January 2008—note from Maria:
It's been at least a year since I posted the article that asked that question, and then received a few comments in response. Then, nothing more came in for a long time. I had just about decided to pull the article from my site, until just last month, December 5, 2007, when "out of the blue," I received an email from Jim Lewis—no, not the revered Jim Lewis of Astro*Carto*Graphy fame, who is in Spirit. This is a new Jim Lewis, with an edu email address. He sent me the following very interesting thought:
I came across a year-old discussion about the rulerships of Virgo and Libra. It seems to me that in the same way that the God Uranus represents the polar opposite of the characteristic of the astrological Uranus, it could be that Goddess Eris represents the polar opposite of the astrological Eris (e.g., the harmony and order characteristic of Libra vs. the chaos of Eris).
—Jim Lewis
Later in December, I had a brief phone conversation with my friend, Terry Lamb, and the subject came up (don't remember now just how) but I mentioned my article, and Terry subsequently posted it on her blog. Since then two more comments have come to my email maria@starcraftspublishing.com
By the way, Terry and all of you: I've discarded my original hedging and very slight reservations about Eris as ruler of Libra, as originally expressed in my article. I think Libra is definitely where she belongs, for better or for worse (just as is said in wedding vows). It fits. Eris has spirit, and who would want a relationship without some of that?
Besides, the precedence has been that every time a new planet has been discovered, the second of the two signs it ruled under the classical system of rulerships was assigned the new planet as its ruler. So, Uranus got Aquarius, (formerly) ruled by Saturn, then Pisces got Neptune (formerly ruled by Jupiter) and Scorpio got Pluto (formerly ruled by Mars). So, for precedence, if nothing else, we now have 12 "planets" (including Sun and Moon) and 12 signs (whether we do or don't accept the idea of three of those planets as being "dwarfs), so why not assign each "second" sign a modern ruler? Ceres, being the actual zodiac symbol of Virgo, is such an obvious fit. Then, Eris for Libra.
Terry has a great blog. Check it out!
It's been nominated for two blogger's choice awards. Click here to vote.
Since then, two additional comments have come in:
January 2, 2008
Wow. We both have the same thoughts concerning Ceres/Virgo and Eris/Libra. These are the real rulers.
and then, when I wrote to ask this respondent for permission to quote, she added the following thoughts, which I also find quite interesting because she seems to be taking a center of the Universe (or perhaps, galactic center?) perspective:
We have the mission to introduce the new rulers Ceres for Virgo and Eris for Libra to all astrologers. My thoughts: I think we finally have:
3 dwarf planets Eris, Pluto and Ceres
8 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
and a Sun, which makes 12 main bodies.
The Moon is the right ruler of Cancer, but just for us, because many planets have moons. It's nothing special. In the whole universe each planet and their moons act like mirrors. So, the main ruler from Cancer is Earth and the subruler is the Moon. We live on the Earth, so the Moon is our Cancer ruler. Ceres belongs to Virgo. It's the symbol of Virgo. Ceres is the virginal goddess of harvest and environment. Eris belongs to Libra because it's the goddess of discord and its the negative side of Libra. You come into discord if you're torn between things. Libra is the sign of balance and intellect.
—Kimberly Connor
Loved your article on Ceres and Eris. I agree with what you said about them. I also agree with Pluto remaining as ruler of Scorpio. It always will in my book. the percentage of astronomers who cast a vote was small. So far as I am concerned it does not count, and won't to me. I don't care what they say. I have been an astrologer and psychic for over 40 years and the rulership has to be valid in all aspects. As for Libra, I have known quite a few who have a destructive side to them when they become unbalanced. Sometimes it does not take much.
—Heather Zais
Some earlier comments:
March 18, 2007
We both totally agree with you on your placement of Virgo with Ceres and Eris with Libra. Both perfect fits. Ceres shows the human caring nature of Virgo and Eris shows the conflict and competition which sometimes is necessary to achieve balance and harmony.
Now each sign has its own planet. We welcome Ceres and Eris into our charts and our lives, also as rulers of the sixth and seventh houses.
November 15, 2006
I am not an astrologer, but I really enjoyed your view on this topic. I long to see Mercury off his rulership of Virgo, and so far agree with Ceres replacing him. As for Eris, I still have doubts, as she seems to fit better as a female ruler of Aries.
I'm a (female) Aries myself, with Libra rising, striving to accept and embrace the Aries in me (sun, venus, ceres, eris—all in the 7th house). One thing can I say about Libra rising, maybe an unknown (?) fact: many of us strive to be in control of our lives, which is difficult to manage, as if we are prone to chaos...and this is maybe one vote for the Eris rulership.
I would be happy to hear your opinion here.
