ReImagining the Myths...
Divine dimensions of the Astrological Mysteries shine through the veil when we remember to look up. The chart is a map of the sky, after all. Tropical (Western) Astrologers fix the Signs to the Seasons while Sidereal (most Eastern) Astrologers fix them to the Constellations (kind of). Which is right... Seasons (Earth) or Constellations (Sky)? Both, of course! And honoring each paves one of many paths to the marriage of Heaven and Earth. I voice my devotion to this Sacred Union by singing Constellational myths within the Archetypal vibrations of Seasonal Symphonies. Care to hear a tune?
Western Astrologers charted last Saturday's Blood Moon in the 15th Degree of Libra. This Total Lunar Eclipse highlighted the calling of the Nodes that have been asking us to relax the over-independent, armored-heart, wounded-warrior of shadow Aries (South Node) to welcome the light of Libra (North Node), which dances in the beauty of balance, harmony, partnership, and communication. Since February of 2014, we have been called to contemplate the great dance of Self and Other. Sound familiar? This particular ballroom is the happening spot until November.
The midpoint between the Moon and North Node during Saturday's Eclipse was 12 Degrees and 12 Minutes Libra. How's that for balance? The sky opened during the dark hours of Saturday morning to show the Blood Moon in the Constellation of the Virgin Priestess whose devotion to sacred work teaches us that true independence (or Undependence, as I'm fond of saying) is not the poison to balanced relationship, but rather its medicine. The Moon was rather close to the star Porrima, the Virgin's left shoulder, which is said to be a star of great prophecy. However, longitudinally, the Moon was even more closely aligned to Alchita, the Alpha (brightest) star of the Constellation Corvus... the Beak of the Crow.
Divine dimensions of the Astrological Mysteries shine through the veil when we remember to look up. The chart is a map of the sky, after all. Tropical (Western) Astrologers fix the Signs to the Seasons while Sidereal (most Eastern) Astrologers fix them to the Constellations (kind of). Which is right... Seasons (Earth) or Constellations (Sky)? Both, of course! And honoring each paves one of many paths to the marriage of Heaven and Earth. I voice my devotion to this Sacred Union by singing Constellational myths within the Archetypal vibrations of Seasonal Symphonies. Care to hear a tune?
Western Astrologers charted last Saturday's Blood Moon in the 15th Degree of Libra. This Total Lunar Eclipse highlighted the calling of the Nodes that have been asking us to relax the over-independent, armored-heart, wounded-warrior of shadow Aries (South Node) to welcome the light of Libra (North Node), which dances in the beauty of balance, harmony, partnership, and communication. Since February of 2014, we have been called to contemplate the great dance of Self and Other. Sound familiar? This particular ballroom is the happening spot until November.
The midpoint between the Moon and North Node during Saturday's Eclipse was 12 Degrees and 12 Minutes Libra. How's that for balance? The sky opened during the dark hours of Saturday morning to show the Blood Moon in the Constellation of the Virgin Priestess whose devotion to sacred work teaches us that true independence (or Undependence, as I'm fond of saying) is not the poison to balanced relationship, but rather its medicine. The Moon was rather close to the star Porrima, the Virgin's left shoulder, which is said to be a star of great prophecy. However, longitudinally, the Moon was even more closely aligned to Alchita, the Alpha (brightest) star of the Constellation Corvus... the Beak of the Crow.
I've become rather familiar with this zone of the Zodiac lately because it is a key signature of my celestial fingerprint. Please skip this paragraph if you are not a fan of astrobabble. For those of you who are, you'll notice I've highlighted the Grand Air Trine on my Chart that links my Gemini Ascendent to my Aquarius Midheaven and to Mercury-Conjunct-Pluto in Libra.
Many would say that, because I was born with Gemini Rising, Mercury is the Ruler of my chart. He is said to be the ruler of the First Gemini Decan where my Ascendent lies as well as the ruler of the Second Decan of Aquarius (my Midheaven). Perhaps I've been thinking about Mercury more than ever before because I'm approaching Mercury Synodic Return and Mercury is my Profected Time Lord this year. But, Mercury, doesn't really want to Lord about, does he?
No, Mercury is the shape-shifting, magical messenger. And so is Crow, whose myths I chose to reimagine during the final phases of the Blood Moon last weekend. It is said that Crow is sacred to Apollo because the Sun God turned himself into this Silver Bird to escape the monster Typhon when he attacked Olympus. That's right, the Greek myths tell us that Crow was silver and white until Apollo burned his feathers. Why would the Solar One do such a thing to his esteemed messenger? I'll tell you... Apollo had tasked Corvus (the Crow) to spy on his pregnant lady friend, Coronis. Apollo went full solar flare when Crow returned to tell him that Coronis was fooling around with another man. Apollo's sister Artemis killed Coronis, but fortunately the child survived and was taken in by Chiron who trained the boy to become the greatest healer known to the Greek myths. His name was Aesculapius. But back to Crow. Why you gotta,burn the messenger Apollo? Well, it is said that the Crow was blackened by Apollo's rage because he had taken pleasure in delivering the nasty news. Crow's new charcoal coat would only assist him, however, as his tasks often demanded he pass through shadowy places, where black, after all, is the best camouflage.
Now, the myths tell us that Crow's final task went unfinished. While preparing a great feast for his father Zeus, Apollo sent Corvus to fill the holy grail called Crater with water from a divine spring. "I'm on it, boss" squawked Crow as he flew away with empty cup in tow. He winged towards spring, quick to the gig, but found himself distracted by the most glorious fig. "A quick stop shouldn't hurt," thought he as talons touched tree, "five days yet remain until the King of King's feast."
He was rewarded for his diversion by the delicacy of an almost perfect fig. Almost perfect. And almost wasn't good enough for Crow, who knew that two more days on the branch would birth the most succulent figs even known to the history of figdom. He thought about flying off to fill the Crater, then returning to claim his fruity prize, but decided such course would be unwise. What if another were to steal his treasure while he was away? That just would not do. So he patiently waited two days, diligently suppressing his desire to jump the fig gun.
He waited and waited and waited and waited and, finally, was well rewarded for his patience. For, two more days on sprig, did indeed produce one heavenly fig. Many heavenly figs, rather, and Crow couldn't stop at one. He ate a second. And a forth. And a fourteenth. And a seventy-second. In fact, for days and days, Crow straight-up figged out. By this time, of course, Apollo was forced to frustratingly find his own feast water. But Crow had no time to think of Apollo. His mind was focused soley on fabulous figgery. I mean, he was getting cold figgy with it. That is, until he was snapped out of his figgy trance by the slow movement of the snake Hydra whose slither Crow glanced. "Oh sheet, I'm screwed!" Crow gasped as he remembered his task. But instead of filling the Crater as he had been asked to do, Crow returned with the empty cup in one talon and the snake in the other, declaring to Apollo that Hydra had blocked the waters of the spring so he could not fill Crater.
Apollo didn't buy what Crow was trying to sell. It ain't easy to pull a fast one on the God of Prophecy, you know? In that instant, Apollo cast Corvus into the heavens where we find him to this very day, just above the Hydra who snakes along the divine river of the Milky Way, and next to the grail Crater, which we are told is ever full though beyond the reach of Crow who Apolllo cursed to eternal thirst. It is also said that the Crow will never be seen when ripe figs are on tree.
As far as I'm concerned, this is a myth that needs reimagining. I believe our fine-feathered friend deserves another chance. Don't we all? And so I found myself committing to a magical act of mythic mystery during the last phase of Saturday's Blood Moon, for just as the Moon set in the West, Apollo rose in the East to find me waiting with a full grail of the divine water we call Pu'erh tea and with an apology for unfinished tasks of my personal past.. As you can see in the photo attached, a large crow perched on a driftwood post not ten feet away to wait and present the Crater with me. Seems that Crow knew exactly what I was up to, no? When Apollo and I had made amends and my wings had been retrieved, I poured the tea into the Puget Sound asking Poseidon to carry it to his brother Zeus' feast on Mt. Olympics (that's the closest we get to Olympus here in Seattle). End scene. The wings were clipped so long ago, but today the Crow flies again! I'm pleased to note back pain I've been plaguing myself with for four years seems also to have flown to the wind. Amen. Love and Planets, Gemini Brett |