The Feminine Divine in Astrology
The Goddess has been with us all along, yet many souls are recently rediscovering Her. Decades have gone by in which women have been working to gain status and/or opportunities within corporations, businesses, religious institutions, schools, politics, communities and sometimes within their own homes. The ME TOO movement in the United States catapulted our society to acknowledge abuses toward women and children by bringing the issue into public arenas including our judicial systems. Whether you support this movement or not, the fact that it exists and has risen, along with other social movements in our time, is a sign of what’s to come. But, what has this to do with ASTROLOGY?
Many astrologers don’t include the Asteroid Goddesses in their consultations. I do because these goddesses add a dimension to the chart that is unparalleled. Of course, the psychic triangle is an important crux of a natal chart, consisting of the sun, moon and ascendant. And, yes, the inner and outer planets along with the nodes of the moon, which have a powerful evolutionary story to tell, are essential. Yet, the asteroids with their archetypal energies, flesh out a native’s story in transformational ways. In this regard we have the work of Demetra George and Douglas Bloch to thank for their in-depth research regarding the Roman/Greek Asteroid Goddesses in myth, psychology and astrology.
The asteroids living within the orbits of Mars and Jupiter are Vesta, (goddess of the hearth), Juno, aka Hera, (goddess of partnerships) and Ceres aka Demeter (mother goddess of the earth). All three are sisters of the sky god Jupiter, watery Neptune and Pluto of the underworld. They were birthed by Saturn and their mother is Rhea. The asteroid, Pallas Athene (goddess of wisdom) is considered to be the favorite daughter of jovial Jupiter. I’ve already blogged about the wondrous Hygiea who is about much more than hygiene. And then there is Eris, another favorite of mine, originally called Xena. In my opinion, Xena was a better name for her as she is a feisty no bullshit good-hearted warrioress. Maybe you remember the old television series? Naming her Eris, goddess of chaos and discord seems to me not only a skewed interpretation but a paternalistic one as well. In any event, I like to look at all the above-mentioned asteroid goddesses in a natal chart.
The moon representing the mother and one’s emotional orientation along with Venus the goddess of love (also known as Inana or Ishtar by the ancients), in traditional chart interpretation don’t speak enough to the various aspects of the feminine principle. However, the asteroid goddesses aren’t for women only, they can play a significant role in a man’s chart as well. More of the soul story can emerge offering greater insight, guidance and personal transformation which adds to our collective consciousness.
The goddess asteroids have a mythology and myths, like any story, evolve over time. When speaking about the asteroids in a native’s chart the feminine principle is more fully unleashed into our conscious awareness. This allows for a greater balance of the male/female principal in us all.
