FULCRUM

On 22^nd September is the Equinox. Once more we have reached the fulcrum of the year, that point in the solar cycle where the sun either increases or decreases in Light hours. For the Southern Hemisphere the great orb starts to increase in heat as it rises in the sky and we head towards summer. For the Northern Hemisphere Ra starts to lose his power as he descends in the sky and preparations are made for the coming winter.

The Barque of RA

Such is the symbolism of the sign of Libra, keeping a balance between the polarities of life – summer and winter, heat and cold, up and down, in and out, good and bad, black and white, day and night, you and me, boy and girl.

Sol ingresses into the Tropical sign of Libra, the sign of ‘The Balance’ or the weighing scales, on the 22^nd – 23^rd of September, close to the fixed star of Markeb in the constellation Argus.

Leaving Virgo, the sun passes by Markeb at 28º Virgo. The Sabean symbol being of ‘An arrogant domineering military man of power.’  Who is this dominating us all? Can we see the fall of many tyrant leaders in this symbolism. The star Markeb denotes ‘piety and knowledge’ [or maybe the lack of it!]. The Sabean symbol for the first degree of Libra, the place of the Equinox is, ‘A butterfly is killed with wisdom’s pain’, [the killing of beauty to gain wisdom?]

This same Equinox, 10 years ago, brought questions of the wisdom of USA President Bush’s actions in relation to the global tensions, that is the decision to go to war. Now there is a tug of war between the two great nations of China and America, as well as tension in the Middle East.

Our very personal and self-centred wants of the previous Aries equinox March, now need to be balanced by considering other people’s welfare, which means having confidence in the portrayal of ourselves as individuals, whilst combining the effort with a striving for harmony in companionship. Nothing could be more necessary in the current times of social and economic upheaval.

A great ship such as the Argo [carrying the star Markeb] reminds us that we are all on a great journey, a journey of discovery, like ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ and before him, ‘Osiris and Isis in the barque of RA’. All are searching for that spirit of renewal symbolised in either the ‘Golden Fleece’, or in the ‘Phoenix’. Maybe like these travellers we need to seek out a new message of wisdom and spirit from the cosmos.

 The Sun God RA in his boat with the Phoenix

An interesting book is ‘Hamlet’s Mill’, by Giorgio de Santillana and Hertha von Dechend; heavy reading but worth the persistence. 

*NB due to an astronomical (not astrological) phenomena known as the ‘Precession of the Equinoxes’, there has occurred a shift in the alignment of the Ecliptic or Tropical Zodiac and the Zodiac of the Constellations. The Constellations near the ecliptic belt continue to share the same names as the Ecliptic Zodiac even though they are now out of alignment.  As a result of this situation a fixed star may be located in a constellation zodiac sign but have a differing co-ordinate according to the Topical Zodiac.

RETREATING

We have circled the zodiac in 12 cosmic fragments, from Cancer round to Gemini.

Tethy will now go into retreat and will return for the September Equinox.

TALKING HERMES

The planet Mercury is closely associated with the sign Gemini. We met Mercury once before in association with the sign of Virgo. When Mercury is ruling Virgo, his more practical qualities are emphasised. When Mercury is ruling Gemini, he energies work more on the plane of pure ideas and more effort is needed to bring that thought down to the practical world of everyday living. Both Virgo and Gemini share in common the need to put their minds to work, to invent new ways of tackling old tasks, but in Virgo it is easier to see in what way the idea can be applied, whilst Gemini may remain in the realm of theory, plans and discussion only.

Mercury is a very important planet, one whose qualities indicate how we perceive and intellectually respond to the world around us. Mercury also rules our nerve energy and so influences the way we move and communicate. In Ancient Egypt the god Thoth represented these qualities. Thoth is the god of writing and recording and of spell making.

Thoth Ancient Egyptian god of writing and communication. [Budge]

By the time of the Greeks and Romans the role of Thoth was taken over by the Greek god Hermes.

Hermes/Mercury [Larousse]

In Egypt, Thoth as master of writing transcribed the word of the gods so that humans could understand what was being communicated to them. The gods being represented by the other planets and acting as symbols for the different human traits such as loving [Venus] giving [Jupiter] conserving [Saturn] feeling [Moon] nobility [Sun].

In Greece, as a descendent of Thoth, Hermes too communicated between the gods and humans; he wears wings on his heels for speedy transport between the two worlds, that of man and that of gods. This hints at another Egyptian god, that of Anubis who also commutes between the two worlds and is known as a psychopomp or one who leads and guides the dead or the soul, into the world of the spirit or gods.

Reading mythology is a good introduction to the gods/goddesses but you have to look beyond the surface recording to see and feel what drives that myth. Try Robert Graves, ‘Greek Myths’. The Greek Myths: Complete Edition

JUMPING GEMINI

On the 21^st May the sun will move into the zodiac sign of Gemini. This is the sign of the twins or the dual aspects of life personified. Those of the sign of the ‘Twins’ are quick, some very quick, in both physical movement and mental computation. This very talent however, can cause Gemini to never follow through on any one thing, with the end result being that the flower of youth fizzles and their real talent never realised. ‘Two many irons in the fire’, means that one’s energies are spread too far and thinly for achievement of the highest in any one area or discipline.

The dual nature of a Geminis means that they can look forward and backward at the same time and give what is perceived a contact point in the third point of the present. This may account for their quick insight and ability to gather information of immediate use to a present situation.

Gemini loves to collect facts and information so that they can enjoy sharing it with their friends; there is no point having knowledge if it cannot be shared and enjoyed. Gemini also likes to play games, especially if their agile body can be put to work as well as their flexible thinking; playing tennis, fighting a mock dual, riding a bicycle, doing the cross word. Life is fun and should be lived with light-hearted joy. Those with a need and ability to ponder the imponderables do well as writers and philosophers. Was Plato a Gemini, standing on the steps of the Academy and spreading his words of wisdom to those willing to listen? For those who like books try Umberto Ecco ‘The Name of the Rose’. The Name of the Rose 

Is this Plato?

Lesser mortals of the Gemini variety must be very careful in their persistent searching not to have too many projects on the go at once or they may end up chasing their own tails. There is also danger of spending too much time having cups of tea and chatting about the weather!

Castor and Pollux are the two famous stars of the constellation Gemini. They are the celestial twins, the dark and light forces of mythology. Leonardo painted a picture of them in his portrayal of the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan.

 Leonardo’s original is lost. This is a copy made by Cesare Sesto.

MOON DRAGON #7

Earthly Queen

The Taurean Bull of course can be tracked back to the ancient Egyptian Apis Bull and his partner. The Apis Bull was the sacred symbol of Osiris and through him of his partner Isis/Hathor who sometimes sports the cow head. It is quite debatable which had the most authority, but it is highly suspicious that it was Isis, the goddess who had given birth to the child Horos or Hour, that is a segment of time-space, and symbol of her creative qualities as the Great Mother Goddess. However, make no mistake that Isis would remain barren without the stimulation and support of Osiris.

Venus is the planet most associated with Taurus and Venus is symbolised in the ancient Goddess Hathor. Hathor wears the cow head symbolised in the horns of potency and the disk of creation.

The other image of Venus is the classical Greek goddess Aphrodite, an image that over emphasises the feminine yet one can still sense some yang energies to keep the balance going; she has absolute ‘feminine’ appeal, yet with a hidden stress of being her own person.

In fact Aphrodite can be quite harsh in her search for equality, balance, harmony, and justice. When these desires are harnessed to the Bullish qualities of Taurus, there is not likely to be a middle path towards achieving that peace according to the Taurean will; a will-power that is strong and determined yet ready to play ball with the opponent if good practical reason is given.

Equally, as seen before in the Libran Venus, if Venus cannot be bothered with all the inconvenience of war then she is likely to sit down and refuse to move or to be concerned about the state of things.

Isis and Osiris are the cosmic polarities of the ‘All’; the male and female principles of life, and their story is retold by Plutarch. Plutarch had learnt a lot from the priestess Clea.  Plutarch: Concerning The Mysteries Of Isis And Osiris

TAURUS EYES

The sun has now moved into the sign of Taurus, symbolised by the bull. What a lovable little creature the young calf is, but watch out as they grow big. Some still maintain that seductive doe eyed gentleness, whilst others snort in rage when you get in their way.

Now this boisterous bull is ruled by the gentle and beautiful planet Venus and that should give us some clue to the other side of our Taurean. You have meet Venus before in the sign of Libra, now we again make her acquaintance as ruler of Taurus. When associated with the zodiac sign of Taurus, the qualities of Venus acquire a more practical and earthly expression of herself. You will see the Taurean Venus in the policeman maintaining harmony by applying man’s version of law and order. You will see the practical side of Venus in the ecstatic expressions of the artist and the dancer giving practical expression to the Taurean love of beauty.

Like most signs, Taurus can sometimes be hard to pin down, yet each sign shares an undeniable likeness of basic qualities and principles of that shared sign by those born with the sun in the same sign. What most of us forget is that an individual has a whole birth chart of 10 planets and is not only the sun.

So why do we need a bull in the zodiac? Because someone has to shovel the opposition out of the way or we would never advance as a group. Some bulls will literally go at the opposition with a full head on butt, whilst other bulls take the subtle gentle approach of silent stubbornness, in pursuit of their aims. Each one needs to harness these admirable qualities with an eye to the bigger picture so that they do not get caught on a one-track path that cannot see the beauty of other ways. For Beauty is essential to the soul of the Taurean – beauty of nature, of artifice, and of money for the beauty that it can procure.

It must not be forgotten that the great star Aldebaran of the constellation Taurus is the ‘All Seeing Eye’ and font of great wisdom. Vera Stanley Alder writes on this wisdom in ‘Finding the Third Eye’. The Finding of the Third Eye.  Wisdom in Practice

Spring Time in Ancient Crete where the Bull of Minos was venerated.