Juno & Mental Resilience

*** This article was originally written in 2021 before being published in 2022 in the Astrological Association Medical Journal, so I’ve added a very brief addendum***

Astrologically, Juno is usually referred to as the ideal marriage or long-term partner. As Jupiter’s wife she maintained a loyal marital stance and protected the status quo, but certainly endured her fair share of trouble and strife. All was not bliss behind the scenes and Juno was quite capable of using her political influence to avenge herself, from manipulating the Trojan War (as her alter-ego Hera) to foiling lothario Jupiter’s ill-disguised affair with Io resulting in him begging for clemency. Nothing much gets past Juno.

Highly esteemed in Roman culture with temples and coinage dedicated to her, she had numerous epithets. Therefore as well as being multi-challenged, she is multi-faceted, able to also use her skillset for the good of the collective, particularly anything related to the feminine principle.

But here I will focus on what “goes on behind the scenes” from another perspective. Behind the façade of her elaborate lifestyle we can only imagine the mental stress and inner conflict her role gave rise to, from the anxiety of worrying about her wayward husband to the strain of her numerous responsibilities. Perhaps even Gods are not immune to stress.

Located in the Asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, her cycle is ~4.4 years. However, with an elliptical orbit her time in each sign varies from 2-3 months to nearly a year if she retrogrades, which occurs every eighteen months or so. Although one of the ten larger asteroids, she is only a tenth Mercury’s diameter so her small size belies the scope of her influence.

Juno’s Discovery chart[i] demonstrates her multiplicity, various epithets and stressful life – just look at the Grand Cross! Sat in fiery, cardinal Aries she is a go-getter who likes to be in the driving seat, fuelled further by her trine to Leo Moon and Venus. She is a home base of female courage and leadership.

Aside from her Virgo Sun, the Aries Libra opposition is interesting from a medical perspective: Aries is associated with the head, Mercury and Uranus with mental processes, even more so when placed in Air. Perhaps this relates to the mental toll of crises, constant juggling and balancing, the headspace taken up by life’s stresses. Saturn can weigh heavily and at some point in anyone’s life the scales can tip unfavourably to the point where something must be done to rebalance and recalibrate. So could Juno be associated with mental health and taking responsibility for building resilience? Not wishing to overlook the Cancer Mars apex, this also encompasses emotional fortitude.

Yet there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and through her epithet Juno Lucina “Bringer of Light” might we look here to Chiron where there is both healing and wisdom to be gained? Chiron epitomises those who have “been through it”, their experience often making them the best people to guide others through similar situations.

Currently one of the most strident advocates for mental health is Prince Harry who is very open about his own personal difficulties. Like Juno, he is the perfect example of privilege not automatically equalling happiness or a healthy mind.

His natal Juno sits in Virgo conjunct Mercury, the apex to a mutable T-Square with Uranus and Chiron/North Node, aptly describing potential mental health issues. With this highlighting his Gemini/Sagittarius axis it’s unsurprising he’s so vocal about mental health on a collective level.

In 2016, Prince Harry, along with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, launched the “Heads Together” campaign which “works in partnership with inspiring charities to change the national conversation on mental wellbeing”[ii], fitting as Juno is very much about collaborations and working together. At this time progressed Juno squared his natal Mars whilst transit Juno sextiled natal Juno.

A major charity Heads Together collaborates with is MIND, and from its incorporation chart[iii] we can again see a close Juno Mercury conjunction and prominent Gemini/Sagittarius axis. Uranus sits in Gemini and like Prince Harry, the North Node too, so very much about changing the way we think and communicate about cerebral matters.

In 2017 Harry announced another Heads Together collaboration, this time with the MOD[iv], aimed to improve the mental health of former services personnel. Two of Juno’s epithets, Curitis and Sospita[v] are martial and speak clearly of the military theme through the transits:  Juno conjoined Harry’s natal Jupiter and trined natal Juno which in turn was conjoined by Mars. Also, transit Sun conjoined progressed Juno and his progressed ASC opposed natal Juno.

2021 saw Harry launch another project with Australia’s Peak Fortem, “a digital toolkit that provides practical strategies for building mental fitness.”[vi]  Harry’s words describe Juno’s opposition beautifully,  ‘..Our mental fitness is one and the same as our physical fitness. Serving in the military, I saw first-hand how critical it is to train your mind as a muscle – not only to endure challenges and stresses but to excel, grow and build resilience in all aspects of life”[vii], the digital nature of this project emphasized by transit Juno conjoining his Uranus.

Juno is cardinal to the core therefore it’s logical to link her to such initiatives. Taking responsibility for our mental health often involves knowing when the balance has been tipped and taking appropriate action to restore the status quo, so perhaps Juno is a “go-to” in our charts where we can look for a mental heads up.

L.C McCafferty 12/08/2021

Addendum: In January 2023 an exclusive “laid bare” interview with Harry by journalist Tom Bradley was broadcast by ITV. It was incredibly personal and revealing, very much giving the impression Harry was not only sharing his demons but undertaking some sort of cathartic process. Aside from the very obvious directed Sun conjunct natal Pluto note the directed Juno Mercury conjunction forming a T-square with his natal Capricorn Cancer ASC/DSC, with transit Chiron completing a Grand Cross. At the root of this is his desire to seek resolution in his personal relationships, to voice his sense of pain and the implications on his emotional and mental health, but also his sense of alienation (self-imposed?) all of which are undoubtedly complicated by the institutional dynamics of the royal family. Transit Juno (and Neptune) trines directed Venus and squares natal Neptune which describe his ongoing sense of longing at the tragic loss of his mother, but perhaps also some lack of objectivity. Note also transit Jupiter in Aries inconjunct natal – impulsive perhaps and not entirely as comfortable or confident as he might seem.

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[i]  File:Juno discovery.gif – Astrodienst Astrowiki

[ii] The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry launch Heads Together campaign – Royal Foundation a collaboration of   mental health charities including mind & Prince William, Kate and Harry Launch ‘Heads Together’ Campaign – ABC News (go.com)

[iii] MIND (THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH) – Overview (free company information from Companies   House) (company-information.service.gov.uk)

[iv] Ministry of Defence and Royal Foundation launch new partnership to improve mental health – Royal Foundation

[v] Statue of Juno Sospita from the Vatican Museum

[vi] Build your mental fitness with Peak Fortem | Fortem Australia

[vii] Prince Harry launches mental health tool overseas | Daily Mail Online