Your personal mythology
Happy Labor Day in the USA! Many of us are off work today, making it a grand time to reflect on the work we do in the world—whether for money, security, creative fulfillment or sacred service. Ideally, we get sufficient amounts of all those things.
“Labor Day” also sent my thoughts to mythology, which is never far from my mind. Sometimes revisiting the stories that underpin modern astrology can be instructive, even inspirational, in a kind of Jungian “collective unconsciousness” way. Meaning, don’t take them literally but symbolically.
Hercules was considered one of the greatest warriors. Like many of his cohorts, his father was Zeus, but his mother was a mortal—and not Hercules’ wife, Hera. All these babies her husband sired planted deep resentment in her. When she learned of Hercules' birth, Hera tried to kill him by putting snakes in his crib. But the proto-warrior-baby prevailed.
Later she cast a spell on him that made him temporarily crazy, and under her bewitchment, he murdered his wife and two children. Beset with grief and guilt, Hercules petitioned Apollo, the god of truth and healing, to help him make amends. So Apollo gave Hercules the now-legendary 12 Labors, after the successful performance of which, he would be absolved of his guilt and granted immortality.
Hercules’ first labor: killing a lion that was terrorizing a local community, which he did by cornering and overpowering it. Next, he had to slay the poisonous nine-headed snakelike creature, Hydra, which required a clever accomplice. Then he had to capture the treasured pet of huntress goddess Diana, which he accomplished with negotiation, not force.
The rest involved killing a wild boar, cleaning out stables (achieved by mastering forces of nature), driving off a predatory flock of birds—done by soliciting strategic partnership—shooing away a lustful bull, pilfering an armored belt (complicated by Hera’s interference), stealing some cows (again outwitting Hera), returning some golden apples to Zeus (in spite of Hera), and finally kidnapping (then returning) the three-headed dog, Cerberus, who guarded the gates of Hell.
And you thought your job was hard?
Applying Mythology to Your Life
Reflecting on the symbolism of Hercules’ labors, my big takeaway is: You can’t shirk your fate (karma), so you need to be strong, brave, strategic and know your “why.” (Oh yeah, and avoid jealous, unscrupulous people, especially family, in the process.)
Hercules, you may recall, was the one who shot the arrow (poisoned with Hydra’s blood) that wounded Chiron, and he himself died by that same blood, in typical Greek-myth-soap-opera fashion, suggesting that even the bravest, strongest and truest can’t outwit Death.
Extrapolating a bit, we find the overarching themes of love and commitment (or lack thereof), core values and partnership (Venus) and truth and justice (Jupiter), both of which just changed direction.
Venus ended her six-week reversal through Leo (love, loyalty, creative expression including children) Sunday night (EDT), passing the retrograde baton to fellow benefic Jupiter (Zeus) Monday morning, giving us almost four full months to re-evaluate everything that planet represents to us.
I know many people experienced very “Venus retrograde” situations in their personal lives, from relationship fissures becoming gaping chasms to reconnecting with an ex to everything in between.
Bottom-lining it, Venus reflects not only who but how we love and engage intimately, which itself is a reflection of our values, and those are predicated on how we value ourselves. Are we worth protecting and fighting for our own needs and goals, or do we allow [narcissists, abusers, vampires] to have their way with us?
We have to learn to love ourselves enough to cut the cords of shame and co-dependence and insist on healthy relationships.
Making Sense of Retrogrades
Six weeks is a good start for reconsidering those deep issues—wounds—within us. Fully understanding, accepting and healing them, of course, is the work of a lifetime.
On Monday, as Jupiter pivots into reverse for practically the rest of the year—with half the sky also retrograde—we’ll have a good long time to reevaluate… well, a lot of things!
Jupiter stations retrograde at 15º Taurus 35’ and will station direct on December 30 at 5º Taurus 35’. To get a sense of what growth opportunities are available to you during this time, you will want to reflect on his archetypal significance (expansion, edification, spirituality, honesty, worldliness) as well as the house(s) he’ll be transiting in your chart.
Then get clear on how he functions in your chart/life natally. Is he direct or retrograde (if the latter, this will be more familiar to you); in a state of “honor” (in Cancer, Sag or Pisces) or “debility” (Gemini, Virgo, Capricorn); aspecting anything, in an expressive house (1, 4, 7, 10) or “obscured” (3, 6, 9, 12)?
If you’re new to astrology, I know that’s a lot. But that’s how we acquire knowledge, which is actually one of the major themes of the next four months: Understanding your motivations, your deepest needs (and updating them), your desire to grow and learn, your longing to make sense of this often nutty (and randomly cruel) world…
As the ruler of Sagittarius, Jupiter is today considered wise and just (as opposed to childishly self-aggrandizing Zeus) and willing to stretch out of his comfort zone for the sheer joy of new experiences. As the ancient ruler of Pisces (a duty shared with modern ruler Neptune), he symbolizes the quest for knowing our true nature and finding ways to not merely accept but to embrace that, warts (as they say) and all.
Jupiter joins a merry band of retrograde pranksters today: Mercury (till Sept. 15), Pluto (10/10), Saturn (11/4), Neptune (12/6), Chiron (12/26) and Uranus till Jan. 27, 2024. If you’re familiar with the old American military acronym “snafu,” you might apply it here. Yes, things might seem totally, shall we say, screwed up, but hey, that’s “situation normal.”
Life isn’t “supposed” to be neat, easy, obvious, without challenges. Why would we bother to leave the heavenly realm in the first place and come here if there weren’t a damn good “reason”? I know, I know: “Soul growth” is a weak consolation prize for enduring true suffering.
Even if you don’t buy into that rationale, it’s hard to accept that life sucks needlessly. Oh, no one’s questioning that sometimes life really does suck—I’m talking about the question of whether it’s “needless” ... or the whole bloody point.
If you’ve worked with me, you know my focus is less on the “what” than the “how”—or the “why.” You can do the most impressive thing, but if you’re seething in resentment or self-loathing or only doing it for applause, there’s no “benefit” in that.
On the other hand, if you continuously act with love, hope, courage, generosity and integrity, facing the challenges that inevitably come and not playing the victim card ... and even if you don’t “succeed” by others’ standards ... well, trust that your soul just earned another merit badge. And those "merit badges" are the only things you'll carry over into the next lifetime.
With so many planets retrograde (inward-turning), you have a personal invitation to reflect on the biggest themes in your own life. With time and dedication, I truly believe, clarity (and peace) will come.
I’m seeing Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman on a foggy airstrip and recalling his wise words about doing the right thing, even when it seems like a terrible mistake. And I encourage you to stay committed to a path of self-inquiry, which will lead to a place of true acceptance. When? you ask. “Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.”
