NMR ISSUE 8

Astrological Forecast 8
Book of Troth
Coyote, Flicker & Sturgeon
Editorial
Futhark Edred Thorsson
Gimli
Here We Go Again
Holaf Festival Lammas
Invocation to Artemis
Invocation to the Goddess
Lady of the Moon
Lazaris: A Question on Magick and Wicca
Letters 8
Rune Might Edred Thorsson
Support a Hebrew Pantheon
The Alchemy of Basic Ritual
The Magic of Chocolate
The Oldest Magick
The Witches' God
The Zodiac Star
Was Jesus A Pagan?

Articles
Authors
Rituals
Book Reviews
NMR Issues
NMR Covers

The Zodiac Star

Terri Halprin

The civilizations that began the study of heavenly cycles encoded substantial psychological and scientific information into the structure and symbolism of the zodiac. For these civilizations, magick was the system of science. It was based upon manipulation of observed principles of nature, as is modern science. Thus, the ancients even encoded the bases of magick into the zodiac. I call this hypothesis the "zodiac theorem."

My research began with an effort to categorize which of the twelve zodiac numbers (1 to 12) were basic numerical building blocks of the zodiac (or "nuclei"), and which numbers (comprised of nuclei) were "composites." I assigned each number to a zodiac sign (Aries as one, Taurus as two, etc.). I assumed that the relationships between the numbers would shed light on the interactions and the relationships between signs (and houses), on the structure of the astrological wheel as a whole, and on the intellectual intentions of its originators. The rules I adopted to categorize numbers as either nuclei or composites are: (1) there should be as few nuclei numbers as is mathematically possible; (2) a composite number should be the expression of only two nuclei numbers; and, (3) each of the twelve numbers should fall into one of the two categories.

For example, if one, two and three were chosen as nuclei, then four (1+3) and five (2+3) would be composite values. Numbers six and nine (being needed as nuclei to achieve the higher composite values in this twelve series) would, in turn, create composite values seven (1+6), eight (2+6), ten (1+9), eleven (2+9) and twelve (3+9). As you can see it is possible to limit the number of nuclei to five, but it is impossible to create this series with four. Using five nuclei there are only four possible series: (A) the above mentioned, wherein 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 are nuclei and 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 are composite; (B) one in which 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 are nuclei and 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are composite; (C) one in which 1, 2, 4, 7 and 10 are nuclei and 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are composite; and (), one in which 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9 are nuclei and 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 are composite.

With four arrangements to choose from, I elected to illustrate each nuclei/composite arrangement, with points (placed equidistant on the circle) representing the nuclei, and lines (connecting the nuclei) representing the composites. Below, I have reproduced the resulting configurations:

Clearly, two of these series produce a symbol very similar to the traditional Circle of Invocation: the one in which series 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 are nuclei and 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 are composites; and the one in which 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9 are nuclei and 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12 are composites. Hence, these two series provide the clearest view of the relationship developed between the zodiac numbers and their resulting forms. Before commenting upon the obvious geometric pattern created by these numerical series, I believe it is important to consider the numerical significance of these series and their variables.

Many cultures have believed in the one God. It is probably unnecessary to expound on the divine significance of the number one.

Various cultures have stressed the dual nature of all material life. The Chinese referred to "yin" and "yang" as a divine duality. The Bible refers repeatedly to dualities such as spirit and flesh, heaven and hell, life and death, male and female, etc. Hebrew mystical teachings point out that the first letter in the Old Testament is a "beth," representing the number two, rather than an "aleph," representing the number one. Two and one are intimately connected; in the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, Jesus refers to the need to "make the two one" and states "where there are three gods they are gods; where there are two or one, I am with him." (Note that it would be impossible to construct any series that did not include one and two as nuclei.)

Cultures across our planet have worshipped trinities (the Hindus, Egyptians, Sumerians and Christians, among others). Even the greatest advocates of the one god acknowledge the power of the three. In the qabalistic "Tree of Life," the levels of negative existence are divided into three ("ain," "soph" and "aur"). The first three Spheres of the Tree grouped together are the "Macroprosopus." The first nine Spheres form three groups of three (the second two groups are the "Microprosopus"). Life itself gives meaning to the three—most trinities are based on the father, mother and child, the basic family unit that carries forth the species.

The geometric forms created, with nine clearly preferable dictates the choice of nuclei between nine and ten. (See the discussion of nine below.) But the choice between five and six is a closer call; both make possible the formation of the form illustrated above, and both have been called the "number of man" by different cultures. However, I believe that the choice of six over five is also justified based on numerological facts and evidence. Note that 1 + 2 + 3 + 6 + 9 = 21, the number of the highest trump card in the Tarot deck. The name of this card is "the World" and it signifies completion, reward and success. The numbers 3, 6 and 9 are the first three multiples of three, just as 1, 2 and 3 are the first three multiples of one. Since three is the number associated with the reproductive process (as mentioned above), it is noteworthy that 3, 6 and 9 also represent the three trimesters of pregnancy. Not surprisingly, the third, sixth and ninth signs of the zodiac (the mutable square of Gemini, the twins; Virgo, the young woman; and Sagittarius, the centaur) also allude to the reproductive process, symbolizing the trinity of man, woman and child.

The Bible suggests that God created the world in six days, and created mankind itself on the sixth. In mathematics, the number six is the first perfect number (a perfect number is one which is equal to the sum of its factors), since 1 + 2 + 3 = 1 x 2 x 3 = 6. Six is thus the natural result of one, two and three. Qabalistic mystics point out that the first word of the Bible, Berashith, would translate "created six" if it were divided in the middle, and the word itself is composed of six letters. Further, Microprosopus (which is instrumental in creation) is composed of six Spheres. Also, the combination of the creative forces "Macroprosopus" and "Microprosopus" result in the "Great Name of Six Letters" (aleph-hay-yod-hay-vov-hay). Even modern physics suggests that six is a number basic to nature. Recent research indicates that each atomic particle is composed of a lattice of three quarks and three antineutrinos—a total of six constituents. Finally, six is half the value of twelve—half of the full astrological circle.

For thousands of years, nine has been the largest one digit number in common use; hence, it represents the completion of a cycle. The numbers ten, eleven and twelve are inherently composites, since each number is made up of two digits. Traditionally, Greek and Hebrew letters are arrayed in rows of nine for numerological purposes. English language numerologists use the same array. In the Tree of Life, there are nine spheres of spiritual formation (three groups of three as aforementioned). Ten represents the earthly "Kingdom" born from the nine spheres. This implies that nine is formative (one of the nuclei) and that the ten is formed therefrom (hence a composite).

The geometric pattern created by the zodiac's numerical series, which I call the "zodiac star," is remarkably similar to the Circle of Invocation, a five pointed star inscribed inside a circle. Hence, my research into the zodiac theorem led me directly into constructing a version of one of traditional magic's most powerful symbols. The two star-forms differ by two lines (the zodiac star having two additional lines, the line representing "five" between points two and three, and the line representing "ten" between points one and nine). These two lines create another distinction between the two star-forms: the zodiac star has thirteen sections instead of the traditional eleven of the Circle of Invocation.

Might thirteen sections be stronger (for magical or numerical purposes) than eleven? There are many examples in spiritual literature of the twelve surrounding the one (12 + 1 = 13): the twelve disciples depended upon Jesus, the twelve tribes of Israel issued forth from Jacob and the twelve signs of the zodiac surround the earth. Qabalistic literature notes that the word "one" is "ekhad," a word which is also a number (each Hebrew and Greek letter is also a number)—the number thirteen. Thirteen is thus the number of unity, of oneness. In the Circle of Invocation, ten lesser (dependent) sections surround the central section. This organization is not inherently powerful. By comparison, in the zodiac star the central section is surrounded by twelve lesser sections, using the powerful arrangement of the thirteen.

The Circle of Invocation has the benefit of simplicity of design, but the zodiac star has astrological and numerological ties. Most traditional magick is, after all, based on the uses (and implications) of the general Law of Correspondences. Astrology and numerology are likewise based (at least in part) on this Law. In ritual magick, one presumably wishes to invoke as many (relevant) symbols and energies as is possible. The zodiac star draws in energies from two of the strongest and most thoroughly developed of the symbolic systems.

Note that the lines emanating from the "1" point are the four, seven and the ten—and 1, 4, 7 and 10 are the numbers of the Cardinal