Ceres Astrology: The Pain of Women in Patriarchal Society

Ceres, the Earth Mother: The Journey Through Grief to Advocacy

Ceres in astrology symbolizes the suffering of women in patriarchal society and societal values around nurturing.Ceres is often described in astrology writing as a benevolent but somewhat impersonal nurturer. In my experience working with Ceres in client charts, though, she more often symbolizes the suffering of women and children under patriarchal privilege.

The description of Ceres as a sort of less emotional Moon/Mother archetype accords with her mythological role of Earth Mother and harvest goddess. (Bread nurtures us, but it won’t rub our temples and tell us everything is going to be all right when we’re feeling down.) But it also paints a falsely rosy picture of a complex and challenging feminine archetype.

The Myth of Ceres and Proserpine

In the myth, Proserpine is abducted by Pluto and taken to the underworld. Ceres/Demeter goes to Mount Olympus and demands help from Jupiter in finding her missing daughter. Jupiter initially feigns ignorance to protect his bro.

“Sorry, can’t help you,” he says. “She was probably asking for it.” Continue reading