The Significance of Asteroids

by Jacob Schwartz

Ida and Her Moon. NASA/JPL

The thousands of named asteroids signals a revolution that will bring astrologers into the new millennium of
enlightenment. The discovery of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto symbolized the transition from the Medieval Ages
into the Industrial and Technological eras which broke down time/space barriers. Today's revolution, says
Demetra George in her foreword to Jacob Schwartz's Asteroid Name Encyclopedia, resonating to the vibrations
of the Age of Aquarius, is that of Information.

Information of all kinds is racing along electronic superhighways at lightning speed, crashing through the
corporate frontier, breaking down barriers that segment multi-national empires such as computer and telephone
companies, cable systems, film studios, and media conglomerates. Our challenge is how to adapt so we receive,
understand, integrate and act upon this vast explosion of information without being overwhelmed and
incapacitated. The consideration of the asteroids, all 5000 of them with names so far, can lead astrologers to
developing a language that will address, in very specific ways, how this information explosion is impacting and
forever changing the evolving psyche of humanity.

Astrology wasn't always so complicated. Our professional ancestors learned their craft in a world described by
only seven planets. Saturn, the farthest planet then seen with the naked eye symbolize the limits of what we
could perceive. But then William and Caroline Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781 and the ancient cosmology
based upon seven sacred planets, seven chakras, seven musical notes, the seven days of the week, etc. was
shattered. From a metaphysical perspective a planet represents an aspect of consciousness. The naming of a
new planet reflects a simultaneous activation of a consciousness in the human psyche.

Uranus spoke to an awareness that each person had a right to be free and equal. This awareness led people all
over the world to revolt against oppressors to obtain their freedom. Similar social changes occurred with the
discoveries of Neptune and Pluto. Neptune was discovered when anesthetics, nursing, homeopathy and medical
healing became more systematic. Pluto correlated to the economic depression, a world war, and the discovery of
nuclear energy promising to transform humanity in a process of alchemical evolution. The timing and naming of
newly discovered planets is synchronistic with new eras in history, and new responses by individuals who change
society and are changed by it. The astrological language, with the naming of asteroids two centuries ago, grew to
recognize and explain the parts of personality that were new to human drama. They carried the awareness that
was necessary for people to enter and participate in a new era.

New Year's Eve of 1800 marked the sighting of Ceres, the first asteroid. Soon after, more asteroids were found
and named after other goddesses of ancient mythology: Pallas, Vesta and Juno. By the end of the 19th century,
more than 400 asteroids were known. And a century later, over 14,000 asteroid orbits have been computed and
over 5000 have been named not only after mythological gods and goddesses like Bacchus, Apollo, Hera, Artemis
but also places like California and Ohio, Toronto and Tucson, historical persons like Kleopatra and Copernicus,
Bach and Bernstein, and things like Beer and Bus, Universitas and United Nations, and people names like Diana
and Donna, Anna and Arthur, James and Johanna. The vast majority of asteroids are orbiting around the Sun
between Mars and Jupiter, although a few come close to Venus and Earth, with an impact 65 million years ago of
one credited with the extinction of dinosaurs upon the Earth. An asteroid about the size of a city block
approached Earth in 1994 within half the distance of the Moon, closer than any other potentially destructive
space object. A near collision with another asteroid is expected in the 22nd century. Many scientists now agree
that the mysterious 1908 explosion over Tonguska, Siberia, flattening hundreds of square miles of land, resulted
from an asteroid exploding just before impact with Earth.

Ephemerides were not available for asteroids until the late 20th century, so studying the implications of asteroids
was not possible for almost two centuries after the discovery of Ceres. The vast majority of astrologers did not
know they existed, or those who knew about them said they were "cosmic gravel," not real planets, unimportant,
insignificant; the ten regular planets were enough. And those who might have considered using four new points
like the four largest asteroids Ceres, Juno, Pallas and Vesta, plus the comet Chiron were shocked with the
realization that it didn't stop with those, but there were thousands of them. At the very moment skater Nancy
Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant in her dressing room in Detroit, 6 January 1994, 2:20 p.m., asteroid Tanya
was conjunct lord of the underworld Pluto on the descendent, asteroid Harding was on the eastern horizon, and
asteroid Shane formed a perfect triangle on the nadir of the chart.

Asteroids point to an evolutionary breakthrough for humanity. If we accept the premise that the naming of new
planetary bodies correlates with new centers of consciousness within us, then suddenly there are thousands of
new centers of consciousness lighting up in the cosmos and in our minds. If we are on the precipice of a quantum
leap of consciousness where a greater proportion of the brain will be utilized, then the awareness of asteroid
relevance can stimulate those newly utilized brain cells. Is asteroid symbolism the next step in our evolution? Are
the thousands of asteroid names in our language assisting us to communicate the new response we all must
develop to cope with the vast changes in technology, communication, and the information age now upon us?

Peter, Paul and Mary first performed as a singing group in the summer of 1961. The asteroids Peter (#1716),
Paul (3525) and Mary (#2779) were also together then too, in the theatrical sign of Leo. When Fidel Castro
established the first Marxist government in the Americas, the asteroid Karl Marx (#2807) was conjunct the
asteroid America (#916). The asteroids Adolphine (#608) and Germania (#241), discovered at the beginning of
the 20th century, have almost the same orbit around the Sun and conjunctions are rare, but long; well, they were
traveling together both in longitude and declination throughout the twenty-year period when Adolf Hitler was in
power in Germany, separating in the summer of 1945, when the Third Reich collapsed!

While there's no asteroid named O J, there is a like sounding asteroid Oja (#5080), and asteroids for each of the
characters in the murder trial where O J Simpson (#4788) was prosecuted for murdering Nicole (#1343) Brown
(#1643) and Ron (Ronan, #4024) Goldman. When Brown was born, asteroids Nicole and Oja were conjunct at 0
and 6 degrees of Leo opposite the asteroid Oja in O J's chart at 2 degrees of Aquarius, and conjunct Oja at the
time of the murder at 8 degrees Aquarius, opposite the Moon at 7 degrees Leo!

Since astronomers have done so well in choosing names for Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, can their unintentional
expertise in channeling appropriate names extend to the thousand of asteroids they name? Sometimes the
names are chosen seemingly whimsically to honor colleagues, family members, familiar places, ideas, and even
cats and dogs and birds as well as historical figures. Currently names are chosen by a board of astronomers
meeting regularly at the Smithsonian Astrophysics Department at Harvard University. Astronomers generally do
not connect what's in the cosmos with experiences on Earth. Naming asteroids is perhaps the only time an
astronomer relates what's up there to what's down here on Earth. Asteroids thus can form a bridge between the
astronomical and astrological communities!

Since the names work so well, could it be that the asteroid carries its own name? A name can be reduced to a
number, and that number carries the vibration of a specific wave pattern. Our astrological knowledge of aspects
and harmonics, which is based on the vibrational patterns of numbers, confirms that certain aspect series
resonate with one another, and that planets in resonant aspects interact with each other. These interactive
vibrational forces draw energies into connection. Perhaps the physical properties of the asteroid: its name,
apparent shape, chemical composition, spectroscope, orbit carries a vibrational frequency, or sound, which the
discoverer unconsciously connects with a name.

So few astronomers understand astrology or the archetypal power of names. Is their seeming arbitrary naming
the factor in creating the vibration? Or is the vibration already there, waiting to be acknowledged, and so strong
that the asteroid itself dictates its name to the astronomer via the circuitry of the unconscious mind that links one
to the holographic mysteries of the universe?

Asteroids add real people and real places to our lives and our horoscopes. Connecting them with planets,
zodiacal signs and houses, and with each other, produces patterns of relationships describing the persons and
places in our life. The asteroids bearing names relevant to your life become your asteroids because the collected
names of people and places in your life carry a unique expression of your identity no less meaningful than your
birth data.

Because they are so small and so abundant, asteroids can focus upon explicit relationships between people,
places and things; they simply identify the name of the who, the name of the place, the name of the what, and
when these names connect.

Most of the important whos, wheres, and whats in your life have a body in space with the same name. In the vast
majority of instances, the names were decided upon and approved by professional scientists, usually individual
astronomers or astrophysicists, or sometimes committees of them. The sounds of names ascribed by these
astronomers carry a cycle of meaning relating to events and experiences far beyond the meaning intended by the
scientists who named them.

What is a name? A name is a collection of sounds, of letters, of phonemes which gives someone or something an
identity. In a mysterious and profound way not fully understood, it appears as though whatever energy motivated
the namer to name the asteroid carries an energy through times before the asteroid was discovered, and
thereafter. That same energy motivated parents to name their children and motivates humans in establishing
relationships or when they change their names. How very common it is for people to establish friendships with
several persons sharing the same name. And how common it is to hear people say I never did get along well with
people named .... Asteroids can explain why.
The name of the asteroid simply formalizes the energy pattern in a mysterious and profound relevance. The
name now has a cycle, it travels through signs and houses, the name now has aspects with planets, nodes and
points. Suddenly the horoscope blossoms with people, places and things by name! And these names now have
cosmic interactions with each other! Relating the cosmos to specific people, to specific places, is what the
wholeness of geocosmic astrology is really about. The difference here is that instead of using a horoscope with
only abstract planetary symbols, we now relate the cosmos with the name.

_________

To many astrologers the symbolism of asteroids is of secondary importance, or still not enough
elaborated, for lack of knowledge. Nevertheless, several interesting works such as The Universe of
Asteroids by Jean Billon, opened exciting avenues - at least for Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, Juno, and
Chiron - that we have decided to address here. It must be borne in mind that, although the study
of these planetoids must be carried out from an experimental astrological angle, it remains
meaningful.

The History of Asteroids

Several hypotheses about the formation of asteroids still prevail.

In the 16th century, the astronomer/astrologer Johannes Kepler claimed the existence of a planet
between Mars and Jupiter. His intuition proved correct in 1801 when the astronomer Giuseppe
Piazzi officially discovered Ceres. While he was thinking he had identified a comet, he realised that
the celestial body had an orbit. Three other asteroids were discovered in the following years. In
1802, it was the turn of Pallas. This perplexed the astronomers, because they were bewildered
that two celestial bodies moved so close to one another. Their surprise grew bigger when Juno in
1804 then Vesta in 1807 were formally added to the list. Much later, in 1977, exactly on November
1st, astronomers discovered Chiron, with a very unusual orbit circumventing Saturn and Uranus.
We shall deal with the symbolism of this peculiarity further down, for the asteroid establishes a
link between the last personal planet and the first collective planet.

To this day, the number of asteroids larger than one kilometre is estimated at several hundreds of
thousands (only 26 are over 200 km). Given its size, Ceres is the only almost spherical asteroid.
Its diameter is of 946 km, i.e. slightly less than a third of that of the Moon. Its mass represents
approximately a third of the total mass of the asteroid belt posited between Mars and Jupiter.

Several theories have been expounded to explain the origin of asteroids. Currently, that on which
a majority of astronomers agree considers that asteroids are either a set of blocks unable to form
a planet, or a project aborted due to Jupiter's very powerful force of gravity. Another theory holds
that asteroids are fragments of an exploded planet belonging to our solar system; however such
theory is more difficult to defend. A third one argues that asteroids are bits of a piece of planet
destroyed during a collision, which, compared to the previous one, has the advantage of being
consistent with the total mass of asteroids.

Paradoxically, when astronomers demoted Pluto to the status of dwarf planet in 2006, they drew
the attention upon the major asteroids (those we mentioned). Indeed, the solar system was
deprived of the 10th planet, to the great displeasure of many scientists who believed that the
International Astronomical Union had taken an arbitrary decision by declaring that Pluto was too
small to be part of the exclusive club of planets. Pluto has a radius of 1,188 kilometres only, i.e.
20% of the Earth's radius; Pluto has a perimeter of 7,242 kilometres, the distance from
Washington to Hawaii.

Fortunately, Pluto regained his status of planet of our solar system. In the meantime, astrologers
have taken the opportunity to deepen their overall reflection on celestial bodies. Some also found
new ways to enrich their favourite discipline. However, should we accept the message of these
thousands of dwarf planets? Do they have a real place in the interpretation process? Here are a
few questions put forward. For the moment, these issues are not solved categorically of course,
but the debate has developed a better knowledge. On the one hand, from a technical viewpoint,
asteroids are easy to spot in a chart, since ephemerides provide their precise position. Besides,
Astrotheme has included the position of the five major asteroids and of other hypothetical bodies,
which are in light grey in the interactive charts.

Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, Juno, and Chiron: qualities, roles, and functions

It is the Greek-Latin mythology which popularised asteroids.

The Asteroid Ceres

As can be seen above, the glyph of Ceres is a sickle evocative of harvest. It can also suggest a
cross surmounted by a semicircle, the former symbolising the matter, and the latter, the soul.

The Mythology of Ceres

In Roman mythology, Ceres is the equivalent of the Greek goddess Demeter. In other words, the
goddess of harvest. She personifies fertility, since her cult was celebrated in summer. The
daughter of Saturn (which is not surprising because Ceres' beauty is of the austere kind) and of
Rhea, Ceres protects cultivated soils in every manner. She was often pictured as a tall and
beautiful woman with a faraway look in her eyes and long hair as blond as a field of wheat. With
such a physique, it is just logical that she delighted Jupiter, from whom he bore a daughter,
Proserpina. When a teenager, Proserpina was abducted by Pluto, the god of the Underworld, who
lusted after her. Devastated, Ceres pleaded her case to Jupiter, who ordered that Proserpina
remain in the Underworld in winter, and with her mother in the summer months. The outstanding
aspect of this mythological episode implies that nature is fully covered in lush vegetation when
mother and daughter are reunited.

Astrological interpretation of Ceres

Ceres represents the need to mother and to be taken care of. By extension, it is the nurturing
principle which is highlighted. Ceres tries to take care of her physical body and is also willing to
devote herself to people.

The sign in which Ceres is posited indicates the kind of food the chart's owner needs in order to
feel loved, as well as how he reacts to this gift, and how he is a mother. It should be underlined
that Ceres' role is different from that of the Moon, who is the entire archetype of the maternal
principle. As for Ceres, she must be related to the Earth element or to the meaning of the sign of
Virgo. It is the mother's both practical and reasonable facet that must be remembered. The story
underscores the moment of the education when the daughter is freeing herself from her mother's
protection, being abducted by Pluto. A few analogies must be noted regarding the link with Pluto,
since Ceres went underground to negotiate with Pluto the fate of her daughter. Therefore, Ceres'
role is also about food of the soul and the mind, for she is in contact with the invisible world. The
agreement reached with Pluto illustrates the concept of affection-detachment.

To sum up, Ceres means productivity, method and concrete analysis, maternal love and sense of
education, capacity to detach oneself, but also lack of confidence, abandonment, bitterness, and
low self-esteem.

N.B.: in a male chart, whenever Ceres is strengthened, whether by a luminary, by an angle, or by

aspects, she indicates a man who will have to take on the role traditionally devolved on mothers:
feeding, washing, rearing. Ceres may also describe a single father.

The Asteroid Vesta

From a graphic viewpoint, Vesta represents a vase in which a flame is burning. The V-shape of the
vase may be deemed a symbol of victory after purification by fire, which promotes our evolution.
The flame's principle is also to reactivate memories of past incarnations.

The Mythology of Vesta

Vesta is a Roman goddess who belongs to the generation of the twelve great gods of the Olympus.
She is also the most beautiful Roman deity, often depicted with a veil. She is Jupiter's elder sister.
She refused to marry Apollo, no less! She preferred the role of goddess of the fire of the Earth,
thus becoming the archetype of the keeper of the home, and by extension, of the municipality and
of the nation. In Antiquity, an altar with a sacred fire was placed in every house, and even in the
centre of the town.

Vesta became the person who holds the keys of the city and of the divine light that she has the
responsibility to keep alive. This concept of Vesta gave rise to the Vestals, the priestesses of
ancient Rome.

Astrological interpretation of Vesta

In a natal chart, Vesta represents dedication to an ideal as well as to a cause or to a religion.

When this asteroid is highlighted in a chart, it may indicate a taste for esotericism (the sacred
fire).

Vesta embodies the need for purity and distance too. She is a concentration of a very focused
energy which encourages numerous personal sacrifices for the benefit of a collectivity (to be
interpreted according to the sign, the House, and all aspects involved).

On the downside, Vesta may bring about a sometimes inflexible or too abstract behaviour. Experts
think that people influenced by this asteroid would be well-advised to go on retreats in order to
symbolically burn any karmic debt remaining in them (for those interested in karmic astrology).

The Asteroid Juno

From a graphic viewpoint, Juno is represented by a royal sceptre. It has an important vertical axis
evoking righteousness and greatness. It links the cross of the matter with the higher part formed
by two crosses of 45° relative to one another, which results in a compass rose, synonymous with
harmony.

The Mythology of Juno

Juno is Jupiter's sister and wife at the same time. Ancient mythology did not pay too much
attention to prejudices or morality. Juno is fond of jewellery, ornaments, and fine attires. Jupiter
was impressed; he abducted her and raped her. Then, to avoid shame, he accepted to marry her.
For the Greeks and the Romans, Hera/Juno became the goddess of marriage and presides over all
women's activities. She is the lady par excellence, not devoid of some degree of conceit.

Astrological interpretation of Juno

In a natal chart, this asteroid provides additional information regarding the person's marriage. It
indicates the propensity to accept even-handed marital relationships. Juno concerns associative life
too. In other words, Juno's strong position prompts to experiment the lessons of the 7th House
throughout life.

Juno first of all deals with relationships, with the concern to find how to assert her rights.
However, regarding professional life, the asteroid may also point to occupations in the field of
beauty. If Juno is overly prominent, she may prompt to give top priority to the couple, even to the
detriment of the career.

Synastry specialists notice that in the charts of couples, Juno is often superimposed on the
partner's solar sign. Nevertheless, this is not a tried-and-true rule for the moment.

The Asteroid Pallas

From a graphic viewpoint, Juno is a lozenge, a diamond-shaped device, on top of a cross.
Symbolically, the lozenge resembles an upturned face, while the cross indicates a spear.

The Mythology of Pallas

Pallas is the Athena or the antique Minerva. Therefore she is associated with wisdom and creative
intelligence. She is Jupiter's favourite daughter and became famous for her numerous talents
ranging from craftsmanship to arts. A shrewd warrior, she also means victory, which she achieved
without brutality, unlike Mars. She is more tactical than other people and can manoeuvre very
successfully to get what she desires. In this sense, she is invincible. Actually, in a mythological
episode, she advised the gods when they waged war against giants.

Astrological interpretation of Pallas

Pallas embodies the fighting facet of the chart's owner. She also indicates our qualities of
perception, our visions, and our flashes of genius. She prompts to become socially and
professionally fulfilled. In addition, she can be considered an agent promoting the empowerment of
women. She includes masculine as well as feminine aspects, seeking balance and harmony.

Women influenced by Pallas are combative and reluctant to compromise. While from her masculine
side, Pallas gives a very developed feminine side.

The Asteroid Chiron

The glyph of Chiron very clearly resembles the letter K and above all a key which means action.

The Mythology of Chiron

Chiron is a centaur, a creature with the body of a horse and the head of a man, like Sagittarius,
though with differences. Chiron is the son of the Titan Cronus, Jupiter's half-brother and Uranus'
grandson. He lived in a cavern and is known as a specialist in medicinal plants. The herb of love,
also called the one-thousand virtues herb, is his favourite.

He excelled in the art of healing, and was universally famous for this talent. He was versed in the
knowledge of celestial bodies, in other words, astronomy and astrology, and taught these subjects.

Chiron is generous. His fate changed when he took up the cudgels for Prometheus who was forced
to remain unchained to a rock, unless an immortal accepts to relinquish his immortality. This is
what Chiron did. Thus, his animal part lived in the world of humans, while his other part became a
shiny star in the sky.

Astrological interpretation of Chiron

Chiron deserves a detailed interpretation, because his history is packed with events. There are
many specific works on this asteroid. To sum up, Chiron represents our share of suffering but also
our capacity to heal.

More generally, he means a social bridge, since his orbit links Saturn to Uranus. Therefore, Chiron
also takes after the nature of these two planetary giants. The bond, or transition, between classics
and vanguard.

Conclusion

Those who are interested in the symbolic and mythological input in the art of interpreting a natal
chart probably deem that asteroids enable to add many extra details to the classical interpretation.
However, at this stage, it is necessary to avoid overestimating their importance, for they remain
subsidiary features compared to planets. In any case, they are an exciting research topic, until the
day they will, perhaps, win their spurs and become reliable.

To go further

Ephemerides

You can immediately find on Astrotheme the position of these asteroids and more, between 3000
BC and 3000, and also for your personal chart.

You can also find the list of recognized asteroids.

Some books

The Universe of Asteroids by Jean Billon, soft-bound

Chiron and Vesta in Astrology by Roland Legrand, soft-bound

To many astrologers the symbolism of asteroids is of secondary importance, or still not enough
elaborated, for lack of knowledge. Nevertheless, several interesting works such as The Universe of
Asteroids by Jean Billon, opened exciting avenues - at least for Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, Juno, and
Chiron - that we have decided to address here. It must be borne in mind that, although the study
of these planetoids must be carried out from an experimental astrological angle, it remains
meaningful.

The History of Asteroids

Several hypotheses about the formation of asteroids still prevail.

In the 16th century, the astronomer/astrologer Johannes Kepler claimed the existence of a planet
between Mars and Jupiter. His intuition proved correct in 1801 when the astronomer Giuseppe
Piazzi officially discovered Ceres. While he was thinking he had identified a comet, he realised that
the celestial body had an orbit. Three other asteroids were discovered in the following years. In
1802, it was the turn of Pallas. This perplexed the astronomers, because they were bewildered
that two celestial bodies moved so close to one another. Their surprise grew bigger when Juno in
1804 then Vesta in 1807 were formally added to the list. Much later, in 1977, exactly on November
1st, astronomers discovered Chiron, with a very unusual orbit circumventing Saturn and Uranus.
We shall deal with the symbolism of this peculiarity further down, for the asteroid establishes a
link between the last personal planet and the first collective planet.

To this day, the number of asteroids larger than one kilometre is estimated at several hundreds of
thousands (only 26 are over 200 km). Given its size, Ceres is the only almost spherical asteroid.
Its diameter is of 946 km, i.e. slightly less than a third of that of the Moon. Its mass represents
approximately a third of the total mass of the asteroid belt posited between Mars and Jupiter.
Several theories have been expounded to explain the origin of asteroids. Currently, that on which
a majority of astronomers agree considers that asteroids are either a set of blocks unable to form
a planet, or a project aborted due to Jupiter's very powerful force of gravity. Another theory holds
that asteroids are fragments of an exploded planet belonging to our solar system; however such
theory is more difficult to defend. A third one argues that asteroids are bits of a piece of planet
destroyed during a collision, which, compared to the previous one, has the advantage of being
consistent with the total mass of asteroids.

Paradoxically, when astronomers demoted Pluto to the status of dwarf planet in 2006, they drew
the attention upon the major asteroids (those we mentioned). Indeed, the solar system was
deprived of the 10th planet, to the great displeasure of many scientists who believed that the
International Astronomical Union had taken an arbitrary decision by declaring that Pluto was too
small to be part of the exclusive club of planets. Pluto has a radius of 1,188 kilometres only, i.e.
20% of the Earth's radius; Pluto has a perimeter of 7,242 kilometres, the distance from
Washington to Hawaii.

Fortunately, Pluto regained his status of planet of our solar system. In the meantime, astrologers
have taken the opportunity to deepen their overall reflection on celestial bodies. Some also found
new ways to enrich their favourite discipline. However, should we accept the message of these
thousands of dwarf planets? Do they have a real place in the interpretation process? Here are a
few questions put forward. For the moment, these issues are not solved categorically of course,
but the debate has developed a better knowledge. On the one hand, from a technical viewpoint,
asteroids are easy to spot in a chart, since ephemerides provide their precise position. Besides,
Astrotheme has included the position of the five major asteroids and of other hypothetical bodies,
which are in light grey in the interactive charts.

Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, Juno, and Chiron: qualities, roles, and functions

It is the Greek-Latin mythology which popularised asteroids.

The Asteroid Ceres

As can be seen above, the glyph of Ceres is a sickle evocative of harvest. It can also suggest a
cross surmounted by a semicircle, the former symbolising the matter, and the latter, the soul.

The Mythology of Ceres

In Roman mythology, Ceres is the equivalent of the Greek goddess Demeter. In other words, the
goddess of harvest. She personifies fertility, since her cult was celebrated in summer. The
daughter of Saturn (which is not surprising because Ceres' beauty is of the austere kind) and of
Rhea, Ceres protects cultivated soils in every manner. She was often pictured as a tall and
beautiful woman with a faraway look in her eyes and long hair as blond as a field of wheat. With
such a physique, it is just logical that she delighted Jupiter, from whom he bore a daughter,
Proserpina. When a teenager, Proserpina was abducted by Pluto, the god of the Underworld, who
lusted after her. Devastated, Ceres pleaded her case to Jupiter, who ordered that Proserpina
remain in the Underworld in winter, and with her mother in the summer months. The outstanding
aspect of this mythological episode implies that nature is fully covered in lush vegetation when
mother and daughter are reunited.

Astrological interpretation of Ceres

Ceres represents the need to mother and to be taken care of. By extension, it is the nurturing
principle which is highlighted. Ceres tries to take care of her physical body and is also willing to
devote herself to people.

The sign in which Ceres is posited indicates the kind of food the chart's owner needs in order to
feel loved, as well as how he reacts to this gift, and how he is a mother. It should be underlined
that Ceres' role is different from that of the Moon, who is the entire archetype of the maternal
principle. As for Ceres, she must be related to the Earth element or to the meaning of the sign of
Virgo. It is the mother's both practical and reasonable facet that must be remembered. The story
underscores the moment of the education when the daughter is freeing herself from her mother's
protection, being abducted by Pluto. A few analogies must be noted regarding the link with Pluto,
since Ceres went underground to negotiate with Pluto the fate of her daughter. Therefore, Ceres'
role is also about food of the soul and the mind, for she is in contact with the invisible world. The
agreement reached with Pluto illustrates the concept of affection-detachment.

To sum up, Ceres means productivity, method and concrete analysis, maternal love and sense of
education, capacity to detach oneself, but also lack of confidence, abandonment, bitterness, and
low self-esteem.

N.B.: in a male chart, whenever Ceres is strengthened, whether by a luminary, by an angle, or by

aspects, she indicates a man who will have to take on the role traditionally devolved on mothers:
feeding, washing, rearing. Ceres may also describe a single father.

The Asteroid Vesta

From a graphic viewpoint, Vesta represents a vase in which a flame is burning. The V-shape of the
vase may be deemed a symbol of victory after purification by fire, which promotes our evolution.
The flame's principle is also to reactivate memories of past incarnations.

The Mythology of Vesta

Vesta is a Roman goddess who belongs to the generation of the twelve great gods of the Olympus.
She is also the most beautiful Roman deity, often depicted with a veil. She is Jupiter's elder sister.
She refused to marry Apollo, no less! She preferred the role of goddess of the fire of the Earth,
thus becoming the archetype of the keeper of the home, and by extension, of the municipality and
of the nation. In Antiquity, an altar with a sacred fire was placed in every house, and even in the
centre of the town.

Vesta became the person who holds the keys of the city and of the divine light that she has the
responsibility to keep alive. This concept of Vesta gave rise to the Vestals, the priestesses of
ancient Rome.

Astrological interpretation of Vesta

In a natal chart, Vesta represents dedication to an ideal as well as to a cause or to a religion.

When this asteroid is highlighted in a chart, it may indicate a taste for esotericism (the sacred
fire).

Vesta embodies the need for purity and distance too. She is a concentration of a very focused
energy which encourages numerous personal sacrifices for the benefit of a collectivity (to be
interpreted according to the sign, the House, and all aspects involved).

On the downside, Vesta may bring about a sometimes inflexible or too abstract behaviour. Experts
think that people influenced by this asteroid would be well-advised to go on retreats in order to
symbolically burn any karmic debt remaining in them (for those interested in karmic astrology).

The Asteroid Juno

From a graphic viewpoint, Juno is represented by a royal sceptre. It has an important vertical axis
evoking righteousness and greatness. It links the cross of the matter with the higher part formed
by two crosses of 45° relative to one another, which results in a compass rose, synonymous with
harmony.
The Mythology of Juno

Juno is Jupiter's sister and wife at the same time. Ancient mythology did not pay too much
attention to prejudices or morality. Juno is fond of jewellery, ornaments, and fine attires. Jupiter
was impressed; he abducted her and raped her. Then, to avoid shame, he accepted to marry her.
For the Greeks and the Romans, Hera/Juno became the goddess of marriage and presides over all
women's activities. She is the lady par excellence, not devoid of some degree of conceit.

Astrological interpretation of Juno

In a natal chart, this asteroid provides additional information regarding the person's marriage. It
indicates the propensity to accept even-handed marital relationships. Juno concerns associative life
too. In other words, Juno's strong position prompts to experiment the lessons of the 7th House
throughout life.

Juno first of all deals with relationships, with the concern to find how to assert her rights.
However, regarding professional life, the asteroid may also point to occupations in the field of
beauty. If Juno is overly prominent, she may prompt to give top priority to the couple, even to the
detriment of the career.

Synastry specialists notice that in the charts of couples, Juno is often superimposed on the
partner's solar sign. Nevertheless, this is not a tried-and-true rule for the moment.

The Asteroid Pallas

From a graphic viewpoint, Juno is a lozenge, a diamond-shaped device, on top of a cross.

Symbolically, the lozenge resembles an upturned face, while the cross indicates a spear.

The Mythology of Pallas

Pallas is the Athena or the antique Minerva. Therefore she is associated with wisdom and creative
intelligence. She is Jupiter's favourite daughter and became famous for her numerous talents
ranging from craftsmanship to arts. A shrewd warrior, she also means victory, which she achieved
without brutality, unlike Mars. She is more tactical than other people and can manoeuvre very
successfully to get what she desires. In this sense, she is invincible. Actually, in a mythological
episode, she advised the gods when they waged war against giants.

Astrological interpretation of Pallas

Pallas embodies the fighting facet of the chart's owner. She also indicates our qualities of
perception, our visions, and our flashes of genius. She prompts to become socially and
professionally fulfilled. In addition, she can be considered an agent promoting the empowerment of
women. She includes masculine as well as feminine aspects, seeking balance and harmony.

Women influenced by Pallas are combative and reluctant to compromise. While from her masculine
side, Pallas gives a very developed feminine side.

The Asteroid Chiron

The glyph of Chiron very clearly resembles the letter K and above all a key which means action.

The Mythology of Chiron

Chiron is a centaur, a creature with the body of a horse and the head of a man, like Sagittarius,
though with differences. Chiron is the son of the Titan Cronus, Jupiter's half-brother and Uranus'
grandson. He lived in a cavern and is known as a specialist in medicinal plants. The herb of love,
also called the one-thousand virtues herb, is his favourite.

He excelled in the art of healing, and was universally famous for this talent. He was versed in the
knowledge of celestial bodies, in other words, astronomy and astrology, and taught these subjects.

Chiron is generous. His fate changed when he took up the cudgels for Prometheus who was forced
to remain unchained to a rock, unless an immortal accepts to relinquish his immortality. This is
what Chiron did. Thus, his animal part lived in the world of humans, while his other part became a
shiny star in the sky.

Astrological interpretation of Chiron

Chiron deserves a detailed interpretation, because his history is packed with events. There are
many specific works on this asteroid. To sum up, Chiron represents our share of suffering but also
our capacity to heal.

More generally, he means a social bridge, since his orbit links Saturn to Uranus. Therefore, Chiron
also takes after the nature of these two planetary giants. The bond, or transition, between classics
and vanguard.

Conclusion

Those who are interested in the symbolic and mythological input in the art of interpreting a natal
chart probably deem that asteroids enable to add many extra details to the classical interpretation.
However, at this stage, it is necessary to avoid overestimating their importance, for they remain
subsidiary features compared to planets. In any case, they are an exciting research topic, until the
day they will, perhaps, win their spurs and become reliable.

To go further

Ephemerides

You can immediately find on Astrotheme the position of these asteroids and more, between 3000
BC and 3000, and also for your personal chart.

You can also find the list of recognized asteroids.

Some books

The Universe of Asteroids by Jean Billon, soft-bound

Chiron and Vesta in Astrology by Roland Legrand, soft-bound