Eros – The God of Love
By Maria Shaw

Asteroid Number 433 A.K.A. Eros, is one of the near-earth asteroids. Eros orbits between Venus and Mars and takes 1.76 years to complete a full cycle. Orbiting between the planet of love and beauty and the sexual, passionate Mars, Eros is also called the god of love.

But its not the type of love that one would expect. Eros creates passion that isn't always comfortable. It's the type of love that doesnt make us feel safe and secure. Forget peace and harmony. Its all about erotic love, obsessive behavior that you can't let go of. It clings to the very depths of your being. Your heart aches when you cant get enough. In some cases, youre very aware this type of love is not a healthy thing. Its not in your best interest, but you cant help feeling the way you do.

The ancient Greek word for erotic love is Eros. To the Greeks, it means a merging of the souls. It creates a lasting transformation. Youll never be the same again! Eros will leave it's mark on you.

Do you recall that old relationship that was so intense? The one that put you on a wild emotional rollercoaster ride? It was unhealthy but you couldnt seem to let go? Perhaps now its physically over but your emotionally still intertwined....forever. That relationship changed you. Thank Eros for bringing you two together.

This type of passion doesnt have to occur between two people or in a relationship to be Eros created. It can be created in situations too. It can happen in any circumstance where you find highly charged emotional feelings, risk, taboo, passion, creativity and sex. For Eros can bring out passionate inspiration in a person. It can be a good thing if its channeled correctly. If not, Eros brings dangerous desires, obsessions and betrayal. Ah, the things soap operas are made of!

When I do compatibility astrology charts for people, I now look for Eros and see how it affects them. Or if the relationship itself is Eros induced. When transiting, Eros always unleashes a potent energy.

In a natal chart, whatever house Eros shows up in, you may find too much passion and obsession. That can be dangerous.

Like the planets, Eros is connected to the individual signs. For example, my sun sign is in Cancer but my Eros is in Capricorn. I was once involved in a heavy relationship that I hung onto for years with a guy that had venus, moon, mars and mercury in Capricorn. My Eros conjuncted all of his planets. He felt it too. It was hard to let go emotionally. That Eros based relationship was one of the most intense Ill never know and still affects me today.

A friend of mine had transiting Eros hit her chart in the area of home and real estate. She went on a vacation to New Orleans and fell in love with the city. Her heart hurt when she returned home to the East. She sold all of her belongings, uprooted herself, quit her job and moved to The Cresant City, knowing not a soul. She brought a business and successfully ran it for years. Her obsesssion eventually grew into a choked trapped feeling. The city she had felt so passionately about, was stifling her very existence. She moved out of the area twelve years later. Actually she moved right out of the country!

Eros brings us compulsion and intensity. These Eros relationships usually start out of the blue; a crazy chance meeting. Like fate brings people together. You feel immediate passion and desire. Eros will make your world come alive. You must watch when tranisitng Eros hits a certain area of your chart every 1.76 years to see what it may bring. Will it bring in a new person? An affair? A passion for something? A talent? An obsession? Its crazy love. It makes no sense. Theres no logic to it.

I know one couple that Eros drew together. The union was mind-boggling; always breaking up and coming back together. They couldnt live with each another but couldnt live without one another either. It took almost 30 years to break the spell and it was only after one lover died that it was completely over.