Asteroids in Astrology
Mandala of the Asteroid Goddesses
Artwork by Jean Luc Bozzoli
Within the brilliant
clear light of the Sun 
The silver light of the
Moon 
reflects the ground of lunar energy - the
undifferentiated feminine prior to manifestation with her powers of
fertilisation and transformation.
Arising from the center
is Venus 
Aphrodite, core essence of the
feminine nature in her manifest form. Through her powers of divine beauty
and magnetic desirability as love, she awakens the impulse to life.
In her emanation to the
North, the feminine appears as Ceres 
representing
her procreative aspect as mother in her propagation and nurturing of the species
In her emanation to the
South, the feminine appears as Pallas 
Athene,
representing her creative aspect as daughter giving rise to mental and artistic
progeny.
In her emanation to the
East, the feminine appears as Vesta 
representing
the self-containment of the feminine nature as Virgin and sister, complete
in-one-self, belonging to no man.
In her emanation to the
West, the feminine appears as Juno, 
representing
the union of the feminine nature with the masculine as consort and wife through
the Sacred marriage, Conjunctio.
In his exploration into the human psyche, CJ Jung determined that there exist basic unifying symbols which describe the nature and relationships of archetypal energies. One such symbol is the ~mandala~, the Sanskrit word for "circle". The key feature of a circle is that it posseses both a circumference and a centre. The centre of innermost point is surrounded by a periphery containing everything that belongs to the self - the paired opposites make up the total personality. The Asteroid Mandala is a visual image that integrates the primary components of the feminine principle of human expression. The feminine principle represented here manifests in both men and women. Feminine is not a synonym for female or woman, but indicates one half of a human polarity - and neither half, masculine or feminine, exists without the other. Both sides exist within both human sexes. while in the past the feminine principle has been expressed primarily by women, due to the present rebalancing of masculine and feminine energies signified by the emergence of the asteroids, men are now identifying and expressing their feminine nature.
The foundation or ground of the feminine principle is represented by the potential power of the Moon. In the centre the core essence of the feminine nature in active form is depicted by Venus Aphrodite. At the periphery, the paired opposite asteroids Ceres-Pallas Athene and Vesta-Juno describe the basic differentiated functions of feminine activity. In this manner the asteroid mandala illustrates the principle of ~wholeness~. Each celestial body defines the characteristic relationships between the self in the centre and the components of the self on the periphery, thereby creating a unified image of feminine consciousness.
Within the Brilliant Clear Light of the Sun
Feminine expression as symbolised by the Moon in the mandala presupposed the existence of masculine expression symbolised by the Sun. Masculine and feminine are polar manifestations of the same force which, when unified, forms what mystics have defined as ~oneness~. Feminine in and of itself does not exist; it is the feminine end of the polarity.
In the mandala the Moon/Sun serve as symbolic representations of the undifferentiated divine force of Goddess/God awareness. Symbolically, the Sun emanates its light and projects its creative energy outward. The reflective quality of the Moon returns the light back to the source, thereby completing the sol-lunar circuit. This creates an ongoing cycle in which the Sun and Moon continuously interact and interpenetrate each other.
The Silver Light of the Moon Reflects the Ground of Lunar Energy - the Undifferentiated Feminine Prior to manifestation with Her Powers of Fertilisation and Transformation
The Moon is the primary symbol of the feminine polarity personified by the ancients as the Goddess. The Moon, in her phases of waxing and waning, symbolises the many goddesses that represent the various facets of her changing face. The Moon contains the totality of the potential of feminine expression. Combined within her are all of the possible expressions of the Goddess in their ethereal forms prior to manifestation.
The cyclic nature of the Moon reveals two principles of feminine power. The first principle that manifests through the feminine polarity is the power of growth and fertilisation - forces that quicken the life impulse to recreate and sustain itself.
The second principle that manifests through the feminine polarity is the power of transformation. Feminine energy is transformative in that it possesses the ability to change one thing into another.
Subsequently the Moon Goddess became refined and revered in a symbology known as the triple Moon Goddess. In her phase of the waxing new crescent moon, she displayed herself as Artemis, who symbolised the strength of the maiden, ruling the season of spring, and the upper air. Upon reaching the full moon, she became Selene, who depicted the middle phase of a woman's life, that of mother, who embodies the qualities of fertility and productivity, ruling the season of Summer and the Earth. As the waxing dark moon she became Hecate, symbolising the final phase of life as crone, wise-old-one, distilling wisdom essence into the seed, ruling the season of Winter and the Underworld. The crone, having passed through maternity, cyclicly emerges anew as the Maiden.
The large silver circle of the Moon contained within the golden Sun's light represents the entirety of the potential powers of feminine expression, including the powers of fertilisation and transformation. Its phase changes symbolise the many different goddesses who are unique expressions of the ever changing face of the Great Goddess. Each of the goddesses of the moon, as they periodically withdraw into their waning dark phase, teach the mysteries and initiations of the intermediary passage between death and rebirth.
Arising from the Centre is Venus Aphrodite, Core Essence of the Feminine Nature in Her Manifest Form. Through her Powers of Divine Beauty and Magnetic Desirability as Love, She Awakens the Impulse to Life.
From the centre of the basic realm of primal lunar energy emerges Venus Aphrodite, the symbol of the active, magnetic , reproductive force of the feminine nature.
The archetypal feminine energy as Aphrodite also subdivides into a trinity, where she is identified with the names Aphrodite Pandemos, Aphrodite Ourania and Apostrophia. Plato makes a clear distinction between the ~common love~ which is Aphrodite Pandemos and the idealised spiritual or platonic love of Aphrodite Ourania (literally ~heavenly love~}. Apostrophia, the third form, translates as ~she who turns herself away~.
Referring again to the image of the mandala, from the centre of the lunar ground arises the core of feminine expression ~Venus Aphrodite~ the essential productive force which manifests through the feminine polarity as divine beauty, magnetic desirability and love.
Using her magnetic energy, Venus Aphrodite can either affect an attractive force between people, or she can turn away and create a repelling force. The ability to stir love and arouse erotic impulses in others but not to take responsibility for what one has awakened sets into motion the ~karmic causes~ which yield the future experiences of being ~rejected in love~. As Apostrophia ~she who turns herself away~ the dark side of Venus initiates us into the painful experiences of rejection and loss in love. She teaches us the meaning of responsibility so that we may learn to be sensitive to the emotional impact of arousing affections in others. Through experiencing the sorrow of rejection and loss, we learn the spiritual lessons associated with the transitory nature of love. Through pain and suffering Venus Aphrodite comes to realise the impossibility of possessing love. Love and passion are by their very nature impermanent. through the recognition of the transient nature of earthly love, Venus Aphrodite is able to express with heightened intensity, the ecstatic bliss of the Divine Love which begets and renews life.
The Asteroids - The completion of the Mandala
Referring to the Mandala we see that the outer circle of Sun/Moon represents the domain of the feminine polarity of consciousness, whilst the centre identifies Venus as the centre and active source of this feminine potential. The circuitry of feminine consciousness uses the asteroids as a ground through which the feminine energy can flow and thus differentiate into unique patterns of activity.
The asteroids, Ceres, Pallas Athene, Vesta and Juno each utilise the sexual energy of Venus in their own particular way. They represent the various functions and activities of the feminine nature.
In the past, people have confused women's relationships with her feminine functions and thus denied the feminine functions of men. Moreover, certain stereotyped visions of women's relationships have narrowed the expression of women's functions as well, allowing only certain manifestations as societally approved. On a biological level, mother, daughter, sister and wife are the primary relationships a woman has based on ties of blood and kin. However, the feminine functions are much more varied that the stereotyped activities of women as mother, daughter, sister and wife. The feminine function include a range of activities and accomplishments which flow from the feminine polarity energy manifesting in both men and women.
Taking the mandala from an astrological perspective - the North-South Axis represents the meridien connecting the Mid- Heaven with the IC. which depicts ones outer public personality role (MC) versus one's private inner nature and domain {IC}, and the East-West axis connects the Ascendant with the Descendant describing the polarity between one's self identity (Ascendant) and one's relationship to the ~other~ {Descendant}.
The four asteroids Ceres, Pallas Athene, Vesta and Juno also lie along these cardinal points thereby creating a mandala of relatedness and unification. Hence the essence of the potential generative and transformative power of the Great Goddess (Moon) in her active, reproductive energy (Venus) differentiates into four functions of feminine activity. Ceres at the IC utilises the sexual-creative energy to create physical beings and the food for their survival. Pallas Athene at the MC utlises the sexual-creative energy to birth mental and artistic forms. Vesta at the Ascendant utilises the sexual-creative energy to renew and regenerate the self. Juno at the Descendant, utilises the sexual creative energy to renew and regenerate others.
In her emanation
to the North, the feminine appears as Ceres
representing her procreative aspect as
Mother in her propagation and nurturing
of the species
The feminine archetype first manifests at the IC as Ceres the Mother. As such, she goes beyond Venus` sexual magnetism which activates the potential for life, by utlising the creative energy for the procreative generation of physical forms. The mother nutures the embrionic new life within her and then gives birth to the child. The nuturance continues until the child becomes independent and self sufficient in its own right. Thus, the mother is also responsible for producing the foodstuffs which feed and nourish the propagation of the species.
As mother, Ceres also symbolises the principle of unconditional love, sustaining and nourishing newly created life forms. Ceres also contains the secret of the great mystery of birth, death and renewal, which speaks to the feeding and nourishment of the soul and spirit.
Ceres` outer colour is green, symbolising the abundant display of the vegetation of cultivated soil. Her inner colour is blue-black, the colour of the underworld where seeds lie dormant within the earth during winter incubation. Ceres practical qualities also associate her with the element of earth.
In the symbolism of the astrological wheel, Ceres corresponds to the north position of the IC representing the principles of foundation, roots and family. Astrologically, Ceres represents the ability to unconditionally love and accept yourself and others. She teaches the wisdom that sharing and letting go lead to reunion.
In her emanation
to the South, the feminine appears as Pallas
Athene, representing her creative aspect as Daughter giving rise to mental and
artistic progeny.
Opposite from Ceres, located at the south position on the mandala, is Pallas Athene, the Daughter. As Goddess of Wisdom, she is active, creative intelligence that gives birth to thought forms. Here the reproductive energy of Venus is released not through the genitals, but rises like the kundalini serpent to the head where the creative generation of ideas (mental progeny) is born. hence, Pallas Athene represents the principle of creative wisdom.
Her colour is yellow, symbolising the mastery of the intellectual domain, and her mental qualities link her to the element of air.
In the symbolism of the astrological wheel, Pallas Athene corresponds to the Midheaven, where visibly, socially useful accomplishments are realised. Astrologically, Pallas Athene represents one's mental creativity and the capacity to create and control one's reality. When a person becomes clouded by ignorance, Pallas Athene's cycle takes them through the transformative process of destruction and renewal of their life structures. She teaches the wisdom that the mind's eye contains the seed of manifested form.
The bi-polar relationship between Ceres and Pallas Athene is symbolised by the IC-MC polarity, forming an axis of creative energy and power. The reproductive-creative energy of Venus is expressed through Ceres as the procreative generation of physical forms, and through Pallas Athene as the creative generation of mental forms.
In her emanation
to the East, the feminine appears as Vesta
representing the self-containment of the feminine nature as Virgin and Sister,
complete in-one-self, belonging to no man.
At the eastern position of the mandala on the Ascendant lies Vesta, the Sister. Her virgin nature is defined in the ancient sense as being complete and whole in herself. Here Vesta uses the reproductive energy of Venus for self-regeneration. Vesta is the principle of focus and commitment which utilises the creative energy in a one-pointed devotion and dedication toward specific goals and aspirations.
In her original form and nature, Vesta ruled the virgin priestesses of the temple and esoteric orders of sisterhoods who, in sacred rites, brought the fertilising power of the Moon into effective contact with the lives of human beings. In later times, as the concept of virgin came to signify sexual chastity, Vesta's outer face expressed itself through sexual denial, celibacy and barrenness. On an occult level the sexual energy was internalised in order to attain inner spiritual union.
Vesta's outer colour is white/crystal, symbolising the purity that gives rise to luminosity as seen in her symbol of the torch. Her aspirational qualities link her with the element of fire; her glyph is the symbol for fire itself - the eternal flame and secrete sexual fires.
In the symbolism of the astrological wheel, Vesta corresponds to the Ascendant, which relates to self-identity and autonomy. Astrologically, Vesta represents the ability to focus energy and experience wholeness of self. Vesta's cycle takes the individual through the transformative process of the newal of their virginity (essential self). The teaches the wisdom that periodic retreat from others in order to cleanse and regenerate the self can lead to a clarity of vision and purpose.
In her emanation
to the West, the feminine appears as Juno,
representing the union of the feminine nature with the masculine as consort and
wife through the Sacred marriage, Conjunctio.
Opposite from Vesta at the western position of Descendant, lies Juno the wife. As Goddess of Marriage, Juno symbolises the union of the feminine and masculine through the vehicle of committed relationship. The reproductive energy of Venus is utilised to foster relationship and consummate union with the other. On an occult level, Juno holds the secret teachings of sexual tantric practices where perfected relationship is used as a path to spiritual realisation.
Juno is the principle of relatedness and commitment to the other. In her longing for union, Juno's gifts of intimacy and sharing are often expressed as jealousy and manipulation. This occurs when she feels powerless and tries to regain her lost influence through covert means. Juno's outer colour of red describes her passion and her desire to possess. Her inner colour is blue-violet, symbolising the transcendence of deep union. her emotional qualities link her to the element of water, a medium which dissolves separate forms and unifies their essences.
In the symbolism of the astrological wheel, Juno corresponds to the Descendant as awareness and co-operation with the other. Astrologically, Juno represents one's capacity for meaningful relationship and commitment to another person. Juno's cycle takes one through the transformative process of consummation and separation in relationships. She teaches the wisdom that forgiveness and fair play lead to depth and renewal with others.
The bi-polar relationship between Vesta and Juno, symbolised by the Ascendant-Descendant polarity depicts the line of relationship energy of the feminine. Although Vesta interacts with the masculine, she remains autonomous and becomes reabsorbed back into herself. Juno, on the other hand, unifies with the masculine principle. The symbolic union completes the circle of the mandala of feminine expression.
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