Vesta（灶神星）

Vesta: The Eternal Flame

Known to the ancient Greeks as Hestia, Vesta is symbolized by the Virgin, who appears as the Virgin in the Virgo pictograph. The Romans worshipped her as goddess of the hearth and keeper of the sacred flame. Vesta is not the largest asteroid, but is the only one bright enough to be seen with the human eye. Vesta is composed of an unusual type of volcanic rock, caused by extremely high internal temperatures, that reflects a remarkable amount of sunlight. The vestal virgins were selected at the very early age and were permitted no expression of individuality or personality. There were severe consequences for loss of virginity: the vestal was buried alive in the "Field of Crime."

The preistesses of Vesta were also responsible for securing legal documents. Octavian was able to secure "Mark Antony's will, held by the Priestesses of Vesta". ("Anthony and Cleopatra" in Civilizations in History, by M. Dale Davis (Toronto, Oxford University Press, 1986) p. 135

She had no iconographic representations and very little mythological drama associated with her. The gentle goddess never participated in warfare, conflicts, or love affairs, activities that were central to the mythology of all the other gods. When Apollo and Poseidon both approached her as suitors, she swore an oath of eternal virginity to avoid an Olympian war between them.

Hestia was placed at the prythaneum, the public hearth which contained the sacred fire. Women leaving home brought fire from their mothers hearths to begin their own, and Greek colonists brought a portion of fire with them to link them to the new homeland.

Because she was the first of the Olympians, the Greeks started a tradition that ceremonies and new enterprises would begin with an offering to the altar of Hestia. Her name was used to seal oaths and faithful dealings. If Vesta is well aspected in the birth chart we enjoy our work, and dedicate ourselves to achieving goals through hard work.

Following the Greeks, the Romans absorbed Hestia, and renamed her Vesta. The sacred responsibility of tending the flames fell to the priestesses of the goddess Vesta, the Vestal virgins. Admitted to the temple at age six, they took vows of chastity and celibacy which lasted for the duration of their 30 year service.

In the chart, Vesta can represent either sexual freedom or repression. Many individuals with prominent Vesta experience shame, guilt and self-denial over their sexuality. Vesta types need to find a balance that avoids the extremes of promiscuity and total repression. There is an association of sex with fear. Extremely high standards concerning sex, modesty and chastity. Most sexual couplings are seen as mundane, unfulfilling, even degrading. The inability to participate in ordinary sex generally results in not much sex at all.

The goddess Vesta represents the human capacity to commit, focus and concentrate. This can manifest as attention on a relationship, a mental subject, a vocation or the task at hand. Vesta is also devotion, purity and the sacred dimension of work and daily deeds, as in karma yoga, where all one's activities contain the significance of prayer.

Vesta will be prominent in the chart when it is conjunct the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Descendant, IC or Midheaven. Qualities of discrimination, productivity and focus will be emphasized. Work and work-related issues can be significant. The Vesta characteristics of focus, dedication and commitment to doing a good job often produce individuals who excel in their chosen areas: their work is their obsession.

Vesta types have the fortunate potential of being congruent with their work. Vesta needs to be compatible with its work like others need to be compatible with their spouses. Vesta people actually need to love their work, or at least to become completely absorbed in a satisfying subject or activity that consumes them. They like to organized their lives around their work and chores.

There is a spiritual quality to Vesta. This can manifest as devotion, asceticism, service and charitable activity. Yogic practitioners, ascetic clerics and devotees frequently have Vesta prominent. St. Teresa of Avila and St. Frances Cabrini both had Vesta conjunct the ascendant. St. Bernadette of Lourdes had Vesta conjunct the Descendant.

When Vesta aspects Venus or Juno, a woman may feel unable to love or relate meaningfully, adopting a false veneer of independence, claiming she doesn't need men while inwardly longing for a relationship. When Vesta contacts the Sun or Mars, a potential partner may be seen as brutal, tyrannical, demanding or manipulating. A stressful aspect may indicate someone who fears commitment.

Transits to Vesta signify those times when we need to retreat from the outer world to purify, replenish and reintegrate ourselves. These withdrawals often follow times when we have depleted our resources due to excessive involvement with people or events. This explains why Vesta transits point to relationship separations. When stressfully aspected in a chart, the personality may be unable to integrate itself, and remains depleted of energy. Infertility, barrenness or sterility are another response.

When transiting Vesta aspects a planet, it focuses the native's attention upon the issues that planet represents. A strong Vesta symbolizes a person who is centered in her own identity, and self determined in her activities. Vesta suggests the sacrifices one must make in order to follow a self-directed path. (Home, family, children, relationships, etc) One must be careful not to become a martyr. Vesta symbolizes the type of severe alienation that occurs when an individual becomes too absorbed in her personal quest.

LOVE OF WORK, LOVE OF PEACE

Albert Einstein was a ripe example of Vesta incarnate. Modest and mild-mannered, he had Vesta conjunct the Ascendant in Cancer. He was a man totally consumed by his work. As early as age 12, he had committed himself to decoding the mystery of the universe. The object of his obsessive focus was physics, the scientific version of universal law. Theorizing on the nature of ultimate reality gave meaningful expression to his Pisces-Sag nature.

Einstein was profoundly committed to pacifism and worked with characteristic devotion on behalf of world peace. Vesta's instinct to provide refuge and shelter motivated him to support Zionism, which guaranteed a homeland in Israel to the Jewish people.

Vesta in Aries people work with a high degree of self- involvement. Motivation arises within the self, and these people work best on their own ideas. Strong independence needs may bring alienation if one becomes too self-centered.

Vesta in Taurus best focus energy by being firmly grounded in a stable space. Sexuality is based on the organic release of natural instincts, a pragmatic and accepting approach to sexuality.

Vesta in Gemini people focus their work ability through words and conveying information. Alienation can occur through getting so caught up in the words that the meaning is lost. Communication and mental interchange are important to sexually fulfilling relationships.

Vesta in Cancer people require the feeling of being needed in order to activate commitment. Emotionally hypersensitive, alienation can occur through withdrawal for protection sake. Sexual fulfillment comes from feeling loved and cherished.

Vesta in Leo people work best when allowed a creative free rein in their efforts. The capacity to have pride in one's work focuses the lens of aesthetic output. Alienation can result through "burning out" those in close proximity, excessive pride or arrogance. Sexuality can be inhibited if the reproductive energy is diverted solely to one's creative effort.

Vesta in Virgo emphasizes the work effort, the drive to be perfect fuels the need to concentrate and perform. A workaholic or overly critical attitude can alienate one from relating to others. Sex can be seen as a service to comfort the partner or as a duty. Because of the high degree of discrimination, these people can obsess on the imperfections of others.

Vesta in Libra people prefer to work with others rather than alone. They can still be extremely competitive. The need to be taken as an equal is important in sexual response.

Vesta in Scorpio expresses itself in an intense and penetrating manner. People with this placement seek depth and thoroughness in all their commitments. Sexuality is regarded as a peak experience to be had regardless of existing social taboos. On the other hand, these people may experience feelings of guilt, sin, and shame in sexual affairs which cause them to become sexually repressed or inhibited. Tremendous concentration and dedication are available for creative and spiritual endeavors.

Vesta in Sagittarius people focus best when they are working for something they can believe in. Alienation can occur if they become totally consumed with spreading or elaborating their own vision until there is no consideration for the beliefs of others. A high sense of adventure and truth seeking stimulates sexual receptivity, yet lack of honesty can undermine trust in a relationship.

Vesta in Capricorn individuals work best in a structures and disciplined fashion. The work is often motivated by personal ambition and drive to succeed. There can be excessive rigidity in the individual. The presence of commitment and honor in the relationship is needed for sexual fulfillment. Disciple is marked, these people can expect success by moving in the system.

Vesta in Aquarius individuals work best between through humanitarianism, social or political motivations. Alienation can occur through insufficient focus on the needs of loved ones. Sexual response is activated through the unusual, and one can engage in sexuality with friends on a nonposessive and noncommittal basis.

Vesta in Pisces souls can best focus their energy by serving others. Because of the defuse, scattered nature of Pisces, Vesta can point to a difficulty in finding a focus, or maintaining a commitment. This person can play the role of a martyr, and make others feel guilty for the suffering. One can serve to heal others through sexual interaction, or sublimate sexuality into spiritual realization.

Vesta - Sun

The focusing principle combines with identity and purpose. This combination indicates that one's work and sense of commitment has become a major part of life's purpose. A person who is self-identified and demonstrates a high level of personal integration. They avoid possessive relationships. Stressed, possible conflicts between work focus and life purpose, the inability to find a satisfying career, frustrations and denials in sexuality, and fear of intimacy and commitment.

Vesta - Moon

The focusing principle combines with emotional responsiveness. This combination indicates that one's emotional world may become the field of self-involvement and integration. A fertile nature, mentally and physically. A sympathetic understanding and emotional rapport in responding to a variety of sexual situations. They have a free and open attitude about sex. Stressed, alienation from one's own needs. Excessive emotional introspection may also occur. The resolution of these challenges lies in understanding and deconditioning socially imposed morality concerning sexual standards. Love and friendship come together in a powerful yet unusual moment with a mate or potential partner. You may feel you cannot bond sexually yet there is a powerful attraction you can’t put into words.

Vesta - Mercury

The focusing principle combines with mental expression. This combination emphasizes the need to focus one's thought and communication processes. A highly developed mind, research or the media. Stressed, communications difficulties, excessive mental introspection, poor concentration. One must clarify one's personal objectives and thoughts and eliminating mental baggage.

Vesta - Venus

The focusing principle combines with the feminine principle of love and sexuality. This aspect can indicate a self-determined and independent attitude concerning intimate relationships. The ability to integrate one's femininity with one's individual identity. There can exist a devotion to sexual expression and the sensitive understanding of feminine psychology. These people may also choose to sublimate their sexual expression into artistic expression or a spiritual path. Stressed may point to conflicts between independence/work needs and relationship needs, often resulting in alienation from people. This may manifest as psychological or physical frigidity, fear and withdrawal from intimacy, puritanical attitudes, or the opposite, promiscuity.

Vesta - Mars

The focusing principle combines with the masculine principle of action and assertion. This combination emphasizes the ability too concentrate and direct one's energy at will. The ability to integrate autonomy and self-determination in intimate relationships as well as sensitivity and skill in sexual expression. The ability to sublimate sexual energy to a cause, the spiritual warrior. Stressed, depicts restrictions in the expression of masculine energies which can lead to physical or psychological impotence, to alienation from relationships.

Vesta - Jupiter

The focusing principle combines with the expansive/broadening urge. This can indicate enlargement and a social vision within one's field of dedication and commitment. These people possess the ability to focus on and synthesize the details of broad scale issues. The sexual force of Vesta may sublimated into the areas of politics, teaching, the ministry or spiritual devotion.

Vesta - Saturn

There is a focus of attention upon the urge to create form and structure. This combination can signify intensely focused and committed energies, an individual who possesses self-discipline, seriousness of purpose, and the ability to actualize goals and aspirations through dedication and hard work. Once realized, these aspirations, through dedication and hard work, are grounded in a solid secure foundation. Stressful aspects describe conflicts between one's personal needs and one's obligations towards others. The result may manifest either as an avoidance of commitment or as suffering under the burden of too much responsibility. These people set harsh standards of perfection for themselves and others.

Vesta - Uranus

The focusing principle combines with individuality and intuition. People with this combination have the potential to infuse original and universal impulses into personal dedication. A mind that can focus and concentrate on innovative and intuitive ideas. Stimulation of interest in scientific and occult studies. Stressed, conflicts between a desire to focus oneself, versus the desire for innovation and change. Rebellion from obligation or erratic behavior that thwarts relationships.

Vesta - Neptune

The focusing principle combines with the transcendent urge, a devotion to spiritual or artistic ideals. A depth of compassion that can lead one to participate as a universal world-server. A long term commitment to a spiritual path or a focused devotion to the fine arts. Some people may use sexual union as the means of experiencing Neptune's mystic unity. Stressed, a diffusion of focus and confusion about one's commitments. There is a misconception of reality that leads to inappropriate self-denial and self-sacrifice. Other problems may include a problem with sexuality or spirituality or escapism from work.

Vesta - Pluto

The focusing principle combines with transformation urge. This combination can signify a sense of destiny and personal commitment to the transformation of society. A person who can focus and direct a large amount of energy to penetrate hidden and unknown realms. There may exist the ability to transmute sexuality for regeneration, healing and illumination. This can signify a dedication to use personal power in the service of social or spiritual ideals. Stressed, conflicts between using one's power for personal versus transpersonal ends. This may lead to the blocking of one's power needs or releasing them destructively on a mass scale. Obsessive sexual compulsions, exaggerated fears of death, paranoia may occur. One may feel isolated from society.

Vesta - Juno

The focusing principle combines with the relating urge. This combination suggests an evolutionary path that begins with the autonomy of the self and ends with a joining with others. The ability to make a serious commitment to another. They dedicate themselves to purifying and perfecting partnerships which often take on the form of sexually fulfilled, spiritual relationships. Stressed, a conflict between personal and relationship needs. These people may feel alienated from relationships, or feel isolated within them. Sexual domination or control may also be part of the interaction.

Vesta - Athene

The focusing principle combines with the Mental-Creative urge. A commitment to learning?

Vesta - Ceres

The focusing principle combines with the Mothering Principle. An interest in psychology. Adds a warm and nurturing influence to a situation. While my progressed Ceres approaches natal Vesta, I find myself drawn to identify very much with the goddess as nurturing.

Vesta - Chiron

The focusing principle combines with the principle of Holistic understanding. (Greater interest or knowledge of holistic, psychic or occult matters?)

Vesta - ASC

Self awareness.

Vesta - MC

An illumination of the issues surrounding career and ambition.