Archetypal Figures
There are many relevant symbolic elements, including:
- Prometheus — the light bringer, a figure also associated with Lucifer. M. Ordinaire has some association with these archetypes … perhaps this is why he is both the “hero” and also the damned? He walks the line: Jupiter tends to support him, Saturn wants to discipline him … (and Mercury is stirring the pot) …
- Mercury/Hermes/Loki — the messenger; with a bit of Orpheus? … somehow in my mind these figures are mixing up with a sort of Mad Hatter character … a trickster, a catalyst …
- Hermes is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Hermes is considered the herald of the gods. He is also considered the protector of human heralds, travellers, thieves, merchants, and orators. Hermes plays the role of the psychopomp or “soul guide”—a conductor of souls into the afterlife.
- Jupiter (the celebratory “life” of the cycle?) — a 12 year cycle
(the adjective “jovial” originally described those born under the planet of Jupiter — reputed to be jolly, optimistic, and buoyant in temperament)- Jupiter is the urge to life; also might be prompting the protagonost to stay in one iteration, and not perpetuate the cycle …
- Jupiter tends towards 3 (3/4 6/8 time signatures)
- In this context, Jupiter is a female character — and there are two incarnations/manifestations:
- “Jupiter Matrix” — the “older sister” (perhaps most powerful)
- “Jupiter Catalyst” — the “younger sister” (who makes things happen, with a bit of Mercury and Trickster archetypal elements)
- Saturn (the end of the cycle) — 30 year cycle
- Saturn draws limits, ends things … prompting the current iteration to end so the cycle may continue
- Saturn may play the role of “emcee”, narrator, Ringmaster – announcing the “chapters” (defining them) … c.f., “The Minstrel in the Gallery”; Greek chorus; “Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends …” Graeme Edge’s poems on the 60s-70s Moody Blues records …
- Saturn as observer, analyzer …
- Saturn tends towards 4 (4/4, four on the floor)
- In this context, Saturn is a male character, and there are three incarnations/manifestations:
- “Meta-Saturn” — the Emcee, Ringmaster, Interlocutor …
- “Saturn Gatekeeper” (Ostiarius) — the “older brother/father” who closes doors and opens doors and moves us along when it’s time, scolding as necessary …
- “Saturn Chronos (chronometer)” — the “younger” who marks time and keeps the tempo …
There’s also the possibility that both Jupiter and Saturn are not just participating but playing the role of narrator (or emcee) – from different (opposite) perspectives, of course …
More Archetypes
There are many relevant symbolic elements, including:
- The series of numbers 1-12, as in a 12-year cycle (and cycles are “supposed” to repeat in popular mythology: 13 is considered unlucky for this reason)
- The alchemical cycle (each “chapter” is related to a step in the process)
The Alchemical Process (per Museum of Lost Wonder)
- (Circulatio into) Calcinatio
- Inspiration
- Relevant track(s): Intro/Overture
- Solutio
- The Aquarium
- “who am I?”
- Confusion – altered states of consciousness
- Relevant track(s): Oblivion
- Coagulatio
- Introspection
- “What is realty?”
- Remembering, rewinding:
- L’histoire du bal aristocratique (CR)
- Sublimato
- (The Observatory)
- Imagination
- Relevant track(s): Victorian Passage, Light Lift … into the “Turning Point”
- Mortificatio
- Melancholy
- The midpoint, the beginning of the end …
- Relevant track(s): Purgatory into Thursday’s End
- Separatio
- “Distinction”
- Relevant track(s): Thursday’s End into Silentium
- Conjunctio
- Relevant tracks: the Epilogue/Coda
- (back to) Circulatio
- Recirculation
- Relevant Track(s): Reality Drive