AAL’S LABYRINTH HISTORY An Alternative Viewpoint…..contd. 16.

7000 BCE         THE GREAT MOTHER manifesting in three aspects. This TRIPLE GODDESS is known in:-

                            Egypt as                        Neith/ Isis

                            Sumaria as                    Inanna

                            Babylon as                    Ishtar

                            Canaan as                      Astarte/Anath

                            Urgarit as                      Asherah consort of Yahweh

                            Crete as                         Rhea.

                            Greece as                      Demeter (mother of Persephone)

                            The Great Mother Goddess is known between now and fifth millennium BCE and there are images of her in Anatolian villages in Turkey. This is the Neolithic or Late Stone Age and the time of the earliest known permanent villages.

6,600 BCE        GEMINIAN AGE begins and the now A definite dual condition of man is symbolized in the myth and constellation of the twins, Castor and Pollux. The chief cult of this age is that of the Serpent, symbol and guardian of ancient cosmic power and wisdom. The symbolism can be seen in Quetzalcoatl the Feathered Serpent god of the American Indians, and in the Dragon of many world mythologies. This power and wisdom are encapsulated in the concept of the Kundalini of India, and in the Uraeus of Egyptian pharaohs. 

                            This world age probably marks the development of writing, along with the worship of twin gods, such as seen in the Egyptian Set and Horus who will fight for supremacy in Egypt but for now rule together in unison until 4867 BCE.

                            HORUS & SETH two Ancient Egyptian gods of the north and the south, rule in unison and will rule together until 4867 BCE.

                            At the Equinoxes, the luminous bridge of the Milky Way now links the constellations of GEMINI and SAGITTARIUS across the vault of the skies; thus the Milky Way over-arches the Equinoctial Points. It is the ‘Golden Age’, said to be ruled by the Greek Saturn/Kronos (Sumerian Enki-Ea) until war broke out between Kronos of the Titans, and Zeus of the Olympians. This war provoked a massive world flood and brought about the end of this Golden Age. Kronos or Enki-Ea will be banished to Eridu (Canopis) as a result. This event may be another of a series of global ‘deluges’, or it may be another version of the Egyptian Horus/Seth battle.

                            As Gemini and Sagittarius mark the Equinoxes, then Pisces and Virgo mark the Solstices and so humans are now existing in the mutable cross of the heavens. As the Milky Way forms a bridge between the Equinoxes, it connects earth and heaven in an intimate way. Open communications between earth, represented in the zodiac or ecliptic belt, and the heavens of the greater cosmos is established. Thus gods and humans can communicate more easily in this ‘Golden Age’. It is an exceptional time and circumstance, living at the crossroads of the Ecliptic and Equator, the crossroads of the Ecliptic and Galaxy and may well be the time that the myth of the constellation of Cygnus the swan was laid down.

Photo: Sky Walk. The MilkyWay

                            The Poles of the world axis fall between the North pole star Eltanin cDraco ‘on the dry earth’ and the South pole star Canopus, ‘in the depths of the waters’. It is theorized by some authors that the ancient concept of the ‘world’ was more of the cosmos and that earth or the livable land, was a reference to the zodiac belt. Everything above, that is to the north of the ecliptic, was on dry land and everything below it, that is to the south of the ecliptic, was in the waters below.

                            The star Canopus is called by the Arabs the ‘heart of the south’ or ‘Canopus Ponderosus’, heavy-weighing Canopus. Thus is could be related to the heavy or plumb-bob star of the South Pole in the ‘waters below’. In the Dendra zodiac, Hathor is termed ‘the lady of every heart circuit’, and the determinative sign for ‘heart’ is the plumb bob hanging from the line of the Egyptian surveying device, the ‘merkhet’. The Egyptian goddess Hathor (Hat Hor - house of Horus) rules the axis of the world.

6500                    Settlement at CATAL HUYUK is established near a field of obsidian in Anatolia (Turkey).   There are shrines decorated with bull’s horns among other things, and small statues of naked women presumed to be symbolic of the mother goddess. The figurines of women increased with settled agrarian living, replacing the dominance of men figures during the hunting and gathering phase of human development.  Perhaps here is the beginning of the ancestors of Greek Demeter the corn goddess.

6400                    OSIRIS & THOTH come out of the south where Osiris and Thoth were worshipped as moon gods of the star cult. They meet a population worshipping the sun at dawn (Re) and at twilight (Atum). Osiris introduces the lunar calendar of Thoth, which began at the Autumn Equinox for the sun worshippers. According to the Chaldean religion the sun god was the offspring of the moon god. Sun worship was Semitic.

                                       Osiris                                              Thoth

    

Saturn & Neptune: friend or foe.

Life would be very boring without something new to learn each day. Saturn in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces brings us this opportunity.

Saturn the Planetary Lord of Capricorn and Aquarius, personifies self-imposed discipline as well as the boundaries and borders imposed on our activities by other people and external circumstances. Saturn also represents order, duty and responsibilities that we experience in our lives. Saturn deals with the ‘real’, and with the perceived world of hard facts and practicalities; with the measurements of tangible forms. Saturn also represents the disciple attempting to climb the mountain of self mastery.

Neptune is the planetary Lord of Pisces and personifies freedom from boundaries, boarders and self-imposed discipline. Neptune rules the intangible world of the raging sea, and those hidden depths of myth, imagination and intuitive feelings. Neptune promotes access to worlds beyond Saturn, worlds that are obtained in dreams, through media and visions; through mystical pursuits or more negatively through the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Mastery comes from being aware that the cosmos is infinite and the individual but a small part of this.

Saturn and Neptune are seemingly contradictory energies and are in a difficult ‘square’ relationship with each other over an extended period of time from November 2015 to October 2016. These two energies seem to be at the opposite ends of the spectrum of experience, so the usual interpretation of these two meeting in a difficult relationship is, chaos, deep sadness and confusing, living in a distorted world and experiencing difficult relationships.

But before we get too depressed about the possibilities of meaning, we must remember to take into account the signs that each planet is occupying at the time of their contact. The sign indicates what kind of environment the planetary energy is working in and thus modified by. Saturn is fairly happy and content in Sagittarius because here he meets with the influence of Jupiter the ruler of Sagittarius and this softens Saturn’s harshness to allow for constructive outcomes in the world.

Neptune is very strong in his at home sign of Pisces because he/she is the ruler of this sign and can therefore be itself most easily and unencumbered. Pisces traditional ruler is Jupiter also.

As we can see, the great benefic Jupiter, of generosity and laughter, is interceding here to make things less traumatic than would otherwise be experienced.

However, Sagittarius and Pisces are signs that seldom see ‘eye to eye’ in the mundane world, in spite of their shared rulership of Jupiter. Sagittarius is orthodox religion or belief system; Pisces wants to experience something more in the expanded universe of mystical philosophy.

Saturn is Sagittarius says, stop meandering about the place and give better focus to your knowledge and understanding of life, but don’t get too rigid or pedantic.

Neptune says, remember to dance a little, to dream a bit and to put your finer thoughts and feelings to good use without totally going ‘off the planet’ that so carefully nurtures us, even though things can get pretty harsh at times.

For many of us it is going to be difficult to reconcile the energies of these two planetary bodies during their ‘square dance’ from November 2015 to October 2016. We have only just begun to feel their influence as the aspect builds to crescendo.  There are sure to be difficult circumstances to deal with and completely confusing relationships with people to negotiate; these have to be lived through, all of course dependent on the strength of these planetary bodies in the individual natal chart. There will be some lonely and isolating times to get through and some injustices to face up to, such circumstances needing us to stretch and become greater than we were before the incident. The world is full of such achievements.

So, instead of suffering uselessly, let us apply kindness and humanitarian virtues in a disciplined and practical way, in order to give both the planetary energies the opportunity for positive expression. In this way most of us should come out the other end a little better off even if somewhat worn around the edges.

In spite of what the corporations and politicians say, there is a greater driving force behind our little world, albeit not one we would readily recognise for it is distant and cosmic. Both planets deal with the unknown and hidden side of life, both planets deal with arcane knowledge. In the end they need each other; one to give definition and form to the other’s dreams and visions of utopia, one to help us move beyond what has encased us in the past.

If Saturn and Neptune cannot work together, then great clashes of struggle can be expected and drugs, alcohol and even murder be the order of the day. But rather let us teach dance and show the way to better living and loving. This is a struggle to follow though without losing hope and sense of direction or being caught up in selfish self-indulgence. Saturn and Neptune contacts can only create confusion if there is no ability to respond either artistically or spiritually to their combined energies. This is because Neptune asks us to reach beyond everyday consideration and if one can’t, then only confusion, sadness, loneliness and loss prevails, due to lack of understanding.

If you are a Sagittarian, you will probably experience your nicely defined world of this current time, being intermittently upset by certain people pushing their alternative reality upon you. Expect some confusing and awkward moments or even lengthy periods of time, when this is happening, but cool your fire and try to see other possibilities.

If you are a Piscean, your increasing sensitivity to the unseen, over the coming year, is likely to feel quite challenged on occasions by all that is practical and orthodox. These are times when you might be required, even unnecessarily, to justify yourself, your dreams and your utopian ideals. Avoid letting such situations get the better of you and your sensitivities. Continue to strive for a physical manifestation of what you feel in your heart to be the truth.

Division and contradiction must not be allowed to lead us into self-righteous fanaticism or encourage us to descend into morbid self-pity. The martyr complex does not serve anyone.

High standards and respect for other people and alternate views to our own, must be encouraged rather than feeling mistrustful and victimised. One’s own inner fears should not be projected on to others. Using escape through drugs and fantasy are likely to exacerbate the situation rather than heal or bring relief.

Hard work, well directed, will save the day. Look to tried and true principles to guide your living.

 Efficiency and organization need to be emphasised over cunning and devious tactics.

Avoid being resentful, whilst searching for the truth of constructive values tinged with compassionate understanding. This will help us to navigate through a sometimes bewildering maze of hurt and confusion, as ideals and reality come into conflict.

Structured and ordered thinking helps us to handle the fuzziness of the day and give better and more positive shape to our ideals, imagination and intuitive feelings.

Let us listen to the old and ancient philosophers, whilst judging carefully on those whose only aim is to block our progress in unfolding our sensitive and spiritual faculties. Let us avoid scandalous and anti-social behaviour. Let us work for the good of all, so that we can avert social downfall, either personal or in our community. Let us be wary of our thoughts, actions and plans in those moments of confusion, rather than acting out unthinkingly on any silly, compulsive want or need, such as the chasing of personal sense satisfaction without thinking about the consequences.