To understand the meaning of asteroid Medusa in our natal chart we must look at her myth, archetype, and correspondences to understand how we can work with her as a deity for healing. Of all of the myths, none has been more politicized, manipulated and misunderstood than that of Medusa. In essence, Medusa was once a beautiful maiden who, after being raped, was cursed and transformed into a petrifying monster. It is understandable why feminists would adopt Medusa as their symbol. The Goddess was a victim blamed for her abuse, yet ultimately reclaiming her power. In order to understand how the asteroid Medusa works in our charts we need to examine Medusa in mythology. This article also goes into how you can work with this archetype for healing and deity work.
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Medusa is renowned for turning men into stone with her fierce gaze. Freud extensively delved into this myth, distorting the story by focusing on the devouring mother archetype and the threat of impotence from Medusa’s stare. He even suggested that petrification could be a metaphor for inducing ‘hardness’, (as in having an erection!) which contradicts his impotence point.
The Medusa Myth
The original myth is more intricate, and imposing a feminist perspective on a concept from a time when feminism didn’t exist poses challenges. Nevertheless, myths are living stories that evolve. For this archetype to be relevant in divination, some adaptation is necessary. In this context, the Goddess’s magical healing properties can make practical sense in the modern world.
Originally, Medusa was one of three Gorgon sisters, the sole human among them. Whether this human aspect meant she differed in appearance from her sisters remains unclear. Some versions highlight Medusa’s beauty, with long flowing hair that captivated the sea god Poseidon, leading to a consensual lovemaking encounter.
However, Ovid states that Poseidon took Medusa forcefully into Athena’s temple, leaving her pregnant. Outraged, Athena cursed Medusa, turning anyone who looked at her into stone—humans, animals, and even the ground beneath her. The curse condemned Medusa to a life of loneliness, untouched by any living being or nature.
So initially, Medusa’s gaze was not solely destructive to men. Perseus, aided by Athena’s mirrored shield, beheaded Medusa, lifting the curse. The decapitated head became a potent weapon, turning others to stone. Medusa’s blood served dual purposes, offering both healing and poison. After her beheading, she gave birth to Pegasus, the winged horse, and Chrysaor, a golden giant.
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Medusa In Your Birthchart *
You have a very strong Medusa signature if you have two or more of the following:
- Your Moon is square or opposite Neptune
- Asteroid Medusa is conjunct your Ascendant, Midheaven, Sun or Moon. *
- You have many personal planets in the 12th house.
- Fixed star Algol is conjunct your Ascendant, Midheaven, Sun or Moon. *
- Asteroid Pallas Athena is square or opposed to your Ascendant, Midheaven, Sun, Moon or Venus. *
*3º and under
To find Medusa in your chart: Go to Astrodienst to draw up a free birthchart. Click ‘Additional objects’ and and add in the number 149 followed by a comma in the manual entry box. I also provide astrology readings on darkstarastrology.com where my speciality is working with the dark goddesses.
