Zeus and Eurynome. Like its mythological namesake, the asteroid confers the “grace”
of joy to natives in whose chart it is prominent.Sources:
Kowal, Charles T. Asteroids: Their Nature and Utilization.Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Ellis
Horwood Limited, 1988.
Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Astronomical Names.London: Routledge, 1988.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.EUTERPE
Euterpe, asteroid 27 (the 27th asteroid to be discovered, on November 8, 1853), is
approximately 88 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of 4.3 years. It was
named after the Greek muse of lyric poetry and music, who some myths say invented
the flute. She also is said to have had a special affection for “wild” melodies. The
prominence of Euterpe in a natal chart indicates talent in wind instruments and a
preference for “wild” music.Sources:
Kowal, Charles T. Asteroids: Their Nature and Utilization.Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Ellis
Horwood Limited, 1988.
Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Astronomical Names.London: Routledge, 1988.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.EXALTATION
The term exaltation is part of a traditional system of classifying certain sign place-
ments of planets. A planet is said to be in its dignity when it is in the sign it rules.
These are considered to be favorable placements. Exaltations are sign positions said to
be more favorable for a planet than even the signs it rules. Mars, for example, rules
Aries and is said to be well placed (in its dignity) in that sign. But Mars is even better
placed in Capricorn, the sign of its exaltation. This example demonstrates that while
Aries would allow Mars to express its outgoing, assertive nature quite well, Capricorn
would be a better placement because, without blunting one’s assertiveness, Capricorn
could discipline Mars so that one would not be inclined to impulsiveness (a trait char-
acteristic of Mars in Aries).
The reception of the traditional exaltations among modern astrologers is
mixed. This is partially because exalted planets are not always the unmitigated bless-
ings that one might anticipate. Venus in the sign of its exaltation, Pisces, for example,
is a highly idealistic, mystical placement that, unless counterbalanced by other factors
in a natal chart, tends to make a person too impractical about human relationships,
particularly romantic involvements. More generally, all of the traditional dignities
should be viewed cautiously, used when relevant to a particular individual’s chart, and
rejected when not.
The situation is different in horary astrology, where the classical exaltations
and dignities have a definite bearing on the question being asked. In Vedic astrology, aEuterpe
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