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So now the "Astral Nile" has become a jungle ridden hill, at least in my inner mind. But I got Libra done!
First, I want to make note of an artist who has stricken me with wonder, joy and technical despair: Zdzislaw Beksinski. I think it was back when Saturn was retrograding back into Pisces that I came across YT videos about him, which I won't share here. I had seen some of his work before but never knew where it came from - mainly used by Justin Sledge in his vids on the Demiurge and also some of his slides in lecture series. Anyways, I started to search him out an was blown away by the depth and technical skill of his "dream photographs". There is a kind of "psychic space", a Piscean depth that he touches on which also feels instinctive to me, and some of his landscapes made me feel like, "Holy fuck! I have been there!"
In brief, I can say that gazing on Bekisinski's works led me to a creative explosion of experimentation that had yielded many interesting, but as yet unfinished results. Unfortunately, I have been down the path before, seeking some kind of newness and improvement only to come back to myself. And now I have tennis elbow and a bunch of large semi-finished canvases taking up space. But I am still trudging on my astrological trek.
So, in an attempt to indicate a restoration of balance, with Luna in the proper time space, I present my impressions of Libra.
Libra, as one of the "human signs", is also the only Zodiacal figure that is a tool. The historical expression of this sign is that of balance, yes, but also of "what is owed". The scales of justice and judgement find their origin in commerce and trade, so I am told. But a general description of Libra as the refined aesthetics of an art gallery as opposed to the wild beauty of Taurus is a comparison I keep in mind. Still, given how long it has taken me to get this part of the series done, and the fact that I was stuck on these images for years, I gotta say that from an Aries perspective, Libra is kind of a pain in the ass!
LIBRA I
In the first face of Libra ascends a man holding a lance in his right hand and a bird hanging by its feet in his leſt. This is the face of justice, truth, good judgments, perfect justice for the people and weak persons, and doing well to those in need. This is its form.
The GD gives a "dark man" holding a book and a laurel branch. When I first started this image I had, for some reason, felt that the was a Tuareg, though later cultural blendings creeped in. As seen above, Picatrix suggests a bird - but since the book was in place I decided it should sit on top of it. The bird itself I had confusions about until I setteld on a "hoopoe", a creature which, according to the academic Richard Kieckhefer, I believe, was used in medieval sacrfices to demons. Why they wanted the bird and what they did with was an open question for him, but on hearing recordings of the sound of the hoopoe's call, I felt something in there that would appeal to creatures of magic.
The Angel of this Decan is Tarasni, whose number is 329
LIBRA II
In the second face of Libra ascends a black man with a fiancée and a joyful path ahead. This is the face of quietude, rejoicing, abundance, and good life. This is its form.
This image was probably the most difficult one so far in the series. I must have gone over it again and again until I finally said "fuck it." In reflection I consider the insidious attempt to balance astrological assignments with ancient descriptions and my own instincts - and it comes out to be a real mess. At least in the production, but I could also point to the nature of "effort" that applies to the Wheel of the Zodiac itself.
Obviously the chief figure is not a "black man", but he is wearing black - such was my compromise. I should note here that Warnock describes the figure as a "bridegroom" but does not mention a fiancee. GD gives a "dark man with an evil face delighting in evil pleasures". For some reason I got caught up in the idea of Hamlet, so I interpreted here as the figure was dressed in black (like a bridegroom might be). The tensions of this decan seemed to point me in that direction - a kind of melancholy storm and stress drama dressed up theatrically, all pointing to Saturn's influence in a sign ruled by Venus. I guess the "joyful path" could be suggested by the Egyptian landscape in the background - a reference possibly to the Hermetic soteriological realization of Nous, but not quite there yet.
The Angel is Saharnatz. whose number is 1215 or 405.
LIBRA III
In the third face of Libra ascends a man riding upon an ass, and a wolf is before him. This is the face of evil works, sodomites, adultery, songs, rejoicing, and flavors. This is its form.
This one was the most fun but also the most confusion as this Decan is ruled by Jupiter. But then it struck me that Jupiter as Zeus was often called "Lord of the crooked ways" - and this notion made me feel like there is something off about this Decan. By off I mean a bit twisted, "wicked", though you could say the same thing about more than one just by reading them. This makes me reflect again that, just as there many other planetary assignments in the Decans, plus historical mutations, so there may be many more potential manifestations of their powers through the images.
In this image I kept thinking of the travelling judges of England who formed courts called "Assizes". I admit I need a little more research before making further comment on them, but the word "assize" and the notion of travelling justice kind of struck me as a bit sinister. It makes me contemplate how the great beneficence of Jupiter could be corrupted in the sign of Saturn's exaltation and Venus's social luxuriousness. However, the main interest for me that influenced me in this painting was the story of the Pendle witch trial in Lancashire in 1612. It's an interesting and tragic tale which has a strangely dark comic side to it, but I will cut myself off here.
The Angel is Shachdar, whose number is 512
First, I want to make note of an artist who has stricken me with wonder, joy and technical despair: Zdzislaw Beksinski. I think it was back when Saturn was retrograding back into Pisces that I came across YT videos about him, which I won't share here. I had seen some of his work before but never knew where it came from - mainly used by Justin Sledge in his vids on the Demiurge and also some of his slides in lecture series. Anyways, I started to search him out an was blown away by the depth and technical skill of his "dream photographs". There is a kind of "psychic space", a Piscean depth that he touches on which also feels instinctive to me, and some of his landscapes made me feel like, "Holy fuck! I have been there!"
In brief, I can say that gazing on Bekisinski's works led me to a creative explosion of experimentation that had yielded many interesting, but as yet unfinished results. Unfortunately, I have been down the path before, seeking some kind of newness and improvement only to come back to myself. And now I have tennis elbow and a bunch of large semi-finished canvases taking up space. But I am still trudging on my astrological trek.
So, in an attempt to indicate a restoration of balance, with Luna in the proper time space, I present my impressions of Libra.
Libra, as one of the "human signs", is also the only Zodiacal figure that is a tool. The historical expression of this sign is that of balance, yes, but also of "what is owed". The scales of justice and judgement find their origin in commerce and trade, so I am told. But a general description of Libra as the refined aesthetics of an art gallery as opposed to the wild beauty of Taurus is a comparison I keep in mind. Still, given how long it has taken me to get this part of the series done, and the fact that I was stuck on these images for years, I gotta say that from an Aries perspective, Libra is kind of a pain in the ass!
LIBRA I
In the first face of Libra ascends a man holding a lance in his right hand and a bird hanging by its feet in his leſt. This is the face of justice, truth, good judgments, perfect justice for the people and weak persons, and doing well to those in need. This is its form.
The GD gives a "dark man" holding a book and a laurel branch. When I first started this image I had, for some reason, felt that the was a Tuareg, though later cultural blendings creeped in. As seen above, Picatrix suggests a bird - but since the book was in place I decided it should sit on top of it. The bird itself I had confusions about until I setteld on a "hoopoe", a creature which, according to the academic Richard Kieckhefer, I believe, was used in medieval sacrfices to demons. Why they wanted the bird and what they did with was an open question for him, but on hearing recordings of the sound of the hoopoe's call, I felt something in there that would appeal to creatures of magic.
The Angel of this Decan is Tarasni, whose number is 329
LIBRA II
In the second face of Libra ascends a black man with a fiancée and a joyful path ahead. This is the face of quietude, rejoicing, abundance, and good life. This is its form.
This image was probably the most difficult one so far in the series. I must have gone over it again and again until I finally said "fuck it." In reflection I consider the insidious attempt to balance astrological assignments with ancient descriptions and my own instincts - and it comes out to be a real mess. At least in the production, but I could also point to the nature of "effort" that applies to the Wheel of the Zodiac itself.
Obviously the chief figure is not a "black man", but he is wearing black - such was my compromise. I should note here that Warnock describes the figure as a "bridegroom" but does not mention a fiancee. GD gives a "dark man with an evil face delighting in evil pleasures". For some reason I got caught up in the idea of Hamlet, so I interpreted here as the figure was dressed in black (like a bridegroom might be). The tensions of this decan seemed to point me in that direction - a kind of melancholy storm and stress drama dressed up theatrically, all pointing to Saturn's influence in a sign ruled by Venus. I guess the "joyful path" could be suggested by the Egyptian landscape in the background - a reference possibly to the Hermetic soteriological realization of Nous, but not quite there yet.
The Angel is Saharnatz. whose number is 1215 or 405.
LIBRA III
In the third face of Libra ascends a man riding upon an ass, and a wolf is before him. This is the face of evil works, sodomites, adultery, songs, rejoicing, and flavors. This is its form.
This one was the most fun but also the most confusion as this Decan is ruled by Jupiter. But then it struck me that Jupiter as Zeus was often called "Lord of the crooked ways" - and this notion made me feel like there is something off about this Decan. By off I mean a bit twisted, "wicked", though you could say the same thing about more than one just by reading them. This makes me reflect again that, just as there many other planetary assignments in the Decans, plus historical mutations, so there may be many more potential manifestations of their powers through the images.
In this image I kept thinking of the travelling judges of England who formed courts called "Assizes". I admit I need a little more research before making further comment on them, but the word "assize" and the notion of travelling justice kind of struck me as a bit sinister. It makes me contemplate how the great beneficence of Jupiter could be corrupted in the sign of Saturn's exaltation and Venus's social luxuriousness. However, the main interest for me that influenced me in this painting was the story of the Pendle witch trial in Lancashire in 1612. It's an interesting and tragic tale which has a strangely dark comic side to it, but I will cut myself off here.
The Angel is Shachdar, whose number is 512