Asteroides Mayores

Ceres: The Dark Harvest (Part 1: Introduction)
But what makes it hard for me is that I dont know how I could possibly enter that
eternal alliance with Mother Earth. I dont kiss Mother Earth, I dont plow her soil
Should I, then, become a peasant, a shepherd, or what? I go on and on, and I dont know
where Ill find myself next in stench and disgrace or in light and joyeverything in
this world is a puzzle. Whenever Ive sunk into the deepest shame and depravity and
that has happened to me more often than anything else Ive always recited that poem
about the goddess Ceres and mans fate. But has it reformed me? Noif I must plunge
into the abyss, Ill go head first, feet in air. Ill even find a certain pleasure in falling in
such a humiliating way in the very midst of degradationI must still be allowed to
kiss the hem of the veil in which my God is shrouded; and even if I may be following in
the devils footsteps, Ifelt the joy without which the world cannot be.*
My first encounter with Ceres came not through astrology, but through the Dostoyevsky
novel The Brothers Karamazov. In an early part of the novel, Dmitri Karamazov, the
sensualist, confesses his degradation to his brother, the compassionate and spiritual
Alyosha. Dmitri is torn by the fact that he cannot redeem himself for the sins of excess
and greed he has committed. And in the middle of this confession, Dmitri tells Alyosha
that when he is wallowing in his vileness, he recites to himself Schillers Hymn to
Joy. In this poem, the goddess Ceres searches the Earth for her lost daughter. What she
finds is an ugly and violent world that has abandoned the natural order, and ceases to
honour what she loves. The poem introduces the idea of mans need for redemption for
the crime of abandoning the rhythms of the Earth itself.
From the peak of high Olympus
Came the mother Ceres down,
Seeking in those savage regions
Her lost daughter Proserpine.
But the Goddess found no refuge,
Found no kindly welcome there,
And no temple bearing witness
To the worship of the gods.
From the fields and from the vineyards
Came no fruits to deck the feasts,
Only flesh of bloodstained victims
Smoldered on the altar-fires,
And whereer the grieving goddess
Turns her melancholy gaze,
Sunk in vilest degradation
Man his loathsomeness displays
Would he purge his soul from vileness
And attain to light and worth,
He must turn and cling for ever
To his ancient Mother Earth
It is her secret ferment fires
The cup of life with flame.
Tis at her beck the grass hath turned
Each blade towards the light
And solar systems have evolved
From chaos and dark night,
Filling the realms of boundless space
Beyond the sages sight
Her gifts to man are friends in need,
The wreath, the foaming must,
To angels vision of Gods throne,
To insects sensual lust.
Its an odd thing for a novelist to put a poem smack in the middle of his story. He can
only justify it when the poem is central to the themes of the novel. The grieving goddess
is horrified by the excesses of man: the reckless and senseless deaths of the bloody
carcasses burning on the altars, the wanton lust for flesh. Dostoyevsky was obsessed
with mans excesses: of flesh, of blood lust, of intoxication, of greed. His characters,
like Dimiti, are forever pushing the boundaries of what is balanced and acceptable,
struggling to find the strength of restraint and coming up weak and unworthy. He
doesnt stop with ordinary lust. There are characters with lusts for the spirit, or with lust
for intellectual dominance, lust for control. And the lesson is always the sameour lusts
tip the balance, and punishment must come when balance is disrupted. We must do
penance for our excesses, whatever they might be, to set the world right again and be
redeemed. When the rhythms of the Earth are disrupted, when the natural order and
respect for that order has been usurped, then we court disaster in all its forms; we court
death.
Dostoyevsky and Ceres both understand the roots of excesshunger and deprivation.
Where Ceres lies in the chart, we have hungers we must acknowledge, or they may
destroy us.
The first part of Karamazov is about being orphaned, abandoned, unwanted. What is
more unnatural than an abandoned child? Ceres is about the primal bond between
mother as both source and sustainer of the life she brings into the world. To the child,
she is the world itself. The second half of the book is about the search for spiritual
sustenance, and here Ceres can truly help us.
We speak often about Ceres in relation to food. Ceres position in house and sign shows
us how we may be nourished and renewed by the world. Where Ceres is badly aspected,
we can often feel orphaned, neglected, unfed. Unwanted. There is a difference between
feeling unloved as a being of this earth, (abandoned by the right to receive prosperity
and happiness), and feeling unloved as a romantic partner, though the two issues are
often similar and devilishly entwined in their origins.
People often talk about Ceres simply in terms of feeding, nurturing, caring, mothering.
But Ceres reigns over much more, and she has her dark side, too. Sure, she walks
around waving those stalks of wheat. But, umwhats that there? I see poppiesblood
red poppies. And whats moving around under that wheata snake? The lesser known
symbols of Ceres hold the key to understanding her.
Ceres reveals herself very strongly in a study of secondary progressions. Ceres is often
on an angle when a major life passage is at stake, a birth, a marriage, a death. Shes
often prominent in divorce, or when natural disasters sweep homes away. Ceres is often
featured in progressions when we lose the very thing we believe we need to livea
partner, professional status, financial security. Although we think of her as the goddess
of the grain, Ceres symbol is built from a scythe, the very tool that severs that grain
from the earth when it is ripe and leaves the fields bare to seed again. Ceres is also there
when we lose things through neglect and lack of respect. Im reminded of a commercial
that was popular a few decades ago, which had the tagline, Its not nice to fool Mother
Nature. Mother Nature would come in and take a bite of toast. When she was told that
it was margarine, not butter, she would freak out and stir up a minor hurricane or
deluge. Thats not Mother Nature, thats Ceres, and she becomes furious when shes
tampered with. This is not a goddess you want to fool or betray. Our physical lives are
at her mercy. There is a bit of Medea in the dark Cereson a bad day, she is capable of
killing her own. I remember a line from an old Bill Cosby routine. When he and his
brothers were acting up, his father would burst in on them and cry, I gave you life, and
I can take it away! Men have a good dollop of Ceres in them, too.
Ceres was the goddess the Romans rushed to appease when freakish things happened to
disturb the balance of life. If the wells dried up or it rained toads, offerings were made
to appease Ceres wrath. Ceres had a number of symbolic functions. She oversaw,
amongst other things:
The physical journey from birth to death, and all its major rituals.
The female passage into maturity.
The balance of nature.
The feeding, nurturing and sustaining of life.
The seasons and cycles of lifenatural order and balance.
The pleasure and satisfaction of the senses and appreciation for the physical world.
The giving and receiving of unconditional love.
The interplay of darkness and light.
The attachment to or abandonment of what we have created.
The passage between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
It is Ceres who allows us to understand that beginnings and endings are all of a part.
The illustration at the top shows a depiction of Ceres (Roman, BC, exact date unknown)
bursting from the earth, stalks of wheat and poppies in her hand, snakes coiled around
her arms. The symbolism of the poppy is complex and stretches back to Greco-Roman
times. It has connotations of both sleep and deathsleep, because of its connection to
opiates, and death, from its blood-red colour spilling over the fields. Blood red also
symbolizes eternal life. No accident we wear her poppies in November to honour our
own fallen soldiers.
Ceres was the one who guided us from the living world to the world of the dead. The
poppy here has an additional meaning. It is believed that opiates thin the veil between
the worlds. The ritual of the Mundus Cereruswas performed to break down the barriers
between the living and the dead, and allow phantoms to walk the Earth. Ceres also
carries a torch, which can be an alternative interpretation of her glyphthe fire, a symbol
of life eternally renewing itself, no matter the depth of the darkness, torch and scythe as
one. Interesting that our celebration of this time of year, the time of the thinning veil,
Halloween or Samhain, or All Souls Day, and the annual wearing of poppies on
Remembrance Day are not far apart. Spare a thought for Ceres as we celebrate this
weekend, doling out treats to our children.
The other striking character of the poppy is its multitude of seed. Those pod heads have
erotic connotations. (Dont think those shafts of wheat are so innocent and virginal,
eitherare you listening to me, Virgos?) But well save those, and the snakes, for the
next time.
*From The Brothers Karamazov, translation Andrew H. MacAndrew.
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34 Comments
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1. helen 10.30.10 / 3am
1
This description reminds me of the symbolism of Scorpio, eighth house and Pluto. Or
maybe the opposition between Taurus and Scorpio.
2. alcuin9 10.30.10 / 10am
2
Shes very much about the opposition between Taurus and Scorpio. Its almost as if
shes the answer
3. Don Musser 10.30.10 / 8am
3
what do you read in Ceres and Pluto combining with the Capricorn North Node in
opposition to the Cancer South Node ? when you mentioned writing an article on either
Mars/Chiron or Ceres on your Facebook page it struck me that those two topics are
related somehow .perhaps the elimination and harvesting of dark and messy
Martian / Lunar dynamics ?
4. f 10.30.10 / 12pm
4
Funny you should say that its almost as if she holds the answer to the oppostion
between Scorpio and Taurus, as she very directly squares my Scorpio rising and Taurus
seventh at 1419 from leo 1613
5. LB 10.30.10 / 1pm
5
I also find it funny you mention the Taurus/Scorpio axis, since my 2nd house Ceres sits
exactly opposite my 8th house Eris/Osc. Lilith. Ceres is also part of a mystical rectangle
involving my IC and MC/Aldebaran. And its part of a grand trine with my 5th house
Moon and MC.
Probably my biggest issue in life was caused by my sense of abandonment over my

mothers failure to protect and value me. Ironically, my healing came when I stopped
expecting anything and instead provided her with the food/shelter and care she needed
at the end of her life.
The Taurus/Scorpio theme is mirrored in other areas of my chart as well, including my

2nd house NN/8th house SN. After reading this, Im wondering if this polarity is
commonly found in the charts of those with a prominent Ceres.
Transiting Saturn has recently been conjunct my natal Ceres, and issues of protection
(and fairness, since mine is in Libra) have come up once again. Ive also just started out
on a new career path as a Reiki practitioner, helping to balance energy.
I have to add, only because its kind of strange, that my solar return this year took place
on the day of the Ceres/Pluto conjunction which trines my natal 12th house Pluto. I
cant wait for Part 2!
6. rob 10.30.10 / 2pm

6
very fine writing Dawn, and, not having read Dostoyevsky or Schiller, the poetry is
breathtaking. being a sculptor, I love the carving too
She is quite a full-on and complex archetype and I feel that you have really conveyed
something of her raw and archetypal energy here Ceres seems to carry both detached
and engaged emotive power simultaneously perhaps that is a reflection of the Scorpio
Taurus dichotomy
I am now just wondering about her symbology as a potential agent of healingCeres

did stand up to Pluto I too am seperated from my daughter and can feel the fierce pull
and instinctive drive that Ceres has, and yes, it is balanced and healed through
unconditional love, but, ironically, this is not only conscious as I know it also has an
instinctive quality that I feel as a parent without this Ceres would risk falling into the
Orcus camp, out for retribution, and that is an important distinction to me
nevertheless, I am also wondering if there are different gender contexts for her in a
healing role she begs the question of where the Plutonic role is in seperation as
well..
is there also a generational healing question in there, through her daughters abduction
at the hands of Pluto, not only of different Pluto placements between generations, which
may affect Ceres healing context, but, of parents to children too, of cyclical continuity
in contrast to linear polarisation I wonder about this as Pluto crosses the NNode with
Ceres having just transited both
Amongst other things I work with shamanic healing and divining practices and have a
great interest in the indicators that come through astrology for integrated practice soul
loss is an endemic problem as a positive attribute, do you see Ceres (like Vanth, via
Orcus) as a signifier of opportunity for transmigration of the soul, especially in the face
or aftermath of trauma she is seeming to offer resolution of the Life/Death continuum,
perhaps through re-integration, acceptance on different terms, of overcoming the threat
of discontinuity and soul lossin which case she could be very significant for our
times, on many levels..?
On a more mundane level I like it that you have made her distinct from mother
nature. With the current transits in Cap. I am wondering if Ceres looks to work as
catalyst in the re-evaluation of our relationship not only to mundane resources, but, even
the idea of resources itself
I realise all this may be overloading of the symbol, but, feel compelled to ask with
Ceres et al transiting opp. natal 8th ho Moon just now + with this and my NNode in
Scorpio the comments above are very helpful many thanks to all and to you Dawn for
a great article
7. alcuin9 10.30.10 / 6pm
7
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughtful and considered remarks. This piece is only the
introduction, and were going to get into the deeper and more complex issues
surrounding Ceres as we go on. I will get into the issues that Don, LB, and Rob have
brought up, but I will say that I believe that now is the time for the relation between
Ceres and Pluto to be brought to light, particularly in tune with the Capricorn North
Node. Capricorn asks us to buildPluto there is asking us to rebuild, from the ground up
if necessary. Ceres there is reminding us that there are cycles of ebb and flow, and there
must be balance, otherwise we find disaster. We must check our primal natures and
needs and remember that we are part of something greater, that if we tip the balance of
our world, we destroy everything around us. Whatever we build now, as a culture, must
not come from security needs and hungers and fears (Cancer) but must come from a
sense of responsibility and inner authority (Capricorn). The childish greed of our past
will no longer work as a motivator. We need a larger perspective. I would think that any
greed-based, fear-based, or power-based enterprises would be in for an overhaul right
now. The world (Ceres) will not sustain them.
8. Don Musser 10.31.10 / 2pm
8
here is a link to a previous article by Dawn on Plutonian relations that fits in with the
Pluto / Ceres/ Nodal contact :
http://theinnerwheel.com/2009/11/13/synastry-q-a-plutonian-relations/
the comments to this linked article are insightful and valuable for anyone moving into
and thru Plutonian areas.
9. Marina Caruso 10.31.10 / 10pm
9
Im so glad to have found your Blog. Great stuff. Its taken me a while to get Ceres. I
had been searching for the missing major Persephone/Dark Goddess archetype for
while. I use Black Moon Lilith and was looking at Eris. But Eris is far too slow and
Asteroid Persephone is too small for anything but fine-tuning.
Ceres recent conjunction with Pluto seems to have put her in the spotlight and we have
gained more understanding of her in mundane events, with the icelandic earthquake and
the recent trapped miners. So that was it, she was right under my nose the whole time,
but Id missed her because I had only been looking at one side of her. But re-reading
Demetra George and now this has shown me her Winter side.
I love the bit about the Poppies, Ive not read that anywhere before. Now that Ceres is in
equal status with Pluto its about time she was recognized as Chiron (is and hes not
even a dwarf planet.) We need more Goddesss up there!
With more articles like these it should redress the balance which is what she is all about.
Really looking forward to more articles. Thank-you.
Next year I plan to add Sun/Ceres aspects to our aspect data base. Just started Sun/Pluto.
10. Jamie Darkstar 11.01.10 / 8am
10
Very illuminating. Ive only recently been paying attention to Ceres in charts, and just
getting to know her in mine. I guess related to the first Ceres Pluto conjunction since her
promotion and his demotion.
Ceres is rather strong in my chart, the midpoint of Ascendant trine Jupiter (whole thing
about one degree orb). So Ceres is the focal point of a minor grand trine = practical
mysticism, deep journey into the occult to find some use for it.
Now I love what you have interpreted from that relief at the top of your post. When
transiting Pluto was midway between my AC and Ceres, square my Jupiter, I was in the
depths of a five year association with the Poppy. Gluttonous being at the midpoint of
Jupiter AC, but them I had always associated that journey into the underworld with
Pluto. Pluto as ruler of the herb, dark, pain, death.
Now I see the association with Ceres very cleary, the snake of wisdom, wisdon coming
from accessing the darkside through altered states of consciousness. And this fits the
excerpt from the book you quoted if I must plunge into the abyss, Ill go head first, feet
in air. Ill even find a certain pleasure in falling in such a humiliating way in the very
midst of degradation Oh boy that was apt. In the depths with everything taken away,
living in survival mode, outcast.
Well, that my ramble. Really enjoyed your post and look forward to the next
installment.
11. alcuin9 11.01.10 / 11am
11
Thanks, Marina and Jamie, for your comments. I really do feel that this is Ceres time to
be known, and shes making sure we understand her power. The unusual thing in the
Ceres mythology is that she has a pact with Plutogods usually dont go around
agreeing with one another. Persephone moves between the light and the darkness, but
Ceres and Pluto understand that without the one there cannot be the other. More on this
next timeAnd yes, we absolutely need more goddesses up there.
12. KK 11.06.10 / 12am
12
I feel Ceres in a womans chart is the seat of motivation (whether justified or not) which
will uproot her maternal presence from the home.
Having gone to a place where (in locational astrology) put my Ceres on the MC, my
nurturing and healing abilities are all over the place except at home.
I know somebody whos got Ceres conjunct ASC natallyeverybody looks up to him
as a paternal figure. However, he is estranged from his own father and himself distant
from his own children. Very ironic for one person who can organize a large
organization spanning continents.
I could go on and on with examples but yeah Ceres can really whip up a storm when
mom or dad had been away from home too long.
13. LB 11.06.10 / 11am
13
KKs comment made me think. Mine is in the 2nd, trine Moon in the 5th, and as the
office manager for a special-education school for 20+ years, I often acted as the mother
figure to both staff and students. Trine the MC, Im constantly asked if I have children
by those in the world who view me as some sort of idealized maternal type I can
sometimes tell theyre not quite sure what it is theyre picking up on, but whatever it is,
they want it. Opposite 8th house Eris/Osculating Lilith, I become angry with those who
would demand too much without taking responsibility for their own behavior and
resources when theyre able to do so. So no mothering (enabling) for them, unless
they want tough love.
As a healer, Id like to work with either the elderly, or else babies born prematurely. My
2nd house Ceres forms a quintile with Saturn in the 4th.
Interestingly, I dont have children of my own, although I do nurture anyone and

everyone who comes into my home.
14. alcuin9 11.06.10 / 1pm

14
KK and LB,
You have both picked up on what differentiates Ceres from the usual lunar archetype of
mother. The Cancerian mother archetype is about the maiden who becomes the young
mother, her breasts are full and she is at one with her child. Ceres is about the mother
who oversees the continuation of all life. When Ceres is prominent, there is often a
separation from the personal mother and a redistribution of that energy into the more
universal mother. Ceres lost her daughter for half the yearshe is about the necessary
sacrifices that must be made for life to continue its cycles, and that includes periods
where the fields must lie fallow. More of this next time.
15. Bronwn Rees 11.08.10 / 4am
15
Im really interested in coming across your page, and this discussion on Ceres. Ive
been working with issues of gender, trauma, spirituality for many years, at the same
time as bringing some of these messages into organisations where Ceres has been
sadly neglected and pushed away. I work and publish on the lack of systemic caring in
insitutions, and how this is destroying the environment, though I use the tools of the
academic to do this. I am also founder of East West Sanctuary, in Budapest, where one
of the aims is trying to find ways of bringing men and women into better relationship
creating a space for the healing of the generational wounds of the past that still manifest
from the second world war.
I have had a personal meeting with Ceres through the wounding of my own daughter.
My Ceres is opposite my MC ( and much of my work tends to be, of necessity, unseen)
and venus, trine my ascendant and mercury, so perhaps it is time that I begin to
communicate some of the work that I have been doing over the years.
Pluto and the transiting North Node are now conjunct my own North Node in
Capricorn, which is perhaps pointing me in the direction of taking ever more
responsibility for this work. Glad to feel that there are like-minded people here too.
16. alcuin9 11.08.10 / 10am
16
Welcome to the site, Bronwn. Its very clear to me that Ceres is taking her place in the
collective as an important archetype right nowshe has too long been ignored, and we
have committed great crimes for lack of her. She certainly makes an impact in
relationships, as well, and I will get to that later on in the series.
17. Sabina 11.12.10 / 11pm
17
Oh, yesyesyesyesyes. IT is, indeed, time to speak of and hear from Ceres. And, yes,
it shall be a dark harvest whether we do or not.
Eric Francis, WillowsWeb and Chirotic Journal have been addressing Ceres in helpful
ways, I find, but you appear to be approaching the depth, complexity and synthesis I
have been seeking. And balance, if such a state will even be achievable in my lifetime,
for Pluto will be held to account.
(My vehemence may stem from sun Virgo 12th /Virgo Asc, Ceres cj Venus cj Saturn cj
Lilith on the via combusta opp Taurus moon 8th, Mars cj NN Capricorn 4th , with
Uranus cj Jupiter cj Hebe in Cancer 10th, and Orcus cj Vesta on the mid-heaven. And
this Vestal Virgo does not blush at talk of shafts and snakes.)
Eagerly anticipating Part 2. Many thanks for all you do here.
18. Sol 11.22.10 / 6am
18
Wonderful read, Dawn. I often think of Ceres as the betrayal of the feminine, the great
Matriarch is betrayed by the men, who decided her daughters destiny without
consulting her.
No wonder she strikes furiously from time to time

19. alcuin9 11.22.10 / 12pm
19
Thanks, Sol. Her anger is so often justified. But it can get complicated, particularly in
synastry, when Ceres can represent both the betrayal of the feminine, and by the
femininethe promise of nurture withdrawn. Well get into this more later on.
20. Sol 11.22.10 / 3pm
20
I have seen so much related to mother-daughter-betrayal during this recent Pluto-Ceres
conjunction. The drama of Pluto-Ceres is almost like a divorce-settlement drama, where
they share the kid.. The most painful I encountered was probably the woman who had
traded one of her two daughters so that she could get her divorce. Now, as the pluto-
ceres conjunction came up, the ex-husband had gone to court to get custody over both.
She saw this as a chance to regain her lost daughter.
21. viola magmar 07.21.11 / 3am
21
Thank you for pointing at this site. I have since long considered Ceres most interesting
and linked her to the passage from life to death, having found her prominent, especially
in 11th house, also in 2nd, in charts of people when they passed away and charts of their
relatives. I also think she indicates the need of coming to compromise, when life and
ones own flesh survival is at stake.
22. Dawn Bodrogi 07.21.11 / 10am
22
Thank you, Viola. She certainly is very visible in the charts of deaths of all kinds. There
will be more on Ceres soon.
23. viola magmar 07.21.11 / 4pm
23
consideration posted on another forum: 11th why, being the pre-entrance to the 12th
house, it could sort of be a preparation to self-griefing for when our turn comes so that
we are ready to overtake it. Also, differently to what I am going to say hereunder,
Ceres in 11th might mean that one is ready to detach from those specific persons.
I have seen 2nd and 8th come into the picture, too but here, the impact could be meant
to be different, according to the meaning of the respective houses: self-esteem, feeling
of defeated possess; transformation, chewing up of seeds that were buried deep inside in
order to finally metabolize what is good for us and let go of the rest. (uhhh, poppies
resonate here) ciaodaviola
24. LOKI 01.10.13 / 2pm
24
This is so amazing..
I am seeing themes in peoples charts after paying attention to asteroids and its jaw
dropping..
One friend of mine has Scorpio Ascendant/Venus/Pluto, S.Node in 8th , Pluto square a
4th house moon and Ceres Cazimi in house 2 !!!
Talk about feeding and Taurus/Scorpio opposition! phew
25. ula 01.26.13 / 7pm
25
Hi Dawn,
I wanted to ask you what a very tight conjunction between lilith, from one persons
chart, to pluto, venus and uranus in the others means? Sorry if Im not asking in the
right section, but I couldnt find a more appropriate one.
Ula
26
Venus conjunct Pluto and Uranus is a very volatile energy, intense but also on/off. Hot
and cold, and tending to extremes. What Lilith would do in this situation is hard to say;
either she would find all this intensity stimulating and it would encourage her creativity
and sexuality, or it would bring out her devouring tendencies. She might also go back to
being overwhelmed and outraged, and resent having to take a back seat to the other
persons power and drama. This would bring out her own rage and her own inclination
to castrate what she finds oppressive.
27. KK 02.07.13 / 9pm
27
Hi Dawn,
Any updated on this subject? Im curious to read more of the feminine betrayal with
Ceres.
KK
28. Zoe 02.10.13 / 3pm
28
Hi Dawn, I am really enjoying your blog and this piece about Ceres. I have been
dancing with this archetype since Ceres was conjunct my Saturn last summerpainful
experiences around fertility and lossfunnily enough I ended up lying/ meditating in a
field of poppies several times over the period unaware of the connection. Now I am
paying much more attention to her presence in charts by natal position as well as
transits/progressions/ solar arca whole new energy unveiled. Fascinating stuff and
timely too as the Earth seems to be speaking up for herself more and the First Nations
people rising up etc. I did a chart for a charity involved with planting trees and healing
the feminine and Ceres was exactly conjunct the Ascendent.
29. Alexandra 09.06.14 / 3am
29
Alas, it looks like Im very late to this party. But I wanted to thank you Dawn for
writing on Ceres, especially giving a more nuanced picture of her. I have Ceres conjunct
my Sun, in Sag in the 8th house (Sun is just over the 9th house cusp). Ceres is also at
the apex of a yod involving Chiron in Taurus/1st house and Jupiter in Cancer/4th. And
she is squared by Saturn. Ive been practicing astrology for 20+ years but somehow
Ceres in my own chart continues to elude me! I find I resonate with her deeply but at
the same time I feel she has esoteric mysteries I just do not yet understand.
30. Mary 10.03.14 / 12pm
30
Great writing, Dawn! I just found your site! I love it! Lots to read here! I was
wondering about Ceres catching up to and conjuncting Saturn today in ScorpioIt
definitely seems to be related to abundance vs lack or restriction by Saturn-
Any comments?
31. Dawn Bodrogi 10.03.14 / 1pm
31
On the one hand there can be an abundance/scarcity issue. Ceres celebrates how we feed
ourselves and Saturn always feels as if there is never enough around. Its the old
conflict between people who believe the world can always sustain us and the others who
feel as if were on the verge of catastrophe as far as resources are concerned. Of course,
the truth is somewhere in the middle, and Ceres/Saturn will have to resolve that conflict.
On the other hand, the Scorpio energy is about paring things down to the essence. Ceres
on her own can be quite ruthless as to what is essential and what isnt. So is Saturn.
Neither of them are sentimental. If you hate cleaning out closets because of not knowing
what to keep and what to throw out, do it today. Ceres will be there with her scythe and
Saturn with his ticking clock. May you be ruthless in your cutting away.
32. Kyveli 12.18.14 / 6pm
32
I was greatly interested in this post and the last comment by Dawn seems quite
illuminating right now.I have always been interested in these feminine archetype
asteroids and their relationship with Saturn and Pluto,as in my natal chart I have a
Ceres,BML and Saturn conjunction on the IC,squaring a Scorpio-Taurus horizon with
an opposition of Pluto and Moon there.My understanding of this planets-asteroids
connection,is that of animus and anima archetypes within the energy that is called soul
or a particular form of conciousness.
33. Sher 03.21.16 / 8am
33
Hi Dawn,
Have you noticed a particular theme when Ceres returns in a chart (granted Ceres
placement makes a difference)?
34. Thoughts on astrological Ceres Otherwise03.16.17 / 4pm
34
[] to say that Im not the first to point this out. I highly recommend Dawn Bodrogis post Ceres: The Dark Harvest (the title says Part
1, but as far as Im aware theres no Part 2; possibly it moved []
Driven Towards the Sacred: Vesta (Part One)

Its a funny thing about what we find sexy, as subject matter, and
what we dont. The other day I was complaining that not enough people give much weight to the Sun and the Moon anymore,
particularly in transit; I was told point blank that neither of the lights is particularly sexy these days, not the way Chiron or the
asteroids are. I bit my tongue. We will get to that another day. (The threshold of life and death, the schism between the past and the
future, what has been and what will be, what I have been in my all and what I may be in the future; we throw ourselves at the mercy of
the lights every living daythat isnt sexy?) And yet, I find myself drawn away, as well, if Im honest. There is an odd thing that
happens in astrology (no doubt it happens in other fields) that when a thing is meant to be understood, when its time is coming, it
makes itself known in a number of ways, both consciously and subconsciously. Mostly, it whispers, in a sexy way. And this brings
me to Vesta, because Vesta has been whispering to me lately. And when Vesta whispers, even the softest whisper, you have to listen,
because she will haunt you until you do.
Lately, I have been inundated with charts where Vesta is prominent, on an angle, or conjunct the Sun or Moon, an important planet, or
the Nodes. Vesta has been sneaking up on me in progressions charts where she was least expected, and adding eye opening detail to
ordinary transits. Perhaps Vesta has been whispering all along, but I, distracted by sexier bodies and positions, was not ready to
hear her. Im listening now.
Mostly when we think of Vesta, two keywords come to mind. We think of her virgins and we think of the hearth. Again, not sexy. Our
initial introduction to Vesta is as a prissy miss who grows into a Leave It To Beaver mother. Someone who knows how to keep the
floors free of waxy build-up and who can throw together a batch of cookies at a moments notice. Ho hum. House proud is a phrase
I learned living in England, describing people who set great store by their home. Poor Vesta. She is none of these things.
Vesta is not so much the goddess in charge of the hearth as she is the fire itself. That central, sacred flame of life, self-perpetuating,
never ending. Vesta is where our true passion lies, the place where we come to when we must choose life over death-in-life. And she
is everything we do, every step we take, to keep that flame alive. She is our courage, and she is our sacrificethe willing and joyful
surrender that allows us to keep what we cherish. The things that make an individual life, dedicated to an individual purpose,
worthwhile.
Ive noticed, with students, that Vesta and Ceres are often confused. I can understand this, given that food and feeding (emotional or
otherwiseCeres) are often connected with hearth and home. But neither of these goddesses should be taken at face value. Ceres has
her dangerous side, her cyclical scythe, and I have seen her feast at the table of more deaths, divorces and catastrophes than I care to
remember. Vestas inclinations are not the stuff of Cancerno homey complacency here. She can gently tend a fire, but her true
nature is quite different. Vesta can turn a little dangerous on you because she has no gray areas. When Vesta sets her focus, there
are no alternatives, and she will fly in the face of anyone who tells her otherwise. Yet Vesta is not prone to extremes or
fanaticism. She knows what she loves. When she grabs hold in the psyche, Vesta will drive us towards what really matters, and not
give a damn whether its practical to go there or not, because she infuses us with the heady certainty that what we are drawn towards
is absolutely essential to our being. Its not surprising how many successful people in the arts have Vesta prominent. Vesta is that
urge to do something because you cant possibly think of doing anything else with your life. A friend of mine who is an actor, and
who has known he wanted to be an actor before kindergarten, and who has never been out of acting work since age 15, has Vesta in
the sixth conjunct a fifth house Moon and Mars. Vestas innate knowing can be a great gift. As the poet Rumi said, Let yourself be
silently drawn to the greater pull of what you really love. Transits and progressions of Vesta, in particular, can mark the times when
we have a ha moments about where we need to be and what we need to do with our lives.
Vesta is famously self-contained. She has the supreme confidence of those who know that they would make the ultimate sacrifice for
whatever or whomever they love, cherish and believe in, and will do it gladly, without questioning. Where Vesta is concerned, we dont
have to think about things. Whatever house she falls in describes what we instinctively honour, and where we hope to be pure of
heart and deed. We will gladly sacrifice where Vesta is concerned. Vesta in the third worships learning and communication. Vesta in
the sixth has a work ethic that would put any Virgo to shame. Vesta in the eleventh reveres community, and connecting on a social
level. Vesta can be particularly single minded, once she is channeled. She can add a white-hot form of concentration to any other
aspect, planet or angle she touches in the chart. The dealings of that planet or angle will take on a quality that is hard to describe
not quite driven, but infused with a touch of the absolute.
Sometimes this absolute quality can get out of hand. Not that we would notice, in the mad haze of our righteous certainty. The
dark side of Vesta can burn us from within without our knowing, and without us feeling a thing until its too late and were too far
gone to see clearly. Vesta isnt trying to exhaust usthats our own doing, depending on the way we react to her whispers in our ear
late at night, depending on our own psychic make up and other aspects in the chart. Vesta simply knows what we must do, and will
urge us towards those things in no uncertain terms. The problem with Vesta is that when she is off balance, she forgets that we have
another, less absolute, messier side of life to tend to.

We can turn away from Vesta, ignore her promptings, elude her. We would be missing out on the very thing that ignites the center of
our being, but we wouldnt have the responsibilities of those who can hear her. Many of us turn our backs on what matters most to
us, because its too hard, or complicated, or requires too much time. Vesta doesnt acknowledge any of those things. Vesta knows
that if we ignore our passion, if we dont meet it halfway, we end up living an inauthentic life, lost in the shadows. If a Vestal virgin
broke her vows, she was buried alive, because killing one outright was illegal in Roman law. We may end up feeling buried alive
ourselves if we dont give Vesta her voice.
When Vesta is working well in the chart, there is a focus on what matters to her, but that focus is a joyful one, where we are willing to
make any adjustments to achieve our sacred goal. (The word focus is crucial to Vestait is derived from the Latin word for hearth.)
Vestas energy is not the kind that leaves us ravaged and hollowed out from over-work. If youve ever had the opportunity to work
towards a goal that left you tired, but joyful and satisfied and feeling right with yourself and the world, thats Vesta. If we go into
overdrive, thats usually Mars or Pluto or Saturn (sometimes Uranus) at work. However, when Vesta is aligned with these planets, an
already driven chart can get an extra boost of urgency and single-mindedness. When misaligned with the outer planets, for example,
Vestas urgings can become distorted. With Uranus, we may passionately struggle for reform that may be well before its time, with
Neptune, we are haunted by Utopian visions, or an ideal of perfection that is impossible to bear. With Pluto, Vesta can be relentless in
her struggle for a drive towards an absolute inner rightness that may go beyond the boundaries, beyond the rules of common sense
and decency. With all of these extremes, Vesta may be driven towards the ultimate sacrifice, of itself or others. As always, Vesta
focuses and clarifies intent, enhancing any difficult positions that may arise in the natal chart. Marshall Applewhite, whose followers
committed mass suicide on the coming of the comet Hale-Bopp, had Vesta in the 10th conjunct Saturn, opposite Jupiter/Pluto and
square a first house Uranus. Ted Bundy, the charming serial killer, had Vesta in the eighth squaring a Uranus/Moon-Black Moon
opposition.
Partnered with Vesta, Saturn can be a heavy internal taskmaster as well. In hard aspect, whatever we do may not measure up. Karen
Carpenter, the seventies singer who was one of the earliest known victims of anorexia, had Vesta conjunct the Sun in the 10th,
opposite Saturn and square Ceres. Judy Garland had her Vesta conjunct Mercury in the 12th, opposite the Moon and square to a
fourth house Saturn (and square her 4th/10th Nodes). She struggled all her life with never feeling adequate enough in many areas of
her life. Betty Ford, first lady of the clinic fame, had Vesta/Mercury square to a Saturn/Neptune conjunction, adding addiction to the
mix. Sometimes, when Vesta is paired with harsh configurations in the chart, an escape of some kind must be found. With
Vesta/Saturn, the inner urgings need physical results. If this is thwarted, the inner critic, coupled with the sense of losing time, of
losing life itself, can be excruciating.
As with all of the major asteroids, the word maturity is key here. As each day goes by, we are more and more aware of what we
cherish. When were young, how easy it is to throw things away. As we mature, we realize that there are many things in life that never
can or will be replaced. We hear Vesta more and more as the years go by, as we turn more inward, as we learn what brings us, and
those we love, rest and peace. Those who honoured Vesta by becoming her Virgins maintained the role of priestess and became the
sacred embodiment of Vesta on earth. She minded what was cherished, what was sacred, what was loved. After a Vestal reached her
mid-thirties, she had the choice to marry, raise a family, or do anything else that a good Roman citizen would care to do. It was
considered a special honour for a man to be the partner of a former Vestal. Yet she had to wait until her duty was done. No loopholes,
no arguments. The penalty for violating this law was death.
The wisdom of Vesta has to do with keeping the world out, to a certain extent, until were wise enough to use our powers within it.
We must keep close to the core fire until we become one with it. We may be late bloomers where Vesta is concerned, waiting and
praying and learning, until the fire is lit within. Once it is, we are ready to light the world.
Part Two of Driven Towards the Sacred, Vesta in Relationships, will follow shortly .
About this entry
Youre currently reading an entry written by Dawn Bodrogi
Published:
05.12.11 / 12pm
Category:
Major Asteroids, Uncategorized
Tags:
asteroids, astrology, passion, sacred, Vesta
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36 Comments
1. Pam 05.12.11 / 4pm

1
Wonderful article Dawn. All of my life Ive loved reading and writing, and have always kept a journal. I love learning, information,
communication, and teaching (even though I am a terrible student). Ive ignored many an inner prompting to write a book, a story,
something! But last year, at he request of a friend, I wrote a story that is becoming a book. Its a slow process and I re-write twice as
much as I write, but I cannot go forward until what I have is what I want to say. I have a 3rd house Vesta in Pisces. She is 7 degrees
away from my IC, and she squares both my 1st house Saturn in Sag and my 7th house Mars in Gemini with an orb of 3/4 degrees.
Im looking forward to part II.
2
Thanks, Pam. Vestas insistence when she is in square is very impressive. Im glad youre following her promptings. Good luck with
the book.
3. Jay Linden 05.15.11 / 5pm
3
Hi Dawn
thanks for a very clear exposition on the meaning and influence of Vesta the masculine and feminine energies are so out of balance
in our culture that Im sure part of the imperative to understand and embrace the energies of the asteroids is an attempt to restore
the balance.
In my own chart Vesta is in 3rd house Taurus conjunct Ceres in 2nd house Taurus, both are opposite Neptune and square the nodes,
jupiter/mercury and the asc/desc angle Ceres trines my moon in Virgo and Vesta trines Mars in Capricorn.
Steven Forest comments that planets which square nodes are missed steps from past lifetimes and those energies need to be
activated and integrated if we are to get to the north node.
I think Im lucky Ceres and Vesta are in harmony and support each other, so my nourishment and my passion are given equal weight
they also anchor Neptune the most aspected planet in my chart and stop me sliding off into fantasy and instead demand my
inspirations are manifested. I am both writer and artist and occasionally teacher and though I sometimes struggle with balance
particularly with not neglecting my relationship other stuff simply isnt important. As long as I have my comforts books, nourishing
food, a cosy home and the time and space to create, Im a happy bunny.
4
Hi Jay, Im glad youve found that Ceres and Vesta are grounding factors in your chart, and this is most likely due to the relationship
to the Nodes and Neptune. When youve got Leo/Aquarius nodes (as Im assuming you do here) the battle between the head and heart
can be wresting, and with Neptune square there is often a tendency to go to one extreme or another. Ceres demands that we keep
our feet on the Earth and Vesta demands that we focus on what matters, so Im sure that theyve acted as guides for you. Again,
maturity is a key issue with the major asteroids. They demand a level of practical reality from us, at the same time making sure that
we follow our highest path. Not an easy task.
5. KK 05.19.11 / 11am
5
Thanks Dawn, Ive been waiting for this. Vesta and how it brings the touch of absolute. It feels like sitting with a wonderful birthday
gift at 10, that I cant open until my 40th birthday. Vesta is like Saturns rewards if it gets beyond the unfulfilled promise. In my
relationship charts, the place where Vesta lights up becomes a place of refuge.
6. Aliza 06.04.11 / 4pm
6
Beautiful writing
Vesta sits on my Virgo Rising!
7. Aliza 06.04.11 / 5pm
7
in the 12th house
(oops, forgot that part)

8. The Difficulty and Beauty of Vesta in Love AstroDispatch.com Astrology Around The Web08.22.11 / 6pm
8
[] Speaks at Astrology Expressed, by Neeti Ray-Driven Toward the Sacred: Vesta at The Inner Wheel, by Dawn Bodrogi-Vesta
Astrology at Planet Waves, by Eric []
9. Violet 03.21.12 / 2am
9
Tyvm! This has been a valuable resource to me. I have Vesta @ 24 Tau conjunct moon (29 Tau) in my fourth house with T-squares to
a load of planets in fixed signs. I knew that it held a powerful secret to powerful tensions in my life but found little on the web re
Vesta to explain it to me. Your insight has helped me understand her position and her power in my chart. Namaste!
10. Jennifer 07.12.12 / 11am
10
Vesta is not so much the goddess of the hearth, but the fire itself: that central, sacred flame of life, self-perpetuating,
eternal..Vesta knows where our true passion lies, and it is her face we see when we must choose life over death-in-lifeShe is
everything we do and every step we take to keep that flame alive~~~Thank you <3 Namaste.
11. A 11.21.12 / 11am
11
Hello!
Can you tell me something on Vesta on Ascendant opposite Juno on the descendant. I read that it is related to sexuality issues or
something?
Looking forward to your writings.

12
Vesta on the Asc is devoted to self-development. If it is opposite Juno, that runs in contrast to the desire to have a true partnership of
equals. Vesta will contribute to the strength of a healthy ego, which is a requirement for equal partnerships. There may be teetering
back and forth between commitment to Self and commitment to other, until the requisite balance is found.
13. Natasa 02.06.14 / 7am
13
Vesta is all over my chart. In 12th house conj my Virgo Sun, Libra Asc and Lilith, then opposite Mars, trine Jupiter, square Moon,
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune on Ic, and also square my Mc Chiron. I hope thats all.. Oh, Ive just started learning astrology and this is
so confusing
14
With Vesta so influential in your chart you will need, over the course of a lifetime, to make decisions based on what matters most to
you, what you find sacred. You will not be able to live life on a superficial level. If you try to live superficially, you will never feel
fulfilled. Because its affecting the angles, you will feel this need for meaning magnified. Focus is the key word for Vestafocus on
devotion.
15. Natasa 02.07.14 / 5am
15
Thank you Dawn, you hit me to the core, that is so true about superficiality.. The need for meaning is burning my head,search is
exhausting. Im glad to know now who is responsible for this feeling You helped me more than you know,thanks again!
16. deianira 03.10.14 / 4pm

16
The words from this article completely touched my heart.. thank you dawn!
My guy is 20 years youger than me. He lost his mom at a young age and for myself.. I never got (nor will have) a child of myself.
Count that up and its easy to guess why were together.
We even spoke about the instinctual attraction in our first days and so from that moment on we were very aware of the ties binding us
together.
Although I tried, it simply didnt work with someone of my own age.
Ok, so why am I here?
Well, I was already aware of our exact Composite Saturn/Vesta conjunction (opposite Juno/Jupiter).
But yesterday I discoverd this in our draconic-draconic synastry which left me so flabbergasted that I HAD to look for more on
Vesta(+ Saturn);
His D. Saturn exactly conjunct my D. Vesta.
His D. Vesta exactly conjunt mu D. Saturn.
(all a matter of minutes).
I never paid very much attention to Vesta.. but the pattern of Saturn/Vesta was really too striking to let it just be ..
Great!
17
All well and good, but draconic to draconic contacts are very ephemeral. They dont take the place of actual natal charts. IF you have
Saturn/Vesta opposite Juno/Jupiter, there is a major conflict in building a solid relationship. When Vesta and Saturn come together,
there is a kind of ruthlessness or unrelenting quality which is actually pulling away from the goodness and goodwill of Juno/Jupiter.
Everything depends on Saturn in both charts, and whether or not it affects the Nodes. Remember that a draconic chart is the natal
chart from the point of view of the Nodes. Without nodal contacts or actual natal chart dynamics, draconic to draconic positions have
nothing to hold themwater with no glass to carry it in.
18. Alexandra 09.07.14 / 1am

18
Wonderful article. In part because of this thorough explanation I feel I have a pretty good grasp on Vesta in principle, but I dont really
understand what she is doing in my chart. I have her in a kite, sextile Mercury/MC (Sag/9th) and Saturn (Virgo/6th), and opposite
Chiron (Taurus/1st). Vesta is in Libra in the 7th so a cookbook interpretation would say that my focus is on relationships. (Added to
which my North Node is also in Libra/7thconjunct Plutojoy). Thing is, although I am very other-oriented in a general sense and
have many 11th- and 4th-house type relationships, I have very few 7th-house type relationships. I havent been in a proper romantic
relationship in over a decade and I am always the one who bails because I just feel like they are all pain and bother. I have no business
partners or open enemies. I feel like Im missing something really obvious here. Maybe its the 7th house Im not really
understanding.
19
A typical reaction of Vesta is to remove itself from the ordinary fray in the house it resides in. With Vesta in the 7th, you want deep,
sacred relationships, not the usual ones dealt out by encounters in the mundane world. You need to gear yourself to finding a
relationship with a spiritual core, something to which you may devote yourself.
20. Alexandra 09.07.14 / 1am
20
LOL and then I read Part 2 and the pieces all fell into place. Awesome.
21. Alexandra 09.07.14 / 6pm
21
That would be idealand youre right, Vesta just does not let me settle for less (and Ive tried). She accepts no substitutes!
22. paula 09.19.14 / 11am

22
My Vesta conjunct DC,Pluto 5 degrees away,(too large orb?)squares MC,IC,MERCURY R,Saturn on ic,and I am for 17 years now in a n
abusive relationship, that I cant finish,my moon over Zosma,an a conjunction of Jupiter, Ceres, Juno in piscis dont help at all..I spent
mmy youth Helping the wrong persons development and feel exhausted, and empty.Vesta in Libra.Thank you very much.
23. Mona 01.26.15 / 6pm
23
My son was born when his sun was conjunct my Vesta ( in the 7th house) and now when Vesta transits my sun he died. When
using the midpoint metode to make our kombined horoskopes, it is a diamond Saturn was the problem in the first, conjunct our
ASC. Now Saturn is transitting my ASC. Pluto is on my parse of fortune Any coments or help?
24
Im sorry to hear about your son. With Vesta involved, it is clear that your son was here to awaken your priorities and discover what is
sacred to you. There is a cherishing aspect to Vesta which can be especially strong between charts. Or its possible that your son
awakened your priorities and need for devotion with his own emphasis on what mattered to him. Saturn is not evil; its not so much a
problem as it is a limitation. Saturn is about the limits of time and space. It tells us about the boundaries of life and often indicates
when our time, or the time of loved ones, is up.
25. vanessa 02.18.15 / 9pm
25
Many thanks for this! Its the best explanation of Vesta ive come across.
Vesta is clearly important in my chart, but i still dont feel like ive completely understood the message. I have an absolutely exact
conjunction of Vesta & Jupiter in 5th house Aries.
This conjunction also has close sextiles to Venus in Pisces 3rd & Mars in Gemini 6th & a close square to Saturn in 7th
Ive always been extremely driven to create ideal environments. Its a drive im becoming more conscious of, to purify all the
relationships around me living as harmoniously with the natural world as possible & creating beauty & creating spaces that give
people a sense of the sacred & im also very aware of the purity [or lack of] of what we put in our bodies.
I have been a high end property developer / designer until recently, but am now looking for ways to use this drive to create healing
environments for the greater good. I also have a Virgo moon tightly conjunct Midheaven & square 12th H Neptune, which i think is
propelling me in this direction as well
26. marilyn 05.11.15 / 6pm
26
Fantastic article Dawn such great information. And once again so timely. I have Vesta conjunct my Sun in Virgo close to the IC so
she is strong. And currently Vesta sits at 19 degrees Pisces, an exact opposition to my 19 degrees Sun in Virgo. I particularly luv the
last paragraph. I feel on fire at the moment, really on fire. its time for women to unite and take back life. Its time. Thanks again
Dawn much love xx
27. Brigita 01.07.16 / 4pm
27
Im glad Ive came across your website. I like your personal insight, touch on astrology. WellIm just an amateur student of astrology
and I always seem to lack certain pieces of information which brings you to a wider picture. Also, Ive never been interested in Vesta
and knew very little about her effect. Now I do. Now its the period of my life which had put me into much difficulties and self
problems. And now Im beginning to realize that where I go, where my dreams and my inner relaxed true self is Saturn blocks it. He
is everywhere I go. And now as Im in really painful period, Ive started to search for answers in astrology. And as you said, when the
time comes for a thing to be understood, it comes all the way by itself and silently whispers to you. I believe this. It happened to me
too.
And so, there is this Saturn conjuncting my Vesta in 8th house, also squaring Moon and Sun and opposing Chiron. I wonder how it
manifests in my life. What would mean to have Vesta in 8th house and conjunct Saturn?
28
In order to give you a proper interpretation, I would need to look at the entire chart, especially because the lights are involved. Vesta
demands integrity of whatever it touches, a kind of purity of devotion and purpose, and she is not an easy asteroid to live with. She
never lets you off the hook.
29. Emma 05.18.16 / 11am
29
I was looking for an intuitive view of Vestas role in the chart, and came across your article. Thank you so much for what you shared
about Vesta! Im only an amateur and started interpreting my chart a few months ago. But recently Ive felt a nudge to understand the
importance of asteroids in my natal wheel. My Sun is in 6 Libra, IC at 720 Libra, Vesta at 740 Libra. Also, I have Vesta opposite
Mars in Taurus/house 9, Vesta trine Jupiter in Gemini/house 11 and Vesta square Neptune in Capricorn/house 6. How can I interpret
this?
30
It seems to me that the story Vesta is trying to tell here is about desire, devotion and discrimination. Vesta/Sun is dedicated to purity
of self-expression, of being genuine in a dedicated way. Her aspects to Jupiter and Neptune tell me that devotion may have been
overly enthusiastic and misplaced in the past, and that there is a need to choose the right vehicle to be devoted to. Vesta opposite
Mars warns you to choose well regarding what you pursue and desire in this lifetime.
31. Tom F 05.22.16 / 4pm
31
Dear Dawn,
Thank you for this informative article that stimulated my imagination greatly. I have Vesta in the sixth conjunct Mercury, Vertex, and
Pluto all in Scorpio. With Mars in Cancer, I feel fiercely defensive about my right to wellbeing and my pursuit of health. I have
encountered some illnesses (when Jupiter crossed my Mars) that truly motivated me to seek health at any cost. I have nevertheless
had many problematic work situations, with overbearing bosses and menial tasks. I am 23 years of age As I come into maturity, Im
starting to come into confidence with my desire to be an actor, musician and performer, but health remains of huge importance to
me. Nevertheless Im experiencing a lot of obstacles like lack of resources and a family that has persecuted me for mental health
issues. With Pluto/Vesta, how do I know when Ive gone too far?
32
This is a difficult one, Tom, because Pluto/Vesta is notorious for the kind of obsession that can tip over to the unhealthy side in more
ways than one. I have an entire sub-lesson in my Vesta section of The Dark Goddess class devoted to Vesta/Pluto, and the list of
charts there include Orson Welles, Judy Garland, River Phoenix and Billie Holiday. Proof enough of the difficulty in trying to keep
things balanced. The sixth house emphasis may in fact turn into a blessing, because it is the Virgo house and therefore naturally
attuned to healthy balance. The sixth house is also the house of crisis and will throw us into crisis if we go overboard in any way. This
is the house where we have to sort out our priorities about how we live our lives. The sixth house will force you to face imbalances
over time, and to focus on what is good for you personally, spiritually and professionally. Ultimately, it acts as a polarity to the twelfth
house, which is about our connection to divinity; its the place where we re-align ourselves with what is sacred. In the sixth, we have
to keep that divinity in mind. The sixth house goes off when we dont understand enough about ourselves and our place in the
world. We have to realize that all of us, every single one of us, has a divine purpose. THe sixth house wants us to fulfill that purpose
in real terms. To answer your question, if it feels right for you, then it is right. If you sense that you are going over the top, you
probably are. Vesta teaches us to know the difference between what is really sacred to us and what is mere desire. I wish you luck.
(Also, if you have squares coming from the third house, there is a conflict between what you think about life and how you really live it
(6th). If there are squares between the 6th and the 9th, there are conflicts between your beliefs (and how you believe you should live
your life) and your day to day reality of life. They need to be reconciled.
33. Tom F 06.02.16 / 10pm
33
Thank you, Dawn, for your well-thought and thorough response. I do in fact have Moon/Chiron in Leo in the third and Saturn exalted
in the 9th. My emotional desires and the impact of higher education have definitely been balancing out over the years. Im starting to
listen to my heart on more 3/6/9 matters, but not before incurring a lot of debt, which I hear is also associated with the sixth house.
Balancing things out seems to be a recurring lesson, and it seems to accord with my Jupiter/Sun in Libra.
34. Ed 06.04.16 / 12pm

34
Best article on Vesta!
Thank you for sharing Dawn!
xx
35. Alison 09.14.16 / 3am
35
Pluto is currently transiting my natal Vesta @ 14 degrees Cap. I dont have any substantial natal aspects to Vesta, but a distant
conjunction to my Sun and Moon @ 21 degrees Cap. Thanks so much for your article. This does feel like an awakening, and I resonate
with the energies of Vesta that you have described. The fire has been lit. Any other info about the Pluto transit?
36
Pluto to Vesta should rearrange what you believe is sacred, so that you work more completely from core passion and devotion. The
seven degree conjunction to Sun and Moon will seem a lot closer, as if you always felt a connection to Vesta but couldnt quite put
your finger on it, and now you can. It is in preparation for Pluto conjunct your Sun and Moon later on.
Have your say
Driven Towards the Sacred: Vesta (Part Two)
Please read Part One of this piece HERE.
Vestas no-gray-areas approach applies to any planet it touches, but especially when aligned with the
relationship planets. Vesta has a habit of cyclical withdrawal; we will pull back in order to meditate on what it is that really matters,
what it is that she wants from us. We use the word focus all the time now, but that word, drawn from the Latin foci for hearth, was
actually first introduced into the lexicon by astrologer and astronomer Johannes Kepler in 1604 (he who gave us the extended
aspects, amongst other things). It has grown in meaning over the years, taking on the concepts of clarity and concentration, but as it
was first introduced it meant, any central point. When Vesta is awakened, what she pays attention to what is central to our lives, or
should be. And in order to provide the proper focus, we need to withdraw for a time from the distractions of the world.
Those who have Vesta conjunct a relationship planet, natally, will have a need to pull back from time to time. These are not folks who
have a frivolous attitude to relationship. Mostly, they would rather do without than cope with the stresses and distractions of
unsuitable partnership, and they can often fall into a habit of retreat, tending the sacred flames of the idea or concept of relationship
without getting their toes dirty in the always muddy water of human interaction. Far from being virginal and/or uninterested in
partnership, the importance of relationship can become so exaggerated that it can dominate and hijack the whole psychological
mechanism of relating. We can become the kind of person for whom relationship becomes so heavy with meaning that we give up
pursuing a real relationship completely, preferring to keep the dream of partnership alive.
On the other hand, its possible that Vesta in line with the relationship planets was meant to have those alone times in order to alter
and correct other relationship dynamics in the chart. Vesta can often be the saving grace in a chart that is unbalanced. It can cause us
to withdraw and teach us where we need to readjust our behaviour. The asteroids provide details to the action of the main planets,
and dont carry as much weight in and of themselves, but sometimes those details are just the thing we need to hear. A chart that is
too obviously Libran, for example, with a load of planets in the 7th, or sacrificial Neptune in key places, is often saved by having
Vesta in something independent like Aries or Sag, or in tight aspect to a key planet like Saturn. The intensity of Vesta can go a long
way, when its activated, to correct an imbalance inherent in the natal. Vesta by progression will throw us into periods that are marked
by their inward focus and the lack of need to interact with the world at large.
However, when taken to extremes, or when prominently placed by
progression or transit, Vesta can also go a little haywire. When Vesta really runs amok, it shuts the windows, locks the doors and
throws the keys away. Sometimes, when Vesta is having an off day, she doesnt want to be touched, and anyone who tries to get in
there will be shut out for a long time, if not for good. To Vesta, any invasion of this inner core, at the wrong time, will feel like rape. If
you want to really offend someone so that they oust you from their lives, try and violate their Vesta. Tell them that what they cherish
and find sacred doesnt matter. Tell them theyre wasting their lives pursuing something that will never happen. Tell them that you
think they hold dear is all nonsense. Then tell me how far you got before you got tossed out. Vesta in synastry is tricky, because on
some days that contact with Vesta is going to feel fantasticthe intimacy, the devotion, the feeling of being a member of an exclusive
club for two. On other days you will not be allowed in. Vesta has levels of intimacy that get peeled away with maturity. But a young
Vesta may not allow you in to the sacred spaces until much time has been spent together and trust has been built. Or she may not let
you in at all. Vesta is often the place where things are so sacred that we dare not speak of them at all, even to our significant others.
A test of intimacy is often, How much of your Vesta are you willing to show me? Again, if you try to violate the boundaries, you will
be shut out and down.
When Vesta is involved with the relationship planets, it raises the bar. Only the serious and the well-intended, the purest of heart,
need apply. When Vesta is tied to Mars, sexual partnership is a priority, and the choices of partner for that person may be more black
and white than they are for others. Again, a touch of the absolute. The Vesta/Mars person may not incline towards a partner for years,
then know, instantly, when the one arrives who is meant to take them further down the path. Vesta/Venus, as he or she matures,
knows that love, in both the greater and the lesser sense, is sacred, and that it is also a connecting power, one that must be wielded
wisely. Vesta/Moon gives honour to the sense of belonging, and to the day to day familiarity we share with those we love. Vesta/Moon
puts great store by emotional honesty and will not tolerate a relationship that does not allow this. Vesta/Saturn will have a strong
sense of what he or she will need to accomplish within this lifetime, but will also have a sense of responsibility towards others that
will lean towards the devotional. Vesta in contact with any relationship planet, or with the Descendant, will incline towards sacred sex,
because the deep intimacy of relationship is a necessity, and the exchange of sexual energy is a holy ritual. But I say incline, because
these drives are easily thwarted by fear and avoidance, (those shut doors again) and the acknowledgement of the need for intimacy
depends on Vestas placement in the chart. In order to grasp the asteroids, we need a mature handle on the world; if we are not
ready, they are easily avoided and turned aside.
Where Vesta resides, we must allow the other person to see what we hold most dear, and that is often where we are the most
vulnerable. If Vesta is strong and willing to share, it can add a beautiful dimension to a relationship. Vesta can be the key to the kind
of devotional bond that many of us crave. Often, the planet person honours the Vesta person by becoming the keeper at the gate.
The unacknowledged promise is, I love what you love; therefore I will honor it by protecting it. Mars/Vesta, in particular, or
Saturn/Vesta enjoys taking on this role, especially once they have given up trying to invade the deepest parts of the fortress (Vesta
will always try to keep a little part of herself to herself). Venus to Vesta will share in devotion and are naturally drawn together by
shared values and tastes. Moon/Vesta, with its fourth house connotation, is a natural partnership which honours the space we occupy.
In all of these cases Vesta adds the extra dimension of a sacred and inviolable understanding. If, for some reason, any Vesta
partnership of planets is violated or betrayed, the end is final and often dramatic. Again, all this depends on how strongly Vesta is
placed in the natal chart. For some, Vesta will be a key to life choices. For others, less fortunate, less honourable, her secrets will
remain a mystery.
Commonly, we refer to choosing what the heart wants, over what the heads tell us to do. Vesta has a lot to do with understanding the
heart. With Vesta, the only fire that exists is the one in the deep, rich resources of the soul. Learning how to tend to this fire gently,
with care and intelligence and grace, is a lifelong challenge worthy of only the most devoted.
Some Prominent Vestas:
Grace Kelly: the cool, contained, perfect blonde, had Vesta on the MC in regal Leo, squaring the Nodes; ice on the outside, fires
within.
Hugh Hefner: Has Vesta on the MC; the real fire here is ambition.
Albert Einstein: Vesta on the Asc. Einstein stuck to his guns many times over the years when he was challenged about his theories,
certain he was right (sometimes not having the math to prove it). His unalterable belief in himself saw him through.
Katharine Hepburn: Vesta in the 7th, conjunct her Sun. Her tireless and willing support of a chronically drunk and abusive Spencer
Tracy until the end of his days is legendary. If anyone ever wondered how an early-liberated Kate could put up with all that, look no
further.
Bruce Springsteen: Conjunct the Desc, in visionary Sag. His championing of other, of the down and out and those who need a voice,
is astrologically genuine.
Stephen Sondheim: also on the Desc, in creative Leo. Sondheim often ponders the survival of relationships in the modern world.
George Harrison: the quiet Beatle, conjunct Venus in the fifth.
Some might be amused to know that Patricia Routledge, who plays the fanatically proper Hyacinth Bucket for the British/PBS comedy,
Keeping Up Appearances, has hers in late Aries in the sixth.
Laurence Olivier, conjunct Mercury in Taurus, in the 12th, allowing him to tap into the universal and embody multitudes. .
Emily Dickinson, reclusive poet, has Vesta conjunct both Pluto and Mars in the fifth.
William Blake, poet, visionary and mythologist, had a wide Saturn/Vesta conjunction in the eighth house opposite a Mars/Neptune
conjunction in the second. Without Vesta, you might never understand how Blake was driven to share the visions and insights of his
5th house, Sun/Jupiter conjunction in Sag.
Buddy Holly: Uxorious Virgo, musician, workaholic, in the 6th, on the Desc.
About this entry
Youre currently reading an entry written by Dawn Bodrogi
Published:
05.20.11 / 4pm
Category:
Major Asteroids, Synastry, Uncategorized
Tags:
asteroids, astrology, flame, focus, Mars, Synastry, Venus, Vesta
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49 Comments
1. LB 05.20.11 / 7pm
1
Hi Dawn Since I didnt comment on your first Vesta post, I thought Id make up for it by making this comment TWICE as long
hahaha.
My 11th house Vesta in Leo sits opposite my 5th house Aquarius Moon and forms a T-Square with my Neptune/Mercury/Jupiter
conjunction (in Scorpio) on the cusp of my 2nd/3rd; the Vesta/Neptune square is exact. I never gave Vesta much thought up until
now, but I guess this placement would contribute to my desire to communicate my (Leo/5th house) spiritual ideals (Neptune) in a
practical way that encourages others to relate (Aquarius/11th house) in a more mindful way. At various times in my life, Vestas
placement has probably influenced my artistic expression as well through dance, singing and painting. Ive always known that what I
lacked in technical ability, I made up for in inspiration.
I also relate to what you wrote about Moon/Vesta requiring absolute honesty on an emotional level otherwise whats the point? Even
my art has a self-revealing, raw (almost child-like) quality that certain people seem to relate to. Interestingly in our composite chart,
my husband and I have composite Venus/Vesta conjunct in Libra and theyre conjunct my natal 2nd house Ceres.
After reading your initial post, I looked back and noticed a definite correlation between transits/progressions and significant life
events. Right now progressed Vesta is conjunct my Anti-Vertex in the progressed 10th. And coincidentally (or not), its also within orb
of my natal Uranus and is conjunct my natal placement of asteroid Reiki, within a degree. Looks like its been hanging around in this
same degree for quite a few years now, waiting for me to tend the fire. Transiting Vesta has just opposed (exactly) my natal 12th
house Uranus and is almost conjunct my natal Chiron in Aquarius Ive been feeling unusually sensitive to what I view as judgmental
exclusionary remarks (voiced via the internet) regarding certain spiritual beliefs I hold dear, but rather than present an alternate
viewpoint, Ive decided to keep my thoughts to myself (for once) and go my separate way. To each his own.
Thanks Dawn, as always, for another informative and thought provoking post. Your observations are spot-on.
2. NR 05.21.11 / 2am
2
There is something in physics called the strange attractor. The picture of the twin sparks reminds me of that.
Thanks for sharing this. Always love reading more about Vesta.
3. diastella 05.24.11 / 2am
3
Thank you for your insight. I have been seeking out knowledge of the major asteroids this year and it has been incredible the nets
response to my query in fact it has overwhelmed me how I am being taught my astrology in a big way from an unseen hand at this
time. I have Vesta conjunct Saturn in Aries in the 8th house, so I know all about that ruthless inner critic as well as the reclusive phase
I am experiencing. Just as well this self-discipline because in earlier on my Pisces Venus paid dearly for her inability to have
boundaries.
Am truly grateful for your sharing
4. CM 09.05.11 / 8pm
4
What a wonderful article! This helps explain so much more in depth my own attitude towards relationships. More than any other
asteroid, for some reason, this one makes senseand what beautiful timing, because I just discovered I have progressed Vesta
coming up to conjoin my natal Sun. So glad this was here to give me some insight!

5
Vesta by progression often tells us what were concerned about, what were reevaluating in our lives. Have we been treating this
planet with enough respect, devoting enough time to it? Have we been misplacing our energy regarding this planet? Its amazing how
accurate she is by progression, honing in on whether or not were worshiping in the right way. With Vesta/Sun, we need to ask
ourselves whether or not weve been devoted enough to our own creative energy. Have we been allowing ourselves to shine, or have
we been giving that energy away?
6. Bob 03.13.12 / 10am
6
Thanks, as always. You take a lot of the steep out of the learning curve. Wondering out loud how synastric connection As Vesta
conjunct Bs Venus, for example- might be expressed within/between two people. If theres some mutual or perhaps mostly one-
sided drive toward the sacred, and how/whether devotion is challenged/expressed.
-Vesta in Gemini
7. Bob 03.13.12 / 10am
7
Venus to Vesta will share in devotion and are naturally drawn together by shared values and tastes.
Sorry Dawn, I shouldve read closer.
8. Nailah D'arcy 11.18.12 / 11pm
8
Hello. Great post. Vesta is very strong in my chart. I have Vesta in Capricorn in the 2nd house: Opposite Venus & Chiron. Conjunct
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune & Part Of Fortune.
I totally agree with you. My heart is completely in control. Overly passionate sometimes.
However, I never knew Vesta played part in self-confidence, & goal driven.
Toujours
Nailah darcy
9. allhoney 11.29.12 / 3pm
9
Dawn,
This is utterly phenomenal, and explains so much to me about what is going on in my life right now. My Vesta is in the 3rd house, 7
degrees from my IC. And yes, I feel it. In addition, every planet in my chart aspects my Meridian in some wa or another, and so the
SACRED has always been sacred to me. There are very few people (okay, possibly one) Im ever felt close enough to to completely
undress in front of and let them see my naked Vesta. And to see in clearly laid out WHY is so very helpful to me. It might allow me to
lighten up a little, and consider that others just might not know.
Okay so I have this high powered and very shy Vesta, and my current crush (with all of the schoolgirl connotations the word
engenders) comes along and rubs up against my Jupiter (7 degrees from MC from the 10th house side). This was 2.5 years ago. His
Vesta, btw, aspects a number of planets in his chart. So our Vestas are communicating though my MC/IC, but we do very little beyond
smiling at each other a whole lot. I am so very apprehensive of this overwhelming attraction to him (tons of connections), that there
are times that I cant handle it at all and become very standoffish. Just looking at his planets (dont know his exact birth time, but his
moon is somewhere along the fourteen degrees between my Vesta and my Juno. My IC is at the midpoint of those two asteroids) and
the way both of ours hook up together I can hazard a guess that Vesta is the reason he keeps his distance too. Thanks again for this
article. It explains so very much.
10. allhoney 11.29.12 / 4pm
10
I left out that it is his Vesta rubbing up against my Jupiter. There is a conjunction between them with a two degree orb. This combined
with my Vesta on my IC Its uh, very anticipatory, but without a willingness to initiate. Does that make sense?
11. Aniek 12.15.12 / 11am
11
Dear Dawn,Thank you for your insights!! my Vesta is on my AC
Does that have an added meaning?I would love to get more insight on this.Aniek
12
Vesta on the Asc is devoted to self-development and the integrity of the journey to conscious awareness.
13. curious lilith 12.25.12 / 4am
13
hi and thank you for this great post.
i wonder if care to share your advice about vesta conjunct lilith in 4th house leo natal for a male?
i cant find any posts on the web about this natal asppect apart from the fact that david beckgham shares this placement
also- in synestry- what if your female sun conjuncts lilith/vesta male synastry?
intriguing happy new year:-))
14
BML/Vesta, in an evolved person, may have to do with worshiping female sexual power. In an unevolved person, it may have to do
with an anger or fear towards it. It may tend towards the sexually fanatic, someone who is only attracted to a specific type of femme
fatale. There may be a need to take sexuality as far as it can go, whether that is into the realms of the sacred or down into the depths
remains with the rest of the chart. If your Sun conjuncts anything in another persons chart, you embody and represent that energy for
them. They feel it through you.
15. Cindy 04.23.13 / 2pm
15
I have vesta 18 degrees scorpio conjunct saturn 26 degrees scorpio in the 11th house. Vesta is opposed my moon (5th house).
Vesta is also trine venus (7th house) and trine mars (3rd house). That may be too much information . . . but just in case
Any comments are appreciated. I so very much love reading your articles. For me, they allow me to synthesize instead of pinpoint
areas of my psyche/self. I hope to have the financial ability to take your classes at some point. Wish I could be an ongoing student!
16
Vesta conjunct Saturn can give Saturn a passion and a ruthless intensity to accomplish what it needs to do in this life. With Vesta
opposite the Moon this may feel uncomfortable and restrictive at times, but you will be compelled to go beyond your comfort zone.
17. Hkan Larsson 06.19.13 / 5am
17
Hi
I discovered Vesta yesterday, and for me it was like a deep symbolic meaning, suddenly it felt like I got in closer contact with my
higher self. For me it symbolises our higest potential and wholeness, the eternal light. Adding a new dimension in the chart. Our
deepest core, that holds everything with warmth, the light and the dark without juding.
And I also read that Vesta now counts as a planet, so logically it must have the same value in a chart as chiron for example!
Greetings fom Hkan living in Sweden( Europ).
18. Tyler 10.04.14 / 6pm
18
Before today, I had no knowledge of Vesta. However, the teacher will come when the student is ready. Vesta is making herself known
for a reason. I feel as though she will shine light on something of importance. If anyone cares to provide insight behind the
associations of Vesta in my natal chart, please do.
{VESTA 14 degrees 5H ARIES}
VESTA square MARS 18 degrees 3H Capricorn
VESTA trine MIDHEAVEN 14 degrees Leo

VESTA conjunct TRUE NODE 21 degrees 6H Aries
VESTA opposition CERES 18 degrees 12H Libra
19. Tyler 10.04.14 / 6pm
19
I forgot to mention one aspect:
VESTA trine JUNO 6 degrees Sagittarius 2H
Any interpretations/opinions are highly appreciated and will prove beneficial.
20. Novembersun 11.06.14 / 9am
20
What about Sun/Vesta contacts? I only saw mention of this in relation to Katherine Hepburn. I, too, have Sun Conjunct Vesta (and Juno
in Scorpio) in the 7th. I feel Im intensely desirious of a passionate relationship AND my own self-growth and fire tending- so much so
that Im starting a writing blog on how to tend ones sacred fire for Self-Love reasons.
The balance! How does one do this with Vesta in Scorpio?
21
Its actually quite an easy combination. Vesta is all about intensityso is Scorpio. With Vesta in the 7th, we find relationships sacred.
Its not so much tending oneself as it is tending oneself through the vehicle of other. Sun/Vesta can also devote itself to other in a
non-romantic wayyou might want to save elephants, or the environment.
22. Violet 11.12.14 / 9pm
22
Oh my god, that line about rape. Id been racking my brain for 2 months trying to figure out what happened to me at the hands of a
massage therapist I saw in September. When I used the word rape to describe an exposure that was verbal rather than sexual, it fit
perfectly. Now I see why.
I have vesta in Virgo in the 11th tribe moon/Juno/Lilith in Scorpio in the 1st and Chiron/vertex in Taurus in the 7th, square Dejanira
in sagittarius in the 2nd and inconjunct my sun in Aquarius in the 4th. (I mentioned the in conjunction because Aquarius and the 11th
house share similar energies, right?) to top it off, Orcus is transiting my natal vesta.
This verbal violation by the therapist has thrown me into a greater funk than anything else in my life ever has, and Ive been through
some serious shit. So nice to make some sense of it. Hopefully Ill get to healing soon.
Thanks for these articles on vesta. Im off to research Orcus next.
23. Violet 11.12.14 / 9pm
23
*autocorrect. Pfft. You get what I mean.
24. Kyveli 12.20.14 / 7pm
24
I unerstand that conjunctions and oppositions are the most potent aspects but what about the other aspects,ptolemaic and minor
aspects alike,like trines semisquares,squares,inconjunct etc in natal or in synastry?For example I have a grand trine involving
Moon,Vesta and a Uranus-Neptune conjunction in the natal.
25. vanessa 02.19.15 / 4pm
25
Thank you! Your insight is very helpful!
I have an absolutely exact conjunction of Vesta & Jupiter in the 5th house Aries
This conjunction also closely sextiles Venus in Pisces & Mars in Gemini. Venus is closely trine Mars
What youre saying about sacred sexuality rings true. I have a strong sexuality but have always been highly discriminating about who
turns me on. They have to vibrate at the right rate & i normally know instantly & instinctually about a potential lover. It also means i
tend to live without for long periods instead of compromising. When i was younger i couldnt work out why attraction came so easy
for others who were less discriminating. The joy of getting older is im so much clearer about whats going on & i can also control the
energy a lot more objectively, but still feel like im just at the beginning of the journey of awareness & understanding.
26. nadja 06.13.15 / 6pm
26
I have a rather prominent Vesta in my chart conjunct my Anti-Vertex, while Pallas is conjunct my Vertex.
Now this falls exactly on the south / north node axis and Asc / DC axis of a very special guy, who also happens to have his moon
conjunct my south node AND Asc (we both have our south nodes conjunct the respective asc) what to make of that? Because of that
Moon of his (and other strong synastry) Im completely out of orbit already
Does he feel my Vesta/Vertex as strong as I feel his Moon (its less than 1 degree orb)?
27
The asteroids in your chart are telling you to be more discriminating in relationshipsuse your head as well as your heart. The
Moon/Node/Asc conjunction is extremely intenseand Im afraid no Vesta contact is even remotely as strong.
28. nadja 06.14.15 / 5pm
28
Thank you! Yeah I thought so
If I may ask one more thing: will the Moon-person feel the conjunction to the others Asc/SNode lesser or equally strong?
Im as the Asc/Node-person am completely out of orbit
29
Both will feel it equally.
30
Yes, the Moon person will feel the attraction; that the person brings safety, comfort, appreciation, security. Whether or not this is
sustained depends on the rest of the chart.
31. nadja 06.17.15 / 2pm
31
Thanks again
32. Dana 12.04.15 / 3pm
32
Great insight you are giving, Dawn, thank you. In synastry, my Vesta is on his North Node and opposite his Vesta. It feels like an
intense, strong attraction. What are we geared towards here?
33
You are geared towards a conflict of values which may or may not resolve itself through the contact.
34. Vivien 04.24.16 / 10pm
34
Great article Dawn! If I understand you correctly, in synastry the vesta person feels devotion to the planet person, whereas the planet
person tends to vestas fire through the planet? E.g. vesta conj mercury in synastry, the vesta person cherishes the intellect of the
other, while the mercury person tends to communicate/focuse on things that the vesta person cares about?
35
Yes, it does seem to work out that way, but it isnt always cut and dried.
36. Vivien 04.30.16 / 6pm
36
Thanks for answering! I dont know if youve noticedmy sample base is quite small, but I have noticed that vesta in synastry may
indicate initial resistance on the part of the vesta person; or maybe not resistance, but somehow messing the relationship up by being
initially off-putting, through acting on wrong assumptions etc. Am I completely imagining this here?
37. Deborah 06.25.16 / 9pm
37
I have Vesta conjunct Vesta, 11th House, Gemini at 0 degrees with a man I met four months ago. We both (natal and synergy) have
both Mars, my MC 0 degrees sextile and my nodes trine and sextile at 1 degree. (All Aries) My Venus is conjunct both Vestas at 2
degrees. It has been a remarkable meeting. His nodes are in wide conjunct.
Does the Vesta conjunct Vesta mean we are passionate about each other and about our friends and community, because we are. Is
there a possibility of love at first sight, because he says this is what he experienced and his actions that night convince me.
38
Vesta conjunct Vesta in this way means you agree on what matters. It will manifest in the houses involved in each of your charts.
Alone, this usually doesnt mean love at first sight. That is more likely found elsewhere.
39. Chef Jemichel 07.23.16 / 8am

39
Thank You, Dawn! Your presentation here is amazing. Im fully captivated and intent on gaining greater clarity (focus) that apparently
comes through Vesta herself! She strongly activated in my Human Design with her conjunction to my Design Pluto and Design Venus!
(These are planetary activations at my incarnation 88 degrees before birth.) Shes certainly not going to leave this inner hearth!
40. Diana 08.02.16 / 2pm
40
Chiron is soon to transit over my natal Vesta in Pisces on my Desc. (square Uranus(Orcus) on my MC). Trying to gain a better
understanding of these symbols, I started reviewing Vesta, and reached your site. What a gift. Im 69 years old. Following my divorce
during my first Saturn Return I swung between empty sexual encounters and withdrawing totally from the world of relationship. There
are certainly other planetary aspects in my chart that reinforce this behavior (e.g.Saturn/Pluto/Moon conjunction) , but your
description of Vesta on the 7th nails this behavior. I am remarried for many years, but the doors and windows were locked, as you
describe, following the failure of my first marriage. But, recently Ive become acutely aware that Ive developed a lack of feeling for
just about person or anything. Ahtransit Chiron meeting Vesta on the 7th square Uranus. Not very comfortable, but, with your apt
description I understand why these issues that Ive avoided for so many years are coming up now. Thanks for sharing your profound
work.
41
Thank you, Diana.
42. panzi 08.21.16 / 7pm
42
What do you think about Vesta opposing Moon in synastry? Also Vesta opposite Uranus in natal.I interpret this one as someone who
likes to break out from a relationship from time to time,like a non-stable type of person.
43
Vesta is only partly about relationships. Its about what we find sacred in life. Period. Its impossible to comment on Vesta opposing
Moon between charts without looking at Vesta in the individual charts. How does the Moon person relate to the very concept of Vesta?
Will Vesta believe that this Moon is up to its standard? Moon opposite Uranus is unstable in relationships, or can be. Vesta opposite
Uranus will have impossibly high ideals, and will try to achieve in life the concepts of liberty, humanity and fraternity.
44. Celia 12.29.16 / 12pm
44
Thank you for your insights!
I too am just discovering Vesta and the asteroids. Mine is in 10th house exactly conjunct my moon in Aquarius (trine sun and
Saturn/Pluto/Jupiter in air).
When I traveled to Rome, I researched Roman priestesses and visited the temple of the Vestal Virgins. One thing the vestal virgins
would do was provide therapy in the form of herbalism, hands-on healing, and sexual healing to soldiers returning from war and
conquest.
They would essentially transmute trauma with sexual and physical healing, so the soldiers could be re-integrated as functional and
healed people back into society, and thus provide no harm to the community at large. The vestal virgins would test the level of
healing of the soldiers by observing their interactions with children. if the soldiers could be open, light and interacted with the
children in a positive way, they could be re-integrated.
Im not sure of the relationship between the Vestal Virgins and Vesta, but I definitely relate to this. I help people transmute pain and
trauma, and I literally feel it happening through my body. Maybe its no surprise that its my career Im an acupuncturist, herbalist,
body worker and doula. Also no surprise that I specialize on menses, birth, sexuality, motherhood, fertility.
Although I got the grand trine going on in air mentioned above (Gemini Sun), the Moon/Vesta are also square AC/Venus/Chiron.
Trying to make sense of that and how specifically it affects my career as a womens health care practitioner (and more ;).
In other words, Venus and Chiron adjunct the AC makes sense for me, healing and beauty & connection are essential to me. But
square the moon/Vesta???

45
This is a large topic and I dont think Im qualified to comment. Vesta is certainly about sexual healing, but so are Chiron and
sometimes the black moon. Lets hope more research is done soon.
46. ro 04.14.17 / 9am
46
I would like to try and understand my 8th house vesta in pisceas square my north node in sag, i am very drawn to sacred sexuality
which i feel is vesta (and 5 planets in scorpio including sun pluto conj) but am trying to understand its relationship to my north node
in sag which is also a spiritual sign but its a square ?
47
Squares to the nodes mean that the planet needs to be incorporated into the nodal meaning. Experience with the 8th house Vesta,
with its emphasis on focus and sacred being, will enhance your understanding of the Sag north node. Sag North Node needs to learn
to go its own way, by instinct, and not alway follow the dictates of the crowd, or what is trending. It has to learn to move away from
an intellectual approach towards a more directly human one. Sacred Sexuality is just one of the many paths that can be taken towards
authenticity.
48. Gao 06.11.17 / 3pm
48
Thank you Dawn. I really appreciate the depth you bring to your writing.
I have Vesta in mt 7th house/Aquarius conjunct DC. It opposes Pluto 1st house/Leo conjunct AC which also has a wide orb with my
moon in 1st/Leo. Very weirdly, I am mostly an introvert but I can be extrovert when I need to be. I rarely seek the spotlight.
Vesta squares a tight 10th house stellium/Taurus with Juno, Pallas, Mercury and the Sun. Jupiter is 2 degrees the Sun, 10th but it just
squeaked into Gemini. These are, of course square Pluto, etc. Vesta is also trine Saturn which is exact conjunct Neptune 3rd
house/Libra. They are sextile to Pluto, etc., quincunx to 10th house.
My SN is 12th/Leo and NN 6th/Aquarius. They have no aspect with vesta except for their signs. This kind of gives me a sense of what
I call, back to the future. At the moment I am working intently on fiction that weaves the goddess themes into the story lines from
future to ancient past to future in search of a people.
I have been married but marriage was not an ovewhelming drive for me. The circumstances of my life as a result of my divorce,
despite my efforts otherwise, have put me in relative isolation as I work on the story.
49. Galla 07.17.17 / 11am
49
Im so glad I found these articles on Vesta. I cant tell you how much I relate to all of this. Especially the parts about it being so
sacred that we dare not speak of them. I never knew why I was so secretive and holding my stuff together. I put it down to my strong
fourth house which is very inward focused anyway. But Vesta is tied with my Sun. Shes part of my very core being.
Vesta 14 degrees Aquarius conjunct my Sun at 15 degrees Aquarius. And its in my 5th house. I resonate with Vestas symbolism as
well as her qualities. Outside noises that disturb the quality of focus. My focus on my special interests (for want of a better word) is
highly intensified. My mind actually burns out with pain and fatigue because I am so mentally engrossed in what I like. But I love
Vesta, I really believe shes what makes me what I am. Im so much more grateful for her. I believe she does cause me to really hold
myself to myself sometimes, which is hard enough anyway based on the rest of my chart.
Have your say
Donde Ceres cae en la carta, tenemos hambres que reconocer, o ellos pueden destruirnos.
Ceres trata sobre el vnculo primordial entre la madre como fuente y sustentador de la vida
que ella trae al mundo. Para el nio, ella es el mundo mismo. La segunda mitad del libro trata
sobre la bsqueda de sustento espiritual, y aqu Ceres puede ayudarnos verdaderamente.
Hablamos a menudo de Ceres en relacin con la comida. La posicin de Ceres en casa y el

signo nos muestra cmo podemos ser alimentados y renovados por el mundo. Donde Ceres
est mal aspectada , a menudo podemos sentirnos hurfanos, abandonados, desamparados.
No deseados. Hay una diferencia entre sentirse no amado como un ser de esta tierra,
(abandonado por el derecho a recibir prosperidad y felicidad), y sentirse no amado como un
compaero romntico, aunque los dos temas son a menudo similares y diablicamente
entrelazados en sus orgenes. La gente a menudo habla de Ceres simplemente en trminos de
alimentacin, nutricin, cuidado, maternidad. Pero Ceres reina sobre mucho ms, y tambin
tiene su lado oscuro. Claro, camina por ah agitando esos tallos de trigo. Pero, qu es eso de
ah? Veo amapolas... amapolas rojas de sangre. Y qu se mueve bajo ese trigo? Una
serpiente? Los smbolos menos conocidos de Ceres tienen la clave para entenderla.
Ceres se revela muy fuertemente en un estudio de progresiones secundarias. Ceres se

encuentra a menudo en un ngulo cuando est en juego un pasaje vital importante, un
nacimiento, un matrimonio, una muerte. A menudo es prominente en el divorcio, o cuando los
desastres naturales arrasan las casas.
Ceres aparece a menudo en las progresiones cuando perdemos lo que creemos que
necesitamos para vivir-un socio, estado profesional, seguridad financiera. Aunque pensamos
en ella como la diosa del grano, el smbolo de Ceres est construido con una guadaa, la
misma herramienta que corta ese grano de la tierra cuando est maduro y deja los campos
desnudos para volver a sembrar. Ceres tambin est ah cuando perdemos cosas por
negligencia y falta de respeto. Me recuerda a un comercial que hace unas dcadas era popular
y que llevaba el lema:"No es agradable engaar a la madre naturaleza".
La madre naturaleza vena a comer tostadas. Cuando se le dijo que era margarina, no
mantequilla, enloqueca y agitaba un pequeo huracn o diluvio. Esa no es la madre
naturaleza, es Ceres, y se enfurece cuando la manipulan. No es una diosa a la que quieras
engaar o traicionar. Nuestras vidas fsicas estn a su merced.
Hay un poco de Medea en la Ceres oscura, un mal da, es capaz de matar a los suyos. Recuerdo
una frase de una vieja rutina de Bill Cosby. Cuando l y sus hermanos se ponan nerviosos, su
padre irrumpa sobre ellos y gritaba:"Te di la vida, y puedo quitrtela".los hombres tambin
tienen una buena dosis de Ceres en ellos".
Ceres era la diosa que los romanos se apresuraron a calmar cuando sucedian cosas extraas
que perturbaban el equilibrio de la vida. Si los pozos se secaban o llovan sapos, se hacan
ofrendas para apaciguar la ira de Ceres. Ceres tena una serie de funciones simblicas.
Supervis, entre otras cosas:
El viaje fsico desde el nacimiento hasta la muerte, y todos sus rituales principales.
La hembra pasa a la madurez.
El equilibrio de la naturaleza.
La alimentacin, nutricin y sostenimiento de la vida.
Las estaciones y ciclos de la vida: orden natural y equilibrio.
El placer y la satisfaccin de los sentidos y el aprecio por el mundo fsico.
Dar y recibir amor incondicional.

La interaccin de oscuridad y luz.
El apego o abandono de lo que hemos creado.
El pasaje entre el mundo de los vivos y el mundo de los muertos.
Es Ceres quien nos permite comprender que los comienzos y los finales son parte de todo.
La ilustracin de arriba muestra una representacin de Ceres (Romano, BC, fecha exacta
desconocida)
estallando de la tierra, tallos de trigo y amapolas en su mano, serpientes enrolladas alrededor

de sus brazos. El simbolismo de la amapola es complejo y se remonta a la poca
grecorromana. Tiene connotaciones de sueo y sueo mortal, debido a su conexin con los
opiceos, y la muerte, por su color rojo sangre derramndose sobre los campos. El rojo sangre
tambin simboliza la vida eterna. No por casualidad llevamos sus amapolas en noviembre para
honrar a nuestros soldados cados.
Ceres fue quien nos gui desde el mundo viviente al mundo de los muertos. La amapola aqu
tiene un significado adicional. Se cree que los opiceos diluyen el velo entre los mundos. El
ritual del Mundus Cererus se llev a cabo para romper las barreras entre los vivos y los
muertos, y permitir a los fantasmas caminar por la Tierra. Ceres tambin lleva una antorcha,
que puede ser una interpretacin alternativa de su glifo: el fuego, un smbolo de la vida que se
renueva eternamente, sin importar la profundidad de la oscuridad, la antorcha y la guadaa
como una sola
Es interesante observar que nuestra celebracin de esta poca del ao, la poca del
adelgazamiento del velo , Halloween o Samhain, o Da de Todos los Santos, y el uso anual de
amapolas en el Da del Recuerdo no estn muy lejos. Dedica un pensamiento a Ceres mientras
celebramos este fin de semana, repartiendo regalos a nuestros nios. El otro carcter
llamativo de la adormidera es su multitud de semillas. Esas cabezas de vaina tienen
connotaciones erticas. (No creas que esos troncos de trigo son tan inocentes y vrgenes, t
tampoco me ests escuchando, Virgos?) Pero guardaremos aquello y las serpientes para la
prxima vez.

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Ceres: The Dark Harvest (Part 1: Introduction)

*From The Brothers Karamazov, translation Andrew H. MacAndrew.

1. helen 10.30.10 / 3am

2. alcuin9 10.30.10 / 10am

3. Don Musser 10.30.10 / 8am

Probably my biggest issue in life was caused by my sense of abandonment over my

The Taurus/Scorpio theme is mirrored in other areas of my chart as well, including my

6. rob 10.30.10 / 2pm

I am now just wondering about her symbology as a potential agent of healingCeres

7. alcuin9 10.30.10 / 6pm

8. Don Musser 10.31.10 / 2pm

9. Marina Caruso 10.31.10 / 10pm

10. Jamie Darkstar 11.01.10 / 8am

11. alcuin9 11.01.10 / 11am

12. KK 11.06.10 / 12am

13. LB 11.06.10 / 11am

Interestingly, I dont have children of my own, although I do nurture anyone and

14. alcuin9 11.06.10 / 1pm

15. Bronwn Rees 11.08.10 / 4am

17. Sabina 11.12.10 / 11pm

18. Sol 11.22.10 / 6am

No wonder she strikes furiously from time to time

20. Sol 11.22.10 / 3pm

21. viola magmar 07.21.11 / 3am

22. Dawn Bodrogi 07.21.11 / 10am

24. LOKI 01.10.13 / 2pm

25. ula 01.26.13 / 7pm

26. Dawn Bodrogi 01.29.13 / 8am

27. KK 02.07.13 / 9pm

28. Zoe 02.10.13 / 3pm

29. Alexandra 09.06.14 / 3am

30. Mary 10.03.14 / 12pm

31. Dawn Bodrogi 10.03.14 / 1pm

32. Kyveli 12.18.14 / 6pm

33. Sher 03.21.16 / 8am

34. Thoughts on astrological Ceres Otherwise03.16.17 / 4pm

1, but as far as Im aware theres no Part 2; possibly it moved []

Driven Towards the Sacred: Vesta (Part One)

because she will haunt you until you do.

hear her. Im listening now.

not quite driven, but infused with a touch of the absolute.

another, less absolute, messier side of life to tend to.

ourselves if we dont give Vesta her voice.

losing life itself, can be excruciating.

no arguments. The penalty for violating this law was death.

Youre currently reading an entry written by Dawn Bodrogi

Major Asteroids, Uncategorized

asteroids, astrology, passion, sacred, Vesta

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1. Pam 05.12.11 / 4pm

Im looking forward to part II.

2. Dawn Bodrogi 05.12.11 / 4pm

3. Jay Linden 05.15.11 / 5pm

activated and integrated if we are to get to the north node.

4. Dawn Bodrogi 05.15.11 / 10pm

we follow our highest path. Not an easy task.

6. Aliza 06.04.11 / 4pm

Vesta sits on my Virgo Rising!

7. Aliza 06.04.11 / 5pm

(oops, forgot that part)

Astrology at Planet Waves, by Eric []

9. Violet 03.21.12 / 2am

10. Jennifer 07.12.12 / 11am

11. A 11.21.12 / 11am