Tuesday, December 30, 2014

"Altering one's aspect to the Sun"

Father Time, aka Chronos, aka Saturn, depicted left by a 16th century printer:
Printer's device of Simon de Colines (d. 1546). Latin motto TEMPUS (Time) HANC ACIEM SOLA RETUNDIT VIRTUS is translated "virtue alone withstands this blade". Note the forelock on Time--so that one may seize Time by the forelock.
(See HERE)
Father Time pursues us all, virtuous or villainous. We stagger towards the start of another calendar year, some of us still mildly punch-drunk from 2014's vagaries, some contemplating, Saturnine fashion, on the seniority of our years.

2014 began well enough for me, but around its halfway mark, due to a fungal infection of my scalp I was forced to give up my 8-weekly visit to the hairdresser for a colour job. So now, as nature - and Father Time - intended, I have snow on the roof. "Ah yes", I think, as I look in the mirror now - "I remember you!"

2014 had a parting gift for me in its 4th quarter, a gift for the other end of my physical body: a dicky left foot. That alone wouldn't have fazed me too much, been there, done that, but a cocktail of anti-biotics and their side-effects catapulted me into a downward spiral for a couple of weeks, to a place I've never been before, and to which I never wish to return.

Happily, husband has weathered 2014 well, all things considered, and really my own problems have been pretty minor as compared to some suffered by others. Planetary placements in my natal chart mean that astrologers would probably put down my own minor upsets to flak from 2014's Cardinal Grand Cross, and associated aspects. (I have natal Saturn at 13 Aries, and natal ascendant degree in mid-Cancer).
I don't believe in aging. I believe in forever altering one's aspect to the sun.
― Virginia Woolf
Time, age and astrology are, naturally, closely linked. We live our lives against the "wallpaper" of planetary cycles: Jupiter's of 12 years, Saturn's of 29, and that of Uranus, nearest of all to current average life expectancy, 84 years. I'm well along that cycle of cycles, proof is below. Photos span the years from 1939 to Christmas Eve, 2014, covering Transits of Uranus in Taurus to Uranus in Aries - dawn to Twilight!
The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. ~Madeleine L'Engle



Last lines of Longfellow's poem Morituri Salutamus offer a bright thought:
For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
I do love that last line! It reminds me of a quote from 2001 a Space Odyssey: "...it goes on forever — and — oh my God! — it's full of stars!"

So...anyone else have thoughts on their personal experiences and the vagaries of 2014?

10 comments:

Sonny G said...

I want to say first, you were an adorable child who grew into a lovely lady and I LOVE your hair as it is now.

I'll have to give more thought to 2014 before I comment on it.. I'll be back.

Twilight said...

Sonny ~ It's sweet of you to say so, thank you kindly. I'm getting used to the "snow on the roof". ;-)

mike said...

"It doesn't matter how you feel, it only matters how you look, and darling, you look marvelous!" Billy Crystal

I spent the entire morning weeding before the rain & cold set-in, so I'm beat, but satisfied. Started with just a couple of weeds to pull, then escalated. And speaking of aging, my back and knees are sore. Thankfully, I have my generic naproxin.

I'm glad I'm old in this day-and-age rather than 100 years ago, as I probably would have died while still young back then, when life expectancy was diminished. It's interesting to become older and observe my past as if it's another person...I've changed a lot and I'm happy to have matured in emotions and intellect (not so much the physical part, though...LOL). Reminds me of a quote that has stuck in my head for many years, but I've never discovered the author: "Life is like coral, always growing upon the dead". That sums-up the aging process for me.

Sonny G said...

I'm back:-) its been hours and I've given 2014 some thought.
it wasnt easy- but gauging it against some other years that had more serious impact,, it was a ok year. very late
2013 had a great deal of influence on 2014. on november 29 of 2013, I left what I thought was my Forever home of my own free will by that I mean there was not any circumstance that required it..Moving and all that entails as well as the holidays meant I was into jan. 2014 before I really had time to think about what I'd done lol. its a long story..
My meds have worked- then quit working and been changed which takes up to 6 weeks each time to see if we have hit upon the correct combo to keep me balanced.
2014 did allow for me seeing things more clearly, myself and others and I am working at letting go of what isn't mine to Fix or even deal with.
holy crappolies can I blabber o or what:)
I have this FEELING , and yes, I pay close attention to those,, that 2015 is gonna be a great year~! Its hard to describe that "Knowing" thing buts its as real as anything else. I just KNOW its gonna be Great in many ways and I will learn something important during the times when it isn't as great, so it will all be a valuable experience.
*************
ps- My Cap is only 2 degrees in the 3rd house.. according to what I've read that isnt considered heavy capricorn and having 3 planets in the 3rd. house makes me Chatty Cathy personfied. lol lol.. I'm learning- wooohooooo

Twilight said...

mike ~ Merci beaucoup! (I think) :-)

Weeding plays hell with the joints though, doesn't it? Not that I've done much of it lately. Aleve liquid gels are my go-to remedy for such creaks and groans, I find they work better for me than the tablets.

I'm glad I'm old too - or putting it differently, as in the song sung by
Maurice Chevalier: I'm glad I'm not young anymore. Once was quite enough! If a genie gave me the option of going back to being young, I wouldn't want to....maybe just a few years would be good, but no more than that. Now that I know how various chapters turned out, I'd rather just "look at the pictures" via memory.

Twilight said...

Sonny ~ Thanks for your 2014 record - glad the year turned out quite well by its end. It's good you have that hopeful feeling about 2015, and to feel ready to dive in, banners waving. :-)

Chatty Cathy - lol! 3rd house emphasis is sure to reflect a sociable personality. I have an absolutely empty 3rd house myself, but Mercury in Capricorn in 7th (house of one-on-one relationships)so, it's kind of similar in flavour to yours, but I don't like socialising in group situations, never have, never will.

Keep plugging away gradually at learning more astrology, Sonny - each piece you learn will lead on to another piece...then, like a jig-saw puzzle a detailed picture will begin to form. I'm still finding pieces I didn't even know I'd lost!

LB said...

Twilight ~ I have to agree with Sonny, you're lovely at all ages. Your hair looks great too.:) Your shade of 'snow' is more soft white than grey, which isn't to say there's anything wrong with grey either.

Sonny G said...

hi LB~!! good to see you.

Twilight said...

LB ~ So kind, LB! Thank you. Hair more snowy at the front, greyish at the back. :-)

LB said...

Hi Sonny ~ Happy belated birthday! Hope it was a good one.