This is where one's creative imagination can
really let rip - it is possible to read a chart many ways,
and it has to be admitted that as we come to the detail of
the story, the charts happily comply with our needs! So let's
have some fun!
If I were to choose one chart for Sedna, it would be the chart
for the last of the three photographs showing its presence,
because that was the point at which the equipment reported
a moving body. But it might be interesting to see how the
chart of each photograph might reflect the different stages
of the goddess Sedna's legend, having a different Ascendant
and the planets in different Houses.
The place from which the photographs were taken
was near San Diego, California, and the House system used
for the following charts is Campanus, a system showing the
more spiritual and psychological meanings, rather than down
to earth practical as with for instance the Placidus Houses.
Photograph # 1 - taken
at UT 6:32.
At first Sedna is content living with her father.
Reading the base of the chart as the father's place, Pluto
(Scorpio's ruler) represents the father himself, and here
it conjuncts Venus, the romantic (5th House) feminine. Sedna
is able to focus on herself because she assumes the authority
of her father as Saturn in Cancer in 12th House. Neptune on
the Descendant sextiling Venus in 5th House all suggests a
romantic vision of future partner, absent in fact because
the Decendant ruler, Uranus, is firmly in 7th House of partnership.
The male principle, Mars, is held poised by trining Saturn
who is waiting in the background (12th House) for the right
karmic moment to release the catalysing situation that will
help Sedna to grow up (opposing Chiron in the 6th House).
Sedna has Leo rising at this point in the story, showing her
concern with herself and her appearance. Ruled by the Sun
in the 4th House, she is supported in being able to focus
on herself by being in her original home with family. The
aim however is to be seen, Moon's North Node in 10th House.
Aquarius is on the Descendant, showing the future partner
to be Uranus. Uranus is indeed in 7th House of partnership
but squares Sun and Mercury, showing difficulties of surprise,
sudden changes, and separations, yet to come.
Photograph # 2 - taken
at UT 8:03
In the second chart Uranus is on the Descendant
showing the sudden arrival of the partner and the marriage
which separates Sedna from her romantic dream of partner,
a loss that is necessary if there is to be growth. Every individual
needs to discover their own autonomy, their own space, if
they are to relate in a growthful way. Uranus has only squares
to Sun/South Node and Mercury, so it could feel wrong to Sedna
even though it is a necessary step.
In this chart Venus/Pluto are now in the 4th House, showing
the feminine struggling with early life issues, not yet recognising
or accepting that the male principle is partner (Venus squaring
Mars in 7th House) still calling on father to put things right
(Mercury in 4th House is still communicating mostly with father).
Neptune now rules the Descendent and is in 6th House, reflecting
the fact of Sedna's marriage being arranged for her.
In both of these first two charts the Midheaven is in Taurus
showing that practical consideration of physical survival
and security are top of the priority list. However, the Moon's
North Node is now in 9th House showing her journey to a different
land to live with her husband, and her inner journey realising
that physical security is not all that matters.
Virgo has begun to rise, showing how Sedna has begun to establish
a sense of her own identity and need for boundaries.
Photograph # 3 - taken
at UT 9:38
In the third chart, the Midheaven ideal now
is Gemini, to be in communication, and the 3rd House (of communication)
is emphasised through containing Sun/South Node, Mercury and
Venus. In her distress, Sedna calls to her father and he hears
and comes to rescue her. The father (ruler of 4th House) is
Jupiter in 12th House unable to act, but sextiling Saturn
in 10th House wanting to control the situation. He came to
the rescue only to be transformed into the destroyer (Pluto
on the base of the chart squaring Mars and Jupiter) as he
drives her into the freezing sea. Sedna's relationship with
her father is transformed
That Sedna's father tries to get rid of her
out of the boat, even after rescuing her from the raven, could
be seen as part of that Jupiter-inspired vacillation. The
fact is that Sedna cannot go back to the security of her childhood
home. She has to give up the original father/daughter relationship,
just as women need to pull back the authority they give 'man
as father,' before they can relate to 'man as partner.' Sedna
becomes herself at last, owning her own power as she sinks
into her own territory, at home in the sea of human emotion.
In the end of this version of the Sedna myth, the problem
we are left with is that Sedna is angry. Other versions may
have other endings!
Conclusions - What Sedna may be showing
us to do.
I favour using the third photograph as our awakening
to Sedna's presence in the sky, the awakening of the feminine
to its intrinsic power. Pluto, although conjunct the 3rd House
Venus, is itself on the IC of this chart, suggesting that
the message of Sedna's story for us now is the importance
of transforming the way we relate with each other through
speech. There is a transformation in any relationship when
we focus on the care we can give, rather than trying to get
what we what. What makes that work for us, rather than becoming
slaves to the other, is a sense of our own self as valuable
in the scheme of things. Knowing our own boundaries and respecting
them ourselves, we become able to give to others what they
really need in a way that heals. Mars in this chart is the
healer (sextiling Chiron).
Getting squared planets to work more positively
together can only be done through communicating their different
perspectives to each other, and finding the work that involves
them all. Mars in Pisces and Venus in Sagittarius are both
interested in living in oneness. Mars in Pisces doesn't feel
the need to understand or talk about that, but this chart
is showing that talking is necessary if the masculine and
feminine are not to remain in conflict. The quincunxes and
sextiles show another way for squaring planets to connect
with each other, through service. In this chart, it is the
feminine that reaches out to understand for the sake of the
relationship. The masculine needs to listen and accept, and
admit to its sensitivity, for the sake of the relationship.
This needs to be done internally, within each one of us. Self-talking
the problems and listening sensitively to ourselves explaining,
we become able to find the healing that we need. This will
make it easier to sort out difficulties in relating with everyone,
and everything, else.
The spiritual purpose, Taurus North Node on
the cusp of 9th House, is perhaps to learn from our experiences
with the Earth - learning to live an ecologically balanced
lifestyle. Taurus' ruler, the Sagittarian Venus is teaching
us that we need to enter into the relationship with Earth
by first appreciating what we receive, and then by giving
love and caring for her - this would indeed be a transformed
relationship following the arrogant devastation humanity has
wreaked on Earth up to now. The Moon's North Node in 9th House
tells us that it's the intention that counts - so let's aim
to go in that direction!
P.S.
This is my offering. There is much more, and different, to
be said about Sedna. Let this be part of a conversation where
we grow in our understanding of what change in human consciousness
is reflected by the discovery of this object in our solar
system.
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