Star Myths of the Greeks and Romans: A Sourcebook (by Theony Condos)
December 9, 2008 by Nina Gryphon
Astrology isn’t just about the planets. We use the fixed stars frequently in our work, and this handy sourcebook collects the ancient writings on the myths associated with various constellations. This translation of primary sources, including The Constellations by pseudo-Eratosthenes (1st/2nd century A.D.), and Poetic Astronomy by Hyginus (1st century B.C.), is very helpful in interpreting the deeper meaning of the fixed stars, without relying on modern sources who conveniently digest but also distort the information. It is said that only the fixed stars elevate from the depths of poverty to the heights of fame, but the planets do not do so. To achieve mastery in astrological interpretation, it behooves us to know the fixed stars well, an excellent reason to read Star Myths.
Briefly…
A historical compendium of astronomical myths, straight from the Greek and Roman sources. The ancient sources give interesting shadings to the Star myths, helping the astrologer understand the more subtle nuances of the stars’ symbolism. Because fixed stars have a strong say in a person’s character and destiny, understanding the stories behind the stars is very helpful in natal, electional, and mundane astrology. This book summarizes the stories clearly and with substantial detail. The author often adds useful astronomical tidbits about the behavior of each constellation, and its ancient use, such as the rise of the Pleiades indicating the beginning of the ancient sailing season.
Contents & Structure
For practical study purposes, one will want to read Star Myths with a star atlas or a book on the fixed stars, such as that by Vivian Robson. The reason is that Condos does not always identify each star, inserting a question mark where the original sources are vague as to the specific identity of the star.
The book begins with a preface identifying the tactics used in this compendium, including the translations that condos used to get a consensus of interpretation. The introduction places the two source texts, The Constellations and Poetic Astronomy, in their historical context, though unfortunately Condos takes the modern view that the star myths were somehow superimposed on the celestial canopy as a way of honoring ancient heroes, gods, et cetera. A more traditional approach would view the stars and the myths as existing interdependently, one reflecting the existence of the other, in accordance with the Hermetic maxim “as above, so below.”
The main body of the book consists of an alphabetical collection of some 40 plus constellations. Each constellation is described in the two ancient texts, followed by the translator’s commentary. For example, the chapter on Canis Major (The Great Dog) goes through the several associations of the dog in Greek and Roman mythology – because the symbol of the dog has appeared in various myths, the classical sources may reference more than one as a possible origin of the star myth. Canis Major has several characteristics salient to astrological interpretation; it was appointed by Jupiter to guard Europa, and later was used as a hunting dog because it “had the power to outrun any wild beast.” This constellation contains the brightest star, Sirius, which will indicate jealous guardianship but also great athleticism. We may think back to the horoscope of tennis ace Roger Federer, who has his Mars on Sirius.
The main body of the book is followed by an appendix listing the Greek and Latin names of mythological/astronomical characters, a list of the constellation names and abbreviations, followed by a couple of star charts. There are extensive endnotes here, most of which refer to classical sources for mythology. Because this is an academic book (it began as a doctoral dissertation), there is an extensive biography for those interested in additional information.
Observations
A useful book for the astrologer who wants to go back to the source for astronomical myths. The author often makes references to myths and mythological characters that are not developed, so it would be useful to have a mythological dictionary handy, particularly for the minor characters, to fully understand the import of each story. A great resource to keep on the shelf and commit to memory. The old engravings of each constellation and its image are a delightful touch.
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Star Myths of the Greeks and Romans: A Sourcebook
By: Theony Condos
Phanes Press (rights: Red Wheel/Weiser), 1997
288 pages, paperback
18.95 USD
Available at amazon.com and weiserbooks.com
What the Parents of Barack Obama Could Not Have Known: Obama’s Horoscope
July 4, 2008 by Nina Gryphon
Everyone, including the parents of Barack Obama no doubt expected Obama to reach the highest levels of public service. The question now is whether Barack Obama has what it takes, astrologically speaking, to become the next president of the United States.
In the old days, parents of potential kings would have astrologers tell them the “kingship potential” of their children. The notion that Barack Obama’s parents have done something similar is a joke, of course, but if the parents of Barack Obama had asked about the kingship potential of Obama’s horoscope, here’s what an astrologer might have told them.
Does Barack Obama Have a Kingly Horoscope?
Again, assuming that the parents of Barack Obama provided an accurate birth time, for Obama’s birth certificate, we have Obama’s horoscope. Only if Barack Obama does have a kingly chart can he win the election against someone whose chart is less “royal.” We will use William Lilly’s criteria of “Dignity or Preferments” to determine whether Barack Obama’s chart is royal, and therefore promising the presidency.
Royal Criterion 1: The Sun and Moon, their aspecting planets, the ruler of the midheaven (the house of honor and glory), and any planets in the midheaven should be in their own signs or exaltations.
Obama’s Horoscope: The Sun is in the regal sign, Leo, which is favorable. However, it is also under the horizon in the malefic sixth house. The Moon is not in a strong dignity, and neither are the two planets that aspect the Moon, Mercury and Jupiter. The ruler of the 10th house is Mars in Virgo in the eighth house, again not favorable, and there are no planets in the 10th house. The overall evidence is relatively unfavorable.
Royal Criterion 2: The above planets should be angular (in the 1st, 7th, 10th, or 4th houses).
Obama’s Horoscope: Of the five planets above, only the Moon is angular, and it is in the fourth house, which is the lowest part of the horoscope, and therefore not strongly associated with glory or attainment.
Royal Criterion 3: Any of the above planets, including the angles, should be conjunct one of the Royal stars (Aldebaran, Hercules, Regulus, Spica, Lucida Lancis, and Cor Scorpionis).
Obama’s Horoscope: The closest we get is the Moon within about 6° of Aldebaran; Lilly tells us to stay within about 5°, so this is stretching it.
Judgment: Barack Obama does not have a particularly royal chart. This will not necessarily prevent him from winning the presidential election in 2008, so long as his opponent has a chart that is less royal than Obama’s. We will look at John McCain’s horoscope next week and then compare the two charts to see who has a better chance of winning the presidency in 2008.
Weather Astrology: Deadly Storm Kyrill
January 19, 2007 by admin
Recently, I have been exploring and learning more about astrometeorology, or the art and science of predicting the weather using astrology. When I read about hurricane Kyrill, which hit northwestern Europe a day or so ago, I cast a special seasonal wind chart to see whether any indications of the violence and extent of the storm could be found. I was shocked at the extreme intensity shown in the horoscope.
The horoscope for Kyrill is set for Frankfurt, Germany, one of the many areas hit strongly by Kyrill. The chart immediately preceding Kyrill’s development into a hurricane is set for Mercury’s ingress into Aquarius, since Mercury rules the winds.
Mercury is a key planet of our interest in this horoscope, but it is not doing a whole lot, sitting in a cadent albeit malefic house, and having just entered an air sign, which might give some increased wind. Mercury also rules the all-important fourth house cusp, so we might have an inkling of some wind during Mercury’s transit through Aquarius, but it’s certainly not very strong just from this testimony.
This is one chart where close aspects by the outer planets seem to act very much like fixed stars (1° or so); I suspect that this is a very good use of the outer planets, treating them like fixed stars: when they are conjunct something important, we pay attention, otherwise we can ignore them. Uranus is near the ascendant, but it’s probably too far to make a big difference at this location. Note that if the chart gets moved south of Frankfurt, Uranus will be much closer to the ascendant and hence more influential. Uranus is supposed to bring a northern wind, one that is violent and destructive. More interestingly, we see the tight Mars-Pluto conjunction right on the midheaven. Planets that are on the midheaven will often show newsworthy weather. Mars conjunct Pluto is an extremely violent and volatile combination, bringing Western wind that is quite intense and deadly.
I’m always interested in the influences of the proper fixed stars, and this chart has some very unpleasant Mars-type stars on important points. The violent star Al Hecka is conjunct the fourth house cusp, and it gives violence and the danger of accidents. Mars in the 10th house, the same one that is conjunct Pluto, is conjunct the fixed star Acumen, a star in the sting of the Scorpius constellation, which is violent and unpredictable.
For a complete prediction, and to have been able to predict this hurricane beforehand, we will have wanted to look at multiple charts for the season, but because this is a blog, we have to be a little bit more abbreviated. Even so, you can see the intense and dramatic testimonies for a gale force wind in the horoscope for Mercury’s ingress into Aquarius.
Special thanks for showing me the techniques of astrometeorology go to a top authority on the subject, Carolyn Egan of Rhode Island.
Planets in Astrology: Venus on Regulus
September 5, 2006 by admin
Regulus is a fixed star at 29 Leo, also known as the Heart of the Lion. Unsurprisingly, it is known as one of the royal stars, and those with it prominent in their natal horoscopes (on an angle or one of the Lights or the Lord of the Ascendant) can effectively vault themselves above their station at birth.
With Venus about to conjoin Regulus in a day or so, whatever is symbolized by Venus in a horary chart, say, will be shown to dwell in great heights. Unfortunately for Venus, Regulus is positioned right before the entry of Venus into Virgo, which is the sign of Venus’s detriment. So we know that Venus will be shortly raised up high, only to fall pretty low right afterwards. For exapmle, if the chart showed that your job is symbolized by Venus (say, Venus ruled the 10th house of career), and you wanted to know how your job would be in the future, we could say that you can expect great success and enjoyment of your job in the near future, but that it would quickly fall from the giddy heights.
If, however, you are electing the right astrological moment to do something that is ruled by Venus in your natal horoscope, the next day or so would be a great time to do it by harnessing the ambitious and glorious energy of Regulus to your cause. In astrologically electing a moment, we “freeze” the chart for the moment you start your enterprise or activity, and hold those energies in place to assist you in your project.
To find out what parts of your natal horoscope is ruled by Venus, and how to best take advantage of the next couple of days, email Nina Gryphon for a consultation.
Astrology and Philosophy: What the Guardian Daemon is not
September 4, 2006 by admin
In traditional astrology and the underlying philosophy, the energies of the seven planets are considered powerful, but ultimately are only hindrances on our path to God, because they feed our ego and body, the lesser parts of ourselves which must rather be subjugated to the soul.
This perspective is developed in the Hermetica, a collection of writings inspired by the conflated entity of the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek god Hermes, Hermes Trismegistus (the thrice great), dates from the first few centuries A.D. It is thought to have been compiled in the Byzantine empire based on its vocabulary, but its content harks back to a much older, Egyptian and Hellenic, line of thought.
The demons of which the Hermetica speaks are explicitly linked to the planets. They are not our Guardian Daemon, the role of which is to guide our soul out of this earthly thicket of temptations, but rather the demons are the maya, the collective name for the benefic and malefic illusion in which we dwell.
An excerpt from Corpus Hermeticum XVI
[13] The sun sets in array the troop or, rather, troops of demons, which are many and changing, arrayed under the regiments of stars, an equal number of them for each star. Thus deployed, they follow the orders of a particular star, and they are good and evil according to their natures – their energies, that is. For energy is the essence of a demon. Some of them, however, are mixtures of good and evil.
[14] They have all been granted authority over the things of the earth and over the troubles of the earth, and they produce change and tumult collectively for cities and nations, individually for each person. They reshape our souls to their own ends, and they rouse them, lying in ambush in our muscle and marrow, in veins and arteries, in the brain itself, reaching to the very guts.
[15] The demons on duty at the exact moment of birth, arrayed under each of the stars, take possession of each of us as we come into being and receive a soul. From moment to moment they change places, not staying in position but moving by rotation. Those that enter through the body into the two parts of the soul twist the soul about, each toward its own energy. But the rational part of the soul stands unmastered by the demons, suitable as a receptacle for god.
[16] Thus, if by way of the sun anyone has a ray shining upon him in his rational part (and the totality of those enlightened is few), the demons’ effect on him is nullified. For non – neither demons nor gods – can do anything against a single ray of god. All others the demons carry off as spoils, both souls and bodies, since they are fond of the demons’ energies and acquiesce in them. [And it is this love that] misleads and is mislead. So, with our bodies as their instruments, the demons govern this earthly government. Hermes has called this government “fate.”
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