Eris is still a new factor in astrology. Few astrologers have written about it, and it was barely mentioned at last year’s United Astrology Conference. Here are a couple of my articles: Pluto in the Age of Eris; Dancing with Discord; and a short downloadable book that I offer as a gift from time to time, Eris: Facets and Fragments of Self. (There are several others scattered throughout the archives over the past three years.)
Eris is the 9th largest body known to orbit the Sun, being 27% more massive than Pluto. It was first photographed in 2003, and when it was noticed in photographic plates in 2005, it was code named Xena (after the warrior princess TV character). Though the Xena connection is all but forgotten, it was that reference that clued my friend Paloma Todd into the delineation of this planet, based primarily on the fragmented plot structure of the warrior princess series.
In the summer of 2006, the International Astronomical Union reorganized the solar system and categorized Pluto, Eris and the first asteroid, Ceres, as dwarf planets; there are now several other dwarfs as well. I covered this development at the time in an article called The Foggy New Edge of Neptune.
[Note: all the links above are subscriber materials from earlier in the Planet Waves series. Subscription information is at the right margin.]
At the moment, the Aries Moon is conjunct Eris. The conjunction is currently applying and will be exact today at 8:06 pm EDT. This might give us an opportunity to tune into the energy signature of this planet. Because it’s spending more than a century in Aries (it has a very unusual orbit of 557 years), I believe that energy pattern has a lot to do with Aries qualities such as identity, intention and motivation. Aries is about volition; it is the sign that turns the key on existence and the conscious awareness of existence.
We get a clue from Alice Bailey’s system of rulerships in the book Esoteric Astrology, which proposes that Mercury is one of the esoteric rulers of Aries. Aries is not just about drive, desire and plundering (Mars themes), it’s about sentience and conscious existence (Mercury themes).
One of the problems or challenges we face at this time in history is identity chaos. We have so many influences telling us who we are supposed to be and not supposed to be; what we are supposed to look like and not supposed to look like; that it makes Christian morality seem quaint and lovely.
In Western society and much of the developed world of Asia, we have many opportunities to think of how we are, who we are and what we are. We are no longer bound to one concept of self, of gender, of sexual orientation or of a place in society. All of these options, I believe, become factors in the identity chaos that I assocaite with Eris. I would just put out here that this is very challenging for many people. Many have no clue what to do or what to be, and that’s the result of having many options and not being dictated to; and the old forms not containing the more complex sense of self that we possess in a world that can truly be called postmodern.
There is a parallel theme in today’s Sun square Uranus aspsect, which is at full throttle right now. Today may still have some surprises in store.
Hey Kristen,
Welcome back! we love you, Eris and all! How is cum-out shakin’?
M
Gauri – I am same; Eris most elevated Planet, no matter what I do, how I approach, discord is the result. Cuteness is this, tonight at appointed hour, I was talking with someone who is also a Taurean of near same age, just 7 days older, and Eris came up based upon her sharing of where her career is at trying to save the planet, and now having to deal with someone on an ego trip appointed to Obama’s admin wrt land preservation who is going to take money away from land programs and put it to “scholarships”. And, she shared that no matter what she has done, she’s the one who brings the change.
I recently asked a highly respected astrologer this question: What is beyond archetype? His immediate response: Eris.
Meaning, what is beyond knowing? Not knowing – asking for input – illuminating truth – cultivating conversation in order to discover and flow with change.
It’s scary talking about real feelings, real fears, indeed. Problem is this, we must do so if we are ever to cum together as a whole in our individual wholeness.
Toods K
ARIES contains the letters E-R-I-S.
Just missing the A. Aha!
funny. i was having a conversation today about the new wonder woman (animated) movie (voiced by lucy lawless/xena) and some new batman (and others) movies – all of which most definitely deal wtih identity, intention, motivation, volition, etc… yep. timing is everything.
Truly, I think it will take about 50 years to figure out just how new I was right now.
Thank u for writing bout this.
I just had an argument with someone very close to me, whose ego was bruised with what I said, altho I didn’t intend to do that. I kept blaming it on the Sun-Uranus square but now after reading this, I think it may be the Moon-Eris conjunction causing this discord.
I’ve Eris conjunct my MC natally, almost to the exact degree, so I can definitely relate to it’s influence. I frequently find myself embroiled in controversies & arguments even when I try my best to avoid it 🙁
I read and may I add reread the first line of this as: Eric is still a new factor in astrology.
Hmm I thought. Eric is still a new factor in astrology. OK I’ll go with it…
Note also that today the Sun is square Uranus, which would be plenty of hi-fi discord even without Eris or the Moon conjunct her…
That explains why I’ve been feeling out of sync today and at odds, I’ve been irritable, restless, subdued and generally feeling strange.
I am an Aries and lately I’ve been trying to find the balance within myself, one side of me wants one thing while the other side wants something else…not quite sure how to make it balance as they are complete opposites.
Struggling to tune in
Spacey
Ping!
That would account for today’s very persistent case of nerves. Aries Moon, rarely my fave… at first I thought it was the Uranus/Sol square, but I felt that come and go awhile back… Just before I read this I said outloud, “What *is* this odd energy? is it Iran? the Bobos? my son? Drew? … and why can’t I get a fix on where it wants to go?”
Your report also helps locate the mini-Hamlet soliloquy (“to be…”) I have been steadfastly ignoring all day. If I turn and face Her directly, I’ll bet the static dies down.
Listening in to it…
M