5 Minor Dwarf Planets In Astrology & Their Meanings
They're just as important!
AstroStar/Shutterstock.com Astrologers often look at the planets for indications of your love life, but there is a smaller subset of astrological study that involves dwarf planets.
There are five dwarf planets that cannot be seen with the naked eye, but they can be read in an astrological reading, and each one may reveal something unique about your love life including when you are fertile to plan a pregnancy.
The names of the five dwarf planets are: Pluto, Makemake, Quaoar, Eris, Varuna, and Sedna, and Haumea.
Dwarf planets are often referred to as 'Plutoids" an astronomy term. The International Astronomical Union issued a press release announcing their categorization on June 11, 2008 stating that plutoids were "...celestial bodies in orbit around the Sun at a semimajor axis greater than that of Neptune that have sufficient mass for their self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that they assume a hydrostatic equilibrium (near-spherical) shape, and that have not cleared the neighborhood around their orbit."
In astrology, however, Pluto is often interpreted as an outer planet and the minor dwarf planets are Makemake, Quaoar, Eris, Varuna, and Sedna.
In classical astrology, astrologers did not use these planets in interpreting a person's chart, so many astrologers today do not either.
Astrologer, David Muir, a Denver, Colorado practitioner who specializes in Relocation astrology says, "There is so much you can learn with the ten planets, and that's worth focusing on", and many traditional astrologers feel the same.
Jozef 'Jotown' Slanda, a classical astrologer based out of Detroit, Michigan states, "I often wonder if the proliferation of asteroids and dwarf planets in modern astrology is making astrology better or worse. When I see a chart filled with dozens of objects alongside the traditional planets, it doesn’t make the chart clearer to me. It in fact does the opposite.
To a scientific eye, distilling things to their essence yields a clearer picture of them than a handful of dirt that contains only flecks of the gold that one is seeking. In the words of William Bruce Cameron; “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted, counts.” The question is whether or not dwarf planets and asteroids paint a clearer picture, or merely serve to distort the truth of a chart. Astrologers will continue to debate this for decades to come."
However, a person can perceive that something is happening in their life, and for that reason, people often look at the impact or involvement of the minor dwarf planets.
The use of dwarf planets in interpretation is not a common practice, but that doesn't mean they aren't as important.
Astrologer, Alison Chester-Lambert in her article "An Introduction to the Dwarf Planets" writes, "We don't need astrology to tell us life is getting more complex..... but we do need an astrology to describe it!!".
The five dwarf minor planets in Astrology and their meanings:
Makemake
Makemake is the second dwarf planet to be officially named after it was discovered on March 31, 2005, by Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David L. Rabinowitz. The name "Makemake" refers to apa Nui, the creation god of Easter Island.
Makemake symbolizes a connection to environmental wisdom and relates to a love of nature and the beauty around you. It also correlates to environmental activism and protecting the Earth.
When Makemake is activated in your natal chart, you will be better able to manifest your desires through the power of your mind and thoughts. Visualizations, positive thinking, and the power of thought are all examples of active Makemake.
If Makemake is on your natal chart, you have a natural ability to manifest what you want into reality, simply by setting your mind to it and visualizing your desires. When the planet crosses your Sun, Moon, Mercury, or Venus this power is amplified and heightened.
Quaoar
Quaoar is named after the creation force of the Native American Tongva tribe that originated near Los Angeles. It was discovered by Mike Brown and Chadwick Trujillo on June 4, 2002.
Quaoar is said to be connected to creativity, our connection with divinity, and is believed to have a large impact on a person’s spirituality.
It is very important and applicable in people’s daily lives. It emphasizes the sacredness of life and the natural order of things (not man’s law).
Similarly to Makemake, if Quaoar is on your natal chart, you have that natural ability to manifest, visualize, and think your desires into being.
Your power of thought is naturally stronger than others. Additionally, when the planet crosses your Sun, Moon, Mercury, or Venus this power is amplified and heightened.
Varuna
Varuna was discovered November 28, 2000, by Robert S. McMillan and has similar traits to Makemake and Quaoar. In Indian mythology, Varuna is the all-knowing creator god. He is merciful and just; known as a protector of people. He is said to control the order of the universe and the natural world.
Varuna is all about nature taking its natural course and letting what needs to happen occur.
Man-made rules and facts hold no place in the face of cosmic law and the will of the universe. Varuna can instill ethics within people and encourage people to turn away from the laws of man that conflict with nature.
On a natal chart, it is similar to Makemake and Quaoar, as it shows a gift for visualizations and thought to achieve desired outcomes in the world.
Again, when the planet crosses your Sun, Moon, Mercury, or Venus this power is more prominent.
Sedna
Sedna is named for the Inuit goddess of the sea who is said to live at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. Sedna was discovered by Michael, E. Brown, Chadwick, Has. Trujillo and David L. Rabinowitz on November 14, 2003.
It is activated when you are dreaming of a better life or a better world where your hopes and dreams are true.
This causes you to follow a path of false promises to try and achieve this desire for something different and ultimately leaves you in a worse position than when you started. It primarily deals with naivety.
Eris
Discovered January 5, 2005, by Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo, David L. Rabinowitz, Eris is a minor dwarf planet named for the Greek goddess of chaos.
Strong and self-reliant, yet full of resentment and bitterness, Eris is activated when you feel left out. It can be anything from a major life event to a small snub, but Eris can make you frustrated and annoyed easily when you are left out or feel resentful.
To counter this bitterness, it is important to create your own social circles and groups where you are not waiting on invitations from others; you control when you are with others. Being the leader of your own circles is vital.
On a natal chart, it can indicate how rebellious you are and where this will appear in your life.
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Erin Watson is an editorial intern. Her main focuses are relationships, entertainment, and astrology.