Asteroid Goddesses: The Mythology, Psychology, and Astrology of the Re-Emerging Feminine

by Demetra George

first four sighted were named after the great goddesses of antiquity: Ceres, Pallas Athene, Juno and Vesta.

Before the use of the asteroids, the only significators of the feminine in traditional chart interpretation were the Moon and Venus. The socially acceptable roles for women were the Moon as mother and Venus as mate.

Ceres, Pallas Athene, Juno, and Vesta represent these new voices of the dormant feminine, recently activated and now demanding power, recognition, justice, and equality in our society.

The asteroids correspond to the feminine archetype embodied in their mythological namesakes.

Emotional transformative crises are changing our psychospiritual vibrations so that we may attune our individual frequency to the spiritual core which resonates with the whole of creation. The positions of Ceres, Pallas Athene, Juno, and Vesta in our charts describe a personal way whereby we can effect this change.

This is also known as the cycle of transformation. Not only do the asteroids relate to new archetypal principles that are currently being activated and integrated into the psyche, but also they serve as active agents in the transformative process of individuals.

The asteroids Ceres, Pallas Athene, Juno, and Vesta have strong rulership associations with the transitional signs Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio. Therefore, we may postulate that they function as the active agents in these signs that facilitate the transformation from individual to collective awareness.

The asteroids mostly occupy the belt between Mars and Jupiter, thereby forming a physical and spiritual bridge that links the personal to the social and collective (see Figure 1-3).

Today, activation of the feminine psychic centers is causing the release of a great amount of unconscious archetypal material in both men and women. Unfortunately, the prior repression of the feminine principle throughout recorded history is affecting the way in which this material is being released. Imagine that a ray of light is filtered through a smudged, dirty windowpane. When we look through the window, the obstructions prevent us from seeing a clear image. So it is with our pictures and images of the feminine nature. Suppression has created twisted beliefs and attitudes through which the pure power of the feminine is filtered. Thus we have interpreted our experiences and created our concepts of the feminine based upon these unrecognized and blurry distortions.

This intensification or compressing action is the first stage of the transformative process and is symbolized by the asteroid Vesta whose energy of self-containment pulls us inward. We experience Vesta on the psychological level as the compression of our emotions. This often produces the experience of “hitting bottom” through separation, loss, grief, pain, despair, failure, frustration, and rejection.

The third stage of the transformative process is called the renewal stage and is symbolized by the asteroid Juno whose urge toward union draws us from isolation into participation.

Ceres, the Great Mother, symbolizes the matrix out of which the other asteroids operate. The goddess Ceres, through her mythology and participation in the Eleusinian Mysteries, symbolizes the process of birth, death, and renewal that is represented by all of the asteroids. In this sense Ceres provides the foundation for the entire transformational process.

into the birthing of the Aquarian ideal of the equality of all people. They point us to the archetypal images we need to face to make the transition between personal ego and collective understanding. Together, the asteroids are the magical agents transforming each and every one of us. They are the keys to our rites of initiation — the experiences that will unlock the doors to universal understanding.

As a symbol of the maternal function, Ceres in the horoscope describes the quality of the mothering experience that we received as a child and express as a parent.

Ideally, the type of love imparted by the mother or nurturing figure will be unconditional — i.e., without expectations. When this is not the case, Ceres' astrological position will point to what the child has to do in order to gain parental approval and receive love.

From an astrological perspective, this evolution from personal to universal love is symbolized by the three water signs — Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

These relationships, however, need not be limited to heterosexual interactions. Indeed, Cerès mother-love may be given and received through a variety of forms — e.g., homosexual and lesbian relationships, men's and women's support groups, and/or nurturing, platonic friendships.

the horoscope, when Ceres is in the seventh house or aspected to Venus, Mars, or Juno, the parental relationships become the role model for future adult partnerships.

Anger provides one with the force to break free of the immobilizing quality of sorrow.

Ceres in Virgo persons identify nurturance with perfection or with service. Ideally, the mothering experience can foster the child's sense of competence, discrimination, and self-discipline which gives the ability to extend skills to others.

Imbalance often results when the children are constantly criticized for their efforts, no matter how good they were. This can lead to an obsessive need to be perfect and to be critical of the imperfections in others.

Nurturing oneself may take the form of buying things, indulging, or pampering oneself.

The nurturing principle combines with identity and purpose. This combination suggests that one's identity and self-image will center around being a parent or nurturer.

Other problems may include a low self-image, the thwarting of one's nurturing needs, or reoccurring themes of depression and rejection.

Stressful aspects may signify unreliable and erratic nurturing experiences which might lead to difficulty in forming emotional bonds. The child who is raised in a “broken” home or who rebels against his or her parents may later experience the conflict between personal freedom and family closeness. In addition, this aspect could point to difficulties in listening to and trusting one's own thoughts and intuitions.

Stressful aspects can point to unrealistic perceptions of loved ones and consequent feelings of disappointment or deception. The resulting emotional neediness may predispose the individual to playing victim as a way of receiving attention in the form of nurturing. Or, unable to bear the emotional pain and isolation, this person may seek refuge in various forms of escapism — drugs, alcohol, or withdrawal.

Ministering to the needs of others, without self-sacrifice, also enables the Ceres-Neptune individual to fulfill his/her deep longing for wholeness and unity.

Instead, she symbolizes creative intelligence — the flash of insight (Aquarius) that spawns new and original formulations of preexisting possibilities (Leo).

Pallas Athene's wisdom-ray of creative intelligence expressed itself in three primary areas of human activity — the arts, healing, and political activism.

Astrologically, Pallas governs those healing techniques that integrate mind and body. Such “holistic” health therapies have gained a large following since the activation of the asteroid functions in 1973. Specifically, Pallas governs all mental self-healing techniques — visualization, affirmation, meditation, mind control, guided imagery, and hypnosis.

Astrologically, a prominent or well-aspected Pallas will indicate a potential for working with these therapies, either as a healer or as a healee.

Because Pallas powerfully expressed both her male and female sides, she symbolized the movement of soul development toward androgyny.

While Pallas was respected and admired in the world of men, she was never validated for being a woman. Her mental and creative abilities, while highly praised, were not recognized as feminine qualities.

In a man's horoscope, a similar situation exists. Here Pallas depicts a highly developed intellectual or artistic male who fears being rejected for not being macho or manly enough. Hence, these men will often block their softness and sensitivity in order to conform to the norm of women's expectations.

In healing, Pallas Athene is skilled in Hatha-Yoga techniques, and in purification of the body through food (nutritionist or herbalist) and through exercise.

Politically, she fights for perfection, high quality and standards in any field. The wisdom of Pallas in Virgo is the wisdom of discrimination — separating the wheat from the chaff.

There can be a tendency to express androgynous qualities or to defy conventional male/female stereotypes.

mental-creative principle combines with the intellect. This combination greatly heightens the creative intelligence symbolized by Pallas Athene.

Vesta was associated with unmarried temple virgin priestesses who, through sacred sexual religious devotions, brought the fertilizing power of the moon into effective contact with the lives of human beings.

Astrologically Vesta describes the ways in which we face the issues of personal integration, work, devotion, commitment, sacrifice, alienation from personal relationships, and a range of sexual complexes based on denial and fear of intimacy.

need to be recognized as an equal and to exchange a reciprocal give-and-take is an important factor in sexual response. However due to the need to be accepted and admired, individuals here are prone to giving up their own needs and desires. Achieving a sensible balance between personal preferences and those of others is vital.

One can serve to heal others through sexual interaction, or sublimate sexuality into spiritual realization. This person may feel that his or her sexuality belongs to whoever has need of it, and that no one person has sole rights to it. Integration includes a blending of dreams and reality, the poetic and the practical.

Vesta in the third house signifies a dedication to one's mind — furthering personal understanding and disseminating information to others. One may experience limitations in communication as one is pressured to focus on clarifying one's ideas. Also this person may experience a sense of inferiority about his or her intellect and ability to communicate if the critical faculties are self-directed. Working with the mind is common with this placement.

The resolution of these challenges lies in clarifying one's personal objectives and thoughts and eliminating unessential mental baggage. Once one's mental processes are sharpened and focused, then clear communication can result.

Harmonious aspects describe an individual who can focus and direct large amounts of energy to penetrate hidden and unknown realms.

Jupiter did not live up to her ideals and expectations. Instead Jupiter accepted her power and sovereignty, and then imprisoned Juno in monogamy, forbade her religious practices, helped to destroy her goddess cults, flaunted his infidelities, and created his children without her.

Astrologically, therefore, Juno describes the need for a deeply committed and just relationship as well as for the range of suffering and neurotic complexes that arise when this union is denied or frustrated.

The root cause of jealousy that undermines relationships is the issue of sexual fidelity that in our present culture is linked with monogamy.

Sexual fidelity can be a valuable tool when used to sustain the bonds of a committed relationship. However, if this fidelity is maintained by force and oppression, or if a double standard exists, then the ensuing feelings of unfairness, deception, and mistrust begin to erode the foundations of the relationship.

Astrologically, therefore, Juno is the significator for the jealousy and resentment that emerge when a partner does not feel adequately acknowledged for the sacrifices he or she has made. This discontent will emerge as silent embitterment or as aggressive demands for tit-for-tat reciprocation.