Nessus is a mythical creature “Among the big centaur asteroids, there is a weird bird. (In ancient Greek, his name meant “a young bird.) His orbit lasts around 123 years, is exceedingly elliptical, and while orbiting between Saturn and Pluto, he never gets close to either of them. In fact, astronomers predict that Nessus won’t approach any planet for another 20,000 years!
Nessus’ orbital aloofness is described by Melanie Reinhart as follows:
…the Nessus process is one that functions as a transformer or purifier, connecting the forces of Saturn and Pluto, rather than being enacted or placed into material form.
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Nessus Significations
Nessus is the darkest shadow substance we inherit as a species “a pre-existing state at the time of our birth
Nessus represents both the individual experience of violent trauma such as rape, abuse, suicide, violent acts, and mass extinction, as well as the societal response to such traumas.
It’s the process by which traumatic events have an impact on a person’s health, are handed down genetically through epigenetics, and are then activated by our personal experiences.
(See this opinion piece on Dr. Gabor Mat’s blog for his take on the relationship between epigenetics, trauma, and health.)
Nessus also symbolizes how these traumas infiltrate our communal and familial psyche, slowly poisoning our potential to become self-actualized and aware of our roots.
In a birth chart, Nessus signifies some of the most difficult material to deal with. It’s everything a family or cultural group avoids bringing up in casual conversation. You understand it’s there when you’re growing up:
“Oh wait, my forefathers owned slaves, fled mass extinction, and were scarred by civil war?!
“When my great-uncle became a suicide bomber/freedom warrior in Belarus, you imply my entire maternal bloodline was changed?
(This is my tale.)
“My grandmother was raped on the ferry to America, and we didn’t know about it until she died. Uncle Jack had a different father than the rest of the family.
This multi-media feature in the Washington Post on the slave trade and Black Americans discovering their roots is fantastic. It alludes to the themes I mentioned earlier.
Ancestral traumas demand full allegiance and concealment, just as Deianeira tried to push Heracles into becoming faithful. The sorrow of being devoted, unknowing, or silent about ancestral wounds is represented by Nessus.
Nessus Discovery Chart
A note about the Nessus Finding Chart, a way for generating a “birth chart” for a planet or asteroid discovery.
On April 26, 1993, Nessus was discovered at Kitt Peak Observatory in Arizona. He was at 5 Scorpio on this day, opposite the sun at 7 Taurus. (Of course, Scorpio is where Nessus was discovered.) Saturn in Aquarius and Chiron in Leo formed a T-Square with Pluto in Scorpio. Sagittarius and Gemini were the nodes.
This arrangement symbolizes that when we are able to face our shadow and discover the truth about our origins, we get physical security and the ability to set goals for the future.
In astrology, what does Juno mean?
Most people who use astrology to figure out if they and their partner are compatible barely scratch the surface of what the zodiac has to offer. They take a peek at what their sun signs have to say about their relationship and decide to call it a day. If you’ve explored further into the depths of your birth chart, you may have examined the significance of your partner’s Venus and Mars signs, as well as your own. Your Venus sign represents how you give and accept love, but your Mars sign represents your primordial sexual desires. However, judging your relationship’s success only on these indicators does not necessarily convey the whole story. If you really want to know if you and your spouse are going to last, you might ask yourself, “What does Juno represent in astrology?”
Juno is the sign of marriage and commitment in the zodiac. Juno was the wife of Jupiter (aka Zeus) in Roman and Greek mythology, and she was praised for her unwavering devotion to her husband. She’s also in charge of matching soulmates, and her feminine hands are at the heart of every marriage that takes place. In fact, she is the inspiration for the month of June, which is generally the month for weddings.
In astrology, what is Chariklo?
Chariklo, which means “Graceful Spinner,” has to do with our sense of personal space, subtle bodies, and astral flight. She leads us on the path of healing and awakening with her partner Chiron. Chariklo’s astrological keyword is charisma, or the gift of grace.
Eris belongs to which zodiac sign?
Eris is what motivates you to speak out against and battle to the end anything that you feel to be against your morals when portrayed through the symbol of the belligerent Ram. An Aries Eris is often seen leading the charge in a protest or shattering a glass ceiling at work.
In astrology, what is pholus?
Pholus, like his centaur cousins, has a 90-year orbit that is highly elliptical. His path takes him from Saturn to Neptune, with stops along the way. Surprisingly, his progress slows to a crawl in Capricorn, the zodiac sign in which he spends the most time. In 2019, he moved into Capricorn, where he will remain until 2041.
The earth, our bodies, and the physical and social structures that make us ourselves and our communities are all represented by Saturn.
Any level of consciousness in which we transcend our physical reality is represented by Neptune: transpersonal or unitive states of consciousness, spiritual ecstasy, psychosis, or drug and alcohol highs.
Pholus is a guide who helps us re-ground and return to earth-bound consciousness after we’ve been away from it for a while “Our bodies are in Neptunian states.
A coworker recently recommended Stanislav and Christina Grof’s 1989 multi-contributor collection Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis.
The publication of the book “Investigate the idea that many odd mental states, even those that are spectacular and reach psychotic proportions, are not always indicators of disease in the medical sense. We see them as’spiritual emergencies,’ or crises in the evolution of awareness, similar to the states described by numerous mystical traditions around the world.
Types of Spiritual Emergencies
The Grofs’ book discusses the following spiritual emergencies: “the shamanic crisis; kundalini awakening; unitive consciousness episodes; psychological renewal through a return to the center; the psychic opening crisis; past-life experiences; communications with spirit guides and channeling; near-death experiences; close encounters with UFOs; possession states
In our Western, materialist culture, all of these experiences are considered emergencies since they entail leaving the comfort zone “The conceptual framework of Cartesian dualism and the comfortable ground of ordinary, daily awareness
Pholus’s Myth
Pholus dwelt in a cave in Arcadia, where he was the guardian of a storeroom of sacred wine that put centaurs into ecstasy, according to Greek mythology.
This wine cellar was looted by Hercules. The alluring aroma drew all the other centaurs, resulting in a brawl. Many centaurs were killed by Hercules, and both Chiron and Pholus were gravely wounded by Hercules’ poison arrows.
Saturn, Neptune, and the themes of spiritual emergency are all represented in this myth: Saturn represents the underground storeroom, while Neptune is portrayed by the wine, which is so potent that even a sniff causes the other centaurs to lose all reasonable control. (This is why Melanie Reinhart interprets Pholus as “the lid abruptly coming off.”)
Pholus is a centaur who represents the transition between Saturn and Neptune’s states of consciousness.
What are the two zodiac signs that are soul mates?
Your ideal companion will share your ambition for achievement and will encourage and support you along the way.
- Taurus. Cancer, Capricorn, and Scorpio are the ideal soulmates.
- Gemini. Capricorn, Virgo, and Pisces are the ideal soulmates.
- Cancer. Libra, Taurus, and Aquarius are the ideal soulmates.
In astrology, who is Lilith?
In astrology, what is the Black Moon Lilith? The black moon, also known as the Black Moon Lilith, is the point on the moon’s orbit where it is the furthest away from Earth. Lilith, unlike the planets and asteroids in your birth chart, isn’t a physical entity, according to the AstroTwins.
In astrology, what is psyche?
Your astrological chart can help you discover your own personal mythology, particularly if you use your personal placements of asteroids named after goddesses. You will develop a greater understanding of your own life experiences as you learn about the archetypal role models the goddesses provide for your life path.
One of the most essential asteroids in your horoscope is Psyche. Psyche was discovered on March 17, 1852, when the Sun was in Pisces, and her asteroid number is 16. Neptune, the planet of illusion, mist, and vapor, rules Pisces, the sign of unconscious ideas and dreams. Pisces and Neptune can inspire us to be more creative and artistic, but they can also make us want to escape reality and enter a nice dream world where nothing is true until we choose it to be.
Psyche is the Greek term for soul, and it is the point in your horoscope that might show you where you can enter your own self. Psyche is also associated with psychology, which is concerned with the study of the mind. The soul, the mind, and the self are all included in psyche.
Many fairy tales and folk tales have been based on the ancient Greek mythological epic of Psyche, including Beauty and the Beast and The Knight and the Loathly Damsel. Trust, love, passion, betrayal, and jealousy are all components in Psyche’s life. Psyche can also teach us about discovering who we are, why we act the way we do, and what love means to us.
Psyche’s story, like other legendary tales, is full of archetypes: cruel or negligent fathers, or overindulgent, foolish, and devoted fathers; envious women, such as mothers, stepmothers, or sisters; and, of course, the lover. The lover could be disguised, so the fair maiden won’t be able to see his face or figure out who he is. He has the ability to be nasty or nice. He could be either a demon or a god. In each story, and in each retelling of the story, his identity and demeanor shift.
Because the ultimate finish of the heroine’s story is her final awareness of herself, the story’s ending is always the same. It is her full acceptance of her entire self, including her mind, body, and spirit. The ultimate recognition in Psyche’s story is that the soul’s ability to love can offer it immortality.
According to legend, Psyche was a stunning young woman who was the youngest of three sisters. Psyche was so lovely that she was treated as if she were a statue or an idol to be stared at. The ancient Greeks began to neglect Aphrodite’s temple (the Greek equivalent of the Roman goddess Venus) and began to worship Psyche instead.
Aphrodite grew enraged and commanded her son Eros to use magic to make Psyche fall in love with the most despicable guy he could find. Instead, Eros fell in love with Psyche and had the Zephyr, the west wind, whisk her away to a lovely mountain palace. Eros appeared, shrouded in darkness, and told Psyche that she would never be able to see his face, but that he would visit her nightly as her spouse. Psyche had complete freedom to roam the gorgeous grounds of the palace during the day.
After a while, Psyche began to miss her older sisters and requested that her strange midnight lover/husband allow them to pay her a visit. Psyche’s sisters saw how much money she had when Eros finally accepted. Psyche’s sisters grew enraged and convinced her that she was married to a serpent or some other heinous beast. For her own safety, they advised her to stare at the man/monster she slept with at night.
Psyche waited until Eros was well asleep before revealing him. Psyche recognized his identity and beauty after she did, and he awoke and departed from her. She then realized she had spent the entire time with Eros, the god of love.
Psyche then approached Aphrodite and requested a chance to reconnect with her soul mate. Eros’ mother, jealous Aphrodite, assigned Psyche a series of difficult chores to complete before allowing Eros to see her again. Psyche eventually passed each test, with the help of some Olympian gods and goddesses who sympathized with her predicament. One of the tests entailed Psyche’s descend into the depths of Hades, the underworld, to see Persephone, the queen of the dead. Psyche eventually reclaimed Eros, wedded him, received immortality, and rose to become a goddess in her own right.
Psyche’s story is, in essence, the story of every woman. Psyche’s story begins when she is a young woman and takes her to an unknown land where she has no trust in anybody or anything. She is then required to deal with the outside world and overcome numerous challenges before she, as the incarnation of the soul and mind, can join with her other half, her animus, or masculine partner. She reaches true self-integration, becomes a goddess, and attains immortality after she fulfills that goal.
What does this mean for you astrologically? Psyche’s voyage through the zodiac signs varies greatly from year to year, but she spends two to ten months in each sign. On October 5, 2006, Psyche moved into the sign of Virgo, where she will remain until August 21, 2007. After that, Psyche moves into Libra for a three-month stay, until November 18, 2007, when she enters Scorpio. For the rest of 2007, Psyche will be under the sign of the Scorpion.
Psyche can teach us a lot about ourselves and our personal journey, but it may take some time and effort to realize what Psyche is trying to convey to us symbolically. It takes time and reflection to delve into our deepest selves.
Let’s say your Psyche astrological sign is Scorpio, and it’s conjunct your Sun or Ascendant, your Rising Sign. Psyche in Scorpio denotes that your perception of the soul and mind is influenced by the characteristics of Scorpio, which is a watery, fixed sign. You might have a strong desire to learn more about your own psyche, and you’re prepared to go to great lengths to do it. When Psyche is conjunct your Sun or Ascendant, it signifies you’ve woven your ideas and views about the soul and mind into your very self.
It’s a good idea to know the elements of each sign, as well as the houses and aspects involved, to understand Psyche’s position in your own chart. Look below for astrological terms that will help you better comprehend Psyche’s position in your horoscope.
Cardinal Fire: Aries; Fixed Earth: Taurus; Mutable Air: Gemini; Cardinal Water: Cancer; Leo: Fixed Fire; Virgo: Mutable Earth; Libra: Cardinal Air; Scorpio: Fixed Water; Sagittarius: Mutable Fire; Capricorn: Cardinal Earth; Aquarius: Fixed Air; Pisces: Mutable Water
Houses represent two things: first, your inner self; second, what you value the most; and third, what you value the least. Your conscious mind is the third; your childhood is the fourth. Fifth, your romantic relationships; Sixth: Your day-to-day occupation; The seventh point is about your collaborations. Eighth, how you feel about sex and death; Ninth: Your life philosophy; The tenth represents your job path, the eleventh represents your dreams and goals, and the twelfth represents your subconscious mind.
Aspects: Positive effect; Conjunction: 0-6 degrees apart in the same sign; 60 to 120 degrees apart, positive effect; Sextile or Trine: 60 to 120 degrees apart, positive influence; 180 degrees apart, influencing each other is difficult; Square: 90 degrees apart, difficult to influence.
The harvest maiden is meeting the goddess of the soul and mind, since Psyche is currently in the sign of Virgo. Psyche is born under the sign of Virgo, an earthy, mutable sign that gives her the ability to assimilate information rapidly and analytically while yet expressing a strong longing for physical intimacy with the world around her. Virgo thinks deeply and profoundly, and she has a very grounded nature and a clear understanding of her physical desires and requirements.
Psyche in Virgo will offer our life stories a tone of inquisitiveness, allowing us to examine our prior experiences from a variety of perspectives, allowing us to design our own routes and move on in our own lives.
In astrology, what is Sedna?
Many versions of Sedna’s narrative exist due to the varied Inuit oral traditions. But they all have the same horrific conclusion: Sedna’s father murders her at sea, and she sinks to the bottom of the icy sea. Her sliced off digits or limbs turn into seals, walruses, and whales, and she transforms into goddess.
The following are some of the most prevalent tale elements:
- Sedna is a defiant daughter who refuses to marry and rejects suitors.
- In one version, she marries a dog and has a family with the dog, which irritates her father even more. In some alternate universes, Sedna’s dog marriage is her parents’ punishment, yet it is a happy marriage for her.
- In a popular tale, Sedna marries a beautiful stranger who promises her furs, blubber, and a comfortable life. However, he lives on a distant island and is actually a magical bird disguised as a human. The only thing her birdman spouse can give her is fish. Sedna becomes depressed and weeps.
- Sedna’s father is shown placing Sedna on his boat in all of the versions. It’s to punish Sedna (again) and kick her out of the dog marriage in the dog marriage version. It’s to save Sedna and bring her home in the birdman marriage variants. During the rescue, the birdman and/or his minions frequently give chase. A violent storm at sea complicates the chase, putting the boat in peril.
- Sedna’s father throws her out in order to rescue himself, but she clings to the boat’s side. Her father chops off her fingers and thumbs out of rage or self-preservation. It’s her fingers and arms in one rendition.
- Sedna sinks to the arctic sea’s bottom and makes it her home. She rules over all sea creatures and is in charge of the success or failure of Inuit hunting expeditions. When food gets limited, shamans must enter her world to satisfy her and untangle her hair (combing without fingers is difficult).
- She judges all the souls of the dead who pass through her dominion as ruler of the underworld. Adlivun is more of a purgatory than a final destination; spirits eventually make their way to Qudlivun, which is “above us.”
Sedna: Power and Abuse
Sedna’s story is immediately captivating, especially in cultures where daughters are expected to marry or stay at home and serve their families/parents. Gender and financial equality, as well as women’s financial independence, can still be taboo today, cloaked in religion, custom, or emotional blackmail/entanglement.
Shame, sadly, amplifies the strength of taboos (and control). Sedna subverts her father’s shame by being joyful in her unconventional marriage in the dog marriage.
The suggested shame in the birdman versions is that she was a finicky brat who fell for the birdman’s ploy and promises. (To be honest, you’re either doomed if you do or damned if you don’t; we’re not sure if other suitors would have worked out.) Other writerslinks under “Further Reading” repeat this shame, which is tied to Sedna’s vanity. I’m hesitant to accept this interpretation because it’s unclear from the many readings whether Sedna considered herself “too good for her suitors.” I’m also not a fan of women “settling” for someone simply because they “had to be married.” Yeeucch.)
The loss of her fingers has a number of negative consequences: In Inuit society, a woman’s status and contribution to the home is determined by her ability to make food and clothing. The shamans’ hair-combing appeasement highlights her lack of fingers to care for her beauty (for her benefit or for ours? ), and their separation betrays her reliance on her father for safe departure. (This page about Inuit women’s roles and responsibilities is aggravating since it describes how men and women were treated equally, but women had no say in community decisions, marriage, or reproductive decisions.) But disregard me and continue talking about equality.)
Sedna’s apotheosis was the product of an attempted (and successful) murder, not of any agency bestowed upon her. Though others have shied away from “negative readings of the indigenous story,” it seems fitting that Sedna can be a rallying mythological figure for raising awareness of inequity, misogyny, violence, DV, and even human trafficking. As a POC who does not speak for all, I believe that misogyny and violence cannot be justified on the basis of culture, hence I do not believe Sedna’s tale should be sugarcoated as in the instances shown here. I believe that all stories, no matter how gruesome they may be, should be investigated for the implications they can carry for the advancement of all individuals who have strong emotional attachments to them.