Planet Sedna was discovered in 2003. In this article I look at Sedna’s myth and what her meaning could be in astrology. Sedna’s discovery was only possible because right now the planet is at its perihelion (closest to the Sun). Eris was in fact discovered after Sedna even though it is nearer to us, so until 2005 Sedna was also considered a candidate for the 10th planet.
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This missing 10th planet has always been a suitable hook for the missing Dark Goddess archetype in astrology and the exiled feminine which is why both Eris and Sedna both resonate with the Persephone myth. They also both carry themes of resurrection from deep, dark and bleak places.
Sedna Mythology
In Inuit mythology, Sedna is the goddess of the sea and marine animals, often referred to as the Mother of the Sea or Mistress of the Sea. Her story, a creation myth, explains how she became the ruler of Adlivun, the Inuit underworld. Sedna’s myth is quite horrifying. Her father, a widow is desperate to marry off his eligible daughter, but she refuses all his choices. At his wit’s end and in order to punish her, Sedna’s father forces his errant daughter to marry the pet dog! Unfortunately, the animal actually mates with Sedna, so she ends up giving birth to little doggy babies.
Her father is so ashamed and horrified that he throws her out onto the streets. Feeling poor, abandoned and lonely, Sedna then thinks marriage may be a good idea after all if only to have a comfy bed! So in haste, Sedna hooks up with the first charming and apparently well-dressed man that comes along.
Unfortunately, once safely married, the smooth-talker reveals himself to be a lousy crow man. It turns out he has no wealth to his name and just a stinky old nest. Sedna is beside herself with disappointment, but instead of telling scrawny features where to stick his tatty feathers, she wails loudly and helplessly for hours on end until her guilt-stricken father comes to rescue her.
Mr Crow returns from scavenging to find his prize catch is missing, furious he sets off to find Sedna and her father escaping on a boat. His rage whips up a fierce storm and in the panic, Sedna’s father decides to save his own skin by throwing Sedna off the sinking boat.
Sedna though, tenacious and stubborn as she is, will not accept her fate. She clings to the side of the boat for dear life, until her exasperated father hacks off her fingers one by one. Sedna has no choice but to surrender herself to the icy depths. Stripped of everything and left with pitiful stumps for hands, Sedna literally hits rock bottom.
At the bottom of the Ocean, Sedna realizes her fingers are transforming into seals and her palms into whales and dolphins. Sedna becomes the Queen of the sea creatures, finds her life purpose and ultimately her serenity. However, when her mass of unruly hair gets tangled she becomes enraged again and the threatens to withhold her bounty from the sea. All good shamen of the sea know that in order to ensure an abundant supply of fish, they need to soothe and comfort Sedna by brushing her hair.
As you can see the story ends well; Like the Persephone myth, it is about a rite of passage and eventual resurrection. However this time it is the child who is too clinging and possessive of her parent, rather than the other way round with Ceres in the Persephone myth. The lesson here is about not accepting being the victim. One must learn to take responsibility for one’s life, turn the situation around and transmute an extreme negative into an extreme positive.
Sedna Astrology
Here are some interpretations I found on the internet that sum her up for me, starting with Sedna at its lowest vibration:
“Sedna is evil. A Sedna business will leave its customers in the gutter after it has taken all their money and stripped them of self-dignity. Sedna symbolizes drugs and prostitutes, products that promote violence and or emotionless sex. Sedna is so insidious that it helps nobody. During so-called “good transits” by Sedna, a person will make money – but the profits will corrupt the person’s soul to the very core. And then Sedna will eat the person alive.” [Magi Astrology]
“Sedna’s myth may exemplify a female who does not want to commit in marriage, participate with men, or even be here on Earth, due to her fear of being hurt–an unresolved issue or molding from her unfortunate past, one that only perpetuates a life of loneliness. “ [Lunar Planner]
“The encounter with what has been lost, drowned out, or frozen long ago… In other words, our own ‘Ice Age’: the wounds in the soul caused by the impatience, condemnation, dismissal or anger of the father; the living hell of unresolved outrage; the violence of hardship where we cut off from what is desperate and vulnerable in ourselves or others in order to survive. “ [Melanie Reinhart]
“Sedna swims into your life to tell you to stop being a victim. The way to wholeness is to recognize how you’ve been caught up in and are living the victim archetype, then to change the pattern by empowering yourself.
Are you fond of saying, “Why is this happening to me?” Don’t get stuck in the “why”. … Sedna says we have all been victimized by something, by patriarchal institutions, discrimination based on race, gender, sexual preference, religion, or color. She encourages you to claim your power “ [Lynn Koiner]
“The goddess Sedna teaches us that we must delve into the dark, cold places that we fear most if we are to find the riches that rest there. Sedna reminds us that, in spite of all our infirmities and our foolish mistakes, we are still worthy of love and respect and have every right to expect, and even demand, that others treat us well” [Goddess Gift]
Sedna Keywords
Victim or victimizer, Gold-digging, betrayal and/or abandonment by the father, alienation, eerie, far out, ethereal, floaty, untouchable, far-sighted intelligence, deluge, delusion, out on-a-limb, limbless, leper, not of this world, worm-that-turned, freezing out, numbing, frigidity, ice maiden, cutting off, dismemberment, skeletons in the closet, deep sea treasure, submarines, sirens, mermaids, vanity, divas, blaming, “something-for-nothing” culture, poor-little-rich girls, bling, greed, bulimia, parasites, scavengers, treason, treachery, betrayal, stabs in the back, commitment-phobes, feeling superior, disappointment, not measuring up, Ivory towers, riches to rags, the gutter, pimps, sluts, drug pushers, sleaze, incest, conservationists, animal activists, bestiality, seafarers, sailors, pushy parents, unreal appearance – either deformed or stunningly beautiful. Disinheritance, losing one’s inheritance, snobbery. False accusations, dirty cash, ill-gotten gains, downfall, reformed character, altruism, philanthropy, sacrificing a part of yourself for the greater good.
Find Planet Sedna in Your Chart
1. Create your chart HERE.
2. Choose “Extended Chart Selection”.
3. Select Sedna from the “additional objects” section.
