Let's take a look at fame, what makes it, and who achieves it. Is it what will make you happy?

The following is a conversation with Joyce.

Question: What are the astrological indications of fame in a chart? Can you predict if someone will become famous?

JOYCE JILLSON: Yes. The main ingredient you need for fame - in a chart that is - is the astrological portents showing a desire for renown. Strangely enough, it doesn't require talent or genius, or famous parents or money though these things contribute. But the "talent" for fame is in and of itself a quality and a quantity you must have in your chart to dazzle the public.

Your FAME quotient is shown in your chart as a talent for doing things differently and with unusual style. Not necessary great style, the opposite may be true, but your style of living, working, partying, inventing, entertaining, writing or delivering products must be distinct.

Let's take a look at some U.S. Presidents. Were they always destined to be famous? Yes. Every prominent public figure that makes national headlines has to have the generational planets (Pluto, Neptune and Uranus) in prominent positions in their charts.

What prominent positions? Well ... To get a little technical, most all national celebrities have to have these three bodies near the zenith of their charts This means near the tenth house. Now the tenth house in astrology is one's career. But really the deeper and more accurate, age-old definition was one's standing in the community. That's why the 10th house also stands for father. And that's because ... the father's place in the community - up until the past century or even later - determined one's initial standing in society.

So having generational planets in this sector means that the planets - which are the little actors in your chart - will make you prominent in whatever sphere of life you participate in. When these planets then interact with the planets of the United States or a major world city, they give the individual even more clout and notoriety.

These planets so aspected produce the "Fame Position." By looking at where the planets point a person can find one's "calling" or "major life mission." Now this is not to say that if you don't have these planets there (i.e. the tenth house), that you can't be famous, only that the fame is a bit harder to attain. And when fame comes without the "fame vector" it is probably less important and more a by-product of one's life mission, not one of their life goals.

Question: I'd love to be famous, but I have no idea how to get there. I'm smart, but not especially talented or interested in any one thing.

JOYCE JILLSON: If you want fame, you can let your chart speak to you of where you'd most likely make your mark. For instance, the planet Uranus - as you know - stands for fame, outstanding, and overnight success. So the position of Uranus in your chart is a key indicator of where you should emphasize.

Fame doesn't come only by writing a hit song or marrying a famous person or inventing a new product; it can arrive because your chart and the zeitgeist of the time collide. Example: You happen to be the chosen, randomly, for a special award, honor, windfall, etc.

This is what I call "lucky fame" or luck based fame. Something which you have no control of, for good or bad, and which is bestowed upon you.

But most fame that comes to those who seek it out arises from a special field or area. Hard work and intensity combined with the astrological knowledge of when and where your fame will come from can accelerate the fame process.

Here's how to decipher the "fame vectors" in your chart.

Look at the house where Uranus, the planet of fame, resides. Is it in the first or the eleventh, or any one of the other ten? That house describes the environment, actually the petri dish for incubation.

Next look at the house position of Neptune, the dream planet. If you want to be famous you must become an illusion of some kind, meaning larger than life and more intense than the usual human being. While each person is equally worthy the "perception" of "specialness" must affect society in some way and thus, illusion is essential.

The third generational planet, Pluto, governs power. Famous people must appear to have powers that are greater than normal. The house position of Pluto shows where and which areas others will seek out the famous person’s counsel, help or company.

Question: This sounds both overly simplistic and very complicated. Is this all there is to finding how to be famous?

JOYCE JILLSON: No, but you make a good point. Real, prolonged fame comes when your own energy flows are so in synch with the times that being recognized and singled out for preeminence is easy. But to deal with your questions, when I do a chart for someone, just about the first thing that jumps out is their major goal. And when that is fame, then it is very evident. However, in that first impression I am factoring into my analysis your sun sign, your moon sign, or both, as they point out vital clues to how and if you'll rise above the masses in terms of notoriety.

Question: What happens if I don't have that the aspects be famous?

JOYCE JILLSON: Then you really wouldn't care about fame. Or else you are living out another person's fantasy, such as a parent's secret desire for recognition. In other words, if you truly feel this urge, you'll have the means - astrologically speaking - to get there.