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The Meaning Of Asteroids In Astrology

Once you’ve nailed the Planets in your Natal Chart, looking into where the asteroids are can add some great layers of insight into different parts of what makes us tick, where we can find love, how we like to be taken care of, and so much more!

There are a handful of “asteroids” (just like the Sun and Moon are classified as Planets for ease, all celestial bodies and additional objects are usually labelled simply as asteroids in Astrology) that are almost always taken into account when looking at a Natal Chart.

The four major asteroids of most importance are Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta, known as the Asteroid Goddesses, with Chiron also being a major influencer, and often Eros and Hygeia are also considered as these altogether play the biggest role in our development and makeup. However, there are over 200 asteroids in the asteroid belt that can be looked into Astrologically if you like, and over 21,000 named asteroids in the solar system!

As they have less importance than the Natal Planets, generally they are only considered important within a 1-3º orb of a personal Planet, but they can point to some interesting characteristics nonetheless. We’ll look at each of them in more detail below:

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The Asteroids In Astrology

Just like when looking at the Planets in your Natal Chart interpretations, to see your asteroids you’ll also need your exact time of birth, date, and location to accurately pinpoint where they were at the time of your birth. You can get a free Birth Chart with asteroids here (as always, in the extended chart selection I like to select the Whole Signs House system because I think it’s more accurate).

As mentioned, often the four asteroids are only given significant importance if they are within a 1-3º orb with the Natal Planets or sensitive points (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, AC, DC, IC, MC). If they do not aspect any of your Planets, their House and Sign placement can still shed some illuminating light on certain Astrological aspects of yourself nonetheless, but may simply not play such a predominant role in your life.

Asteroid Ceres in Astrology

First up, we have asteroid Ceres, the loving asteroid of nurturance. Ceres is like our motherly figure, showing us what we need to truly feel nourished on a deep soul level, to feel safe, taken care of, and fulfilled. It sometimes points to areas that may be a little bit tender too and where our strengths lie in helping to heal others, in a similar way to Chiron.

The difference between Chiron and Ceres is that Chiron shows us the wound, that often takes a lifetime to heal and will be our biggest hurdle and reward, while Ceres shows us where we feel complete, how we like to be mothered, and how we mother in return (regardless of gender of course). So whereas Chiron is like trying to fill our cups up, Ceres is already full. What makes a Ceres in Pisces feel full will be very different to what a Ceres in Aries will feel like when most alive! Ceres is what we seek to nurture.

In mythology, Ceres is associated with the summer months, whose joy was said to make the season bloom. As such, she is associated with warm, endless days, the nostalgic scent of fresh grass and the gentle embrace of breeze. She was known as the Greek Goddess of the harvest, Demeter. When her daughter Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld, Hades, and only allowed back up for half the year because she ate 6 pomegranate seeds, she went into mourning- and thus we have the cycles of the seasons.

And so sometimes Ceres can also sometimes indicate a loss or separation in this area, although we eventually have the potential to return.

Ceres represents the natural cycles of life- we are born and dependant on our caretakers, until we age and become independent, then perhaps the roles reverse, until the cycle comes to an end and is repeated again. The bittersweet waves of life. In her, we have the layers of dependance and co-dependance, independence and inter-dependence. This is also strongly reflected in our self-care.

Ceres was the first asteroid to be discovered and is the largest (it makes up 1/3 of the whole mass of the asteroid belt!), and so in Astrology is given the weighty task of how we can ultimately find overall wellbeing in our life, mind-body-and-spirit, the way in which we take care of ourselves is one of the most important relationships we will ever develop throughout our lives.

After all, it is truly only ourselves that can make us thrive, or not, in our life. Ceres can teach us how to be our own best parent and help to look after our inner-child. If you add any asteroid into your Astrology practice, add Ceres! Astronomically, it has now been re-classified as a dwarf Planet.

Once you have found the House Ceres is in, and the others, in your Natal Chart, click here to read: What The Different Houses of Astrology Represent.

Asteroid Pallas in Astrology

Asteroid Pallas Athena, also known as Pallas Athene, the Goddess of War + Poetry, is our asteroid of wisdom. She points to where we are naturally gifted and talented, the areas in which we have an innate curiosity and intuition. While Mercury points more to logical, linear thinking, Pallas reflects our creative imagination, our non-linear thinking and ability to tap into an instinctive inner-knowing. As the warrior, asteroid Pallas can show us where we have grit and determination, to fight for, and champion.

When you have an area that you pick up with ease, Pallas is assisting. Where you seem to have divine insight, when you take to things like a fish to water, Pallas is there. She can also point to how you view the bigger picture and problem solve. Its sign placement in your Chart offers clues to your way of understanding and perceiving the world, how you assimilate, integrate, and embody information, as well as how you then express that creative intelligence outwardly.

For this reason, Pallas is also often associated with philosophical thinking, creative writing, poetry, interpretive dance, and other forms of expression, as well as how we learn and teach in return. Athena was also an expert craftsman, weaver, potter, archer, and embroider. Her symbols, the owl and spear, point to her contrasting nature of war and wisdom. Victory and knowledge.

As a virgin Goddess, she channelled her intellect into her artistic visions and was known as the Patron of other heroes such as Hercules and Odysseus. She perfectly balanced the internal yin and yang, the active and receptive energies, bridging the gap between head and heart.

When Pallas is out of balance, it can be an area that we become a bit of a know-it-all, feeling superior or judging others relative to our knowledge in a field. Or, it might tend towards stark black-and-white thinking rather than the nuanced grey that is life. Pallas was the second of the big four to be discovered, in 1804, and is the third largest. It is said to have a stronger influence over Virgo.

Asteroid Juno in Astrology

Asteroid Juno is known as the asteroid of commitment and pairing of soul mates. She is named after the Roman Goddess, where the month June also gets its name as this was traditionally (and still is!) associated with weddings. Where she is located in your chart can point to where/how you might find love and look for a relationship (for example, my Juno is in Libra in the 11th House conjunct my MC, and I was friends with my husband first (where we met at work), his Rising Sign is Libra, and we currently run this business together)!

She was also known as the Greek Goddess Hera, Queen of Gods, renowned for her devout loyalty. She was only one of two legally married woman in all of Olympia, along with Venus, married to the King of Gods, Jupiter/Zeus. And so, in Astrology, she has became strongly tied with partnerships, love, romance, marriage, loyalty, monogamy and commitment, as well as with money because with the merging of two people inevitably comes the merging of finances.

Juno was the third asteroid discovered in our solar system, in 1804, and can show us what we need in a relationship, our motivations for being in a relationship, and any attachment wounds we may have. With its placement, we can also see what we would require for a longterm commitment, as opposed to a short-lived fling, and the ways in which we can honour ourselves in partnership without losing our sense of self to the other. How to create fair, equitable, loyal, lasting relationships, including business partnerships, is the name of Juno’s game. It is said to have a stronger influence on Taurus.

When out of balance, Juno can point to areas of power struggles, jealousy, anxiety, over-attachment or manipulation. Ultimately, where asteroid Juno is in your Chart can point to what you are devoted to.

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Asteroid Vesta in Astrology

Vesta is known as the asteroid of spirituality. Discovered in 1807, it is technically classified as a dwarf planet, even though it orbits the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It was the fourth to be discovered and is the second largest. When the Ancient Romans used to celebrate the start of the year on the Spring/Vernal Equinox with ritual fires, the month eventually came to be associated with Vesta, the Goddess of Hearth and Home, tender of the sacred flame.

As one of the three Virgin Goddesses (the “Vestal Virgins”), Vesta reminds us of our inherent wholeness and purity, separate from others and sexuality. We cannot fully love another until we love ourselves, and “virgin” as translated from Ancient Greek, means “a woman unto herself”, referring to an unmarried woman, rather than in relation to sex as we take it to mean today- I am mine before I am anyone else’s.

In Ancient Roman times, there were appointed Vestal Virgins who protected the sacred fire outside the city walls, if they remained virgins until their 30-year sentence had completed, they were allowed to choose whether to marry or not afterwards. Many of them chose not to. The Goddess Vesta was also infamous for turning down such suitors as Apollo and Poseidon. She knew what she wanted and those powerful Gods weren’t it.

Vesta is our burning flame of divine spirituality, she asks us to proudly follow what lights us up, treasure our beacon of light and never dim ourselves for another. She represents sacred sexuality, whether with yourself or a partner, and when blocked, can point to areas of difficulty relating to these themes. How does your inner flame spark your spirituality, is what Vesta asks us to question? Where can we find meaning in life, what is divine to us, how can we combine the profane and mundane in this world with our sacred spirit?

Vesta can help you discover what will light you up, for example a Vesta in Sagittarius will feel a spark when having expansive conversations about philosophy, spirituality and travelling the world. She points to where you have an undying devotion or a belief that is sacred to you; a Vesta in Cancer will cherish family above all else and believe that nothing is more important or divine, with a strong sense of service to it.

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Asteroid Eros in Astrology

Next up, as the name suggests, we have the erotic asteroid of sexuality, Eros. Eros can teach us about our passions, desires and creativity, as well as potentially more explicitly what turns us on and what we need to feel satisfied, and any type of erotic fetishes.

In Greek mythology, Eros was the God of Desire, son of Aphrodite, also known as Cupid in Roman mythology. But this may not necessarily always be sexual, for example with a 6th House Eros in Capricorn conjunct Mercury, you may absolutely crave an organised work environment and having a structured space or routine may almost turn you on, so to speak. It can point to your burning passions in general or be more literal, such as an Eros in Scorpio may be attracted to deep, mysterious types and intense sexual relations.

Eros has a counterpart, Eris (a minor Planet) that points towards the sacred Divine Feminine energy of righteous anger, she can point to where you rebel and how.

The other minor Planets Astrologers often consider are Makemake, Quaoar, Varuna, Sedna, and Haumea, which may you like to look into more as well.

Asteroid Hygeia in Astrology

Hygeia is known as the asteroid of wellness, and is where the word- you guessed it- hygiene comes from. In Greek and Roman mythology, Hygeia was the daughter of Asclepius, the God of Medicine, whose symbol of a single snake entwined around a staff adorns ambulances and is embedded within the logo for the World Health Organization (often confused with the Caduceus, they share a similar meaning).

One of five sisters representing aspects of health and healing, Hygeia’s domain was preventative medicine: how to care for physical and mental health to avoid sickness in the first place, as opposed to curing illness once it has already arrived. In this respect, Hygeia can play an even bigger role in our society today as we look more towards forms of holistic medicine, care that takes in the whole aspect of mind-body-spirit for better success.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure as they say. But she also marries the science with the natural, sometimes we simply need a hospital or a vaccine, and sometimes we need ongoing herbal support. Those with strong Hygeia placements can similarly be found in both traditional medicine, such as doctors, and alternative health, such as holistic healers.

Where Hygeia is located in your chart shows what you need to feel well- how do you need to eat, move, sleep, be in the world, live, express yourself, and all the intricate parts that collectively make up our whole wellbeing. In fact, she may be more present now than ever, as we come out of difficult times globally that placed emphasis on health- where she is in your Chart may point to how you take care of yourself in times of need.

What habits, routines, and rituals, can you adopt to help yourself feel well, safe, good, healthy, vibrant, and whole? When out of balance, Hygeia can show us what heightens our stress, anxiety, and depression. A Hygeia in Aquarius may be more modern and technologically inclined when it comes to matters of health and wellbeing, liking to be a part of a group effort and care about the health of the planet.

Asteroid Chiron in Astrology

Chiron is known as the wounded healer in Astrology due to the mythical centaur, a powerful healer shot by a poison arrow who, unable to heal himself, being immortal was destined to suffer for eternity. He was eventually spared and placed among the stars but his symbol has come to represent what is our biggest, most tender wound in life. The one that will take a lifetime to heal, that we keep coming back to and repeating cycles over and over again with, but that in the end will pay the biggest recompense and where we can find the most profound healing.

Through this triumph of struggle and wholeness, we can then go on to be apt teachers to show others the way with how to heal their own similar wounds. For example, a Chiron in Gemini may forever be tormented by the feeling of oscillating between talking too much and too little, constantly feel not smart enough, or have an inability to efficiently express themselves.

Some say it refers to conditioning learnt in childhood, even prior to six months old, but sometimes it can develop or come more to the forefront later in life. Either way, inner child healing can always be beneficial!

For more information on what Chiron represents in each of the Zodiac Signs and Houses, read my specific post on How To Access Inner Healing With Chiron!

So that’s some of the meanings of the asteroids in Astrology, I hope this has helped to shed another layer of light onto your Natal Chart. Let me know if you have any questions or anything else to add in the comments section below!

If you’d like to uncover the secrets of your personal cosmic map and what it means for your purpose, calling, skills, growth, healing, relationships, and more- book yourself in for a personalised Natal Chart reading!

Don’t forget to check out our post on How To Read Your Natal Chart for more information, or enrol in my complete Cosmic Guidance: Astrology 101 Course to access all the secrets of the stars!