Dark Moon Goddesses - Nyx

[ariesmoon]

I'm introducing this thread as Nyx, Goddess of the Night, has introduced herself to me through Demetra George's book "Mysteries of the Dark Moon". Nyx was the first deity to arise out of Chaos, the black void (the original meaning of "chaos"), before creation.

I'm keen to share this find in the hope that others might connect with it, and look at how she manifests in their charts. Nyx has an asteroid named after her (3908). The asteroid appears in my birthchart at 3.44 Leo, conjunct my IC by about 20'. With the IC representing the "midnight" of the chart - the place of deepest safety and security - this placement seems incredibly relevant.

I really am "going into the dark" with my 8th house Pluto transit - I'm being invited, no, compelled, to look into the recesses of myself where all my conditioning and learned behaviours are, and having them pulled unceremoniously into the light of day. I've never been pecked over by a vulture, but this is how I imagine it feels! The appearance of Nyx - an invitation to go even deeper into the dark, and to actually enjoy what I might find there, and create from it, is clearly connected with that.

I had bought the book for further research on Black Moon Lilith, and was drawn immediately to the pages on Nyx. In Demetra George's words Nyx "symbolises the ground of the dark feminine principle that is the creative source of all that exists". I love Spenser's quote about her, from the Faerie Queen "O thou most ancient Grandmother of all, more old than Jove". She is said by some to be the mother of Eros.

She almost seems so profound that I can't touch her. The process of writing about her is like swirling in the dark - there's nothing to hold on to. And yet anything is possible. Conceiving of a time when nothing existed - no forms, no emotions, no thing - seems beyond human capacity. And yet I've been drawn to this for some reason, so I have to look. And it is looking into the void, to infinite potential. Space fascinates and terrifies us in equal measure because we need limits and boundaries, and it appears to have none.

Quoting Demetra George again, she says that "the wisdom of Black Mother Night, spanning Greek, Eastern, and Egyptian traditions, is that the pre-existing nature of all life is a universally connected matrix of living energy, whose first expression is as love". Ignorance of Nyx's energy means "we experience a fear of the void and become involved in outer activity to escape emptiness that terrifies us".

Oh, yes. That has resonated so strongly with me - the asteroid, aside from sitting on my IC, also conjuncts Venus/North Node in Leo, opposes Saturn/South Node in Aquarius, and squares Neptune. Immediately I saw that I have used work (Saturn), spending on beautiful things (Venus) and fantasy/escapism (Neptune) to escape emptiness - and now that realisation is dawning. In my chart, Nyx seems to work with wide orbs (the conjunctions and oppositions are 6 degrees, the square 7) but that seems entirely appropriate when looking at a primal creative force.

I'm wondering if planetary connections to Nyx, as well as indicating areas where we might hide to escape the void, also highlight areas where we find our greatest creative potential, the thing we would do without limits, if anything were possible.

And there is, too, this extraordinary sense, a gift, of being introduced to a creative force such as we can hardly imagine - no boundaries, because there was no one to set them. And getting in touch too with the ability to be alone, to be still, to just "be".

Looking forward to reading more thoughts, ideas and chart placements of Nyx!

[ariesmoon]

I never cease to be astonished by what astrology can reveal.

Nyx's daughter, Hemera (day) is represented by asteroid Hemera (9671). In my chart she's at 26.18 Taurus, which sounded familiar - no wonder, it's my Sun/Moon midpoint (to the minute). And the midpoint between Nyx (Night) and Hemera (Day)? It's 0 Cancer. And my discovery of Nyx and Hemera began on Saturday 21st June, midsummer day, when the book arrived. I'm spooked by that!

No one (to my knowledge - I'm happy to be corrected) has written on these asteroids and their relationship, or about their position in the birthchart, so any interpretation is mine alone. I'm thinking about that, it's an intriguing one, because although Nyx and Hemera lived together in Tartarus (the underworld) they were never there at the same time - as Hemera returned, Nyx left. “Nyx and Hemera draw near and greet one another as they pass the great threshold of bronze: and while the one is about to go down into the house, the other comes out at the door.” (Theogony 744)

First thoughts are that Nyx (Night) and Hemera (Day) may represent two sides of us, the side that's hidden from view, veiled in darkness, and that which is open and bathed in light. They co-exist, greet each other in passing, but are never seen together. And the midpoint is where those two sides of us blend.

Hemera appears in my 12th house - that may explain why it has taken so long for the "real" me to shine, there seems to have been a lot of mist swirling round! And that the "real" me began to shine when I opened up spiritually, and started body work - reiki, sound healing, yoga (Hemera is conjunct Mars and Pallas in Taurus). Where Hemera is may well be where we shine, where we are most visible. And conjunctions with other planets or asteroids may be about what helps us to shine, with square aspects offering challenges. I don't know - it's all intuition and speculation, but that's how any interpretations start!

0 Cancer is also my Venus/Mars midpoint, which has got me thinking...! two very powerful sexual energies also with that blending point. 0 Cancer is the point of high creativity, the point of marriage between father Sun and Mother Earth. When the Sun is at its highest (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the Earth at its most receptive and fertile. Plenty to think about!

[Kim Falconer]

Ariesmoon, these are great posts, clear and articulate. Thank you.

I haven't spent too much time contemplating Nyx outside of her place as mother, in some versions, of Eros. The archetype of Nyx appears in all mythologies of the world--mother night, the great space were nothing exists and everything is possible.

Astrologically my Nyx is in the 11th at 16 Cancer, exact on my south node and 4 degrees from Uranus. Your notions about day and night are very interesting to consider given my Hemera is 1 degree Cancer, also in the 11th, conjunct my Venus at 0Cancer. How fascinating. I would say that for me, Nyx and Hemera forever stand in the doorway, within sight of each other. When I enter my 11th house, I get night and day at the same time, as well as the future (Jupiter) and the past (S. Node) and freedom (Uranus) and closeness (Venus).

I will say that I have interesting stories with friends, groups and goals.

I believe that for me the 11th house and Cancer do function as the ground of my creativity, the fertile soil, and also the light of day as I bring it to the world. I have both a profound capacity for solitude and for friendship...

Much to think about.

Keep researching!

Warm wishes and thank you again,
Kim

[ariesmoon]

Thank you Kim! I've reading up a lot more on this, and there is so much more to look into. I love the image of Nyx being the source of creativity, the "fertile soil". It fascinates me that Nyx is right on the MC and just marginally in the 3rd house - moving my birth time a minute or so moves it to the 4th. I keep trying not to think of house divisions as firm boundaries and I do think Nyx has a wide orb - I can definitely identify with creative energies both in the 3rd and 4th houses. I can also identify with the dark being where I've felt safe in the past (IC) - literally in a shell, not feeling safe "out in the light".

[ana]

Ariesmoon I do like the poetic way you write about all this which I am so unable to do
Well I have Hemera and Medea conjunct hovering at the cust of the 4th house in early Leo I do tend to be more confident when at home so that figures How these two meld who knows Medea is described as betrayed/jealous/witch/enchantress Well I do distant healing but not too good in the enchanting department
Nyx is in 7th conj Medusa [ugly snake haired goddess] Hey is that why I adore men in dreadlocks? I am not ugly More good looking in mildly androgenous [not butch] way and I was even better 30 years ago!!!!!
The way I can relate to this 7th house Nyx creativity thing is that as a graphic artist I get inspiration from being with other people esp crowds and groups [Sag?] I go out and build up a lot of insecurity and tension feeling invisible out there and come home and prove to myself that I exist [Leo] by creating some artistic comment on the experience I do not feel good till I have done this and do my best work this way Not sure how to integrate the snakey one into that scenario.....

[ariesmoon]

Hi Ana thank you for that compliment!

Nyx with Medusa - there's a powerful combination! In Demetra George's book on the Dark Moon Goddesses, which I mentioned in my earlier posts, there's a chapter on Medusa which is fascinating. Another woman who was demonised by patriarchal religion because of their fear of the regenerative power and wisdom of women's sexuality. I'll quote from the book:

"The pure form of Medusa symbolises the source of our instinctual bodily wisdom and power .. in our fear and denial of her, she has come to represent the ways in which we feel the most ignorant and incapable .. she signifies a place of deep insecurity in us.. by donning the Gorgon's mask we create a hideous face that we hope will frighten and repel others".

We have to recognise that we do this (I'm paraphrasing now) and honour the wisdom she offers. There's also a very strong connection with menstruation, the power of the blood. Demetra George refers to "the menstrual blood of the Serpent Goddess that could heal, kill and even raise the dead .." I must look her up in my chart!

One thought about how that shows in your Nyx/Medusa conjunction is that you seem to need to go out into what is for you a dark place - Nyx - (crowds and groups) in order to provide you with creative inspiration. You need to go into a dark place for the creative energy to emerge, and for you to create something you feel is worthy of your talents. You say that you do "your best work" when first creating that sense of insecurity and and tension, and "feeling invisible". I'd say that fits that conjunction very well!

[ariesmoon]

Checked on Medusa, the asteroid is at 8 Taurus, close to Persephone in my 12th house. And in my Draconic Chart, it's at 28 Sagittarius, so .. conjunct transiting Pluto, and the Galactic Centre on which I've been writing on another thread. So there's no wonder that these figures are revealing themselves now. I'm obviously ready to know them!

Off the thread a bit from Nyx, but it's all connected with the Dark Moon goddesses and with reconnecting with their energies - these few lines from May Sarton's poem "The Muse as Medusa" struck me as very apt -

"I turned your face around! It is my face.
That frozen rage is what I must explore -
Oh secret, self-enclosed and ravaged place!
This is the gift I thank Medusa for".

[ana]

I think I'll have a face massage.................

[ana]

Jul 15, 2008 10:55:07 GMT ana said:

I think I'll have a face massage.................

Sounds like for me Hell is Other People I think that was true when I was younger........... got through that one I think The same reflexes are there but not the torment of it I am going to get the Dark Moon book which is really cheap on Amazon.........

[ariesmoon]

Love that comment about the face massage! Hadn't thought about this for a while but the Medusa thing has brought it back. As a teenager I had awful skin problems - pure hormonal rush - and I was bullied mercilessly because of it. It still makes me shiver to think of it, because my skin still has odd problems and I occasionally have a big hangup about it. I had a hard job thinking of myself as attractive, ever since then.

I'm clearly being challenged to finally let those hangups go - they're not appropriate anymore - and now that I am, my skin is improving and my view of myself is changing. I'm surrendering to what will be (12th house). Skin problems like I've had can be the result of bottling up emotions, holding things in so that they have no choice but to erupt through the skin. That's how Medusa in the 12th in Taurus has manifested for me - subconscious fears of not looking perfect, fed by that bullying, have given me a very poor body image.

None of this matters and I wish that could get across to people. I wrote something today, before I read your post, about hating the fact that society seems obsessed with appearances, with the surface of things, and that we should look at people's hearts. It sounds like it should be very simple.

[ana]

The theory is nice but the disharmony in the heart does tend to show in the face A plain person with a good heart can have a kind of beauty cos they are radiating kindness and a stunning face with a hard heart does not help And other such cliches..... Most spot troubled people I have around me have Mars/Sun squares that causes tension My daughter has it and it cleared up when she found a partner at an early age I would think Nyx would be happy in 12th - double darkness but with a double need to express the creativity thingo

[nyks]

Preface... I'm a 28 o Leo Sun, 6o 53' Leo AC, 2 Aries MC, 8th house 0 Pisces Moon, Nyx at 0 Leo, Grand Cross + T-square pattern galore otherwise. I suppose the Draconic Nyx is 4 Sagittarius, conjunct natal Moon/Venus midpoint and opposite Mars, which is the midpoint for AC + MC, right? Not sure if I should have counted the solstice point for Nyx, but it's on my Sun/Moon midpoint, anyway. I got online in late 1995 and in search of a suitable nickname to use, honed in on Nyks. Which I'm told is how the Greek would spell it as well, should anyone care.

The night is rest, and having nothing in particular to fear if you trust it to carry or envelop you. It's darkness and quiet if you so like it, shapeless if you so will, but with lots of things to draw from if you let it go that way. I'm not entirely sure resisting if it's time for that will go down well with Nyx, on all fronts. Night will have its due, and it's up to you if it feels scary or not? Whether you put any heed to the late Homeric "black-winged Night, of whom even Zeus stood in awe" accounts of her or not, it was either Sleep or Morpheus who ran to her to escape the wrath of the supposedly most powerful god in the Olympic pantheon. Never having liked Zeus lording his powers over everyone myself, I rather liked that bit in all the mythos, naturally. Don't piss her off?

Others have cited her as a triple-goddess of Night, Order and Justice, too. I'm not sure how it would manifest astrologically to others, but since I did hone in on the name even before I ever knew anything other than the primordial goddess of night bit, well, the order or justice side of how things go has surfaced as surprisingly "How things should go or be" at times. I'm not sure if it's tied to Saturn at 27 Cancer, or if my dislike of Zeus could be said to reflect even in Juno (Hera) coming one degree after my Nyx, all before the Leo AC. Or simply my being double Leo and having ideas about how things should go. *shrug* Any views on doing her duty or work every night in relation to "This is how things are ordered, form into chaos" sides?

From a purely instinctive level I'd say Nyx is fine in the 12th house, whether conjunct my AC or not. It's quiet in the 12th house, long (solitary?) nights to enjoy. Then again, I'm not entirely sure I mind Saturn in 12th house either, the world being far too focused on extroversion and unnecessary hoopla. I'm under the impression it's some nigh horrifying thing in 12th for some people.

When I check where Nyx is in synastry for certain interesting people, it seems to land on my AC surprisingly often. 7o Leo quite a lot, conjunct my Eros for someone seen mostly in such Scorpian terms, 15 o Virgo in some other cases. With that it's conjunct my Mercury and their Lust, opposite my Amor, 4-5 degrees from my Cupido and their MC-Moon-Psyche-Sappho-Medea stellium (my real name's near their DC, but asides as asides). I'd throw in Arabic parts hits on the side, but it's more the rest and not Nyx so much. ;P All that may simply correspond to what is said of checking name sake asteroids, but it's interesting in any case. Considering that as a nickname it's for the Internet only or mostly, you could perhaps argue that it's a Uranian influence name or vibration for me on some levels?

My brother's Nyx is at 7 Leo, too, and my mother's at 29o 59' Virgo, near my IC. I'm not sure if I should count the most distant of the remaining familial connections, 14 o Gemini Nyx seeming further off from a 19 o Sag Vertex at my end. Someone once having (rather annoyingly) touted Pele's "ZOMG ALL-importance!", I had to point out I already had Nyx. Everything at its time, and you know your own?

(And yes, my Pele is conjunct 5th house North Node, even so. Mother + brother have it right after their ACs, bro with his Node conjunct her Nyx. Looking at Pele, it's half your nature in any case, not some new something to get to know. Been there, done that, know the nature, whether it's on NN or not. With all due respect to Pele. Having met a more forceful Leo-Scorpio mix who talked of their meaner fire as the beauty of forest fires, I was always more in volcano regions, if not the Sun. *shrug* )

As to what is said of creativity, I can't judge whether I'd qualify for a very creative person or not, but I would like to say yes. The subconscious mind is also highly active and dreams in particular, although that probably doesn't relate to her directly. Sleep and Dreams as offspring or not. It's rather hard to discern whether things spring up because they've brewed in the mind or deep down for whatever time or if it's tied to other things in the chart. As of late (at least) it's been more a question of the ideas perhaps being enough even, the concrete side not being necessarily my realm on all sides. As of late. I have in the past however drawn or painted, acted, and can move or dance (not that I'd tie them to Nyx necessarily), and whatever else on the side.

If going by the "Uranus usurping her position come patriarchal times" myth (mine is 1o orb square Nyx, should it matter), and the bit I seem to recall about the drummer in front of her cave, Japanese taiko or African drumming might be something that could appeal to her in art forms. Anything where you feel the beat, akin horse hooves drumming as you fly forward as the night passing over the world? The beat of the universe, the pulse of the stars inside the night, so to speak. Something that contains the hearts of stars as well as raging black holes and everything else the space is full of can resonate big time if allowed to. But again doesn't necessarily need to go out to experience big things, if they already contain all that within.

Or not. Reactions, further vibing off the above? Any views on Nemesis and Eris being born of her, for example? If following the above Hemera midpoint method, I think my Nyx-Eris midpoint would fall somewhere around 6,5 Gemini. Square Venus? My Hemera midpoint is around 25 Gemini, the Nemesis midpoint around 18 Virgo.