Persephone Archives - Astrology readings and writings by Lynn Hayes

The Reclassification of Pluto

The International Astronomical Union met in 2006 to discuss reclassifying our solar system, and as a result Pluto was deemed to be a dwarf planet, the former asteroid Ceres was promoted to planetary status, and the newest planet, formerly named UB313, was named Eris after the goddess of discord. Because the astrological Pluto deals with the transformation that comes from looking death in the eye and annhilation of the personal ego, it stands to reason that the reclassification of Pluto could open a door to how this process operates.

The last “planet” to be discovered in our lifetime was the comet/planetoid Chiron, and it took some time for its astrological signficance to become known. Through the magic of synchronicity, the name of the planet itself reveals the god whose energy manifests through that planet.

You can read more about Ceres here.

Pluto’s discovery in 1930 brought with it the introduction of the atomic bomb and the fear of ultimate annhilation, the ultimate power. In these days of terrorism when a single individual with a toiletry bottle can potentially wipe out thousands of people, our concept of power is changing. In centuries past, whichever country had the biggest guns had the most power. When the US was the only nation with the bomb we were the only superpower. When Russia developed the bomb, they were the other superpower. At this time nine nations have nuclear weapons, with several more to attain that status soon (including Iran). The whole concept of power, as embodied in the archetype of Pluto, is changing and this will become very clear in the 2010-2013 square of Uranus in Aries to Pluto in Capricorn. The power of Pluto hasn’t lessened one […]

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By Lynn Hayes|2019-11-10T19:17:47-05:00August 24th, 2013|Planets|0 Comments

Transits and Transformation: Turning Crisis into Healing

Art by Susan Seddon Boulet

As humans, we tend to think that happiness is better than sadness, that good luck is better than bad. We may avoid difficult confrontations and pursue more comfortable situations. When tragedy strikes our well-protected lives, we shout out to our god of choice: “How could you do this to me??” We believe that our birthright is the pursuit of happiness, and we spend our lives trying to protect ourselves from sorrow.

The soul, however, has a different journey. The soul travels an ancient evolutionary path that seeks wisdom and connection with the divine. Often in our desire to defend ourselves from discomfort, we erect barriers within ourselves. Often we become so effective in compartmentalizing our emotions we become cut off from our very selves, our soul and our spirit.

In astrological terms, the orbiting planets form geometric angles to our birthchart planets, or “transits.” Each transiting planet has its own nature, its own personality and its own purpose-calling upon us as the ancient gods they represent to bring forth something in ourselves that has been lost. The inner planets move quickly: a transit of Venus will encourage relationships and creativity, a transit of Mars demands that we defend ourselves appropriately. Easy Jupiter transits can bring financial opportunity, or liberate us from difficult situations, whereas the challenging transits can cause reckless and risky behavior. The outer, or transpersonal planets, including Saturn which acts as the bridge between the personal planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter) and transpersonal (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto), take much longer to traverse the zodiac and therefore their effects are felt for a longer period of time.

The planets in our birthchart also “progress” through time, particularly the […]

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By Lynn Hayes|2019-11-10T20:01:05-05:00August 16th, 2013|Consciousness, Favorite posts, Lessons|5 Comments

The astrology of the Horizon oil rig explosion

A deepwater oil rig off the coats of Louisiana has burned for more than a day. Eleven workers are missing and it is thought that over a million liters of crude oil could be released from the damaged rig every day. The oil slick that has resulted is now eight miles long. This calamity will destroy the delicate ecological balance of this area that is home to a variety of shellfish and fish including the rare bluefin tuna.

Ceres, the former asteroid that was elevated to dwarf planet status when it was reclassified with Pluto, is the planet that rules our relationship to the environment and the planet that we live on. (For more information on Ceres listen to the first half of this recent podcast.) Ceres is currently traveling in the early degrees of Capricorn, the sign of rules and structures and facing up to difficult realities.

Pluto is retrograde right now in Capricorn, and is currently just one degree from a conjunction to Ceres. In its role as destroyer and rebuilder, Pluto often creates destruction as a precursor to regeneration, and in association with Ceres it is deeply connected to the myth of Persephone/Kore, the daughter of Demeter/Ceres who was abducted by Pluto and taken into the Underworld.

The elevation of Ceres has brought about a new global awareness about the needs for environmental balance. Perhaps this explosion (Pluto) will facilitate even greater awareness about our tenuous ecological balance (Ceres).

Update: astrologer Jamie Funk reminds me that Uranus is in an exact quincunx to Neptune as it opposes Saturn. The quincunx is a minor aspect but when it forms exactly it creates a pressure that has no way to release. […]

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By Lynn Hayes|2019-11-10T19:17:47-05:00April 23rd, 2010|Astrology, Events|3 Comments

Earthquake and tsunami in Samoa

The earthquake yesterday in Samoa was a severe one, with a magnitude of nearly 8 on the Richter scale, resulting in a tsunami in the Samoan islands that have killed hundreds of people.

This event occurred as the Moon joined Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune, but even more significant is the square of Ceres, the planet of nurturing and our relationship with the Earth, to Neptune in what is now a stellium in Aquarius.

Neptune of course represents the vast oceans, and the square of Ceres to Neptune is reminiscent of the devastation that Ceres caused to her devoted followers when her daughter Persephone was taken by Pluto into the underworld. Sad and desperate, Ceres caused the crops to wither and die, and the people experienced a disastrous famine.

Ceres is rising in the chart of the earthquake event, which occurred at 6:48 am just south of Apia in the Samoan islands. As the planet rising in the chart it is extremely powerful and suggests that our balance with the Earth is somehow implicated in the event.

Certainly earthquakes and tsunamis have occurred for millions of years and we can’t really say that our lack of care for the Earth has caused this current event. But we live in a manner that does not respect the simultaneous power and fragility of our connection to the planet. Humans continue to build settlements and cities in areas which are known to be risky locations for earthquakes and floods, assuming that the power of humanity is greater than the power of the planet. Every now and then we have to realize that this is just not the case.

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By Lynn Hayes|2019-11-10T19:17:47-05:00September 30th, 2009|Life|Comments Off

Pluto, the Bomb, Terrorism and Ceres

Mercury retrograde periods are a great time for reposting! I’m taking a few days off for some other creative projects so meanwhile please enjoy some of my favorite articles from the past.

With my Mercury (thoughts and communication) in Scorpio (ruled by Pluto), Pluto’s naturally been on my mind (Mercury) a lot in a moderately obsessive (Pluto/Scorpio) way. To me the interesting thing isn’t Pluto’s so-called “demotion” (because how can the Lord of Death be demoted?). It’s the addition of Ceres to the mix.

I’ll be writing more about the whole Virgo/Cancer debate later, but there are some interesting facts about Ceres/Demeter and her relationship to the underworld that may be significant. Of course Ceres/Demeter is best known for the tale in which her daughter Persephone/Kore was abducted by Hades/Pluto into the underworld, but Ceres/Demeter herself was instrumental in the concept of resurrection. (The Romans adopted the Greek gods and the names were changed but the myths remained virtually identical.)

Barbara Walker’s amazing book The Secrets of the Tarot reveals that Demeter’s principal temple, Eleusis, was the site of resurrection rituals that may have been the precursor to the Christian myths. Demeter was the Mistress of Earth and Sea, promising to multiply loaves and fishes; her savior-son of various names was called the “Liberator”. During the rituals of the Eleusinian mysteries the seed of Dionysus was killed (reaped), buried (planted) and resurrected (sprouted), with his flesh eaten as bread and his blood drunk as wine. (Sound familiar?) During the ritual, the priestess and hierophant perform the “Great Rite,” re-enacting the coupling between Demeter and Zeus which conceived the child Dionysus. This Great Rite was thought to bring about the regeneration of the earth and the forgiveness of sins.

During Christian times Demeter was informally canonized as St. Demetra who according to legend […]

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By Lynn Hayes|2019-11-10T19:17:48-05:00January 24th, 2009|Astrology|Comments Off