Mars Conjunct Ceres: Generation & Regeneration.

Mythologically, Ceres is the Roman goddess of fertility, agriculture, grain, crops, and motherly relationships. Mars is the Roman god of war, an agricultural deity who is also linked to fertility. Mars was a father (pater) of the Roman people while Ceres, along with her Greek counterpart Demeter is known as “gê mêtêr” Mother Earth.

At the Scorpio new moon on November 13^th Ceres was at 24° Scorpio, and Mars was at 22° Scorpio. As the moon waxed there was an exact conjunction on November 23, and at the moon’s fullness tomorrow, Ceres moves into 0° Sagittarius while Mars is already at 2° Sagittarius.

Astrologically what could this union mean on the inner planes? This very much depends on the condition of your natal Mars and Ceres and how they are relating to one another.

Commonly in astrology Ceres points to how we like to be nurtured and how we nurture others. While her essence has similarities to the moon, she is a different expression of the feminine mothering principle and describes the processes of metabolisation.

Mars expresses our will, libido, sexuality, aggressiveness, capacity for action, and our generative abilities. Mars and Ceres together are therefore generation and regeneration expressed through the processes of renewal and transformation.

The cult of Ceres and her daughter Proserpina was known in Rome as the ritus graecus Cereris; and was based on ancient Greek cults to Demeter, notably the Thesmophoria to Demeter and Persephone. These cults provided a basis for the Eleusinian Mysteries, an old agrarian cult deeply connected with the processes of death, rebirth, and renewal.

Ceres is linked to Virgo- many astrologers consider Virgo to be under the symbolic rulership of Ceres.

In Britain, a soldier’s inscription of the 2nd century AD attests to Ceres’ role in the popular syncretism of the times.

She is “the bearer of ears of corn”, the “Syrian Goddess”, identical with the universal heavenly Mother, the Magna Mater and Virgo, virgin mother of the gods. She is peace and virtue, and inventor of justice: she weighs “Life and Right” in her scale (Benko, pp. 112–114).

Ovid tells that Ceres “is content with little, provided that her offerings are “casta” (pure).

Like Virgo, Ceres is concerned with a level of quality needed to fructify and generate next year’s crops. Psychologically speaking, this quality is developed when we maintain a level of discernment and do not waste precious energy on things that will not come to fruition or that will not serve land and state (our inner land and state and sovereignty).

The purity of our offerings is of crucial importance. What are we feeding ourselves. What are we digesting. What are we metabolizing. Is it making us sick or well? These are all questions to consider in relation to Ceres. Also, how do we nurture and nourish ourselves? Regardless of the kind of mothering we received, can we mother ourselves? Feeding ourselves is not limited only to the physical intake of food; what we ingest on an emotional, mental, psychic, and spiritual level is also of great importance in this Ceres/Virgo/Sixth house process.

Mars conjoining with Ceres introduces a whole new level of possibilities in terms of self-mastery. While Ceres works on the inner planes of transformation and renewal, Mars is the active masculine, generative principle needed to actualise and manifest the fruits. Mars is connected to libido which is life energy but also sexual energy. How do we use our sexual energy. Is it expressed through the higher, creative channels or is it dispersed without intention or consciousness serving only our basic instinct and impulses. Does it enslave us?

Ceres the great mother wants to know how we are taking responsibility for our own nurturance and encourages us to cut away what no longer allows the flow of renewal. On an emotional level we are encouraged to let go of stagnation and emotional blocks that prevent a refining of our natural essence. Let that which is dead be dead and that which, like the phoenix, may be transformed, rise again in new form. Having the discernment to know the difference is the job of Ceres.

On the mental level, what are the thoughts that populate our mind and how do they affect our being. Do we have a disciplined mind or are we thrown about on a sea of unstructured thoughts, hither and tither, never finding an anchor or reaching a shore?

Are we infected by our own thoughts. Do we allow the thoughts of others to infect us? Psychic infection is real.

Once we are clear on who we are, what we need, and what we want, Mars can help initiate our choices into action.

Ceres is the earth upon which we till our soil to plant our seeds and Mars assists us in bringing the crops to fruition.

Reflections for the lunar cycle: How are our inner Mother and generative Father principles operating?

While the Mars/Ceres conjunction has been taking place in Scorpio it is transformative within the alchemical processes of Pluto- essentially a realisation of personal power and autonomy. Now having moved into Sagittarius this full moon, we have an opportunity to expand our vision and aim our arrow with mastery.

This is a time for direction, purpose, and intentionality. It is a time to cut away baggage, empty calories, destructive behaviours, self-sabotage, dreams that are ungrounded, that which is no longer in alignment, procrastination, and poor excuses.

 I am available for astrology consultations to explore these themes or any other astro- psychological sessions.

References- Benko, pp. 112–114