Eros in Leo : Psyche In Virgo - The Heart & Soul

As is the case with most asteroids (or "minor bodies"), the clues to interpreting their meaning astrologically comes from studying the mythology behind their given names. Psyche and Eros are named for two mythological lovers whose story describes the ultimate union between heart and soul.

Eros, son of Aphrodite (The Goddess of love & beauty) & Ares (The God of Aggression), is sent to Earth by his mother to punish Psyche, a mortal princess of such complete physical perfection that the people in her kingdom have begun to worship her instead of Aphrodite. Aphrodite asks Eros to use one of his gold tipped arrows to make Psyche fall in love with the ugliest, most worthless and vile human on Earth in order to humiliate her family and ruin her life. Eros agrees, and descends to Earth.

Meanwhile, Psyche is lonely and miserable. Although she is worshiped by all for her beauty, she despises herself. She's filled with loneliness because her beauty has turned her into an idol or statue to admire as opposed to a unique individual with a soul in the eyes of every other mortal. She periodically loses herself in this, struggling to retain her totality of self. No one ever sees her as more than an admirable object and she knows this means she will never find reciprocal love.

Just prior to shooting the arrow at Psyche, Eros accidentally pricks himself with the tip and suddenly finds himself madly and completely in love with Psyche. Seeing that the beauty of her soul was still far greater than the beauty of her body, he breaks a number of "God" rules (including totally ignoring the wishes of his mother) in order to be with her and the two are punished again and again. After suffering many trials (including Psyche literally going to hell and back), the couple are finally united. And after that, they never parted ways again.

The myth of Psyche (soul, the deepest self) and Eros' (sexuality, desires which overwhelm the mind) complex interaction shows what is possible when heart and soul come together. Astrologically, the two therefore are more complete when combined. Although their meanings are valid on their own, together they define the "ultimate love" each individual yearns for.

My Psyche is in 4th house (sentimentality, the home) Virgo (perfectionism, mercurialism) and is also the only source of Virgo energy present in my natal chart. Keeping with my lovely, ongoing theme of dissociative identity, my Psyche is inconjunct my sun (ego, concious will) in 12th House Aries and almost directly opposite my Venus (attraction, sensuality) in 10th Pisces. In lamens terms, this would imply that my soul has difficulting connecting with my conciousness, and works in opposition to my ability to love and bond- both very true statements.

When Psyche is found in Virgo, the native is bestowed with a sensual knowingness and impeccable grasp of nuance. These individuals can effortlessly tap into the unspoken fantasies and secret motivations of their lovers, creating a suave partner who is so totally together during seduction that it borders on the holistic. However, Psyche in Virgo, as it relates to the individual soul, yearns for someone who is able to show that same grasp of details recipriocally. Utterly sensual, they are most deeply enticed by a deep mental affinity with someone who understands them with no explanations needed. They desire to be finessed by a partner who is able to all at once remember, appreciate and utilize every aspect of her inner being. This is a tall order, to say the least, and problems arise because Psyche in Virgo often takes her own special talent for granted. Natives typically do not understand why this sensual clarity isn't present in others, leading her to feel as though she is merely not worth the effort.

Psyche in the 4th indicates an individual who longs to root themselves in something real and lasting, a "home" for their soul. They long to find a place where they can relax and be themselves without feeling self concious or anxious, and will often use the physical body (through sexuality, caring for a sick partner, etc) to cement themselves in this. They will attempt again and again to make their desire for a perfect, accepting atmosphere a reality, often cycling through many marriages or cohabitating partnerships.

Similar to my Psyche, my Eros in Leo is the only source of Leo energy I have in my chart. It is inconjunct my moon (emotional nature) in Capricorn and is directly opposite my midheaven (success, fame). In lamens terms, this would imply that my emotions in general have difficulty connecting with my sexuality and that my sexual impulses work against my success- also very true statements (for better or worse). I've struggled to define my sexuality my entire life as it seems foggy and elusive to me, and also tend to be most sexually attracted to those individuals who care the least about my ability to succeed (and some have gone to great lengths to see me fail). As is often the case, the desires of my Psyche are very similar to the desires of my Eros- both yearn to be understood and adored completely.

Eros in Leo has an overwhelming longing for attention and adoration. Aspected individuals desire devotional attention and unwaivering love from those who touch their lives, needing to feel extraordinary and distinctive to their lovers. They long to be muses and often are, inspiring heartfelt homage from their partners. Sexually, they tend to be larger than life and unapologetically hedonistic. So long as Eros in Leo feels they are being sufficiently worshipped, their sexual appetite will be insatiable. Astrologer Dane Rudhyar describes Eros in Leo as "the magician caught in the glamour of his own magic, a leader resonating to the needs of his followers who nonetheless needs slaves to prove his mastery to himself." Although they are faithful partners, they are also hopelessly addicted to passion. At the first sign of wavering devotion from their partner, Eros in Leo will seek it elsewhere through flirtation and infactuation. There is an overwhelming compulsion to being desired by others, which they need to feel alive and potent. It's for this reason that they can't help but collect "followers"- individuals who desire (but are not sexually involved with) them as a way of reinforcing their worth.

With Leo Eros in the 3rd house, communication becomes a focal point in the erotic experience. They're vocal lovers who will want to talk their way through the sexual act, pointing out what feels good and reminding the partner of his/her beauty. They're most turned on by a partner who will reciprocate; a silent sexual partner will only make them feel as though they aren't being appreciated (sending them into outside flirtation & infactuation as mentioned above). This erotic communication expands also to writing, and 3rd house Leo Eros individuals are often most able to collect their "followers" through their written words.

Where are your Eros & Psyche? How do they factor in with what you know about your deepest desire?