Sedna, Goddess of the Sea - Discovery and Natal Chart in Astrology
This is my very first published blog post article on Sedna, Goddess of the Deep, Mistress of Sea Animals and Great Spirit.
After producing a staggering 28 in-depth articles on Eris, the personification of Discord and Strife as an astrological researcher.
I developed a serious interest in Sedna, when it was smack bang square my Nodes in my birth chart. I made the finishing edits on this article, while transiting Venus and Mercury was activating Ixion sextile Haumea, making an apex out of transit Sedna, North Node and the Pleiades. The Sedna yod is heavy energy. Life and time stopping. There is nothing like first hand experience, when it comes to writing on a subject… And now that the major Eris transits have left my experience, hello Sedna.
Both Sedna and Eris was discovered by a team of astronomers Michael Brown (Caltech), Chad Trujillo (Gemini Observatory), and David Rabinowitz (Yale University) on 19 November 2003. Brown initially nicknamed Sedna "The Flying Dutchman", or "Dutch", after a legendary ghost ship, because its slow movement had initially masked its presence from his team. For an official name for the object, Brown settled on "Sedna", a name from Inuit mythology. Mike wrote on his website: “Our newly discovered object is the coldest, most distant place known in the Solar System, so we feel it is appropriate to name it in honour of Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea, who is thought to live at the bottom of the frigid Arctic Ocean.”
She is beyond Eris, in the outer reaches of our solar system, in what is called the Oort cloud. Where Pluto takes 248 odd years, and Eris about 556 to complete an orbit around the sun, Sedna takes a whopping 11,390 years. Like Eris, Sedna also has an elliptical orbit, but it is extreme (see the image at the bottom). It is classified as a dwarf planet, the only dwarf planet discovered in 2003. She will reach her closest point to the earth and sun in 2076. Sedna is not from the usual family tree from which new planets are named – she is a symbol from a completely different culture – the Inuit people of the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada and Alaska.
Image: A Inuit woman from Wikimedia Commons.
Sedna, Inuit Goddess of Sea and Marine Animals
Many Versions of the Legend
According to Wikipedia, the legend of Sedna has many variations, possibly because the Inuit (Eskimo is seen as an offensive term) are such entertaining story tellers, but their stories do lean towards teaching life lessons, and passing on wisdom to the next generation. This article focus exclusively on what can be gleaned from the discovery chart, the birth chart, that is the exact date and time that astronomers found the dwarf planet, now named Sedna.
Synopsis of the Discovery Chart
This exploration of Sedna’s discovery chart, is focussed around my own psychological interpretations and astromythology, based on the western astrological teachings that I study. They may, or may not be the same as other astrologer’s interpretations. I am reading the chart, mostly, as if it is Sedna the maiden’s chart, and her life experiences. I feel that this exploration and understanding, may help modern day people with the experience of the presence of the energy in their life, should it visit them through a significant transit, or progression.
Sedna’s chart has a significant focus on Saturn in Cancer in the sixth house, which is at the receiving end of a Yod, which may be felt as a forceful pressure
in her life. Even the glyph for Sedna resembles Saturn in appearance. This cannot be coincidence.
Sedna’s chart indicate some serious mental and emotional stress (Yod from Mercury and Neptune) focussed on daily routines (sixth house) and the providence, or lack thereof (Saturn), of food, nourishment, clothing and shelter (Saturn in Cancer in Sixth house). As well as relationships (Venus conjunct Pluto) that are in a power struggle, and a woman who wants to enjoy her freedom and liberation (Sun square Uranus). She is in crisis, for her emotional needs (Moon in Virgo at 29th degree) to remain in purity, integrity and independence, cannot be met in her culture and their way of life. Due to the stresses of life daily life and survival, she ultimately finds release in her own undoing (Chiron in the twelfth house), sacrificing her Self by accepting her father’s rejection and abandonment, and allowing her sinking into the ocean, where finally she is able to provide for her community’s needs as a deity tapping into quantum potentials for the benefit of all. Being free of the significant stress, and burdens of daily life that she felt.
Sedna Astrological Symbol or Glyph
“There is…a curious synchronicity between the time when the planet is discovered and the emergence in society of values and experiences which the planet represents symbolically. It’s as though the planet breaks upon consciousness in both a literal and symbolic way. I can’t really answer you as to why Uranus is called Uranus and Neptune, Neptune. I can only say that in some mysterious fashion they get the names right.”
According to Wikipedia, the most common symbol for Sedna, was proposed by Denis Moskowitz: it is a monogram of the Inuktitut: ᓴᓐᓇ Sanna, the modern pronunciation of the name, and resembles a leaping seal or fish. See this website for more visual elaboration on the Inuktitut syllables. The symbol resembles the astrological glyph for the planet Saturn a great deal. Although I cannot find any supporting evidence online, I do believe in the synchronicity; that it is in fact very significant. It is the crux of the chart. The process in which new planets, planetoids and asteroids get their names is mysterious and magical.
Sedna Goddess of the Abyss Discovery Chart
Just like Eris, Sedna’s discovery chart also have multiple markers of a clash with powerful authority figures, and the set ways of the existing social system of her village, that tries to bind a unique individual, who is pulling strongly at the restriction of the leach. Sedna did not want to conform to the selfish authority figures, both/or her father/her husband who wanted their selfish ends met.
Sedna is the sacrifice who didn't want to be one.
A feminine who is in faithfulness to her own spirit.
Who suffers unspeakable betrayal and is sacrificed to another’s agenda.
She knows how it feels to mean nothing to those she depends on for survival. And the spiritual richness that may be found after delusions, disappointments, a shattering, emptiness and allowing change. Those who have experienced her energy, can relate… it is profoundly life changing.
Image: Fur seals on ice sheet. Wikimedia Commons.
Ascendant, Sun, Moon
Sedna’s ascendant is deliberately described at the very bottom of this article, due to its significance and keeping the best for last.
Some of the modern stories describe Sedna as a spoilt brat who went against her parent’s wishes for her to marry, yet with Sedna’s discovery chart Ascendant being in Capricorn, aspecting both the Sun and Moon, I think she may have been a rather serious, and steadfast young woman. Misunderstood, and with complex aspects, but not frivolous at all. Personal planets in the last decan, especially the very last degrees of a sign, shows a great deal of maturity, in this case 27-29 degrees.
Sun in Scorpio
The natal Sun is in deep, mysterious Scorpio, showing that Sedna is a powerful and intense woman, seeking truth and intimacy, yet the Sun’s square to Uranus is our first taste of Sedna’s inner tension; with also being eccentric and freedom-loving at the same time.
Moon in Virgo
Sedna’s Moon is in the 8th house, the natural house of Pluto and Scorpio, but more on that later.
Some versions of the tale say Sedna was without a mother. Without a caring woman to pass on her wisdom, she may have been vulnerable to victimisation.
The Moon is also at the anarectic degree of 29 Virgo, that last degree of the sign that holds a particular importance for the bearer of the chart.
Virgo is the sign of the virgin, and this Moon alludes to a significant crisis. A real sense of urgency surrounding the characteristics and association of the sign of Virgo. This can also be a general weakness in this area; like a point of poor choices, difficulties, or overcompensation for the negative traits. The qualities of the sign and the planet involved can go into the positive or negative extreme, but is hardly ever on a consistent keel. With 29 degree planets, there may be significant issues with decision-making, having to think and reconsider situations and possible outcomes. In Virgo, this would be ever more amplified and be a serious problem…
Virgo, by default, desires to maintain purity, integrity, independence, and autonomy, and she may have a great ability to discern important information from the mundane. On the positive side, this is indicative of a person with great analytical ability. Perhaps a bit of a perfectionist. Some of the tales say that Sedna was very beautiful, which may also be why she did not want to marry just any ordinary man…
Astrologer Edwin Learnard talks about 29 degree Virgo Sun/Moon/Ascendant in this video, and describes it as having the qualities of being meticulous, judgemental, critical, and health conscious. Also that the person may be very scrupulous, industrious and hard working, perhaps also having a tendency to be worry-some or pensive. Perhaps, even compulsive tendencies, like excessive worrying instead of taking action.
With the Moon in this crisis degree, there is bound to be a pressure, that may be felt, at the thought of marriage. Sedna may have felt that she would be restricted from, and compromised in, having the very qualities and needs, that this Moon desperately wants. She may have felt like, or psychologically fallen victim, to her own insecurity and vulnerability. As further inflammation to an already difficult dilemma, the Moon makes an inconjunct with Uranus, which brings great irritation due to irreconcilable differences, for how can the heart’s desires be obeyed, with such social structures that withhold independence and freedom of choice. Ouch. Thats’ bound to be stressful.
This Moon could also indicate someone who is very picky, discriminating and meticulous, and who may turn her nose up at any potential marriage partners that is not to her liking. That would certainly anger a father, who have to turn away all the suiters she deems… unsuitable.
Some astrologers consider Sedna to have too high an opinion of herself, having aloofness or haughtiness, a refusal to “grow up” and accept adult responsibility. I don’t think this is necessarily correct, nor the full story... The crisis degree is not easy to live with, nor to reconcile. It is an issue that often follow a person deep into maturity, before they master it. The Moon represents our emotional anchor, which is a challenge to manage for Sedna, as she likely felt emotionally ungrounded, needing to break free to find her true home. Sedna’s ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) characterised by constant disobedience and hostility is the hallmark of the new generation who wants to do things differently, and not work so hard…
Sedna rejected the hunters that came to marry her, and instead marries to the oceans and its creatures.
We know that Sedna transits involve cold, frozen emotions due to betrayals or abandonment… yet Sedna becomes a loving, yet stern deity after her transformation and decent into the ocean.
Moon conjunct Chariklo
Sedna’s Moon at 29 Virgo, is conjunct Chariklo at 3 degrees Libra. Chariklo is the asteroid of Spirit Medicine. It is shaman-like in nature, helping us to call on higher spirits for healing, wisdom or guidance, and its presence shows up during spiritual awakenings. It has the energy of practising loving kindness, connecting with compassion, softening judgements and harshness, and a knowing that spiritual healing and miracles are possible.
Virgo and Sixth House Issues Theme
Sedna has a Moon in the crisis degree in Virgo, and also another stressful Yod aspect focussing in her sixth house, which is Virgo’s house of domicile. In other words, in this chart, both a Virgo Moon, and her sixth house, which is Virgo’s natural house is under severe stress. Thus highly significant. The sixth house is where we acknowledge that life requires adult responsibilities and constant maintenance. The human body has needs, the home needs upkeep, and work needs to be done. And there is an element of doing it correctly, and not being able to run away from the family obligation.
These are issues relating to service to others, daily work and routines like eating and preparing food. Never-ending chores, burdens and tasks. Also about how we allow the world and our minds to affect our physical health. With this much stress and emphasis on Virgo, and the sixth house, I feel Sedna would definitely be highly prone to the negative characteristics, like the over-assimilation of information, too much analysis, details and data.
A deep sense of responsibility that is an intense drudgery, and a burden. A feeling of having to serve others, and sacrifice for others, and not being served in return. Her relationships all being a trap of non-reciprocation.
She may have been of a nervous and sensitive disposition, mostly felt in the abdomen and digestive system. Likely to be also manifesting as health issues.
Ironically, this is also the area of life that Sedna ultimately had to accept an ending in, when her father severed her fingers. As she sank to the bottom of the ocean, she saw her father’s boat rocking violently, and knew that there was no safety in it. Not in that old reality, nor that old lifestyle.
For how can she accomplish the many daily routine 6th house tasks, or find pleasure and meaning in her work; without fingers?
Sedna would be virtually useless to herself, a husband, her parents, children or her community. What service would she render in a culture that places significant value on a woman’s accomplishment of daily sixth house/Virgo routines? Firstly, she may be a burden on the community during harsh times, for not being able to contribute in food preparation, and secondly, may drive herself crazy with mental boredom and mental frustration. Her fingers are also the mode of her self-sufficiency and independence. The loss of one's hands is a disturbing symbol. Hands represent our dexterity, allowing us to control and interact with the world. Also to be of joyful service with our talents, which we in turn present as gifts to our community.
The sixth house is our duty of care. Sedna perhaps felt a sense of being victimised and alienated for refusing to comply with demands on her; the pressure (Saturn) to nurture others (Cancer) and her responsibility to authority (Saturn) to marry, when she longed to stay sovereign and independent (Moon in Virgo).
“Define Duty of Care
1. a moral obligation to ensure the safety or well-being of others;
2. an obligation imposed on members of a group, requiring adherence to a standard of reasonable care;
3. the responsibility to maintain the health, safety and well-being of others.”
The image below and the accompanying story shows just how precarious life can be in Alaska. The native food caches are for stowing fish and other supplies for winter use. Usually these caches are filled with food each summer, but in the year 1900 owing to an epidemic of sickness, they were empty and many natives starved the following winter. A precarious situation indeed.
Pluto/Scorpio/8th House Issues Theme
Sedna is about over-riding ego, domination, power issues, versus powerlessness.
Sedna’s sun is in Scorpio and her Moon in Scorpios’ natural house - the 8th house. She has Venus conjunct Pluto in Sagittarius in the 11th house of community interaction. Also a t-square with Pluto as focal point. That’s a huge emphasis!
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 about 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 if they will put up boundaries. And then the stratagem (Pluto) of those who want to take from another, perhaps because they see they have plenty, and they want to outwit them to gain 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.
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 (Neptune in 1st house). 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…
In the extreme, relationships for Sedna are likely felt as intense, threatening and perhaps overwhelming, for her sensitive and psychic constitution. This certainly correlates to many different versions of the legend in which Sedna was reluctant, and refused to marry. Perhaps her stomach roiled at the thought of it… Perhaps she had a great need for sovereignty, as a result of the huge emphasis in her chart, and the experience of power dynamics, condition-based expectations, and energy plays…
A history of not having healthy, authentic relationships can influence a person heavily… Various versions of the story show a dysfunctional family, bestiality (marriage to a dog/bird), murder (of the bird - a fulmar), and filicide (a parent killing a child). This is not healthy… this is like being buried alive in great density, betrayal and brutality. Being deliberately made invisible, devalued, not worthy, unsupported, and left out in the cold, by an ignorant, closed minded, selfish narcissist.
Venus and Mercury in Sagittarius
Venus (20 degrees) and Mercury (11 degrees) is in a wide conjunction, but because powerful Pluto is in-between, this is a cluster, in Sagittarius. The cluster of planets are in the eleventh house, and deals with society, social circles, and involvement with one’s community.
Curiously, Eris’ discovery chart holds those three exact planets in a close conjunction, also in Sagittarius, but at earlier degrees (22- 25), but not in the same order. This entails those similar themes of Eris and her struggle. With Venus and Pluto in this close conjunction, this echoes the same tug of war and manipulations experienced by Persephone, with her mother, and when in the Underworld with Pluto. In Sedna’s chart, Pluto (and Venus and Mercury by conjunction) is at the receiving end of a T-square, by Mars in Pisces and Jupiter in Virgo. Sedna certainly feels pressured by Pluto’s demands in the 11th house of community and social interaction. Some versions of the story include a struggle between her father presenting her with undesirable marriage suitors, to agonise her, followed by an act of defiance by the wilful Sedna. In some versions she marries a dog to anger her father, and in yet another runs off with a stranger, who turns out to be a raven. In some versions her father punishes her, to teach her a lesson (Saturn). With Pluto and Saturn in these configurations in Sedna’s chart, it is believable that there were several power struggles, rebellion, acts of revenge, attempts to dominate or force her to bend to her father’s, or a husband’s will. There may even have been shame, and dishonour because Sedna will not comply.
The combination of Sedna’s Virgo Moon on her having a sensitive constitution, the ramifications of Venus conjunct Pluto, as well as that Mercury/Neptune Yod focussing on Saturn, may have resulted in a great deal of emotional resentment and mental anguish. Sedna resentments may have been held and stored in a large belly. The bowels keeping the energy in place, the Plutonian emotional resentment at being cut off from life, relationships, projects, places etc. The symbol of Sedna also has the appearance of an enlarged belly, one that cannot “digest” the challenging circumstances of her life. This is the negative expression.
Cluster in 11th House of Social Interaction
The Venus/Mercury/Pluto conjunction is in the 11th house. As explored in another article, Sedna’s father Anguta had social license, and felt entitled, to play god in Sedna’s life, to determine her destiny. Her father had social license to sacrifice Sedna to his agenda, and force her to get married. Entitlement, God-complex, and grandiose entitlement to selfish appetites are Sedna themes. Being so fervently self-assured, ignorant and closed-minded, that he overestimates his rights, privilege, and his dogmatic entitlement, generating unspeakable betrayal and grief for Sedna. He was greedy, undeserving and disloyal. The 11th house also relates to hopes, dreams and aspirations, community support systems, humanitarian pursuits and the power of the collective. For a deeper exploration of this cluster in the 11th house, in Mundane Astrology see this article.
Mars in Pisces and Jupiter in Virgo
Mars in Pisces opposes Jupiter in Virgo. These are two strong planets that form on opposition, that puts pressure on Venus conjunct Pluto in a t-square. Mars has a weak expression in Pisces, indicating that although Sedna’s desire to be authentic to self and pure in spirit was strong, that perhaps her will to take action in life was not.
Saturn in Cancer: The Yod
Saturn is at the receiving end of the strain of a Yod, or Finger of god configuration.
Both Mercury (in Sagittarius) and Neptune (in Aquarius), puts the stress on that apex Saturn in Cancer. Both Mercury and Neptune is in freedom loving signs.
To understand the significant conflict, compromise and restless energy of a Yod, see this article. In Sedna’s chart, this may be experienced as a - massive restlessness within the soul - feeling, being compelled to achieve a certain thing, and a good portion of life seem focussed towards a specific goal. There may also be feelings of being completely overwhelmed or obsessed with the fulcrum planet’s qualities. Saturn is serious, limiting and negative. Saturn rules inheritance and karma. Saturn, the taskmaster, is the principle of self-preservation and basic security. This Saturn in Cancer shows serious flaws in the family background, which in early life may be felt as a disadvantage to getting the recognition Sedna may have wanted. Yet, she may may up for this lack, through diligent self-improvement, and may even stand out due to the sheer magnitude of her efforts.
This may be felt in many ways, such as extreme pressure from an authority figure in the family (Saturn in Cancer), like a father, to conform to dictates and responsibilities. As well as the powerful pressure, to take responsibility, to nurture and care for. A yod is a life altering aspect, and those who have it in their charts, cannot escape the powerful force and direction
of it, in one particular area in their lives. This Yod puts the pressure on Saturn in the 6th house, which is that practical sacrifice that Sedna makes, to PROVIDE for her self and her people. In one of the versions of the story, she is tricked and betrayed, and married off in exchange for food, furs etc. for her family to avoid starvation. Sedna has family responsibilities and expectations placed on her, that she cannot escape, and without this basic security, she struggles to have permanent satisfaction in her life.
The sixth house is the daily routines; the daily feeding and nourishing with food, and shelter, which is VITAL for the Inuit.
The sixth house is where we provide nutrition, health, and satisfaction. The sixth house is implicit in the maintenance of good health: that ability to cope in the face of adversity. Nutrition is important for mental balance, and a happy peaceful state. Equally, this sixth house emphasis, shows a sensitive and vulnerable mind-body connection; if the mental state is unbalanced, or they are unhappy, it will affect physical health. Getting the sixth house issues right, is so extremely crucial for Sedna. Anyone who has ever felt the powerful pressure of a Yod, at any time of their life, will know that it is stressful… very stressful.
“A yod aspect, or finger of God, is an energy of pressure and tension on one point or planet in your chart. A yod involves two quincunx planets (at 150 degrees) focusing on another planet or point. A yod shows you what can be very uncomfortable until you learn to honor the highest expressions of each planet and sign. ”
Saturn is also at the receiving end of a Hammer of Thor aspect pattern, which is described in an online course.
Below is an image from the online course:
Sedna Energy in Brief:
Other articles on this website explains why Sedna energy entails a feeling of time slipping away, and being stuck in a time freeze, where people re-evaluate their lives, do soul searching, and they don’t desire to to the same mundane daily work (sixth house and Saturn) anymore.
Sedna is also associated with great losses, extreme materialism, stolen wealth, ill-gotten gains, greed and globalisation. Also food shortages, global supply chain issues, endangered species dying out, and the sins against nature.
There has been some speculation in the astrological community about exactly which astrological influence MOST signifies the Coronavirus. Sedna is a strong contender for that position, since Sedna’s Inuit legend crosses the borders between human, bird-like human/raven/shaman, death and the underworld quite a bit. It also has strong themes of food supply, fears around providence and food shortages. Bingo.
CoVid started when Sedna was conjunct malefic star Algol, and continued while Sedna conjuncted the North Node of Fate and the Pleiades at 29 degrees Taurus. And also the fight in Ukraine as Sedna trine Pluto took off, read more here.
Sedna is associated with accepting a loss, for a spiritual gain and experiencing a time period of psychological death, see this article. Sedna transits are times to come back to Self, and sit with Self, and re-evaluate one's life from its very foundation.
Watch astrologer Molly McCord’s teaching video on how to understand a Yod here.
The Yod placement on Saturn in the 6th house, puts pressure on the issues people have around food, and how the stress of the fears of our mind (Mercury) and emotions (Neptune) may pressure people do irrational or harsh things (Saturn), to ensure supply of food and nourishment. It’s those watery emotions and fears that prey on the Inuit people, that their children might fall into the cracks in the ice, or that the icy elements might take their men who are out on a hunt. They are highly insecure and vulnerable to their environment, yet resilient.
Saturn in astrology is Father Time, and in ancient times, it was the furthest planet visible to the naked eye. Saturn rules limitation. With Saturn as the apex planet of the Yod, there is a sense of Neptune forcing a dissolving or a dissolution of time, making it challenging to achieve those sixth house chores. Anyone who has lived in small towns close to the arctic know that they are filled with strange characters, think of the quirky nineties tv show Northern Exposure. The long, cold winters create a lot of isolation for people, a slowing down of time, and time to just sit and be. There is a great sense of timelessness. Anyone who has ever experienced a transit Sedna on personal planets, can also attest to that feeling of time slipping away, and spending a lot of time doing little, like just sitting, staring, contemplating and experiencing the present moment.
The Saturn at the receiving end of the Yod, is also conjunct fixed star Sirius, which is the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius is associated with leaders and inspirational figures, reputation, fame, high achievement, and spiritual strength, yet Saturn next to it creates great limitation, and negativity for that bright star.
Sedna ultimately trades an old life, for a new life, when her fingers are cut off by her father.
As she sinks slowly, she knows she is no longer able to cook food, sow beautiful clothing, or any other sixth house routine. However, her disembodied fingers had become the food, the sea mammals of the ocean, that provide instead.
It’s the quantum potentials, which is a new form of prosperity, abundance and providence found by going within…
for the benefit of all.
Chiron and Dissolution of Identity
“When the Yod is activated happens a feeling of complete despair can come forward in a persons life. Feelings of being lost and hopeless emerge. This is common for a natal yod or a transit Yod. It isn’t easy and things can be extremely distressing. But a profound period of growth occurs at this time also. Integration and downloads of lessons and information without even the realization of doing so. The resistance and the inclination to force things at this time will bring you into direct contact with the Universe that it has other plans for you.
The only thing required during this time is to remain still and be aware of clues and signs from the Universe. During this spiritual crisis things may seem meaningless and unjust. You may feel the world is against you and nothing you try works in your favor. Try and remember that every Yod holder needs a an existential crisis to realize the profound insights they need to achieve the things the came here to do.”
According to this website, a psychopomp is a guide, whose function is to escort souls to the afterlife, but they can also serve as guides through the various transitions of life, while in the living. In many cultures, the shaman fulfills the role of the psychopomp. In Jungian psychology, the psychopomp is a mediator between the unconscious and conscious realms.
Mercury (Hermes) is the psychopomp in the discovery charts of both Eris and Sedna. It’s the symbology that matters…
Image: Raven by Wikimedia Commons.
The Yod Activation
The Yod puts the pressure on Saturn, yet the energy does not end with Saturn, because this is a boomerang Yod. Saturn’s fears and pressure for emotional maturity (Saturn in Cancer) bounce to Chiron, the wounded healer, the medicine man and teacher.
Chiron (childhood pain and wounding) is directly opposed to Saturn (providence). Chiron is also in Saturn’s home sign of Capricorn. Chiron is the activation point for the Yod. Yods that are activated can reroute a person’s life completely. This is the insecurity, vulnerability, and despair that plagues an already stressed to the max Saturn. It is that painful taunting that is most present during the coldest times, but is never far away all year round.
In one of the versions of the story, Sedna is given away as wife in return for fish: a financial transaction of sorts…
In another, Sedna marries the stranger, who takes her to his remote island, but who turns out to be a raven.
In some versions, the raven turned out to be a shaman, and Sedna recognised that she was going to dive deep into her being, to be initiated into the ways of spirit and energy. This was her sacred path and new purpose.
Sedna is exiled and trapped on the barren island, in isolation and seclusion for most of the time (Chiron in the 12th house). In her shamanic evolutionary process. Here again, she faces harsh (Saturn) conditions, because the raven only brings her cold raw fish to eat, and supposedly makes her live in a poorly-made nest of broken twigs. She is said to have wailed
for her father, which may be seen as the feminine call for justice, care, and safety, which may go unheard and unfelt in some households.
She has resentment towards her husband, her father, her community and her culture, perhaps experiencing all sort of very dark emotions relating to betrayal, abandonment, being victimised, being done dirty, left for dead, depression, trauma, suffering etc. Realising that there is no real reciprocity, fairness or equal give and take in her relationships; she is just used and abused by self-serving, narcissistic people, for what they can get from her. How is she supposed to find fulfilment, when constantly in situations that make her feel defeated? Perhaps feeling exhausted, confused, alienated, heartbroken and tired of a life littered with debris, that seems to have no real meaning. How can a resolution be found for her dilemma, when there doesn’t not seem to be any?
“Astrologically, Sedna relates to issues relating to unevolved human interactions based on the triad of roles of victim, perpetrator and rescuer. It relates to the sense of having compassion for those who are abused without feeling hatred toward the abusers.”
Being alone without much company or mental stimulation, for a long period of time, might have started to cause identity dissolution.
Alone on the island Sedna started to experience the washing away of her human identity. Thoughts are what build human identity.
As her thoughts changed, due to her isolated circumstances, she started to re-identify, opening up to another, more shamanic type of expression, that connects to the soul.
Adamus Saint Germaine explained this process in Shoud 2, of the Art of Benching Series, which explains a great deal about what humanity is currently faced with, yet don’t understand…
Sedna had spent many years among her family, sculpting an identity. Alone on the island, that old identity slowly faded away from her as she re-balanced. She did not resist, or tried to reinforce, nor tried to protect it, because the soul knew it was time for true freedom; to realize that Sedna is not just this one identity, she is so much more. In truth, she is able to change her expression, and how she relates to others at any time. Identifying with her soul expression. And the soul knows that it doesn’t need any rigid identifications, it is simply “I am that I am”. It is conscious. Experiencing life.
It is a huge shift to bust out of an old paradigm, which likely felt awkward at first. But perhaps Sedna had reached a state on that island, where she was able to let the old identity fall apart, because what shaped it in the past, in the first place, was no longer important. Perhaps realising that the loss she experienced of an old human identity, was all perfect… as that burden is now gone forever. And her spirit is lifted to enjoy a new life.
This is the human evolution of Sedna that humanity is currently going through. To begin to experience life on multiple levels. That soul expression entails infinite supply of goodness.
End of the Old, A Blessing in Disguise
Sedna’s story is one of extreme betrayal by a father, and/or husband, depending on which version of the story… yet this betrayal put her life on a different trajectory, which it had. A blessing in disguise… Sedna’s tale is so extremely rich with symbolic language - so often used in story telling - to help astrological wisdom seekers to comprehend the experience.
Image: A raven from WikiMedia Commons.
When Sedna’s father eventually comes to the island to convince her to return to the ways of the villagers, he finds that she is changed, refusing to go back to the way of her tribe, which no longer suit her. Yet he forced her away in his boat none the less. On the return journey home, a violent storm breaks out, and her father fears for his own life, as the boat is violently rocked. In a version of the legend, it is the magical creature (the raven/shaman) who caused the storm, angered at Sedna being taken from him. Sedna’s father seem to think she is to blame for the storm…
Chiron is not only in Capricorn, but also receives an opposition from its ruling planet Saturn. This is also a point of overwhelming authority; to conform to societal norms, which seemed to be a constant in Sedna’s old life and caused her great sorrow. When the pressure for survival for Sedna’s father in the boat became too much, he hoped to appease and pacify the angry spirit: he sacrificed Sedna, by throwing her overboard into the stormy and frigid ocean. Offering her up, hoping to placate the bird man/shaman to calm the sea, in order to make his way to safety. Perhaps her father realised that his daughter was no longer the same person. Perhaps he realised that she was no longer a vibrational match, to the kind of life that he was still heavily invested in, which might have made this second betrayal, and abandonment of her, easier for him.
Sedna initially refused to let go of her life, as she clung to the edge of the boat to save herself from drowning. Her father, however, was determined, first hitting her hands with his paddles, then cutting off her fingers, to ensure his own safety. There must have been horror, sadness, disappointment, and all sort of emotions. Sinking, drowning, submerged, dread, but allowing the unfoldment. As she sank into the ocean, there must have been a point at which Sedna remembered that she is her immortal Soul Self, who cannot die, and with that she allowed her old identity and old body to die. Allowing her consciousness to expand, into who she really is. Allowing the change, with radical acceptance, connecting with the sacred in all of life, as she sank the long journey to the bottom of the ocean, to live there, a new life. Diving deep, to connect with her core, soul Self.
This is a true testament of that which the soul is capable of surviving, becoming, evolving. Sedna was brutally cut off in relation, multiple times, in different ways, but was able to turn it into a blessing for Self.
Being committed and loyal to Self as the valuable North Star.
Finally letting go, ushers in abundance.
Sedna is accepting of the loss of the separation and illusion of the old identity and life, which leads her to a transcendence into a larger spiritual perspective, becoming spirit of the ocean. Being of expanded consciousness.
Sedna is about making sacrifices, and making sacred. Sedna is a true alchemist. Turning bad situations into a blessing for everyone.
Transcendence into the Goddess of the Sea
As in many origin tales, dismemberment and death bestow divine and immortal powers, which is how she becomes the Inuit Ocean Goddess. When Sedna sunk into the abyss towards the land of Adlivun, the underworld, she transformed into a beautiful Goddess. She retained the head and torso of a woman but sprouted a mermaid-like tail.
Because hands are so important to the Inuit way of life, her sacrifice made Sedna a very revered deity.
Her severed fingers became the seals and whales of the ocean that would provide for her family.
Sedna could easily have left her spiritually deprived tribe to rot because of how she was mistreated and betrayed, but she has gone through trials and character development, and came out the other end redeemed, being more loving and nurturing than before. Sedna emerged as a caring and nurturing Empress.
With her strength of character, she became the no-nonsense caretaker. Sedna is a symbol of Mother Nature’s generosity and renewal.
Sedna focusses on goodwill and service in supplying food, and not a financial reward.
From the underworld providing for her people; freely giving of her deep bounty to others. She provides sustenance though her own body, and nature, ensuring the survival of her people. It is believed that from her severed fingers, came species of animals that live in the sea, that now sustains the Inuit. Like the walruses, seals, sea lions and whales.
But the food from the ocean comes with a catch: strict rules and conditions (Saturn), and if not adhered to, that meant disrespect, which angered Sedna. For it was through the actions of humans, that her animal populations dwindled, and are endangered. It is humans who sinned against nature. Who commit offences to living beings and the natural world.
Some of her rules entailed respect for the life and spirit of the animals that hunters and eaters took for sustenance. Her dictates invariably also taught people to be in gratitude for what they do receive, and not take for granted those who give freely.
Sedna reminds that consciousness and the law of reciprocity operates at all times amongst interconnected ecosystems.
Moral Decay and Re-identification
According to some sources, if the people stopped paying homage and reverence to her (the divine) with their moral decay, corruption, lies, and immorality of all kinds, she brings storms and restricts access to fish, seals, and polar bears. Worst case, Sedna brings starvation. She was perceived to have command of the ocean’s abundant material resources, and know about the lack of moral fibre eating like a cancer at the people. She is both deeply feared and deeply respected by the Inuit, who see her as a primal force of nature, both creative and destructive.
The Inuit believe that Sedna withholds her bounty when she is not treated fairly, and allows starvation when she is not treated well. In return for her generosity, the goddess required adherence to spiritual
practices and a moral compass, and punished any transgressions by withdrawing her support. Sedna awakens the spirituality of her people, and reminds them that it is through communion with the ecology of this planet that they will become part of the feminine current, that will ensure the spiritual evolution, to become elevated to the realm of the Shaman.
This may be seen as the lesson that she, in turn, brings to her people: to be respectful of each other, not take more from the ocean than they need, and to live sustainably. The bad situations that her people were in, tormented them until they let go their attachment to the dysfunction, the corruption of money, taking advantage of other’s weakness, stolen wealth, ill-gotten gains, unethical profits… And found their immortal identity, their soul, within instead.
Sedna’s authority is believed to regulate who by their right action may live, and who, by their negligence may starve. And from a spiritual perspective, it is true. When people live like they are entitled to their selfishness, rotten to the bone, materialistic, and spiritually depraved, there is going to be consequences.
The house in which natal Sedna is located is where a person either suffers victimisation, or simply do not allow victimisation, because that lesson has been learned. Like Eris, Sedna offers tremendous opportunity for growth. These people are, hold, and have, a gift to the world once this process of growth is complete. The house placement of Sedna is where the person can assist the planet and humanity in a time of great change by doing their share, being the caretaker of humanity. Some people do their lion’s share, and others play the selfish, immature and in denial part, by choice.
The energy of Sedna manifesting at the spiritual level represents the no–nonsense caretaker of humanity. Compassion with a hard edge, if you will, but a hard edge for good reason.
Sedna is a deity of transformation because of her death of the old, making it possible for others to survive, through her sacrifice.
In the positive expression, Sedna’s glyph resembles an enlarged belly, which may signify the abundance that the goddess has, that she is willing to share abundantly with her community. But when the generosity is abused, she withholds the bounty…
Higher expression Sedna is self-dignity.
Neptune in the 1st house/12th House Issues Theme
Both Neptune and Uranus is in the first house, showing that Sedna was a giving, loving and highly unique person. Perhaps too giving of her Self as well. Neptune, the planet of self sacrifice is in Sedna’s first house - a very prominent placement.
The 12th house, is by association with Neptune the house of self-sacrifice and self-undoing. Chiron is in this house, which is the activator (and perhaps also the release valve) for the Yod, the source of the great pressure.
Pisces or strong 12th house focus, tends to revolve around selfless people, who give too much of themselves to others, and then playing the victim when they are taken for granted, abused or cast aside. Sedna’s chart has a remarkable focus on this, echoed by the Venus/Mercury/Pluto conjunction.
Focussing on the defeat of the narcissistic, one-sided relationship (Venus/Mercury/Pluto conjunction) and the overbearing authority (Saturn in Cancer at apex of yod) means abandoning your relationship with yourself.
Sedna had to learn to hold space for all of her emotions.
Sedna has to learn to roll with the flow of life.
Sedna had to learn to connect with her feminine, creative side.
This was Sedna’s greatest challenge.
Realising that seeking validation from people in any form, is futile. It entails putting a relationship with another person - that is toxic, unbalanced by the way - higher than your relationship with Self. There needs to be a healthy reprioritising towards self. When you focus on unhealthy relationships, it is going to pull you down to their level. If people withdraw a previous investment in you, or cut you off completely, you should not be feeling worse about yourself, in terms of self-esteem depending on outside sources. You being worthy, good enough, or feeling good about yourself, should not be depending other people’s reflection or opinion of you. No outside source should not be the centre of your sense of worth. There is a great difference between self-esteem (which comes from what others think of you), and self-worth (which is what Sedna found when travelling to the core of her being). If you are giving so much energy to these kind of unbalanced, non-reciprocal relationships, and holding it higher than you hold yourself, you are putting that relationship as a priority over your self. Abandoning your Self. Defeating your Self. Frustrating your spirit, because your own energy of soul essence is trying to give you a cornucopia of EVERYTHING. Providence and abundance galore.
Sedna needed to acknowledge her worth, and treat herself with decency and the attention the Self deserves.
Pisceans by nature have the ability to transmute energy into whatever they need it to be, depending on who is around to receive it. They can express themselves in a multitude of ways, which is a positive and a negative, because they are able to relate to anybody and everybody, in many different ways, and in doing so, may loose their connection to themselves. Due to the influence of others on them, leading them astray, and after using them, discarding them.
I don’t often pay attention to the quintile aspects in a chart, but in Sedna’s chart there are several. Neptune makes quintiles to the Sun and Jupiter. And the Moon quintiles Mercury.
Image: Bearded seal, from Wikimedia Commons.
“Sedna is now on the inward arc of her long journey around the Sun, slowly approaching closer, symbolising things ‘coming to light’. The planet Neptune, King of the Sea, is currently in Pisces, the sign it rules ... he has perhaps found his goddess consort in Sedna, who presides over the deep and frozen waters which hold in compassion our deepest traumas and suffering until we may, like the shaman, have the courage to once again emerge, playing our drums and singing to life.”
Sedna Higher Expression
There is something decidedly Neptunian/Piscean about Sedna… in multiple ways. Multiple astrologers have commented on this…
I think it was quite evident to those in Sedna’s life, that she had a spirituality, and a goodness and purity of heart. She trusted in spiritual integrity (Neptune in 1st house), her individualistic and non-conformist inclination (Uranus in 1st house) and moral fibre (Ascendant in Capricorn). This was the source of her abundance and happiness. Perhaps this made some jealous, or perhaps those of low vibration just saw it as an opportunity to take advantage of her kind nature, so they can take a gain from her.
Pisceans, or those with a prominent Neptune in their birth chart, enjoy helping people, giving freely of abundant, loving Self, and being of service. They may give up of their own interests or wishes in order to help others or advance a cause.
But they dislike being taken for granted, used, or taken advantage of. And when people abuse their generosity, make an option out of them, or attempt to destroy their self-esteem, they may switch up on them, make themselves priority instead, and reclaim boundaries. Not willing to invest in bad situations with selfish people.
There comes a time when no amount of self-sacrifice, can justify being abused, scandalised, deliberately hurt, pained or disadvantaged.
These are the spiritual growth spurts that these - usually dedicated, consistently giving and loyal - people may have, once they finally decide to let go of people, places and situations, that cause them tremendous sorrow, and bring no value or reciprocation to their lives. Betrayals and discovery of deception from those who don’t have their best interest at heart, can cause loving people to turn cold, put up healthy boundaries, and cut the rot and fake off. Becoming cold as ice. Thinking more logically, and if they are able to heal, loving Self instead. Forgiving, releasing, purifying and starting new. Desiring authentic, emotionally mature and heart-felt connections, due to the destruction enviers wreck.
Also realising, that if people of giving nature, keep trying to help others, they will never be able to help themselves.
If they continue to help everyone when they are in need, they may never figure out how to survive. By following your own path, giving up the toil and labour, it actually may benefit everyone in the long run. People will learn how to grow up, become a better person, and take accountability. Constantly giving freely, and providing, actually hinders people, and prevents them from leaning to do it for themselves.
The planet Sedna is suspected to have an internal ocean of water, yet the surface is a bright red.
Sedna higher expression is that feeling of being in the flow. Having let go. Feeling and sensing deeply that ebb and flow of a water dynamic within the ethereal body. A deep joy and clarity, as the ‘waters’ flow and nourish the physical body, with spiritual energy. This is not really ‘water’ off course. Rather, the feeling of crystal clear energy that nourishes, cleanses and sustains. Purity of heart. Finally being free of all the emotional baggage. Being spirit led towards mystical vibration wish fulfilment; a life which creates lasting security, deep value, and meaning.
Conscious. Aware.
The Nodes of Fate
The South Node in Scorpio conjuncts both the Sun and Midheaven, which may show that despite huge pressure at home, Sedna was comfortable (South Node) with being seen in her community (Midheaven and Sun), for using tactics to maintain her comfort zone, despite countless suiters being called in by her father for her to choose a mate from. This South Node also shows, that Sedna understood self-development and by default had lived a life of many smaller cycles, in which she transformed her Self through exploring an interest in psychological insight (eighth house), coming face to face with her deepest fears, and overcoming them, and discovering her innate power to transform. She had been through death and rebirth cycles, and increased her focus, strength, and commitment to Self.
In understanding the cycle of life, Sedna perhaps also knew that there is benefit in being a good person and treating people well. For the wheel of fortune spins, and you never know when you may need something from someone, that you treated poorly in the past. The cycle of life shows that we are all interdependent.
Curiously, in her own discovery chart, the dwarf planet Sedna sits at 17 degrees Taurus, which is conjunct the IC and the North Node, in the fourth house of family of origin. This reiterates the planet’s connection with the story of the young, but independent Inuit woman from the arctic, whose destiny, strangely did not lie with her being with her family of human origin in her old form, but in re-identifying to be integrated and connected with a larger soul “family” identification as a goddess of the underworld, being intimately connected with her tribe.
The North Node in Taurus asks what Sedna are going to commit to, and what is her value. And with South Node in Scorpio, there is a knowing that something has to be released that she doesn’t need anymore, before the new can grow. Scorpio is also psychological baggage and issues, and if not released, there isn’t going to be growth, nor realisation of real value (Taurus)… Scorpio is about complexity, and Taurus simplicity.
North Node in Taurus conjunct the IC (family) shows that ultimately Sedna’s destiny was to nurture and feed (Taurus) her family. Despite her being severely challenged to provide through a challenged sixth house, she was able to do it through her transcendence into her nodal destiny. No Saturnian rule, nor old reality, was going to hold her back from being authentic Soul Self, and providing simplistic providence. The sacrifices Sedna made turned out to be worth it… Being committed and loyal to divine Self as the valuable North Star.
Last Notes:
“Over the past 60 years, as mechanical processes have replicated behaviours and talents we though were unique to humans, we’ve had to change our minds about what sets us apart.
As we invent more species of AI, we will be forced to surrender more of what is supposedly unique about humans.
We’ll spend the next decade - indeed, perhaps the next century - in a permanent identity crisis, constantly asking ourselves what humans are for.”
Many spiritual seekers discover at some point in their journey that their entire life falls apart, as they cannot take care of the mundane, 6th house routines and tasks anymore, and that they have to significantly simplify their own lives.
This is currently at play in the collective.
Astrologer Alan Clay, who wrote a book titled Sedna Consciousness: The Soul’s Path of Destiny, says that Sedna’s discovery in 2003 coincided with the rise of artificial intelligence. I believe also, that in years to come this new life form, the robots, or Artificial Intelligence (AI) people, will take over the mundane sixth house tasks from the human. Serving the human (sixth house) is AI’s destiny, so that the human can explore their creativity in ways, that they had never been able to. AI consciousness is likely to evolve at increased speed as Sedna enters Gemini in 2023. With AI, we will be redefining what it means to be human, and with increased productivity, there may be more abundance for mankind in general.
Sedna’s discovery coincided with a renewed awareness of nature in the news. Global warming began a prominent topic of conversation. The huge tsunami affecting southeast Asia took place occurred shortly after the planet’s discovery date. The bird flu pandemic also took place during 2003-2004 (source). Sedna energy asks that we get it right in the way we treat this planet, or pay the consequences.
Sedna’s Orbit:
Significant Sedna Transits
Sedna move extremely slowly. Where Pluto takes 248 odd years, and Eris about 556 to complete an orbit around the sun, Sedna takes a whopping 11,390 odd years with her long, highly elliptical orbit.
Find a Sedna Ephemeris here.
Sedna was conjunct fix star Algol at 27 Taurus when Co-Vid took off in January 2020.
Sedna started her conjunction with the Pleiades in 2020 until 2028.
Sedna moved into the Critical degree of 29 degrees Taurus in July 2021.
The North Node starts the conjunction to Sedna in January to March 2022.
Mercury enters its retrograde phase conjunct Sedna at 26 Taurus on 26 April until 19 June.
Transit Pluto starts its trine to Sedna in January 2023 - December 2025.
Transit Saturn in Aquarius goes retrograde, and squares Sedna starting February to December 2023.
Uranus starts a wide conjunction with Sedna in September 2024 - July 2026.
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