Psyche ~ Her meaning in Astrology

Psyche is one of the most important asteroids in your chart. Psyche’s asteroid number is 16, and she was discovered on March 17, 1852, when the Sun was in Pisces. Pisces is the sign of unconscious thoughts and dreams, and is ruled by Neptune, the planet of illusion, mist, and vapor. Pisces and Neptune can give us great creativity and artistic ability, but also incline us to want to escape from reality, into a pleasant dream world, where nothing is real, unless we want it to be.

Psyche is the Greek word for soul, and Psyche is the place in your chart that can detail for you where you can find your entrance into your self. Psyche also represents psychology and is involved with the discipline of the study of the mind. Psyche encompasses the soul, the mind, and the self.

The ancient Greek mythological saga of Psyche has formed the basis of numerous fairy tales and folk stories, including that of Beauty and the Beast, and The Knight and the Loathly Damsel. The elements of Psyche’s life are trust, love, passion, betrayal and jealousy. Beyond that, we can learn from Psyche the uncovering of who we are, why we act as we do, and what love means to us.

Psyche’s story is filled with archetypes, as are all mythological tales; fathers who are cruel or neglectful, or overindulgent, foolish and devoted; jealous women, as in mothers, stepmothers or sisters, and of course the lover. The lover may be disguised, so the fair maiden cannot see his face or guess his identity. He can be cruel, or he can be kind. He can be a demon or a god. His being and persona changes in each story, and in each version of the story.

The end of the tale is always the same, since the ultimate end of the heroine’s story is her final understanding of herself. It is the final acceptance of her totality of being, which includes her mind,body, and spirit. Psyche’s story involves the ultimate acknowledgement that the soul can be granted immortality through its’ ability to love.


Psyche’s story is in essence every woman’s story. Psyche’s tale begins when she is in early womanhood, and brings her to an uncharted place, where she is not sure of anyone or anything. She is then forced to deal with the world, and surmount many difficult obstacles before she, the embodiment of the soul and mind, is able to merge with her other half, her animus, or her male
lover. Once she achieves that goal, she achieves a true integration of her self, becomes a goddess,and achieves immortality.