Horoscope of Ed Gein and Evolution through Gunas

Recently, NetFlix has released a new web series on Ed Gein’s Life ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Gein ) by name Monster – The Ed Gein Story ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster:_The_Ed_Gein_Story ) and The Ed Gein Saga resumed.

I looked at his chart and decided to write about his life — not only for astrological reasons but for deeper human and spiritual insights.

Let’s begin-

Ed Gein – Ed Gein was a criminal from USA who is not only infamous for his crimes but also for the macabre ways in which he committed his crimes. His wiki page ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Gein ) will give all details of his crime and reproducing them in detail here is unnecessary.

Suffice it to say, over time, Ed Gein became a dark archetype — an Evil Godfather for criminals who came after him. Many serial killers admitted during their interrogations that they were triggered by his acts.

I’m consciously using the word “triggered” rather than “inspired” or “motivated.” There is a world of difference between them.

Ed Gein’s Chart – As per online information available, Ed Gein was born on 27th Aug, 1906 at 23.30 pm at La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He was born as Taurus ascendant with Jupiter in 2nd house/Gemini, Rahu-Mars-Mercury in 3rd house/Cancer, Sun in 4th house/Leo, Venus in 5th house/Virgo, Moon in 7th house/Scorpio, Ketu in 9th house/Capricorn and Saturn in 10th house/Aquarius.

Astrological Indications – As we can see in the first glance itself that chart has difficult placements where majority of planets are losing dignity (inclusive of 3 debilitated planets). Only Sun and Saturn are in good dignity but as they are also opposing each other, not much benefits can be expected there too.

The Moon deserves special mention. It is debilitated in Scorpio near Gandanta degrees, placed in a Maraka house, and afflicted by aspects of both Rahu and Saturn.

Moon also rules the 3rd house (Cancer), where Rahu–Mars–Mercury conjunct in Ashlesha Nakshatra, a placement known for psychological intensity and dark emotional undercurrents.

This creates a difficult Moon–Mars exchange, meaning that during their respective Mahadashas, emotional turbulence and repressed aggression activate each other.

It should be kept as a note here that majority of Ed Gein’s crimes took place during Moon Mahadasha (1943-1953) and Mars Mahadasha (1953 to 1960).

Beyond the Chart – The Role of Gunas

So, was this astrological setup enough to make him what he became?

Would everyone with a similar chart commit the same acts?

Of course not.

We have already seen examples of Ram Dass ( https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/RamDass ), Helen Keller ( https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/Keller ) and Pablo Picasso ( https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/Picasso ) where despite having weak planetary placements, they achieved legendary status in their respective positive fields.

That brings us to the deeper reason for this article —

Understanding the Gunas –

In last few years, I have mentioned many a times that our horoscope is not as important as the Gunas working behind it. I have written extensively on the basic introduction of Gunas and how Gunas function etc. You can find all this information here - https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/SpiritualMusings .

Just for basic info on Gunas, as per Indian philosophy, every being is composed of three fundamental energies or Gunas:

• Tamas – inertia, darkness, destruction
• Rajas – activity, passion, desire
• Satva – awareness, clarity, balance

All three are always present, but one becomes dominant, shaping our behavior and life patterns and the other two facilitate the dominant one.

I am not going to repeat any of the stuff I have already written in above articles and this portion of article will be focused on –

1. How to identify the prominent/dominant Gunas of an individual?
2. How to evolve/improve through Gunas?

Let’s understand -

1. How to identify the prominent/dominant Gunas of an individual? – Ed Gein’s life is a textbook example of Tamasic dominance. Almost every aspect of his existence reflected Tamas. If we just look at the life he had lived, we can easily see he has lived a 90% Tamasic Life. Just look at some of his actions or ways –

a. He lived in isolation with minimal human interaction.
b. His home was dark, dirty, and decaying.
c. He remained unkempt and filthy.
d. His nocturnal graveyard visits and crimes with corpses were deeply Tamasic — instinctual and regressive.

If we go by theory of evolution from Animal Kingdom to Mankind, we can say that Ed Gein must be a wild beast in previous life from where he came into this human life as most of the activities done by Ed Gein were animalistic.

Now, all 3 Gunas need to be present in the person then only he can come into living form. As I said, one Guna takes prominence/dominance and other two facilitate this dominant Guna.

If at all, there is an imaginary 100% Tamasic person then he wouldn’t even get up from his bed. So, there has to be Rajas and Satva too in his life?

So, where can we see Rajas Guna in his actions or ways?

Rajas is what makes us connect with others & take some efforts and actions. His other actions to sustain his life through farming and whatever little social interaction he had with people of city and relatives (Mother and Brother) were traits of Rajas Guna in his life.

Now, where can we see Satva Guna in his actions or ways?

And this is the most interesting part of his life. So, this guy is living his life in the most squalid conditions you can ever imagine but then there is room of his Mother in the same otherwise squalid home which he would keep as clean and tidy as if it is his Spiritual Shrine or Sanctuary.

Although, his Mother had her own contribution in giving shape to Ed Gein’s Schizophrenic Personality but she was the only love of his life. He was completely devoted to his Mother and his only wish was to become a good Son.

This gives the glimpses of Satva in his life. If he was really thinking that the squalid ways of living life was correct then why he kept his Mother’s room as clean as a Church?

This shows his awareness/Satva Guna, no matter howsoever little it was.

Another incident which indicates Satva or Awareness in his life was when he was arrested then he tried to hide his face from reporters. It was a true facepalm moment for him. This was another flash moment of Satva or Awareness in his life.

As I said, it is impossible to have life without combination of all 3 Gunas. So, if we have to give percentage to Gunas level of Ed Gein then it is like –

Tamas - 90%.
Rajas - 8%.
Satva - 2%.

2. How to evolve/improve through Gunas? – Now, if we know that we have these levels of Gunas within self and they are getting exhibited through actions like in Ed Gein’s case then how can we change scenario or how can we change these percentage of Gunas? When we know the illness then we should go towards cure.

One of the main characteristics of human life is that wherever we pay focus or attention that thing or behavior grows in life. Like, a slight thought may come in your mind about someone hurting you in past which made you angry. Now, if you keep on paying attention/focus on the same thought then that hurt will grow and you will become more and more angry in the present moment too.

Likewise, if a pleasant thought comes in mind and you start being attentive towards it then that pleasantness will grow upon you and you will start smiling or laughing in the present moment too.

So, wherever we focus, those things grow. Maybe this is why all Gurus tell us to keep thought process positive.

It means that even if a person is at 1% of Satva & 1% of Rajas and if he starts focusing of that one Satvic/Rajasic activity of his life then Satva/Rajas percentage will increase and Tamas will reduce and Gunas will reach a balancing point soon.

In Ed’s case, had he spent more time in his mother’s clean, sacred room — his Satvic zone — he might never have descended into crime as that room was like God’s abode for him.

Interestingly, his later years in correctional and mental health institutions showed improvement. With better food, hygiene, and order, his life became calmer — proof that environment and activity can realign Gunas.

One can say that well, who can commit crimes in jail etc. with so many restrictions around.

Well, there are many cases worldwide of crimes and violence inside the maximum-security prisons also.

So, improvement or evolution is possible through Gunas by getting yourself engaged in better activities. If I try to explain Gunas and their respective activities in the simplest words then it would be something like this –

a. Whenever eventual intended result of any action is destructive in nature then the act is Tamasic.

b. Whenever eventual intended result of any action is creative in nature then the act is Rajasic.

c. Whenever eventual intended result of any action is sustaining or balanced in nature then the act is Satvic.

So, we have to see the intention behind the act to know its true Guna, not the act itself. Like, whatever Ed Gein did with dead bodies, a Doctor also does largely the same in Post-Mortem Room but the intention is completely different there. So, we have to look at intention of the act rather than act.

Putting a Patient on Life Support System is very different from putting a dead body on Life Support System, although activity is identical.

Introvert Vs Extrovert - Now, there is also a confusion as to whether we should change our actions which will change Gunas within or we should first strive to change our Gunas within which will automatically change our actions?

It depends on individual as to where he is standing?

If he is extrovert then change actions outside, it will change Gunas within.

If he is introvert then with change of Gunas within through spiritual pursuits, actions will automatically change.

Now, the second reason for which I am writing this article.

Somehow, I found the last episode of this series as shocking and very disturbing. It is titled as The Godfather.

Makers have shown in this Episode that Ed Gein had got to a position of The Godfather (which I would like to understand as The Evil Godfather) where other criminals were kind of looking up to him for inspiration or motivation (which I would like to understand as Trigger).

The last 10-15 mins of the episode were really disturbing where it was shown that Ed Gein was imagining that all other major criminals like Charles Mansion, Ed Kemper & Richard Speck etc. were grateful towards him and they respect him for doing what he did; i.e. The Crimes. Needless to say that Ed Gein was celebrated as The Evil Godfather here in this scene with people dancing around him.

Then the episode goes a step further in showing that Ed Gein imagined that his Mother’s Spirit has arrived to welcome him at the time of his death and says words to this extent to Ed Gein –

“You have achieved a distinct place in history”.

“You have become a role model to many killers worldwide”.

“You have brought a great name to Gein Family and I am proud of you.”

Are you serious? Do we even understand the results of such glorification of crimes, violence and wars?

Is this how we end a story of horror — by glorifying it?

This isn’t artistic freedom; this is total blindness.

I don’t know if Ed Gein imagined all this or not but more disturbing is that makers of this series surely imagined it and hence they have shown it. There is something seriously sick and wrong with the person who conceived this last 10-15 mins of final episode.

Can’t we see what kind of impact this glorification and praise will make to people with weak minds?

Just to give an idea that Ed Gein himself was triggered by the pictures of dead bodies from Holocaust of World War II. Ed Gein saw those pictures of dead bodies published in papers and magazines and the evil desire to explore dead bodies further triggered into him.

Aren’t the makers of this episode triggering the same evil desires in potential weak criminal minds by praising and glorifying crimes and violence?

Actually, Ed Gein and majority of the Serial Killers/Mass Murderers who came after him were just the mirror reflection of Society during and after World War II. The kind of violence and crimes the Govts did in Wars in last 100 years at global level, majority of Serial Killers are the mirror reflection of same at societal level. It won’t be false if we say that these Wars triggered these weak minds of Serial Killers.

All I am trying to say that we must stop glorifying and praising Wars, Crimes or any act of direct or indirect Violence. A Crime or any act of Violence in any of its form must be condemned at any cost. Praising or glorifying such acts would mean providing the brooding ground for future criminals.

It is as simple as this that if I am praised or glorified for any crime then would I ever think of improving or evolving my behavior? If Ed Gein is told that “you have brought good name to Gein Family”, then would he even think that he has done anything wrong and he needs to mend his ways?

I am not the one who will condemn a person and close all the doors of evolution for him. I am all for giving Ed Gein another chance to improve and evolve but I am also not the one who will glorify his wrong actions. Ed Gein must be given all the Psychological or Spiritual help he needs from his correctional home but his actions must not be celebrated. It would be neither good for Ed nor for humanity at large.

In this matter, we have a direct example to discuss and contemplate. It is of 1999 Columbine High School massacre ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre ) where 2 perpetrators Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a killing spree in a School Shooting and killed & wounded many. The more disturbing part of this incident was that in some sections of media Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were presented as martyrs or victims of society or system. It led to a series of school shootings in USA, which are still on, where shooters have committed copycat crimes. Needless to say that there are many pages and groups dedicated to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold where they are almost “worshipped” by their followers.

This praising or glorifying of 1999 Columbine High School massacre and presenting the culprit as victim proved to be very harmful for future generations. It has created an evil legacy of School Shootings which is spreading with every passing day in every part of World and there is good amount of research done on Columbine Effect ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_effect ) to understand where it all went wrong. This research work on Mass Shooting Contagion ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_shooting_contagion ) can be helpful in understanding as to how these matters should be handled by Govts, Media and People.

I agree with this YouTuber ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG0PtwYJU0M ) who says that focus should be on victim of any crime rather than perpetrator and presenting the culprit as victim can be destructive for future generations to come.

There can be an opinion that people anyways do whatever they want to do. So, how does it matter what any Web-series is showing?

I agree that people do what they want to do but for every action there is a trigger point. I can inspire and motivate someone to become an astrologer and they start working in that direction. Likewise, I can trigger someone to commit any wrong act and because of that trigger they get the final push from contemplating about crime to actually committing the crime.

If I am a little bit wise person, I would not like to become that trigger point for anyone which works like a push to commit any wrong act. Let him find his trigger point somewhere else. Why I should become reason behind trigger unnecessarily?

Likewise, OTT Platforms these days are full of crime stories and there is no censor on them too. I am against censorship anyway but then it is their responsibilities to present crime stories in such a way that a correct message should go to every individual that we are supposed to refrain from crime. Glorifying Crimes, Violence and Wars is not going to help the cause and such glorification would only trigger further crimes and criminals.

Now, the same thing can be understood through opposite situation. Let’s say, Ed Gein had never seen those pictures of Dead Bodies from World War II. Then who knows, Ed Gein might not have got the trigger to explore the dead bodies. Hence, is it not somewhere correct that people who took those pictures and published them in news or magazines were accomplices in Ed Gein’s crimes?

Again, I am all for helping the person but I won’t praise any act of violence. We must learn to condemn the evil act, yet support the person’s evolution.

Finally, I abhor the final 10-15 mins of last episode of Monster: The Ed Gein Story titled The Godfather on Netflix. Those 15 mins show the dangerous and sick imagination of makers rather than anyone else. Please get well soon.

If at all people are interested in watching a good crime series then Adolescence will be a good option - https://share.google/Bz5GmRMWp9c7xoR9S . It is about Juvenile Delinquency and focuses on the trauma of family dealing with Juvenile Delinquency; either as victim or culprit, because the eventual victim in any crime story is always the families of both sides.

Gratitude!!!