Astrology of Serial Killers

The FBI description of serial killers is “the killing of two or more victims by the same offender in separate events with a cooling-off period between the killings.” While this description seems insufficient to explain the emotional fulfillment gained with the murder, it is known that what separates serial killers from the other multiple killers, who generally kill for profit, is their psychological motive for sadistic or sexual behavior toward the victim. 

In 2008, Jan Ruis, Ph.D., wrote a research paper on the statistical analysis of the astrological birth charts of serial killers and observed some repeated configurations that would make these people more susceptible to developing some disorders. 

It is important to note that astrology only symbolizes archetypal principles, and this research was not made to diagnose somebody with sadistic behaviors or susceptibility to murder. A serial killer or a psychopath can not be detected from the birth chart.

Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) are known to be more vulnerable to contradictory experiences and feelings in early childhood. Since the moon symbolizes early childhood, a primal bond with the mother, and emotional security, the moon in the mutable signs were the first emphasis noticed in some serial killers, according to the research.

Saturn symbolizes crystallization and often is called the planet of karma, limitations, and discipline. Challenging aspects between Saturn and the moon may show a lack of empathy, relatedness, and dissociation from feelings. This planetary alignment was hypothesized to be applied to a serial killer.

Mercury symbolizes thought-processing and communication style. Astrologers hypothesize that Mercury’s challenging aspects with mutable signs, especially between two opposite signs, may show the boredom threshold and short attention span that are partly the clinical pictures of psychopaths.

While Mars is often associated with the warrior archetype, the principle of aggression and assertion, Neptune is associated with myth, dream, mystery, magic, fantasies, projections, and illusions. The tense aspects of Neptune and Mars symbolize an intense fantasy life, receptiveness to collective stimuli, parasitic lifestyle, isolation, and an illusory sense of power that we can associate with a serial killer.

According to the astrologer Liz Greene, Neptune, and the 12th house are also associated with the victim-persecutor theme. A strongly placed Neptune and planetary accumulation in the twelfth house may be linked to sadism.