Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Promiscuous Gods

We left Saturn behind (in this trip ever deeper into the astrological solar system from the free-to-download book, Astrological Repair Manual) and we're arriving at Jupiter. I'll let the book speak for itself:

"Approaching Jupiter, largest planet in this system, 300 Earth’s-worth of gaseous colors swirling in riotous flow...

"Jupiter Optimus Maximus (the Best and Greatest) for the Romans; Zeus for the Greeks—god of sky and thunder.

"For everything that Saturn pulls in and tightens, Jupiter loosens and expands. Rather than focusing on a clearly defined territory of meaning, Jupiter magnifies things to their widest potential. Instead of limiting, he amplifies.

"Jupiter’s full cycle is very close to 12 years and its meanings have to do with opportunities and how we give them birth, fill them with optimism, and reap their
rewards.

"In mythology, this character represents what most of us think of when the word promiscuous is used—many sex partners. In fact, this “god” impregnated many mortal women. (It's interesting that the word promiscuous comes from Latin roots that mean to mix very well.) Jupiter was also the supreme ruler of all the other gods, sat on his throne on the highest peak of the world, and issued proclamations that none dared to question. I’ve been mentioning some of the mythos of the planets as we’ve been traveling, and I think you’ve noticed that I don’t adhere strictly to the myths' "official" interpretation. It’s not that I think the myths have little to offer; it’s that there’s more than any one particular myth-meaning in every planet. The planets and their symbolic meanings predate the urge that societies had for making myths. The planets' cyclic meanings run deeper and spread farther than all the myths ever told.

"Fact is, we have the whole solar system inside us, including all the changes this system has gone through in its history. Our unconscious minds resonate and vibrate with the energy of the cosmos. And, when I say that, I’m just repeating something that’s been said in every culture and religious tradition since stories started to be told.

"This is something that Saturn would caution against—dangers abounding for those who go too far, dream too high, probe to deep! Jupiter shrugs and says, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

"There have been many times in my astrological career that I’ve wanted to rename everything, even astrology itself. Names carry so much power to bend minds and too often blind us to the true identities circling around us. I believe there’s a place in all of us (part of that deeper, collective unconscious mind) that knows well the names of Jupiter and Saturn, knows their exploits and their reputations. This is the part of the unconscious that needs a good airing out in the light of day. And while the dirty laundry is flapping in the breeze, we can dive even more deeply into what preceded these notorious characters."

We'll do that in the next post...

Your thoughts and feelings?

6 comments:

Lauren said...

Alex,thank you for your perky describing of my ruling planet and I agree with you that each of us has a unique knowing of the cosmos.

You insights into Jupiter and mythology reminded me of this quote from Joseph Cambell;"It would not be too much to say that myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural manifestation."

Lauren

Alexander M Zoltai said...

Lauren,

Campbell is right on the money; in fact, a major part of the research I'm doing for the revision and expansion of Astrological Repair Manual is an in-depth study of the facts that tumble out of a rigorous comparative study of the world's oldest myths...

Lauren said...

Alex,

Your study sounds exciting and I look forward to reading what you discover. I am currently reading a book that you might find an interesting resource,"The Myth of the Goddess evolution of an image",by Anne Baring and Jules Cashford.

Lauren

Alexander M Zoltai said...

I will be sharing my research, maybe here on the blog {depends on reader interest [and you already showed that]} and definitely in the revised and expanded edition of Astrological Repair ManualAnd, maybe you can share some of the book your reading here, too! It sure sounds like it would have information that would fit, eh?

Lauren said...

Morning Alex,

I am definitely interested in reading of your research and thank you for the invitation to share what I am reading on your blog......

Alexander M Zoltai said...

Do, please, share whatever you think is appropriate from what you're reading, too!

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