posts exploring myths, symbolism, and culture…
We’ve been exploring the development of Faust and how the myth has changed over the centuries. Last time we covered Goethe’s version, the favourite because it paints our obsession with progress as a good thing. The world has changed a lot since it was written and we can now see where that obsession has brought… Continue reading Exploring Faust: Thomas Mann and the End of the West
Last time we looked at the history of the Faust legend and the first popular version by Christopher Marlowe. The tale grew out of the Reformation and it reflected the needs of the time. But as the Renaissance morphed into the so-called Age of Enlightenment in the 17th century, people needed a new myth and… Continue reading Exploring Faust: Goethe and the Myth of Progress
The legend of Faust tells the tale of a man who makes a deal with the devil to gain magical powers. The devil’s representative is Mephistopheles, who gives Faust power for twenty-four years, after which the devil takes his soul to hell. There are many different versions of the tale and it changes to reflect… Continue reading Exploring Faust: History and Christopher Marlowe
Jupiter represents your need to grow and improve yourself, to make progress and expand into new areas. It stands for the search for meaning and the desire to connect with something greater than yourself, to find faith and confidence in life, as well as grace and joy. Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the… Continue reading Planet Myths: The Story Behind Jupiter
Mars represents your will and survival instincts and how you direct your life force to achieve goals. It shows how you assert yourself and express your desires, initiating action to get what you want. Depending on placement and aspects, there’s no messing about with Mars – he’s direct and courageous, urging you to go forth… Continue reading Planet Myths: The Story Behind Mars
Neptune represents your need for transcendence and the desire to escape limitations through surrender to a timeless vision or ideal. It’s associated with the creative expression of imagination, dreams and fantasy, as well as religious devotion and mystical union that dissolves the boundaries of the self. Neptune takes about 165 years to orbit the entire… Continue reading Planet Myths: The Story Behind Neptune
Uranus represents your need for freedom and change and the desire for independence from tradition and the status quo. It’s associated with sudden awakenings and insights that revolutionise your perspective and turn your life upside down, pushing you towards individuation and liberation. Uranus is the next planet out from Saturn and its orbit takes 84… Continue reading Planet Myths: The Story Behind Uranus
Pluto represents how you relate to the cycles of life and death and the process of transformation. It’s associated with the primordial instincts and the elemental forces of nature and power. Whether you’re ready or not, Pluto confronts you with the necessity for regeneration and the evolution of your soul. Pluto is a dwarf planet… Continue reading Planet Myths: The Story Behind Pluto
Saturn represents your need for structure, limitation and security. As the reality principle, it stands for the workings of karma and necessity. It keeps you grounded in the material world through your relationship to time and the facts of existence, suffering, old age and death. In the past, Saturn was known as the Greater Malefic… Continue reading Planet Myths: The Story Behind Saturn
Chiron represents your primal wound and where you have a gift for healing others. It’s the wound that won’t heal, but through that wounding your experience of life is deepened and transformed. Chiron stands for the wound, the wounded, the wounder, and the healer, and he initiates you into self-knowledge and spiritual growth. Astronomically speaking,… Continue reading Planet Myths: The Story Behind Chiron
We’ve reached the final post in the series as the water carrier dissolves into the ocean of eternal life. As a mutable water sign, Pisces unites all previous experience to embrace the whole of life and complete the circle. Its transcendent vision marks the end of the Zodiac and the start of the next turn… Continue reading Zodiac Myths: The Story Behind Pisces
The practical sea goat is washed away by the water carrier. As a fixed air sign, Aquarius shares the gifts attained by climbing the mountain in Capricorn, and reforms society for the benefit of all. Through mastery of the mind, it awakens to the reality of humanity’s true nature. Aquarius is a masculine sign and… Continue reading Zodiac Myths: The Story Behind Aquarius
Jessica Davidson 