In the early 1600s, a mysterious manuscript began circulating in Europe that caused quite a sensation, and this at the same time that a supernova exploded in the region of the constellation Ophiucus. This supernova is referred to as Kepler’s Star, but there are other, hidden references made to it also, as the opening of the tomb of Christian Rosenkreutz. The manuscript that appeared at the time bore the title: The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz.
Why bring up this 400-year-old text as we approach equinox, which occurs on Thursday this week, March 20? It’s the Sun’s meeting with Venus two days later that draws the attention. Equinox is like a balance point, when things get weighed. Then, Venus’ meeting with the Sun two days later is a dynamic moment called “inferior conjunction,” which we can imagine as the goddess of love and beauty carrying sunward all that lives in our heart of hearts.
It’s like this: The narrative of The Chymical Wedding takes place over seven days, beginning on the first day with the protagonist receiving an invitation to a wedding under the most mysterious of circumstances. He takes a nap before he sets out, in which he has a prophetic but difficult dream about what is to come. On the third day, after he has already endured several trials, a moment comes when all the would-be wedding guests are weighed, to test whether they are appropriately prepared for the wedding ~ this is like the equinox moment. Two days later, he sees Venus, which is like this week’s inferior conjunction moment ~ it is a test of what lives in the heart.
As with all true fairy tales, the wedding referred to here is about the union of the human being with their own soul-spirit nature, and because this kind of union results in an unshakeable self-knowledge, the way is fraught with tests and trials, and a healthy dose of humor.
So the question this week, if we align equinox and the meeting of Venus and the Sun to The Chymcial Wedding is: Have you received an invitation from your life to consider its spiritual foundations? This week, an opportunity may be there to sense such a thing, and when Venus meets the Sun, the secrets that live in our heart of hearts are set aflame with warmth and light, as if to say Go forth, human being, for you never know how well God intendeth you!
Equinox occurs at 5:01 am EDT on Thursday, March 20, followed two days later by Venus conjunct the Sun on March 22 at 9:07 pm.
Felicitations!
Mary
Hear this episode of The Storyteller’s Night Sky on podcast here, and wherever you listen. This week’s cover image is the art of Johfra Bosschart and depicts Christian Rosenkreutz on Day 5 (in the evening, after he has seen Venus), when he is out at midnight looking at the sky: For my part I was not very much troubled with sleep, and therefore walked out into the Garden, and at length came as far as the Wall; and because the Heaven was at that time very clear, I could well drive away the time in contemplating the Stars; By chance I came to a great pair of Stone-Stairs, which led up to the top of the Wall. And because the Moon shone very bright, I was so much the more confident, and went up, and looked too a little upon the Sea, which was now exceeding calm; and thus having good opportunity to consider better of Astronomy, I found that this present Night there would happen such a conjunction of the Planets, the like to which was not otherwise suddenly to be observed.