When the Needs are Met in the Relationship - Goddess Juno

by Eda Ocak Zakaria

Today, we turn to one person to provide what an entire village once did: a sense of grounding, meaning, and continuity. At the same time, we expect our committed relationships to be romantic as well as emotionally and sexually fulfilling. Is it any wonder that so many relationships crumble under the weight of it all?

Can astrology help us find a way out of this complex issue presented by Esther Perel? I believe it can! Knowing what we want in a relationship takes time and experience. We sometimes get confused about what we need in a relationship and demand more than what one person can provide. Astrology can give us an entryway to understanding our needs, desires, and tendencies in relationships. 

There are some indicators in the natal chart that tell us specifically about relationships. Asteroid Juno shows what we want from a partner and long-term relationships. We can check Juno in our natal chart, in synastry, and in composite charts. 

Juno, a Roman goddess, was Jupiter’s wife. She and Aphrodite were the only two women officially married among all goddesses. Juno was the patron goddess of marriage, childbirth, and women’s sexuality. In Greek mythology, under the name Hera (Juno), she was known to be a loyal spouse unlike her husband Zeus (Jupiter). She was portrayed as a respected, beautiful and noble woman because of her loyalty to her husband. She was the initiator of women into the rites of marriage. The month of June, when many weddings take place, was actually named after the goddess Juno, with a slight twist. 

Juno and Jupiter had an on and off relationship. At some point Juno was fed up with Jupiter’s disloyalty and had an agenda to take revenge. When she acted out her revenge, Zeus became angered and punished her. The tension between them was the main dynamic of their marriage.

From this perspective, Juno resonates with Scorpio and Libra archetypes, but mostly their shadow sides.  Juno, as a jealous and vindictive wife, reflects a Scorpio energy. Even though she was frustrated by her husband’s disloyalty, when she compromised, she used Libra’s shadow side.

If we look at Juno from these mythological archetypes, Juno shows a need for an honest, fair and deeply connected relationship, but it also shows neurotic complexes and pain created from the lack of such a partnership. 

Juno’s sign, house placement, and aspects in the natal chart show us what we need in a relationship and how we project this to our partner. Juno’s effect is more significant when it is conjunctor opposed to another planet. When conjunct in the synastry chart, it can mean that the couple has the same expectations from a relationship, so it makes it easier for them to be together. However if it is opposed or square, then they need to put out more effort to fulfill their expectations.

Let’s see how Juno plays a role in Salvador and Gala Dali’s charts. 

We find Juno in Scorpio and conjunct Uranus in Gala’s natal chart. This tells us that Gala expected loyalty and intimacy from her partners, and a deep connection in the relationship. A conjunction with Uranus says that her partner might be extraordinarily authentic, or even weird. I believe she could not have found a more extraordinary man than Salvador Dali.

Having Juno in Scorpio could mean that sexuality is one of the key factors for her to be happy in a relationship. Juno in conjunction with Uranus means that there might be something unusual about sexual tendencies. When they became famous as a couple, many rumors were spread about their sexual life. Some said that they didn’t have a sexual life at all, some said Gala had many young boyfriends. Once Salvador Dali said that he was gay. Even though we may never know the truth, we know that the rumors surrounding them were much more unusual than other famous couples. Rumors about Gala having boyfriends fits  theUranus–Juno symbolism because it requires freedom from all social taboos about marriage. 

We can say that Gala should have expected her husband to let her live her sexuality freely. Actually, this aspect is not only about free sex, but it is about being accepted as an individual.  The Juno/Uranus conjunction shows that Gala might have wanted to have her own life outside their relationship. We can see this aspect of her life when she started to live in a castle. After Salvador Dali bought a castle for her, Gala stipulated that her husband could visit only if he had received a written invitation.

In Salvador Dali’s chart, Juno is in Aquarius and conjunct Saturn in the 8th house. Because of Gala’s Juno inconjunct with Uranus, we can say that their Juno has the same vibration as an Aquarian. So this combination shows that Dali also expected a unique partner who is extraordinary and independent. The relationship should have some Aquarian qualities such as freedom and authenticity. A Juno–Saturn conjunction tells us that the partner should be someone who is in charge and has rules. Other than being the inspiration of Salvador’s art, Gala was a boss and had the authority to decide over his works. It seemed that she had a pretty strong influence as a woman in the Paris art community. Among her lovers were many surrealist painters. Once the painter Diego said that Gala was a woman who knows exactly what she wants for herself and others. Being a little kid inside, Salvador found the authority for which he sought. Saturn symbolizes seniority and Gala was 10 years older than him.

Sex is again emphasized because of the 8th house. A Juno–Saturn conjunction in Aquarius in the 8th house shows the potential for an unusual approach to sex in a relationship. Dali once said that he was a virgin. This might be true because
 Saturn contacts are likely to have sexual frigidity. Gala, on the other hand, triggered his fantasy world. In his paintings, he portrayed Gala with eroticism, in line with the 8th House symbolism.

In synastry, there is a square between Gala's Juno in Scorpio at 15 degrees and Salvador’ Juno at 17 degrees in Aquarius. This also shows that at some point they may have had difficulty in meeting each other's needs. I think this tension also triggered the creative energy of the duo.

In the Composite chart, Juno is in Capricorn. Juno in composite charts describes the nature of the couples’ relationship. The Dali couple's composite Juno in Capricorn explains the business-oriented structure of their relationship. Gala was a businesswoman who knew how to attract gallerists while keeping Dalí away from people she distrusted.

Moreover, a Juno-Neptune opposite Venusshows that the nature of this work contains artistic and mystical energy. Salvador Dali painted Gala as a holy woman in some of his works and he was often inspired by her. After she died, he isolated himself in the castle that he bought for her. 

As we see in this example, Juno is a prominent indicator of relationships in astrology along with Venus and the 7th house. It adds more information to our understanding about our needs in a relationship. In addition to our reflective observations, Juno is also very useful for us to understand what our partner expects from a relationship.

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/arts/design/gala-salvador-dali-exhibition.html
Esther Perel, Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic
Demetra George, Asteroid Goddesses: The Mythology, Psychology, and Astrology of the Re-Emerging Feminine.
Salvador Dali's chart from www.astro.com (Rodden rating AA)
Gala Dali's chart from www.astrotheme.com (unknown birth time)

Image sources:
Juno and Jupiter: Annibale Carracci [Public domain]
Charts provided by the author

Published in: The Career Astrologer, September 2019.

Author:
Eda Ocak Zakaria is a practicing astrologer based in Turkey. She majored in Turkish Language and Literature and has a masters degree in Western Art History. She worked as a teacher and taught Turkish language to students from all over the world for ten years. She initially studied Astrology with Öner Döşer for three years, with a Traditional to Modern program, and then continued with Aleksandar Imsiragic studying Hermetic & Karmic Astrology. www.edaocak.com
eda.ocak@gmail.com

© 2019 - Eda Ocak Zakaria - The Career Astrologer

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