Pholus, like his centaur cousins, has a 90-year orbit that is highly elliptical. His path takes him from Saturn to Neptune, with stops along the way. Surprisingly, his progress slows to a crawl in Capricorn, the zodiac sign in which he spends the most time. In 2019, he moved into Capricorn, where he will remain until 2041.
The earth, our bodies, and the physical and social structures that make us ourselves and our communities are all represented by Saturn.
Any level of consciousness in which we transcend our physical reality is represented by Neptune: transpersonal or unitive states of consciousness, spiritual ecstasy, psychosis, or drug and alcohol highs.
Pholus is a guide who helps us re-ground and return to earth-bound consciousness after we’ve been away from it for a while “Our bodies are in Neptunian states.
A coworker recently recommended Stanislav and Christina Grof’s 1989 multi-contributor collection Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis.
The publication of the book “Investigate the idea that many odd mental states, even those that are spectacular and reach psychotic proportions, are not always indicators of disease in the medical sense. We see them as’spiritual emergencies,’ or crises in the evolution of awareness, similar to the states described by numerous mystical traditions around the world.
In This Article...
Types of Spiritual Emergencies
The Grofs’ book discusses the following spiritual emergencies: “the shamanic crisis; kundalini awakening; unitive consciousness episodes; psychological renewal through a return to the center; the psychic opening crisis; past-life experiences; communications with spirit guides and channeling; near-death experiences; close encounters with UFOs; possession states
In our Western, materialist culture, all of these experiences are considered emergencies since they entail leaving the comfort zone “The conceptual framework of Cartesian dualism and the comfortable ground of ordinary, daily awareness
Pholus’s Myth
Pholus dwelt in a cave in Arcadia, where he was the guardian of a storeroom of sacred wine that put centaurs into ecstasy, according to Greek mythology.
This wine cellar was looted by Hercules. The alluring aroma drew all the other centaurs, resulting in a brawl. Many centaurs were killed by Hercules, and both Chiron and Pholus were gravely wounded by Hercules’ poison arrows.
Saturn, Neptune, and the themes of spiritual emergency are all represented in this myth: Saturn represents the underground storeroom, while Neptune is portrayed by the wine, which is so potent that even a sniff causes the other centaurs to lose all reasonable control. (This is why Melanie Reinhart interprets Pholus as “the lid abruptly coming off.”)
Pholus is a centaur that represents the transition between Saturn and Neptune’s levels of consciousness.
What does astrology’s Square Aspect mean?
“Look for a trine when you want to know if an endeavor will succeed or how quickly something will come to fruition,” Marmanides advises. “It usually means that everything is in working order. Trines indicate that events proceed effortlessly with little to no resistance or effort.”
Square
“Think of squares as a four-way stop sign where everyone believes they arrived first at the intersection,” Marmanides explains. Squares are a type of astrological aspect that is recognized for being both action-oriented and hot-headed. As a result, squares indicate that there is conflict and tension between two planets in the same mode (cardinal, fixed, or mutable) and at 90 degrees to each other.
In astrology, what is Hygeia?
It’s only natural to look to the stars for advice at a time when health issues are at the forefront of global discussion. However, while finding evidence of a crisis in the sky only verifies what we experience on the ground in real time, it’s important to remember that how we respond to the events of each day gives us agency. Perhaps you’ve established a deeper relationship with relaxation, or you’ve resorted to strange self-care routines in solitude. We’ve all found strategies to minimize stress and anxiety from wreaking havoc on our immune systems, and there’s a good possibility that your wellness routines and the position of asteroid Hygeia in your natal chart have some interesting connections.
Hygeia was the daughter of Asclepius, the god of medicine, whose sign of a single snake curled around a staff adorned ambulances and is incorporated into the World Health Organization’s logo. Hygeia was one of five sisters who represented different aspects of health and healing. Her domain was preventative medicine, or how to care for one’s physical and mental bodies to avoid sickness rather than treating it once it had occurred.
Unsurprisingly, the majority of the evidence for her religion originates from the years following the Plague of Athens, which killed upwards of 80,000 people in 430 BC. Despite centuries of veneration, there are few portrayals of her appearance and statues dedicated to her name. Medicine, a painting by Gustav Klimpt, is maybe her most renowned depiction. Hygeia poses with a serpent coiled around her arm, dressed brightly in orange and gold at the University of Vienna.
The term “Hygiene is derived from her name, but it encompasses more than just basic cleanliness, such as hand washing. Goddess Hygeia dispensed wise judgment, keeping the delicate flora and fauna of the body and mind in check. She is in charge of the simple things we do every day that are sometimes forgotten, such as drinking enough water, having a good night’s sleep, and breathing deeply.
Asteroid Hygeia, discovered in 1849, is the fourth largest asteroid in our solar system, orbiting the sun in slightly over five and a half years. Astronomers calculate that Hygeia’s orbit is prone to unpredictable fluctuations over time because to the gravitational influence of neighbouring planets Jupiter and Saturn.
According to astrology, health consciousness (Hygeia) is frequently caught between idealism (Jupiter) and conservatism (Pluto) (Saturn). What does it imply to “be healthy by using preventive measures like diet, exercise, medication, and immunizations, meditation, or philosophy, which varies depending on the prevalent cultural paradigm.
Hygeia’s archetype marries science with sensitivity, regardless of the theology of the day. Understanding where it appears in the natal chart can help us make more informed health decisions. It shows how disease (literally, dis-ease) or even hypochondria can manifest when viewed in a positive light, as well as how disease (literally, dis-ease) or even hypochondria can manifest when viewed in a negative light. Hygeia has been found in the charts of those who work in dentistry or other sanitary sciences, nutrition, physical fitness, ecology, preservation, and holistic healing.
The Meaning of Asteroid Hygeia in the Natal Chart by Sign and Aspect
Aries or those born in the first house: Experiencing illness or seeing another’s health issue during their early years becomes a personality-defining event for these people. After experiencing the repercussions of ignoring preventative care, which they associate with losing their autonomy, they take direct control of their own fitness, experimenting with various methods and revising their health goals on a regular basis. Their identification could potentially be linked to the jobs described in the previous section.
Taurus, or the second house: This Hygeia curates their wellness experience to suit their refined, typically pricey tastes. These people are drawn to sensual mood-boosters like aromatherapy and massage because they are in tune with their bodies and can sense when something is “wrong.” While this usually leads to healthy eating habits, overindulging when they’re anxious can make them feel sluggish. They should also keep an eye on their finances, unless they intend to settle with low-cost vitamin brands.
Gemini or those born in the third house place a high value on mental stimulation, such as puzzles, brain teasers, and keeping up with current events. Self-care might be too emotional for some people, and they may try to cram all of their doctor’s appointments into one day so that they “don’t have to think about them anymore.” They must remember to cherish their bodies as much as they love their minds.
Cancer or the fourth house: This Hygeia placement feels at ease at home and uses hibernation to calm the mind. Spending time with family and close friends is essential, but because this is such an empathic placement, it is necessary to maintain a sense of balance in order to prevent absorbing other people’s psychic energy. This can result in undue anxiety. These people must be careful not to lose their balance by taking on burdens that aren’t theirs.
These people, born under the sign of Leo or in the fifth house, channel their stressed energy into creative endeavors. Health can feel like a game in which one wins or loses dependent on one’s ability to participate in recreational activities. Art, music, comedy, spending time with children or animals, or participating in sports that place a stronger focus on strategy rather than fighting spirit are examples of these activities. Vices such as gambling or binge-watching mindless entertainment are their downfalls. While they may seem wonderful at the time, “quick cures” frequently cause more issues than they solve.
On the surface, Virgo or the sixth house is an ideal placement, but Hygeia in the sign of purification doesn’t always signify a focus on health. Daily routines are viewed as acts of wellness by these people, yet some habits can be tiring or unnecessary. This Hygeia may become enslaved by habit, and the prospect of missing their ritual causes more anxiety than the relief of performing it. They must be aware of their priorities, as it is possible to follow a holistic wellness program and still forget to eat.
Libra, or in the house of the seventh house: This Hygeia placement’s balance is based on an inner sense of harmony. If that sounds hazy, it’s because it is! These people rarely know what will keep them healthy and anxiety-free until they’ve discovered it, whether by chance or when a friend refers them to a technique, class, or health expert. Because they are frequently blown about by chance, they must learn to make determined and responsible decisions without relying on the judgments of others. Only then will they have a sense of control over their health.
Scorpio or the eighth house: While sex may appear to be the obvious pastime, this individual requires more than sheer release.
Facing their concerns strengthens their immune system. They feel powerful when they take risks, and they feel healthy when they feel powerful. These sensitive souls are prone to paranoia, such as shadowboxing fictitious health problems. When people trust their intuition, the mind-body link is restored, and their health improves. What to keep in mind: safety first!
Sagittarius or in the ninth house: These people adapt well to new environments because homesickness and culture shock are less of an issue for them. Continuous exposure to new ideas and ideologies is their barometer for inner stability, and they are more likely to embrace the wellness practices of other cultures. Because mobility is their friend, they feel stressed when they are constrained by tradition or compelled to establish roots in situations that are unsuitable for their development.
This Hygeia placement falls in the charts of persons who link wellness with public contacts, whether in Capricorn or in the tenth house. If they are not “making progress,” these people become concerned. They frequently exercise in gyms or yoga studios, where they can meet teachers and trainers who will hold them accountable to their fitness goals. Although having a healthy appearance has its advantages, they should not put themselves under unnecessary stress for the sake of appearances or the desire for respect.
These people evolve their approach to wellbeing over time by studying what motivates others. Aquarius or in the eleventh house: These people evolve their approach to wellness over time by observing what inspires others. Even if their approaches or modalities appear counterintuitive, it’s better if they surround themselves with a network of health-conscious people. When introduced to fresh information, these natives must be conscious of how absorbent they are. They may fall into similar traps out of unconscious solidarity if they are among others who ignore their minds and bodies.
Pisces, or the twelfth house, people are drawn to secret or behind-the-scenes healing activities. This could include everything from faith-based activities like prayer to esoteric divination like tarot and, yes, astrology, as well as journaling to reflect on the events of the day. These people need a good night’s sleep since they use the REM cycle to recover from stress and are generally good at decoding their dreams to predict favorable future events.
*You’d have to create a profile with your birth information, then proceed to “Extended Chart Selection” to find your natal Hygeia placement there.
From there, proceed as follows:
- In the drop-down menu, choose your name.
- Under “Chart Type,” choose Natal Chart Wheel.
In astrology, what does Nessus mean?
Nessus is a mythical creature “Among the big centaur asteroids, there is a weird bird. (In ancient Greek, his name meant “a young bird.) His orbit lasts around 123 years, is exceedingly elliptical, and while orbiting between Saturn and Pluto, he never gets close to either of them. In fact, astronomers predict that Nessus won’t approach any planet for another 20,000 years!
Nessus’ orbital aloofness is described by Melanie Reinhart as follows:
…the Nessus process is one that functions as a transformer or purifier, connecting the forces of Saturn and Pluto, rather than being enacted or placed into material form.
Nessus Significations
Nessus is the darkest shadow substance we inherit as a species “a pre-existing state at the time of our birth
Nessus represents both the individual experience of violent trauma such as rape, abuse, suicide, violent acts, and mass extinction, as well as the societal response to such traumas.
It’s the process by which traumatic events have an impact on a person’s health, are handed down genetically through epigenetics, and are then activated by our personal experiences.
(See this opinion piece on Dr. Gabor Mat’s blog for his take on the relationship between epigenetics, trauma, and health.)
Nessus also symbolizes how these traumas infiltrate our communal and familial psyche, slowly poisoning our potential to become self-actualized and aware of our roots.
In a birth chart, Nessus signifies some of the most difficult material to deal with. It’s everything a family or cultural group avoids bringing up in casual conversation. You understand it’s there when you’re growing up:
“Oh wait, my forefathers owned slaves, fled mass extinction, and were scarred by civil war?!
“When my great-uncle became a suicide bomber/freedom warrior in Belarus, you imply my entire maternal bloodline was changed?
(This is my tale.)
“My grandmother was raped on the ferry to America, and we didn’t know about it until she died. Uncle Jack had a different father than the rest of the family.
This multi-media feature in the Washington Post on the slave trade and Black Americans discovering their roots is fantastic. It alludes to the themes I mentioned earlier.
Ancestral traumas demand full allegiance and concealment, just as Deianeira tried to push Heracles into becoming faithful. The sorrow of being devoted, unknowing, or silent about ancestral wounds is represented by Nessus.
Nessus Discovery Chart
A note about the Nessus Finding Chart, a way for generating a “birth chart” for a planet or asteroid discovery.
On April 26, 1993, Nessus was discovered at Kitt Peak Observatory in Arizona. He was at 5 Scorpio on this day, opposite the sun at 7 Taurus. (Of course, Scorpio is where Nessus was discovered.) Saturn in Aquarius and Chiron in Leo formed a T-Square with Pluto in Scorpio. Sagittarius and Gemini were the nodes.
This arrangement symbolizes that when we are able to face our shadow and discover the truth about our origins, we get physical security and the ability to set goals for the future.
What is the speed of pholus?
Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto are all conjunct in the third decade of this millennium. When Saturn and Pluto align, they not only end one 36-year cycle and begin another, but they also serve to connect our inner and outside worlds of experience. Who else except the Centaurs would you call when theSaturnianlimits are blown apart by Plutonic force? These cosmic explorers travel between Saturn’s physical world and the transcendental realms of Uranus, Neptune, and beyond. Astrologically, they assist us in comprehending these massive jumps out of our comfort zones that some refer to as evolution.
The square between Chiron and Pholus, as well as the conjunction of centaur Chariklo (Chiron’s wife) with Saturn-Pluto at 23-4 Capricorn, will shape the years 2019-2020. Saturn has recently been dredged by a protracted affair with the Moon’s South Node: we approach the future with a lighter heart, having already hit the’release’ button on our waste hatch during this deeply karmic aspect. The first Lunar Eclipse of 2020 will occur on January 10 at 20 Cancer, reminding us of this process and drawing attention to the year’s stellium.
Centaurs in Myth
I prefer to approach the Centaurs as they are today, rather than relying on legends from long ago. Myths, on the other hand, are a good place to start. Chariklo, Apollo’s daughter, is a naiad (fresh-water nymph) and the wife of Chiron. She is a Vesta temple priestess in one of her stories. In other words, “Chariklo, the Graceful Spinner, has to do with our sense of personal space, the subtle body, and astral travel. She leads us on the path of healing and awakening with her partner Chiron. Chariklo’s astrological keyword is charisma, or the bestowal of elegance.
Pholus, according to astrology, can bring catharsis; Chiron’s competent hand handles the healing process. The divine ambrosia is held by Pholus, a cave-dwelling oracle. Despite the fact that his tale is brief, he plays a vital role in both Herakles and Chiron’s stories. Herakles’ heroic trek collides with his master, Chiron, in Pholus’ cave. The hero-on-the-road anticipates drinking from the triumph flask. When Pholus pours his ambrosia, adjacent Centaurs become aware of the rare vintage and engage in a brawl. Herakles fires venomous arrows at the centaurs, killing many of them, including Pholus, who stands in his path. As he examines Pholus’ wound and injects himself with Hydra’s poison, Chiron’s expert hands fail him. As an example, “Pholus thus causes his own death as well as the’fatal’ wounded of immortal Chiron (von Heeren).
Mythical Pholus may have passed away at the end of an arrow, but I am confident that the wisdom-being who inspired that myth is still alive and well in his Aquarian domain. Chiron and Chariklo, Master Teachers and Healers, are as approachable as any other dream-mentors in their crystalline presence.
The Chiron-Pholus Square
Over the last four years, Pholus has traveled through Capricorn, Sagittarius, and returned to Capricorn. Pholus, at 27 Sagittarius, skirted the borders of the Galactic Center for much of 2016 and 2017. “A sculptor is meticulously modifying and refining a curve by sanding and sanding (Pleiadian Degrees, versionof Sabiansby John Sandbach). For a centaur-like Pholus, the emblem feels natural. Imagine cosmic sandpaper grinding away at karmic roughspots: it hurts, but it makes us smoother for having gone through it. What curves did life subtly, if gratingly, alter for you at this time?
Chiron and Pholus, who began their cycle in mutable signs (Pisces/Sagittarius) and now in cardinal signs (Aries/Capricorn), will reach the quarterphase of their cycle in 2019-2020. These two aren’t antagonists; instead, they’re pals. They both aim to assist us in attaining spiritual wellness. By combining their words, we get a process known as “healing catharsis,” which isn’t always pleasant but always leads to comfort and clarity.
Before the Saturn-Pluto conjunction on January 12, 2020, we had a final cardinal Chiron-Pholus square in late 2019. Within a few days, Pluto-Saturn-Ceres-Sun-Chariklo-Mercury form a beautiful stellium of Pluto-Saturn-Ceres-Sun-Chariklo-Mercury. It’s a conjunction of the greatest asteroid (Ceres), the largest centaur (Chariklo), and the first Plutoid (which corresponds to the Ceres/Demeter story, subterranean Pluto), all conjoining the Lord of Time himself. On the heels of the new Mercury synodic cycle, a strong mood of reset and realignment will prevail. It’s possible that this isn’t as bad as the rumor mills have us believe. Chariklo, as author Melanie Reinhart has stated, can assist us lessen the crisis if we get to know her.
Recent History of the Chiron-Pholus Cycle
Centaurs are strange creatures who weave strange webs for our world. Their sense of time isn’t as consistent as ours, which revolves around the solar zodiac in twelve segments. From our geocentric vantage point, the Centaurs follow elliptical and off-center routes around the Sun. This makes it difficult to monitor their journeys around the zodiac, especially when looking at the relationship between two centaurs like Pholus and Chiron.
Squares, like the waxing Chiron-Pholus phase in which we currently find ourselves, are never simple. We can get perspective by examining how this component fits into the larger picture. Centaur cycles are particularly common in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This is vital to contemplate if we want to comprehend the present Chiron-Pholuscycle (healing ancestral karma). Where did this cycle begin, which has now reached its first square? What kind of background does it have?
Robert von Heeren’s research is a great place to start learning about the cycle’s history. At kentauren.info, he’s plotted the centaur’s paths. What a bizarre plot Chiron and Pholus have concocted.
We can see that there have been many Chiron-Pholussquares throughout history (see those curves running through the 90 line.) The majority of the squares in this 450-year plan were in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. Look at the top of the page for the 180 line. These two centaurs spend a lot of time at odds, at opposite zodiacal poles, after so many years.
The Chiron-Pholus conflict is visible throughout most of our ‘Medieval’ and early-modern history. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, they clashed multiple times. They can come into conflict a dozen times in a 500-year span, but only half as often as they can join forces. As a result, the event represents a mini-epoch in human history. Despite their strangeness, they have a (near-) regular 100-year cycle: they meet every century, give or take a couple of years, and then do the whirly-gig dance of healing from there.
The centennialconjunctions of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries are shown on the graph by a regular 100-year drop, each with fast rebounds up the scale toward an opposition.
Chiron & Pholus Influence in the 20th Century
From the mid-twentieth through the mid-twentieth century, below is a 100-year period. In 1956 (Aquarius), there was a trustworthy conjunction; subsequently, in the 1990s, there was a close-but-not-centaur conjunction, before they stretchedway up toward opposition in a few decades:
- Opposition, mid-Cancer/Capricorn, 1939
- Before 1956, they had covered 180 degrees in a few years in Aquarius;
- 1956-(1992)-2019, growing into the slower opening square in which we now find ourselves (with a first part ofphase concluding innear-conjunction).
If Chiron and Pholus ‘process our stuff’ together, the decades between 1954 and 1990 were busier than normal in terms of work to be done. The first shot of the Aquarian Age. Chiron began to move ahead of his friend as the faster of the duo, only to return to a near-conjunction in 1991. This long-lasting but never-perfectingconjunction, always within a few degrees, colored the years 1992-1994. (in Leo and Virgo).