Morning Star

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Butterfly	22 Apr 2003
I've been researching the term "Morning Star" and have been absolutely amazed at what I am learning. Apparently, it crosses a lot of traditions and cultures- Native American, Christian, Buddhism, Golden Dawn.. My understanding is that it is Venus, which is also known as the Evening Star, depending on when it appears in the night sky. Does anyone know of any meaning, or myths behind the term Morning Star?

divinerguy	22 Apr 2003
There are numerous literary references to the morning star, many of them are from the bible. My favorite is, "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:19). I went on a three deep sea fishing trip on a boat named the Bright and Morning Star. The worst storm and best fishing ever, with fish routinely exceeding 30 pounds.

jmd	23 Apr 2003
As mentioned, there are numerous literary references to Venus as Morning and Evening Star - known also as, respectively, Phosphorus and Hesperus. I'd have to re-look up my references, but the History of Science also has numerous references to this 'star' - which some the ancient Greeks at times considered as two different planets (though there are various views - as there are about whether the terms are rigid designators for a single planet, or terms referring more to any planet which appears either first or last in the evening and morning sky or on the horizon).

Minderwiz	23 Apr 2003
There are actually two morning stars - Venus and Mercury - although you will have to look very hard for the latter in our modern air polluted world. Both planets are also play the role of Evening Star. The switch of timing is due to a phenomeon called Retrogradation - The planet appears to stop and then move backwards. For Mercury and Venus the point at which they are at their furthest West from the Sun is the time when they are the Morning Star. When Mercury is the Morning Star it is linked to the Greek Mythological character Prometheus - who suffered a particularly nasty punishment from Zeus, until resuced by Heracles. As Morning Star, Venus is often called Phosphoros, the Aztecs and the Maya both believed that during its retrograde phase 'Venus' became a male god (and this is partly hinted at in the Greek legends of Aphrodite and Hermes). It took some time before Astronomers/Astrologers realised that the Morning and Evening Stars were indeed the same planet because as the planet turns direct and moves back towards the Sun it can no longer be seen because it is overpowered by the Sun. Only when it has moved some distance to the East of the Sun will it reappear as the Evening Star.

Pollux	24 Apr 2003
I also believe the symbol of the Pentagram, the Star with the Circle around, derives from an astronomical analysis of Venus's movement as Morning/Evening Star. I think it has to do with myths related to Inanna/Ishtar. But I might be wrong... My memory su*ks these days.

raeanne	24 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Minderwiz Both planets are also play the role of Evening Star. The switch of timing is due to a phenomeon called Retrogradation - The planet appears to stop and then move backwards. For Mercury and Venus the point at which they are at their furthest West from the Sun is the time when they are the Morning Star. Minderwiz, All planet show retrograde motion from time to time. The fact that Mercury and Venus are inferior planets (smaller orbits than the Earth’s and therefore closer to the Sun) is what makes them known as the Morning Star or Evening Star. You will never see either of these two planets in the sky at midnight. Only the superior planets (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) can be seen in the middle of the night. All the superior planets can also occasionally be seen in the early morning or evening but not on the regular basis like Mercury and Venus so they never became known as the Morning or Evening Star. I like your mythological information! Thanks for sharing.

isthmus nekoi	25 Apr 2003
Innana has been refered to as the Morning or Evening Star, although the star most often associated w/her has 8 points. Having said that, the Morning Star is a term I've heard associated w/Lucifer (light bringer) and his connection w/the pentagram is very strong.

Pollux	25 Apr 2003
No ishtmus, I was referring to this! ;) http://www.khaldea.com/planets/venus_type.shtml *LOL* I managed to find the link again hehe... Isn't this interesting? ;)

Butterfly	25 Apr 2003
Pollux I could just kiss you!! :* Inanna was the exact missing piece of the puzzle I was after. thank you so much! Isn't it trippy when you discover a simple little idea that crosses all cultures, religions, what ever...

The Morning Star thread was originally posted on 22 Apr 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.