Asteroid Goddesses: The Mythology, Psychology, and Astrology of the Re-Emerging Feminine [Paperback]

Demetra George (Author), Douglas Bloch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2003

This book shows how the discovery of the asteroids Ceres, Pallas Athena, Juno, and Vesta coincided with the shift of a woman. The creating, supporting, nurturing aspect held by the goddess Ceres, the universal mother, brings us to how we feel nurtured and how we function with our roles of mother-child. She embodies the principle of unconditional love. Pallas Athena is our Warrior Goddess, a woman in a man's world, carrying the principle of creative intelligence. Vesta, our goddess of Focus and Commitment, is our High Priestess. Juno, the Queen of Heaven and Divine Consort, is our capacity for meaningful relationships. Understanding the themes that each goddess holds enriches our understanding of that function and expression in our lives.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Demetra George, halds a B.A. in Philosophy and M.A. Classics, received the 2002 Marion D. March Regulus Award for Theory and Understanding. A practitioner of astrology for over 30 years, she specializes in asteroids, archetypal mythology, and traditional astrology. She is also coauthor of the best-selling workbook Astrology for Yourself and Asteroid Goddesses with Douglas Bloch. Ms. George is the Director of THEMA: Foundations in Astrology which offers integrated programs and traveling symposia for individuals and small groups in the history, mythology, and techniques of Hellenistic and Archetypal astrology.

Douglas Bloch is a counselor and teacher and the author of ten books, including his inspirational self-help trilogy Words that Heal and I Am With You Always.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Nicolas-Hays, Inc; Revised edition (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892540826
• ISBN-13: 978-0892540822
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #511,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Comets, Meteors & Asteroids

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Astrology students need this book December 12, 2001

By Sylvia Hawley

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

How this book ever got out of print for a minute I do not know. All students of astrology need Demetra in their bookshelf and on their desk. An understanding of the asteroid goddesses is a way to add an entire new dimension to understanding the natal and other charts. Demetra understands the ladies in myth, history, and in the psyche, and she details, amazingly well, their meaning in the chart.

5 stars except that I wish the other asteroids were included ... The four main goddesses are here and understanding them is enough of a project for awhile ... but I wish we'd gotten the entire sisterhood ... probably they are around here somewhere ...

The great thing Demetra has done is add the presence of feminine values and concerns to the horoscope. Supporting the Moon, the asteroid goddesses have as their interest, relationship, hearth, romance, adventure, protection, nurture. No natal chart should be without them.

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The quality of book compromised by the amount of filler. November 1, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I REALLY liked this book EXCEPT for the fact that the information on the minor asteroids was disappointingly skimpy. The author provided an excellent amount of information about the major asteroids, and so it was surprising to see how little information was given on the minor asteroids. If the author did not have enough information yet about the minor asteroids, I would rather she had left out the "junk" and had a thinner (and less expensive) volume. By "junk", I'm referring to the pages and pages of celebrities' asteroid placements. The endless lists about celebrities added nothing to the reader's enlightenment on the subject, and I don't share our culture's fascination with celebrities. If the filler was the publisher's decision - perhaps to leave the opportunity for another book (sale), then I am very disappointed in that publisher. Publishers of astrology books usually give fair value for the price of their books. Had I seen the book (in a book store), I would have been conflicted about buying it. The topic is new and fascinating, but there is just too much filler. As it now stands, the book is really worth about $13 or $14 at most. If the author were to remove the filler and add the same quality of information about the minor asteroids as she has for the major asteroids, the book would be worth the current price.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine tune your craft! January 16, 2006

By Jill Guntur VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

The asteroids in a chart help to flavor enhance what you're looking at. This is one of the best, fleshed out reference guides to the asteroids. The mythological stories behind the goddesses is crucial to understanding the meaning assigned to the individual asteroids. Further, it sets up archtypal understanding which is great when working through the issues outlined by a chart. If you are a beginning student, put this on your list but skip it until you can put into perspective the influence of asteroids vs. planetary influence. Intermediate and up... don't cheat yourself. Get the book!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A technical and in-depth dissection February 7, 2004

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

Now in a newly published and expanded edition with updated ephemerides of 16 asteroids 1930-2050, Asteroid Goddesses by Demetra George and Douglas Bloch is an impressive astrology guide emphasizing the mythology and psychology intertwined with heavenly bodies and the practice of interpreting their prophecy and guidelines. An extremely lengthy and data-filled appendix of ephemerides enhances this technical and in-depth dissection. Asteroid Goddesses is a welcome and much appreciated contribution to the Astrology and Metaphysical Studies reference shelf.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The must-have book on the astrology of asteroids. October 31, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

If you're interested in asteroids and astrology, this book is a must-have. There are extended discussions of the four "major" asteroids, as well as briefer looks at some of the "minor" ones. There's also an extremely useful ephemeris of 16 asteroids, allowing readers to make this still-evolving field a part of their own practice of astrology. For George, the asteroids are a key part of a feminist astrology that incorporates a great many insights from Greek and Roman mythology. While the mythic dimension was often valuable, I sometimes felt that the asteroids had trouble standing on their own as symbols--ideally, the asteroid Ceres should be as independent of the goddess Ceres as the planet Neptune is from the god. One problem in any discussion of asteroids is that there are so many of them; it's not really clear why the 12 "minor" asteroids she includes are singled out. (The four "major" asteroids are the first four to be discovered.) She organizes the minors into male-female pairs, which is problematic; since the first asteroids were overwhelmingly named for female figures, the male asteroids tend to be rather small and obscure pieces of rock. Quibbles aside, this book is an important contribution to astrological literature and a useful addition to an astrologer's library.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat flawed and overdone, but a good general guide November 13, 2007

By mianfei

Format:Paperback

Although I am all too aware that there is no scientific basis for astrology, I have always regarded the subject as the best amusement one can find for any price. It is only relatively recently that I have spent much time on the subject, though, and seeing - by sheer accident - asteroids being used interested me enough to want to read more.

I first picked up a quite simple yet very detailed asteroid ephemeris but it gave little detail as to the interpretations required to make people understand asteroids and why certain astrologers use them.

"Asteroid Goddesses" does an extremely valuable if less-than-perfect job of interpreting the fist four asteroids discovered - Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta. There are good interpretations for each sign that are unfortunately not available in any other astrology book, though they actually might be even more detailed. There is also useful, if often much too abstract, information on other lesser asteroids and some basic though enlightening information about the astronomical characteristics of the asteroids.

There are a number of problems, though, that make recommending "Asteroid Goddesses" less easy. The worst is the tendency of the author to follow rather slavishly belief in matriarchal prehistory from the likes of Elizabeth Gould Davis and Marija Gimbutas. George states this belief quite repeatedly and it effects the whole book.... It would have been better if she had offered a less biased account of Roman and Greek mythology. She also focuses too much and too broadly on questions of "rulership", though her comments are quite enlightening, especially about Vesta.

On the whole, I feel I am overrating "Asteroid Goddesses" a little because of the lack of competition. If you are interested in astrology, it is worth reading, but do take care about believing every word. Read more ›