Nessus #7066
Named for the cunning centaur of Greek mythology, Nessus #7066, this asteroid points us to and lives in the area of our chart in which we experience manipulation, deception, and a betrayal of trust. Advantage is taken. It is most important that we remember that where we find Nessus, we are both likely to experience these things at the hands of others and in our own behavior. Nessus challenges us to confront the uncomfortable truth: that betrayal and manipulation are simply part of the human experience.
His story is always swallowed up by the story of Dejanira because it was his final act that defined the sort of creature he was. Nessus, the ferryman, was entrusted with delivering Hercules’ wife, Deianira, across a river. However, his intentions weren’t pure. Deianira’s beauty ensnared him, and he attempted to abduct her.
Hercules, being Hercules, shot him from across the river with a Hydra-poisoned arrow. As he lay dying at Deianira’s feet, she sobbed. Through no fault of her own, all of this felt like her doing, and she wanted so badly for her marriage to go well. That’s why, with his dying breath, Nessus reminded her that her new husband would never – could never – be faithful, and as a way to redeem himself for frightening her, he offered up his cloak, now soaked with his blood. He told her that when Hercules strayed, as she knew he would, if she put the cloak over him, his heart would return to her. In her insecurity, she accepted the gift.
Hercules did eventually stray, and desperate Dejanira made him a shirt from the cloak of Nessus. When he put it on, the poison immediately began to burn his skin and cause never-ending excruciating pain, leading to his eventual self-directed sacrifice.
Dejanira, in her perpetual state of guilt, ended her own life. The use of asteroid Dejanira #157 is always recommended when including Nessus, especially in relationship matters, synastry charts, etc.
Some astrologers would have you believe that Nessus is about deviant sexual behavior, abuse, and obsession, but while it is present for those things its presence doesn’t always result in such extreme violence. Most of the time it is more subtle.