Going round the houses

Published Jul 23 2003, 18:50 BST  |  By Dianne Millen

So it's nearly over! Tomorrow, we look in depth at the four finalists. But first, a wee round-up of some of the feedback and comments on the column I've received over the last 62 days.

Firstly, many thanks to FM Astro who responded with much food for thought to the rising signs article:-

I couldn’t resist responding to this Dianne, as we don’t know times any house positions mentioned below are equal. I agree that Ray appears to be Aries rising, but maybe it's late Cancer, with mars conjunct the Asc? He does go and hide under the bedclothes and cry occasionally.

I agree that Fed could be Pisces rising I think Cam is more likely to be Capricorn rising, note this puts Pluto in the 9th – very firm and fixed in his beliefs. Wants to control and order his environment without giving anything away about himself. He is a businessman who seems to take the moral high ground. This would also explain why he and Steph with her Capricorn Moon seem to get on so well. Capricorn Rising would also put Mars in the 12th – a lot of suppressed anger?

I agree that Jon could be Aquarius rising. Pity we haven’t got a time, Jon being a twin the time will be recorded on his birth certificate, probably at the Norwich records office. Can we persuade someone to go and check up on it for us? I agree that Gos could be Libra rising, for the same reasons that you do. Because Scott is so hard to categorise I would suggest elusive Pisces.

I feel that Nush could be Libra rising, she seemed to want to like everyone, she also seems to want to be 'nice' about everyone, Libra charm and good looks are also in evidence. Also note Neptune in Sagittarius in the 3rd – she talks like a bit of a hippy sometimes.

Steph puzzles me; I find it hard to see why a Capricorn moon would put themselves into the bb experience, even with that Gemini sun. I think that Virgo added to her sun moon combination would be too retiring a sign for such a public display. If born earlier in the day her Capricorn moon will be square Mars, this aspect will often work as a way of distancing themselves from emotional upset. I think she could possibly have Gemini rising with sun in 1st?

I agree with your thoughts on Anouska and Justine being Leo, but I am not so sure about Tania, she was so very self protective, especially in her exit interview with Davina, so I think she is more likely to be Cancer rising, with Sun in the first house. Sissy I think is probably Aries rising. Classic red hair and freckles, tendency to want to confront problems with other housemates instantly, and remember the pouffe kicking when she lost her temper? Shades of Ray there. Which leaves the one you forgot – Lisa, I would suggest Scorpio – her eyes seem to have the classic Scorpio piercing stare, plus Neptune around her Asc would explain a) some of her tall stories and b) the confusing image she seemed to have of herself. Then there was the fascination with dreams, a combination of Pisces sun & Neptune

Phew! Without turning this column into a conversation between Astro and me - although I'd love to have that discussion some time over a nice glass of Chablis - a few quick responses. Firstly, great call on Lisa and Sissy. But on Ray, I'm not sure that Cancer rising is quite so unguarded, so immediate, even with the Mars influence - although it is certainly more emotional than pure Aries, so there's arguments either way. Cancer rising can be calculating, it watches and waits until the right moment to pounce: Ray just reacts with no calculation involved. I suppose it depends on how influential we think the rising Mars would be, bearing in mind that Cancer is not the most effective sign through which to express Martial energies (it makes for good lovers, though, or so I would say, being Mars in Cancer too!)

With Nush, maybe it's the Libra Mercury and Venus that are coming through? She seems a wee bit too mercurial for the Scales. Gemini rising could also give her a Pisces midheaven which seems to match with her career history to date (idealistic, a bit confused, well-meaning) and Neptune in the seventh - confusing, fantasy-based relationships, sound familiar? But yeah, the charm and very well-proportioned, classic good looks are Libran, I agree.

Cam - well, first I thought that Capricorn rising just isn't quite so guarded, so self-protective. But then I saw the exchange in the reward room the other night, where those oft-dreamy Piscean eyes hardened to chips of granite as he coldly stared down Jon's characteristically unsubtle Taurean challenge. No soft Crab centre there after all. Capricorn rising also puts Cancer on the cusp of the seventh house of long-term relationships and what more traditional sign is there for an old-fashioned, marriage-minded swain?!

Finally, Steph puzzles me a bit, too. The Aries Mars and Jupiter do lend her some more extroversion but true enough, the cleaning and organisation might be more about the Capricorn moon, managing emotion and stress through activity, than Virgo rising. Virgo rising would also puts Mars in the eighth, which doesn't marry very well with "I'm not a sexual being" true enough, but Gemini rising puts the Aries Mars in the eleventh - suggesting a certain detachment, the expression of energies and desires through friendship and intellectual/social interaction.

Good stuff and thanks very much again for getting in touch. I'm fascinated now to know if we've got any of these right between us - I've not checked out the details of any HMs at registry offices because it seemed a little bit too stalkerish, but if any reader anywhere has any information on place or time of birth of the HMs (or even if any of the HMs wander on here, as is rumoured to happen from time to time) then I'd love to have it.

Secondly, thanks to Paula who responded to the article on Jon's reintroduction as follows:-

Personally I feel that it is wrong for BB to re-introduce ANYONE into the house that has already been nominated, and evicted. I would find it slightly more acceptable if that person could be evicted again. I feel that BB has now made the whole process unfair, and less enjoyable. The public are no longer in control of how stays, who goes, Jon is ..........over the next few days he will enourage other housemates who to nominate .........and that was something that 'nasty nick' was expelled for in the first series.

I basically agree, much as I adore Jon (and as an aside, that comment about fighting for the Queen was pure Cancer Mars/Taurus Sun - the British Empire was built on doughty Taureans, I'm certain of it, and this nicely illustrated my comment that Mars in Cancer types dig in and defend what means most to them). But it's particularly interesting that Paula mentions "the public is no longer in control" because going back to the re-entry chart, it had Pluto in the tenth house as well as the Moon. In this context, the Pluto position could represent the employer/authority figure reasserting control. Not only that but the ninth house, which represents sports, games, gambling and is probably the best analogy for the audience of BB, had Scorpio on it - the ultimate sign for power and control (ruled by Pluto)!

And finally, a wave to the correspondent who assured me weeks ago that "Pisceans are definitely kinky, I know cos I am one"! My first ever partner was a Pisces, so I happily concur!

In brief - apologies to those who have contacted me asking for charts and relationship analyses. Unfortunately, due to the length of time it takes to perform a proper analysis, I'm unable to offer this service through the column. There are many reputable astrologers out there who charge very modest fees and a quick Web search will probably bear fruit.

Thanks everyone who has got in touch, and everyone who has read the column. I'll have a wee Mercury-in-Cancer tear in my eye on Friday night, I can tell you.