Imbolc, Pluto and Ceres

Imbolc 2007

February 4 saw us reach the seasonal “Cross Quarter” at 15° Aquarius. That is the point midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In Earth Season traditions this point is known as Imbolc (Oimelc) or Brigid (Christianized) and celebrates the beginning of the final days of Winter. Less precisely, we mark the event on February 2 with Candlemas (Christian) and Groundhog Day (US). In the symbolism of the seasons it marks a stirring or awakening in the womb (Oimelc) of Mother Earth. Peoples of the Southern Hemisphere will see it as the turning from Summer to Autumn.

And while we're on the topic of Mother Earth . . .

ANCIENT MYTH ~ MODERN SCIENCE

I had an “oh, my goodness, yes!” reaction to an article in “The Keyhole” by Alice Kashuba. There she pointed out that the IAU (International Astronomical Union) with its revised definition of a planet had demoted Pluto to “dwarf planet” status and at the same time elevated the status of the (formerly known as the) largest asteroid, Ceres, to dwarf planet status. As we know, Pluto is way out there, one of the most distant objects in the solar system and Ceres, in orbit between Jupiter and Mars, is nearer Earth. In a way, the astronomers of the IAU by equalizing the status of Ceres and Pluto, illuminated the myth from which they get their names. Pluto (Greek Hades), dark Lord of the Underworld, abducted Ceres’ (Greek Demeter), Goddess of the Harvest’s, daughter, the young and beautiful Proserpina (Greek Persephone).

Alice further points out that this promotion of Ceres serves to awaken us to understanding the nurturing influence of “Mother Earth.” In this time of increased attention to global warming, the sorrow of Ceres at the abduction of her daughter may serve as a reflection of the distress of Mother Earth now. Ceres' reaction to the loss of her daughter was inconsolable grief and yearning. In Metamorphosis, Ovid tells us that she brought famine by extremes of weather, alternately making the ground so dry and hard that the ploughs of the farmers broke and then causing violent rain that washed away or rotted the seed. She set about “to destroy the weakly tribes of earthborn men” according to Homer.

Let’s hope that we have (as Homer did) a silver-tongued Hermes (Mercury) to win over Pluto with soft words and return Persephone to her mother Demeter (Ceres) and so prevent the destruction of our tribe.

Original text © 2007 Tim Rubald

Tim Rubald, C.A. NCGR, C.A.P. ISAR
Life cycles and success timing for people in transition.
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