Discovery Chart of Eris, and the Association with Demeter, Pluto and Persephone
With this article, I explore why Eris the dwarf planet, the Greek Goddess of Discord and Strife in mythology, is so intimately connected with the Greek Mythology of Persephone, Demeter, and Pluto.
Why? Because by exploring Eris alone, it is challenging to understand her higher expression, due to all the bad press (tongue in cheek)… The gist is that the name Xena, and then the names Persephone and Proserpina were the forerunners in the naming of the planet. But were either unacceptable or already taken by other, previously discovered objects… Other astrologers also associate asteroid 399 Proserpina with Eris.
As far as the symbolism of the planet, this is not a case of either/or. It is a case of this AND that…
The mythological story of warmongering, angry Eris, Xena the Warrior Princess, and the tenderhearted, nurturing Persephone, all apply to the energies of Eris…
They are the two paths the feminine have to choose from after they have been done dirty by the antagonist: either becoming poisonous/ravaging, or healing/elevating. Stark polarities indeed. These are lower and higher expressions of Eris.
The statue of Persephone holding a theatre mask (see below) is a further giveaway about what Persephone learned in the Underworld, about those who loved her, or claimed to love her, but indulged in fighting over her, traumatising her, making her re-think her heart’s desire and relationships in the Underworld. “Why do the people who claim to love me, and claim to have my best interest at heart, don’t have my best interest at heart? Or make choices that disadvantage me and break my heart, out of selfish interest?” The statue below is of Proserpine holding a theatre mask, and a big stick with which to whack an inauthentic player… With the idiom "speak softly and carry a big stick — you will go far" applying.
Eris was discovered by the team of Mike Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David Rabinowitz. According to Astro.com, on January 5, 2005, Mike realised that he'd discovered that his dream of discovering a new planet was realised. He initially nicknamed the Kuiper Belt object "Xena." He was reviewing telescopic photos when he spotted the moving dot. Fortunately Michael wrote down the details of his discovery knowing that astrologers would ask for this information. The chart data for this event is January 5, 2005; 11:20 a.m. PST, Pasadena, CA. The photos showing "Xena" were snapped in 2003, therefore the official name 2003 UB313, but only in January did Mike realise the photos illuminated a potential new planet.
In naming a newly discovered planet, astronomers consort and find the meaning in the energies present, or at play at the time. This process of naming is a complicated issue that won’t be discussed here, but know that they grappled with their task. So much so, that Mike Brown wrote a book about how he had killed/demoted Pluto. The discovery of Eris caused Pluto to be DEMOTED from a planet, to a dwarf planet. The commotion got Ceres PROMOTED to a dwarf planet, and Eris NOTED as a dwarf planet. To have a hand in demoting the Lord of the Underworld should tell you what you need to know about Eris. She carries her own strength, independence and value. Pluto might be that swaggering, entitled masculine who want to take over, dominate, and throw their weight around, usually without consultation, yet he may be downsized or diminished by Eris’ long and grinding wheel of fortune, that ultimately may turn in the favour of those (the feminine) who were downtrodden or marginalised. Due to the new classification for Kuiper Belt Objects done after the discovery of MakeMake, the Kuiper Belt Objects are now on par with Pluto, and we know Pluto has a very, very powerful, underworld, plutonium, atomic energy. See this list of brightest Kuiper Belt Objects, as well as astronomer Mike Brown’s list of dwarf planets.
The Kuiper Belt objects bring hope, change, expanded thinking, soul purpose, and quantum leaps into our consciousness.
Eris Astrological Glyph or Symbol
According to this website, 136199 Eris is a dwarf planet named after the Greek goddess Eris, who is also worshipped by the modern religion Discordianism. After attempting to come up with a symbol based on the classical Eris's Golden Apple, a crossbar was added to the Discordian symbol called the Five-Fingered Hand of Eris to suggest an epsilon. The creator resisted this idea until someone suggested using the unadorned Hand of Eris in a posting. (There is discussion of other Eris symbols at that link.) After some reflection, he switched to just the Hand of Eris. A symbol for Eris's moon Dysnomia can be seen here.
Eris and Xena the Warrior Princess
The planet Eris has one large known moon called Dysnomia, from the Ancient Greek word meaning anarchy/lawlessness, after a daughter of the Greek goddess Eris. Mike Brown, who named the moon, thought the “lawlessness”echoed actress Lucy Lawless, who played Xena, and had a sidekick.
According to Wikipedia, Xena: Warrior Princess was a television series that first appeared in 1995 with actress Lucy Lawless. The back story is very elaborate, and show many trauma-filled flash backs into her dark past. Xena had committed numerous horrible deeds, from terrorism to piracy and murder, and at one point became known as the "Destroyer of Nations". Her journey down the path of evil arguably began when her beloved brother was killed during an attack by a warlord. Xena vowed revenge, became corrupted and estranged from her mother. Through brutal bodily harm, Xena ended up at a healer who treated her physical injuries. After a major betrayal and on the run, she met another healer, a woman with great special abilities, who cared for her and helped her become a better person. Under her friend's guidance, she learnt to put aside a great deal of her hatred and pain, and also learnt new fighting skills, intended to be a catalyst for change. Yet, addictions to lower vibrational energies, old temptations and behaviours, kept her stuck for some years as a warlord thereafter, until she had a life-changing encounter with Hercules...
Throughout the story, Xena is on a quest to redeem herself for her dark past as a villain, by using her formidable fighting skills to help people.
She had been consorting with powerful warlords, and fighting with various armies to defeat some foe, until she met Hercules the great warrior. Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek hero Herakles, another character in Greek mythology. Herakles is the man who hit Eris’ apple in Aesop’s fables and made it grow in size, read more about that in another article.
Image: Marble head of Herakles via Wikimedia Commons. Click to enlarge.
After turning her back on participating in evil, Xena spends almost every episode on a different mission, always trying to do the right thing, fighting for what she refers to as the "greater good". Xena also has to fight her own past; she has never forgiven herself for her crimes, and often has to resist the temptation to return to her evil ways, but she always resists with the help of Gabrielle. Gabrielle is Xena's best friend, and greatest ally. A very empathic and kind-hearted individual. Together they face enemies and defeats them, but not without suffering some serious personal losses along the way. The tv show portraits them as fighting heroines, and this sort of lifestyle may have been a norm, but not anymore… The collective consciousness is growing, maturing and evolving… We’re straddling old and new… and people recognise they have choices… Revenge and warmongering may be addictive, but we always have choices… and we shall live by them… During Eris transits in particular, all comes out to show how darkness thrives through low vibrational people, who had made poor choices. In astrology, Eris is all about making those good or bad choices, and the cause and effect… Also see another article about the Eris sins of the fathers (the gods Zeus, Hera, etc.) that were visited on Hercules and Xena.
The Discovery Chart of Eris
Eris has an interesting, but very true discovery chart.
We are all born innocent and may stay untouched by evil and uncorrupted by bad choices, for some time... In the pure state, Persephone was sensual, open and feeling. This is how she lived her life, enjoying the sweet scent of flowers, collecting them, making them into arrangements. Really enjoying subtlety and beauty from a sensory and sensual perspective, and the sudden fright and injustice wound up bringing wounding to her sensitive and feeling nature, after another’s deliberate forcefulness… to get their selfish way with her…
Some people are psychically sensitive to a high degree, and this forced disruption or restriction, can cause wounding to the sensitive emotional and feeling body, or life force. Being forcefully snatched by Pluto, is also described as the rape of Persephone, and it represents the sensitive web of life between people in relation being disturbed. And the intensity of the stress to the sensitive subtle energy body, is jarring and rattling, to the point where an energetic imprint is made, that results in a manifestation of a state of shock or anxiety. This is a state of being petrified, like a deer in headlights, being unable to cope; due to a kind of tear in energetic being… trauma…
Entering an unwanted defeatist mode of sorts, thinking about it too much. In a mental trap. Having her flow disrupted. Needing to be relieved from the symptoms of stress, anxiety, nervous tension, to calm the nerves. Needing to surrender to self… to shed the effects of intimidation and be in the grace and flow of the heart again…
With a responsible Sun in Capricorn, and a moody Scorpio moon, with a North Node newly traversed into Aries, we can see the energies at play.
Moon in Scorpio
There is the need to delve deeply into the emotional matters that seeks honesty, and authenticity for Self, without guile. Scorpio Moon is that dark intensity to get straight to the heart of things, naming and eliminating any corruption of true authentic Self. Scorpio Moon is enhanced intimacy, commitment, vulnerability, obsession and uncomfortable issues. Overpowering, intense, visceral emotions. It is highly authentic energy that does not allow for denial or avoidance.
The Moon is conjunct Ceres the dwarf planet of emotional nourishment. Persephone received a lot of beautiful nurturing, protection and providence from Ceres.
In the negative this shows the presence of the smothering, overprotective mother archetype, which in Scorpio, may be quite intense. Ceres/Demeter controlled every aspect of Persephone’s life, watching under the name of protection. Her mother was always persuading Persephone to stay close to her, to stay safe and away from the harm ‘out there’. There may also have been subtle manipulations, power struggles for control, domination, fear of loss in the relation. And also a fight for independence/co-dependence at play.
The Moon is conjunct Ceres (nourishment) and semisquares Venus/Mercury/Pluto (being in relation shenanigans). The Moon also semisextiles Pallas Athena conjunct the DC. The Moon also squares Neptune (illusions) and trines Uranus (breakthroughs).
All of the aspects that the Moon makes, alludes to another person who wants to steal another’s emotional nourishment.
This is typical of narcissistic relationships in which the empath is targeted and made to suffer in relation. The narcissist wants Persephone
Image: The Rape of Proserpina (Rome) by WikiMedia Commons. Click to enlarge.
because she is so well loved, affectionate, innocently sensual and emotionally nourished. She enjoyed her mother’s ardent protection and devotion, had many devoted friends, was emotionally balanced, fulfilled, healthy and happy. Persephone enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, being cared for, reciprocation, and spending all day in nature amongst flowers, which were her favourite things… In isolating her away from all of that, and exercising his control over her, even refusing to share her, Pluto was selfish; a narcissist. He wanted to control the entire narrative; have her as his queen whilst isolating her from her past relationships. He wreaked havoc all the things that brought her fulfilment, to satisfy his fulfilment, and Persephone had to learn to cope with the bullying, and how to pick up the pieces of her life.
Sun in Capricorn
The sun wants to illuminate if there are issues that lack integrity, that begs for accountability, for responsibility to be taken, and the growing into maturity. The Sun in Capricorn knows the stability that can be had when integrity, moral fibre and ethics are in place; it’s like a solid foundation. There is also a t-square from Eris at 19 degrees Aries and Jupiter at 17 degrees Libra, on the Sun at 15 Capricorn, which is more pressure for humanity to grow into personal authority, taking ownership, and growing into maturity. The Sun is at the reaction point of a Boomerang Yod with a significant story behind it.
Mercury, Venus, Mars in Sagittarius
Astrologers have long believed that the centre of our galaxy sits at about 27 degrees Sagittarius, and that planets moving across this point become more sensitive, potent in their power, or boost our consciousness or understanding of that planetary energy. Some say it supports our spiritual growth and evolution. Venus (at 25 degrees) is the closest of a cluster to conjunct this point. This may indicate that the feminine and relationship principle of Venus is very important in Eris’ story. In the Empress tarot card her robe is patterned with pomegranates, more reference to Persephone and the wisdom gained in the underworld, where she ate the fruit.
The cluster of personal planets in Sagittarius, with Mercury and Venus both in close conjunction with Pluto, speaks of the underworld and the subconscious, and its alluring pull for the curious, yet innocent beauty, who is Persephone/Proserpine. This cluster also inconjuncts Saturn, which I believe increases that tense feeling of trauma. What are those three personal planets seeking in Sagittarius? It’s about how finding alignment with Pluto’s deep transformational energies, bring in new potentials that can be acted upon… like the healing of trauma… Pluto is about complex, intense relationships involvements and problems, commitments, obsessions; the conjunction to Venus and Mercury shows that these Plutonian dynamics is prominent in Eris’ archetype, as she struggles for her empowerment and ability to speak up against that which seeks to influence, dominate, and overpower her. Which in this case, is both her mother Ceres and Pluto, in their unique ways. It is her great struggle for autonomy, liberation and her unique, choice, value and voice, while still in relation with these two very dominant parties. Parties that are still in contention over her, but had to be persuaded to settle on an agreement to share her. Persephone found a unique way out of her dilemma (of being flustered, manipulated, forced and pulverised by powerful people); her transformation and edification. And being highly aware of the energies around her that want to bother or manipulate her.
Seeing with clarity how people operate: their selfish agendas, motivating factors, and shenanigans.
The cat and mouse games to thwart an opponent and drain their energy… The forceful and deliberate trauma-bonding to bound another up. To have a hold and a tight toxic grip on people and situations.
The cluster of planets in Sagittarius (Mercury/Venus/Pluto) are in the ninth house, Sagittarius’s natural house, and the house of philosophy, the search for meaning, and greater wisdom. It also rules your attitudes and viewpoints on all topics, and your efforts to understand complex issues, including morals and ethics. It’s about the morality and ethics of employing the the narcissism of the MIND to scheme and plot against another. Is it morally right to control and subdue another? It’s also about issues regarding the higher mind, higher knowledge, discovery, invention, exploration and being open-minded.
Also of interest, Eris’ very wide elliptical orbit, crosses the orbit of Pluto, evidence that her destiny and story is intimately intertwined with his.
Find Eris’ discovery chart on Astro.com here.
Also note that another article on this website describes the many similarities between Eris and Sedna’s birth charts, and elaborates…
“Define: To Desecrate
1. to treat a sacred place or thing with violent disrespect or irreverence;
2. to spoil something which is valued or respected;
3. to deliberately damage or insult something holy;
4. to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office”
Nodes of Fate
With the North Node being in Aries, this reiterates Eris’ association with Aries, due to her brother being Ares the God of War (Mars). And her fight for justice, balance, fairness and equality, being associated with the Libra South Node. To see oneself in the other, through the other, which is the Aries/Libra Axis in the birth chart. It’s also interesting that both Chiron and Saturn is on the bendings (squaring the nodes), suggesting that in the axis relation, it is challenged by wounds and oversensitivity (Chiron) and too much authority and coldness (Saturn). The Nodes square Saturn, also indicating the challenges and restriction in relating, a need to grow into emotional maturity, -stability and -integrity (Saturn in Cancer).
Eris has an extremely elliptical orbit (egg shaped), and spends most of her time in Aries (up to 123 years), and the least time in Libra. I find this extreme orbit, very indicative of the extreme swing in states of being and emotion; from the one extreme to the other, very curious.
The Aries North Node is prominent and strong, because it is in the first house, along with the Aries Ascendant. This is the predominant way in which Eris is viewed on the internet. There is an inner battle between being ego-driven, hard go-getters (Aries lower expression), and being operating from, and driven by the heart, and allowing each individual to be their true authentic, sovereign self (Aries higher expression), within the collective.
The South Node in Libra shows that Eris is comfortable with bringing the justice and fairness for those marginalised by the system (square to Chiron in Capricorn), that is not being cared for by the patriarchy (square to Saturn in Cancer).
Ultimately, with this chart, Eris learns to manoeuvre her way through challenging and overwhelming relations, by not trying to change or manipulate the outside world and its powerful people, like the people who have tried to persuade or influence her, but allowing an inner transformation to bring forth true authentic Soul Expression and following her heart’s direction. Becoming the soul Self, willing to be passionate of heart, yet strong, to allow balance and harmony within Self first, and then radiating that new potential out into the world.
According to Wikipedia, models of internal heating via radioactive decay suggest that Eris could have an internal ocean of liquid water at the mantle–core boundary. This suggests, that like Ceres and Sedna, Eris too has a watery, emotional, nurturing quality.
Sabian Symbol
The Sabian symbol for Eris in her own natal chart, also shows great alignment with the Persephone/Proserpina mythology. No wonder she was - by far - the first choice when it came to naming the newly discovered dwarf planet.
Both the mythological story of warmongering Eris, and tenderhearted, nurturing Persephone, applies to the energies of the newly discovered planet, now named Eris… in unique ways.
They are the two paths the virtuous feminine have to choose from after she was done dirty:
healing/elevating,
or becoming poisonous/ravaging.
Sabian Symbol for 20 degrees Aries
Overcoming crises through compassion and nurturing. Sharing and caring.
The Sabian symbol for Eris in her discovery chart is “a young girl feeding birds in winter”, which is synonymous with the receptive maiden Persephone, who along with her mother, cared for the earth. It’s benevolence, compassion and nourishment, wether physically, emotionally or spiritually, even when times are tough, conditions are cold, or seemingly hopeless. It is being fearless in generosity of spirit, good intentions, and doing for others, despite winter’s harshness, and cruelty. There is also an element of aid for those less fortunate, without an expectation of reward. The girl has the ability to sustain life and hope, and is a blessing to the needy. Her acts of kindness has resonance in her heart, and it is genuine; it is not an act of kindness lacking heart. The birds are denied abundance during a frosted season, but the young girl shares her’s with them to sustain them through the trying time. This is a characteristic of femininity, and emotional maturity. Like the Empress in the tarot, which may be viewed as Eris higher expression energy who has true worth and merit. The girl is widely open to the promptings of love and sympathy, especially to those who don’t know how to solve their problems themselves.
“The Sabian symbol for her [Eris in her natal chart] discovery degree is ‘a young girl feeding birds in Winter’. In this image we see the ‘maiden’ archetype, providing sustenance to creatures in need during times of low supply. It augurs a rebirth of the feminine principle, to nourish us during times of lack and vulnerability.”
Eris will be a massive influence in the seven year Haumea Yod that will be in the astrological sky from 2022 - 2028, at the reaction point in a Boomerang Yod. The Foundations of Change online course describes the dynamics in detail.
Why do people feel like they are losing their heads since the start of 2020?
Read all about the strange mixed bag of energies we’ve been having since the start of 2020, like the five pointed star, the four Yods and three Hammer of Thor aspect patterns, in The Pentagram of Change online course. We are in a time of massive, rapid change.
Learn more about the bigger picture by going to courses.
Persephone / Proserpina / Proserpine: First in line for Naming?
Image: A Ceres statue holding a sickle that cuts the grain harvest, and a harmful of wheat.Click to enlarge.
In the book Eris or Proserpine?: In search of the real name and meaning of a new planet, author Raimo Nikula looks at the large amounts of useful information, when we consider, that astronomers - who are charged with naming new planets - first considered to name the newly discovered dwarf planet, Persephone or Proserpina. There is a surprising amount of similarities, and also a filling in of missing pieces to the puzzle. According to this particular mythological tale, this involved the complex emotional relationship dynamics between Demeter, Pluto and Persephone, around the forced abduction, and liberation of Persephone.
Demeter
the mother of Persephone
the Greek goddess of fertility and agriculture, growth, and yearly harvest of grain crops
Ceres was her Roman name.
known as a paragon of motherly love and her maternal care of her daughter, parenting, nurturing, providing and protecting.
in the negative, Ceres in astrology can represent and overbearing, controlling, smothering mother
Persephone
daughter of Demeter, wife of Hades (Pluto), the VIRTUOUS protagonist
the Greek goddess of the underworld, goddess of death, goddess of spring growth
she had several names including Proserpine, Proserpina and Kore (meaning young maiden)
innocent, sensual and receptive, known to be a beautiful virgin who despite her mother’s devoted care, was taken away from her to the underworld
Hades
was the husband of Persephone (also her uncle), the antagonist
Lord of the underworld, god of the dead
also known by Roman name as Pluto
known as cold-natured and self-centred, known for falling in love with Persephone, but knowing her mother and others won’t let him have her, he took the maiden against her will.
The Mythology of Persephone in Short:
Mythological Persephone was deeply absorbed in the surrounding nature, intensively taking it in by means of all senses. The maiden admired the harmony present in her ecological paradise and had affection for colourful, fragrant flowers to weave garlands and decorate robes. She was innocent, virtuous simplicity.
Her mother Demeter, however, warned her not to pick narcissi – the flowers waking disturbing senses of desire belonging to Pluto. But when she did see the beautiful flower (a daffodil), and became intoxicated by the scent. She forgot her mother's warnings and picked it. This is where Pluto noticed her.
Image: Proserpina with a pomegranate by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. From Wikimedia Commons.
Cold-hearted, antagonistic Hades first saw beautiful Persephone picking flowers. He knew he was forbidden from having her, but being opportunistic, he rushed towards her in his dazzling chariot, and stole her, forced and frightened. The earth split and opened, so he could abduct her to his domain. Mother Demeter was in terror and distraught over the sudden loss and grieved profoundly, unaware of what had happened to her valuable daughter. She searched far and wide, and was inconsolable. In her search, her emotions caused such havoc to the harvests of the mortal humans, that there would be no yield, and no offerings to be made. The consequences were so extremely and far reaching. There was drought, lands were barren. Everyone felt the effects of Demeter’s grief and dejection. Desperate measures were needed to avert ecological disaster and starvation. As Demeter received the news that Persephone was seen sad, with fear in her eyes, desecrated, now the empress of a dark land, yet with the power to consort with the lord of the underworld, Demeter heard in horror, thunderstruck it seemed, and turned to stone.
Zeus sent Hermes to Hades, ordering the return of Persephone to her mother. Though Hades controlled the agenda by scheming and plotting for some time, he demurred, and ultimately relented, agreeing to release Persephone, if she had not eaten anything in the underworld. Yet Persephone had already eaten the temptation of pomegranate seeds, offered by Hades the schemer. This presented a problem, and both Hades and Demeter had to be persuaded to come to, and accept a compromise. They both selfishly wanted Persephone with them; which can also be seen as a power struggle, or desire to have influence over her, for their own benefit. As solution, Persephone had to return to the underworld annually. Her time divided between Demeter and Hades, thus creating the four seasons of the year.
Pluto captured Proserpina to his Underworld, and in doing this Ceres withheld growth and blossoming of the earth. A huge dilemma ensued.
Only after reuniting mother and daughter, the power of growth was released, and a new cycle of blossoming could begin. Following the myth we can clearly see the heartbreak caused by unfair influence, persuasion and self-serving ambitions. Proserpina experienced heartache in relationship to both Self and others, having to come into her own first, claiming her autonomy. Divine justice ultimately brought the necessary change and restitution for everyone involved… keep reading…
In search of the Real Name for the New Planet
The author Raimo Nikula makes some very interesting statements supporting Eris’ emphasis on family relations; as the roots of psychological issues, like emotional problems and mental instability. The mythology of Eris’ family was detailed in a previous article. In short, Eris came from a troubled family full for relationship dysfunction, low vibrational emotions and actions.
Raimo says that the myth of Pluto and Proserpine provides obvious themes relating to femininity, daughterhood and motherhood, the intruder, and their relationships; and the management, submission and growth of relationships. Each family has their own psychological balance. The dominant mother or father, or the constant arguing for dominance, and often there is someone who becomes the scapegoat. The person who is piled with all the blame and psychological pressures.
The observant author also points out, that in Eris’ discovery chart, Pluto conjuncts both Venus and Mercury in Sagittarius. Eris operates in the world of the (subconscious) mind (Mercury), as well as in the world of the senses (Venus), both linked in close, dominant partnership (Pluto). After all, the mythological story says the same thing: Proserpine retreating in the autumn to the underworld of Pluto, underground to meet Mercury (to explore, to ferret out, to reveal), and rising to meet her mother Ceres in the spring, corresponds to Venus, the awakening of the senses to a new cycle of life. How beautiful is that image?
Here again we see Persephone oscillating between two cycles; periods of full bloom and collapse. Summer and winter, dark and light, and ultimately learning to rule both states with poise. Knowing that in times of stagnancy, that is the time of preparation for the new…
Known also as the goddess of spring growth, it is clear that she knows how to regenerate her Self, and makes the most out of natural, repeating cycles in life, always transforming and growing as seasons of life change.
Image: Persephone picking narcissus, click to enlarge, WikiMedia
The influence of mythology helped the ancient to explain cyclic nature laws, seasonal rhythms, births, life, deaths and rebirths, which people are intimately part of.
Persephone was able to renew herself to a state of purity, from the toxicity of the underworld, for hope to be reborn annually, yet with knowledge of darkness. Stark polarities indeed.
She acted without a hidden agenda, and in intuition, bringing order to chaos, starting with her Self. She knows change is driven from within.
Persephone knows the futility of acting out, attempting to influence, or manipulate outcomes outside of her Self.
Feminine power is beautiful, graceful, nurturing, creative, and warm. There is value in being. There is grace in silence. Feminine flow is focused on feelings and sensing, and the light of the soul. Self Mastery = Eris in Aries.
Image: The Return of Persephone to her mother, accompanied by Hermes (Mercury) who could travel into the underworld, Click to Enlarge, WikiMedia
Persephone comes into newness. Enjoying a growing season again, having gained spiritual strength and learnt higher order lessons. A more deeper meaning that is conveyed by this beautiful myth, is the doctrine of the immortality of the soul. Interweaving astrological and mythological plots we can see that even the smallest planets of our solar system may explain interactions between man, nature and cosmos.
Astrologer Barry Goddard wrote: “It is through this story that we encounter Ceres’ connection with the Plutonic transformational process. Through Proserpina’s abduction, both mother and daughter are forced to move on to the next stage of their lives: Proserpina loses her childish innocence and becomes a wife, while Ceres has to let go of her child and re-encounter her as an adult. And this is part of Pluto’s function. Often we don’t want to move on to the next stage, we’re quite happy as we are, we’re often not even aware that it’s time to move on. But it is in the nature of life to move on to the next stage – animals do this naturally, they don’t have a problem about how to live, unlike ourselves. Pluto is the agent of that necessity to move on and to transform.”
“Through her daughter, Ceres becomes a bridge between this world and the underworld. She has earned the right, as Lynn Hayes puts it, to ‘preside over our emergence from the underworld and the regeneration of our lives.’ As a goddess who also presides over the growth of nature and crops, she embodies that new life, and that fullness of life, which takes place at the other end of the transformational process. But it is a life that has lost its innocence, a life that is aware that winter, which has a beauty of its own, is necessary so that life can be renewed. Death and a letting go of the old are needed for re-birth.”
Barry also touches on why Eris will always be intimately connected to Pluto and Ceres.
He writes that it is interesting seeing Pluto and Eris working together, Pluto giving her the power to take on her family first, and then later all sorts of other people, and Eris channelling this power into feuding. And, we could say, Eris facilitating the Pluto transits in the first place, so that she was able to move into Pluto's realm quite easily. It has been an unholy alliance, but it does suggest that these 2 dwarf planets can work well together. Very creative indeed, Barry!
Also see the book Brother Pluto, Sister Eris by Thomas Canfield to understand their aspects through 800 years of history.
“Eris represents strength and wisdom gained in dark places. She is the transmutation of shame or trauma into power, sharp instincts, and unshakable serenity.”
“The underworld is ruled by Pluto, and it is often the place that we are “psychologically” dragged to hell. Astrologically the planet rules the bowels of the earth, and so it deals with our innards, guts, and takes a long, dark, intense look at our insides. Many Pluto experiences have been described as the devil and hell rolled into one.”
Sensory Overwhelm and Feeling Overload
Times when Eris stations, and turns direction, are times when Eris’ real nature is intimately revealed. People experience extreme anxiety, raw nervousness, stress and sleeplessness. The energy felt during Eris transits is not really mental, it is emotional and a feeling of sensory overload. It’s an experience of bodily sensations being so overwhelmed with stimuli, and that feeling of danger, dangling over an abyss, that is more information than the brain can process effectively. This overload usually triggers either a fight, flight or freeze response. Sensory overload can result in meltdowns and tantrums, perhaps even a loss of control after a build-up. Flight is also a common response, where people recognise that they need some space, or private time to relax. There can also be shutdown or freeze, like that deer in headlights sensation, where the brain can no longer process, and become unresponsive, perhaps resulting in rocking, fiddling or just complete non-reaction, in an attempt to calm down.
Innocent Persephone got way more than she bargained for, when she inhaled the scent of the narcissus flower, and delighted in its forbidden allure.
In a split moment, her entire life changed as Pluto rushed in on his chariot, grabbed her and rushed off with her. In that moment, she must have recalled all her mother’s warnings; realising that life will never be the same again. In complete fright, she had to make decisions as best she could. Before that moment, she enjoyed her mother’s powerful protections; her life was innocently harmonious. Everything changed in an instant. For the first time in her life, having to face visceral fear and trauma (as explained in another article).
Image: The Fate of Persephone from Wikimedia Commons. Click to enlarge image.
Getting Stuck and Stagnant in One State: Getting Divorced from Sensing and Feeling
This is the cause of the great emotional and mental imbalance during Eris transits, when what is in the subconscious, rises to the surface, and cause fear.
It’s almost like the heart cracks open, revealing suppressed contents; everything that causes a person not to be in peace with Self, is illuminated.
We have already explored in depth, the deep states of stuck emotional energy, that is suddenly stirred to rise to the surface during Eris transits. And people being frightened by having to look in the Eris mirror, and find what they had been in denial over, and what they need to detoxify from their life to regain balance. But Raimo offers more information to consider, now that we are looking from a different point of view…
Raimo Nikula writes in his book that examples and empirical evidence, suggest that Eris expresses herself in a dual and contradictory way, seemingly having difficulty with assimilating soft and loving traits, perhaps even presenting her sexual or erotic side as separate from herself, from the real self, in which case it doesn’t hurt her self-esteem.
“We are forced to assume that Eris’ symbolism involves the possibility of becoming an emotionless woman, a prostituted slut or otherwise a woman who rejects emotions. Being able to objectify her body reduces the pain, but at the same time the body and the soul are divided, or a wall is erected between them. As a means of coping, distancing oneself from emotions and leaving the body in its own world, works to some extent, but leaves behind severe traumas and wounds. This is a forced solution that will eventually unravel in one way or another, compromising health or mental health. One could say that Eris is a metaphor for a ‘broken erotic’ life - the innocence is there - somewhere behind - but the practice of life crushes it and it transforms into the opposite, an experience of depravity and impurity.” Raimo provides some excellent examples in his book for those who choose to follow up on them.
Finally, the author makes reference to an old joke that says: “Pluto doesn’t take hostages” - it kills them. Hardened Eris seems to take hostages, to keep them alive.
Without getting too graphic, it is all too clear that if we follow the myth of Pluto and Proserpine, we are confronted with harsh, deranged, violent, and complex relationship dynamics. In his examples, the author also looks at “Stockholm syndrome”, where the abused feel under a spell of a captor. Pluto might have “fallen in love” with Persephone, but I will venture to say that it might not have felt like love to her at all, rather unrequited love, lack of reciprocation, abuse, and her heart might have been in severe distress.
Evolution and Higher Octaves: Mars - Pluto - Eris
In a Mountain Astrologer article, astrologer Alan Clay wrote the following on the concept of higher octaves, which is a theory of an inner planet evolving, and getting expressed at a more spiritual level through the more outer planets. After Pluto was discovered, it became know as a higher octave of Mars. Alan writes: "...This idea of higher octaves has lost importance as our understanding of the outer planets has developed and matured through empirical study. Much like the entry of the outers, the new dwarf planets represent new aspects of consciousness that are gradually becoming available to us in the years since their discovery. As such, it requires effort to integrate these new aspects into our existing consciousness, which means the dwarf planets manifest differently in each of our lives according to our current level of consciousness. I suggest that we can use the model of higher octaves as a good shorthand way of understanding the significance of the new dwarf planets."
Alan goes on to say: “Eris, the truth-telling activist, is definitely a higher octave of her brother Mars. Both are warriors, but where Mars fights mundane enemies, Eris works to free us through esoteric confrontations, creating situations at the unconscious level where we have to stop being fooled, or stop fooling ourselves. Traditionally, dwarf planet Pluto is the higher octave of Mars, making Eris the logical higher octave of Pluto. The Lord of the Underworld has an inclination of 17° to the ecliptic and Eris has an inclination of 44°, so she cuts through reality even more sharply than Pluto. All three planets share an assertiveness and a transformative ability.” This is a very interesting concept, and I resonate with it.
In Brief: What is the Underworld?
The Underworld was the kingdom of the dead in Greek mythology, the sunless place where the souls of those who died went after death, where Pluto ruled, ultimately with Persephone as Queen of the Underworld. It’s watered by the streams of five infernal rivers. According to this article, the Styx was the river of hatred and unbreakable oaths. The Acheron, the river of sorrow and pain, black and deep. The Cocytus, the river of lamentation and wailing. The Phlegethon, the river of fire. And the Lethe, the river of oblivion and forgetfulness. There were also at least four different regions in the underworld: Tartarus (reserved for the worst transgressors), the Elysian Fields (where only the most excellent of men dwelled), the Fields of Mourning (for those who were hurt by love), and the Asphodel Meadows (for the souls of the majority of ordinary people). It was believed that once a person died, the soul would leave the body, became a shadow of his/her former person and would go to the Underworld to be judged. It was the original idea of the ancient Greeks for the afterlife.
In astrology, this visitation of the planet Venus to the underworld occurs every 18 months, for a time period of 3 weeks. It is a time of re-evaluation regarding relationships, money, financial wealth, values and self-worth, that may lead to a change in self-understanding, or a purification.
The journey into the underworld symbolises becoming conscious and aware of what we had been unaware of in ourselves, hidden patterns and drivers. In the underworld, they don’t wear blindfolds…
Sometimes what breaks our heart will fix our vision moving forward.
And prepare us for new beginnings. Gaining clear vision, strength and realising that we are more in control than we realised, when NOT in denial.
What Eris’ Discovery Chart teaches us about Narcissism and Envy
Image: the Sagittarius image is via Wikimedia Commons. Click to enlarge.
In Eris’ discovery chart, the three planet conjunction of Venus/Mercury/Pluto is in Sagittarius, in its natural house, the ninth house. This is significant. Another article laid out in detail why this placement in particular lays bare the anatomy of narcissism. It’s about stealing another’s self-worth (Venus) and joyful (Sagittarius) self expression (Mercury). Corrupting or scapegoating them (Pluto), and flipping the script on them, due to creating illusions that the abuser is morally right for doing so (ninth house in Sagittarius). These are the people who want to win pre-eminence, devising a plan and letting everyone be persuaded of their superiority; that their rights should come first. The star sign Sagittarius is the mythological Centaur and represents the polarity between the lower appetites and higher Self, and that cluster in the ninth house adds insult to it. Centaurs in mythology were known for indulging in their lower animalistic nature; drinking, fighting, causing trouble, disregarding and hurting others etc. See the symbolism in the image. Also for their wild, reckless behaviour, lust, chaos and disorder. These are the forceful people with the potential to advance, challenge or to wrong another.
Detoxification from Toxic Tentacles of Enmeshment, Control and Abuse of Power
Ultimately we see that like Persephone, Eris too has an opportunity to detox and rebalance, despite the huge task at hand.
We can always improve ourselves, and master our emotions in dire situations, even though we can’t change other people, nor some circumstances or people who attempt to desecrate. Who control the agenda with the narcissism of the mind.
A sudden brutal forced abduction, took Persephone into Pluto, the Lord of Underworld’s domain, where she lived in shock, and fright for some time, with that uncomfortable feeling of waiting in limbo, using that time wisely to sit with her Self in inaction. Not acting out in devil energy against the temporary discomfort, or the injustice. Just sitting in her own skin, while in captivity, playing possum. This is not about figuring it out, but staying in the feeling and sensing. Not running away, not defending herself, not engaging. Outgrowing the old relationship through non-action. This is one of the best course of actions during Eris transits, in making it through successfully. Persephone might have realised, that it is not morally right to control or subdue another, yet we don’t have to play the victim; that would be self-defeatist.
Persephone’s Realisation Regarding Her Virtue
Persephone ultimately realised that she is pure of heart and has a loving heart. And a sensual caring nature. And she reached a state of mastery in which she could look at the idiosyncrasies of people, and have compassion that they have their own paths… even secretly chuckling at the foolishness and delusion of power in the human life. The antagonist / protagonist dynamic is just game, that she may choose not to participate in. Allowing people to figure things out on their own. Not trying to change anyone, nor tell them they are wrong. Not trying to change or influence other people, knowing the wisdom of only changing Self. Sitting back as the observer, and watching the show of life, in her mastery of Self.
With this method, Persephone brought forth her own justice, and victory.
Persephone represents both the youthful, maiden aspect (innocent and joyous) as well as the more womanly self who, innocence lost and less attached to her parents, can begin to make healthy decisions for her Self. As family attachments are loosened, she can begin to consciously mature and create a life; worth living as an individual, who has individual vote and value. Not so bound to the value assigned to her by two parties who fought each other, involving her in their strife. Both saw her as their own selfish fulfilment. And she rose in autonomy and strength.
Investing in Self, while still in relation, was in the end, the growth opportunity and wisdom gained, for both Persephone and her mother Ceres. Each year as Persephone leaves to join her husband in the Underworld, Greek mythology tells us that Demeter begins to grieve, bringing on the cold and barren winters. But a few months later Persephone, the goddess associated with awakening, returns, prepared to bring spring and growth in her wake… thus were the seasons established.
In Greek mythology, Persephone is the Queen of the Underworld, the possessor of its dark and frightening wisdom.
As well as the Goddess of Spring…
Persephone is the Goddess of Innocence and Receptivity, the harbinger of spring…and a reminder of all the growth and hope that can be hers, and ours. Ultimately, she actually delights in both her worlds, as she nurtures and masters both. Embracing the wisdom, value and gifts of both. Being able to bring herself back into a state of healthy feeling and sensing.
Note in the image below, that Pluto and Persephone sit with torches beside them. On ancient Greek vases, Persephone is also depicted as either holding a torch, a flaming torch, or someone next to her holding a torch next to her. The torch is a symbol of liberty, freedom, inspiration, knowledge, and teaching. The symbol of a torch holds the very essence of life, spirit, and the power to overcome any challenge that gets in the way of your endeavours and pursuits.
An Underworld visit, and rising from it, entails having detoxified the lower vibrational energies, into vibrant new energy.
Image: Hades (Pluton) depicted sitting on the left holding a bident in his left hand, next to Persephone (Proserpina), with Cerberus (Kerberos) seated below via Wikimedia Commons.
A Core Lesson in Value and Fulfilment
The cluster of Venus/Pluto/Mercury in Sagittarius holds a significant key to understanding both Persephone, Eris and Sedna.
Image: Persephone Archaeological Museum in Herakleion. Statue of Isis-Persephone holding a sistrum. Temple of the Egyptian gods, Gortyn. Roman period ( 180-190 A.C.) via Wikimedia Commons.
Venus is about value. It’s about what is my worth, what is important to me, what is my choice. What is worth being committed to, and getting crystal clear on that. Pluto conjunct Venus, is about the psychological issues regarding our value and worth to other people, and what we want in that relationship. The Scorpio energy, is an accounting and strategy energy. In relation, people test another (Pluto) to see if they understand their value, and will put up boundaries to their shenanigans, or not. And then the stratagem of those who want to take from another, perhaps because they see they have plenty, and they want to outwit them to achieve a selfish end.
This aspect is about learning discernment, self-evaluation, and appraisal of the people in our lives. It is about making that choice, if something or someone is worth making a solid commitment to, or not. Ultimately, all of these women discovered their own worth.
With Mercury in the mix, there is a sense of needing to take ownership of what you really want, and then communicating it easily. And learning to live with the envy that comes from knowing your worth, and expressing being the light to the people around you, who in turn, may have a problem with you having this abundance. Learning not to allow others to take advantage of you, or walk all over you. Guilting you, because you have a heart of plenty, but will protect yourself from bullshit. Always considering, if how you give of your Self, maintain balance and harmony in your own life. Healing your relationship with Self, and others. Knowing that you are not responsible for how others feel about your joy, happiness, wishes, hopes or achievements. Envy is real when one person has a lot to give, and a lot of love and good energy. Eris understands this well. When your vibration is high, that will attract the enviers and the sneaky people who want to steal other’s light, and may never get enough… thus may cause destruction…
Although Persephone lost her innocence, and became the Queen of the underworld, mastering the experience, she did succumbed to taking things very personally, and bad behaviour like ENVY and feuding, when lover Adonis choose Aphrodite over her. Also, an old lover of Hades, called Minthe claimed that she was superior to Persephone, for which Persephone turned her into a mint plant. Envy is another association with Eris. Persephone was known to be both soft of heart, and at times an angry hot-head. Let us not romanticise her, or put her on a pedestal… but learn from her hard-won wisdom instead.
Persephone’s Hard Earned Eris Wisdom
as Empress of Light and Dark
Freeing your Self from what is toxic for you, and stepping into Self abundance.
Choosing not to be part of toxic (work) cultures, or selfish, self-serving individuals in positions of authority. Letting go of the need to be recognised as a sovereign being that is in control of Self, and being that anyway.
Not allowing individual integrity to be compromised.
Allowing loyalty to Self first.
Allowing this long struggle, to regroup, reground. Giving up the fight against the world. Allowing permanent change to set in, and for fortune to turn in her favour. Also, as the wheel of fortune turn against those, who are against her finding her liberation, autonomy, and Self-empowerment.
Persephone ultimately gained the Empress ability to bend the will of the power-mongers around her, and call out the unacceptable behaviour as truth. And ask for a correction, of what is not right.
In turn, the ‘heroic move’ of abuse of power, that previously provided satisfaction, glory and many pats on the back, now stinging like hell for the masculine. Having to bite his tongue, swallow his prideful words, and restrain himself, in favour of her, so that the relationship can come together. Having previously had a forcefulness due to a title or position, enforcing a my-way-or-the-highway attitude, now catching himself and looking at his fallacies.
With dominant ruffled feathers, he had the idea that he was in the right, now realising that that glory will have to be released. Allowing the questioning of his choices, his arrogance, his leadership skills. Was he doing the right thing? Is there something he doesn’t know? How does he strategise and move forward, while feeling humbled and deflated? How does he allow the emotional seriousness, and the wisdom of what she had said? How does he allow humility, correction, and evolution? How does he allow his own betterment, and growing of strength? How does he allow the bowing down to her wisdom? Allowing the bending of the dominance, to her will, which is the right thing to do… for evolution.
Owning and Integrating the Masculine and the Feminine
In the example above, we see a dynamic that is often the case between married men and women in the old, traditional sense. Where a man was expected by society to own his masculinity, and shy away from his feminine side, and the reversed was expected for the woman. In more modern relationships, both men and woman may own - both their masculine and feminine sides - not shying away from either, despite being of a particular gender, or no gender identification at all… When one individual can own and embody both their masculine and feminine sides, it makes for a more balanced individual. Therefore a better partner, to be in relation with. And more harmony overall. Healthy feeling and sensing.
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See in the image below, how Eris’s orbit is tilted and elliptical, where all the other planets are on a level plane with each other. She appears to spend about half of the time above the plane, and the half the time below, just like Persephone divided her time equally between the earth and the underworld.
Eris and the mythology of Persephone do have quite a bit in common… and both are quite intertwined in destiny with Pluto as Eris and Pluto cross in orbit. Pluto as an authoritarian figure, taking the role, providing the potential for corruption, yet in relation, also providing a potential for development of strength of character, love of Self and integrity.
Beautiful Persephone, has beauty in more ways than one…
Astrology website Astrogallus wrote: “It is very interesting that Eris spends part of its cycle far above our ecliptic, and then spends part of its cycle below our ecliptic. This means that Eris can move from the “Upper World” into the “Underworld”, as the ancients understood the regions above and below the ecliptic, with the ecliptic representing the “Middle World” (or our Earthly plane and experiences). Pluto also goes far above and below the ecliptic, though not nearly as far as Eris. Interestingly, when Eris was first discovered, it was suggested that is should be named “Persephone”, wife and partner of Pluto and Queen of the Underworld who spends half of the year in the Underworld and half of the year on Earth. In our time, Eris is in the process of moving from her height above the ecliptic, which she reached in 1977, and will cross into the “Underworld” below the ecliptic in this century.”
Image: By User: Orionist - Own work, Based on data obtained from:http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/orbits/2003ub313.html, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1344674, Click to Enlarge
Dates for the Exact hits for Eris square Pluto, and Eris transits 2020- 2028
Transit Eris in Aries squares Pluto in Capricorn five times causing opportunity for growth and awareness. The dates are:
26 January 2020
14 June 2020
10 December 2020
27 August 2021
9 October 2021
Personal planets will continue to stir the trigger points with conjunctions.
In orb October 10 ~ Feb 11 2023
In orb April 8 2023 ~ December 26 2023
In orb July 27 2024 ~ November 2 2024
Leaves November 3 2024
Starting in 2024 to 2028, Eris and Chiron will be conjunct in Aries.
In 2027, Saturn will start its conjunction to Eris, going into 2028.
In May 2028 the nodal axis squares Eris.
We are going to see this energy for some time to come…
More articles on Eris in Astrology:
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Related:
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That Dishonoured You, THIS WILL HONOUR YOU!
Persephone: Greek Goddess of Innocence and receptivity and queen of the underworld
Proserpina (2003 UB313) called by astronomers Eris
Demeter – the sustainer of life
Mike Brown Explains Why He Killed Pluto
Jason Holley, Astrology, Psychotherapy& Myth
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Cerealia Tom Jacobs' course on Ceres self care.