Preface
I am fortunate and blessed to have two outstandingly talented kids and a local youth theatre group that has proved the perfect vehicle for them to refine and perform their talents. Every October half term the group puts on a week long show and every show relates to the astrology of the time and reflects themes being highlighted by the energies at hand. This half term, when we have Mars opposing Pluto and are in the balsamic phase of a Scorpio New Moon which encompasses Halloween, the show is Les Misérables.
Les Misérables is one of the most beloved musicals of all time, a show that combines intense drama, unforgettable music, and powerful themes of redemption, love, and justice. But before captivating theatre audiences worldwide, Les Misérables began as a novel by the iconic French writer Victor Hugo. Published in 1862, Hugo’s work is a sweeping, socially conscious epic that explores the struggles of the poor and oppressed in early 19th-century France. With its complex characters - Jean Valjean, the former convict seeking redemption; Javert, the relentless inspector; and Fantine, the destitute mother fighting for her daughter’s future - Hugo's novel laid the groundwork for the timeless themes that would eventually take centre stage in the musical adaptation.
The journey from novel to stage began over a century later when composer Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyricist Alain Boublil transformed Hugo’s work into a musical. Premiering in Paris in 1980, this initial French production was a critical success but closed after a brief run. However, British producer Cameron Mackintosh saw its potential, commissioning an English version that opened in London’s West End in 1985, followed by a Broadway debut in 1987. With powerful ballads like “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” and the rousing anthem “Do You Hear the People Sing?” Les Misérables quickly became a global phenomenon, resonating with audiences for its universal themes of hope, resilience, and the quest for justice.
Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables, is a fascinating figure in literary and political history, known for his profound insights into human nature and society. Born on February 26, 1802, Hugo was a Pisces, but with Scorpio as his rising sign, which aligns with his intense, complex personality and deep empathy for the suffering of others—qualities that permeate his writing.
Hugo’s Scorpio rising would have influenced his charismatic presence and intense social consciousness. Scorpio ascendants are known for their profound insight, resilience, and willingness to confront society’s darker realities, which Hugo exemplified. He was outspoken against injustice, poverty, and inequality, particularly in France, and these concerns became central themes in his work. His writing often explored the “shadow side” of humanity—depicting suffering, redemption, and resilience.
His life was marked by personal tragedies and exile, experiences that contributed to his empathetic portrayals of marginalized characters in Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. He also ventured into politics, standing as a staunch advocate for democracy and human rights. His idealism and vision of a just society are evident in his characters’ struggles and his timeless themes of love, redemption, and hope.
Victor Hugo’s work resonates because he infused his writing with a depth and passion that mirrored his life’s convictions, capturing the essence of both a compassionate Pisces soul and a determined, fearless Scorpio rising. This unique combination gave him the ability to write about human suffering and resilience with a powerful emotional intensity that continues to captivate readers and audiences around the world.
Les Misérables and the Scorpio Archetype: A Story of Survival, Transformation, and Love
If Les Misérables were a zodiac sign, it would undoubtedly be Scorpio. It’s raw, intense, unflinching in its portrayal of suffering and redemption, and yet - through all its darkness - deeply, profoundly moving. Every character is either battling the depths of their own soul or standing defiantly against a world that seeks to crush them. Sounds like a Scorpio survival guide, doesn’t it?
1. Intensity and Emotional Depth
Scorpios don’t do surface-level. They dive straight into life’s shadows, unafraid of suffering if it means unearthing something real. Les Misérables is drenched in this emotional depth—Jean Valjean’s struggle for redemption, Fantine’s heart-breaking descent, Éponine’s quiet agony of unrequited love. Every moment is a testament to the Scorpionic experience: love, loss, endurance.
2. Transformation and Redemption
Scorpio is the sign of rebirth. It’s about rising from the ashes, stronger, wiser, more whole. Jean Valjean embodies this - his transformation from a hardened criminal to a man of integrity is classic Scorpio evolution. He sheds his past life over and over, constantly recreating himself, proving that even in a cruel world, we can choose to be better.
3. Revenge, Justice, and the Pursuit of Truth
Scorpios are known for their obsessive focus - just ask Javert. His relentless pursuit of Valjean is Scorpio energy in its most unyielding form: all-consuming, black-and-white, justice at any cost. But here’s the lesson - Scorpio’s intensity must evolve, or it destroys itself. Javert can’t adapt to a world where mercy and redemption exist, and it ultimately leads to his downfall.
4. Loyalty and Passionate Love
A Scorpio loves deeply, even when it’s painful. Éponine, singing her heart out in On My Own, is the ultimate example. She remains devoted to Marius, knowing he will never love her back. It’s the Scorpio way - feeling everything, even the ache, because love is worth it, even when it hurts.
5. Sacrifice and the Power of Martyrdom
Scorpio understands that real love, real conviction, often demands sacrifice. Fantine’s suffering for her daughter, the students at the barricade dying for their cause - these are the echoes of Scorpio’s willingness to go all in, no matter the cost. Love and ideals are worth fighting for, even when the odds are grim.
6. The Shadow and the Search for Meaning
Scorpios aren’t afraid of the dark; they live there. Les Misérables is a story that forces us to confront injustice, suffering, and the failings of humanity, but it doesn’t stop there. It asks: How do we survive it? How do we transform pain into meaning? And that’s where the real Scorpio message emerges.
The Light in the Darkness: Love as the Ultimate Answer
For all its tragedy, Les Misérables isn’t a story about despair - it’s about hope, about endurance, about love as the thing that makes life bearable.
🔹 “To love another person is to see the face of God.”
This line isn’t just poetic - it’s the heart of the story. Love redeems Valjean. Love fuels the revolutionaries. Love carries Marius through grief. Love - pure, selfless, unbreakable - is what gives all the suffering meaning.
🔹 “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”
If that isn’t Scorpio wisdom, I don’t know what is. No matter how deep the pain, there’s always something on the other side. Transformation isn’t just possible; it’s inevitable.
🔹 “Will you join in our crusade?”
The final chorus isn’t just about revolution - it’s a call to action. Scorpio doesn’t just survive hardship; it transforms it. It turns pain into wisdom, struggle into resilience.
Scorpio’s Lesson: Love, Purpose, and Rebirth
Like Les Misérables, Scorpio’s story isn’t just about suffering; it’s about survival. It’s about finding meaning in pain, refusing to let darkness define you, and holding onto love even when the world tries to break you. It’s about knowing that even in your worst moments, you’re being forged into something stronger.
And in the end, that’s the Scorpio way - falling, rising, and loving with everything you have.
A note on AI & my writing:
I use ChatGPT as a writing assistant—not as a writer. These are my thoughts, ideas, and words, shaped by my lived experience and deep love for self-work, self-awareness, the spiritual journey, and astrology. AI helps me refine, structure, and occasionally nudge me toward better phrasing, but the voice you’re reading is mine. I use it as a tool to help me put into words everything I believe is valuable in sharing my insights. Honesty matters to me, and this is simply one way I bring my thoughts to life.
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