Why should we care about asteroids, those celestial bodies located between Mars and Jupiter? Other than the Moon and Venus, the rest of the planets in astrology have masculine vibrations. In order to achieve a better balance between the genders, a more feminine influence is needed.

There are an estimated 40,000 asteroids orbiting in the Asteroid Belt with about 3,000 that have been given names. Legend has it that the asteroids were the result of a hypothetical planet called Phaeton somehow exploding; perhaps it was a collision between two of the many moons of Jupiter. Regardless, the largest of them, Ceres, was discovered in 1801.

In 1984, astrologer Demetra George wrote the book “Asteroid Goddesses,” detailing the meaning of the four major asteroids, Ceres, Pallas Athene, Juno and Vesta in the natal chart as well as a few of the so-called minor asteroids.

Those four asteroids represent the four feminine archetypes: Mother, Sister, Wife and Daughter. How they affect us will depend upon in what sign they are in at the time of our birth and in which House of your horoscope they are located.

Astrology is experiential. We are born with certain influences either astrological and/or from a previous incarnation. However, we also have free will and have a choice either consciously or superconsciously as to how these aspects manifest. In other words, the interpretation of these asteroids may not necessarily apply to you due to the choices made. Having disclaimed that, here is an overview of the asteroids in the horoscope…

CERES: She is the Goddess of the harvest. Ceres is depicted in art as carrying a sickle which she uses to separate wheat from its chaff. The astrological symbol, or glyph, for Ceres is a sickle. This is how the word cereal was derived. Where Ceres is located in your natal chart indicates the nature of the relationship between you and your mother. If you are a mother, there is a good chance that you will have a similar mothering style as your own mother. Not everyone has a sister, wife or daughter, but everyone has a mother which is why the largest of the 40,000 asteroids is the most important of them.

PALLAS ATHENE is the warrior princess, the defender of her community. The city of Athens, Greece was named in her honor. Her Roman equivalent is Minerva. Pallas Athene’s glyph is a diamond with a cross underneath. This asteroid represents your sister if you have one; if you don’t, this would be a female in your life that is like a sister to you. Pallas Athene can display your capacity for self-reliance and the freedom to pursue your own path. This asteroid also represents the potential for growth and transformation through the application of your mental abilities and creative talents.

JUNO: This asteroid was named after the Goddess of marriage. Juno was the wife of Jupiter, and she was the protector of the City of Rome, Italy. Its astrological aspects seem to be more profound in a male horoscope as it denotes the characteristics of what an ideal spouse would be for that man as well as the status of his current marriage, if applicable. This would also be the case in the chart of a woman who is lesbian. For a heterosexual woman, Juno could describe the type of wife she would be or is at present.

VESTA is the vestal virgin, the host of the hearth, the keeper of the flame. In Rosicrucian tradition, she is known as the Colombe and in Freemasonry, is one of Job’s Daughters. The glyph for Vesta appears to be the letter “V” with a squiggly line in between. This symbol could look like a blooming flower or a vagina. Vesta in the horoscope represents your daughter if you have one or, if not, a female who has a daughter-like relationship with you. According to California astrologer Maritha Pottenger, the roles of Vesta and Pallas Athene can possibly be interchangeable. As mentioned above, one has as to experience their horoscope, to be cognizant of the effects of these asteroids and the other planets because how one aspect or transit manifests in your life may be different than what someone else experiences.

In the bigger picture, the role of the asteroids in astrology is not only to have a greater understanding of your relationship with females but to give equal gravitas to the feminine, to balance the energy of the already established patriarchy in society and to fulfill the paradigm shift that has been long overdue.

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