posted October 24, 2004 05:30 PM            

Also, if anyone else has Pluto in the 9th: I've been reading on this, and it seems we've lived many lives, in many various cultures - especially in the East; which would explain why we fail to identify exclusively with the arbitrary forms spirituality may take, but respond directly to the one universal truth, or essence, of each of them.

VESTA is in my 12th, in Capricorn.
The 12th being the last house, and Capricorn (ruler of my chart) signifying Father Time, I wouldn't be surprised to find that I've been around (and around, and around), in one form or another, for quite some time.

HSC

posted October 25, 2004 02:31 AM              

That's kind of hilarious about your mom because I go through the same thing with almost every single person in my family, including extended. Like I say, our generation has the luxury of "finding ourselves" - a luxury they didn't have. They don't understand why they've worked so hard to give us what they never had, yet we are not happy. Well .... that's because getting to know ourselves is not being lazy, it's hard work!!

They probably just blanked their mind from all that to keep themselves from thinking too much about their struggles of their generation. Back when having 4 - 7 kids was the norm. You BET most people from that generation lost their "identity" a long time ago. They've become comfortably numb.

As for Vesta -

The way I've summarized it to myself is it has to do with "Sex & Energy Investment". This includes the energy you put out in a healthy way towards others, including health matters. I don't know if the "old soul" indication can be found there, but perhaps if strong in ones Chart, with strong aspects too. I'm not sure.

As for the "old soul" indications on its own, I always wondered if my Saturn in Capricorn in my 9th gives me that a little bit.

Seems everywhere you look, someone has a different take on what indicates an "old soul", so difficult to say. Best to consider everything, I guess.

PS: My Vesta is in Gemini in the 1st.

"Vesta in Gemini:

You shield the flame of thought, imagination and intellect. Your ideas and ideals are valuable resources and intense focus is available intellectually. You possess a commitment to exploring the world through your education and embrace knowledge as a spiritual resource. You are likely to deny your own intelligence and intellectual capabilities in pursuit of your truth and center.

Your method of self understanding and acceptance is usually by the route of transcending and over riding mind and thought patterns by disowning their power in your life. Eventually you bring the two halves together...the mind and the spirit in both acceptance and love. Your sexuality is friendly, light and mind oriented."

AND

"Vesta in the 1st House -

posted October 25, 2004 08:45 AM              

"Vesta - a Mere asteroid?

The astrological symbol for Vesta looks like a stylized flame in a hearth, perhaps reminding us of the eternal flame in Rome, which was kept burning permanently as a symbol of the belief that Rome was eternal. The flame was attended by six Vestal[i] Virgins. In Greece she was known as Hestia.

The four major asteroids [ii] were discovered in the first decade of the 19th century when the industrial revolution was in full motion and women were starting to enter the workforce. The asteroids are associated with feminine archetypes, and the role of women in society was rapidly changing. Astrology draws heavily from the Greek and Roman mythology, where each of the asteroids has a personified deity associated with it. We have to assume that synchronicity is at play rather than these asteroids being named by chance.

Vesta was discovered by astronomer Heinrich Olbers in Bremen Germany March 29, 1807. She was in the final degree of Virgo retrograde at the time. The other three major asteroids are Pallas Athena [Minerva], Ceres [Demeter] and Juno [Hera]. Each one of the four goddesses held powerful ruling positions among the gods and goddess of Olympus and among the gods and titans in classical mythology. The Olympian Zodiac [iii] shows Hestia associated with Capricorn due to the fact, perhaps, that she is associated with diligent work with both the affairs of home and state.

In the Who's Who in Classical Mythology [iv] - the statement reads that she was the goddess of home and hearth and could have had Apollo or Poseidon as her husband but refused marriage and further that she has no mythology.

Vesta[v] was virtuous and highly regarded in both Roman and Greek times. She was the protector of home and family, never married and chose to remain a virgin. She was praised as a protector of city and state, and was perhaps the most beloved of all the gods. She was the first child of Cronus [Saturn] and Rhea [vi] and the elder sister of Zeus [Jupiter]. Her genealogy makes her one of the original gods and titans, but we have relegated her to the rank of an asteroid, yet the gods assigned to the Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are a part of her family tree.

In the Astro-Encyclopedia, included with Kepler Astrology program by Cosmic Patterns Software, we find the following statement: "Most astrologers who use asteroids believe that the asteroid Vesta gives self-discipline, self-control, and care and attention to any job undertaken". The keywords given are: self-controlled, disciplined effort, modest, simple, plain, and creative.

There are very few astrology books on the asteroids, and until relatively recently not many astrologers used them in their work. I started including the asteroids in my charts about a decade ago, and paying attention to them in terms of transits or progressions activating these, and listening to the stories of my clients that seemed to echo the bits and pieces of mythology I knew. As an aside, I thought I'd include this little quote: "One of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is listen to each other's stories." [vii] I believe that listening is as important if not more so than talking.

My first reminder of the role of Vesta in the astrological chart was loud and clear when my progressed Moon crossed over natal Vesta in Virgo at the zenith [viii] of my chart. I actually looked at in hindsight, as at the time I was just too busy working. The days were not long enough, and in addition to working at my job I was studying accounting. I was also finding time to give astrological lectures, write a column and tend to my large family. At no point did I feel anyone was taking advantage of me, or that I was the slave to others. I was just really happy to be doing so much. It was also when it first dawned on me I might be a bit of a workaholic, at my happiest when I was being productive. Learn about your Vesta by looking at what happens when slow moving planets form a conjunction to your natal Vesta.

Since that time, I have read more charts have found that when Vesta is positioned at either the MC or zenith, which is the most apparent position to observe, I have met yet another productive, work-oriented person, who seldom complains about her workload. (We know that rules have exceptions). These individuals are reluctant to be idle, and always busily working on that task list, never erasing the difficult ones.

I have also found the keeper of the flame significant in terms of Vesta in terms of the house Vesta occupies. I look at the zodiacal sign in terms of the kind of energy the planet or asteroid has at its disposal. Gemini for example, is quick, intellectual and inquisitive. I look at the houses as where we use the energy of the planet. The houses naturally represent areas of life. Wherever, we have Vesta situated, is where we want to keep that flame going.

I associate Vesta with Virgo as the natural essence of the asteroid seems to resonate with the service-oriented nature of this zodiacal sign. I look at the cadent houses (3, 6, 9 and 12) as the knowledge and learning houses. The third house is where we collect information, learn about our environment and speak about what we have heard or learned and think about it. In the sixth house we analyze and develop that basic knowledge into skills as well as habits. The 9th house is of higher learning, philosophy, religion, and our convictions and about learning to see the forest from the trees. The 12th house is the house of faith, ideals, and surrender where we learn to believe.

The angular houses, 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th, are about all kinds relationships with self, others, family, parents, authority and of course that significant other. The angles represent our worldly pursuits and activities. The succeedent houses, 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th, are about a set of values regarding money, time, love, children, creativity, death, reincarnation, commitment and friendships, acquaintances, and about the importance of acquiring material possessions. The cadent set of houses, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th, is about learning the basic ABCs, the coping skills in life, the philosophical and religious knowledge, and to trust the unseen, i.e. to have faith.

Naturally when Vesta is at the angles or in aspect to the angles it is more prominent, and more readily or visibly expressed by us. When Vesta is not in aspect with the balance of the chart she may lack visible expression. I have noted that when Vesta is at an angle in marriage charts, the marriage seems to work well and both partners support each other.

Where Vesta is seems to supply clues to what area in your life are you willing to be the one to take care of things. Looking after the joint finances might be one expression of Vesta in the 8th. In the fourth looking after the home, in the 10th at the zenith or on the MC perhaps being the main breadwinner, never shirking your obligations. Where Vesta is situated shows an area of life that naturally seems to be your responsibility. Look at Vesta in your chart, see how it is linked and if you indeed naturally assume to be responsibility of keeping the issues of that house working smoothly. Oh, and by the way, you don't get credit or praise for doing that particular chore, nor should you expect to.

Vesta moves through the zodiac in about four years. She retrogrades once every 18 months for three months. The cycle length is the same as that of the lunar nodes through the signs, and Venus through her morning and evening star phases. She spends approx. three months travelling through a sign. Vesta is currently in late degrees of Pisces and moves into Aries in January 2005.

I was speaking with a colleague and friend recently about the asteroids. She has Vesta in her third house in Pisces, and was delighted how what we talked about resonated with her recent revelation that she was the Keeper of words and knowledge. My Vesta is in the 9th house in Virgo, and I always find myself sharing philosophical concepts that have the potential to allow others to broaden their horizons armed with a different perspective. I also think that I am an eternal student.

Is this same information expressed through other planets and points in the chart? Absolutely, I think every concept is illustrated numerous times in the horoscope through different planets, signs, houses and aspects, so that we understand the message. [The other asteroids and feminine archetypes will be discussed in future articles.]

posted October 25, 2004 12:22 PM              

My Vesta is in a interesting place: my 6th house cusp, which is just hopping with unseen activity. It's in Aqua and I have a problmatic Mars there on the cusp that's part of a grand trine. But my Mars is conjunct my NN, vertex, and Vesta which are in the 5th house next to the cusp. In the grand trine, this spot trines to other "hot" spots in my chart: my 1st house where I have Uranus conjunct both asteriod and BML Liliths and Pluto, and my MC/10th house where my MC, Sun, Mercury and Ceres are all conjunct, plus my Part of Spirit that's conjunct the MC in the 9th (Venus and Saurn are also in the 9th). When i look at this, I can't beleive these planets, asteriod and pints all alligned liek this by chances - it looks manufactured, seriously. It's also frustratingly complicated and multilayered, especially concerning my self-image, personal ambitions, sexuality and spirituality. I find it very hard to sort out the actual influence of asteriods and other subtle influences, as they tend to really meld together in my chart, although the general interpretations of Vesta and other asteriods often do fit me.

posted October 26, 2004 12:51 AM            

Love the anecdote - I can totally relate.
The 9th house Pluto, and past-lives in the east, suggests that we have an innate understanding of symbols and thinking in terms of whole concepts and THE BIG PICTURE -- for my part, I know I can't see the trees for the forest.

My N. Node in Virgo is a similar deal. It suggests many lives spent in monasteries. One has learned to be sensitive to artistic and religious states, and has become clumsy in the external world, and ill-fit for life in modern society. Unlike many, our task is to be less spiritual - in a sense - and learn to ground ourselves in specifics; only that way can we hope to communicate "here on earth" what we have learned in our past lives. Also, because one is told when to rise and eat, etc., in a monastery, we now have difficulty tending to these 'mundane' things. -- I think it makes sense that I was a leader... and I've always had a strong sense that I was much smarter and more powerful - possibly noble - in a past life, and that, perhaps, I am suffering now for my pride. But, then, maybe everyone wants to believe that kind of stuff, so, who knows what is genuine intuition, and what is mere wishful thinking.....

Where is your N. Node?

posted October 26, 2004 02:27 AM              

i don't know if anyone read my post about me going to a psychic this week, but when i was there he told me he thought i had some past lives and was an older soul. i almost rolled my eyes because the thought of a psychic telling someone they are an old soul and not having the client think "yeah, and i'm sure you don't tell everyone this" was somewhat laughable. BUT, he did say reasons why he thought this, and one was my ability to analyze my own life and relationships and put them into a "whole" concept and understand the universe in a spiritual way.

posted October 26, 2004 05:48 PM            

Honestly, few things offend me as much as false modesty. I see no reason to go around affirming or negating anything at all on the condition that it threatens my humility (that is, my pride).