I will hereby give my readers a somewhat modest, though I feel accurate, introduction into the astrological make-up and the still quite recent discovery of the planets Eris and Sedna (Eris in Jan 2005 and Sedna in March 2004). Eris has an eccentric orbit lasting 557 in Earth years, while Sedna has an eccentric and Decem-Millennium (10,000 years) plus orbit around the Sun lasting a massive 11,406 in Earth years. All astrologers worldwide have an innate understanding that with the discovery of new (outer) planets a decidedly collective (and resultant personal) shift will need to occur allowing for new growth on many physical, philosophical and spiritual levels. Both planets, discovered closely together, have a common theme in that they both introduce a certain amount of trauma through change (albeit in different ways) that we all need to endure from time to time during our physical incarnation. This underpins real spiritual growth and understanding that in turn allows us to change in very positive ways, collectively and especially personally.
I will only explore very small or relevant parts of the mythologies and similar such stories of both planets and/or signs, which is readily available on the internet with a plethora of information for anyone to study. Plus, I will carefully and somewhat hesitantly name the signs of rulership and exaltation for both planets and give you my reasons why.
As an astrological researcher, teacher and therapist I have dealt with many hundreds of clients and have developed certain viewpoints about both planets that may not coincide with the understanding of other astrologers. Though it needs to be said that astrologers worldwide are still coming to grips with the real meaning and interpretive value of both Eris and Sedna, which certainly doesn’t preclude myself, so the following astrological interpretation is strictly based on my experiences, understandings and views to date.
ERIS
Eris is classed as the planet of strife and discord that can bring about radical behaviour and chaos when negatively or even positively aspected in natal birth charts or through transiting aspects or progressions. Eris is the ruler of Libra (a view shared by other astrologers), is exalted in Pisces, and strongly embodies the mythology of Medusa. The reason I have developed this view is because Medusa, with snakes for hair and a gaze that will turn people to stone, is a mythology strongly associated with Libra ‘and not Scorpio!’ Libra is after all the sign of projections and open enemies, ruling over mirrors and where Saturn (the stone maker) is exalted. The only way Medusa can be defeated is by turning a mirror on her which turns her into stone through her own reflection (projection) – as portrayed in at least one mythological version. I have worked with many Libra clients, a number of whom have at times profoundly exhibited these Medusa tendencies – this applies to not only Libra Sun signs but also other strong Libra qualities found in many clients’ astrological birth charts, including Libra Year signs (Volume 5).
Aries has the next sign of Taurus as its solar house of resources for its sought-after monies and possessions; Libra on the other hand has Scorpio as its solar house of resources where it can either, positively or negatively, subtly influence (or manipulate) others to get what they desire. In the process however, many Libra natives will project out negative little monsters, through manipulative greed, that later have a way of coming back at them while very much increased in size and strength – the making of real and even mortal enemies. These Negative Libra natives never seem to recognise that these monsters are of their own making and when someone (an enemy) projects this back on them (holding up a mirror) it can literally turn them to stone as they’ve turned others to stone – frozen in shock and/or fear? This is the real Medusa mythology in action.
When we now look at Eris as a higher ruler of Libra, we can see, as the planet of strife and discord leading to radical behaviour, that it can turn a beautiful woman or handsome man into a Medusa (Gorgon) monster – I’ve seen it happen! This particular theme follows the mythology of Medusa and Eris quite accurately– check the Internet. Though I must say that the vast majority of Libra people I’ve met use their Scorpio resource base to subtly influence people in very helpful and positive ways and who stay as beautiful and/or handsome people whilst rarely (or perhaps never) getting to meet their Medusa counterparts – my own daughter Johnita (Psychic) and sister Anna (Therapist), I’m proud to say, are prime examples of this positive Libra reflection. Although I might add both have had to deal with their Medusa counterparts at least once in their past.
There is another somewhat more complicated side to the Medusa mythology that we now need to take a very important look at:
As Libra also rules over social laws via judicial systems, it happens from time to time when unjust or out-of-touch politicians or other powerful people, in the law courts, including media barons, dictators and/or corrupt regimes (Medusa monsters), who adversely influence, set up or change social laws to benefit themselves; or, perhaps use existing outdated social laws that do not meet with future expectations to the detriment of ordinary citizens. Either way these are clear-cut examples of Medusa inspired laws (gazes) that are set into law (concrete), that can turn ordinary people into stone where they have no rights nor any ability to defend themselves – hence, Medusa monsters can come in many forms! This is where Eris, who, as higher ruler of the divine laws of Libra, is especially needed to unleash it’s own Medusa monsters by rebelling via strife and discord leading to radical behaviour and fight old Medusa monsters (with new Medusa monsters), thereby creating necessary change – our world history is full of such democracy-seeking examples.
The reason I gave Pisces as the sign of Eris’ exaltation is because Pisces is the collective sign of chaos (where Eris feels right at home) that has the ability to feel deep and enduring compassion for life and living and will, with the help of its opposite sign, work very hard to turn chaotic situations into new worthwhile results and concepts. Eris in Pisces will generally, even though still creating strife and discord with its accompanying Medusa monsters (creating necessary change), and through the opposite sign of Virgo, send in an army of helpers to resolve any and all chaotic problems; hence, no matter what era or time-line we find ourselves in there will always be negative Libra natives (Judicial pariahs) who will continue to produce and unwittingly feed their own monster/s. Eris is therefore in it’s detriment in Aries (opposite Libra), where it is presently transiting, creating much strife and discord when not getting its own selfish ways (the entitlement generation/s robbing this planet blind?); and, of course, Eris is in its fall in Virgo (opposite Pisces), which will create enormous strife and discord when it critically finds even minute imperfections.
SEDNA
Sedna has some very strange and unusual mythological stories behind it, the majority of which I will leave for the reader to explore through a plethora of such information on the Internet. What the reader will eventually find while exploring such mythologies and other relevant information is that Sedna, even though working very much on a collective level, will make us become aware of a lot of personal miseries and victimisations that continue to occur on this planet. The realisation of this misery and victimisation is not only restricted to male and female gender-issues (from both sides I might add) in our worldwide human societies (including the misery and victimisation over countless Millenniums of warfare), but also how badly we mistreat our animals and all other life in general.
The mythology of Sedna centers on a young woman (Sedna) clearly victimised through her father’s actions who, even though being quite remorseful at times, has still created a lot of suffering for his daughter through his own socially and collectively-conditioned selfish expectations (black birds). In this mythology the father tries to right a wrong and, through unexpected fear levels (turning to stone), ends up cutting off his own daughter’s fingers, while in a boat. These fingers fell into the sea and turned into all different types of sea animals. Sedna, because of losing her fingers, couldn’t hang on anymore and also fell into the sea where she eventually found peace for herself and all of her (suffered for) living creations (fingers) as the now ancient goddess of the seas. In other words, Sedna had to let go of all the suffering and pain that she endured and become the ancient goddess overseeing all life on this planet – all ancient life as we know it, of course, originated from our seas.
Sedna has come to our conscious awareness to let us know that it is now time for us all to start living in a much more symbiotic and considered relationship with our planet Earth (Gaia) that includes all of her living creations; and, with the help and knowledge of the planet Eris, to rid the world of the many wrongful, egotistical, collectively selfish belief systems and unlawful patterns of behaviour (Medusa monsters or black birds) that are still causing so much personal misery and victimisation on our planet. Otherwise the human race simply won’t survive. Here is where we can start to appreciate why Eris and Sedna are now both coming into our conscious awareness and why they were discovered so close together. They form a type of partnership in that Eris will begin the process of strife and discord and bring about radical behaviour and chaos so that through Sedna, (distantly) past and present wrongful, egotistical and selfish collective beliefs and unlawful patterns of behaviour (old Medusa monsters), having caused so much personal misery and victimisation, can be eventually transformed or eradicated. This unusual team dynamic can be seen and appreciated by Sedna being (the ancient) ruler of Pisces while in the same instance Eris being exalted in Pisces!
Furthermore Sedna is exalted in Taurus, where it can produce improved living potentials and strong resource support for all of life through new and constant growth. Sedna of course is therefore in its fall in Scorpio where in the (distant) past it became victimised and suffered through the control and power manipulations of others. Having Pisces as its collective ruling sign allows Sedna to be anywhere and everywhere at the same time to oversee and help support any and all of life. Sedna is therefore in it’s detriment in the opposite sign of Virgo where it simply cannot engage in any of its much needed freedom of movement and will be constantly under the scrutinizing and controlling influence of Virgo’s disciplinary and army-like energies – believe you me, Virgo, like Scorpio, can also be very controlling!
Some astrologers may put forward the notion that Taurus being a fixed earth sign would not allow Sedna any freedom of movement. Though Taurus as fixed earth is the securing sign of productive growth for all of life that disperses itself over the whole planet, giving Sedna complete and total access. Besides, the Earth is considered to be a planet ruled by the sign of Taurus, hence the very strong connection to Sedna!
Summing up, Eris and Sedna have been brought to our collective conscious awareness and let loose on us to rid the world of many wrongful, egotistical and selfish ways of life and living (old Medusa monsters), and for us to become very aware that we need to collectively and non-judgmentally treat all people (and all other life including animals) anywhere in the world the way we would like to be treated ourselves. Our collectively selfish ways of living have so far caused misery and pain through many wars including the demise and suffering of a great many animal species. We may only have very limited time left – just look at all of the present ramifications behind climate change! It is time for us all to start living in a much more symbiotic and considered relationship with our planet Earth (Gaia) and all of its living creations.
Copyright © Peter W. Whitewood Jan 2021