#space witch

ceres is a minor planet named after the roman goddess of agriculture (whose greek counterpart is the goddess demeter).

discovered on january 1st of 1801, ceres was initially classified as a planet but was later reclassified as a minor planet, or dwarf planet. it is the only minor planet that precedes neptune's orbit.

the space probe dawn, that launched in 2015, found that the surface of ceres contains ice! research suggests that the core of ceres is a mix of ice and rock, while the crust could be up to 30% ice.

fun fact: ceres has ice volcanoes!

the myth behind the name: like the story of demeter and persephone, ceres loved her daughter, prosperpina, so greatly that she halted the seasons while mourning her after she was kidnapped and taken to the underworld, causing a long winter and stunting the growth of crops and plants. it was only after prosperpina was allowed to spend half the year with her mother in the overworld that the seasons resumed and crops began to grow again.

it's pretty neat that an icy [minor] planet is named for a deity associated with winter!

ceres is classically associated with agriculture and the earth element, harvest, grains, fertility, motherhood, and marriage.

fun fact: the word "cereal" is named for ceres!

personal associations for ceres include: law, order, justice, punishment for the unfaithful, unconditional love, unity, companionship, rage, sorrow, seasons, cycles, winter, death and rebirth.

herbs: apples, comfrey, grains and crops of all kinds - poppy, wheat, corn, barley, oats, etc., grapes, mint, mullein, myrtle, rosemary

crystals/minerals: canary diamond, carnelian, citrine, clear quartz, copper, garnet (it reminds me of pomegranates), gold, green aventurine, emerald, jade, malachite, moonstone, moss agate, peridot, petrified wood, rose quartz, topaz

day of the week: friday

lunar phase: full moon

I made Leilani the Sea Witch as a Space Witch as she floats in space. I like the idea that she is making small universes in her hands if I were to render this Sketch. I had a lot of fun with this #Jetsons looking outfit.