Asteroids, Centaurs and Other Extra-Planetary Bodies

We have mapped out the functioning of the human psyche as symbolized by the astrological planets and major points.  This leaves an explanation to be given for the astrological symbolism of asteroids, centaurs and other extra-planetary bodies.  These bodies have been increasingly used by modern astrologers, largely to supplement and provide additional texture (or predictive power) for the horoscope beyond that provided by the traditional planets. 

I will theorize that these non-planetary bodies do not symbolize major functions or components of the human psyche.  Rather, I theorize that they, instead, are symbols for psychological archetypes. 

The idea of an archetype goes back at least as far as Plato.  An archetype is, essentially, a model or prototype.  In the Platonic sense, an archetype can be described as a Universal Idea, the essence of a thing of which the particular occurrences of the thing at the material level (or at the level of the personal mind) is an expression.  The archetype exists, as it were, in Universal Mind, and is imprinted on the soul before the soul enters the body.  Thus, the soul is able to know the particulars that are manifested in the material world through their archetype residing in Universal Mind that has been imprinted on the soul (or which now resides in the personal mind).

Carl Jung refined or recast the Platonic concept of the archetype as a psychological phenomenon.  In Jung’s conception, the archetype was something that existed in the Collective Unconscious, the shared subconscious Mind that forms a common base of mental “experience” for all of humanity.  Jungian archetypes represent a collective prototype of what I would describe as an abstracted personage representing a psychological force.  While Jung identified only a few primal archetypes—the animus and anima, the self, the shadow, the persona, the wise old man, the mother, the maiden and the child—other archetypes can be conceived. 

Jung stated that it is incorrect to identify an archetype only with a mythic figure.  He pointed out that a mythic figure is only a specification of the archetype—a manifestation of the general prototype in a more particular form.  However, we can see that, even though particularized into an image with specific and distinct characteristics, the mythic figure carries the psychic content of the archetype.  Thus, the common archetype is expressed in different forms in different cultures but they all share a common Idea. 

If we examine ancient mythologies, we can see that the gods and goddesses populating those mythologies are engaged in various exploits, contests, rivalries and collaborations.  A series of stories play out in the mythological panoply. We can conceive of these stories as representing the contention of different psychological forces for dominance within the psyche.  By extension, we can posit that within the human psyche there are contained a number of psychological forces that are personified and symbolized by their archetypes.  In any one human psyche, not all of these forces will be active and some will dominate in particular individuals while others may be recessive.

We can distinguish between psychological function and psychological forces.  To do this, we will conceive of the psyche itself as a Platonic archetype or Idea of the Psyche.  This Universal Psyche is the model for the individual psyche and contains all of the components of the psyche—as discussed previously and symbolized by the astrological planets (and points).  As archetype, however, these components are latent or potential.  They are only actualized when they are manifested in an individual human psyche.  This relationship is analogous to the personal mind being an accretion of Universal Mind.

While the psychological functions make up the psyche, the psychological forces inhabit the human psyche.  They are denizens rather than components of the psyche.  Within the individual psyche, these forces are activated and they engage in a form of play, which we may call syndromes (defined not pejoratively but simply as a characteristic pattern of psychological thought or emotion) or mind games.  These forces, at a collective or universal level, are symbolized or represented as archetypes.

I propose, then, that asteroids, centaurs and other extra-planetary bodies symbolize archetypes or psychological forces.  They are akin to personages endowed with certain characteristics and symbolically representing those characteristics.  I believe that one commonality between these bodies and the planetary bodies, astrologically, is the variation in the intensity with which they may be felt or experienced.  We know that a person’s receptivity to a planetary “influence” may be affected by the planet’s placement, aspects, transits, progressions, etc.  We also have theorized that there is a wide range of receptivity to the energies of the outer planets and that many people barely feel their effect or do so only in the form of seemingly unexplainable (to them) traumatic occurrences.

I would expect that the range of sensitivity to the asteroids, etc. would be even more pronounced than for the outer planets.  This is because the planets symbolize functions of the psyche which we all share and that, for the most part, are essential to functioning on this plane of existence.  The asteroids, etc., I believe represent forces and qualities that are more specific to the individual.  While it could be said that they are all latent in our consciousness, they are not all active in our consciousness.

An extreme example will illustrate this.  Everyone has the asteroid Oppenheimer somewhere in their chart.  However, it is only those individuals that would have some connection to the qualities associated with Oppenheimer that can be said to be sensitive to this placement.  Perhaps the person is a nuclear physicist, or lives in Los Alamos, or has some connection to the atomic bomb.  And, for those persons, we might not be surprised if there is a planetary aspect with the asteroid Oppenheimer.  But, definitely, most people will not be sensitive to the asteroid Oppenheimer in their chart.

So, too, with the more common or better known asteroids, etc.  Not everyone embodies the feminine warrior/wisdom qualities of Pallas Athena but those with Athena prominent in their chart at least are likely to have the dharma of getting in touch with that energy.  I do not intend to delineate the qualities symbolized by all of the major asteroids, centaurs, etc.  I only say that they symbolize forces within the psyche that may be asking to be recognized and actualized within the persona or even more deeply within the psyche itself.  Especially the better known bodies may be said to symbolize forces that are universal to the extent that they are common to humanity across cultures and easily recognized.  However, as I contend above, they are not universal in the sense that they must be actualized in every individual.  Some are called to do so and many are not. 

Of course, those who champion particular gods or goddesses and the forces they symbolize may think otherwise, seeing the necessity for all of humanity to actualize those forces and qualities in order to become completely whole.  I would answer, however, that, if this were the case, it would be the case for all of the non-planetary bodies (at least the major ones) and that since certain forces and qualities are bound to be in conflict, this would be problematic.  That is not to say that in a state of complete and total Wholeness one would not actualize all of those non-planetary bodies, for in that state the Self is One and everything is actualized all at the same time.  Nevertheless, I do not see that trying to actualize the potential symbolized by each non-planetary body is the way to get there.

The centaur Chiron may be somewhat of an exception to the above generalizations, though I do not believe it is a complete exception.  While there is still some difference in opinion within the astrological community regarding the meaning of this Centaur body, the consensus has been to derive Chiron’s meaning from the mythology connected with its namesake.  Thus, Chiron is often referred to as the “wounded healer” and its astrological significance determined to be that it identifies a place of deep wounding in an individual.  The traumatic nature of this wounding often prompts the individual to seek healing, a healing which—consistent with the Chiron myth—can never fully be achieved.  The focus on healing and the experiences connected with self-healing that Chiron brings to the individual can then transmute into a desire or capacity to heal others. 

While the quality of a “healer” associated with Chiron is certainly not universal (we may expect to find the marks of a “healer” in those in whose charts Chiron is prominent), one could contend that everyone has some place of deep wounding, which is represented by Chiron.  This may be the case, since life on the Earth-plane affords many opportunities to experience a deep psychic wounding, if not in this life then in past lives (with the wounding so deep and traumatic that it echoes forth into the present life).

However, it may also be observed that large numbers of ordinary people exhibit no trace of a psychic wounding as they go about their lives.  This observation may be countered with the adage that we never know what pain someone is experiencing underneath the surface and, certainly, there are a fair share of individuals who seem to be “happy” on the surface but who are inwardly tormented.  To what extent the activation of Chiron in a person’s chart coincides with their facing their pain or getting in touch with their wounding or engaging in a healing process from their wounding I think remains to be determined.  I would not be surprised to find a great many people oblivious to its “effect.” 

To recap, I see the asteroids symbolizing cosmic actors, or archetypes, residing within the human psyche.  While the major recognized asteroids—Ceres, Chiron, Hygiea, Juno, Pallas Athena and Vesta—undoubtedly symbolize relatively strong forces or qualities within the psyche, numerous others can also raise their presence.  I see these archetypes as psychic “personages” that are playing out a cosmic drama within the human psyche and which are vying for attention within each individual.  I believe that the extent to which they are recognized and take up an important role within the psyche and the personality to a large extent is a reflection of their astrological positioning.  They certainly add “flavor” to the horoscope and should not be ignored.  In my opinion, however, they are not essential to the psyche in the same way that the functions symbolized by the astrological planets are essential.  They are colorful actors on a stage that is set by the planets.

    by Gargatholil

    All content (c) Gargatholil