ASTEROIDS

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Vesta/ North Node/Chiron: Fulfilling the Life Purpose






We may find encouraging, given the psychological themes for Vesta mentioned in Asteroid Goddesses, that the native is, indeed, in line with her life purpose. As we have noted, she may have sublimated desires for partnership and close family ties with a complete focus on work,career and life purpose for a significant period in her life. This is very much in keeping with her Chiron and North Node in Capricorn in the 7th.

That Vestal period of focus and commitment on career could have, in fact, provided healing for her and her relationship sector, building more healthy parental foundations and connections to others, as she developed authority and respect in her field. This is in alignment to her North Node/Chiron conjunction in the 7th in Capricorn which sextiles her natal Vesta.

In other word, the planets, natally and by transit, are working in concert toward propelling this individual toward her ultimate purpose on the soul level and that she has taken the actions required to fulfill the expression of her destiny.

In our next installments, we will further delve into the meanings of the aspects and current transits to the remaining three key Asteroid Goddess (Juno, Ceres and Pallas Athena), and how they impact this natal chart.

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Part IV Vesta:





Partner & Spouse:
Relationship Patterns in the Chart

by Cathy H. Burroughs



 

In the last installment, we explored the meanings of the asteroids by sign, house and aspect in an individual's chart (2/15/54; Newton, MA; 2:18 pm).Now we will go further, looking at the meanings of Juno in this chart.

Juno, the Partner, the Spouse & Ruler of Marriage: By Theme, Sign & House in this ChartRemember that Juno is the asteroid goddess most associated with marriage, all partnership (personal & professional) and relationship matters, as well as childbirth. In Greek mythology, she was the powerful, long-suffering wife of Zeus/Jupiter. She was one of only two legally married women in Olympus; the other being Venus Aphrodite, who, fickle in love, took her marriage vows lightly. Juno, however, known to the Greeks as Hera (feminine form for “hero’), honored her marriage vows with near heroic devotion, despite innumerable obstacles.

In the first article of this series, we described Juno’s understandably possessive, passionate and jealous expression in the face of Zeus's many infidelities, and, despite it all, persevered and maintained the sanctity of her connubial vows. (You may also recall from the first in these series, reference to the prominent Juno placement in Hilary Rodham Clinton’s chart. Juno’s core themes certainly mirror many of the central issues reflected in Mrs. Clinton’s complicated and devoted relationship to her well-known husband).

In addition, whichever sign Juno falls in your chart reveals what you are looking for in any long term sexual or committed partnership, as well as a business partnership or enduring friendships. It can also provide insight into recurrent patterns or relationship problems, as well as suggesting a means of resolving these issues. Juno can sometimes be a marriage indicator, or a match of equals, as well.

Because of Juno’s lineage, you may note some definite correspondences with the signs of both Libra and Scorpio, associated with the themes of intimacy and manipulation, respectively. According to Demetra George and Douglas Block in the central work on the subject, Asteroid Goddesses, Juno rules and impacts the following areas:



·                   significator of relationship or patterns in relatedness

·                   enlightened relationship themes: principals of freedom, self-expression, equality, trust, new forms of relationship

·                   pathology in relationships: infidelity, jealousy, power struggles & imbalance

·                   themes of sacrifice in relationships

·                   fears in relationships: abandonment, betrayal, sexuality & intimacy

·                   power in relationships: giving away of, projecting, misusing (i.e. through children),       manipulating projection, repression, identifying with the powerless

·                   the capacity for meaningful relationship: commitment & enhancement

·                   as an indicator of women’s cycles and functions

·                   occult teachings: soul mates, tantric sex, sex as magic, bliss, rejuvenation & alchemical union

·                   themes of transformation: separation & return & evolution over time



In this chart (2/15/54; 2:18 pm; Newton, MA), Juno is in the passionate and theatrical sign of Leo in the 2nd house, blending the romantic and practical: the earthy realm of money, possessions and how one makes a living with the themes of partnership.J

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Juno in Leo:


Oh the drama! Oh the romance!





In this individual's chart, she displays Juno in 17 degrees of Leo with 29 minutes in retrograde. This, in and of itself, indicates an individual who attracts and desires passionate, romantic and possessive partnerships with artistic, theatrical Leo types; further, she approaches relationships with a childlike innocence and looks to her partners to add drama, fun and meaning to her life. This is further amplified by the proximity to Pluto, also retrograde: this will add intensity, soul connection and profundity to the mix, as well as a Scorpionic flavor of jealousy, intrigue, control, dominance and/or parental issues, as well.

The respective retrogrades of both Juno and its congruent Pluto offer several scenarios: one that she attracts relationships with a strong incarnational or past life basis, 2) that she takes her time about finding these partnerships, but once she does, latches on with Plutonic intensity and with the resilience that the fixed signs would indicate and 3) that she is attracted to demanding, intense partners with an artistic type temperament. We also see that once formed, these connections are extremely enduring. Because of this, one might counsel her to choose wisely, as these relationships would be easy to get into (Leo: fun, romantic, theatrical) and difficult to get out of (rigidity of the fixed influences and intensity and controls of Pluto).

In fact, she has in her limited romantic history been attracted to individuals with challenging artistic temperaments, sometimes difficult and moody artist or writer types who were extremely intense, demanding, fun, artistic, highly creative and childlike or emotionally immature often with unresolved childhood issues or childlike qualities of innocence.

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Juno in the 2nd: Money and Love





The placement of her Juno in the 2nd house indicates that money, job and relationships are often part of her relationship fabric. And, she often assisted her partners with their artistic careers, even taking on the details of their career success, promotion and launch of specific projects. Additionally, she is vulnerable to taking on the financial responsibilities of her amours and must handle this propensity with wisdom and awareness, so that she doesn't become a sugar person or a parental substitute (Pluto in Leo in the 2nd).

Another expression of these energies is that they can also be projected out and certainly she has the capacity to attract this kind of parental attention and support from her partners and in younger years attracted much older partners who played more of a parental role.

Looking further, we find an out of sign conjunction (which some astrologers would consider out of orb). But due to its proximity to the congruent Pluto in Leo, we find the warrior goddess Pallas Athena in the potent 0 degree within the same house. This indicates that, possibly unbeknownst to her, this individual probably has a great genius in the relationship arena, but may doubt herself. It also emphasizes the parental influence and indicates that she may be playing out some important daughter/father theme in her choice of partners. Her father is actually born in the sign of Virgo and often encouraged her to show greater discernment in her choices of partner.

With Juno in the 2nd, love and money may be deeply interconnected in her psyche, possibly due to her experiences with her father (Pluto) through money and love, and interestingly enough she often has earned her living in the arts, and as an actress and performer early in her career.






Juno: Aspected Every Which Way But Loose





We will note that her Juno is strongly aspected and in her splay formation chart, and touches nearly all other planets in some capacity throughout her chart. This indicates that relationships are complicated for her and are strongly interwoven with all other aspects of her psyche.
To be continued. In our next installment, we will further delve into the meanings of the aspects and current transits to the asteroid goddess Juno. Future installments will further explore Ceres and Pallas Athena, and how they impact this natal chart.

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CHIRON at 50:





Return to the Scene of the Crime

by Cathy H. Burroughs 






The Chiron Return poses the question:
What am I going to do with this last part of my life?





- Astrologer Melanie Reinhart
After the Saturn Return at 30, and the midlife crisis at 40, one of the lesser known, but most significant rites of passage, at 50, is the formidable Chiron Return. It is, perhaps, due to the relatively new discovery of Chiron, in November 1977, that so little is known about this profound period of transformation, that reveals so much about the secrets of the human psyche.

Neither planet nor asteroid, Chiron has been determined to be a comet or planetoid (minor planet). Found between the orbit of Saturn (representing tradition) and Uranus (representing progress), Chiron forms a bridge between the old and the new; historical origins and individual expression. Chiron mediates between the conscious awareness and reality-basis of the practical personal and social planets (Sun through Saturn) and the multi-dimensional cosmic consciousness of the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto). It provides a gateway forward or back, whichever is deemed essential for growth, forming our own link between the natural and the supernatural; the physical and the metaphysical.

Part horse and part human; part mortal and part immortal, Chiron, a Centaur, is associated with the archetype of the "wounded healer." Mythically, Chiron, born a mutant, was rejected at birth by his mother, who thought him an abomination. Chiron was forced to raise himself. Facing many rejections and trials, ultimately, his accomplishments as a great teacher and healer (he was personally trained by Apollo), self-sacrifices (he relinquished his immortality to Prometheus who was imprisonment in the underworld for bringing fire to earth), and wisdom (tutored personally by Athena), brought him the respect of Zeus, who gave him his own constellation.

In our own charts, Chiron represents (and is given definition, by sign, house placement and aspect) where we feel fundamentally wounded. He also embodies our dualities and inner contradictions: where we have the potential to be both godlike and human; instinctive and reasoning; where we feel most rejected and ashamed, but where, too, we have the capacity to heal.

The fact that Chiron has been so difficult to categorize is emblematic of the Wounded Healer's dilemma: that of feeling unable to find one's niche or place in the world. Hence Chiron in our charts also represents where we feel disenfranchised and where we can contribute most to those who themselves feel to be outcasts.

Chiron, himself an accomplished teacher and healer, is thought to be prominent in the charts of healers, astrologers and spiritual teachers. The glyph or symbol of Chiron is both, the key and the key-hole; so many consider that Chiron provides both the key and the access to the kingdom, the pathway of our magical quest or to our ultimate purpose. The symbolism goes further to say that embodied in the primal wounding of a being, either physically, spiritually or incarnationally, is the secret to their healing.

Once mastered, this healing can be taught, through practical application or example, as a powerful antidote to others to transform their wounds into profound sources of healing.

Perhaps the most universally acknowledged image of Chironic consciousness is the image and person of Christ. Other famous Chironic figures in our culture include Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born with Chiron direct and stationery, inspiring many future generations with his "dream."

Another Chironic theme is the conversion of the "ugly duckling" types who metamorphsize at 50, just as Chiron returns to the position it was at birth. Some of these include Henry Kissinger who became Secretary of State and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; William Faulkner who won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature and Henry Ford, who introduced assembly line into his factory - all these accomplishments happened after 50.

Turning 50, or thereabouts (for some, it is 49; others's 51) marks a new paradigm, as Chiron returns to its natal position. This momentous watershed delineates the end of the heroic youth, as we enter the realm of "elder. Like the Chinese character for crisis, the Chiron Return represents a "dangerous opportunity." Here, we revisit ancient patterns; have the opportunity to go back to the source of our deepest, unresolved wounds; to heal them, once and for all, so that we can live the remainder of our lives in keeping with our true soul purpose.

During this critical time, we may relinquish that which is misshapen or inauthentic; we may re-order our priorities; or liberate the unlived passionate expression of our spirit, living a life which is intimately creative and restorative to our true selves. By accomplishing this, we can congruently contribute to the fundamental healing of ourselves, our family or soul group; our society, and our planet.

Some say, however, that it may not be possible to fully understand the repercussions of this passage, until Chiron itself has completed an entire cycle, in the year 2028, 51 years after its discovery.




Cathy H. Burroughs, former VP, Metropolitan Atlanta Astrological Society, has a successful astrology, private psychic practice and teaches astrology (all levels), psychic development, tarot and more. Her articles on astrology have appeared in The Review/Journal, The Aquarius newspaper, The Oracle. She has published nationally in major arts publications, as well. A twenty-five year practicing astrologer; Cathy teaches extensively and formerly was on the faculty of the Atlantean Mystery School Faculty. She has been seen on national cable NYC; Good Morning, Atlanta; Your Health Today and recently, on The Lucky Yates Talk show at Dad's Garage Theatre. For more information, she can be reached at (404) 292-2000 or


cathyb108@aol.com.






For more about Chiron, check out:


**the web page of Chiron's foremost expert Zane Stein:(www.SelfNet.com/Zane Stein/)

**anything by previous Atlanta resident and Chironian Dale O'Brien

**Erminie Lantero's highly-recommended bookThe Continuing Discovery of Chiron

**Melanie Reinharts's book Chiron and the Healing Journey

**Barbara Hand Clow's book Chiron: Rainbow Bridge Between the Inner & Outer Planets
Thanks to them for their contribution to our journey.

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Achilles' Teacher, Chiron

By:  Elizabeth Darter

   A teacher plays a very important role in molding a young child's future.  This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Chiron, who instructs the young Achilles.  Chiron is a civilized centaur who has trained many.  A centaur is one who has the upper part of a human and the lower part of a horse.  Chiron is known for his wisdom and for not partaking in drunken activities like the other centaurs tend to do, but instead he continues to learn more and more and teaches his wisdom to others.  He specializes in the study of herbs and their healing capabilities and it was he who first introduced the art of healing.  Chiron told me that Achilles' parents were concerned and wished for him to have a private tutor to learn the ways of the world.  He added "teaching Achilles was not always an easy task for me!  He is not the well-behaved, perfect student that you may assume he is.  He would often wander away and disobey me.  I noticed he preferred to indulge in whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.  He also did not show respect for other's things or feelings, and I knew I had a big task in front of me."  Achilles not only needed to learn instructions on how things work, and on how to do things, but he also needed to be taught discipline and moral values.  After about a week of attempting this, Chiron sent Achilles home to be disciplined, but Thetis just sent him back, begging the centaur to do something.  In the time that Achilles did live with Chiron, he learned a lot from him and was fed on the insides of lions, bears, and milk and honey.  Finally Thetis allowed Chiron to send Achilles back.  He said he was very relieved of this, because the young boy was practically wearing him thin.  Achilles mother then did an interesting thing in order to keep her son out of war.  But I will go into that further next week.  So keep reading in order to hear more of Achilles' life and his latest adventures!






Chiron Educating Achilles
Gottlieb Schick

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C E R E S

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PALLAS ATHENA

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".......the most holy of all the temples in Rome, the Vesta Aedes, where the Vestal Virgins attend to
the sacred fire of Rome."





TEMPLE OF VESTA - ROMA



AS PART OF THE "ROMAN FORUM" COMPLEX, IT WAS NEVER TRANSORMED INTO A CHRISTIAN CHURCH,

AS MOST OF THE OTHER ROMAN TEMPLES WERE.

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                                          VESTA -GODDESS OF THE HEARTH - ROMA








Vesta was one of the most popular and mysterious goddesses of the Roman pantheon. Vesta is the goddess of the hearth, equated with the Greek Hestia.

There is not much known of her origin, except that she was at first only worshipped in Roman homes, a personal cult.

Her cult eventually evolved to a state cult.

One myth tells that her service was set up by king Numa Pompilius (715-673 BCE). In her temple on the Palatine Hill, the sacred fire of the Roman state burned, which was maintained by the Vestal Virgins.

At the start of the new Roman year, March 1, the fire was renewed. The sacred fire burned until 394 CE.

Vesta's temple was situated on the Forum Romanum and was built in the third century BCE. None of her temples, however, contained a statue of the goddess. Her festival is the Vestalia, which was observed from June 7 - 15.

On the first day of this festival, the 'penus Vestae', the inner sanctum of the Vesta temple which was kept closed the entire year, was opened for women who came to bring offerings bare-footed. The temple was ritually cleansed on the last day.


The ass is Vesta's sacred animal, whose braying supposedly kept the lascivious Priapus away.

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Vesta is portrayed as a stern woman, wearing a long dress and with her head covered.

Her right hand rests against her side and in her left hand she holds a scepter.



The lack of an easy source of fire in the early Roman community placed a special premium

on the ever-burning hearth fire, both publicly and privately maintained; thus, from the

earliest times Vesta was assured of a prominent place among the Rpmans.




Vesta (seated on the left) with Vestal Virgins,
classical relief sculpture;
in the Palermo Museum, Italy

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VESTAL VIRGINS TENDING

TO THE ETERNAL FLAME