Françoise Dolto, née Marette, is one of the most significant figures in French psychoanalysis. A renowned paediatrician and psychoanalyst, she made a substantial contribution to child psychoanalysis, known for her pioneering approach. Born in the early 20th century, she came from a wealthy and educated bourgeois family. Her father, Henri, was a civil engineer, a well-paying profession that allowed him to provide a comfortable life for his family. Her mother also came from an affluent family, primarily focusing on raising the children and managing the household.

However, as we know, even the best families have their issues, and Françoise's family was no exception. Her astrological chart bears witness to this. With Cancer rising and the Moon as her ruling planet, who better to express someone who poured their soul into matters of the psyche than the Moon, the mirror of our inner world? Françoise's Moon is in Aries, a restless, intense, and combative space, an uncomfortable position for the emotional Moon, not meeting its needs for security, calm, and tranquility. Moreover, it opposes Mars, also poorly placed in Libra, forming a T-square with the ascendant, Neptune and Uranus, a pattern that could be seen as a cross. Additionally, the Moon opposes Mercury, just turned direct, ruling the 4th house, linked to the father and the 12th house. These aspects point to tensions within the family and the psyche. The placement of the lunar nodes on the 6/12 axis, with the North Node close to Pluto, confirms psychological burdens and difficulties related to the mother. Thus, it is no surprise to read that when Françoise was twelve, her older sister Jacqueline died. Her mother fell into depression and blamed Françoise for not praying fervently enough for her sister's salvation, despite having told her the day before her first communion that the prayers of a pure child could save her sister. Jacqueline was not saved, and all the blame fell on Françoise, who supposedly hadn't prayed with all her soul and perhaps wasn't pure enough. One can easily understand how unbearable this burden was for a twelve-year-old child. This event left deep scars on young Françoise's soul, significantly influencing her later life and work. At that moment, a progressed Saturn/Venus opposition formed an exact T-square with her ascendant.

Her relationship with her mother was not the only difficult and complex one. It seems her father was also very strict, possibly authoritarian, upholding traditional values and influencing the family dynamic. The chart supports this information. Mercury, ruling the 4th house, is in Libra. Venus, dispositor of Mercury, is dignified in the 4th house, strong, under harsh pressure from a retrograde Saturn —precisely on the Uranus/Pluto midpoint— via opposition from Aries and the 10th house, the parental axis. It seems Françoise's relationship with her father was characterized by emotional distance, a lack of warmth and understanding, deeply affecting her. However, as we know, every cloud has a silver lining; this difficult pattern also instilled discipline, responsibility, structure, maturity, and subsequently aided Françoise's personal and professional rise, progress, and distinction.

Additionally, the Sun forms harmonious aspects with both the ascendant and the midheaven. Yes, her father was authoritarian, but he was also supportive, valued education, and encouraged his children to study. We also understand that Henri Marette had a profound intellectual influence on his daughter. This is evidenced by the Sun, ruling Françoise's 3rd house, positioned in the unique realm of Scorpio. It embodies all the wisdom gleaned from traversing this distinctive zodiac path and is ready to continue, carrying immense experience, knowledge, intuition, and the ability to delve deeply into matters and uncover the truth beneath the surface. This unfolds within the 5th house, the house of joy, creativity, and children.

On February 17, 1932, she began her psychoanalysis with French psychiatrist and psychoanalyst René Laforgue. At that moment, the natal Saturn-Venus opposition, dominant on the 4/10 axis, had progressed to the 29th degree of the Aries/Libra axis, signaling it was time to change aspects related to pain, sadness, discomfort, hardship, and difficulty originating from the family space. Transiting Uranus was precisely on her natal Moon, provoking clarifications, the vision of truth, and soul liberation. Transiting Saturn with the North Node was on her natal Chiron, pressing the old wound and making the demand for healing imperative. Françoise was 26 years old, matching the degree on which her natal lunar nodes stood, with natal Pluto close by, weighing them down in the 12th house, the house of the psyche. Who could argue it wasn't the right time to begin such a process?

Three years later, on March 12, 1937, Françoise completed her psychoanalytic journey, which helped her process and understand the trauma she experienced in childhood, particularly her sister's death and her mother's harsh treatment. This internal journey was crucial in shaping her empathetic approach to children and their emotional needs. On that day, a new Moon occurred in her 10th house, conjunct Saturn and trine Pluto. It was the moment something new began, with Neptune's spiritual participation and Saturn's guarantee of responsibility, seriousness, and structure. Transiting Neptune was in an exact trine with her natal Neptune, while a series of other progressions and transits in friendly aspects reinforced this landscape marking the new beginning. Notably, the precise position of progressed Chiron on the midheaven signalled that the trauma stemming from her family, reaching the highest point of the chart, had healed after first making a trine to the ascendant. At the completion of the psychoanalysis, it was in a precise trine with natal Neptune. This trauma would become the reason for her to work as a psychotherapist.

The following year, 1938, was when she met Jacques Lacan,¹ and from then on, they maintained a close professional relationship, often applying many of his concepts in her pioneering way. According to Roudinesco,² «Lacan and Dolto formed a parental couple for generations of French psychoanalysts».

Françoise married Boris Dolto, also a doctor, in 1942, and the couple shared a common devotion to medicine and the healing sciences. Their relationship was characterized by mutual respect and good collaboration despite professional challenges and personal difficulties. They were both dedicated professionals in healthcare, supporting each other's careers. Uranus on the cusp of Françoise's 7th house sextiles her midheaven and trines Jupiter, ruling the midheaven. Their professional lives often intersected, collaborating on various levels. Boris supported Françoise in her psychoanalytic pursuits, and she respected his medical knowledge and experience. Together they had three children, who grew up in an intellectually and emotionally supportive environment. Their son Carlos,³ distinguished himself in music, while their daughter Catherine is also a distinguished doctor, specializing in children's health.

Starting in late 1976, Dolto became very beloved and popular by answering letters from parents struggling with child-rearing on a daily show on France Inter. Dolto's revolutionary discourse —Sun, ruler of the 3rd house, sextile Uranus sought to end the idea that a baby was «a digestive tube», without consciousness or unconsciousness. Although these ideas may not seem particularly groundbreaking today, as we have been exposed to this knowledge for decades, they were particularly revolutionary and pioneering when first introduced.

Another of her notable ideas is that «the child is a being of language». We consider how beautifully this view connects with the Sun, ruler of the 3rd house, placed in the 5th house. Dolto had the emotional intelligence to let herself listen and learn the language of the infant and the child. She has been described as a "mystic baby," a wise infant. Her Sun forms friendly aspects with all the spiritual planets, sextiling Uranus and Jupiter, and trining Neptune, making her words particularly profound, enlightening, comforting, and healing.

Noteworthy is the presence of retrograde Neptune on Françoise's ascendant. In its positive expressions, this outer planet is associated with charismatic traits, often highlighted in artists, spiritual people, philanthropists, and clergy, giving the person a mysterious aura that attracts others. Some of its gifts include sensitivity, intuition, dreaminess, and imagination. Negative expressions can involve confusion and illusions, which do not occur in this case, as beyond the generally well-supported chart, this Neptune receives a sextile from Jupiter, placed in an earth sign, meaning all these characteristics do not lose their realistic dimension and remain within logical bounds. In this case, Neptune enhances the chart's intense internal/esoteric element, especially in a water sign, speaking to Françoise's relationship with religion, which seems deep-rooted in her upbringing and education, confirmed by friendly Neptune aspects to the 4/10 axis. Dolto saw the Gospel's word as a source of empathy and understanding, combining and highlighting the interaction between religion and psychology, recognizing the value of spiritual guidance in understanding and healing the human soul.

My beloved friend Maria left us too soon, but the dialogue continues. I think she now has the chance to have endless discussions with Françoise. I imagine them sitting in heavenly lounges, chatting away, and I feel happy. When I mentioned this to our mutual friend Lucia, who views astrology with great suspicion, she gave me a bored look and asked sarcastically: "And how do you know they are talking?" I said it was clear from their synastry. Their Mercuries are in a tight trine joined by Jupiter, Venus, and Pluto. "What more do you need?" slipped out without thinking. At this point, Lucia didn’t bother to continue the conversation and walked away, considering it pointless to argue further.

¹ Jacques Lacan: One of the most important and controversial psychoanalysts of the 20th century. His contributions to psychoanalysis are extensive and multifaceted, encompassing both theoretical and clinical approaches. He opened new avenues in theoretical and clinical practice. Lacan had a profound impact not only on psychoanalysis but also on philosophy, literature, art, and social theory. His ideas have significantly influenced intellectuals and artists worldwide.

² Roudinesco: A French historian, theorist, and psychoanalyst, widely recognised for her contribution to the study of the history of psychoanalysis and French intellectual thought. She remains an important voice in contemporary psychoanalytic theory and history, influencing both academics and professionals in the field of mental health.

³ Jean-Chrysostome Dolto, known primarily as Carlos. He began his career as a singer in the 1960s and became known for his humour and pleasant stage presence. He released several albums and songs that were beloved by the public. His career is characterised by vitality and sensitivity, qualities that earned him a unique place in the French music scene. Despite the light-hearted nature of his songs, he managed to convey deeper messages and leave his own mark on French pop culture.

Προτεινόμενα άρθρα για σένα