Scorpio

 

A scorpion was sent to kill the hunter Orion for his arrogance.

A scorpion was sent to kill the hunter Orion for his arrogance.

Scorpio, the eighth astrological sign of the western zodiac governs those born between October 23 and November 22 each year.

In Ancient Egypt, Scorpio was the equivalent of the Serpent. Serpents were worshiped by ancient Egyptians. In Egypt not only are there serpents of the houses, but each quarter in Cairo had a serpent-guardian.

Before the discovery of Pluto in 1930, the planetary ruler of Scorpio was Mars, but modern astrologers tend to use Pluto as the sole ruler.

According to the ancient Greek poet Hesiod the giant huntsman Orion went away to the island of Crete to spend his time hunting in company with goddess Artemis and Leto. Orion threatened to kill every beast, which made the goddess of earth Gaia angry. To punish him for his arrogance she sent against him a huge Scorpion which stung Orion to death. At the prayer of Artemis and Leto, Zeus, the ruler of the Olympian gods, put Orion and the Scorpion among the stars as a memorial of him and what had occurred.

Marigold, the “birth flower” of October

 

Marigold blossoms can be strung between doorposts to keep evil out of the house. If a girl steps onmarigold petals with her bare feet, she will be able to understand the languages of birds.

Marigold blossoms can be strung between doorposts to keep evil out of the house. If a girl steps onmarigold petals with her bare feet, she will be able to understand the languages of birds.

The flower symbolism associated with marigolds is indicated in the name: Mary’s Gold. Marigold flowers were “golden gifts” offered to the Virgin by the poor who could not afford to give actual gold. Marigolds were used in Mary Gardens. Marigolds are symbolic of passion and creativity. Marigolds are also known as the “Herb of the Sun.” Marigolds have been used as love charms and incorporated into wedding garlands. In some cultures, marigold flowers have been added to pillows to encourage prophetic or psychic dreams.

The flower symbolism associated with marigold is grief, despair and sorrow. Marigold blossoms in wine are said to ease indigestion and the petals are used in ointments to cure skin irritations, jaundice, sore eyes and toothaches.

Like the sunflower, the marigold blossom follows the sun; as a result, it has earned the nickname “Sun’s Bride.”

In Germany, the flower was often called ‘monk’s head’ because when stripped of its petals, the remains look like a monk’s tonsure.

It is believed that when Shakespeare wrote about “merrybuds,” he was referring to the blossoms of marigold.

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Opal, the birthstone of October

 

An opal could bring either good fortune or death, as it was a source of liminal power that never left unaltered the person who wore it.

An opal could bring either good fortune or death, as it was a source of liminal power that never left unaltered the person who wore it.

 The name opal is derived from the Sanskrit word “upala,” as well as the Latin “opalus,” meaning “precious stone.” Opal is a gemstone of much variety; the ancient Roman natural historian Pliny once described it in the following way:

“… it is made up of the glories of the most precious stones. To describe it is a matter of inexpressive difficulty: There is in it the gentler fire of the ruby, the brilliant purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald, all shining together in an incredible union.”

To ancient Romans, the opal was a symbol of love and hope. Orientals called it the “anchor of hope.” Arabs say it fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning. It was believed to make its wearer invisible, hence the opal was the talisman of thieves and spies.

During the Medieval period, a change in color intensity of an opal was believed to indicated if its wearer was ill or in good health. The opal was supposed to maintain a strong heart, prevent fainting, protect against infection, and cleanse foul-smelling air. The stone, as in ancient times, was still regarded as a symbol of hope.

But the opal’s reputation changed in the mid-14th century. The Black Death swept across Europe, killing one quarter of its population. The gem was believed to be the cause of death. When worn by someone struck with the deadly plague, it would appear brilliant only until the person died. Then it would change in appearance, losing its luster. In reality, it was the sensitivity of this stone to changes in temperature that altered its appearance, as the heat from a burning fever gave way to the chill of death.

In Elizabethan England, the opal was treasured for its beauty. Shakespeare wrote of it in the Twelfth Night as the “queen of gems.” Queen Victoria presented her children with opal jewelry, thus making the stone popular. But the stone continued to have a mixed reputation, chiefly due to a novel written by Sir Walter Scott in 1887 that depicted it as a stone of evil.