A perfect example of the Cancer archetype on film is mother! – a mind-bending Gnostic creation myth stuffed with Biblical metaphors and Kabbalistic symbolism. It’s a home invasion story told from the perspective of Mother Earth and was inspired by the children’s book The Giving Tree. The film was marketed as a horror movie but… Continue reading mother! – God, Creativity, and Pesky Humans
We leave behind the mental chatter of Gemini and enter the deep waters of Cancer. As a cardinal water sign, Cancer is concerned with emotional security and achieves strength through surrender. Water takes the form of whatever container it flows into, and will flow around obstacles or slowly wear them down. Water doesn’t resist; it… Continue reading Zodiac Myths: The Story Behind Cancer
Last week we looked at Gemini myths which gave me the perfect excuse to watch Doctor Strange again. The film deals with various Gemini/Mercury themes including magic, healing, the confrontation with the shadow, and the shamanic journey between dimensions. It’s another superhero origins story – a classic hero’s journey with an added dash of ‘Hollywood… Continue reading Doctor Strange: Time and the Meaning of Life
From the earth of Taurus springs the butterfly mind of Gemini. As a mutable air sign, Gemini provides the ability to know and understand reality. If Aries stands for the subject and Taurus stands for the object, then Gemini is the relationship between these two: the knower and the known giving rise to a third,… Continue reading Zodiac Myths: The Story Behind Gemini
A perfect example of Taurus on film can be found in Chocolat, a light-hearted fable that makes your mouth water just watching it. Like all good films, it’s about many things: religious belief v atheism, feminism, inclusion, temptation, and what it means to live a good life. It’s a tale of freedom and longing, forgiveness… Continue reading Chocolat: Healing the Past and Making Life Sweeter
After the excitement and energy of Aries, we come down to earth with Taurus. As a fixed earth sign, Taurus provides the physical container for the unborn potential of Aries to manifest. It stabilises and grounds the creative spark in the present moment, burrowing deep into the soil of life. The Taurus bull is a… Continue reading Zodiac Myths: The Story Behind Taurus
In the post on Aries Myths we met the Sumerian battle goddess Inanna: a fertility goddess and force of nature with roots that extend back into prehistory. She’s not a figure you would expect to pop up in a Hollywood movie, but then along came Wonder Woman. Unlike many superhero movies, it isn’t afflicted with… Continue reading Wonder Woman: the Descent and Return of the Goddess
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and marks the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. This is the start of the astrological New Year, so what better time to begin a new series on the myths behind the zodiac. Aries – as cardinal fire – is all about new beginnings. Aries is a… Continue reading Zodiac Myths: The Story Behind Aries
In part 1 we looked at how Prometheus can be interpreted as a gnostic creation myth and met some of the characters. In this post we’ll look at some of the other symbolism in the film, including the secret of immortality and the alchemy of creation. As always, EXPECT SPOILERS! Elizabeth Shaw is our moral… Continue reading Prometheus: the Alchemy of Space Aliens – Part 2
As part of my occasional series on mystical and gnostic themes in film, I thought it would be a good time to tackle Prometheus, what with Alien: Covenant in cinemas as I write this. Prometheus is part of the franchise that began in 1979 with Alien, the classic horror film directed by Ridley Scott, and… Continue reading Prometheus: the Alchemy of Space Aliens – Part 1
Part of my occasional series on mystical and gnostic themes in Film & TV. The film adaptation of the Ubisoft game Assassin’s Creed had some intriguing possibilities in its mythology so I checked it out. There’s a lot of hoo-ha around the problem of video games making bad movies and many people were optimistic about this… Continue reading Assassin’s Creed: a film confused by its Gnostic roots
The Mercury archetype represents our mind and how we think and communicate. It shows how we articulate and conceptualise ideas, give and receive information, and use language to make sense of the world. It also represents networks and transportation. Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo. The symbol is the semi-circle of the Moon over… Continue reading The Story Behind Mercury
Jessica Davidson 