SIGN of the CANCER SOLSCTICE

 

CANCER

21^st June to 22^nd July

Spectrum: Peals. Silvery-blue, grey colours

CANCER: The fourth sign of the Tropical Zodiac marks the first of two Solstice points in the year. Depending on what side of the world you live, it will be the point in the solar cycle of either the longest daylight hours or the longest night-time hours; or one might say mid-summer as against mid-winter. Which-ever side of the globe you inhabit this is a changing point in the yearly cycle and you will feel it in a change of season and in the mood that it engenders. The pace of life changes in response and settles into a new way of being after the unsettled time of the previous Gemini sign. Cancer is a cardinal sign like that of Aries who began the new solar cycle in April. As a sign of cardinal qualities, it allows people and circumstances to move forward, actively working towards what they plan to accomplish but in quiet ways that others may not be aware of. It is now generally a busy time, aided with the imagery of going somewhere and doing something, but it is also an emotional time as the water quality of Cancer demonstrates and shared with Scorpio and Pisces. Water flows according to surrounding energies or conditions and can easily fit in but sometimes there is too much water and flooding occurs to upset even the best laid plans. Some Cancerians can get too caught up in their emotional life and need to train themselves to distinguish between what will contribute to their progress and what will not. For the Cancerian this will allow one to be less hampered by runaway feelings and thoughts that upset what they want to do. Cancer Crabs can be too sensitive at times and their great imagination leads them astray without the application of self-discipline. Some will with-draw into their shells to protect their feelings from hurt, others will go all out to acquire sympathy and understanding. Water needs to be channelled. Tender, maternal and moody in nature, too rational a life hampers their wonderful creative imagination. Cancer is the sign of caring and nurturing, whether family or a project or a career or a business. It is the sign of collecting and storing, of caution and economy. This is a time of the year to profitably look out for someone, something or some cause to get involved with, to nurture it and grow it to its full potential that can now be easily identified.  

The planet associated with the seaward crab is of course the Moon, that earth satellite that governs the tidal flow of the sea and even smaller bodies of water and definitely human emotions. The Moon adds changeability of these people and conditions so influenced, moving ahead to achieve something there can also be a sideways step to accommodate a disturbance, absorbing and reflecting, in the same way that the Moon does so in relation to the Sun. Pay heed to the waxing and waning lunar phases, to guide you through fluxing times; listen to the silence of the night or the soothing waves of the sea. Calm your emotions and direct your imagination, dance, swim or sail with the Sun and the Moon.

We are now at the Fourth Labour of our Sun Hero Hercules. In this Labour Hercules must capture the little Fawn, symbol of the soul and an awakening to the inner life. This is the zodiac sign of Cancer ruled by the Moon who reflects the nature of the soul, illusionary and fluctuating and reflecting the golden light of the more permanent divine spirit symbolised by the Sun. In the light of the Full Moon Hercules pursues the Fawn whom the Moon goddess Artemis considers to be her own. For one whole solar cycle, Hercules is destined to chase the doe fawn through the labyrinth forest of Artemis, before capturing the delicate creature. Does the soul need to move from being a captive of the fickle moon and return to the stability of the greater Sun Light of Spirit? The doe and the elusive soul needs to be captured and secured by the Sun Spirit. Our task is to transform the Cancerian qualities of this time, that is raw instinct, into the more subtle and valuable quality of intuition, that hidden understanding that grows out of wisdom by the development and application of intellect. A well-developed intuition allows the instantaneous recognition of the truth. Developing greater awareness will elevate our consciousness. Another symbol of the sign Cancer is that of the Egyptian scarab beetle who represents new birth for the soul in mortal life. Note that the crab easily negotiates between two elements of land and sea, symbols of Earth and Cosmos, of mortal and psychic life.

Cancer is the sign of home and mother figure, of nesting and rearing, of all that has potential, from seed phase to mature adult. It is through the influence of soul emotions that Cancer learns to understand the impacts of the material world upon its development and to turn raw instincts into intuitive knowing, just like the sensitive fawn and the skittish crab. Like the phases of the Moon or the Triple Moon Goddess, the three qualities of instinct, intellect and intuition, have their uses in the appropriate places. The Lunar function is to respond to the rhythms of life seen in the tides and movements of nature. For those who have captured the soul, the subtle and illusive planet Neptune will wash their imaginations with occult and spiritual fluxes. 

At this point of our solar journey the great ship Argo takes to the sea with its cargo of pilgrims in search of the ‘Golden Fleece’. Thus begins our journey to Colchis place of the rising Sun. we are on a journey of the Spirit, perhaps an Alchemical Journey, one in which we begin our work of transformation into something better than we were before boarding the Argo. The pilot star in the stern of the celestial ship, is Canopus. It will guide us through the celestial waters of the zodiac signs Leo and Virgo all the way to the Equinox marked by the sign of Libra.

Fawn by Charlie at ‘doodlewash’

AAL’S LABYRINTH HISTORY An Alternative Viewpoint…..contd. #66

 The Persian wars lead us into the Fifth Century BCE. These wars between Persia and Greece had a beneficial side in causing the small city states of Greece to unit for the purpose of the county’s defence. [44] The history of this war is recorded by the Greek Historian Herodotus and as a decisive conflict in the survival of the Western World. [102] 

Medes of Persia

               ARCADIA is a mountainous area in the Greek Peloponnesus under Spartan domination and an area known for its mercenaries. The capitol of Arcadia will become the ancient Megalopolis, to be rediscovered about 370 BCE by Epaminondas. It is at Arcadia, the centre of so much mythology, that the goddess Demeter changed into a mare and was pursued by the god Poseidon. From their mating were born daughter Persephone and a horse called Arion. (102)

Greek Persephone

                   In Gaul around this time, the Celtic people establish their ‘La Téne Culture’ at the site of what will become the city of Narbonne, France.

Celtic La Téne Culture’

                    The Historian Herodotus will provide evidence of the cross fertilization of Greek and Egyptian cultures, although Egyptian culture has probably been spreading for some time.

                    Annals of recorded history of the Tibet begins from this point in Time. The history of Tibet refers to the gradual penetration of Aryan Mystical teachings into this country. The indigenous inhabitants of Tibet are from a group of races called Mongolian. (19)

Avaloki Divinity of Tibet

GEMINI

 

GEMINI

21^st May to 21^st June

Spectrum: Agate Stone. Yellow, green, white colour.

GEMINI: The third sign of the tropical zodiac is Gemini which the Sun entered on 21^st of May. There is a definite change of season felt now, either towards summer or towards winter depending on which side of the globe you inhabit. 

This is an air mutable sign and as such we can feel the movement and free flow of energy as it changes from one mode of being to another. First we have the cardinal sign of Aries when things charge forward on a new cycle, this is followed by the fixed sign of Taurus, which literally ‘fixes’ the energies of the new solar cycle. Now we have a mutable sign which allows for a change over to take place between the first quarter of the cycle and the second quarter of the yearly cycle. As an indication of adapting from one set of out-going, circumstances to the next set of incoming circumstances at the Cancer Solstice, this adaptable sign of Gemini is most suited. We now return to a positive or outgoing cosmic modality or polarity yet also a mutable quality of being that is shared with the two other mutable signs of Virgo and Pisces. The air quality of Gemini is shared with Libra and Aquarius. One now start to feel the linkages that weave around and through our 12 phases of the year represented in the zodiac signs. Air quality needs to circulated and communicate between things and people, mutable qualities need the freedom to be able to adapt and be plastic in action. This is why we have two arms, two legs and two nervous systems, which for the Gemini person gives wonderful access to doing many things, sometimes all at once!

The planet associated with Gemini is Mercury which although small should not in any way be underestimated; for after all the great god Thoth is named after him. The symbol of Mercury can provide hours of meditative information for those so inclined, it is composed of three parts to reflect the name of Hermes Trismegistus.  Mercury also has rulership over the sign of Vigo and it holds the namesake of the liquid metal Mercury associated with it. A strong Mercurial influence is of great assistance to the Gemini need to communicate, trade and travel – what-ever level of the social-career scale this might be expressed. Quick and versatile in the Gemini mode of expression, to forge links and associations, this time of the year allows us to move and adjust to circumstances, more freely than was possible last month, so we should now see those things and plans that may have stagnated a bit start to free up and get on the move. However, if we go too quickly or take a slap-dash attitude then we might find ourselves with more problems than we started with. The heavy lifting should have been done under the influence of Taurus and now we can do the lighter stuff and be ready at a moment’s notice to move on from one thing to another. It is mental and communicative work that is likely to benefit from this time of year. Dexterity is the key word and adaptability the mantra. A time to learn something new, to explore more of your locality, to chat and spread the word of what is good and useful to the community. Grab a new book to fee the mind, buy a new gadget or puzzle, join the gym.

Four Doors of Thoth who is 

Triple Hermes

Following the ‘Way of Hercules’ on his journey around the solar circle we meet him at his Third Labour. This Labour is that of finding the Golden Apples of the Hesperides. There is a beautiful garden in which grows an Apple Tree, but no ordinary tree, for its apples are of gold. So valuable are these golden apples that a dragon was set in place to guard them from the approaches of the unworthy thief. Further protection of the golden treasures came in the form of five tests that needed all the strength, understanding, skill and wisdom that could be mustard. Hercules considered himself to be such a candidate for such vigorous testing and took up the challenge. First he went to the North looking for the sacred tree but failed to recognise the teacher sent to help him, and thus failed to find the tree. Hercules then went South and on his way met a serpent of illusion whom he over-came in battle, but still did not see the apple tree. Turning to the West our hero met Bersiris a false prophet and carrier of erroneous advice. Hercules thus eventually learned that true knowledge comes from within, not out of the mouth of some guru. Along the way Hercules delayed his searching in order to help Prometheus and free the god from the vultures of desire who were eating his liver. At last Hercules turned to the fourth point of the compass, the East where the great Sun orb does rise every morning without fail. Here was the location of the sacred tree standing in the light. 

In his third Labour of five tests, Hercules is paying homage to the hidden goddess or the soul of the world. Her emblem is in the Pentagram that lies within the heart of her fruit. The apple ,when cut around its diameter, reveals the sign within whose cavities lie the seeds of future apple trees. It is the emblem of mystical longing for what can be and the striving after a much sought after vision and treasure. Such a labour and search can last a life time before the peace of unity is found. In this third labour under the auspices of Gemini Twins, one realises the need of sustained effort to achieve the worthwhile rather than giving in to the short term gain or a spasmodic effort. In this sign of thinking and knowing we come to realise that thought produces our environment but at the same time we must be careful not to stay in the mind alone but to attend to the practical tasks of assisting other people as well; both levels of expression bring wisdom and help to keep us adaptable to the necessities of life and living. But we have yet to meet the cosmic twins of the constellation Gemini. This will come in the next solar month to support and confirm our present experience.

Sculpture by Philip Jackson

When Solid meets the Mist

 

Saturn, master of discipline

Everyone one seems to be getting a tad itsy about Saturn meeting Neptune in the sky. It happens approximately every thirty-six years but this time the pair of planets are moving together into a new zodiac sign -ARIES. This is causing all a bit of a stir, especially as AI is taking over quite a lot in all sorts of areas of life and business. This is to say nothing of the horrific wars going on around the planet and probably in our private lives as well! 

Saturn bringing foundations

The sign of ARIES is all about new beginning, beginnings in life and in cosmic cycles. These beginnings, in true Arian fashion, are not thought about but chased after with great unthinking enthusiasm – please don’t stand in my way cause I know what I’m doing and where I’m going and can be very forceful and careless in doing so. That is unless there is a degree of maturity and wisdom at play as well – to give guidance and the necessary direction to enthusiasms.

The planet Neptune hasn’t been in the sign of Aries for approximately 161 years, that is way back in the 19^thcentury when Queen Victorian England immersed itself in engineering innovation driven by under-paid workers, and there was pseudo spiritual awakening to amuse the wealthy!! Are we too on the verge of robotic slave labour and a tsunami of spiritual confusion? I am sure that others can delve into more areas of mess-up!! Look out for new waves of colonisation during the powershifts as all the outer planets join Saturn and Neptune in moving into new zodiac signs to influence us and the weather patterns.

 

What we have to strive for is a sensible combination of mental and spiritual new beginnings as the traditions of Saturn clash with the universal outlook of Neptune. If these two dominating forces can work in harmonious tandem we could achieve something great. But knowing human nature focused in its own little wants this is not likely to happen before suffering great traumas, as we have for many years now. We as a collective are probably entering upon a new cycle of Karmic settlement and will have to look carefully at the consequences of our past actions and principles in preparation for moving forward to a better state of being. Maybe we could look at the heroes of the 19^th century, the thinkers and philosophers and scientists and genuine mystics who tried their hardest to give us direction back then but which we took notice of too late. 

Leonardo bringing wisdom

As we progress through this and next year, look out for those suffering, avoid the anxiety of irrational fears and anxieties growing due to too much self-centred navel gazing. Drop the ego and aim for humility, be extra diplomatic before making that heated opinion. Avoid drugs like the plague. Work hard and be self-reliant so that your ideals, imagination and intuition can find constructive and healthy outlets that contribute to progress, however small or big. This could be a time of great creativity and successful business ventures or a time of losing control and spinning out in the chaos of confusion, scandal and defamation. Watch the sky as it goes through a kaleidoscope of change over the next couple of years.

Taurus the Sky Bull

 

TAURUS

20^th April to 21^st May

Spectrum: Emerald Stone. Green or Blue colour.

TAURUS: The second zodiac sign is named after the ‘Bull of Heaven’, signifying the fruiting or storing [according to Earth Hemisphere] of the energies activated in the previous Equinox sign of Aries. For the north of the globe it is a flowering as the season moves towards summer. For the south of the globe there is retreat of Earth energies as the season contracts towards winter.

Taurus is a fixed sign of the passive polarity in cosmic terms. The fixed quality, shared with Leo and Scorpio, gives strength and endurance to this sign and the ability to keep forging ahead when others have given up. It is staying power yet with the gentleness of the passive polarity, that is a willingness to see the best in things and people rather than impulsively charging ahead in argument. However, don’t be fooled you can only push our gentle cow or bull so far before the rage has to be vented, for they see the rightness of things and their tolerance only lasts for so long. The Earth quality of this sign is shared with Virgo and Capricorn and means that this sign of Taurus is practical and the natural dominates. Taurus is a steady and solid influence, pursuing what is worthwhile, but it also an influence of stubborn persistence if the head cannot be lifted up to see the larger picture or the possible results of such determination. The planet associated with Taurus is Venus and these qualities are shared with the sign Libra over whom Venus also holds a strong influence. Venus the planet of copper brings that charming smile and love of beauty to the nature of Taurus. This quality helps the sign to sometimes deviate from preoccupation with the practical, the financial and the business world, to indulge in their other passions of painting, music, cooking and gardening, activities of pure pleasure for the combined intellect and senses.

The Taurean influence of the year is one that should be harnessed to set things on the road of firm discovery and development. In this way we direct the raw energy of Aries towards productive accomplishment in Taurus. Here is a time to demonstrate reliability and carefulness whilst being pleasant and hospitable to our neighbours. For relaxation we can enjoy the natural environment and mother nature, whether at the beach, in the garden or up a mountain path. See and appreciate the natural beauty around, given by the mother goddess, in colours and harmonious ratios, well-proportioned and delighting the senses with smells, touch, sight and sound. Acquisition of some new purchase can add to our joy at the start of our new journey. Let us not get too bogged down in old habits and ways of doing things or others may see us as boring when this is not really the case. Be charming, not possessive, avoid obstinacy and greed. Sense the quality of things and be not afraid to insist on it. Abide by the rules and by cultivating alertness, without getting stuck in a rut. Trust, responsibility and solid investments are the key words for this time of year.

Botticelli ‘Primavera’, 1480

Hercules labour through this part of the year involves appropriately, dealing with the mask of Medusa. In his disguise as Perseus, before attacking the complication of the Minoan Bull in the Maze, Perseus/Hercules has to decapitate the monster Medusa with the snake hair and reveal her inner being of duality symbolised in the two horses that escape from her head; one of which is Pegasus. Pegasus is the famous white winged horse of the sky who will fly to Mount Helicon. At the foot of Mount Helicon, Pegasus uses his hoof to release the ‘Fountain of the Muses’. The Muses will go on to inspire humankind in the arts and sciences. Moving away from the transformation of Medusa, Hercules meets the great constellation Taurus the Bull. The Bull sports a single light on its forehead reminiscent of the ‘Eye of God’; a light to guide us along life’s pathways, as well as being a signal of internal energy and direction that belies the external appearance. So, on his way Hercules decides to follow this light also, as it shows him where Minos is off too and maybe where the treasure is to be found. But it is a long and twisty path through the maze, with many back tracks to confuse the less enduring. However, Hercules knows he must capture this Bull and return it to the similarly ‘one eyed’ Cyclops who are three in number, Brontes for strength, Steropes for light and Arges for speed. This is a test of desire and right understanding or the laws of magnetic attraction. The ‘Light of Aldebaran’ the great star of this constellation, and once in this sign, will be meet later on during our journey through the zodiac sign of Gemini.

Taurus is the beautiful sign of Venus as well as being the exalted domain of the Mother Moon. Two goddesses in one, Aphrodite and Athene, once known as the Cretan Mother Goddess Rhea. Two great goddesses can only mean that there is a lot of luck and support in this part of our labours. Let us not waste our opportunities. This is a time to both nurture and purify our physical form through self-discipline and healthy diet, for we are what we take into our bodies and minds. We must test and use form and matter of the Earthly realm for good purpose, whilst not allowing ourselves to become overwhelmed by the illusion that the physical form of anything is all that there is. We must use our other ability to find the essences or quality behind and in that form, the essences that makes the material form worthwhile.

Triple Mother Goddess of Knossos

ARIES the RAM 21st March to 19th April

 

ARIES the RAM

2^1st March to 19th April

Spectrum: diamond stones. Red colour.

ARIES  The sign of the Ram who heralds the start of a New Solar Year following the Vernal Equinox, a point where the circles of the Ecliptic and the Equator intersect and there is equal amounts of day and night. The two luminaries of sun and moon hold equal power, which will be emphasised at the Full Moon in the sign of Libra. Now we start our journey around the zodiac to mark out the important points of the solar cycle in relation to life on Earth, whether mineral, vegetable, animal or human.

Aries is called a ‘Cardinal’ sign and in cosmic terms has the qualities of the positive, active polarity of energy. ‘Cardinal’ refers to a first impulse of energy at each of the four quarters of the year marked by the Solstice and Equinox points. ‘Cardinal’ energy is active and outgoing, moving ahead and providing leadership to the two zodiac signs that follow it. The Fire Element of the sign Aries adds the heat of activity to the driven Cardinal quality, the result is endless energy to charge ahead in unstoppable enthusiasm for self-expression. This is the sign of the adrenalin rush, symbolized also by the planet Mars who rules the zodiac signs of Aries and Scorpio. Mars is the symbol the metal iron. The Fire quality of Aries is shared with the signs Leo and Sagittarius, but expressed in different ways.

The Aries influence allows one to forge our way forward with courage, daring, initiative and enterprise, in the mode of a pioneer. Assertive and passionate, there needs to be the cultivation of calm and reflection to make these energies mean something of use as we begin the solar year with this out rush of new energy. There are plenty of new ideas floating around but will there be the ability and sustained effort to make them grow and work in the practical world? We must not give way to impatience and bad temper under the impetus of all the new found energy and enthusiasm of this time of the year. At the same time, we must allow ourselves a break from the deadening routine of the previous cycle and allow the windows of opportunity and new possibilities to air themselves. In our hurry and enthusiasm we must not forget or neglect those who are going a little slower due to circumstances. 

All natural energy moves to a rhythm of mathematical proportions and so we start our journey around the cosmic wheel to explore these qualities and principles. Whatever side of the planet you are on, it is time to ‘Spring’ clean, your house and your soul, for the start of a new journey of discovery.

Sculpture by Philip Jackson

Hercules, the hero of our solar journey of 365 solar days, is born of the ‘House of Perseus’. His role in life is to follow the Sun in its 360 degree journey around the zodiac signs in 13 months or moon periods; with modernisation this has been recalculated to 12 months in order to accommodate the two ancient but separate calendars of Father Sun and Mother Moon. The ancient Egyptians solved this discrepancy of circle and solar cycle by giving the five extra days to their five great gods who existed outside of time and space.

Starting on a new grand cycle, our hero Hercules takes up a renewed challenge in each month in line with the zodiac sign being traversed and marked by the ritual and magic of his heroic feats. Hercules’ first challenge in the new astrological year is marked by the sign of Aries, the challenger of life moving forward with great energy and enthusiasm on a new turn of the spiral. We too set out to conquer our wildest of thinking and head activity as indicated and ruled by the sign Aries. Are we too proud and hurried to get there before everyone else, in such speed that we forgot to check on our struggling friend? Are we very brave, but unfortunately also just a little selfish or put another way, only thinking of our self in this rush to begin our ‘Labours’ or ‘Challenges’ or ‘Race’ to some unseen goal? This is the lesson and the promise of Aries energy, the awakening to the new possibilities, wants and desires without forgetting what already exists around us. The urge to create and perform pushes us forward in such haste that we can get into great trouble without awareness of what we are doing. But really we have time, for the coming months will continue the opportunity to fulfil what we conceive of now. All beginnings are in the head, on the mental plane, you think an idea and then act on it. You do not act and then think about it, well hopefully not! 

This time of year marks a time of wanting to do things in a better way rather than repeat that of the previous solar year. The ancient god of Egypt called Sobek represented the cyclic repeating of new beginnings, as did Thoth, the master of writing and ideas. In chasing this new beginning we must strive to eradicate all the past negative ways of thinking and doing things or at least attempt to identify them as a first step. Then in a strange way we enter the process of purifying ourselves and our life so that new growth and better performance can move in. Here is a time to realise our power and our strength in controlling the form and expression of the material world with applied spirit and energy. 

To begin the Hero’s journey

AAL’S LABYRINTH HISTORY An Alternative Viewpoint…..contd. #65

 

Confucius by Wu Daozi 

Of the Tang Dynasty 

c520               CONFUCIUS. Chinese sage who edited and annotated the ‘Book of Changes’ or ‘I Ching’, adding his own ‘Commentary on the Decision’. It is this fuller version of the ‘I Ching’ which has come down to modern times. The development of his philosophical speculation is reflected in the works, ‘The Great Learning’ (Ta Hsudh) and the ‘Doctrine of the Mean’ (Chung Yung).  Both these works were originally part of the ‘Book of Rites’ (Li Chi). (120). Confucianism is a comparatively modern crystallization of the ancient tradition of the Atlantean Chinese, reformed and restated by Confucius. (212)

Plum blossom – the Eyes of Buddha

c520               GAUTAMA BUDDHA (c563-483) Born Siddhartha Gautama became known as the enlightened one or Buddha.  Son of the king of the Sakyas, a people of the warrior caste near the Himalayas and belonging to the Gautama Clan. At 29 years of age he left home and wandered for six years seeking spiritual enlightenment which came to him during meditation beneath a Bo-tree. He then established an order of monks to which was later added an order of nuns based on his new found doctrines. (6) Buddhism will grow into two main divisions:-

1. Mahayanna (Sanskrit) meaning Great Vehicle. This is northern Buddhism prevalent in China and Japan. It will begin about the second century CE as a theistic form of Buddhism and regards Buddha as a deity. This system includes a pantheon of lesser deities known as the Bodhisattvas.

                    2. Hinayanna (Pali) meaning the Little Vehicle. This is a nontheistic and monastic Buddhism. It advocates a life of seclusion and separation from sensual appeals and temptations. The monks or bhikkus live in monasteries, which are like small colonies. This form of Buddhism flourishes in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Burma, Thailand and southern India. Its teachings are mainly metaphysical and philosophical. (99)

515 BCE       DARIUS (522-486) The Persians under the command of ruler Darius will use the Phoenician alphabet [to write in Arabic] rather than the cuneiform script inherited from Babylon and Sumer. (176) The Persian triad of gods at this time are; Ahura Mazada, Mithra and Anahita. (102)

                  ZERUBBABE rebuilds a temporary Temple of Jerusalem, under the reign of Darius. [372]

510            TARQUIN the PROUND last king to rule the Roman kingdom before the monarchy is replaced by the Republic regime of annually elected magistrates. (324)

 

c508        NABURIANNU (GK Naburianos) Babylonian astrologer who establishes the Equinox Points at sidereal 10° of the constellations Aries and Libra. (30) His name may also be spelt NABU-RIMANNU.

Greek statue, impression of Heraclitus

c506          HERACLITUS (c536-476BCE) Greek philosopher, born in Ephesus; he maintained that all things are constantly changing, even the universe as a whole, since only change is real. The orderliness of successive changes or the world’s destiny, is all that remains the same.  He believed that there was a hidden connection between everything in the universe. (114) Heraclitus believed that all things were composed of opposites (eg. hot/cold, wet/dry) and these opposing conditions were constantly in strife with one another and which therefore drove a process of perpetual change. But all change was governed by the ‘Logos’, the primary principle of order and intelligibility. (13) Heraclitus associated the ‘Logos’ or original creative word, with the element of fire and he taught that the soul is of the same nature as the aether which in turn is the soul of the universe into which the individual soul returns at the death of the body. (15) Heraclitus’s influence will be seen in the philosophy of Stoicism and in the future 20^th century CE style and thought of such philosophers as Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. (102) Heraclitus gave a symbolic or moral exegesis of the ‘Twelve Labours of Hercules’. (122)

PISCES 19th February to 20th March

 PISCES

19^th February to  20^th March 

Spectrum: Sardonyx, jade. Blue-green colour.

PISCES: is a mutable sign of the negative or receptive element of WATER. This is the sign of adaptable water, that is, it is constantly on the move and reflecting all that passes by. Fluid and free flowing liquid can fill any vessel or channel or space of containment. Water is boundless, sometimes tranquil and sometimes a powerful and raging storm.

In particular, the Water Sign of Pisces is true to its symbol of duality in being often pulled in two directions by life; that of the physical needs and that of the spiritual calling. Sacrifice of self and helping other people is a driving force of the Piscean, they know how to do it from a natural drive to ‘be all things to all people’ and to follow the rhythmic ebb and flow of life with ease. Instinct, intuition and emotion drive a Piscean expression ‘to be’. As with the previous sign of Aquarius, the sign of Pisces has two planetary lords or rulers; this time it is Jupiter and Neptune. Jupiter brings a joyous and optimistic note to our watery brooding Piscean nature and Neptune allows contact with the mystical world of spirit, that undefined energy of the cosmos. The combined planetary influence adds a great note of expansion to everything done and thought, one has to be careful under such an influence, not to let things get out of control in a limitless desire for what is not really possible. This Piscean time of year is one of letting go to a certain degree so that we may touch those dreams and inspirations of the soul. In an odd way the previous solar cycle is dissolving now and we must prepare for the coming Aries Equinox, when a new input of cosmic energy can be felt. This is a time for cultivating greater understanding of people close and afar, of their trials and tribulations, and where possible, offers a helping hand. Others must bring their dreams and inspirations down to the Earth plane and communicate their thoughts to those around ,through paintings, poetry, writing, music and scientific solutions found. You too can join the flow by finding some relaxation in dancing and swimming or simply observing our aquatic friends, or even buying a new pair of shoes for our feet according to Piscean rulership. To be impressed is easy, to give those impression useful application takes a little more work of practical reality.

Now Hercules enters upon his 12^th and final labour of the solar cycle. It is a labour of love and summing up all his trials to squeeze from the long year of experience as much conscious growth as possible. This 12^th Labour is to acknowledge and accomplish a dissolution of situations that have bound you, such as bad habits and foolish thoughts. It is a time to become less judgemental and to see yourself as but part of the whole. The result is a new unification of all thought, feeling and action so that as a ‘new’ person you can take a further step forward with the coming new astrological year at the Aries Ingress. Some call this the ‘Alchemical’ process. A temporary obliteration of the personality may occur and can be beneficially allowed to happen. How does one allow this to occur in a happy way so that a new light or awareness can be achieved in readiness for the coming new cycle of action and being?. Submerging the personality for a short time allows the spirit to soar unhampered to the spiritual realm or the realm of the inner and true self. In this 12^th Labour Hercules must gather up the Red Cattle of Geryon, as a summary of his journey, before returning home himself. Help to accomplish this chore comes in the form of a magical golden chalice that fell from the sky. And so our hero gathers up the wayward energies symbolised by the Red Cattle and delivers them back to the sacred city as an offering to Athene the goddess of wisdom.

The Lady in the Sky during this part of the year is known as the constellation Andromeda. She is a goddess in disguise because her wisdom was abused. She waits, chained to a rock, as the monster Cetus draws nigh for she is to be sacrificed as compensation of other’s bad behaviour. But in the nick of time a gallant hero, like Hercules, but in the form of Perseus, comes to the rescue. It is forever the struggle to bring together in harmony the two sides of our nature and of the natural world, the positive and negative, the mind and body, the soul and spirit, the male element and the female element, in order that life may function more truly along the lines that it should be. Cetus, the same sea-sky monster who threatened Andromeda, also swallowed Biblical Jonah. Jonah spent three days in the whales belly. In such quiet isolation, he was able to discover more about himself before being regurgitated back into the world. Such self-sacrifice of the physical wants and sense satisfaction is to be an underlying theme of the new solar journey approaching and which underpins such festivals as Easter. The Hindu god Vishnu, as the white horse Kalki, will also celebrate this coming festival of the Aries Equinox or time of Equal Day and Night. Essence and Life cannot be seen but they are contained in the Light of Heaven which is symbolised by the Golden Flower of Buddhist philosophy, and must be allowed to circulate unimpeded, as the breath flows.

AAL’S LABYRINTH HISTORY An Alternative Viewpoint…..contd. #64

 

Ahuramazda/Ormuzd, Persian deity of Zoraster

[E. Pike 1961]

536 BCE          NEHEMIA as an official of the Persian Court, together with the Jewish priest Ezra, become leaders of a revived Judean centre following the conquering of Babylon by Cyrus the Great. He gave the Jews their freedom and Palestine to rule. Jewish exiles return to Judah from Babylon and rebuild their Temple. As Jerusalem is rebuilt, spiritual life is consolidated by allegiance to the Torah or Law of Moses. Leadership of the Jewish people continues to be provided by priests descended from Aaron, brother of Moses. (102)

                       When the priest Ezra returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon be brought with him ‘The Book of the Law of the Lord’, (198)

 

c536               AKIBA. About 50 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, this rabbi recorded in writing most of the oral wisdom tradition in his book ‘Sepher Jezireh’ or the ‘Book of Creation’, which is the oldest known book to be of reference to the  future Medieval Kabbalists. Akiba’s disciple Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai, wrote down the rest of the knowledge in the books of the ‘Zohar’. (22a).  These books are at the foundation of the Kabala system of knowledge whose purpose is the study of the hidden meaning of the scriptures recording esoteric knowledge of man, nature and the universe.

 

c525               The Persians capture Egypt, and the Roman Republic gets going with its ideals of democracy. Persian conquest of Egypt dramatically increased the influence of Mesopotamia in that country and of the Chaldean star knowledge. (29)

525                 PYTHAGORAS (c582-500 BCE) settles in Croton, Sth Italy and establishes a school of Italic philosophy and a religious brotherhood. Born on the island of Samos, the son of a gem-engraver, he is said to have studied under the Magi (wise men) of Persia and the priests of Thoth in Egypt for 20 years, in particular with the priest Oenuphis of Heliopolis. Pythagoras did not conform to the atomic theory of Democritus (430 BCE) or the dichotomy of religion and reason as per the Eleates, but maintained a synthetic approach to knowledge and established the principles of maths and physics on which modern science is based. He also established the principles of music and the ratios of musical tones and the theorem of geometry. Pythagoras established the famous theorem that the square on the longest side of a right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides, an important discovery for the world of mathematics. (12. 114). Pythagoras explains the properties of matter in terms of numbers, knowledge that he inherited from the Chaldeans and Egyptians and probably the Indians. Pythagoras’ doctrine of numbers is the basis for modern numerology. [206.350]

 

c524               XENOPHANES (c570-480BCE) Greek Philosopher, born at Colophon, Ionia.  He travels extensively, perhaps spending considerable time in Sicily.  He attacked traditional Greek conceptions of the gods, arguing against anthropomorphism (attribution of human characteristics to God) and polytheism (belief/worship of many gods). (13)

 

523                  NINEVEH LIBRARY founded by Assyrian King Assurbanipal [650 BCE] holds a tablet showing advanced calculations of relative positions of sun and moon, dates of moon and planetary conjunctions, planetary zodiac positions.  This is an early Ephemeris. It is the oldest known document of scientific astronomy of the Chaldeans. (14).