And oh my dreams
It's never quite as it seems Never quite as it seems
--Dolores O’Riordan & Noel Hogan “Dreams”
On what would have been Dolores O’Riordan’s 47th birthday, the Westminster Coroner’s Court in London confirmed that her death was caused by accidental drowning in a bathtub due to alcohol intoxication.
For an astrologer, the influence of Neptune – alcohol, water, drowning – comes to mind. Let's look into it.
No time of birth is available for Dolores, but natally, we can still see Neptune at 0° Sag conjunct Jupiter at 29° Scorpio, both opposed by Saturn at 6° Gemini. With an accurate time, we might be able to confirm this stressful alignment indicates an ongoing struggle with alcohol and/or drugs. It likely also gave rise to her unforgettable creativity and drive.
On the date of her death, Jan. 15, 2018, transiting Neptune, strong in its home sign of Pisces, was in a partile applying opposition to Dolores's natal Sun in Virgo. Further, Saturn, dignified in Capricorn, was separating from a square to her natal Moon. Notably, there were six planets in Capricorn that day, putting even greater focus on Saturn, the sign's ruler.
The Neptune-Sun opposition had been in effect since February 2017. Under this transit, one may feel confused, uncertain, emotionally overwhelmed, hopeless. We are more susceptible to alcohol and drugs at this time. In the three weeks prior to her passing, this was compounded by the Saturn-Moon square, the classic depression aspect. Painful memories emerge from the subconscious during this period, often accompanied by oppressive family and business responsibilities.
Although born 18 years after Dolores, the late famed DJ Avicii (Tim Bergling) had a nearly identical Jupiter-Saturn-Neptune configuration in his natal chart. He has Neptune conjunct Saturn opposite Jupiter, while she has Neptune conjunct Jupiter opposite Saturn. Although his time of birth is unrevealed, his health issues due to excessive alcohol abuse have been very public.
When Avicii died of suicide in Oman on April 20, 2018 – despairing, intoxicated, reportedly cutting himself with a broken wine bottle – transiting Neptune in Pisces was also in partile applying opposition to his natal Virgo Sun. It had been in effect for the two months prior.
He would be turning 29 on Saturday.