Times Colonist: Langford plans to sue highway protesters
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2.) From The Province's website (on the site, the 'What if' questions are all links to articles):
What if there's a campus shooting?
It's a damp spring morning at the University of B.C. and students have barely had time to uncap their...
* What if there's an earthquake?
* What if there's a plane crash?
* What if there's a pandemic?
* What if there's a major chemical spill?
* What if Mount Baker blows?
* Sound Off: What do you think?
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3.) To continue with the Horae, the hours, mentioned yesterday (the children of Themis and Zeus):
In Greek mythology, the Horae (Ώραι — literally translated as "the hours") were three goddesses controlling orderly life. They were daughters of Zeus and Themis, half-sisters to the Moirae. There were two generations of Horae: (note: this does not refer to generation in the traditional sense of the second group being offspring of the first; earlier writers recognized the first generation and later authors subscribed to the second.)
The first generation consisted of Thallo, Auxo, and Carpo, who were the goddesses of the seasons (the Greeks only recognized spring, summer and autumn). In art, the first generation were usually portrayed as young, attractive women surrounded by colourful flowers and abundant vegetation or other symbols of fertility. They were worshipped primarily amongst rural farmers throughout Greece.
Thallo (Θαλλώ literally translated as the one who brings blossoms) (or Thalatte) was the goddess of spring, buds and blooms, the bringer of flowers, and became a protector of youth.
Auxo (Αυξώ pronounced Afxo) or Auxesia is Greek for increaser (as in "plant growth"), and she was worshipped alongside Hegemone [Hegemone was a Greek goddess of plants, specifically making them bloom and bear fruit as they were supposed to. Her name means "mastery".] in Athens as one of their two Charites.
Carpo (Καρπώ), Carpho or Xarpo (translated as the one who brings food - though Robert Graves in his book The Greek Myths translates this name as "withering") was in charge of autumn, ripening, and harvesting, as well as guarding the way to Mount Olympus and letting back the clouds surrounding the mountain if one of the gods left. She was an attendant to Persephone, Aphrodite and Hera, and was also associated with Dionysus, Apollo and Pan.
The second generation comprised Eunomia, Dike, and Eirene, who were law and order goddesses that maintained the stability of society. They were worshipped primarily in the cities of Athens, Argos and Olympia.
Dike (Δίκη - Greek for justice). See yesterday.
Eunomia (Ευνομία - Greek for good order - governance according to good laws) was the goddess of law and legislation. The same or a different goddess may have been a daughter of Hermes and Aphrodite.
Eirene, or Irene (Ειρήνη -pronounced I-ree-nee; Greek for peace); the Roman equivalent was Pax), was the personification of peace and wealth, and was depicted in art as a beautiful young woman carrying a cornucopia, scepter and a torch or rhyton.
Wikipedia goes on to mention a possible third and forth generation with variations -- I won't get into that here. There are, however, an interesting grouping of goddesses for the times of the day:
* Auge, first light
* Anatole or Anatolia, sunrise
* Mousika or Musica, the morning hour of music and study
* Gymnastika, Gymnastica or Gymnasia, the morning hour of gymnastics/exercise
* Nymphe, the morning hour of ablutions (bathing, washing)
* Mesembria, noon
* Sponde, libations poured after lunch
* Elete, prayer, the first of the afternoon work hours
* Akte, Acte or Cypris, eating and pleasure, the second of the afternoon work hours
* Hesperis, evening
* Dysis, sunset
* The name of the twelfth Hora is missing from the ancient text listing these goddesses.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horae
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemone
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4.) The Moirae: the fates.
They controlled the metaphorical thread of life of every mortal and immortal from birth to death (and beyond). Even the gods feared the Moirae. Zeus also was subject to their power, as the Pythian priestess at Delphi once admitted.
The three Moirae were:
* Clotho (..."spinner") spun the thread of life from her distaff onto her spindle....
* Lachesis (..."allotter" or drawer of lots) measured the thread of life with her rod....
* Atropos (..."inexorable" or "inevitable", literally "unturning", sometimes called Aisa) was the cutter of the thread of life. She chose the manner of a person's death. When she cut the thread with "her abhorrèd shears", someone on Earth died....
The Moirae were supposed to appear three nights after a child's birth to determine the course of its life. The Greeks variously claimed that they were the daughters of Zeus and the Titaness Themis (the "Institutor") or of primordial beings like Nyx, the Night, Chaos or Ananke, Necessity.
Versions of the Moirae also existed on the deepest European mythological level. It is difficult to separate them from the other Indo-European spinning fate goddesses known as the Norns in Norse mythology and the Baltic goddess Laima and her two sisters. Some Greek mythographers went so far as to claim that the Moirae were the daughters of Zeus— paired with either Ananke or, as Hesiod had it in one passage, Themis or Nyx. Whether or not providing a father even for the Moirae was a symptom of how far Greek mythographers were willing to go, in order to modify the old myths to suit the patrilineal Olympic order, the claim was certainly not acceptable to Aeschylus, Herodotus, or Plato.
The Moirae were usually described as cold, remorseless and unfeeling, and depicted as old crones or hags. ... Despite their forbidding reputation, Moirae could be worshipped as goddesses.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moirae
The Graeae, to be compared with the Moirae.
The Graeae (..."old women", "gray ones", or "gray witches", alternatively spelled Graiai, Graiae, Graii), were three sisters, one of several trinities of archaic goddesses in Greek mythology. The Graeae were daughters of Phorcys, one aspect of the "old man of the sea," and Ceto.... Hesiod reports their names as Deino ("dread", the dreadful anticipation of horror), Enyo ("horror" the "waster of cities" who had an identity separate from this sisterhood) and Pemphredo ("alarm")... Hyginus adds a fourth, Persis or Perso.
Like another set of crones at the oldest levels of both Germanic and Norse mythology, they had but one eye and one tooth among them. These were shared and the sisters took turns in using them. By stealing their eye while they were passing it between them, the hero Perseus forced them to tell the whereabouts of their sisters, the Gorgons, ransoming the seeing eye for the information. The Graeae can be compared with the three spinners of Destiny (the Moirae), the northern European Norns, or the Baltic goddess Laima and her two sisters.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeae
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5.) Briefly (as I'm tired of the trios as such), the Charities:
In Greek mythology, a Charis is one of several Charites (Χάριτες; Greek: "Graces"), goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility. They ordinarily numbered three, from youngest to oldest: Aglaea ("Beauty"), Euphrosyne ("Mirth"), and Thalia ("Good Cheer"). In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae, the "Three Graces."
The Charites were usually considered the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, though they were also said to be daughters of Dionysus and Aphrodite or of Helios and the naiad Aegle. Homer wrote that they were part of the retinue of Aphrodite. The Charites were also associated with the underworld and the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Again, at Athens, before the entrance to the Acropolis, the Graces are three in number; by their side are celebrated mysteries which must not be divulged to the many.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charites
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6.) To pick up with yesterday: we have followed Virgo to Libra which brought us to Scorpio:
Scorpius resembles, quite noticeably, a scorpion's tail, and a vague body. According to Greek mythology, it corresponds to the scorpion which was sent by the goddess Hera (or possibly Gaia) to kill the hunter Orion, the scorpion rising out of the ground to attack. Although the scorpion and Orion appear together in this myth, the constellation of Orion is almost opposite to Scorpius in the night sky. It has been suggested that this was a divine precaution to forestall the heavenly continuation of the feud.
In one version however, Apollo sent the scorpion after Orion, having grown jealous of Artemis' attentions to Orion. Later, in contrition for killing her friend, Apollo helped Artemis hang Orion's image in the night sky. However, the scorpion was also placed up there, and every time it appears on the horizon, Orion starts to sink into the other side of the sky, still running from the attacker.
Scorpius also appears in one version of the story of Phaethon, the mortal son of Helios, the sun. Phaethon asked to drive the sun-chariot for a day. Phaethon lost control of the chariot. The horses, already out of control, were scared by the great celestial scorpion with its sting raised to strike, and the inexperienced boy lost control of the chariot, as the sun wildly went about the sky (this is said to have formed the constellation Eridanus). Finally, Zeus struck him down with a thunderbolt to stop the rampage.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpius#Mythology
and:
In mythology Scorpio is often associated with Hades, Lord of the Underworld, who was known in Roman mythology as Pluto, and Orpheus from the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Scorpio is also associated with the Greco-Roman gods Ares/Mars. The constellation is also associated with the scorpion that killed Orion.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpio_%28astrology%29#Mythology
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7.) Zodiac photos
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8.) From Scorpio to Sagittarius (for Adam).
In mythology Sagittarius is often associated with either a Satyr or a Centaur (in the case of the latter, often the centaur Chiron, who taught and tutored various heroes in Greek myth). In Greek mythology, centaurs were adventurous, brave, and wise, but they were also given to brawling and uncivilized behavior.
The Greek legends tell us that Sagittarius is a centaur, half human, half horse. He was the son of Saturn and Plyilyra and is said to have changed himself into a horse to escape his jealous wife, Rhea.
Sagittarius has the rough appearance of a stick-figure archer drawing its bow, and when including the fainter stars, appears to have a horse-like body. Sometimes it is called the 'Teapot' as it looks like one.
The Sagittarius's dual natures, that of the beast (aggressive, rebellious, sexual, free-roaming, etc.) and the higher nature (philosophical, open-minded, honest etc.) are said to be in constant conflict.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_%28constellation%29
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_%28astrology%29
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9.) It would be foolish of me to try to explain my interest in astrology but it has to do with some kind of poetry of sorts. Certainly I doubt I'll ever muster enough energy (assuming that's what's needed) to really figure out its "validity" or "accuracy". As follows is a basic guideline for astrological dates (*insert caveats re: systems and methodology here*).
Aries Fire: 21 March - 20 April
Taurus Earth: 21 April - 21 May
Gemini Air: 22 May - 23 June
Cancer Water: 24 June - 22 July
Leo Fire: 23 July - 22 August
Virgo Earth: 23 August - 22 September
Libra Air: 23 September - 23 October
Scorpio Water: 24 October - 21 November
Sagittarius Fire: 22 November - 21 December
Capricorn Earth: 22 December - 20 January
Aquarius Air: 21 January - 18 February
Pisces Water: 19 February - 20 March
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrological_sign
Ah, I found a caveat of sorts:
The Western tropical astrology starts with the first point of Aries, which is defined as the point at which the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator at the spring equinox. It is important to note that the tropical zodiac signs at this stage no longer bear any relationship to the astronomical constellations after which they were originally named, due to a phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes which produces a slow change of the time of year when constellations are visible in the night sky over a 25,000 year cycle.
Western sidereal astrology and Indian astrology use signs which more or less coincide with the stellar constellations of the same name, although this involves adjustments to allow for the precession of the equinoxes.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrological_sign#The_zodiac
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10.) Well, after a break, here comes something: I've decided to sort of take notes here, to see if I can get this stuff straight.
equinox: either of the two times each year (as about March 21 and September 23) when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are everywhere on earth of approximately equal length, or: either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic
ecliptic: the great circle of the celestial sphere that is the apparent path of the sun among the stars or of the earth as seen from the sun : the plane of the earth's orbit extended to meet the celestial sphere
celestial sphere: an imaginary sphere of infinite radius against which the celestial bodies appear to be projected and of which the apparent dome of the visible sky forms half
celestial equator: the great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles
celestial pole: either of the two points on the celestial sphere around which the diurnal rotation of the stars appears to take place
Ok, so far so good.
vernal: of, relating to, or occurring in the spring
solstice: either of the two points on the ecliptic at which its distance from the celestial equator is greatest and which is reached by the sun each year about June 22 and December 22, or: the time of the sun's passing a solstice which occurs about June 22 to begin summer in the northern hemisphere and about December 22 to begin winter in the northern hemisphere
zodiac: an imaginary band in the heavens centered on the ecliptic that encompasses the apparent paths of all the planets except Pluto and is divided into 12 constellations or signs each taken for astrological purposes to extend 30 degrees of longitude
precession of the equinoxes: a slow westward motion of the equinoxes along the ecliptic caused by the gravitational action of sun and moon upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator
The precession of Earth's axis of rotation with respect to inertial space is also called the precession of the equinoxes. Like a wobbling top, the direction of the Earth's axis is changing; while today, the North Pole points roughly to Polaris, over time it will change. Because of this wobble, the position of the earth in its orbit around the sun at the moment of the equinoxes and solstices will also change.
all definitions from www.m-w.com
the last one is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession_of_the_equinoxes
also see here for a helpful picture
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11.) So I've looked a bit more into this. Let's see what we've got:
The signs of the zodiac do not necessarily coincide with the actual constellations for which they are named. Because of the division of the zodiac into 12 signs of 30° each; due to various specifications for the boundaries of the constellations; and especially due to the precession of the equinoxes for the tropical system of coordinates, the constellations should not be confused with zodiac signs. ...[as an example:] today, the beginning of the tropical sign of Aries (defined as the position of the Sun on the vernal equinox) lies somewhere within the constellation Pisces.
...consider the motion of the Sun from one vernal equinox to the next; the Earth would complete such a cycle shortly before it completed an entire orbit around the Sun. (24 minutes and 20 seconds before). The difference is very subtle, but as astronomers found archival records to compare their sightings with sightings of previous astronomers, the discrepancy thus became apparent. Some estimates of the rate of precession suggest that over a period of 27,000 tropical years, the Earth will have orbited the Sun only 26,999 times. That Hipparchus in the second century BC could recognize and document such a subtle process which is now known as the precession of the equinoxes could be considered remarkable.
The use of the phrase "first point in Aries" causes some confusion when considering sidereal versus tropical systems of coordinates. The first point in Aries in the sidereal system of coordinates, would be the first star in the Aries sign or perhaps the boundary of that sign. Whereas in tropical coordinates, the vernal equinox defines this point. [the tropical system, a more geocentric system, is based on our seasons: i.e. the name "Aries" is not connected to the actual constellation; whereas the the sidereal system is based on fixed stars: i.e. "Aries" is either the arrival of the first star in the Aries constellation or the boundary (as defined in 1930 by the International Astronomical Union): note that these boundaries also distort over time. Most popular astrology uses the tropical system. In other words, there are many factors. And then the question arises of the interrelation, cause and effect, and what we're really doing here at all.]
for sources, start here and work your way down to the bottom of the article. I would suggest viewing the table to see how different the dates are based on which system you use. for example, Gemini is either May 23 – June 23, June 15 – July 16, or June 21 – July 21, depending on how you delineate it.
Perhaps some musing on what I make of this is called for at some point.
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