In the Name of Love: The Asteroid Psyche

A story retold in countless variations across the ages: a celebrated beauty is eclipsed by a new one, provoking jealousy and punishment. Yet it is the supposed offender, who ultimately prevails through diligence, perseverance, and moral integrity. The myth centers on Psyche, a mortal so beautiful and pure that she is worshipped like a goddess, and Venus, whose jealousy springs from her insatiable need for admiration. “In The Name of Love” opens with an analysis of Psyche’s myth, drawing on Apuleius and integrating astrological symbolism that links her labors to signification of several Zodiac signs. The tasks imposed by Venus move Psyche through distinct archetypal terrains: Virgoan discernment in sorting seeds; fiery confrontations reflecting Aries and Leo in the trial of the golden sheep; the icy waters, dragons, and descent to the underworld resonant with Scorpio; and, finally, a Sagittarian note in Cupid’s arrow and in immortality granted by Jupiter. Along this path, the book examines interpersonal dynamics, the tension between desire and virtue, the complex figures of Venus and Cupid, and the layered nature of love through psychology, philosophy, and astrology.

The author explores the psychology of falling in love and choosing a partner, correlating these processes with the approaches of different Zodiac signs. While many associations are illuminating, some challenge traditional doctrine: for example, the assertion that “Venus isn’t naturally  comfortable in water signs,” despite her exaltation in Pisces and triplicity dignity throughout the  water element.

Psyche, destined to become goddess of the soul, overcomes every trial to reunite with Eros and develop the “Third Species of Love,” a union of divine and earthly love. Her labors outline a path toward this “third love,” described as relational themes activated by transits to the asteroid Psyche in the natal chart. Discovered in the wake of the Romantic movement, which advanced a vision of love freed from mere practicality or procreation, the asteroid Psyche introduced this concept into  astrological interpretation and encouraged renewed reflection on Venus. In the natal chart, the interplay between Venus (attraction and choice of a mate) and Psyche (the union of bodies and souls) reveals how mature love must be grounded in personal values rather than desire, social expectation, or inherited patterns. Activation of Psyche is said to cultivate the inner qualities necessary for a complete and ethical expression of Venus.

Part One also examines two charts linked to key Psyche-related events, including the discovery of the asteroid and the 2023 NASA Psyche mission launch, both featuring a prominently dignified Venus with notable aspects and connections to Regulus.

Part Two addresses aspects between the progressed Sun and Psyche. When exact within one degree, these aspects are said to activate Psyche themes for approximately a year. Twelve charts illustrate this process, including Simone de Beauvoir confronting emotional values and personal aims through Psyche in Scorpio in her relationship with Sartre; Marie Antoinette finding her voice under a progressed Sun opposition to Psyche in Taurus; John Lennon during the dissolution of the Beatles with Psyche in Gemini in the second house; and Robert Kennedy reclaiming moral authority and leadership under a progressed Sun – Psyche aspect.

Subsequent sections provide a structured overview of Psyche through the signs, transits of Psyche, transits from other planets to natal Psyche, and natal aspects involving the asteroid, resulting in a study that is ambitious and methodical.

The author emphasizes that interpreting Psyche requires returning to the essentials of the myth: a mortal worshipped in place of a goddess; a fated marriage revealing unexpected hidden beauty of Cupid (Eros) to Psyche; four arduous labors cultivating higher, platonic virtues; immortality granted by Jupiter and eventual acceptance by Venus; and the birth of Psyche’s daughter Voluptas, the goddess of pleasure. From this structure, Psyche’s natal placement indicates the virtues one must develop in relationship. Relational challenges become “labors” through which wisdom, justice, and courage are formed. The condition of Venus remains crucial, symbolizing whether love can be legitimized, integrated, and sustained.

Transits of Psyche to natal planets are described as triggering relational themes corresponding to the planet and house involved: for instance, challenges to intimacy (to Chiron in 8th house), communication (3rd house), identity (luminaries), or life direction (Lunar Nodes). Particular attention is given to aspects between Psyche and the Sun or Moon, illustrated through figures such as Richard Wagner, John Lennon, Jacqueline Kennedy, Margaret Thatcher, Friedrich Nietzsche, Malcolm X, Diana Spencer, Robert Schumann, and Maria Montessori.

The symbolic affinity between Psyche’s myth and psychoanalysis is explored through charts of prominent psychoanalysts, highlighting significant Saturn and Pluto aspects associated with discipline, inner confrontation, and transformation. Psyche’s role in synastry appears in professional collaborations and in family dynasties such as the British Royal Family and the Kennedys.

Finally, the discovery of the asteroid is placed within a broader cultural shift toward a vision of union integrating body, heart, and soul rather than duty or physical attraction alone. Paralleling the rise of psychoanalysis, this shift emphasizes inner awareness and transformation. Astrology of Psyche, in this view, helps identify the inner work required before a relationship can flourish and clarifies what must be transformed within oneself before change is demanded from another. The delineation of Psyche thus becomes a guide to conscious relational development.

Olga Rozzell for NCGR Syzygy magazine

Mention love and rom-com fans go weak at the knees, their eyes glazing over. But the myth of Psyche, the mortal wife of Cupid, points to the heroic journey demanded before she can come together with her soulmate.  She has to undergo trials and tribulations on the path to true love which can only be gained by acquiring wisdom, temperance or moderation, courage and justice.

Psyche is the latest asteroid to be graced with an astrological exploration in Anne-Marie Chabellard’s book In the Name of Love. A French author she has degrees in biological science and psychology with an interest in the Jungian approach to astrology.

As she remarks  ‘the relevance of using asteroids is far from winning unanimous support.’ But her own detailed studies of celebrities and her own clients persuaded her that there is a convincing case for keeping an eye on the asteroid Psyche, especially when it is spotlighted by the progressed Sun. She quotes Howard Sasportas as saying he saw “the progressed Sun as a torch which shines on whatever it is touching.”

Psyche, a giant asteroid, was discovered on 17 March 1852 and has a five year cycle round the Sun, spending a variable amount of time in each sign of the zodiac, varying from two to ten months. A NASA mission, launched 2023, is currently under way with findings expected by 2029.

There are examples of Psyche in operation under the prompting of the progressed Sun from John Lennon to Robert Kennedy and Simone de Beauvoir.

Psyche in aspect to the Sun is explained as pointing up the key relationship with the father for example with Maggie Thatcher. Intriguingly also with Jackie Kennedy whose wayward father ‘Black Jack’ Bouvier may have drawn her to Aristotle Onassis. Her Psyche was conjunct Onassis’s Chiron exactly which may explain a little of a relationship that seemed unlikely. J.F.K also had his Psyche square his Sun with his own father issues and his Psyche was conjunct Jackie’s Neptune.

The USA has its Psyche conjunct the Sun. And the Charles/Diana wedding also had Psyche conjunct the Sun. Father issues looming large?

Psyche in interpreted through the 12 signs with preliminary hints on transits.

The Royals are covered with an intriguing connection between the seniors and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s conscientious 6^th house Pluto. Prince Philip had his Psyche exactly conjunct her Pluto and her Psyche fell close to his Sun Mars in Gemini. Theirs may have started out as a soulmate love match but the strains of a Royal life took its toll. They managed against the odds to go through trials and tribulations to remain even closer at the end of long lives so it is noteworthy to see such a strong connection.

As with all astrological research on asteroids, centaurs and Fixed stars, it takes perseverance to winkle out what is most enlightening. What persuaded me looking at the charts of two couples I know with long-lasting marriages which in no way seemed ‘meant’ but have remained united, there are clear Psyche crossovers.

Even Hillary and Bill Clinton are bound together against the odds. Her Psyche is conjunct his Chiron and widely his Jupiter. While his Psyche conjunct his Pluto is square her Chiron and widely conjunct her Mars Pluto (4 degrees).

The Charles/Camilla match have both their Psyches in aspect to the other’s Mars for a spark.

Much to learn with further study.

This book is an admirable deep dive into what Psyche has to offer in a chart.

Marjorie Orr

This is a completely new book and the first by any author to have been dedicated singularly to the asteroid Psyche. According to the research that went into my web article from early 2003, ‘Introduction to Celestial Bodies’, Psyche is the tenth largest asteroid that was then known, after Ceres, Vesta, Pallas, Hygiea, Davida, Interamnia, Europa, Eunomia and Sylvia. Of the top ten by size, to the best of my knowledge, only Ceres and Vesta have previously been subjects of a dedicated single book, although there has also been a recent brief booklet on Hygiea.

However, Psyche has previously been the focus of considerable attention as part of broader treatments of asteroids, thanks in no small part to the resonances of its name with concepts in modern psychology.

Anne-Marie Chabellard has a degree in psychology and has studied astrology primarily, although not exclusively, from a Jungian psychological perspective. The blurb at the back of her new book ‘In the Name of Love: The Asteroid Psyche’ immediately contextualises her approach to asteroid Psyche in the mythological school of thinking, referring to the ancient myth related to Psyche and Cupid, and grounding the understanding of the essential meaning of asteroid Psyche in elements of that myth. To this, the introduction adds references to the meaning of the Greek-language word from which the name Psyche is said to have been derived, here transliterated as psukhê, as well as to the meaning of the glyph used to represent the asteroid.

The main text is divided into four parts. Part One: the Myth expands the themes alluded to on the rear cover blurb. Part Two: When the Progressed Sun Shines on Psyche is a collection of worked case studies using a sample of twelve famous individuals. Part Three: The Astrological Psyche defines the essential astrological meaning of the asteroid in the author’s reading, as well as looking at how to interpret it in the context of transits and progressions. Part Four: Psyche in Aspect does not set out to comprehensively delineate the meaning of natal Psyche in aspect to every planet in the birth chart. Instead, it looks particularly at aspects between Psyche and the luminaries, and then primarily through the lens of some detailed case studies. It also includes a brief investigation of the occurrence of aspects between Psyche and the planets Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in the nativities of a diverse range of founders and developers of modern psychoanalysis, and a chapter on the function of synastric aspects involving Psyche.

Suffice it to say that Chabellard’s work on asteroid Psyche is not and makes no pretence to offering a late-20th-century-style cookbook of natal asteroid placement delineations. If you are looking for a full set of potted readings of every possible placement of asteroid Psyche in the birth chart, including in the houses, and in major Ptolemaic aspect to every planet, this is not a book that will satisfy that want – although there is a brief section offering single-paragraph readings of each of Psyche’s possible natal sign placements included from pp. 102-6.

Instead, ‘In the Name of Love’ opens new pathways of thoughts and ideas on the essential meaning of the asteroid, and reports on the author’s investigations to date of its influence through case studies. As such, it should make for rich and rewarding reading for experienced astrologers who are capable of thinking for themselves and would like to develop a deeper understanding of ways the asteroid Psyche could meaningfully be read in a variety of different technical astrological contexts, giving them plenty of food for thought while leaving them to make their own inferences about its uses in specific cases. Astrologers who resonate with the mythological approach to reading the meaning of planets and planetoids, and modern psychological astrologers in particular, will feel instantly at home with this book.