Ceres: The Earth Mother

Happy Virgo Season! The Sun will transition into Virgo on August 22nd, 2022 at exactly 11:11pm est. Virgo is often said to rule Ceres because of the similar health, wellness, and Earth preservation energy they both give. After all, Virgo season is the time for renewal, switching habits, adopting new routines, taking care of yourself inside and outside as well as others.

In addition to the planets in astrology, there are smaller, yet equally impactful celestial bodies we refer to as asteroids. Some common ones you’ve probably already heard of are Juno, Pallas, Chiron, Lilith, and Vesta. Asteroids differ from the planets because they do not have as much influence on our daily lives. For example, there are planetary days and hours (stay tuned for an upcoming blog post on this!) however there are no days or hours ruled by asteroids.

Ceres was the first asteroid to be discovered on January 1st, 1801. The name “Ceres” comes from the goddess of harvest & fertility. Ceres and Pluto are both considered dwarf planets. Pluto is the planet that rules Scorpio modernly and is considered a generational planet meaning those born in a specific time period are most likely going to share the same Pluto sign. Generational planets also take much longer to transit and have less influence on our individual lives. When talking about aged groups (ex: Gen Z, Millennials) or studying the progression of society as a whole, that’s when we take a closer look at generational planets. Ceres represents how we best feel nurtured and how we usually nurture others. You can definitely say she describes another way we like to be loved, and can be studied to discover more love languages. Ceres in your natal chart can show your relationship with self care, receptiveness and willingness to nurture. She also adds another element of interpretation in addition to the Moon as she also represents the deepest type of bond there is, between a mother and child. Moon=emotional mothering towards self, Ceres=tangible actions to nurture & to mother self & others. The sign Ceres is in shows what kind of self care would be most beneficial to you. The house it is in shows how you show that care. I notice that when Ceres is favorably aspected and placed within the 1H, 3H, 4H, 6H, 7H, 8H, 11H, 12H one is more generous and inclined to show up to take care of others.  Tapping into your Ceres placement can help you ground yourself, strengthen your connection to nature, & help you build better eating habits and relationship to food. Ceres in your chart can also show you where you channel your motherly instincts & sustain something to keep it alive and going.

Ceres in the birth/natal chart is associated with nutrition, cooking, environmental preservation, self care, nurturing bonds, fertility, grief, stomach issues, uterus, work problems, eating disorders, custody issues, and even kidnapping. There has been much debate about which zodiac sign officially rules Ceres. According to a poll on Twitter I did back in 2021, majority of us think she’s ruled by Virgo. Second highest vote was for Taurus, a fellow Earth sign. Without a doubt I believe she is ruled by an Earth sign because of her feminine, nurturing qualities she embodies. Virgo is represented by the Earth maiden which a lot of people feel is comparable to Ceres. This could be another reason why Virgo could be its zodiac sign. People also nominate another feminine sign Cancer due to the nurturing qualities.

Fun fact: Ceres is actually Jupiter’s (ruling planet for Sagittarius and traditionally Pisces) sister. As some of you may know, Juno is Jupiter’s wife making Ceres Juno’s sister in law. We love Astrology’s first family!

If you need assistance breaking down Ceres or any other asteroid within your chart, book a personal birth chart reading with us!

Ceres is a great indicator to understand the dynamic of a parent-child connection. Ceres in a child’s chart would show how they best should be cared for. Ceres in parents chart shows how they tend to approach parenting the child. Favorable aspects would show what comes easy within the relationship and harsh aspects could be highlighted for areas of growth.

Note: Parents have one Ceres placement although each child they have may have a different placement than them, so it’s important to parent and love each child in a special way unique to them!

Ceres being a feminine asteroid is associated with womyn and can be very useful to study our lives. As most of you know, our Earth is dying due to pollution, indispensable amounts of waste, toxins, global warming, etc. Ceres is most helpful in the study of our physical environment and how we can best preserve it. When we nurture the Earth we live upon, it gives us so much back.

Ceres in Aries

You may care for others the most when you just live your life as you. Aries are known to be selfish at times, but you actually think and do a lot for others. You often consider other people before yourself and most people don’t realize this. Believe it or not, you know how to show people you care by showing up for them when they need it, but you’re great at motivating others, supporting them, cheering them on especially for those that may not have that or consistently at least. You provide that cheerleader energy to everyone that uplifts you and it’s fulfilling to you because you get to receive all the energy you frequently give. This placement is good for anyone interested in life coaching, mentoring, management, physical fitness/therapy fields. Ceres in Aries can help the environment by organizing their recycling from their trash and regularly taking out both. 

Ceres in Taurus

You spoil others through gifts. You know how to please someone’s senses, especially taste and smell. You’re great at cooking up homemade meals for your loved ones when they feel sad. You also know how to give gifts that they wouldn’t have thought of themselves. You could be known for giving the most comfortable and lavish gifts, but what you truly value is being able to spend time with those you love and experience things with them, make new memories. Your care is unforgettable because it’ll always be cherished. This placement would be great for anyone interested in the accounting, finance, luxury goods, or culinary fields/industries. Ceres in Taurus can help the environment by opting for sustainable material clothing, shoes, and accessories. You will also make smarter choices when eating out by only supporting food companies that are helping the environment and canceling the ones who are not and convincing your friends and family to follow suit.

Ceres in Gemini

You’re someone who believes knowledge is power, but also that comedy is the best remedy! You bring humor and laughter to everyone who knows you. You’re known to crack jokes to make someone feel better or to lighten the mood. You can be really thoughtful and caring towards those you love. The people you can count on know you’re always down for a good time. You can also be that really smart person that knows a ton of fun facts so people always have random questions to ask you. You’re really good at providing direction and helping others communicate or reach a decision. This placement would be great in fields of research, comedy, development, learning styles, teaching, speaking, or communication/media marketing. Ceres in Gemini can make a difference by using their voice and platform to bring awareness to the many issues the Earth is facing and educating us all on how we can reduce our carbon footprint and support efforts for each one.

Ceres in Cancer

You have such a warm, golden presence about you. Someone may or may not have told you this before, but you often remind people of their mother or oldest sibling in some way. You can be bubbly, fashionable, intense, observant, funny, and everything in between because you have so many layers. You bring out the emotional awareness in everyone. You challenge others to become more intuitive and just look deeper within. You spoil others through sentimental gifts, time, and physical touch. You appreciate hugs and physical affection from those you love and you very much expect them to show you their love right back. Anything related to domestic life, the home, or parenting this placement would thrive in. For example real estate agents, home insurance, daycare centers, school specialist, interior design, nannies, etc. Ceres in Cancer is rallying up everyone they know in numbers and donating to various charities to support environmentalist causes. You’re the type to have the heart to make gift bags of essentials they may need and cook meals to pack and hand out to the homeless on your own.

Ceres in Leo

You’re known for having the biggest heart and such a star quality presence about you. You could often remind others of royalty. When it comes to matters of your heart, you know how to be empathetic and carry the weight of what others are facing as well as yourself with grace. You influence others to express themselves and develop a creative craft that suits them just as well as your talent suits you. You spoil others with gifts and all your love. When you give someone your heart, you’re all in 100000%. This placement is great for anyone interested in childcare and everything related to pregnancy and birth, the creative arts dance, singing, art buying, production, theater, showcasing, promotion, music artistry of any kind, modeling, fashion designing, etc. Ceres in Leo would host a fundraising event such as a fashion show, gallery viewing, or concert to get donations to help environmentalist causes on behalf of the entertainment industry.

Ceres in Virgo

You may live a relatively healthy lifestyle. You may experience little to no physical health issues within your life. Your life may be dedicated to maintaining your health or your career is somehow heavily focused on diet, fitness, exercise, or nutrition. You however are always searching for new ways to learn something new or make something you already know better. You admire clean, minimalist lifestyles and your taste can be very refined. You like to pay attention to and keep up with details because they are important to you. You may experience more digestive or issues related to your stomach like most Virgo placements especially since this rules diet, nutrition, and digestion (stomach). This placement would thrive in fields of medicine, fitness, technology, biology, veterinary, body care products, spiritual, wellness, etc. Ceres in Virgo would donate their time and body to help fund research to reverse or prevent further damage done to the Earth. This can look like anything from blood drives, animal cleaning events, trash and beach clean ups, food drives with non perishables and sustainable packaging, etc.

Ceres in Libra

You’re the shoulder to cry on and the person everyone goes to when they need sound advice. You may be that person everyone gets relationship advice from even if you’re known to be single. This could be a good placement for someone interested in marriage counseling or couples therapy. You provide excellent assistance to everyone in their time of need regardless of how you’re personally feeling. You know how to stay neutral and remain unbiased when the situation calls for it. Even if you struggle to make your own decisions, you’re better at helping others come to the conclusion they need or providing closure. People can always look forward to seeing you for a fabulous time. You have great taste in beauty and fashion so don’t be surprised if others are always asking for your opinion. Your style and taste is widely admired and you may be known for being attractive. This placement is made for lovers of beauty and will thrive in anything related to makeup, hair care, natural hair hair, skin care, dermatology, esthetician, any type of beauty service, etc. Ceres in Libra would mend the Earth by choosing sustainable materials and working with children, families, and couples in various support groups and programs. They can also be a huge help to bring back compassion and humanity between people through relationship restoration and effective conflict resolution.

Ceres in Scorpio

You are tougher than most, more than you’ll ever know. Ceres is associated with grief and Scorpio is the sign of transformation and rebirth. That makes this placement really good at picking themselves back up and redirecting their energy into something positive they can keep going. Because you’ve been through it all you’re able to help people in ways they don’t even realize. This is an excellent placement for anyone interested in psychology or the human service fields. Specifically individual therapy where you would be able to assist a client one on one. A lot of your deeds go unnoticed or happen in secret, but you’re truly that angel in disguise for people that need it. You may meet people at their worst times or in your darkest moments, but that's always intentional and for a reason. To show that you’re never alone and Scorpio energy thrives when partnered for constant support and a challenge. Ceres in Scorpio would really feel touched to place most of their efforts towards those underprivileged, orphaned, or homeless. You would definitely donate your time and money to charity and to feed the homeless.

Ceres in Sagittarius

Similar to Gemini, you bring laughter and great energy, but you have that ability to make anyone feel at home in your presence. You have a diverse view of the world and this allows you to appreciate multiple forms of culture, art, and beauty. You nurture others with your wisdom and experience you’ve acquired facing the encounters you have. You always make people feel welcome and good in your presence. You’re always spending time with those that mean the most to you and prioritizing making memories when you’re not working because contrary to popular belief, Sagittarius is very family oriented. When they go home, they will always reminisce on the laughs and stories you shared. This is a great placement for those who want to travel for work or are interested in fields that thrive overseas or globally such as various material goods. Ceres in Sagittarius would help bring awareness by speaking at various conferences all over the world, working as a missionary, or spending time volunteering in impoverished countries to get a raw experience of how other people in the world live.

Ceres in Capricorn

You bring maturity and you often ask of others what they were previously unable to ask themselves. You have standards for yourself and you expect others to as well. You may not be overly affectionate however you show you care by telling others when they’re wrong and offering solutions instead of embracing the problem. You give people that tough love that they may not be expecting, however may need. Your words push people to think ahead and consider their possible future. People grow up in a sense when they’re around you and learn to have more self control and discipline. This placement may indicate someone who is a CEO, business owner, or works for their family business. They may have started their own business or it was handed down to them. This is a person with big dreams and goals even if they don’t vocalize it or don’t seem interested! Ceres in Capricorn helps the environment by inventing environmentally sustainable products or open a business offering services that help the environment in some way. You may also just choose to live smart and invest only in what's good for the Earth as well.

Ceres in Aquarius

I imagine this placement to nurture relationships in person just as well as online connections and bonds built through larger community. You have the ability to make anyone feel like only they matter and they’re the smartest person in the room. This person is loved online as well as in person which is super cool. You most likely have a community of online friends that you built over the years or you tend to make your most significant connections online. This placement would thrive in fields of technology, marketing, astrology, information studies, research & data, analytics, production, screenwriting, etc. Ceres in Aquarius is the one similar to Cancer that's able to organize large groups of people for a joint cause. Aquarius placements know how to get what they want and have their voices heard. You would do good at hosting a public protest, petition, revolution, rebellion. You will share your thoughts which turns out to be what everyone else was also thinking the entire time, but afraid to say so.

Ceres in Pisces

You provide others with unconditional love and inspiration to become more artistic, creative, or intuitive. Others often look to you for inspiration because who you are as a person is something to be admired. Others may see you as an “angel” or “gift” to them. People are just really blessed to know you and be loved by you. You give your love super freely which is why it's important you establish boundaries for yourself and abide by them early on. This placement would do well in fields related to film, spiritual work, the occult, religion, mental health, psychology, hospitality, etc. You would do well in any field that allows you to help others and show compassion towards them. You may have this maturity about you regardless of your age that makes you somewhat a guide. Ceres in Pisces would help the Earth by creating art that reflects this time period and everything going on. You would help prepare everyone spiritually because you know and understand the basic law of the Universe.

Reference credit: Astrology for Life: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Wisdom in the Stars by Nina Kahn (pages 87-88)