Guest author Alison Schelin
Asteroids are pieces of rock, possibly remnants of former planets, orbiting the Sun, found largely between Mars and Jupiter. There are upwards of 8,000 named asteroids, many of which can be examined within the natal chart, but for our purposes we will explore the most prominent five. These consist of Chiron - the most famous centaur, the “Wounded Healer”, and the only male in the lot; Juno, wife of Jupiter; Vesta, daughter of Saturn; Pallas Athene, daughter of Jupiter; and Ceres, Jupiter’s sister, now promoted to dwarf planet status alongside her son-in-law, Pluto. Asteroid Lilith, not to be confused with the black moon/apogee Lilith, is certainly also worth delving into, but deserves her own treatment along with the other theoretical Liliths. Consider too, Eris, Artemis, Chaos, Hekate, Fortuna - any asteroids and dwarf planets that speak to you.
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| some of the asteroid glyphs |
Consider that the only female planetary bodies otherwise are Venus and the Moon, and it becomes apparent that a little feminine balance is in order.
Why do we encourage delving into the asteroids, given their latecomer status in the field of astrology? First and foremost, including the asteroids imparts a yin energy to the natal chart. Consider that the only female planetary bodies otherwise are Venus and the Moon, and it becomes apparent that a little feminine balance is in order. In a male’s chart, it can be especially helpful to explore even more female asteroids than those covered here in order to reveal his feminine side. Note that although Ceres is now considered a dwarf planet, the classification is less important than the potency of the archetype, just as with Pluto’s “demotion”.
Like Pluto, Chiron has an unusual orbit. Chiron in the chart refers to health, disease, and how each might contribute to the spiritual path. Despite his ability to heal others, he was never able to heal himself, symbolizing strength through suffering. In healing others, we gain insight and salvation. Chiron well-placed endows us with wisdom, and patience, and makes gifts of our wounds by building character and perseverance.
Ceres, the Goddess of the harvest, fertility and renewal, the quintessential “Earth Mother”, reveals how you feel most nurtured and how you provide love and nourishment. As mother of Proserpina, abducted and wed by Pluto, she reveals our relationship with loss, adjustment and compromise, and influences our need to share power and control. Negatively aspected, Ceres can indicate problems with nurturing such as food complexes or rejection by a parent, or perhaps difficulties in compromising. Strongly placed, it suggests strong parenting abilities, or perhaps an intimate relationship with the Earth, as in passion for gardening or farming. Well-aspected Ceres indicates an ability to go with the flow, as when the Goddess was compelled to adjust to her daughter’s arrangement with Pluto - half the year she resided with him in Hades, half the year she was reunited with her mother.
Juno’s sphere of influence is commitment and conjoining, soulmates and intimate relationship. As the wife of Jupiter, her role in love and romance differs from Venus and the Moon in that it covers boundaries, jealousy and resentment, how much a partner shares or holds back in a relationship, and intimacy needs in general. When prominent in the chart, expect all of these to be important to the individual.
Vesta, sister of Jupiter and Juno, is keeper of the hearth and home, represented by the sacred flame. She affects our capacity for integration and wholeness. Well-placed she imparts compassion - many therapists and counselors have strong Vesta energy in their charts. Negatively aspected she can indicate insecurity or even fear of sex and intimacy. The individual may be single and abstinent, or have multiple partners without commitment.
Pallas Athene rules the intellect and represents the wisdom of female Spirit. She finds patterns and connects ideas, and excels in strategic command, able to view conflict from both sides. She is discerning, and influences our ability to analyze and interpret information and situations. So too does she shine in the spheres of creative and artistic endeavor. Sprung from the head of Zeus rather than by her mother, she is relevant to the relationship between father and daughter, and also how a woman treats males in general. Pallas Athene rules the immune system, and can indicate being well-versed in natural remedies. Favorable position of Pallas Athene endows cool mental judgment and a creative intellect, courage, and sometimes an affinity for the arts and crafts.
To find the asteroids covered here in your natal chart, visit http://www.astro.com/ and select “Free Horoscopes” from the menu. Under “Drawings and Calculations”, select “Extended Chart Selection.” If you’ve already created a profile, your birth chart information will be stored, and you will be prompted to log in. Otherwise, enter your birth data as a guest or create a profile and proceed from there. Once you are directed to the page entitled “Extended Chart Selection”, scroll all the way down to the last blank field and enter 1,2,3,4,2060. These refer to Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta, and Chiron, respectively. “Click here to show the chart” is located just below. (Or select these items in the box marked "Additional Objects.")
Once you know the house and sign each falls in, and determine any aspects, especially conjunctions with the Moon, Sun, chart ruler, Ascendant or midheaven, you can start researching what these mean for you. It’s also worth noting if the asteroids were in retrograde and learning how that energy might affect your life. http://www.alwaysastrology.com/ is a good starting point, but there are endless resources to explore.
Once you know the house and sign each falls in, and determine any aspects, especially conjunctions with the Moon, Sun, chart ruler, Ascendant or midheaven, you can start researching what these mean for you. It’s also worth noting if the asteroids were in retrograde and learning how that energy might affect your life. http://www.alwaysastrology.com/ is a good starting point, but there are endless resources to explore.
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| add additional objects |
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| Alison Schelin |
Example
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| My Vesta is in Cancer. My Juno and Pallas Athena are in Aquarius. My Ceres is in Pisces. |
Vesta in Cancer is devoted to serving others. They are a natural care giver and just want to be needed. When they don't feel appreciated they may withdraw. They have a strong feeling of responsibility to family and home. This may overpower any personal desires. They are willing to make this sacrifice, which may make them appear rather cold. They are intuitive. They are healers full of compassion. They may take the pain of others into themselves in an attempt to heal them. They need to learn to heal themselves.
Juno in Aquarius wants a relationship that gives them their freedom. They are rather unconventional and may prefer open marriages or other alternatives. They may also remain single yet enjoy the whole "friend with benefits" concept. They aren't necessarily for equality in a relationship. They may either play the adoring mate or want their partner to be subservient to them. They appreciate eccentricity in their partner. They are progressive and friendly instead of passionate. They may be rather insecure at times. They are spontaneous and impulsive. They want someone who understands them and their needs and goals.
Pallas Athena in Aquarius sees all the future possibilities. They may find healing with the electrical energies in the body like vibration, color, crystals, sound and light work best for them. They want to create something new and exciting. They may focus their creativity on computer graphics, science fiction art or new wave music. These are the artists who teeter on the cutting edge. They are the revolutionaries defending humanitarian causes around the world and who organize protests from grass roots. This combination makes patterns that are sheer genius, or maybe a bit insane. They are gifted in solving the most difficult of problems with unusual solutions.
Ceres in Pisces reflects the emotions of those around them. They want to understand and help people through emotional crises. They are truly compassionate and they supply this through nurturing. They love anything imaginative. It fills them with good feelings and makes them feel nurtured. When feeling down, they may feel helpless or abandoned. They need time alone to de-stress and re-energize themselves. Water is calming. Self-acceptance may depend on their ability to be selfless.
Chiron in Pisces is always in crisis. This is a universal level crisis, nothing small ever hits this combination. They may be religious or spiritual crises that keep this combination in a tizzy. They may be at risk for depression or drug use. They may feel they have lost faith with the universe. They may feel guilty even though there is no reason to feel that way. They may play the victim. They have an innate ability to attract those down on their luck and they try their best to help. They need clarity. Disillusionment and betrayal can make life seem harsh. They must learn that sometimes things happen for a reason. By examining their problems, they may find deeper insight and connection.
Introductory Astrology and Calendar
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