Thanks to Astrococktail for the link to this article. Last year Ceres was reclassified as a planet along with Pluto and the new planet Eris as a “dwarf planet,” and most recently as a “Plutoid.”
Ceres has an interesting history: when it was first discovered scientists hailed Ceres as a new planet, but then after Neptune was discovered and it was much larger, Ceres was demoted to asteroid status. Now scientists report that Ceres has been a relative of Pluto all along, an “escapee of the Kuiper belt” that entered our solar system long ago, rather than an asteroid as it has been classified all these years.
There are thousands of asteroids, and some astrologers work with virtually all of them. There is an eerie synchronicity between asteroid names and significant events (check out this article for some eerie coincidences!!), but astrologers who work with asteroids use primarily the major ones: Juno, Vesta, Pallas, and til now, Ceres. Even these asteroids have secondary importance and are felt to have more of an influence on behavior patterns than real personality dynamics.
With the reclassification of Ceres her role in astrology has become more pronounced. Ceres was known in Greece as as Demeter, and was the mother of Persephone/Kore who was taken by Hades/Pluto into the Underworld. Ceres/Demeter, goddess of grain and nourishment who was well-loved by the people on earth, abandoned them in her grief over the loss of her daughter causing starvation and devastation. The return of Persephone/Kore brought the return of Spring, but the archetype of Ceres contains the duality of the nurturing eath with the devastation of nature’s wrath. For more information on Ceres, visit my earlier articles here, and more here.
posted July 26, 2008 at 11:12 am
I started paying more attention to Ceres in charts about a year ago and am just beginning to get a feel for her effect. It takes time and observation and looking at lots of charts to gain understanding of how a planet/plutoid functions . . .
posted July 26, 2008 at 6:06 pm
You’re right Neith. None of the articles I’ve read works consistently in charts. Challenging aspects to Ceres are sometimes seen in people with eating disorders, but not always. Sometimes harmonious Ceres qualities include a love for the earth, but not always. It took me about 10 years to get comfortable with Chiron, I’m sure Ceres will be the same!
posted July 27, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Lynn,
I have been enjoying your articles and musings for some time now, thank you!
The article by Jacob Schwartz is thought provoking, I wonder if it would be possible to consciously name the astroids in such a way that helps the earth and its inhabitants become more peaceful, loving and aware.
Diana
posted July 27, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Thanks Diana, and wouldn’t it be nice if astronomers were more conscious in their naming of the heavenly bodies. But in a way that’s the magic of the synchronicity of naming – it’s completely accidental and therefore more astounding!
posted August 1, 2008 at 1:27 am
It looks like tonight’s eclipse will fall right on Ceres conjunct the North Node in my chart, which is also opposite Saturn in a yod aspect with Mars in Cancer and Sun conjunct Pluto and Uranus in Virgo opposite Jupiter conjunct Chiron in Pisces. To top it off, my Neptune appears to be in a loose square to Saturn/south node and Ceres/North Node as well. My birth data is 2:10 a.m, August 31, 1962 in Boulder, Colorado. Any thoughts on what this all might mean? It looks like the ascendent for the eclipse in Portland will be at 6 degrees Cancer, very close to my natal Mars, and Saturn will be at the bottom of the chart. Saturn is now almost exactly conjuncting my natal sun at 7 degrees Virgo.
posted August 1, 2008 at 5:55 am
The eclipse is falling in your first house, Rod, so it could have an effect on the identity that you construct for yourself. With the North Node there, this is something that you are working on anyway and that hasn’t been all that easy for you with the Uranus/Sun/Pluto conjunction opposed by Chiron and Jupiter. Which, by the way, Saturn has been transiting over. Likely you have been experiencing challenges in that area, and an opening to a new way of becoming comfortable in your own skin could be a facet of this eclipse.
posted August 18, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I feel CERES is very important in natal & synastry charts. For me, my ceres in cancer squares both my jupiter-saturn (conjunct in libra) _ I have always had serious body image issues- being naturally think until I was 17- I went through puberty much later than my other girl-friends. ironically, I ended up having the biggest breast & even had a reduction from a DD to D, Im in my late 20′s & slim again bc Im so body-conscious- could it be H6 (virgo ruled) venus-sun-mars conjunction in Pisces…who knows-
http://www.astrorevolution.com/index.php?itemid=239&catid=1
The link above is a website, those here, might find interesting about CERES & famous people who have had “public” issues with food. Enjoy. C*
posted August 18, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Ceres in synastry- this is my 2nd part- sorry to write so much- blame my grand trine Kite- in air signs- moon opp neptune!!!
I never used asteroids in relationships until I began doing charts for friends- I always got old boyfriends birth info, just in case, I wanted to be a step ahead, they didnt mind so I looked back one day ay my recent ex Mike, who got me pregnant- we decided no to keep the baby but it was more him than me- I resented him but we stayed together for a year after the ab…on a happier note I met a great guy who I have been with for
over 1.5 years- he wants to have a baby with me, so soon?
Now, I have been in MANY short term & a 4 year relationships – the baby issue was NEVER a major theme.
But I want to wait- what does CERES have to do with it? In the case with Mike, his venus in cancer conjunct my CERES. With my current bf, My venus in pisces conjunct his ceres- the venus person shows love in a way that makes the ceres person feel whole in turn the ceres person provides a safe haven -
another man I dated shortly had his CERES in aquarius conjunct my mercury- he always nurtured my thoughts & he was much older, my aunt who raised me has Ceres conjunct my moon – this is the ultimate parent- child aspect.
CERES to me can either be a cancer or taurus-ruled asteroid bc it represents: nurturing, fertility, parent-child, and unconditional love.
From experience, CERES themed relationships are lovely & unconditional unlike pluto which is about intimacy, death, & control – Ceres is more about protection, creating life, & accepting other, no strings attached.
posted August 18, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Crystal, where’s your first part?
posted August 19, 2008 at 12:08 am
Sorry, everyone! Spambot caught Crystal’s first part. It should show now.
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posted August 19, 2008 at 6:45 am
Ceres is a bit elusive. I have seen some clients with stressful Ceres aspects that have had eating and body image disorders, but others have not. There is however a strong link between the quality of Ceres in the chart and the way we feel about our incarnation in a body.
posted October 6, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Hello, sorry for being MIA- would you like to look at my chart?
posted November 22, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I’ve only just `discovered’ Ceres, or more importantly discovered I have it closely conjunct my natal moon in Cancer. Have had an eating disorder (for 10 years, mid 20′s to mid 30′s) and have been ambivalent about being incarnated physically. Biggest issue has been that I’ve lived my whole 60 years (so far) on this planet for my mother (dead 11 years) complete to my choice of career, partner (now ex) and beliefs about myself – which have been all my mother’s. Am now peeling away the layers to find the Real Me.
posted November 22, 2008 at 11:05 pm
PS to above..
My natal Ceres/Moon conjunction is in 6th house, which kinda puts everything in perspective. Have had a number of illnesses `on my mother’s behalf’. I believe my anorexia was also on behalf of my mother, cos try as she might she could never diet for longer than a day or two. Me, I have Capricorn rising, and I can diet for forever if required!!!
(I’m figuring that I’m a bit of an extreme case with this Ceres stuff)
posted November 23, 2008 at 8:03 am
Thanks Raven for these comments. Many of the clients I’ve had with tight Ceres aspects have had eating issues (nourishment) but many more have not so it’s not universal. But there typically are always issues with being incarnated in a physical body.