 North Node |  South Node | Chiron | Ceres | Juno | Pallas Athene |  Vesta Moon's Nodes
In astrology, the Moon's Nodes are not planets in the strict astronomical sense, but rather sensitive points on the ecliptic, where the Moon crosses from north to south latitude and vice versa. The body of the "energy dragon" is the fourth-dimensional path of the Moon by declination, as she weaves her web around the earth. The nodes are commonly known as the Dragon's Head (Caput Draconis in Latin), the North Node, and Dragon's Tail (Cauda Draconis), the South Node, although in Indian Astrology they are known as Rahu and Ketu. The Dragon's Head, a "shadow planet" exalted in Gemini, is considered benefic (good), whilst the Dragon's Tail, exalted in Sagittarius, is considered malefic (evil) in influence. Their motion is normally retrograde at the rate of roughly one degree every 19 days (compare the 19 year cycle of lunation); periods of direct motion are therefore considered unfortunate. The placement of the Nodes is important, because it illustrates a relationship between the Moon, the Earth and the Sun. Eclipses can be calculated by the movement of the nodal axis.
 The Dragon's Head (Moon's North Node):- Aspects to the North Node concern or affect relationships to prevailing trends, attitudes and opportunities. The Dragon's Head represents your karmic objectives in this lifetime. It points the way towards soul growth and evolution. The sign holding your Dragon's Head reveals the flavour of your karma in this lifetime, while its house placement shows the area of life in which you need to develop, or become conscious of this karma. Positive aspects to the Dragon's Head are generally favourable from the benefics (Venus and Jupiter), Sun, Moon and Mercury, whilst sextile or trine from Mars, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto also have beneficial effects. Square and opposition from the benefics and conjunction, square and opposition from the malefics are unfortunate, according to the matters signified by house and planet afflicted.
 The Dragon's Tail (Moon's South Node):- Aspects to the Dragon's Tail display the results of innate unconscious tendencies and karmic patterns as they emerge in the life. They tend to be separative and destructive. Any aspect to the South Node from any planet is unfortunate for matters to do with the house and planet activated thereby. Past life hangovers are represented by the position and aspects of the Dragon's Tail. The position of the Dragon's Tail is generally indicative of past life connections or commitments in a relationship analysis. Aspects thereto are also most interesting, especially if a pre-natal eclipse falls there, either natally or in conjunction with a progression or major transit.
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 Chiron, the Wounded Healer Chiron, a teacher of heroes and an oracle, was originally a god of healing, but in later mythology survived as one of the centaurs. These wild creatures, half man and half horse, were not noted either for their sensitivity, or their intelligence and represented mankind's attachment to the lower animal passions. Chiron, immortal son of Kronos (Saturn), governs healing and relationships; he teaches us, as he did with Jason, Achilles and Heracles, to fulfil our ultimate potential. Chiron taught his secrets to Asclepios, the divine healer, but in modern astrology he profoundly stands for the deep wounds we have brought into this life to be healed and so to enable us to heal others. His emblem represents holistic understanding. The area of the chart in which Chiron is located is the focus of the karmic healing process, which is often very painful.
Unlike the drunken centaurs, Chiron was wise, with extensive knowledge of the healing arts, astrology, music and medicine. Heracles (Hercules) unintentionally wounded his teacher in the knee, during his battle with the centaurs. Thus his wound was in a sense self-inflicted, for he himself had taught the hero to make the poisoned arrow by dipping it in the blood of the Hydra. The last of his kind, Chiron relinquished immortality so that the titanic rebel Prometheus (who brought the gift of fire—stolen from the gods—to the human race) could be released from his eternal torment. Thus he died so that humanity might live. After his death, he was placed in the firmament as the constellation Sagittarius.
A comet-like planetoid now called Chiron was discovered in 1977. It travels between the courses of Saturn and Uranus in a highly elliptical 51-year orbit, closer at perihelion to the Sun than Saturn and almost as far out at aphelion as Uranus. This has the effect of moving him swiftly through some signs, such as Libra, but very slowly through others, such as Aries. The first of many such minor planets (Centaurs) to be discovered, Chiron still remains the largest and most significant of these in terms of human destiny.
Chiron is a knowledge holder who transmits higher teachings either as an outer teacher (Saturn) or as an inner teacher or spirit guide (Uranus). Embodying the archetype of "the wounded healer", Chiron stresses the importance of going within to find an answer – and then sharing it with others. In education, music and medicine, Chiron unites the body and mind, instinct and intellect. His ancient teachings are now resurfacing through the advent of holistic health and education.
Read more on Chiron, the Wounded Healer.
Asteroids
- Some asteroids have been found to have astrological value, especially with relation to women's issues and the development of influences more related to the feminine side and the power of the goddess. These tiny planetoids are generally found orbiting the Sun in a belt between Mars and Jupiter comprising thousands of cosmic boulders, some as little as a few meters across and some reasonably large. However, their orbits are variable and those described in this article have been found to be useful in modern astrology.
Interestingly, Bode's Law predicts that a planet should be found where we now see the asteroid belt and in 1801 Giuseppe Piazzi, following Bode's formula, discovered Ceres – thinking he had found a new planet. Now speculation has it that the asteroid belt is made up of the remnants of a large disintegrated planet, or it might be that these are the pieces from which a planet will one day coalesce. Science is unsure. Chiron, on the other hand, orbits much further out, between Saturn and Uranus, so is not usually called an asteroid, because it is not in the "belt" between Mars and Jupiter.
The names of these asteroids are based today on those of the ancient græco-roman goddesses, but not consistently using the Greek, or the Roman system. In the following texts, the accepted name is given first, with the corresponding name in the mythology of the other culture in brackets. Confusion easily arises, due to the subsequent naming of other asteroids with cognate names (e.g. there is now an asteroid "Demeter" and an asteroid "Minerva" etc.).
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Ceres: - The great mother, or the principle of unconditional love. Ceres (Demeter in the Greek) is the goddess of fertility, of the crops – we get the word "cereal" from Ceres. The myth of Ceres and the loss of her daughter Proserpine (Persephone, a.k.a. Kore) explains the cyclic rhythms of nature and the deeper mysteries of death and resurrection, the human soul and metempsychosis. Ceres and Pluto thus have a profound connection, as in mythology Pluto, dark Lord of the Underworld, abducted her daughter bright Proserpine, Goddess of Spring, thanks to the spiteful jealousy of Venus! [more on the classical myth of Ceres and Proserpine]. Ceres, daughter of Saturn and Ops (Kronos and Rhea), and sister to Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto, was also the sister of Vesta and Juno. Bountiful Ceres, queen of the mysteries, rules the cyclical structure of the natural world and the rhythms of womanhood and fertility, parenting and reproduction. The emergence of her influence in recent times has brought a resurgence of interest in the Divine Feminine, adding a dimension of awareness and nourishment. In some ways Ceres can be seen as the saviour of children, for in the myth she refuses to give up on her lost daughter Proserpine until she has been recovered and reclaimed from the Underworld.
Notwithstanding, Ceres, the largest of the asteroids and the first to be discovered (by Giuseppe Piazzi, on 1 January 1801), is clearly a serious malefic, especially when afflicted, which anyone can see from examining her position in disaster charts. Even a quick reading of the mythology also reveals that, in her sorrow and grief, she can actually blight the entire world – in order to regain what she has lost. The placement of Ceres in the chart is a harbinger or loss, but always holds out the promise of return, or reclamation. It is interesting that Ceres was originally considered a true planet, under the auspices of the now-discredited Titius-Bode Law. In fact, following the success of this law in predicting the position of Uranus, a group of 24 astronomers were actually looking for a proposed planet where the asteroids are now known to flock. Under new astronomical definitions, Ceres, the first discovered of the asteroids, has finally been classed as a "dwarf planet". She has this in common with Pluto also...!
"Astrologically, Ceres describes the ways in which we face the issues of
self-worth and self-esteem, relationships to our parents and children,
attachment, dependency, loss, separation, rejection, grief, sharing, work
and productivity." (62)
- Juno:
- The divine consort, or the principle of relatedness. Juno (Hera), the wife of Jupiter (Zeus, the Lord of the Gods) governs wifely relationships, the role of woman as covenanter and partner. In this way she governs such things as contracts and binding agreements, through her association with marriage. Juno's rule was overthrown by the victory of Jupiter, which introduced the custom of marriage and a patriarchial social system. Juno can be fierce and is bound by a sense of duty and social obligation. Her dark side also rules such things as divorce, and separation, infidelity and open conflict between partners.
"Astrologically
Juno describes the ways in which we face the issues of compatibility,
receptivity to others, mutual sharing, trust, jealousy, possessiveness and
power struggles." (168)
- Pallas Athene:
- The warrior queen, the principle of creative intelligence and wisdom. Athene (Minerva) was born from the head of Zeus (Jupiter), thus being the only Olympian to have been born without a mother. Representing divine knowledge, or wisdom, she stands for feminine expression of the divine nous, or perfect understanding. She also rules the relations between fathers and daughters, and all incestuous and abusive relationships, where an imbalance of power must be righted. Pallas, the wise, female warrior, gives meaning and direction to the struggles of women to be free from the oppressive domination of the masculine forces.
"Astrologically Pallas Athene describes how we face the issues of learning, creativity, the arts, politics, healing, alienation from relationships, competition, and the fears of success." (99)
- Vesta:
- The eternal flame, which burns forever in the hearth. As the principle of focus and commitment, Vesta (Hestia) was one of the most revered of the goddesses. In ancient times, she was the burning energy at the heart of life and society. Her call to purification is the rallying cry of truth.
"Astrologically Vesta describes the ways in which we face the issues of personal integration, work, devotion, commitment, sacrifice, alienation from personal relationships, and a range of sexual complexes based on denial and fear of intimacy." (133)
This is the end of the article.
Reference
Demetra George (with Douglas Bloch) (1986) Asteroid Goddesses, ACS
Publications, Inc.: San Diego, CA.
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Moon's Nodes
