Princess Diana, Every Woman
Lady Diana Spencer, better known as Diana, Princess of Wales, was beloved by men and women all around the world. Many of us saw something of ourselves in her. And that's not surprising. Princess Diana manifested the energies of the feminine planets and asteroids.
Artemis, the Greek goddess of the Moon, was named Diana in the Roman mythology. Goddess of the hunt and of the hunted, she was a consummate huntress. She is often portrayed running through the woods with her hounds around her, pursuing a stag with her bow and arrow. Yet the Sun -- her brother Apollo -- tracked her across the heavens in an unending pursuit.
Lady Diana exhibited the qualities of her namesake. As the hunter, she persisted in her quest to better the world for those less fortunate. As the quarry, she led photographers and reporters on a chase around the world. Knowing she could not shake them, she took them to the places she wanted people to see, from the killing fields in Bosnia to the starving children in Africa. She took their weapons -- cameras and words -- and made them her own, until the day the hunt ended in tragedy.
Princess Di's life was closely tied to the Moon's phases. Some major events of her life occured during eclipses: her marriage, the birth of her son William and her death.
Diana, Princess of Wales, fits well into Venus' world of beauty, money, romance, and the arts.
She spent thousands of pounds to enhance her looks, from frequent tooth polishings to the latest hair and makeup products. She pampered herself and seemed to spare no expense when it came to her beauty. After her death, we learned that she had also managed her money wisely, setting up a trust fund for her children.
Diana's search for romance led her to marry a prince. Venus rules surface attraction, the initial connection between two people; in Diana's case, the romantic phase did not give way to the deeper, long-lasting partnership that belongs in Juno's realm.
As we might expect from a woman in her position -- wealthy, royal and famous -- Diana was a dedicated patron of the arts, contributing money, time and publicity.
Neptune's realm is mutable and complex, knowing no boundaries or structure. Despite the rigid standards of conduct that the British royal family maintains, Diana managed to transcend the barriers.
Spiritually, Diana seemed to be searching for something more than what her Anglican religion gave her. She became involved in the New Age movement, trying aromatheraphy and meditation. When her mother became a Catholic, Diana looked into that religion for a time.
Music and drugs belong to Neptune as well. Diana suffered from depression and took the antidepressant Prozac. She liked popular music. Though her husband preferred classical sounds, she made friends with Elton John and Duran Duran. Upon her death, Elton's rendition of "Candle in the Wind" raised millions of dollars for Diana's charities.
Diana was born to fashion and glamour. She wore the creations of British designers wherever she went, and whatever she wore became front-page images. She chose outfits with great care; on a visit to Japan she wore a white dress with red dots in tribute to the Japanese flag.
Princess Di lived in the spotlight. Her life became a form of entertainment for the rest of us, as if it were a soap opera or a racy novel. We knew even the most trivial details of her existence, from her colonics to her favorite foods. Andrew Morton's famous book Diana: Her True Story revealed the sorrow and pain behind the fairy tale, taking her story to new depths.
Ceres represents motherhood and nutrition, both of which were focal points for the Princess.
One of Diana's most important duties, according to her in-laws and royal tradition, was to produce heirs for the throne. Her fertility was an important factor in her being chosen by the royal family as a mate for the prince, although she was also required to be a virgin bride. A Cancer, Diana was drawn to children and worked in a day care center before her marriage and the birth of her two sons.
Diana struggled with nutrition for a long time. Her bulimia was very public, but she eventually recovered and learned to nourish herself. She tried to inspire other women to fight against eating disorders.
Juno is The Wife, ruler of weddings and partnerships.
Diana certainly exhibits Juno's energy. She and Charles held the wedding of the century, viewed on television by a billion people. Like Juno, she craved a true partnership, but it was not to be. Charles was unfaithful, as was Juno's husband Jupiter.
But unlike Juno, Diana eventually stopped keeping up appearances. She separated from Charles after 11 years of marriage and divorced him four years later. This may be the "shadow side" of Juno, but it seems to have been the bright side for Lady Di.
Pallas Athene is best known as the Warrior Woman, and Diana's core of strength certainly surprised her in-laws. Instead of playing the role of meek wife and helpmate, Diana stood up for what she wanted. She traveled and used her position to fight for causes that meant something to her; she employed strategies to draw the public eye toward the suffering she hoped to alleviate.
An avid swimmer, Diana was a sportswoman, which kept her coordinated and confident in the face of adversity.
The Vestal Virgins held a high position in ancient Greek society; even in the 1980s, the British royalty prized virginity so highly that Prince Charles was not allowed to choose a deflowered woman for his bride.
But Vesta's traditional virginity had as much to do with devotion and sacrifice as it did with sexuality.
The Vestal Virgins were considered undistracted by the "normal" concerns of husband and family and were thus able to concentrate on their duties. Diana's devotion to her charities led her to walk among landmine-strewn fields, to touch people with leprosy and to hug children with AIDS. She did not let disease or danger deter her from showing her love for people and working to make their lives better.
Diana also followed Vesta's example in the health and fitness arenas. After her triumph over her eating disorders, she advocated healthy habits and fitness.
Tying It All Together
The energy of the three feminine planets and the four feminine asteroids stirs within us all. Diana Spencer's very public life illustrates how these heavenly bodies can affect us and how their influences can manifest in our lives.
Remember, however, that we are not controlled by these energies. Whether you travel or stay home, marry or stay single, drink or stay sober depends upon your choices. Astrology helps you achieve a greater understanding of yourself so you can make wise ones.
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Mythology
