Icarus 1566
Icarus was the son of the inventor and craftsman Daedalus, who had designed the Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete. After its completion Minos imprisoned both Daedalus and Icarus in a high tower from which there was no conceivable escape, in an effort to restrict knowledge of the secrets of the Labyrinth. But Daedalus crafted wings made of bird feathers and wax, and attached them to himself and his son so they could fly to freedom. Before they fled, Daedalus warned Icarus not too fly too close to the sun, lest its heat melt the wax and destroy the wings, but once airborne, Icarus ignored this advice and soared exuberantly heavenward. As foreseen by his father, his wings melted and he plunged to his death in the Aegean Sea.
Astrologically, Icarus represents rash, reckless actions or decisions taken without heed for the consequences, often against countervailing advice which could have prevented disaster. It is associated with the exuberance of youth, impetuosity, and an inability to accept or follow good advice. Other associations include an attraction for risk or danger, and a desire to escape restrictions or limits.
