The Instruction of Merikare

The Instruction of Merikare

"Take care of people, the flock of the god. It is for their heart that he has made the sky and the earth. It is for them that he has driven back the darkness of the waters. He has made air for the heart just so their noses might live. They are his likenesses, that came from his body. It is for their hearts that he rises in the sky. It is to nourish them that he has made the plants, animals, birds, and fish... It is for them that he has built his shrine around them. When they weep, he is listening. It is for them that he has made rulers...to lift up the back of the needy...For the god knows every name."

Jean-Baptiste Morin

Jean-Baptiste Morin (February 23, 1583—November 6, 1656), also known by his Latin pseudonym as Morinus, was a French mathematician, astrologer, and astronomer.

Life and work

Born in Villefranche, Yonne, in the Beaujolais, he began studying philosophy at Aix-en-Provence at the age of 16. He studied medicine at Avignon in 1611 and received his medical degree two years later. He was employed by the Bishop of Boulogne from 1613 to 1621 and was sent to Germany and Hungary during this time. He served the bishop as an astrologer and also visited mines and studied metals. He subsequently worked for the Duke of Luxembourg until 1629. Morin published a defense of Aristotle in 1624. He also worked in the field of optics, and continued to study in astrology. He worked with Pierre Gassendi on observational astronomy.

In 1630, Morin was appointed professor of mathematics at the Collège Royal, a post he held until his death.

A firm believer of the idea that the Earth remained fixed in space, Morin is best known for being opponent of Galileo and the latter's ideas. He continued his attacks after the Trial of Galileo. Morin seems to have been a rather contentious figure, as he also attacked Descartes' ideas after meeting the philosopher in 1638. These disputes isolated Morin from the scientific community at large.

Morin believed that improved methods of solving spherical triangles had to be found and that better lunar tables were needed.

Morin and Longitude

Morin attempted to solve the longitude problem. In 1634, he proposed his solution, based on measuring absolute time by the position of the Moon relative to the stars. His method was a variation of the lunar distance method first put forward by Johann Werner in 1514. Morin added some improvements to this method, such as better scientific instruments and taking lunar parallax into account. Morin did not believe that Gemma Frisius' transporting clock method for calculating out longitude would work. Morin, unfailingly irascible, remarked, "I do not know if the Devil will succeed in making a longitude timekeeper but it is folly for man to try."

A prize was to be awarded, so a committee was set up by Richelieu to evaluate Morin's proposal. Serving on this committee were Étienne Pascal, Claude Mydorge, and Pierre Hérigone. The committee remained in dispute with Morin for the five years after he made his proposal. Morin refused to listen to objections to his proposal, which was considered impractical. In his attempts to convince the committee members, Morin proposed that an observatory be set up in order to provide accurate lunar data. He wrangled with the committee for five years.

In 1645, Cardinal Mazarin, Richelieu's successor, awarded Morin a pension of 2,000 livres for his work on the longitude problem.

Morin and Astrology

Perhaps most famous for his work as an astrologer, towards the end of his life Morin completed Astrologia Gallica ("French Astrology"), a treatise which he did not live to see in print. The 26 books of intricate, complex, Latin text were published at the Hague in 1661 as one thick folio 850 pages long. The work covers natal, judicial, mundane, electional and meteorological astrology, and parts that are most concerned with astrological techniques (as compared to theological discussion on which they are based) have been translated or paraphrased into French, Spanish, German, and English.

At least among English-speaking astrologers, Morin is known as having been particularly concerned with prediction through methodical extrapolation of what is promised in the natal chart. His techniques were directions, solar and lunar return, and he regarded transits a subsidiary technique though one key to accurate timing of events nonetheless.

Morin challenged much of classical astrological theory, including the astrology of Ptolemy, in an attempt to present a solid set of tools while rendering reasons for and against particular techniques, some of which may be considered crucial to many astrologers before and during Morin’s lifetime. At the same time, Morin vested himself heavily in promoting in mundo directions, a technique largely based on the work of Regiomontanus that became available thanks to then-recent advancement in mathematics. In his work, Morin provides examples of successful delineation of events that otherwise could not be delineated with the same relative degree of certainty.

Morin’s life has been that of trial and tribulation by his own testament. He died in Paris of natural causes at 73 years of age.

Good Morning

Well, I didn't make it through Blogathon 2009. In fact, I only lasted 11 hours. But that is still quite a long time for me to be sitting and typing so I am proud of that achievement. I want to thank my friend Che who helped me through it and the mentors from Blogathon.

My blog has been removed from the main site because I failed to post all night but I just might continue this blog on my own. It was designed specifically for Blogathon 2009 but I think it has a lot of good information on it.

Congratulations to all those who made it through the entire 24 hours!

Murphy's Laws on Applied Terror

When reviewing your notes before an exam, the most important will be illegible.
—First Law of Applied Terror

The more studying you did for the exam, the less sure you are as to which answer they want.
—Second Law of Applied Terror

Eighty percent of the final exam will be based on the one lecture you missed and the one book you didn’t read.
—Third Law of Applied Terror

Every instructor assumes that you have nothing else to do except study for that instructor’s course.
—Fourth Law of Applied Terror

The night before the English history midterm, your biology instructor will assign 200 pages on planaria.
—Corollary to the Fourth Law of Applied Terror

If you are given an open-book exam, you will forget your book.
—Fifth Law of Applied Terror

If you are given a take-home exam, you will forget where you live.
—Corollary to the Fifth Law of Applied Terror

Slowing Down

Another 30 minutes have gone by and it is time for another post. I have to say I am a bit disappointed with the lack of support that I have had from my family and friends. I am really too ill to be doing this but I wanted to try my best. Perhaps if I had my family cheering me on it wouldn't be so hard.

I am not sure how much longer I can continue. I would like to at least have reached the 12 hour mark.

Coffee Please

I have got to say that sitting in an office chair all day is not very comfortable. I think it might be time to stretch my legs outside, brew up another pot of coffee and get my thinking cap on. Maybe I will even take some photos of the back garden while I am out there.

Astrology - Triplicity

Airy Triplicity
The Air Signs: Libra; Aquarius; Gemini. These signs are hot and moist by nature and sanguine by temperament.

Earthy Triplicity
The Earth Signs: Capricorn; Taurus; Virgo. These signs are cold and dry by nature and melancholic by temperament.

Fiery Triplicity
The Fire Signs: Aries; Leo; Sagittarius. These signs are hot and dry by nature and choleric by temperament.

Watery Triplicity
The Water Signs: Cancer; Scorpio; Pisces. These signs are cold and moist by nature and phlegmatic by temperament.

Time

I think that my editor has been open since 5:37 and that is why the time is incorrect. So here is a new post!

Dinner Break

I am in the middle of spaghetti and garlic bread. Back in a few.

It is GOOD.

The Tower

This is the Tarot card that I drew today so you can see it has been challenging to say the least :)

THE TOWER

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)

Part I: The Veil and its Symbols

16. The Tower struck by Lightning. Its alternative titles are: Castle of Plutus, God's House and the Tower of Babel. In the last case, the figures falling therefrom are held to be Nimrod and his minister. It is assuredly a card of confusion, and the design corresponds, broadly speaking, to any of the designations except Maison Dieu, unless we are to understand that the House of God has been abandoned and the veil of the temple rent. It is a little surprising that the device has not so far been allocated to the destruction Of Solomon's Temple, when the lightning would symbolize the fire and sword with which that edifice was visited by the King of the Chaldees.

Part II: The Doctrine Behind the Veil

Occult explanations attached to this card are meagre and mostly disconcerting. It is idle to indicate that it depicts min in all its aspects, because it bears this evidence on the surface. It is said further that it contains the first allusion to a material building, but I do not conceive that the Tower is more or less material than the pillars which we have met with in three previous cases. I see nothing to warrant Papus in supposing that it is literally the fall of Adam, but there is more in favour of his alternative, that it signifies the materialization of the spiritual word. The bibliographer Christian imagines that it is the downfall of the mind, seeking to penetrate the mystery of God. I agree rather with Grand Orient that it is the ruin of the House of We, when evil has prevailed therein, and above all that it is the rending of a House of Doctrine. I understand that the reference is, however, to a House of Falsehood. It illustrates also in the most comprehensive way the old truth that “except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”

There is a sense in which the catastrophe is a reflection from the previous card, but not on the side of the symbolism which I have tried to indicate therein. It is more correctly a question of analogy; one is concerned with the fall into the material and animal state, while the other signifies destruction on the intellectual side. The Tower has been spoken of as the chastisement of pride and the intellect overwhelmed in the attempt to penetrate the Mystery of God; but in neither case do these explanations account for the two persons who are the living sufferers. The one is the literal word made void and the other its false interpretation. In yet a deeper sense, it may signify also the end of a dispensation, but there is no possibility here for the consideration of this involved question.

UPRIGHT

An energy of releasing – sometimes explosively – old ways of life, old habits, old patterns, old ideas and expectations.

Abrupt and sudden change, unexpected events, adversity, calamity, setback.

Flashes of intuition.

Shattering of old illusions.

Breaking free of restrictions.

Catastrophic change.

Change of residence.

New job.

Loss of security, bankruptcy.

Freedom and enlightenment.

Fighting within the home, separation, divorce.

Some day you’ll thank me for this.

No pain, no gain.

Being shocked into your senses by a sudden event.

Accidents, acts of God (hurricanes, tornadoes, floods).

Catastrophe through acts of god (hurricanes, tornadoes, tidal waves).

Wake-up call.

The collapse of an old way of life.

Coups, revolutions, governments overthrown.

An accident.

Rid yourself of binding social conventions and false beliefs. The structures imprisoning you must be shattered before you can achieve enlightenment.

The more entrenched you are in a phony lifestyle, the more disruptive the change will be.

“Every one of the Goddess’ signs is like a thunderbolt shooting into this world of ours, devastating in it’s ability to destroy our whole perception of existence” – Peter Kingsley ‘Reality’ Pg 162

REVERSED

Continued oppression.

Mental bondage.

Coping with change.

Being involved with an ongoing change affecting your outer world.

Living in a rut.

Following old ways.

Trying to stave off a Tower experience and maintain the status quo.

The trauma is over, things will never be the same – time to pick up the pieces and move on.

You feel boxed in, hampered, confined.

Restriction of freedom.

Chance for a new start.

Roll with the punches.

Liberation.

Enthusiasm.

A crisis that is basically over except for the fallout.

Garlic Bread

Hubby is braving the storm to go out in search of garlic bread. We have left over spaghetti to fry (yum!) and salad but we NEED garlic bread. I am hanging in there but the back of my legs hurt. I need to learn how to type standing up *lol*

Precepts of Ptah-hotep

Precepts of the prefect, the lord Ptah-hotep,
under the Majesty of the King of the South and North,
Assa, living eternally forever.



If you are wise, look after your house; love your wife without alloy. Fill her stomach, clothe her back; these are the cares to be bestowed on her person. Caress her, fulfil her desires during the time of her existence; it is a kindness which does honour to its possessor. Be not brutal; tact will influence her better than violence; her [this text unreadable] behold to what she aspires, at what she aims, what she regards. It is that which fixes her in your house; if you repel her, it is an abyss. Open your arms for her, respond to her arms; call her, display to her your love.

Thunder

The sky is very dark, the wind is picking up and it is thundering. Please cross your fingers that the electricity remains on for Blogathon!

Temple

For the Egyptians an image is not "merely" an image; it constitutes a reality and a physical presence. The temple is a "sky" on earth, which contains the efficacious image of the god and may serve as an abode for the god himself. When the priest opens the sealed doors of the shrine in the morning he is opening the "doors of the sky" so that he may see the image of god in the "earthly" sky.

Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt - The One and the Many
Erik Hornung
Page 229

ISBN
0801483840

The Wheel of Fortune – The Three Fates – The Moirai

The Wheel of Fortune – The Three Fates – The Moirai

There are two schools of thought about The Wheel of Fortune. One associates the wheel with Saturn and the idea of fate and destiny. The other attributes Jupiter to the Wheel and here you will see it associated with Fortuna, luck and fortune.

I think that during Renaissance times that Saturn and the Three Fates would most likely be attributed to The Wheel.

The most intriguing part of the myth to me is that the fates were beyond the control of the gods. They weaved the fate and destiny of each person and even the gods could not undo their work. One sister was the spinner (Clotho), one the measurer (Lachesis) and the last sister was the cutter (Atropos). It was considered “hubris” or arrogance in the face of the gods to challenge your fate.

There is an orderly and intelligent plan behind the changes of life. It is sometimes hidden from us and we spend countless hours trying to figure it out. The Moirai are deep within each of us and we only become aware of them when the effects are noticed. There is a time for everything and a reason for the cycles in our lives. I like the quote from the Mythic tarot, “Fate does not come to meet us, we turn to meet our fate”.

The Moirai represent the centre within, the hub of the wheel. It is the hidden part of ourselves that decides our actions, the hub or centre of our inner being. It is not our conscious ego that drives us. It is only an illusion that the ego is in control. This card is a reminder to stay strong in our centre and know that there is a reason behind the outward randomness of life. The wheel turns and we must turn with it. This Trump reminds us that we all have a destiny and that removing the ego and the “I wants” from the picture can bring joy and contentment. It’s not a matter of giving up and letting the world have its way. It’s a matter of listening to your inner self and being able to recognize when the wheel is proclaiming your fate and your destiny.

A lot of people use this meaning in modern tarot decks. I think that sometimes the wheel “seems” to move but it is really only that the client is not paying attention to the “hub” that is the true self. So outer “things” come and go trying to get the attention of that person. Sometimes our inner selves grow and change and the outer wheel turns to reflect this. People drop out of our lives, a hobby that seemed important makes way for another, we move house and we move jobs and we move spouses. All the time this is happening we bemoan our luck and don’t stop to think that maybe, just maybe, the wheel is trying to get us back on our path and in step with our destiny.

I have a feeling that some people would prefer to think of the wheel as Lady Fortuna and that the wheel turning signifies that their luck is changing (hopefully for the better). It might be old-fashioned to think in terms of our major fate being pre-destined. But those who profess to believe in reincarnation should stop to think about that for a minute. Isn’t part of the belief that we choose our lives before we come back? That we incarnate to learn a lesson or to experience something that we missed in previous lives? That is a form of pre-destination. It is all worked out in advance just where we will be born and into what circumstances.

I believe that The Three Fates are still in the back of the cave spinning and weaving and cutting. The Wheel showing up in a spread tells us to look at our life and remember our hub. Something that is not working is about to leave or we are about to rush out and meet something that WILL work.