CERES AND DEMETER

Asteroids Ceres and Demeter represent the mother principle. Crops, food production, farming, grains and all manner of agriculture all fall under the domain of Ceres.This Goddess was one of the original Titans, the 12 most powerful deities of all. This Goddess was intimately involved in the daily life and the nurturing of humans. Ceres was important. 

Both asteroids carry the same mythology and weight. Demeter is the Greek version of the tale, Ceres the Roman. Ceres was sister to Jupiter (Zeus) and the mother of Proserpine (Persephone) who was kidnapped, raped and forcibly became the wife of the Lord of the underworld, Pluto. Distraught and worn from her search for her daughter, Ceres became despondent and neglected her duties in her sorrow. Mythology recalls how Ceres mourned the loss of Demeter so greatly that she allowed all the crops to die and winter made a permanent stay. The gods plead with Jupiter to do something, to intervene somehow in the mess Pluto had made. The reigning deities were afraid that if humans starved and died out, there would be no one left to adore and worship them. This could not stand. 

Jupiter saw that the other Gods' concerns were indeed valid as he surveyed the barren, frozen earth. He sent for Proserpine. Now, when one descended into the underworld and ate anything, they were forever bound to hell. Pluto well knew this and secretly slipped his new bride a bite (Pluto's "Love" for Proserpine is another post, one that details the nuances, obsession, severity and consequences of the Plutonic relationship). Proserpine was never to be fully free. She was allowed only to emerge from the clutches of her insecure husband in earliest spring and remained with her doting mother into late fall. You knew when Ceres once again had to bid her daughter goodbye when the first frosts appeared. 

Ceres rules all grains. The word 'cereal' is derived from her name. Agriculture, livestock, cultivation and the harvest all fall under her ruler ship. Clothing is also a facet of her ruler ship. Children also fall under the domain of this asteroid and it can be seen highly aspected at conceptions and births. Food allergies and nutritional issues fall under Ceres, as well.

The house Ceres falls into shows where we nurture, aspects to Ceres show what we nurture. This asteroid can also show loss or separation.

The house that Ceres falls into shows the area of life where we nurture, bring our rapt attention, can show the part of the body that has food intolerance or the need to gorge for comfort, where we potentially put our unwavering commitment, where we bring our domestic talents to bear, and the area of life where we experience loss, barrenness and despondency. The house Ceres falls into points to where we received good or negative early nurturing. 

Ceres in easy aspect to the Sun can point to one who incorporates the nurturing aspects of Ceres into their expression and personality. The actual character is mixed with the need to nurture, to support and to help others. A deep need to express oneself through their children. I have seen the conjunction in the charts of men who refused to discipline their children. The mothering qualities in a man with this placement are known to lend an extreme fear of one's offspring turning away from them and if Saturn or Pluto is also in aspect, this is all the more serious. An overcompensation can creep in and these fathers can become extremely adverse to putting any type of boundaries on their children. Females with Ceres conjunct the sun are known to be very talented in the domestic sphere and raising children is an actual gift. The mothers who easily homeschool 12 kids and do it well.

Adverse aspects from the Sun to Ceres can show an inability to accept nurturing, help or assistance. The ego can very much interfere with this placement and one can feel 'weak' or embarrassed to be taken care of. Can very much show problems with the early nurturing from the father. Squares from the sun, oppositions, sesquiquadrate a and inconjuncts can show lack of appropriate care.

Moon in easy aspect to Ceres shows the natural nurturer, the one who just cannot help but help. The early nurturing was sufficient and the sense of care received from the mother adequate. I have seen people with this conjunction be very quiet around the house, a docile attitude is common. Very emotionally attached to the children. Males with this conjunction are often very female inside.

Adverse aspects from Ceres to the moon can show a lack of early emotional support. Abandonment can be see with hard aspects from the Moon to Ceres. The square can show the nurturing one received and gives does not satisfy one emotionally. The opposition can show issues with nurturing others over the self (Venus, also).

Ceres in easy aspect to Venus shows a love of all things Home. Domestic life is valued, children are a joy and there is great emphasis placed on creativity within the home. Very caring about friends and great entertainers. Known to bring beauty into the home.

Difficult aspects from Ceres to Venus can show a lack of value for ones self when in a domestic love relationship. The opposition from Venus to Ceres is known to cause a divide in how one feels about the care they receive in relationships. The pull between the role of mistress and wife.

Mars in easy aspect to Ceres can show the energetic nurturer. Action, combat and competition bring this Ceres to life. These folks can pushy about having others accept their help.

Stressful aspects from Ceres to Mars can point to repression of anger or individuality in the early years. There often was an angry component to the upbringing. With the square, the mother was often not nurturing of the child's anger and repression can be seen.

Jupiter in easy aspect to Ceres shows one who nurtures expansive attitudes and ideals in others. The early nurturing in early upbringing was often smothering with this placement. Too much of a good thing. Ceres conjunct Jupiter is known create a dream of nurturing the masses. The partner who's domestic talents are larger than life. Hard to say no to anyone with this conjunction. (A good dose of Mars or Pluto can balance this out)

Jupiter in hard aspect to Ceres can show one who thinks they know it all about women, mothering and children. 

Ceres in easy aspect to Saturn can point to the structured nurturer, the mother who runs the household like a tight ship. The care given in the early upbringing was usually sufficient. A calculated mother.

Hard aspects - and this includes the conjunction - can show denial, waiting or difficulties with pregnancy and children. The early upbringing was often cold and inadequate.

Uranus in easy aspect to Ceres shows the unconventional nurturer. This is the mother who is spontaneous, fun and bit crazy. 

Difficult aspects from Uranus to Ceres are about the early nurturing being unstable, unpredictable and erratic. These people can deny nurturing out of fear of sudden abandonment. When their needs are going to be met, they can often panic and cut the relationship off. The preemptive strike is very unconscious. Very often, when we see Ceres in hard contact with Uranus, the individual draws unstable partners to them who cannot furnish the care and nurturing they require. This can be blamed on the other but is the Ceres/Uranus person who is accepting these relationships in the first place. This is an unconscious tactic to keep those that would care for them deeply at arms length or not in the life at all. Allowing one to be nurtured is seen as a risk with Uranus in hard aspect.

Ceres in easy aspect to Neptune is the sensitive nurturer. Often, there is a dream of ideal domestic life that is reminiscent of a painting. An air of romance and gentleness is infused in the caring style of these people. 

Ceres in hard aspect to Neptune can show one who nurtures too much, one who gives to weakening relationships. People who nurture or more to the point, enable, often have this hard aspect.

Ceres in easy aspect to Pluto (trine, sextile, quintile, ) shows one who helps nurture the transformation in others, one who can lend support and assistance to those who are going through a catharsis or crisis. 

Ceres in hard aspect (conjunction included) to Pluto can show one who cannot stand separation from their children or invests all that they are in them. Control issues that are subtle but pervasive often creep into the relationship with children and Pluto/Ceres people can become the worst kind of helicopter parent. Often, there was a dark relationship with the early nurturers that instilled a deep sense of over-protection towards offspring. It is very common to see the loss of a child due to a type of cellular abnormality or genetic condition when we see the opposition or square but it must fall in the 5th/11th house axis in opposition or the fifth/or be the rulers of those houses to show this. The square sees either Ceres or Pluto falling into the fifth square to the other in the ninth or second. Pluto rules cells and mutations. In the charts of kidnap victims, Ceres is almost always highly aspected to Pluto and Ceres and Pluto are connecting in transit.