My Fever Dreams, Eclipse Season, and the Unsettling Truth of a Folk Hero
A new inquiry into the Walking Tall sheriff's past, seen through an astrological lens
"What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong.
It doesn't matter who you are."
- Buford Pusser
I’m sick in bed with COVID, and I keep having fever dreams of the dead. Dead dogs, dead relatives. Crazy dreams where I wake up in a panic that I’m hallucinating. I’m not, I’m just lucid dreaming, but, for someone whose biggest fear is losing her mind, that is still terrifying.
It’s not lost on me that the dead are coming to me — literally or symbolically, I’ll let you decide — during this eclipse portal.
Eclipse season is a time of sudden changes, unexpected endings, new beginnings, a time where old stories are drawn out of the shadows for reexamination.
AN ECLIPSE STORY
All of this was on my mind as I was scanning the New York Times this morning, when the following headline caught my eye:
Sheriff Who Inspired ‘Walking Tall’ Movie Killed His Wife, Inquiry Says
To summarize: Buford Pusser was an imposing figure—a 6'6", 250 lb force of nature. Known as "Buford the Bull" in his wrestling days, he became the sheriff who famously took justice into his own hands. In McNairy County, Tennessee, he was a superhero, taking on bootleggers and prostitutes with his iconic big stick.
Until recently, the story was that on August 12, 1967, mobsters tried to assassinate him, shooting him in the face and killing his wife. Pusser then vowed to bring her killers to justice. Though he never succeeded, his efforts cemented his image as a national folk hero, his life immortalized in the biopic Walking Tall.
However, on August 29, 2025, the district attorney’s office announced they had evidence to indict Mr. Pusser for his wife's murder. After reexamination, a new, darker story is emerging: one where a celebrated hero is revealed to be a criminal, and a "happy wife" becomes a victim of domestic violence.
All of this unfolding in the shadow of the upcoming eclipse, a time of sudden insights and old stories brought to life.
QUICK ASTRO BREAKDOWN
Mrs Pauline Mullins Pusser was born with the Sun in Pisces. While her exact birthtime remains unknown, we do know she died at 33, during a 10th House profection year, often referred to as the 'Jesus Year.'
For those not familiar with annual profections, the 33rd year of life is directly connected to the 10th House of the birth chart, emphasizing one's public standing and career. For many, these 10th House years bring professional recognition or the emergence of a new public identity — like Jesus dying on the cross at age 33.
For Mrs. Pusser, this significant year was tragically defined by a death that catapulted her into public consciousness.
Fast forward to August 28th, 2025. With the Nodes back on the Virgo/Pisces axis, Mrs. Pusser’s Sun and her life’s story are powerfully reactivated. What was once seen as the beloved wife of a hero, we now understand as a life marked by domestic abuse.
While not every eclipse season is going to bring about such dramatic reveals in our personal lives, this tale is a reminder that eclipse season is a time of revelations.
And that when the dead speak, let us listen.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Want to dive deeper into eclipse season? Curious how it connects to your story?
This Saturday, September 6th, I'm teaming up with FOUR brilliant astrologers for:
Navigating Eclipse Season: How to Work with the Nodal Dragon
Featuring:
✨️ John Michael Kawooya
✨️ Marval A Rex
✨️ Blair Bogin
✨️ Abhimanyu Katyal
✨️ And me, Vivi Henriette!
We'll be exploring the Nodes' fascinating history, their global impact, and most importantly, what they could mean for your personal journey.
This isn't just a panel; it's a community conversation. We'll breakdown the nodes, share relatable experiences, and navigate this eclipse season — together.
When: Saturday, September 6th, 2:30-4:30 pm PST
Where: Join us in-person at Scribble @scribble.community (5541 York Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90042)
Or stream us in from anywhere in the world!
FOLLOW ART of the ZODIAC & Vivi Henriette on INSTAGRAM +YOUTUBE+SPOTIFY for the latest TALKTALKTALK