EXPERIMENTAL ASTROLOGY
CERES II
Negotiation and Compromise
The Great Mother, a symbol of altruistic love, goddess
of fertility and Spring… how cruel could she really become when what she loves
most is taken from her?
By Vasiliki Konti
Astrologer
As a personal
planet in our horoscope, Ceres describes:
a) our personal
Power to negotiate circumstances, our ability in this area, and the manner in
which we achieve our targets through negotiation; whether we compromise easily, whether we
readily give in, what kind of bargains do we strike in the end, and finally,
whether we sacrifice much or little on the altar of happiness.
b) our ability
to nurture – to altruistically take care of somebody, of others.
c) in mundane
astrology charts, it refers to the environment
and finally,
d) in political
astrology it pertains to power struggles.
Mother of
nature and life on earth, she is linked with the star signs of Cancer
(motherhood) and Virgo (health, working through nutrition), and with the
Taurus-Scorpio axis (contrasting Scorpio’s ruler, Pluto, as Taurus’ ruler).
Ceres as the ruler of Cancer
She is
considered the mother of Earth, patron of farming and symbol of the Altruistic,
unconditional love that only a mother can bestow to her child. The star sign of
Cancer would probably be best suited to assert Ceres’ rulership. Her need to
provide nutrition, to nurture and care deeply for others, links her with the
star sign of nurturing, while – always on the experimental level – her transits
or progressions regularly indicate periods of pregnancy, labour, the bringing
up of children etc. Cancer is a star sign emotional in its nature, much like
the nature of the tender mother that offers love and support during her baby's
first steps and lays the foundation for the development of his future faith in
himself and his self-esteem. Moreover,
as a maternal pattern, she describes precisely the manner in which a child
receives maternal care on growing up and which will consequently also define
him as a parent in the future! Self-esteem,
faith in one’s abilities, certainties and insecurities develop through the
first experiences of acceptance and guidance by the steady, full of love,
maternal hand. If it is absent for any reason, how many psychological complexes
could evolve, and what kind of relationships would we develop as adults, given
that we are habitually reproducing our parents' example?
Ceres as the ruler of Virgo
A goddess that
is represented next to crops of wheat, patron of earth, she symbolises the
growth and production of agricultural products. As the ruler of Cancer, she implies food as
the means of survival of a baby stepping on maternal love and care. As the
ruler of Virgo she implies food as our organism’s means of supply in order to
gain strength, and deal with everyday labour and duties (Virgo matters). Therefore
it often appears prominent – in the star sign of Virgo, in the charts of people
whose services are offered in the fields of hospitality, agriculture and
nutrition (health and work combined). In addition, Ceres’ maternal interest in
food focuses on matters of health or nursing as a means of therapeutic –
medicinal treatment. In any case, we all know that the best pharmacy is nature
itself and its products. Herbs, vitamins, and all ingredients necessary for our
system's regeneration are to be found aplenty in trees and plants. Health and
dietary habits are closely related to the star sign of Virgo and to professions
that also see Ceres at a key position.
THE TAURUS-SCORPIO AXIS
Researchers of
astrology have also attributed to Ceres a special relationship with the Taurus-Scorpio
axis. As Scorpio’s ruler, Pluto symbolises psychologically (and literally)
death and rebirth, while Taurus on the other side, symbolises a seed’s growth
and development. When the daughter, Persephone, was violently separated from
the mother, Ceres, came forth the negative manifestation in denial of growth,
drought, the threat of death by lack of food. We once again come across the
psychological meaning of death and rebirth, as well as the notion of pain and
separation, separation anxiety, abandonment and intense sorrow that may well
cross the threshold of depression.
CERES
and its aspects with planets of the natal chart.
In aspect with the Sun:
It brings
professional issues in the forefront. The person determines his personality
through professional choices and often faces trouble in his personal relations
precisely because of that.
In aspect with the Moon:
They assign
great importance to children—and if they don't have any of their own, to the
ones closest to them (nephews etc). If they have nobody to take care of, they
feel as if they are losing their identity. Extremely open to compromising their
wishes, even if they have to give everything away! They easily justify their
loved ones’ mistakes, and should they fail to impose boundaries on their
relationships, they could end up badly hurt.
In aspect with Mercury:
Written communication
takes on a different significance and is a marked talent. They are in the habit of writing and putting all
their emotions on paper. They find it
difficult to compromise, as they tend to retreat easily in themselves and think
too much.
In aspect with Venus:
They tend to go
chase the perfect love. They entangle their emotions and finances and are very
good in compromising provided they have feelings for somebody.
In aspect with Mars:
Extremely
resilient to hard work, they usually mature early due to family conditions
(e.g. absent father). They are marvellously energetic and have a strong desire
for love and tenderness. They are easily hurt and never hesitate to take a risk
in their negotiations.
In aspect with Jupiter:
Successful
people, even if the aspect is hard. They manage to secure their fellows' help
in the nicest manner, and always identify the right spot that will lead to the
best possible compromise.
In aspect with Saturn:
Born adults,
they enjoy adopting a paternal role when young. Responsibility and taking care
of their family is expected from them, a reality which in time may harbour
multiple complexes. They fail to see how they could provide space for action to
others in their environment.
In aspect with Uranus:
They much
prefer friendly to passionate relationships! They usually prefer long-distance
relationships with people of a different age group to themselves. They have a
difficult relationship with their mother, who is practically absent in most
cases.
In aspect with Neptune:
They lack a
clear self-image and may be sensitive and charitable offering more than they
should. They believe in unconditional
love and pursue it desperately risking to lose their own self in the process.
In aspect with Pluto:
They bear
enormous strength and possess strong negotiation skills. They are capable of achieving anything! When
Ceres is in soft aspects, their goal is rather significant and they resort to
compromise in order to attain it. When she is in hard aspects, they abandon
anything for their target’s sake.
In aspect with the Lunar Nodes:
They develop skills as they are interested in approaching relationships whose workings they ignore. They form relationships with people of power.
In aspect with the MC:
Their career is their personal identity.
Their career is their personal identity.
In aspect with the ASC:
They hold the ability to successfully project themselves.
They hold the ability to successfully project themselves.
Ceres’ return is considered a significant period
during which the personality undergoes a reorientation. Parent-child
relationships are established on new bases and greater understanding is
developed.
Characteristic aspects of Ceres are to be found in the
natal charts of politicians, prominent figures, diplomats, but also in those of
scientific researchers whose research revised antiquated ways of approach and
established new data:
Napoleon Bonaparte and Andreas Papandreou’s Ceres was
in close conjunction to their Sun. Alice Bailey, Helena Blavatsky and Alan
Leo's Ceres is closely aspected by Uranus. They all opened new, revolutionary
paths in teaching their subject.
In Albert Einstein’s natal chart, we come across a
narrow Ceres-Pluto aspect. The proof of his theory radically changed what was
then known regarding the nature of the Universal Cosmos.
The negotiations between the 40th president
of the USA, Ronald Reagan, and his then counterpart, Mikhail Gorbachev, are
considered to have laid the foundation for ending the Cold War era, by means of
reducing nuclear weapons and of the political reshuffle in Eastern Europe.
Ceres is to found in a prominent position in both their natal charts:
Gorbachev’s is conjunct his ascendant and his South Node, while Reagan's is at 21
degree Aries, in the tenth house, forming an exact square with Uranus, Mercury
and Neptune (Ceres is in fact participating in a T-square aspect) opposite Juno
from Libra (family problems with his children from his first marriage).
Sources:
Asteroid Seminars Series
Alpheeschool of Astrology
Asteroid Goddesses (Demetra George and Douglas Bloch)
