Margaret Atwood, a Canadian Icon

by Emily Layng

Photo: Pari Dukovic

Introduction

Margaret Atwood, the matriarch of Canadian Literature, has recently published her autobiography, entitled The Book of Lives (2025). She has always been an extremely popular writer and the recent adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1985) to the screen has introduced her to a new audience: Gen Z and Gen A. Originally released in 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1985) was met with critical acclaim, combined with skepticism regarding the topic. Anecdotally, American critics were the loudest, proclaiming “that could never happen here”. Margaret herself has often referenced that sentiment in interviews as the most dangerous stance to take. Although it was released without too much fanfare, it sold steadily and quietly. In 1986 The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1985) won the Governor General’s Award and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, a coveted prize awarded annually to a work of fiction written in English and published in the UK or Ireland. Since then it has stayed in print selling regularly, in fact it has become required reading in most Canadian High Schools, rubbing shoulders with Golding’s Lord of the Flies (Golding 1954), and Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye (Salinger 1951). In 2019, two years after the release of the television adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1985), Margaret won the Booker’s Prize for The Testaments (Atwood 2019), the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1985).

Early this year my sister phoned me to tell me that she had just opened her copy of Margaret Atwood’s autobiography and there, within the opening pages was her astrology chart, along with details of how Margaret rectified it herself. My sister has long suffered through my astrological monologues with much patience and little understanding. To her great delight she could follow along and understand the meaning of rectification. I was equally delighted to learn that Margaret is an accomplished astrologer as well as world renowned author! A golden opportunity to witness over time how well that rectified chart fits the owner.

Margaret has rectified her chart to 6:00 PM, on November, 18th 1939, in Ottawa.

First Look

Her timed chart shows two interesting overlapping Yods, which is a recently accepted configuration. The Yod is often referred to as The Finger of God. It is made up of two sextiling planets that are both quincunx (150°) a third planet which is the apex planet. The configuration forms a very narrow triangle. The first Yod in Margaret’s chart shows Saturn sextile the Moon, with both planets quincunx Neptune. The second Yod shows Neptune sextile the Sun, both plants quincunx Saturn. The Yod in general indicates a feeling of unease around the achievement of a desired goal. The apex of the Yod is the desired goal, and the sextile represents the dilemma; a choice that must be made. Something must be given up to achieve the goal. All of this sounds fairly straight forward but the sextile and the quincunx are planets that do not see each other. Not only is the goal misunderstood, so are the choices. The configuration is one of unease and dissatisfaction. Natal Yods are often activated by transit with an opposition to the apex planet The opposition provides clarity by putting the focus on the goal with the opposing planet providing a path forward. This occurs several times in one’s lifetime, and each activation instructs and reveals the goal. Over time with experience, the Yod loses the angst that accompanies it in youth. Each activation familiarizes one with the idea that there is no “wrong”choice, as each path serves its purpose.

The first Yod, with Saturn sextile the Moon, quincunx Neptune, sums up the yearning and the fortitude of the tortured artist. The chart indicates control battling with compassion to create something, anything, but what exactly? Something that endures, something elusive, something close to home and foundation. Neptune, as the apex planet, opposes Jupiter in the 11th house, but the sextile to the Moon is out of orb to a create a Boomerang which would provide clarity.

The second Yod with Neptune sextile the Sun shows how Margaret is invested in this elusive creation, armed as she is with Scorpio’s scathing commentaries and brilliant wit. Both Neptune and the Sun are quincunx Saturn. The determination to follow a path to its conclusion is undeniable. The South node is opposing Saturn natally, but again just out of orb to provide clarity.

Natally, there is an opposition between Neptune and Jupiter in Pisces. Neptune and Jupiter both co-rule Pisces, an indication of flights of fancy, an ability to imagine separate realities, with the downside that rose-coloured glasses are often firmly in place. Thankfully, Neptune and pragmatic Virgo in the fourth house provide some grounding. Maybe the instinct to write provides a safe space for the imaginary world.

Natal Uranus and Chiron are sextiling each other across the 12th and 2nd houses, Uranus in Taurus in the 12th and Chiron in Cancer in the 2nd. When Uranus was in Taurus in the 1930’s Fascism was on the rise across Europe. Perhaps the early years of tension that did not impact North America in the same way as it impacted Europe, affected her. Uranus is trining natal Neptune; a Grand trine could occur during transit and is something to watch for. Chiron was unknown at that time, but Margaret may have learned to value compassion and caring at an early age.

Event

Now to my favourite exercise, the Quad-wheel to examine a particular moment in time. Since the adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1985) caused an international stir, I am looking the time and date it first aired on television. That day was April 26, 2017, at 9:00 PM EST.

There is an Earth trine with TR Pluto and natal Uranus, both trining PR Ceres. TR Pluto is opposite natal Chiron which not only sextiles natal Uranus, it also sextiles PR Ceres. A kite develops with Chiron and Pluto across the 2nd and 8th houses of personal and shared resources, as the spine or backbone of the kite configuration. The spine or backbone provides direction and clarity to the lassitude that often accompanies a trine.

Many astrologers would not include Ceres in this configuration, but Margaret’s lifelong dedication to feminism, it seems fitting to include the asteroids, which are feminine by nature. The Chiron/Pluto opposition across the 2nd and 8th houses speaks to society’s deeply held values and how we manage as a collective to uphold and protect that which is dear to us.

In addition, the natal opposition between Neptune and Jupiter is squared by TR Saturn, a key player in Margarets’ chart, as Saturn is involved in both the natal Yods. TR Saturn is in the 7th house in Sagittarius. The nature of this T-square involves added responsibility, a wake up call that answers the renewed energy of the Kite. It may well be that this T-square pushed Margaret back to Gilead to complete the tale. Fortunately for her audience, The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmade’s Tale was released in 2019, and garnered Margaret her second Booker Prize.

And last but definitely not least, TR Mercury and TR Uranus are conjunct natal Saturn and Vesta triggering both Yods from the 11th house, in Aries no less. An uncomfortable reminder to women everywhere that what looked liked fiction in 1984, is becoming a reality for many.

Final Note

In conclusion, I can’t fail to comment that since the release of The Testaments in (Atwood 2019) Margaret has met several astrological milestones. Since 2023, she has had a Pluto opposition (2025), a Neptune opposition (2023/24 and a Uranus return (2023).

While the Neptune opposition and Uranus return are becoming more common occurrences, generally happening between the ages of 83 and 84. These aspects are usually associated with the loss of independence that accompanies later stages of life. Not so in Margaret’s case, in 2025 she was finalizing her autobiography, which was released in the fall of 2025.

The exact opposition in 2025 occurred on February 28th, although during April and May of 2024 Pluto was at 2° of Aquarius, but it went retrograde before becoming exact. Feb 28th of this year was a hectic time in our Solar system, a rare 7 planet alignment followed by a New Moon, which kept astronomers and mundane astrologers glued to the night sky (and the headlines).

The Book of Lives (Atwood 2025) was released in early November of 2025 and was well received by critics and fans alike. Margaret is committed to the TV adaptation of The Testaments (Atwood 2019) and is collaborating with the director to ensure continuity with The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1985). She is providing background information on the characters and Gilead itself, to maintain the world she created. The Quad-wheel for the exact opposition shows a trine consisting of asteroids Juno and Pallas in the 3rd, 6th, and 11th houses, with the Pluto/Pluto opposition as the backbone of the Kite. Natal Pallas and PR Juno are nearly exact and unite the 3rd and the 11th houses of relationship, while TR Juno in the 6th house is indicative of the investment of time and labour for a cause.The Pluto opposition across the 3rd and 9th houses speak of the transcendence from what is known to what is believed.

Margaret Atwood continues to amaze and astonish me with her wisdom, clarity, and sharp wit. A true icon of Canadian Literature.