I have been studying the movements of dwarf planet Ceres, and her asteroid children, namely the largest of the bunch, for several years now. Their aspects and retrogrades do matter and have implications in charts. Some may find there is no need to study them all or view them in particular situations. However, Ceres should be included in all charts in the same manner Pluto is included, and viewed just as much of a planet as Pluto - especially if Chiron is included. Not only is Ceres gravitationally rounded like Pluto, Ceres is closer to Earth than Pluto. Being gravitationally rounded is a significant achievement for an object and a qualification for it to be considered a planet. This is also why when Pluto was relabeled a “dwarf planet” that Ceres was also relabeled as such. Both are gravitationally rounded, but have not cleared their area of smaller objects. Additionally, if one were to compare the gravitational force Ceres exerts on Earth and the force Pluto exerts on Earth, Ceres’ relative size (Pluto is larger than Ceres, but further away) and proximity to Earth has her exert a comparable (if not slightly higher) gravitational force on Earth. I know this is astrology, and gravity is not necessarily the force observed, but this point is made to help show the necessity of Ceres being represented just as much as Pluto is.
Furthermore, if you are someone who includes Chiron in your charts, it makes even more sense to include Ceres. Chiron is not only smaller than Ceres, but also significantly further from Earth. Chiron is of the astrological class of objects known as Centaurs, which are essentially hybrids of asteroids and comets (fitting since centaurs are hybrids of humans and horses). Chiron is not even the largest of the Centaurs being significantly smaller than Chariklo, who is the largest of the known centaurs and not represented in charts nearly as much as Chiron. In mythology Chiron is Chariklo’s husband. The Centaurs are defined by their eccentric orbits that cross (link) the orbits of the outer plants all the way out to the Kuiper Belt (where Pluto, Eris, MakeMake, Haumea, etc. are located). Centaurs’ orbits suggest that they are transitory energy that we will eventually evolve beyond as they will either be ejected from our a Solar System or absorbed by other planets in the future. Astrologically, Centaurs link the planets who’s orbits they cross and represent the process through which the various energies are transmuted and integrated. In Chiron’s case it links the orbits of Saturn and Uranus and is integral in understanding the transmutational process of bringing one’s Uranian qualities into physical being (Saturn’s reality); this is where the theme of the “wounded healer” comes into play. There is a wound in your chart that needs to be healed (transformed/transmuted) and integrated into yourself as part of your growth. What many fail to realize when focusing on this wound is that Chiron returns at 50.71 years, shortly before the second Saturn return. Given Chiron’s location amongst the interpersonal and generational planets, the individual’s Chiron lessons are not only a hallmark of middle age, but also generational and interpersonal in nature. Considering Ceres’ location as the transition of the personal planets to the social/generational planets and an orbital period at 4.599 years, Cerean energy is far more of a fundamental aspect of one’s day to day personality and behavioral growth as one experiences 6.4 Ceres Returns in one Saturn cycle (29.447498 years). Unlike Chiron, Ceres’ orbit is not eccentric and is classified as a dwarf planet, which in astrological terms means little as the dwarf terminology is namely regarding the size and if Pluto still operates the same in charts, then Ceres does as well. Chiron is important especially when considering the relationship between one’s Saturn and Uranus placements, but Ceres needs to have greater representation and focus in charts as a position considered just as important as Pluto.
Several of her asteroid companions, Juno, Vesta, Pallas, Hygiea, and Astraea, should also be considered when one is seeking to differentiate more subtle aspects of behavior and personality. The Asteroid Belt as a whole assists with the differentiation of matter and the filters through which Mars’ energy is expressed as someone engages in relationship with others. As the separation between the personal planets and the social/interpersonal planets, Ceres and her companions are the area of differentiation of the self from others and how one interacts in various social situations. Ceres also represents how one cares for themselves and others (work routines, children, pets/small animals). Taurus, Cancer, and Virgo all have aspects of maternal energy to them.
Ceres (Demeter), as a mythological mourning mother archetype deals heavily with separation and loss between parent and child (which to some can also be the pain of losing a beloved pet), and any following depression that causes a disruption to ones routines (health, work, nutrition) and the physical results of such a situation. Isis, another mourning mother, also has associations with Virgo similar to those of Ceres.
Ceres’ next perihelion is December 6, 2022 while at 26° Virgo. This post was written and posted at Sun opposite Ceres retrograde (and Mercury/Vesta opposite Earth conjunct Ceres retrograde), the “Full Moon” of Ceres/Sun cycle - the midpoint of Ceres’ retrograde as the Last Quarter Virgo Moon begins.