Years ago, I received a reading from someone who was keen on the asteroids. I had never worked with them, so needless to say, I was curious. The information I gleaned seemed to add an extra layer of depth to my chart and gave me a new understanding of myself. In other words: don't ignore them. There's definitely something to these space rocks!
Not every asteroid will show up in your astrological software or in the ephemeris. You'll need to look for the software settings that allow them to appear, or if you're getting a chart from someone else, you may need to ask for the asteroids. You'll be glad you did.
Here are the main asteroids you might want to check out.
Chiron is known as “the wounded healer” and is connected to knowledge and healing. The myth behind Chiron is that he was a centaur who didn't fit in with his family. Centaurs are known for being vicious, but this misfit centaur was extraordinarily kind—and smart. Chiron was a teacher and a renowned healer.
One of his students, Heracles, accidentally hit him with a poison arrow. Poor Chiron was unable to heal this wound, so he made a big sacrifice and traded places with Prometheus, who was also struggling. Because of this, Chiron became known for his compassion.
Wherever Chiron lands in your chart shows where you're deeply wounded. This can be a place of strength, though, if you are willing to face that wound. For example, if you have Chiron in the fifth house, you may have experienced a painful childhood. This experience might give you the compassion needed to be an effective social worker or advocate for children's rights. One person I know who has this placement came from an abusive household. He worked mighty hard to break the cycle and is probably one of the best parents I know. This is a perfect example of how working with Chiron can help you rise to your highest, most compassionate potential. Do not underestimate the power of this asteroid!
Your wound is your gift.
Ceres is huge. In fact, this asteroid is the biggest of them all and was once thought to be a planet. Like Pluto, it got reclassified as a “dwarf planet.” Although we astrology folks still have something to say about this Pluto demotion (nope!), we accept that Ceres is an asteroid.
Ceres was the first asteroid to be named. It was christened for the goddess of agriculture. It's the “mama lion” or “earth mother” of the asteroid belt, so it is tied to parenting and the parent/child relationship.
Ceres is associated with the nurturing you received in early life, as well as how you nurture others. It indicates how you show up as a caretaker and how you want others to care for you.
Pay attention to where Ceres sits in someone else's chart, and you will know exactly what you need to do to make them feel secure.
One of the stories around Ceres is that Pluto kidnapped her daughter Persephone and took her to the underworld. This is one of the reasons why you may read that Ceres is also associated with grief, kidnapping, and custody issues.
Pallas is the Roman name for the Greek goddess Athena. Legend has it that she sprang from Jupiter, fully formed and ready to do battle. She's known for being a fierce warrior as well as for her intelligence. In other words, she's a badass!
Where Pallas lands in your chart shows where you're smart, creative, and bold. This is where you fight for justice and want to influence society. Pallas also shows where you see the patterns and how to organize things. Lastly, this asteroid can also indicate daddy issues.
Juno is Jupiter's wife, and apparently, she was a jealous one. She didn't like his other concubines and would often kill them! Long-suffering Juno had to put up with a lot, but she fought back and remained in her relationship with Jupiter despite his many betrayals. Loyal to the core, she stands for commitment.
In the chart, Juno shows marriage and jealousy, including the kind of marriage partner you are . . . or get. This asteroid can also indicate infidelity, betrayal, and women's rights.
Ever hear of the vestal virgins? They were named after the goddess Vesta. Vestal virgins were women who lived back in ancient times and kept Vesta's eternal flame in the temples. This job allowed them certain privileges such as owning property. In other words, it was a good trade-off!
In the astrological chart, Vesta shows where you are dedicated and devoted. This is where you act out of service and also where you make sacrifices. It's your purest potential.
Many years ago, a friend of mine was obsessed with Lilith's role in astrology. He said it had a lot to do with sex, so naturally, I was interested in that.
The story behind Lilith is that she was Adam's first wife. She refused to submit to him and didn't want to play a subservient sexual role either. So, she fled and became a demon goddess! This didn't sit too well with Adam, and he proceeded to kill her demon offspring. Lilith got revenge by killing his kids and grandkids.
She is female sexuality unleashed, vengeance, and the scorned woman. Lilith shows where you're dark, vengeful, and sexual. It's hot stuff.
For the longest time, I assumed the Lunar Nodes were some sort of asteroid floating around the Moon. They are not actual planets. Instead, they are points where the Moon's path lines up with the Earth's. You can spot them quickly in the astrological chart: the symbols look like horseshoes with little knobs on the end. There are two in the chart: the
The North Node, also called the “dragon's head,” shows what you need to develop, whereas the South Node, the “dragon's tail,” shows where you're comfortable. The South Node is where you naturally go because it's easy. If you spend too much time in your South Node, you miss opportunities for growth.
In other words, you need to go directly to the North Node in order to reach your fullest potential. The North Node is your ultimate life lesson, so don't ignore it. It will help you find your purpose. (Why does astrology always want us to work hard?)
Like the Lunar Nodes, the Arabic Points are not physical objects. They are mathematical points in the chart formed by three particular points. There are many Arabic Points, but the one most astrologers use is the Part of Fortune.
The Part of Fortune is calculated from the mathematical points between the Sun, Moon, and Ascendant. This symbolizes where you're lucky or successful. If you have a planet or angle close to the Part of Fortune, it can also indicate talent or a higher calling.
The main asteroids and points to know are Chiron, the Lunar Nodes, and the Part of Fortune. Get those down pat. Although you don't need to get cozy with the other asteroids and Arabic Points, I think they are well worth exploring because they will add depth to your understanding of astrology . . . and yourself.
Some of these asteroids share similar characteristics to planets. Complete these sentences (and don't hesitate to go back to the section on the planets to get hints).
Chiron shows where you are wounded and need to do some heavy work just like ________________________________________________________________________.
Ceres is associated with mothering just like __________________________________.
Pallas indicates where you're smart just like __________________________________.
Juno shows where you love hard just like ____________________________________.
Vesta is where you make sacrifices just like ___________________________________.
The Part of Fortune is your lucky spot just like ___________________________________.
Have fun with this!
Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller. This is a fabulous book on the Lunar Nodes.
Asteroid Goddesses: The Mythology, Psychology, and Astrology of the Re-Emerging Feminine by Demetra George and Douglas Bloch.