Asteroid Thereus

Asteroid Thereus 32532 falls under the category of a Centaur. It is one of a small group of bodies known as “Saturn crossers”, Chiron, Pholus and Asbolus are also in this category. Thereus is unusual because his orbit is even longer than Saturns, plus its orbit is elongated which means he speeds up now and again. This means Thereus will travel concurrently with Saturn for a good number of years, giving them a special relationship.

In mythology Thereus was the bear-hunting centaur that dragged the poor creatures out of their dens, rudely carried them home very much alive and certainly with sore heads. Thereus experienced a big shift in orbit in 1924 due to it’s proximity to Saturn, Zane Stein observed at that time Lenin died, while Stalin had been waiting patiently in the wings. He called it “Lurking, then pouncing”[1].

I like this lurking, it’s a little more subtle than utter stalking. With Thereus he is quietly observing his prey, trying to influence their thoughts, a voyeur, not physically doing anything to depose them. Thereus types wait patiently for years until they finally get their prize. I do like the glyph because it also looks like a crown.

Thereus is patient, but abit sinister, like a vulture wishing it’s dinner would just hurry up and die. The fact Thereus in the myth dragged the sacred bears from their home without due respect is also rather inconsiderate. Centaur disconnection.

Phil Sedgwick gives some possible themes for Thereus “”Relational and professional attitudes based upon others. I am what I am in this relationship because of my career status or the ornamentation of this relationship. Positive – Balance between relationship and work, money and sexuality. Negative – Object oriented, status seeking, mercenary in work ethics, stunned by glamour and beauty of partner”[1].

Mark Andrew Homes who came up with the bear-paw glyph suggests “the ability to keep personal and professional lives separate and balanced; identification with one’s career, relationships or stuff; mercenary behaviour; attraction to beauty and glamour; ability to work constructively with others; wildness, lawlessness, hunting, nature, wild animals, concern for the environment..”[2]

Thereus’s hovering around Saturn could be seen as rather parasitic and I also think he is mistakenly trying to impress his lord and master by being overly macho. In his eagerness to suck up to big daddy he has totally missed the point, appearing arrogant and insensitive. From a females perspective it’s just the misguided need for the male to impress. I get the feeling there is nothing deliberately “evil” or calculating about it, it’s just primal instincts. So let’s look at the discovery chart for a clearer picture

Thereus Discovery chart

Well how utterly apt the most important body in the whole chart the Sun, is on the fixed star Dubhe in the great bear. If it was on its furry neighbour bloodythirsty Phecda we really would be in trouble. Dubhe is quiet female strength, she only comes out roaring when someone threatens her cubs.

This suggests to me this Centaur will do anything to protect his family and sometimes this may mean doing things they aren’t proud of. Yes this chart is of a hunter, strategist and quick thinker ( Sun conjunct Mercury). There is the wild, unsophisticated and raw Sun trine Mars.

This Mars is on Sabik though, “Unorthodox or heretical religious views that may cause trouble, domestic disharmony, trouble through love affairs. [3] Chiron on Ras Alhague in Ophuichus is interesting because this is healing energy and a very shamanistic place for the medicine man to be. Ofcourse Chiron is a maverick too so underneath the crude mask to impress the boss is a sensitive healer.

Thereus is at 4º 46’ Pisces in this chart which makes it trine Jupiter and the North Node. I think that means being in the right place at the right time, maybe this is someone who inadvertently benefits from the misfortunes of others. It’s not deliberate!, they just happened to be there when the lead singer fell of the stage and broke his leg, or when those plasma screens fell off the lorry… Still if you are always there.
Thereus was discovered on Fomalhaut in the southern fish at the foot of Aquarius one of the important royal stars. It will be either very good or very bad, depending if one acts with integrity. It can bring lasting fame, or infamy!

Thereus in the birthchart

This centaur is highly ambitious and appears to ride roughshod over anyone in pursuit of it’s ultimate goal. The heart is in the right place, but for some reason the unspeakable keeps happening. This can be people misreading ones situation, and projecting their own paranoia’s onto it, eg: young person marries and older rich person for love, but it’s seen as gold digging.

Thereus in the chart may well be the area in ones life that outsiders are sceptical about if harshly aspected. It is also the area where we may go too far in trying to impress our bosses or parents. Positively, Thereus’s position in the chart maybe where one experiences an unexpected promotion through some obsurd quirk of fate.

Thereus representing the master and his pupil travelling together on a spiritual path would be the more positive manifestation of Fomalhaut. It’s true the discovery chart is quite aggressive with all the oppositions, but the Jupiter/Venus/North Node conjunction show the ultimate goal is an honorable one. The star they all fall on is the announcer star Mirzam in Canis Major. The barking dogs. “Ptolemy states that the stars of this constellation, are like Venus. It is said to give good qualities, charity and a faithful heart, but violent and dangerous passions.” [4]

So again like all Centaurs, the challenge is to control the dangerous bestial passions, which is where things fall apart for Thereus. In synastry, Thereus will show misunderstandings with partners through acting too macho (men) or appearing to be a golddigger (women). Stressful Thereus connections show where the partner may feel used for their beauty, sex, money or social standing, Harmonious contacts show where the partners are working together to elevate the social and moral status of their family.