the rising and solar sign in their natal charts. Hence, both were double Sagittarians.

The ascendant (or rising) sign and the Sun are two of the three most important points in any natal chart, along with the Moon.

The Sun represents (among other things), consciousness. The ascendant, (also among other things) corresponds with an apparent reason for undertaking an earthly incarnation expressed physically as a distinguishing proficiency or trait.

In their combination, a Sun and ascendant in Sagittarius correlated with an evident drive for both Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee to distinguish themselves as different and original. Tellingly, both are known by names other than those given at birth. Also notable is that in distinguishing themselves Bruce and Jimi polarized people, predominantly along generational lines.

Bruce Lee

As a rule, those who were inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee were and continue to be the youth of the world. Young people tend to rebel against the established order they were born into, and as part of normal human development, choose means to express their individual and collective passions, which differ from those handed down by elders.

The subject of passions is meaningfully addressed by another layer of natal astrology Lee and Hendrix had in common: being born with the Moon and Mars in water signs.

The three astrological signs associated with water (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) constitute a steamy complement to the triumvirate of fire signs. What fire is to spirituality, water is to intuition. Where inspiration burns, emotions also flood. The hot thirst of aspirations is quenched only by satisfaction. In the combination is something of what sets humanity apart from both machines and other biological beings.

The energy associated with Mars is (in the words of Robert Hand) “a fundamental part of the ego drive.” The Moon, for its part, is well known for its association with emotional attachments. Put a natal Mars and a natal Moon in water signs, then combine with the Sun and ascendant in fiery Sagittarius, and the astrological native is not likely either to express or provoke indifference.

Finally, at least some of their appeal to youth is partly attributable to the tragic fact that neither Jimi Hendrix nor Bruce Lee ever grew old.

Jimi died on Sept. 18, 1970, in London. Lee passed from this mortal coil on July 20, 1973, in Hong Kong. Both were still young by anybody’s standards.

Hence, every surviving image of Bruce Lee and Jimi Hendrix speaks to immortal qualities that persist in those who were born long after their death. Qualities taken up by those who have long been inspired to emulate and honor the memory of two virtually immortal and doubly Sagittarian spirits.

See charts for both Hendrix and Lee below.

View glyph key here.

View glyph key here.