THE HISTORICAL PICTURE OF MYTHOLOGICAL IMAGES

Studying universal archetypes of different mythological traditions creates a fundamental basis for the penetration of astrological knowledge. The signification of the individual planet is really understood by a person only when it is fully perceived by his psyche. A archetypical image serves as a key for our perception. If the image is subjective, the key opens only the door of one's own flat, whereas the mythological archetype serves as the master-key to the human psyche.

Myth offers something typical for every person. "There is always a lot of the mythical whithin the typical because anything as typical as myth is an original pattern, an initial form of life, an out-of-time scheme, a formula determined in ancient times, in which conscious life aspires to rediscover ever present features of it's existence, and is thereby shaped." This was said by Thomas Mann who was also interested in astrology. In the novel "Joseph and his brothers" he even depicted the horoscope of Joseph, using mythological names of Babylonias gods instead of the roman.

Astrological studies is closely connected with the development of artistic associative thinking. One studding this science, even remouved from concerns of artistic perception may happen to dream bright images of planets. He may be astonished having recognized that the subject of his vague dream was none other than... Jupiter in Pisces! But that is quite natural: one's psyche having found in the archetype something of it's own, reacts to it with a vibrant emotional response. Jung wrote that archetypes, as constant universal elements of human nature, "when they become more definite for a person, may be accompanied with alive emotional tunes... they are able to influence, impress, inspire." The associative thinking which overcomes the domination of the left logical cerebral hemisphere, leads to an integral perception of the world which reflects the simultaneous work of the both hemispheres.

In the modern world the notion of the universal is deprived of imaginative beauty and is connected with the word of pure logic. But doesn't this mean that we are impoverished in comparison with ancients, who didn't separate thinking about things from their sensual perceptions? We simply ignore the phenomena that spoke to them constantly, talking fairy tales. 'Amplifying' the role of archetype that Jung wrote about, or the 'animistic' function of myth that the mythologist Taylor concentrated on, connects the outer world with the inner reality of our psyche and permits us to recognize it's richness.

Myths belong to eternity and that is why they have not vanish into the past. Nowadays one searches for the cradle of civilization in Atlantis or Tibet or in the motherland of the heavens to prove that the original unity of mankind really existed. But it is given to us in our thoughts, in our everyday astrological participation in cosmic rhythms, and in the universality of myths through which it is revealed. And ordinary people manifest archetypical qualities in their day-to-day life: so as in the determination of their psychotypes even now the ancient gods live.

ASTROLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE MAIN IMAGES OF WORLD MYTHOLOGY

Sign / region	SCORPIO potential, trial	LIBRA culture, mastering	VIRGO order,fulfilment	LEO power, wholeness
ROME	Vejovis, Dispater Orcus	VULCANUS, Quirin, Juno	PROSERPINE, CERES, Tellus	SOL Apollo
GREECE	PLUTO, Hades, Erinyes	CHIRON, Hephaestus	Demeter, Persephone, Dike/Astraea	Apollon, Helios
EGYPT	Osiris, Anubis	Ptah	Renenuteth, Neperi, Maat	Ra, Aton
SEMITES	Mutu, Sheol	Kuthar wa Khusas	Adonis, Eshmun	Shams, Yarickbol
MESOPOTAMIA	Ninurta, Ereshkigal	Ishum, Hasamil	Dumuzi, Telepinus	Utu, Estan
IRAN	Ahriman, Vala	Mithra, Kava, Aryaman	Sura Anahita	Hvarnah/Farn
INDIA	Vritra, Mrityu, Yama, Shiva	Mitra, Tvashtar, Ganesha	Sita, Parvati	Surya, Savitar
SLAVS	Veles, Morena, Yascher	Svarozhich, Radogast, Semargl	Mat'-Syra-Zeml'a, Porevit	Dazhbog, Khors
BALTICS	Velnias, Patols	Kalvis, Ilmariinen	Potrimps, Zemina	Saules, Usin's
GERMANICS	Hel, Ruttu	Voelund, Heimdall	Nerthus, Baldr	Sol, Sunna
CHINA	Diyu	Yu	Nu-Kua	Yan-Di
INDIANS (american)	Tezcatlipoca	Quetzalcoatl	Coatlique	Tonatiu, Sue
characteristics	subterranean world, fertility of bowels, richness, cattle, destruction, demons	treaty, law, divine smith, craft, mastering of fire, helper of thunder god	agriculture, dying and resurrecting, fulfillment of law, purification	integrity benefits, disk of the Sun, chariot, horses, rivalry with thunder god

Sign / region	CANCER heredity, bearing	GEMINI mind, coordination	TAURUS nature, life	ARIES struggle, person
ROME	LUNA, Diana	MERCURY, Romulus and Remus	VENUS, Bona Dea, Maia	MARS, Bellona
GREECE	Selene, Leto	Hermes, Heracles	Aphrodite, Eos, Eros, charites	Ares, Athene, Pan
EGYPT	Khonsu, Taurt	Thoth, Seshat	Isis, Apis, Hathor	Amun-Montu Sekhmet
SEMITES	Yarikh, Tinnit	Melkarth, Taauth	Astarte, Allahat	Rashaph, Anath
MESOPOTAMIA	Nanna, Syn	Nabu, Nisaba, Gilgamesh	Ishtar, Inanna	Nergal, Erra/Yarri
IRAN	Ila, Haoma	Gayomart, Karshiptar	Nahid	Vishtasp, Veretragna
INDIA	Soma, Sarasvati	Ashvins, Yama and Yami, Budha	Ushas, Laxmi, Vishnu	Skanda, Pushan, Rudra, Agni
SLAVS	Lel'a, Mes'ats, Kupava	Stribog, Bayan	Makosh, Lada, Zhiva	Yarila, Ruevit
BALTICS	Meness	Algis, Jumis	Austra, Laima	Aitvaras
GERMANICS	Mani	Loki, Tuisto	Freia, Frigg, Eostre	Odin/Wodan
CHINA	Chan-E	Fu-Xi	Xi-Shen	Guan-Di
INDIANS (american)	Meztli, Ix-chel	Ictomi	Xochiqueatl	Agresqui, Hiawatha
characteristics	cycle of Moon, night light, birth, animals, motherhood, drink of immortality	messenger of gods, trickster, trepassing taboos, language, writing, trade, predecessors, cultural heros	morning star, dawn love, beaty, fecundity, abundance, main goddess, natural force	war, fire element, wild nature, magic, wisdom, shepherd, commander, ideal leader

MYTHOLOGICAL IMAGES OF PLANETS IN THE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC

The table characterizes the typical qualities of planets in the signs according to particular images, each of which has it's own history and salient features. It may help to enlarge upon concrete astrological ideas.

One can view a horoscope through the picture of planet's characteristics to restore links with integrity of mythological thought and to pay attention to the immutable features of human nature.

Leningrad, 1991