This discussion of the Twelve is very elegant! I saw it, of course, the first time I went through OTGATW, but somehow it didn't "click" for me then. When I transcribed this chapter a few days ago, it got stuck in my mind and I've been pondering it since.
These four actions, of course, correspond to the elements: fire creates, air animates, water blends, and earth stabilizes. The three qualities also have their astrological correspondence. Probably derived from this, I've seen the division of the world into threes of fours pretty commonly in occult philosophy (e.g. Papus).
But while the astrological associations are a bit abstract, for some reason tying these qualities to the Olympians makes them feel a lot more direct and sensible to me. For example, I've been trying to make sense of Athena for almost as long as I've been reading Greek myth (as a Millennial growing up in America—a civilization as toxic as any there have been—perhaps this is unsurprising). Sallustius casting her as the one who defends the edifices Hestia builds, though, for whatever reason makes Her conception "gel" in my mind: while I frankly think most of what we've built is more in need of Ares' talents, Athena's the one to turn to for preserving anything that's worth saving through the Dark Age to come.
I'll be meditating on these for a long time, I think.
no subject
These four actions, of course, correspond to the elements: fire creates, air animates, water blends, and earth stabilizes. The three qualities also have their astrological correspondence. Probably derived from this, I've seen the division of the world into threes of fours pretty commonly in occult philosophy (e.g. Papus).
But while the astrological associations are a bit abstract, for some reason tying these qualities to the Olympians makes them feel a lot more direct and sensible to me. For example, I've been trying to make sense of Athena for almost as long as I've been reading Greek myth (as a Millennial growing up in America—a civilization as toxic as any there have been—perhaps this is unsurprising). Sallustius casting her as the one who defends the edifices Hestia builds, though, for whatever reason makes Her conception "gel" in my mind: while I frankly think most of what we've built is more in need of Ares' talents, Athena's the one to turn to for preserving anything that's worth saving through the Dark Age to come.
I'll be meditating on these for a long time, I think.