Name origin: Sabine and Roman goddess of flowers and of the season of spring – a symbol for nature and flowers (especially the may-flower).
Name origin: Greek personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods, a servant to the Olympians and especially Queen Hera.
Name origin: Greek goddess of youth and the cupbearer of the gods who served ambrosia at the heavenly feast.
Name origin: Astraea (“star-maiden” or “starry night”), in ancient Greek religion, is a daughter of Astraeus and Eos. She is the virgin goddess of justice, innocence, purity and precision.
Name origin: Roman goddess of the hearth fire. Vesta was held in high regard in Roman culture, where she was worshipped with a perpetual fire guarded by the Vestal Virgins.
Name origin: Roman goddess representing various spheres, including fertility, brides, war, lunar cycles, beginnings, youth, liveliness and strength, and multiple others.
Name origin: Pallas Athene, Greek goddess of wisdom and good counsel, war, the defence of towns, heroic endeavour, weaving, pottery and various other crafts.
Name origin: Roman goddess of agriculture, grain, abundance, fertility and mothers. Name means “to feed”.
In astrological symbolism, the solstices and equinoxes occur as the Sun enters each cardinal sign. Cardinal signs represent initiation, pioneering, leadership – the first to set foot in new territory. Thus at these moments a new season commences. At the cross-quarters, the Sun is in the middle of a fixed sign. This indicates continuation as well as manifestation: the culmination of the seasonal forces in action.
As we enter Pride Month, I feel it due amid the many current threats to LGBTQ+ people, among others, to express my solidarity with them. I know that being a student of astrology does not automatically indemnify anyone against regressive and hateful prejudices, or bestow any special kind of understanding regarding systemic issues of oppression. What I can say is that the natal chart is a helpful symbol of both our species’ complexity and that within individuals.
