Its Appearance
It was our last night on our family vacation in Hawaii and we all gathered at the local shops for one last glance before the last supper. We had barely walked through the entrance to the shops when something in the store window caught my eye. Yes, it was what I thought, what looked like an old coin had been turned into a necklace, in fact there were several. I immediately walked in, despite my normal hesitation of not wanting to be “on the hook”, I asked the saleswoman if I could see the necklaces and learn more about their history. While several were quite captivating, there was one I couldn’t keep my eyes off. A beautiful owl with large eyes starring back at me was beckoning my attention. Of course, this was the most sought after and valuable of them all, but for me none of that mattered, it was the connection I felt to the heavy coined necklace that kept me asking more questions. The Athenian “owl” silver tetradrachm coin, as it turns out, was an original from approximately (449-404BC) and is “one of the most influential coins of all time.” In fact, this was the first coin used in international trade and was used to finance large construction projects and even war. The coin bears the helmeted head of Athena on one side and two symbols of the goddess, an owl and an olive branch, on the other. In Greek mythology, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and just warfare, rivaled Zeus himself in power and wisdom. It was Athena who gave the people of Attica the olive-tree. The owl is not only Athena’s mascot but, at times, took the form of the owl herself. In Roman times the owl also become known as the “Minerva Owl” and its history and symbology continued to grow. Once we left the store, I couldn’t get the precious coin out of my mind. As I blanketly starred at the merchandise in the other stores and finished off my dinner I knew there was no choice but return to the jewelry shop and gather up what felt like, something that belonged to me.
The Astrology
Now for you to fully understand the personal significance of discovering this coin, my newly claimed power symbol, it is important to understand its timing. While this isn’t a blog about astrology, it is important to the context of this story, as that day at the mall also marked Pluto’s station direct. Its final turn towards the Aquarian Age, where Pluto will make its final ingress into the sign of Aquarius on November 19th,2024, and we collectively embark on this new era. It has been alluded to in songs, pop culture and spiritual teachings for many years and now it seems that this time is finally here. Pluto has a 248-year orbit, which is also elliptical, and does not stay in each sign for the same amount of time. We all felt Pluto’s arrival in Capricorn in 2008 with the crumbling house market and have been unquestionably feeling its power as it exits out the other side (of the sign Capricorn) dismantling the underbelly of the government. You see when outer planets transition into new signs it has a major effect on us collectively, as well as individually. For someone like me, Pluto’s movement has a dramatic effect as it rules the sign of Scorpio in astrology, of which I have what’s known as a “stellium”. A stellium is a rare occurrence when three or more planets are grouped together in a single zodiac sign or house in a person’s birth chart. For me, I have a stellium on steroids, with a whooping 6 planets in Scorpio, which clearly explains my passion for spirituality and the deeper meaning of life (you can’t make this stuff up)! This means that Pluto transits especially rule my chart and yet this major transit will bring on new energy that no one on the planet has felt in their lifetime! Pluto represents truth and power and is a master at uncovering what was once hidden. It rules metamorphosis and evolution which is why death and rebirth (metaphorically) is such a huge theme of Scorpio. So, with such a powerful transit uncovering and dismantling the themes of Capricorn (government, authority, structure) as it dances over its final degrees and we dawn on a new era as Pluto moves into Aquarius (think technology and human origins) ask yourself, what will this new era mean for me?
Synchronicity
The Athenian Owl’s arrival on the same day as Pluto’s station felt deeply meaningfully to me, even though much was yet to be discovered. Synchronicity, the language of the Universe, had always had a knack for pulling me forward and this circumstance was no different. Synchronicities with my sacred owl symbol started coming fast and furious. Departing the next day to return the mainland I couldn’t help but snicker at the outfit I had laid out for my travels the previous afternoon. It included a cozy wrap to layer on the plane with the image of a giant owl whose wings wrapped around me offering protection and a wink from the universe. Just 10 shorts days later I would get another nod when I showed up at my favorite antique store to take a birthday spin. This spot I have affectionately nick-named my “secret portal” as many of my most sacred objects and artwork, that adorn The Starlight House, have come from this very spot. Looking for nothing in particular and simply waiting for something to catch my eye or give me a sign, I wrapped around the store closely admiring the lost treasures, when I stubbled across it in the last room. My eyes fell on a lithograph from the seventies of an owl with the same olive branch. I know immediately from the symbolism that this was the Athenian Owl or Owl of Minerva.
Symbolism
As owl motifs began surfacing more into my everyday awareness, I decided to drop down the rabbit hole and research further the symbols significance when I ran across this “it is a living embodiment of her divine wisdom and cosmic insight. It represents the eternal truths of the universe, the hidden knowledge that guides the evolution of consciousness, and the silent, unseen forces that shape destiny. Through the owl, Minerva’s wisdom reaches into the deepest mysteries of existence, offering guidance, protection, and transformation to those who seek to understand the profound truths of the cosmos.” (Lemurian Sisterhood Flagler Beach, Florida, 2024). This definition rang true, and I appreciated the esoteric interpretation beyond the historical reference and significance of the coin.
Upon further research I came across a book from the seventies, “Pluto or Minerva: The Choice Is Yours” which especially piqued my interest considering I had no prior knowledge of a connection between Pluto and Minerva except for the timing of my discovery. In this fascinating read, it is the author’s opinion that Minerva represents the higher symbol of Pluto, where “Pluto is the death of the separated self. Minerva is the regeneration and rebirth that brings us the wisdom that is inherent in every child on earth.” (Pluto or Minerva: The Choice Is Yours Paperback – January 1, 1977 by Isabel M. Hickey, 1977)
Remember Pluto in Greek mythology was given rulership over the underworld, which is why it rules Scorpio and represents “the death of the personality and the birth of the soul. Every seed must be buried in the darkness of the earth before it can break out of its shell and come up into the light. All growth must begin its life in dark. Every seed, even a human seed, needs that darkness before it is ready to reach toward the light. Pluto represents that life in the dark. Minerva represents the light that is reached when the life force in the seed breaks its shell and pushes through the earth and grows towards the life.” (Pluto or Minerva: The Choice Is Yours Paperback – January 1, 1977 by Isabel M. Hickey, 1977) This analogy is such a beautiful metaphor for the story of our own “becoming” in so many ways. The soul makes the same transition as it moves into world through the birth process, pushing its way through the dark until it finds its way to light and is born. Furthermore, each month, if we follow the lunar calendar, we are again reminded of this cycle;planting our seeds of intention in the darkest phase of the moon (new moon) and later feeling its culmination at the full moon (the light) as the seeds we planted just six months earlier begin to sprout. This process reminds us that the darkness is essential to the light. That we cannot know what we desire without the contrast of what we don’t. Furthermore, the depth in which we can feel and experience in one direction, directly corresponds to that which we can experience in the other. Our range of experience and emotional capacity is directly correlated to our ability to be present to its inverse. In other words, our ability to understand the light and ascension of Minerva, relates to our ability to trudge the waters of the Plutonic darkness. Within ourselves this relates to making the subconscious (or even unconscious) mind conscious. Think of the conscious mind as being the light, what we know of ourselves and actively choose. While the subconscious represents patterns of behavior that have become ingrained from childhood and previous lifetimes. This is also where the functions of the body are controlled, why your heart continues beating without your continual instruction. Even though this is part of you, we are mostly unaware of its contents and how to access them and therefore represents the dark. However, did you know that there are yogis and monks who could control their heartbeat or body temperature with their mind alone? They have done this by making more of their subconscious, conscious. By unburdening themselves from their own karmic ties on the wheel of life. Is this the symbology of the Minerva Owl, our own soul’s quest to bring what was once hidden and in the dark, into the light? To be untangled from the consequences earned from a place of less awareness or where our instinctual/animalistic nature had not yet been refined by the spiritual mind. As Pluto pushes down deep into the unconscious bringing into our awareness where we have given our power away, it is Minerva, with her keen discernment and sight even in the darkness, which retrieves our ultimate authority as the creator herself. A true spark of the divine, manifesting and creating reality with every thought, every word spoken, whispering into reality every twist and turn in this – your waking dream.
Connecting with Your Own Power Symbol
As we each take our first steps into this new reality, this new chapter in our waking dream, what power symbol will you bring forth? It may be a symbol that you know, or perhaps like mine, one that simply demands your attention. It may be a word or animal spirit. Either way you’ll discover one just right for you with this powerful meditation to retrieve your own power symbol. This 20-minute guide meditation, rich with imagery and paired with the sacred sound of alchemy bowls, will allow your own higher self to re-member just the symbol you need to guide your way forward. Our uni-verse is filled with language and motifs that have special meaning just for us and can be our breadcrumbs leading the way to deeper insights and reflections about ourselves.
Power up and make this new chapter one of your conscious creation.
Works Cited:
Lemurian Sisterhood Flagler Beach, Florida. (2024, August 15). “it is a living embodiment of her divine wisdom and cosmic insight. It represents the eternal truths of the universe, the hidden knowledge that guides the evolution of consciousness, and the silent, unseen forces that shape destiny. Through the owl, Minerva’s wisdom reaches into the deepest mysteries of existence, offering guidance, protection, and transformation to those who seek to understand the profound truths of the cosmos.” https://www.facebook.com. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=520050133927668&id=100077680565222
Pluto or Minerva: The Choice Is Yours Paperback – January 1, 1977 by Isabel M. Hickey. (1977). [Book]. Fellowship House Bookshop. https://www.amazon.com/Pluto-Minerva-Isabel-M-Hickey/dp/B0006WRUGY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1R9I8BG6F5ROB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Q0kz7sQOx846-ONbSLTvs9t01Wn2_Z_NWmOZ5e3TpYJKSa33QTzyax1_PaHVpWv7No1q7LMNU41A74XwpXZ5PP90XaQS1bjaDBlVl8oybfDqXNa283oGOJ_PV4ss438grRVu3awl17H1w7m_covTB5miYTtN5Vjy032NyMxtbqM.F-7kr7XI8qBYOZ1iYTcAx59r7poleKhMeuB0QhD7png&dib_tag=se&keywords=minerva+the+choice+is+yours&qid=1731951974&sprefix=minerva+the+choice+is+yours%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-1