The following is shared from cafeastrology.com
Tuesday, JUNE 7
The Moon in Virgo is particular, helpful, and intelligent. We want to tidy up our lives, starting with the details. Today’s Mars-Saturn semi-square suggests it’s best to slow down in the face of obstacles, as trying to move too fast can serve to create more resistance. Since circumstances seem to block our efforts to assert ourselves, patience is necessary now.
Helping with this is a Mars-Pluto quintile. With this transit, we’re willing to challenge ourselves, and we tend to gravitate toward plans and strategies to get what we desire. It’s a good time to identify problems and make plans to fix them.
Learn about the symbols at astro.com
I’m planning to look more deeply into Ceres in Koand’s natal chart on tonight’s stream. Ceres is at 24 degrees in Libra.
What is Ceres?
Ceres (/ˈsɪəriːz/;[18] minor-planet designation: 1 Ceres) is a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Ceres was the first asteroid discovered, on 1 January 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi at Palermo Astronomical Observatory in Sicily. Originally considered a planet, it was reclassified as an asteroid in the 1850s after the discovery of dozens of other objects in similar orbits. In 2006, it was reclassified again as a dwarf planet – the only one always inside Neptune's orbit – because, at 940 km (580 mi) in diameter, it is the only asteroid large enough for its gravity to maintain it as a spheroid in hydrostatic equilibrium.
. . .
What does Ceres represent in astrology?
Ceres: Asteroid of Nurturance
Long before summer was about vacations and time off from school, the season was associated with the goddess Ceres, whose joy was said to cause the earth to bloom and grow. Mythologically, Ceres was the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain, fertility, and motherly relationships. In Greek traditions, she was known as Demeter, and most infamous for the relationship to her daughter Persephone.
As the well-known story goes, Persephone was abducted—though some myths say she went willing—into the underworld by Hades, and Demeter spent her days mourning.
After she threatened to destroy all crops and food, Zeus heard Demeter’s pleas and allowed Persephone to return to her mother. However, Hades tricked Persephone into eating pomegranate seeds, and therefore, having eaten the food of the underworld, Persephone could never entirely leave, rather spending half of the year in the underworld and the other half with her mother above ground. This was said to create the seasons: fall and winter occur when Persephone is in the underworld and Demeter is unhappy, and spring and summer when Persephone returns.
Archetypally, this myth—and, thus, Ceres—represents cycles of loss and return, attachment in relationships, and ultimately self-nurturing or self-care. This powerful symbolism of self-care also carries over into astrology with the first discovered and largest asteroid: Ceres.
In our natal chart, Ceres energy recognizes the paradox roles we inhabit as both our own parent and child. Its placement teaches us where we easily provide nurturance and care to ourselves and what we need to feel our best physically, emotionally, and spiritually—a.k.a. self-care.
While self-care has often been oversimplified, when we look more deeply, it encompasses a holistic approach to becoming our own best caregiver. Without an understanding of our natal Ceres, we may struggle a lot with unmet needs or confusion over how to be the best parents to our own internal children. However, with deeper exploration, this asteroid reveals our deepest needs and greatest self-care priorities.
While the moon in our charts showcases needs and emotional balancing and the sun representing what energizes us, Ceres focuses on the ways we can nurture ourselves on an even deeper level. House placement plays a large role in the other influences to our Ceres; however, the sign and planetary aspects offer clues to different combinations and the baseline needs for our self-care toolbox.
The Meaning of Asteroid Ceres in the Natal Chart by Sign and Aspect
Ceres in Aries or aspect to Mars: Playing sports and being active ups your self-care game, especially when it involves a healthy dose of competition and independence.
Ceres in Taurus or aspect to Venus: Nurture and feed the senses through earthly connection such as being out in nature, enjoying good food, or cultivating pleasure.
Ceres in Gemini or aspect to Mercury: Enhance curiosity through reading books, watching documentaries, or signing up for classes.
Ceres in Cancer or aspect to the moon: Creature comforts come first such as being at home and cooking while practicing naming needs for stability and connection.
Ceres in Leo or aspect to the sun: Find more joy through self-expression in creativity or even as simple as soaking in some sunbathing (within reason of course).
Ceres in Virgo or aspect to Mercury: Keeping order in day-to-day life and staying organized can offer a sense of inner care, as well as sometimes over communicating what you need.
Ceres in Libra or aspect to Venus: Feeding ways to connect with beauty or exploring art and design can awaken more of self-care.
Ceres in Scorpio or aspect to Pluto: Psychological interests and practicing vulnerability connect you to the soul work exploration needed for emotional depth.
Ceres in Sagittarius or aspect to Jupiter: Vision and philosophy bring you down to your center or gravity, as well as vacation or any way of expanding horizons.
Ceres in Capricorn or aspect to Saturn: A sense of inner authority, commitment, and stability bring out your own caretaking nature.
Ceres in Aquarius or aspect to Uranus: Individuality and chances to express your unique gifts foster self-care as well as any chance to start something new—though doesn’t always mean finishing it.
Ceres in Pisces or aspect to Neptune: Meditating, music, and finding ways to be in the flow of things help keep needs met.
. . .
The dwarf planet Ceres is the largest and first of the discovered asteroids found between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. Ceres is named after the Roman goddess, Ceres. The Greek goddess counterpart was Demeter.
Ceres is considered one of the four major asteroids (along with Juno, Vesta, and Pallas) in astrology. Its dwarf planet association is due to its ellipsoidal shape. Ceres was the goddess of fertility and agriculture.
Ceres Themes
In astrology, Ceres rules food, agriculture, nourishment, transitions in a female’s life, nurturing, motherhood, and family relationships.
With Ceres, there is a love of what is simple, natural, wholesome, and good for you. With Ceres, there is a strong need to nurture and protect, as well as to treat other living beings, including animals, with respect and reverence.
Ceres is connected to grief, as well as the possibility of destroying everything in one’s path in order to regain what was lost.
She might also be connected to separation and time-sharing, as Ceres in mythology had to strike a deal with Pluto who had abducted her daughter, Persephone, wherein she was to return Persephone to him for a portion of the year.
Ceres can describe our caregiving, nurturing, and loving qualities. Teaching, mentoring, gardening, farming, and cooking are strong associations. Ceres is democratic, caring, and concerned about the environment and nutrition. With Ceres, we are drawn to what’s natural, wholesome, good, and simple.
Ceres is generally understated and not very adorned, and she very much appreciates the ordinary.
Ceres in the Natal Chart
Our Ceres sign can show how we go about nurturing others. For example, people with Ceres in an Earth sign might nurture others through food, sustenance, and practical help. On the other hand, the first go-to for nurturing others for those who have Ceres in a Water sign is emotional support. For Ceres in an Air sign, they might default to mental/communication support, and for Ceres in a Fire sign, moral support and encouragement.
Traits of Ceres can be prominent in a person with a strong Ceres in the chart (such as through a conjunction to the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant). The love of the regular, ordinary, simple, natural, and unadorned can figure strongly.
. . .
What about a harmonious aspect between Mars and Ceres? The following is shared from here.
The Natural Born Fighter
Ceres Trine Mars
OPPORTUNITIES
Standing up for your beliefs
Protecting the vulnerable
CHALLENGES
Nurturing gently
Channeling aggression properly
Depending on other aspects in your chart, Ceres working cooperatively with Mars can make you driven to care for other people (particularly women or the vulnerable). There can be an undying desire to nurture situations and people that mean a lot to you.
If you are a parent, this aspect can give you the sustained energy to care for your child despite challenges that may arise.
Because the energy of Mars is so strong, it’s important to watch your temper. Learning how to channel your assertiveness in a caring way will be part of your healing journey.
No one can deny that you have no problem fighting for what you know is right. You may find yourself feeling pulled to advocate for causes that feel meaningful to you.
Your desire to protect and nurture people is strong. Whether you received unconditional love as a child or not, you are likely to be a natural at nurturing. This does not have to translate to having children; it can apply to your other family members, relationships, career or social causes.
Whatever it is, it’s important to find your passion because this aspect gives you a lot of energy to use toward caretaking something.
You may find it rewarding to enter into a career in politics or law where you are working toward justice, peace and safety.
. . .
How does Ceres come across in Libra? The following is shared from here:
Ceres in Libra: These people are nurtured by beauty. And Libra, remember, is always impressed by the small, subtle things that show you care. Good manners and a tasteful, balanced appearance will work wonders here. They will also tend to nurture others in the same way, with small, tasteful touches.
. . .
What about a Ceres aspect with Venus?
Ceres Aspects Venus: Oh for a lover with the harmonious aspects (conjunction, sextile, or trine) between Venus and Ceres! The ability to express love and affection and the nurturing nature are in harmony. They can love you and feed you at the same time. These people will tend to be nurtured by beauty and beautiful things, as well as by pleasant social gatherings. The stressful aspects (square and opposition) indicate that what you need to feel happy and your nurturing needs are out of alignment. Perhaps the clothes you were given as a child made you feel ugly. There will tend to be nurturing issues with partners and lovers. With the stressful aspects, you could constantly attract partners and lovers who always seem to require nurturing from you. Conversely, the nurturing you get from them never seems to be right. As always with the stressful aspects, do not look upon this as some terrible fate, but rather as a problem that needs to be solved or as an obstacle that needs to be overcome.
. . .
What about aspects between Ceres and Neptune?
Ceres Aspects Neptune: If you have this combination, you can feel nurtured by your imagination. When it comes to nurturing others, you will tend to add a note of fantasy. Parents with this one can play imaginary games with their children.
Watch out for the stressful aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition). Neptune is the planet of sympathy, and, when Ceres is in stressful aspect, it could indicate a tendency to try to "nurture" people who are constantly draining you, like the alcoholic who is always falling off the wagon and needs you to pick them up "just one more time." It could easily work out the other way as well. The person with Ceres in stress aspect with Neptune could be the one who is "needy" and constantly drains everyone around them, until those people get fed up and leave. Then, they search for another sympathetic soul to con into providing "nurturing" and the cycle repeats. The irony is that no amount of nurturing will ever feel satisfactory because the Ceres/Neptune stress aspect means that, deep down inside, there is a feeling that the nurturing is undeserved. Neptune is also the planet of escape. The stressful aspects could also indicate a tendency to feel nurtured (or avoid the pain of not feeling nurtured) through alcohol or drug abuse. Needless to say, in cases like these, therapy is a necessity. The positive side of Ceres/Neptune can be very loving and giving. There is real feeling behind the nurturing, and people will notice it. A good outlet would be doing volunteer charity work with a Ceres quality, such as working to collect food or clothing for the poor and needy.
. . .
What about aspects between Ceres and Mars?
Ceres Aspects Mars: Energy, action, and nurturing combined. This person feels nurtured through physical action, adventure, and even combat. When it comes to nurturing others, they can dive right in and nurture you whether you want them to or not. The stressful aspects (square, opposition, and, here, the conjunction as well) are an indicator that the early nurturing tended to be in conflict with the need for assertion. The parents could have withheld nurturing when the child was in an angry mood, causing the anger to be repressed. Conversely, at least one parent could have expressed anger at the child's nurturing needs, affecting the child's sense of self-worth. Adults with the stressful Mars/Ceres aspects may get angry when asked to nurture others. They may even get angry when they have to nurture themselves!
My natal chart also features Ceres Conjunct Venus.