Juno

Symbol:

Astronomy

Juno is a minor planet or asteroid that orbits around the sun in the [Asteroid Belt:asteroid belt] between Mars and Jupiter. It has a diameter of 236 km and its mean distance to the Sun is 399.4 million km. It takes 4.36 years for one sidereal orbit. Juno was discovered on 1st September 1801 by Karl Ludwig Harding in Lilienthal, close to Bremen in Germany.

Mythology

The asteroid is named after the Roman goddess Juno (Greek for Hera). Hera was one of six children born to Rhea and Kronos (Greek for Saturn). Her brothers were Zeus (Jupiter), Poseidon (Neptune) and Hades (Pluto), her sisters Demeter (Ceres) and Hestia (Vesta). Hera was not only the sister but also the wife of Zeus, the ruling god of Mount Olympus. She was therefore the highest goddess, ruler of the heavens and protector of marriage. Being at Zeus's side was not an easy task for Hera. On the one hand, she was the only goddess whom Zeus considered to be his equal and took as his wife. On the other hand, Zeus had numerous willing and unwilling lovers of whom Hera was very jealous, and she was mercilessly cruel in her persecution of some of them and the children borne of their affair with Zeus. Among her victims were Heracles and Leto, the mother of the Sun god Apollo. Zeus punished her for her jealousy. Her scheming against Heracles so enraged the ruler of the gods that he hung up his wife from her wrists and weighted her feet with anvils. For the most part, the divine marriage was a battle of wills. At the same time, Hera took her role as protector of marriage very seriously and was faithful to her spouse. She bore Zeus three children, including Aries, the god of war. Without Zeus's or any other man's help she also gave life to the divine blacksmith Hephaestus.

Interpretation

Juno is associated with relationships, ideals and principles. The position of Juno and any aspects it makes indicate whether relationships are likely to be characterised by mutual respect or jealousy and mistrust. Juno embodies high ideals and relentless striving in the face of opposition. It therefore also forces us to confront our innermost attitude to painful relationships. Would we be able to end such a relationship or would we persevere on for the sake of the children, or because we fear the reaction of those around us, or possibly because our own relationship ideals are touched upon? On the most basic level, Juno is concerned with how individuals translate their ideals and principles into concrete action. Juno can be in danger of considering ideals to be more important than reality leading to inhuman behaviour - regardless of how honourable the initial ideals may have been.

Juno seems to be related to the zodiac signs of Libra and Scorpio and could be either elevated in or the ruler of one these signs.