Asteroids in astrology
Even the asteroids research it is something new, it is already proven that their influences can be experienced by us. There are several books on this subject and one of the most comprehensive is Angles and Predictions by Martha Lang-Wescott.
In this article, we will present the meaning of several asteroids: Proserpina, Urania, Toro, Eurydice and Circe.
Asteroid Proserpina meaning in horoscope
Mythology of Proserpina
Proserpina is an ancient goddess, daughter of Ceres, goddess of agriculture and crops and Jupiter, the god of sky and thunder. The myth says that when Proserpina was in Sicily, playing with some nymphs and collecting flowers, Pluto came out from the volcano Etna with four black horses and abducted her in order to marry and live with her in Hades, the Greco-Roman Underworld. Her mother Ceres went looking for her in vain to every corner of the earth and, desperate, stopped the growth of fruits and vegetables in Sicily. Also, refused to go back to the Mount Olympus and started walking on Earth, making a desert at every step. Worried, Jupiter sent Mercury to order Pluto to free Proserpina but, because she had eaten pomegranate seeds from Pluto, she couldn’t return to the world of living. Still, they come to an agreement that Proserpina will live each year six months with Pluto and the rest with her mother.
This was named The Myth of Springtime because it is considered an allegory for the changing of seasons. Proserpina signifies the seed-corn which is cast to the ground (carried to the Underworld) and reappears in spring (restored to her mother).
The asteroid Proserpina 26, discovered on 5 May 1853 by the German astronomer Robert Luther, is named after this goddess.
Martha Lang-Wescott analysis
“Proserpina shows: the inner/other life of the child (away from the mother) or conflicts between parents or family and partner. It can also show examples of shared custody or loss of & separation from children. Proserpina deal with experiences away from home and family; they show what happen when “mother’s not there to take care of you”[…] it’s your experience of being away from the family and what makes you “different” from other family members. […] deal with life passages – time when you must “leave” one place and go to another; the asteroids address what impels these transitions, as well as how you handle them. They can indicate “separation anxiety”.[…]”
Mechanics of the Future – Asteroids, 1988
We can see that mythology and astrology have a similar view about Proserpina because both deals with the concept of separation from home. It is related with what is happening when you (are forced to) leave family, with periods when you feel alone, like a stranger. We can observe though, that the similarities end here and we can’t go further with our analogy to reach images like abduction, destruction, fertility, death.
Asteroid Urania meaning in horoscope
Mythology of Urania
The Muses in Greek mythology are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. Originally said to be three in number, by the Classical times of the 400s BC, their number had grown and become set at nine goddesses who embody the arts and inspire the creation process with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music, and dance. According to Hesiod’s Theogony, they were daughters of Zeus, the second generation king of the gods, and the offspring of Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. The nine Muses are: Calliope (the ‘beautiful of speech’), Clio (the ‘glorious one’), Erato (the ‘amorous one’), Euterpe (the ‘well-pleasing’), Melpomene (the ‘chanting one’), Polyhymnia (the ‘[singer] of many hymns’), Terpsichore (the ‘[one who] delights in dance’), Thalia (the ‘blossoming one’) and Urania (the ‘celestial one’).
Urania is the muse of astronomy and astrology. She is usually depicted as having a globe in her left hand. She is able to foretell the future by the arrangement of the stars. She is dressed in a cloak embroidered with stars and keeps her eyes and attention focused on the Heavens. Those who are most concerned with philosophy and the heavens are dearest to her.
The asteroid Urania (discovered 1854) is named after this muse.
Martha Lang-Wescott analysis
“While Urania shows involvement with astronomy, astrology, mathematics or any kind of theoretical, abstract or symbolic knowledge, it is also the ability to extrapolate principles and relevant data from a mass of facts; it is the talent for seeing the forest for the trees.[…] the retrograde Urania has difficulty extracting the essence, meaning or significance of experience from the mass of detail or the distraction of minutiae. There is a problem with seeing the trend, drawing conclusions or picking out a principle.[…] Look to Urania too for intellectual defenses and aptitudes, for a tendency to “overthink” or to use logic and rationality as a way of dealing with the complications or unpleasantness of aspecting points.[…] In its ability to extrapolate meaning from principles, symbols (including language) and theory, Urania addresses the ability to rationalize and conceptualize; it is the capacity to “comprehend” – to find the meaning or/and logic in experience.”
Mechanics of the Future – Asteroids, 1988
The mythological muse seems to have the same main feature with the asteroid Urania – astronomy, astrology involvement! This is interesting and confusing… How is this possible? To name an asteroid after a goddesses and the asteroid to manifest the characteristics of that goddesses? Strange… But, we have the analysis of M. Lang-Wescott who adds more to the mythological lore: Urania helps in understanding life, principles, the reasons behind an event, it is a rational planet. It seems to have something in common with Jupiter – to understand the principles, but also with Mercury or Uranus with this (I would say “cold”) rational, logic approach.
Asteroid Toro meaning in horoscope
Mythology of Toro
For this asteroid we don’t have any mythological history, he is named after Mrs. Samuel Herrick (a United States Representative from Ohio). Was discovered in 1862 and, due to resonance, is sometimes called “Earth’s second satellite”.
Martha Lang-Wescott analysis
“Toro is Ernest Hemingway heaven… think of Spain and corridas and the streets crowded with men who prove their courage in the running of the bulls. Test of testosterone![…] It is attempting to use force to get your way. It’s being “pushy” and overly assertive or aggressive.[…] It also making with the muscles or doing the bull work. […] The positive Toro is competitive and assertive (through the Sign, House and Aspect Pattern). Where Toro aspects more passive energies (such as the Moon, Venus, Neptune or retrograde planets) or is tied in a highly stressful Aspect Pattern, the individual has used these planet to defend him or herself from the anger, violence or pushiness of others. […] The retrograde Toro has been on the hard or receiving end of aggressions and tends to prefer non-violent approach. […]Positive Toro individuals show the strength through competition (often being involved, at some time in the life, in competitive sports.) They can be intimidating almost unintentionally; […]By transit, Toro equates to “storm trooper tactics” regarding the planet being transited. Transit to Toro are situations and people to which one reacts brusquely and aggressively; anger can easily slip out of proportion.”
Mechanics of the Future – Asteroids, 1988
It is clear that is about energy, anger, courage, commitment, involvement, strength, challenges or competition. Let’s see what we can add here!
Asteroid Circe meaning in horoscope
Mythology of Circe
In Greek mythology, Circe, is a Queen goddess (or sometimes a nymph, witch, enchantress or sorceress) living on the island of Aeaea. Circe’s father was Helios, the god of the Sun and the owner of the land where Odysseus’ men ate cattle, and her mother was Hecate, a goddess of witchcraft. She was sister of two kings of Colchis, Aeetes and Perses, and of Pasiphaë, mother of the Minotaur.
Circe transformed her enemies, or those who offended her, into animals through the use of magical potions. She was renowned for her knowledge of drugs. She was skilled in the magic of metamorphosis, the power of illusion, and the dark art of necromancy.
When Odysseus landed on her island she transformed his men into animals, but with the help of the god Hermes, he overcame the goddess and forced her to release his men from her spell. Circe would ask him to bed, but Hermes advised caution, for even there the goddess would be treacherous. She would take his manhood unless he had her swear by the names of the gods that she would not.
Odysseus heeded Hermes’s advice, thus securing the transfigured freedom of his fellows. For five days, he and Circe were lovers. Odysseus and his men remained on the island for one year feasting and drinking wine. She later assisted him in his quest to reach his home.
The asteroid Circe (discovered 1855), is named after this goddess.
Martha Lang-Wescott analysis
“Circe shares with Jupiter the desire to help; […] Circe perceives itself as a helper and a facilitator. Its position indicates who, how and, most importantly, why you aid others. […] In mythology, Circe turned men into swine -so expect some sorcery in connection with offers of aid- along with a need to examine motives for “being so helpful.” […] While Circe may feel impelled to help, beneath its benign exterior may be the sub-message that you can`t do it, that you need or require help.”
Mechanics of the Future – Asteroids, 1988
This time the two points of view are not matching. In mythology, Circe is treacherous, with magic powers and the knowledge of drugs, while Martha Lang-Wescott see Circe related with help. She present Circe in many ways, but, all are related with help.
Asteroid Euridyce meaning in horoscope
Mythology of Euridyce
In Greek mythology, Eurydice was an oak nymph or a sweet maiden. She was the wife of Orpheus. Orpheus loved her dearly; on their wedding day, Orpheus played songs filled with happiness as his bride danced through the meadow. One day, a satyr had seen her and pursued her. Eurydice stepped on a snake and fell to the ground. The venomous snake had bitten her, leaving Eurydice dead. Distraught, Orpheus played and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and gods wept. In their saddened states, they told him to travel to the Underworld and retrieve her. Orpheus did so, and by his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone, his singing so sweet that even the Erinyes wept. In another version, Orpheus played his lyre to put the guardian of Hades, Cerberus, to sleep. It was then granted that Eurydice be allowed to return with him to the world of the living. But the condition was attached that he should walk in front of her and not look back until he had reached the upper world. In his anxiety, he broke his promise, and Eurydice vanished again from his sight—this time forever.
The asteroid Eurydice (discovered 1862), is named after this goddess.
Martha Lang-Wescott analysis
She does not present this asteroid in the book “Mechanics of the Future – Asteroids”, from 1988, but in “Angles and Prediction“, 2007. Probably, she didn’t take in account Eurydice in 1977. In “Angles and Prediction” are presented only the aspects with other planets and asteroids and, we can see, that everything is connected with the verb “depend“. It seems like Eurydice brings a dependence from whatever is symbolized by planet or asteroid with whom she is connected.”Depend on” is the key for understanding Eurydice!
Again, the two points of view are not matching. The mythology don’t tell anything about dependence in this case.
