Asteroids Have A Meaningful Place In Astrology
When you first dip your toes into astrology, you'll likely learn about your sun sign, then gradually develop a knowledge of the other planets' placements and their meanings. Next comes the astrological houses — the divisions that make up the wheel of the sky when you were born and show you a wider picture of each area of your life. Finally, you'll make it to the aspects, which show how each placement connects and relates to each other based on its degree. It seems like a full view of how each of these celestial bodies could impact your life, but what about the other objects found in the night sky?
The art of astrology has been around for thousands of years, much longer than we've had high-definition telescopes and cameras. Because of this, any major, visible celestial body was factored into the story, even if it wasn't a planet. Nowadays, with the help of modern technology, we've been able to properly identify over 12,000 asteroids. It would take years to calculate a truly complete chart, but, luckily, there is a main collection of these space rocks that have an influence, though they're often overlooked in favor of the traditional eight planets and two luminaries.
Chiron
Once you begin your research into asteroids, Chiron will likely be one of the first placements you hear about. The myth of Chiron centers on the abandoned half-human, half-horse child of Zeus and Phylira. The centaur was later found and raised by Apollo, and, despite his half-animal build, he learned to become a civilized and well-rounded creature of reason.
In astrology, Chiron is often referred to as the wounded healer because of this backstory. He has a deep emotional wound from being abandoned and cast aside, but he took that wound and turned it into power and healing energy, in turn, teaching others what he had learned. In our charts, Chiron represents a place where we have experienced pain and deep emotional turmoil, but it also shows the source of our hidden power. In this area, it's our choice whether or not we want to grow and heal, but doing so can yield powerful and even life-altering results.
Vesta
Vesta, the Greek equivalent of Hestia, is all about the hearth and the home. In myth, she was a beautiful woman but declined to marry, instead opting to tend to the fire. At this time, the hearth was the core of a household — it represented mealtimes, family gatherings, warmth, and rituals involving the flame, so keeping it alight and properly maintained was symbolic of a larger role. Without this fire, Rome wouldn't be able to keep functioning, so her job was essentially keeping the culture's heart beating.
In astrology, Vesta represents how we view our family and home and our internal flame and motivations. This asteroid's placement can show you where you need to place your focus and relight a spark in order to bring some balance and happiness back to your day-to-day. If it's in the fifth house, for example, it might be time to pursue a more creative endeavor and bring some stress-free pleasure into your life. Without stoking our internal flame, we lack the ability to give our all to our other tasks.
Juno
Juno, known to the Greeks as Hera, is the wife (and sister) of Jupiter, the loose leader and all-around disloyal king of the pantheon. Juno is an important figure in mythology, and the asteroid itself was originally believed to be a planet, so she didn't get much of a fair shake when modern astronomy proved that she was just an especially visible rock orbiting between Mars and Jupiter.
Fittingly, however, her mythological story and astrological interpretation fit with this theme. Jupiter was a notorious cheater and Juno often sought revenge for these acts, so this placement in your chart can represent loyalty, marriage, and betrayal. She's faced her fair share of inequalities and loss of power, so her position can tell you where you're feeling betrayed and looking to set things right once again. If you're already feeling scorned, Juno can also show you how this can manifest in your daily life and what your reaction might be.
Ceres
Ceres, whose Greek name is Demeter, is another asteroid that was once believed to be a planet. She was a major player and one of the original gods in the pantheon, most known for her association with her daughter Prosperina, or Persephone. The story goes that Ceres's daughter was kidnapped by Pluto, ruler of the underworld. After searching the world tirelessly for her daughter, she eventually struck a deal with Pluto, agreeing that Prosperina could split her time between the underworld and the world of the living. Ceres is the goddess of the harvest, and her lamentation caused the world to become barren and cold for six months of the year while her daughter was with Pluto, offering an explanation for the seasons.
In astrology, this asteroid represents attachments in relationships, familial or otherwise, but it also symbolizes how we care for ourselves, behaving as both mother and child. Looking to this placement can show us how to properly approach self-care on a deep, soul-nourishing level, moving beyond face masks or retail therapy as healing.
Pallas
Aries might be the sign most commonly associated with war, but there's another warrior that can be found in your chart. Pallas, or Athena in Greek mythology, also referred to as Minerva, is a goddess of self-defense, wisdom, and strategy. According to the myth, she sprung from the head of Juno fully grown and began to fight alongside the other gods, serving as a clear-headed leader. In contrast to Mars' guns-a-blazing aggressive approach, however, Pallas took a more calculated, strategic perspective, fighting to resolve conflict instead of just causing some chaos.
In your chart, Pallas can represent where you feel drawn to take charge and act as a leader. She also represents the more philosophical side of conflict — think well-researched arguments and healthy debate instead of throwing blows like a schoolyard bully. That doesn't mean that Pallas is afraid to swing, however. This placement is still powerful and battle-ready, it's just more focused on a level-headed and defensive approach.
Sappho
Sappho might not have been a Roman goddess, but her poetic works cemented her legacy as a powerful figure in ancient times. The term sapphic is in reference to her, and lesbian is a reference to the island of Lesbos where she grew up. Her actual sexuality has long been debated and blurred through the lens of modern history, but many of her works include powerful declarations of love towards her female companions, romantic or otherwise.
As such, this placement represents what you feel drawn to create and express, especially through writing, but it also covers queer relationships, bonds between women, and where and by whom you feel deeply seen. It can even offer a glimpse into what kind of women you attract or which women you're attracted to. For example, the presence of Sappho in your 11th house could mean that you have incredibly deep, loving friendships that validate your feelings and provide you with support.
Eros
In mythology, Eros, known more commonly as Cupid, is the son of Venus. Venus represents some aspects of love — beauty, art, luxury — but Eros is a more direct representation of desire and eroticism. Despite frequently being portrayed as a baby, Eros can show us where we're passionate, both romantically and creatively, but also where we get a bit obsessive and controlling. Eros shooting arrows of desire into the hearts of those he interacts with is the perfect metaphor for this kind of love. It comes on hard and fast, often leading people to act recklessly.
The darker side of Eros is represented through his relationship with Psyche, another asteroid found in astrology. In the myth, Eros seduced Psyche, a mortal princess, but only agreed to meet with her in the middle of the night, under cover of darkness. If your Eros placement is poorly aspected, you could be prone to the same kind of obsessive and even addictive behavior when it comes to sexual partners.
Psyche
Psyche, the princess that eventually married Eros, is a representation of a deeper look into psychology and the mind. This can be more direct — you might be interested in studying psychology if Psyche is found in your 9th house — but it can also show you the core of your sense of self. Psyche, despite being a mortal, was a powerful and determined woman that would do anything to prove her love to Eros, so this placement is also representative of your link to another person on a soul level. If you're curious about your relation to a romantic partner, look to your Eros and Psyche synastry to get a deeper look into your connection.
Asteroids might seem like minor inclusions in astrology thanks to their relative lack of popularity and smaller size, but they can often offer a deeper, more nuanced perspective into your chart than planetary placements alone. If you're looking to take your practice a bit further and bring some dimension to your story, take a look at what else you can find in the sky.