A lot of people seem to need a villain in their life. They need a bad guy, someone to carry the shadow or the blame. Someone they can be above, or feel better than. This is an awful handicap over time because it prevents a person from looking at their own character.
Who does this?
We all do this to an extent, but astrologically speaking, people with oppositions between personal and malefic planets are more prone. For example, I grew up with an Aquarius Sun opposite Pluto. She was light and airy, humanitarian, intellectual (Aquarius) and I was the scum (Pluto).
It very easy to spot something like this in a chart and/or in life, as these situations tend to be very defined by their nature.
Why do people do this?
In many cases, I don’t think people choose to do this, consciously. When you have an opposition in your chart, it’s impossible to simultaneously act both ends of it so we get others to fill in. If you don’t have an opposition in your chart, it’s the 7th house they gets projected and again, it is not necessarily deliberate. In fact, it probably is not done purposely. It’s just impossible to be a light as air, Aquarian, and simultaneously be the gunk that is clogging a sink under the house(Pluto), so this is what occurs.
What can be done to prevent this?
Nothing can be don, unless you become conscious of your tendency. Astrology is helpful here because it provided and x-ray. You see what’s going on, right there on paper. Once you realize you have this proclivity, you can work to integrate the parts of yourself that you put on others. For example, in the scenario with the Aquarian, she might really that projecting the shadow onto this person outside herself, but in her environment, is a very dark thing to do.
How can a person solve this all together?
Check your chart for oppositions, particularly oppositions between personal planets and Mars, Saturn and the outer planets. If you have an opposition like this in your chart, consider it suspect. Same thing if you have any of these planets conjunct the descendent or in the 7th house. Try to see how these less pleasant energies exist inside of you. Work to integrate the energy and find a healthy way to express it.
Psychology teaches that if you are meeting something over and over and have a strong reaction to it, you probably have the qualities yourself. This is the same principle.
What energy do you most often project? What is the astrology?
22 Responses to “Do You Need A Villain In Your Life?”
same as SaD with the generational Uranus Chiron.
But I’m a Libra with a Cancer 7th house. I’m not needy. 
@Josi, I was going to mention planets in Libra, but let it go. I do not think Venus and Neptune get projected. The most pronounced scenarios are mentioned.
I often play the villain. The part of me that cares about reputation is overshadowed by the part of me that cares about Truth. I slightly get off on the villain role. I have no oppositions, but Neptune is in the 7th, so I guess I project on others goodness/virtue/idealism and save the villain role for myself, lol.
Elsa, would mars be considered a personal planet. In other words, if someone has a mars opposition to a malefic planet, would they be prone? Thanks
Or would this be something that gets projected into the 7th house?
Example, Sun in Leo opp Mars in Aquarius.
“I am a sunny, creative person with heart and that person over there is COLD.”
Is there a general rule to follow as to where it is projected? Such as house ruler? or the house the opposition falls in? or worst yet, the weakest person in your enviroment? Thank you so much for all you teach(saturn). I am trying to transform through your insight/wisdom(pluto!
What don’t I project? 7th house Mars, Uranus, and Saturn sitting opposite my Moon. Venus quincunx Pluto. LOL What I do now is take turns going back and forth. And believe me, it’s not pretty to have all the malefics lined up for me or anyone interacting!
But yes, I know I’m the one with the bombastic side. Can’t change my chart, but I can learn to use it better.
There have been times in the past where I have had a designated “villain.” These days, I think I play my own villain, in that I blame myself for everything that’s gone wrong in my life.
Moon/Saturn is the most prominent opposition in my chart.
@SaD “the generational one between Uranus and Chiron.” Didn’t know that was generational – thanks for the info!
@Mary – I wrote you a new post
http://www.elsaelsa.com/astrology/2012/05/30/who-or-what-do-people-project-upon/
if projection is the dynamic of the oppositions… what is then the dynamic of squares in the chart?
Anybody else catch Sherlock Holmes episode on PBS, Reichenbach Fall. OMG!!!!! Sherlock and Moriarty. Powerful episode.
sometimes i project my aries. more often i project my libra.
same with my scorpio and taurus. i should really stop projecting my scorpio. that’s uranus there and it’s a gift.
Thank you Elsa. I needed this post. I have an opposition of my moon, mars & jupiter to Uranus, involving my 1st/7th houses, AND I have Libra rising. You are on a roll with these articles.
Like Saturn conjunct ASC from 12th opposite scorp moon conj Neptune on 6/7 cusp? I’m in control I’m light and up right hard working Abd honest and them over there well they live in a dream land, deceiving others with the dark hidden stuff?
Except wait that’s my chart. Shoot do I own that energy and hate it so much that I chose to partner with someone who takes the dark on for me, or at least the appearance of it so I can appear upright, honest martyter that.
Oh god what’s the upside to that?
This is what I’ve been digging out of myself lately. It’s ugly it stinks and I hope I’m wrong
Hmmmm lots to ponder. I have the generational Uranus chiron, but also have pluto opposite Chiron. And, Aq moon opposite Jupiter with Jupiter in the 7th (Leo). Im actually annoyed sometimes by those who really know how to have fun! LOL
Ivana, I think squares are about role playing. It’s like Elsa said: to handle the oppositions one must first be aware of the energy. From what I saw people with squares are very aware of the sort of energies involved in the mix, they smell the differences between them and they either follow one energy at a time or they find a middle way – which is hard. They’re good guys one minute and bad guys in the next.
I have Sun square Pluto…it’s a tough gig.
tnx, elisei, for the insight 
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Are there some words missing, Elsa? From the “What Can Be Done to Prevent This?” answer: “For example, in the scenario with the Aquarian, she might really that projecting the shadow onto this person outside herself…”
Sorry, I was rolling right along until then, but I can’t figure out what goes there to connect it all up (in my head). *smiles*
I only have one opposition in my chart, the generational one between Uranus and Chiron. I’ve got a Cappy 7th, so I guess I’d be projecting my authority / sterness / ambition onto others? (I know drive is a Mars thing, but I’ve always associated ambition with the 10th house, so Cap/Saturn.) I had that in the back of my head for a while but I still haven’t seen it, which I suppose is the nature of the beast. *grins* Gonna peel my lids but good and see what I can observe!