The discovery of a new celestial body is always monumental in the
astrological world; though this event was officially announced on
March 15th, 2004, the actual discovery was made at the Palomar
Observatory east of San Diego on Nov 14th, 2003, with the sun in
the sign of Scorpio. She is not officially categorized as a "planet",
though there are many that are petitioning for planetary status on
her behalf.

Since she was named after Sedna, the Inuit Goddess of the sea, I
believe this event is also highly relevent to The Fellowship of Isis
community, and to the emerging "Goddess Culture" at large.
Here in Chicago, we considered it a great omen that the liturgy
we chose for our 2004 convention [chosen back in October of
2003] honors the Goddess Sedna, as well as other deities from
various native cultures.

She has spoken - let us listen to her message with reverence.

Who is Sedna?

Lady Olivia's liturgy tells the story of Sedna:
[an excerpt from "Magical Journey to Ursa Major", from the booklet
"Psyche, Magical Journeys of the Goddess" by Olivia Robertson]

"Ockabewis is telling me of Sedna's realm, in the cosmic language
of thought - feeling. Sedna, he says, is the space between the
stars, the vortex from which creation is born. She brings forth
those whom She has devoured. The Eskimos, he says, see Sedna's
hairs as weeds and every part of Her body gives forth creatures:
her fingers and toes are humans and animals and fish. The Mother
gives Herself totally with generous love.

3RD PRS. Ockabewis is chanting Sedna's poem.
Come My lovers to My sea-caves
Where there is no sorrow.
Come to my land of bright birds
Whence cometh my Lover the Bird Man.
Rest your weary bodies upon warm bear-skins,
In my beautiful caves, hung with brightly coloured pictures.
My pot is always filled for the hungry souls,
Those who receive no offerings of love from earth.
I was tormented, I was torn asunder.
From My very Body I gave birth to all beings
And I rejoiced. Come, My Lovers, to my caves of love.

Ockabewis tells us of Bird Man:
In a bright dome above Sedna's caves
Reigns Atasak, God in Heaven.
He looks like a Sphere of Light and bringeth joy.
Here are the forms awaiting souls,
Humans and birds and beasts and trees.
Here are the Angakoks, Sorcerors wise in magic.
They make the forms to be brought to life by Innua.
And here is the joy of Sedna's heart,
The Rainbow Bird Man of love and happiness.

Let us enter the World of Spirits."

Traditionally, planets and planetoids were named after Greek or
Roman deities, but this is the second major heavenly body named
after a deity of an indigenous tribe [the first was Quaoar
- pronounced Kwa-Oh-Wah, named after a native North American
creation spirit, discovered in 2002]. Could this signify that
the "old order" is open to explore a multi-cultural view on
world events and belief systems?

The Astrology Of Sedna
Though many astrologers speculate as to the meaning of this
new player in the cosmic arena, we usually allow the planets
to speak for themselves by watching the transits of a newly
discovered planetary body, observing how the transits relate
to the charts of ourselves, our clients, or nations. At this
point, I believe we have more questions than "answers",
although the mythology of Sedna can hold a deeper truth if we
allow our minds and spirits to enter her realm through
meditation and ritual.

You can search for an online astrological ephemeris for Sedna
[which states the degree and sign of Sedna for a given date],
and you can see what degree Sedna was in at your time of birth.
Since Jupiter expands and emphasizes any planet it contacts
by transit, you can observe and record what is significant to you
personally any time Jupiter makes an exact aspect to your natal
Sedna. It can be a great time to meditate with this Goddess of
the deep, and record your observations, as well the messages you
receive, in your magical diary or journal.

The journey has only begun... may the Goddess Sedna bless all
of us in our ongoing quest for discovery and awareness!

©2004 Sarolta G. DeFaltay. This article may not be reproduced in
ANY form without express written permission from the author.

bibliography:

astronomy
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/sedna/
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/planet_like_body.html

astrology
http://www.karmastrology.com/Sedna-meaning.shtml
http://www.karmastrology.com/Sedna-eph.shtml
http://www.astrology.com/aboutastrology/interpreting/planets/sedna.html
http://stars.metawire.com/sedna.html
http://www.astro-services.com/forecast/
http://www.astrology.co.uk/news/Sedna.htm
http://planetwaves.net/astrology/sedna.html
http://www.chat-line.net/forum/hobby_astrologia/message_1238.asp

sedna ephemeris
http://www.widgetsworld.co.uk/search/go.php?art_id=2081