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Ceres, Goddess of the Environment
B Michael WolfStar O'Reilly
Those who have explored astrology beyond the entertaining Sun Sign forecasts
know that the horoscope consists of several planets, not just the Sun. Each
planet represents, in psychological terms, an archetype which describes a
pattern of needs or motivations. While the Sun shows basic character traits
and the drive to be an individual, the Moon provides a glimpse into the
emotional needs, especially for tribal or family connections. Mercury
describes how one processes and communicates information, Venus (the Love
Goddess) represents personal magnetism, and Mars is our Inner Warrior.
Traditional astrology uses ten planets, but of these only the Moon and Venus
are feminine. The rest are masculine, an imbalance reflected in the
patriarchal structure of civilization built over the last 5,000 years. But
the times are changing, and many women are participating equally in the
economic, political, and social development of our society. Astrologers who
recognize this paradigm shift use four asteroids in the horoscope to bring
gender balance to the interpretive picture. Each of these asteroids is
primarily feminine in nature, and each represents a specific set of feminine
qualities which can be called the Goddess powers.
Ceres is the largest of the four major asteroids, and is generally known as
the Great Mother. In ancient mythology Ceres was the Goddess of agriculture
and the harvest, and symbolized the cultivated, fertile soil that fed and
provided for humanity. She was worshipped as the all-nourishing mother. Her
primary story is about how her daughter Persephone was kidnapped by Pluto.
When Ceres grieved over this loss, all the abundance of nature dried up. When
Persephone was eventually returned, Ceres rejoiced, and seeds sprouted,
flowers bloomed, and crops once again filled the field.
From these ancient myths astrologers derive the psychological significance of
Ceres, and according to Ceres' placement in the horoscope, can see how Ceres
is manifesting in the personal life. Women tend to express Ceres' energy more
easily than men, although in men's charts too she can be a powerful force.
When Ceres is prominent, the parent-child relationship is often a central
theme. A woman with a strong Ceres yearns to be a nurturing caretaker, and a
man with a strong Ceres likewise makes a good parent.
Ceres also shows how loss of loved ones can bring deep feelings of grief.
This tends to happen when a major transit adversely affects the natal Ceres.
When Ceres is activated, major life transitions often occur. In a woman's
horoscope, for example, this may mean the birth of a child, the onset of the
menstrual cycle, the beginning of menopause, or when the last child leaves
home. In a patriarchal society, these changes didn't have much relevance, but
the underlying awareness of birth, death, and renewal is sacred knowledge,
and is intrinsically connected to ecology and the environmental movement.
Ceres, as the Goddess who has control over nature's resources and cycles, may
be known as the Goddess of the Environment. In this sense Ceres became an
emerging archetypal force in the twentieth century, and is entering our
collective consciousness as a need to take care of our precious, dwindling,
natural resources. Those who have Ceres prominently placed in their natal
horoscopes may have a strong desire to participate at some level in the
protecting and nurturing earth's natural resources. This is especially true
when Ceres is given a transpersonal boost by being connected to the outer
planets. Then the caretaking function as signified by Ceres is transferred
from personal need for children to the instinctive nurturing of the community
and the environment.
Several environmentally-based web sites use CERES as an acronym to portray
their nurturing, protective mandate. To see how Ceres is emerging into our
collective psyche as an environmental principle, visit CERES, the Network for
Change (www.ceres.org/). Or, have a look at the Center for Education and
Research in Environmental Strategies (www.ceres.org.au/). Another acronym
comes from a state's efforts to manage important environmental resources: The
California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (www.ceres.ca.gov/).
Whether as a marker for personal life direction, or as an indicator for
environmental or community activism, Ceres represents the wave of the future.
To see how Ceres, or the other Goddess powers influence your horoscope, email wolfstar3@aol.com
for information about a personal consultation.
 
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