The Big Astrology Theory

I’ve been watching way too much Big Bang Theory. I’m catching up on the three seasons I missed and overdosing to where I feel nauseated. Notice I didn’t say nauseous. I learned from Sheldon, a character on the show, that what I really mean is nauseated.

The Big Bang Theory centers on four brainy college professors (three with PhDs, one just an engineer) who spend their work time thinking about physics and their free time thinking about science fiction movies, role playing games and comic books. They are intellectually brilliant and socially awkward.

The counterbalance is Penny who lives across the hall, works at the Cheesecake Factory and wants to be an actress.

This blog is to explore the astrological archetypes of the characters. The character Sheldon would hate it, as he believes astrology is proven non-science. But it’s ironic I would spend time analyzing television characters to figure out their astrological signs; it’s actually something the Big Bang Theory characters would do.

Sheldon

Let’s start with Sheldon, who seems to have the most lines in the show and is a finely-tuned character. He is a theoretical physicist with an IQ of 178 or something. He’s an intellectual genius, graduating from college at 14, and obsessive compulsive to the point where he’s almost autistic. He knows facts about everything, from the ancient meaning of words to Bollywood film actresses. He disdains human contact altogether without any sense of embarrassment.

Once in the show Sheldon mocks Penny for believing in astrology. Her response is, “That’s because you’re a Taurus.” Taurus is a good start for Sheldon as he is filled with habit. He has his spot on the couch, eats the same food every night in the week (such as Thursday being pizza night) and does his laundry on Saturdays precisely at 8:15 p.m. And those are just a few of his habits. When he’s thrown off a habit, such as his 8:20 a.m. bowel movement, he’s anxious.

I like the fixed aspect of Taurus, but one quality doesn’t work for me. Taurus is an earth sign so Sheldon should like some human contact. I’m switching him to a fixed sign that isn’t so fond of human touch -Aquarius.

Aquarius is fixed, like Taurus. I personally find Aquarius even more stubborn than Taurus. Aquarius has habits, but weird habits. If the earth shifted, the habits of Aquarius wouldn’t. That’s Sheldon. And Aquarius is scientific with a dislike for intimate emotional contact. Aquarius is the sign of progressive ideas of revolution.

The irony of Sheldon’s and the pure Aquarian personality is that they work for humankind but don’t necessary want to sit next to humankind. Sheldon is close to figuring out the very genesis of the universe but can’t figure out his roommate is angry because he can’t read facial expressions. And, Sheldon will tell you, he’s not interested anyway.

Leonard

Sheldon’s roommate is Leonard. Leonard is also very smart, but seeks human contact. His love for Penny is the major theme of the first three seasons. We learn his family pressured him to achieve and his mother is much like Sheldon, devoid of human feelings. To get the maternal care he needed as a child, Leonard used his science know-how to build a hugging machine (which his father also used).

Leonard is also lactose-intolerant. Lactose is in milk, milk represents mothering, which he didn’t receive. Regardless, Leonard is open about his need for love and is willing to take some risks.

For me, Leonard is a Cancer. Cancer is the sign of mothering, which he openly needs. He is shy, but is willing to open himself up to others. He also takes care of Sheldon in a nurturing way, putting up with his habits and mediating when the other characters have conflicts. He’ll make a good father one day; hopefully they will build that into the show.

Howard and Raj

Howard and Raj, two friends, aren’t so well-defined. Howard is the Jewish boy who lives with his mother (who we never see but often hear). Raj is Indian, so shy around women that he can’t speak. During episode one he’s offered a drink which is the magic potion to talk to women.

Howard is defined most by his ostentatious ego and wildly colored clothes. We are often reminded in the show that he’s “just an engineer.” He has a Masters in Engineering from MIT and designs things for space missions, but the others constantly insult him for not having a PhD. But he maintains pride about his engineering feats, like building a zero-gravity toilet.

Of the four characters, Howard is most willing to go out and try to pick up girls. He thinks he’s hot, the girls do not. He also bounces back from rejection, as when Penny tells him he’s a loser. I brand Howard a Leo.

Leo loves attention. I propose Howard lives with his mother because he needs a doting female. He also brags about working with space missions and offers to let women drive the land rover on Mars in an effort to pick them up. Very Leo.

Raj is the most difficult to assign a sign. He’s shy and sweet, somewhat like Leonard. He discovered drinking to help him talk with woman which adds to the thought that he’s a water sign (like Leonard). The signs I think of as “sweet” are: Cancer, Virgo (when it’s not complaining), Libra and Pisces.

Since Raj now drinks, I’ll assign him Pisces, a water sign. It’s the most sensitive of the signs. Raj hasn’t exhibited the Pisces secretiveness, but he does whisper what he wants to say to Howard so Howard can tell the group.

Penny

That leaves Penny, also a more loosely-designed character. She’s everything the boys are not: chaotic, spontaneous, social, female, disorganized and somehow paying for the same apartment that Sheldon/Leonard share with combined professor incomes.

I’ll brand Penny a Gemini. Gemini is an air sign. It’s social, curious and constantly moving. Gemini would befriend four people that it had nothing in common with. Penny seems to have befriended the boys because they are different and interesting. She has no ulterior motive. Even though she’s like a dog in a group of cats, she hangs out like she’s one of them.

I’m glad my friend suggested I watch the show. I wonder why she made that suggestion?