Getting to Know Ceres in Astrology

An astrology chart is a two-dimensional representation of the layout of the solar system when you took your first breath. The chart contains symbols for astronomical bodies and calculated points connecting those points to aspects of human psychology and consciousness energy. 

This article will look at the point Ceres, which represents the harvest and what we need to feel nourished.  The location of Ceres in your natal chart helps you understand how you get your needs met through your pursuit of and work for resources.

Points in Astrology

Most people do not know any other points in their chart outside of their Sun sign.  Each major point in our solar system is represented in an astrological chart.  Before the telescope, the chart consisted of points visible to the naked eye:  the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn (the big 7).  With telescopes, we added:  Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (to make up the big 10).  Then we found Chiron, and a host of asteroids, beginning with but not limited to Juno, Pallas Athene, Ceres, and Vesta.  We are going to look at all these points and many more in this ongoing monthly series.

What Does Ceres Represent in Your Astrology Chart?

Source: Wikimedia

Ceres is the Goddess of the Harvest.  In Roman mythology, Ceres ruled fertility and motherly relationships.  She is the prime agricultural deity and a patron for abundance.  Her Greek counterpart is Demeter.  Astronomically, “Ceres is both the largest of the asteroids and the only unambiguous dwarf planet inside Neptune’s orbit”.

As a professional astrologer, I see it as a point that can function as a co-ruler of the 2^nd House and the sign of Taurus (along with Venus).  She is the symbol of necessity, hard work, and the resulting lack or abundance from poor or great effort.  Since she rules one of the primary resources (food), she has a vital role in modern astrological interpretation.

When people consult with me about their natal chart, Ceres is one of the points to look at carefully with regards to the individual’s attitude about security, needs, and practical fulfillment.  Understanding Ceres in the chart helps the person understand what kind of energy (by sign) and where (by house) they feel most nourished and experience the greatest need to be nourished.

I was born with my Ceres in Scorpio in the 1^st House of Identity.  Since Scorpio represents deep, dark water and the transformative power of death/rebirth, trauma, and elimination, I am nourished through constant transformation and deep psychological and spiritual work regarding my identity.  The fact that Ceres is at 00 degrees and 50 minutes of Scorpio indicates how fundamental this energy really is to my developing and evolving identity.

Not surprisingly, what nourishes my identity and my life has been through some very dramatic changes in rather Scorpionic fashion.  Right from my origin, which included being born out of wedlock to a woman who was forced to put me up for adoption, I have constantly felt a deep-seated emotional need for security through my relationships.

This energy gets reinforcement from the placement of my Moon in Libra, merged with my South Node, making my evolving identity dependent upon intense transformative life events and relationships.  The more intense the changes, the more it nourishes my soul and psyche, even if it wears me out and nearly breaks me from time-to-time.

The Meaning of Your Ceres is in the Details

With my Ceres is at 00 degrees 50 minutes of Scorpio, it is in the 1^st Decan of Scorpio (each sign is divided by 10 degrees into Decans that shape the flavor of that point by degree position).  The first decan of Scorpio is Scorpio/Scorpio, the second is Scorpio/Pisces, and the third is Scorpio/Cancer.  I have a Scorpio/Scorpio Ceres. In short, I am drawn to and will draw to me, intense needs emotionally.  This placement is rather excellent for counseling, or, in my case, spiritual advising.

Marc Edmund Jones, working with Elsie Wheeler, determined special meanings for each degree of the Zodiac called the Sabian Symbols.  My Ceres is between the Zero and 1^st degree, thus the 1^st Sabian Symbol for Scorpio, which is interpreted as “a sight-seeing bus”.  The keyword assigned to this degree is FRIENDLINESS, and the positive expression is “a basic impersonality which capitalizes on the opportunity of the moment and helps reorder the situation whenever there is difficulty or dissatisfaction, and when negative, a genius for avoiding any and every actual expenditure of self” (The Sabian Symbols, 181).

Where Does your Ceres Reside?

Last but not least, with an exact birth time, we can determine which house or “domicile” your Ceres resides in.  In the case of my chart, my Ceres is my 1^st House of Identity.  The 1^st, 5^th, and 9^th Houses are fire domiciles and relate to how we present ourselves (1^st), what we do for fun (5^th), and what we passionately want to master (9^th).  Having a water sign rule a fire house does complicate the energy, and Ceres is an earth point, so the earthy nature is complemented by the water of the sign but challenged by the fire of the house, tending to make me very introspective when it comes to my personal needs.

With my Ceres in Scorpio in the 1^st House, my “way of meeting my needs manifests through my intense and truth-seeking quest for and attraction to penetrating and emotionally transformative identity development.” (Astrology Unlocked, 224). Having transformative life circumstances that test my identity and help me find out “who I am” is the best way for me to experience this energy and make the most of what it has to teach me.  I take myself rather seriously and am easily drawn to people who are equally serious about themselves and life in general.

If you want to know about YOUR Ceres, really know, then I encourage you to get your full chart cast. Join me next month when we take a look at Lilith, and what you are unyielding about.