I have a personal situation that I want to share. I will tie in the astrology after I explain.

Some of you may know that I am pregnant. I am currently 31 weeks along as I write this. I recently discovered that I have gestational diabetes. This is all new to me. I've never had diabetes during any pregnancy in the past. However, I am now wearing a continuous glucose monitor in my arm and poking my finger throughout the day to make sure my sugar levels are in a healthy range—not only for my sake but also for the health of my unborn son. The potential consequences of not keeping my sugar levels in check are pretty serious. Over the past month, I've learned through trial and error that even a small piece of fruit can significantly spike my blood sugar level.

For example, on the 4th of July, I had a hamburger on a "healthy" bun (supposedly sourdough, but it truly wasn't). I also had a small bowl of watermelon. Within 40 minutes, my sugar level was over the one-hour limit of 140 and peaked over 160!

I imagine how often my blood sugar levels were elevated in the past because I would normally have eaten more fruit and maybe an additional side during a holiday event like this one. This is why it's so important for me to keep my levels in a healthy range now. I feel guilty that I may have already caused harm during my baby's development. Thankfully, the ultrasound and doctor said he's doing well regardless, but I feel the need to be extremely strict with my diet to keep him that way.

When I first began this new way of eating, I eliminated all added sugars, bread, tortillas, rice, and potatoes. I was getting by with eating more fruit. I checked my sugar level one hour after eating, and I seemed to be doing well. It wasn't until I got the continuous glucose monitor that I realized the sugar spikes after eating fruit were happening before the normal one-hour test time. My sugar was spiking and lowering before I tested an hour after eating, which was deceptive. I had to accept that I wasn't tolerating fruit either. Now, I eat mainly a keto-type diet, with very small portions of fruit once or twice a day, carefully pairing it with healthy fats, protein, and fiber to help slow and reduce the sugar spike.

This pregnancy makes it difficult for my body to produce insulin and process sugar properly. I have two options: take insulin to keep my blood sugar in control or be very strict with my diet. I realize everyone’s body is different, and not everyone will have my exact experience. I am sure it's possible that some can't control their glucose by diet alone. It wouldn't surprise me since it's been difficult for me to always keep my levels in a healthy range, even while eliminating so many foods from my diet.

In Astrology, when looking at the body and health, I usually examine the ascendant, as well as the 1st and 6th houses in the chart. The sun and moon also play a role, and every planet and sign has some connection to health and the body, according to medical astrology. This pregnancy is also tied to my 5th house. The 9th house is connected in my situation because it's my 9th house profection year, and my ascendant ruler is there along with my natal north node and Jupiter. Transiting planets and aspects to my 9th house planets and ruler have also been in play during this time. My 9th house is in Virgo, which is connected with health and healing, especially with natal Chiron making a trine to natal Jupiter in Virgo.

Interestingly, Ceres, the asteroid goddess, is transiting my ascendant as I write this. My ascendant represents my self and physical body. I've gone back and forth on whether to include Ceres in charts for simplicity, but I will never leave it out for related topics.

Ceres on my ascendant, and her connection to mothering, fertility, and food (nourishment), has greatly impacted me since entering Capricorn (my 1st house) earlier this year. This includes my fertility and pregnancy, as well as issues around diet and nutrition tied to this pregnancy.

In the past month, when I discovered I have gestational diabetes, Ceres was making a strong conjunction to my ascendant while in retrograde. The day I didn't pass my glucose screening, Ceres was within minutes of an exact conjunction with my ascendant. It had already gone over my ascendant once, and when I failed the glucose screening, it was going back over, preparing me for what I am now dealing with.

The story of Ceres/Demeter comes from both Roman and Greek mythology, so I will use both names. In ancient mythology, Demeter (Ceres) is the goddess of agriculture, grain, fertility, and motherly relationships. She is responsible for the change of the seasons. Her daughter Persephone (Proserpina) was abducted by Hades (Pluto). The loss and grief experienced by Ceres was intense and seemingly unbearable.

Zeus (Jupiter) sent Hermes (Mercury) to negotiate her daughter's release from the underworld. However, because Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, she was bound to return to the underworld. Hades agreed to allow her to be with her mother, Ceres, for half the year, while she remained with him for the other half.

When Persephone was with her mother, the earth was fertile and abundant, but when she was with Hades, it was barren and dead—reflecting the seasons: spring and summer versus fall and winter.

Persephone became known as the goddess of spring and the goddess of the underworld, symbolizing the transition from death to rebirth, akin to the seasonal change from winter to spring.

Despite the loss, grief, and hardship faced by Ceres, she perseveres. The return of Proserpina each spring brings hope and renewal, symbolizing that after periods of darkness, light and growth follow. I see this in my own situation—seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s like a necessary death to an old way of doing things and a birth into a new way. Letting go of what was - to make room for what is to come. These transits affect more than one part of life. I have experienced more layers to this Ceres transit, but this is what I chose to focus on today.