Astrology and Learning: Dustin Hoffman vs Laurence Olivier in “The Marathon Man”
Outtakes and Various Other Sundries…
Regarding alchemy and how a person learns, Lupa asked, “Why is it painful for you?”
I think it’s because I lack detachment. At least this is my best guess in the moment, but her question made me think of Dustin Hoffman.
I saw him interviewed once. He explained that he stayed up for three days and three nights to prepare for his most intense scenes in the movie, “Marathon Man”. He wanted to be ragged. His co-star, Laurence Olivier apparently came in to film the scenes and Hoffman was all crazed.
“Or you could just act,” he said.
::smiles::
But you know what? Dustin Hoffman has a Grand Trine in Earth. He’s in his body! He has a Capricorn rising (body) so bring on the hardship! He also has a packed 8th house and a Scorpio Mars so no wonder I have had a crush on him since “The Graduate” when I was a kid. But you get the idea.
I want to know things in my bones. I like things seared into my soul. I call it tattooed! I like to have a permanent mark of my experience so obviously I’m akin to Dustin Hoffman. And even if it is possible to learn something in my head, I don’t think I would like it much. What do I have this whole body for, if not to feel?
Are you a Hoffman, or an Olivier?

14 Responses to “Astrology and Learning: Dustin Hoffman vs Laurence Olivier in “The Marathon Man””
Definitely Oliver here though I have tremendous respect for Hoffman and for you. I love that story.
definitely Olivier. although since my stage is life, no one knows when it’s acting.
Definitely Hoffman.
Both. If my heart’s really, really in something, Hoffman. but I normally don’t get too involved with anything.
Hoffman. Though I generally make it LOOK like Olivier. Cap Moon and Virgo rising, but 8th house stellium in Aries. ![]()
I’m with Olivier. I have Aquarius and TONS of Libra, and I live in my head mostly.
Both. I have Pluto in Virgo in the 3rd and the Moon in Pisces in the 9th. So sometimes I’m intense and have to be immersed in pain to learn something and other times, I just kinda… go with the flow and everything falls into place.
I’m unsure. But this quote definitely came up two to three times this year for me before you mentioned it. I know my teacher mentioned it in my philosophy class. I remember the context was compelling, because the class is about a dialogue on courage, and I’ll find it out and tell you if it is applicable.
Bit more Hoffman than Olivier but I live with my mum who has a Grand Trine in air signs (the moon trines Jupiter and Merc and then Mars and Neptune) and I can confirm that she indeed totally lives in her head! She is IRKED that her body exists and it is a constant battle for her to learn to work with it! One of her favorite things to say is “I live in my head” and that is reflected in one of her online screennames!
Hoffman, when I bother. *chuckle*
Both. I can’t get out of my head, but the experience is completely physical - does that make sense? It’s like going round and round in thought patterns that have a direct physical link. I experience everything intensely physically, but it is mentally driven.
Both. I really liked ballet, gymnastics, martial arts when I was younger- precise movements over and over til they are perfect, using your body to communicate much more eloquently than a 10 yr old can verbally etc.
Now I’m much more in my head, thinking about things to make them happen- both ways are useful.
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Hoffman. Though I like to pretend I am Oliver! I blame my Capricorn moon for the ‘cool’ artifice.