Hephaistos 2212

HephaistosHephaistos was a son of Zeus and Hera, king and Queen of the Greek gods, who later became the god of blacksmiths, forges, metal workers, sculptors, artisans and craftsmen. Hephaistos was born ugly and club-footed, and in disgust at his deformity, his mother Hera rejected him, flinging him from Mount Olympus. He landed on the island of Lemnos, where the natives taught him the arts of the forge and smithy, which later he used as chief armorer of the Olympic pantheon, crafting their swords, spears and shields. Hephaistos was married to Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, as perhaps the most mismatched couple in myth. Aphrodite, repelled by his ugliness, was ceaselessly unfaithful to him, and the pair had no children together, though each had offspring by other partners. Their union is an early archetype of the “beauty and the beast” fable.

Astrologically, Hephaistos represents skill and craftsmanship, artistry; lameness or crippling (or problems with arms or legs which fall short of actual crippling); rejection or abandonment, especially by parents; and mismatched unions, between persons ill-suited to each other.

Alex Miller is a professional writer and astrologer, author of The Black Hole Book, detailing deep space points in astrological interpretation, and the forthcoming Heaven on Earth, a comprehensive study of asteroids, both mythic and personal. Alex is a frequent contributor to “The Mountain Astrologer”, “Daykeeper Journal”, and NCGR’s Journals and “Enews Commentary”; his work has also appeared in “Aspects” magazine, “Dell Horoscope”, “Planetwaves”, “Neptune Café” and “Sasstrology.” He is a past president of Philadelphia Astrological Society, and a former board member for the Philadelphia Chapter of NCGR.

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