As mentioned in last month's article, planets in the 12th House usually take on a repressed or suppressed expression.  When the Sun, our symbol of personal ego is sequestered in the low-key 12th House things can get very interesting.  

The behind-the-scenes feel of the 12th predictably modifies the Sun's normal intensity and desire for recognition.  It seems that often the native is content to do his work without the necessity of always being in the direct spotlight of attention.  This is not to say that the attention need is diminished, rather that it is somehow more content to be a step or two removed from the direct exposure.

At times, the person's work in itself is the focus of attention, rather than the individual him/herself.  This includes people in an artistic line of work.  Examples include the Statue of Liberty designer Frederic Bartholdi (Leo), clothing designers Giorgio Armani and Bill Blass (Cancers), surrealist painter Rene Magritte (Scorpio), and underground artist Andy Warhol (Leo).

Writers with a 12th House Sun include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Gemini), "Dune" author Frank Herbert (Libra), Gertrude Stein (Aquarius)

People in a behind-the-scenes role behind higher profile celebrities include President Reagan's chief-of-staff Jim Baker (Taurus) and diplomat Henry Kissinger (Gemini).

When high-profile actors and personalities have a 12th House Sun we often see some reluctance or a degree of discomfort embracing the celebrity profile that we traditionally associate with actors.  It may be, however, that the alter-ego (the role played) is more at the forefront than the actual self.  In this category are mother-daughter actresses Judy Garland (Gemini) and Liza Minneli (Pisces).  Other celebrities include radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh (Capricorn) whose TV show failed but flourishes on radio, Jim Backus (Pisces) who arguably is best remembered for his voice over of the cartoon character Mr. Magoo, and rocker Janis Joplin (Capricorn), 

Other 12th House Sun people include actor Robert Blake (Virgo), magician David Copperfield (Virgo), 375-pound transvestite "Divine" (Libra), Spiritual and political leader Mahatma Gandhi (Libra), publisher William Randolph Hearst (Taurus), labor leader Jimmy Hoffa (Aquarius), football coach Knute Rockne (Pisces), John "beautiful mind" Nash (Gemini), "Queen of Mean" Leona Helmsley (Cancer), immunologist Jonas Salk (Scorpio), and auto entrepreneur Henry Ford (Leo).

Sometimes those with Sun in the 12th where the individual seems totally comfortable in the public eye, but the examples presented here represent situations where the influence is not counterbalanced by other dominant factors in their charts.

Next month, we'll look at the Moon in the 12th House.