The Spoils of War

9–13 minutes
Day and the Dawnstar by Herbert James Draper Print Herbert James Draper

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6: 10-17

Acknowledging the existence of danger, and anonymity of its presence prevents death. The nature of prudence is resolute. Decisively progressing through life will only manifest treasure. Abandoning warnings ensures the maturation of self-imposed suffering. I only suffer through the belief that suffering is occurring. I preserve the essence of life, through understanding and comprehending indoctrinated instruction. This way, my path is clear, and my reward is in abundance. I cultivate this garden of wisdom by guarding my teachings as the apple of my affection. I keep my life through the maintenance of self-discipline.

The big-bang model is based on two assumptions. The first is that Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativitycorrectly describes the gravitationalinteraction of all matter. The second assumption, called the cosmological principle, states that an observer’s view of the universe depends neither on the direction in which he looks nor on his location. This principle applies only to the large-scale properties of the universe, but it does imply that the universe has no edge, so that the big-bang origin occurred not at a particular point in space but rather throughout space at the same time. These two assumptions make it possible to calculate the history of the cosmos after a certain epoch called the Planck time. Scientists have yet to determine what prevailed before Planck time.

The Zodiac Aries the Ram: Sorrow

Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, holds a significant place in the celestial calendar. Represented by the Ram, it encompasses individuals born between March 21 and April 19. This Zodiac sign is believed to embody traits such as leadership, courage, and independence.

The story of Aries, deeply rooted in ancient Greek mythology, is often associated with themes of jealousy and a mother’s love. According to Pseudo-Apollodorus’ Bibliotheca, the Ram possessed a golden fleece, could fly, and was believed to be immortal.

The search for the Golden Fleece of the Ram became famous thanks to Jason and the Argonauts, who embarked on a perilous journey to obtain it, a journey that symbolises the courage and determination of Aries, inspiring us with its bravery.

Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely givento the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs,together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

Ezra 7: 13-17

Beginning in 1948, the American cosmologist George Gamow and his coworkers, Ralph Alpher and Robert Herman, investigated the idea that the chemical elements might have been synthesized by thermonuclear reactionsthat took place in a primeval fireball. According to their calculations, the high temperature associated with the early universe would have given rise to a thermal radiation field, which has a unique distribution of intensity with wavelength (known as Planck’s radiation law), that is a function only of the temperature. As the universe expanded, the temperature would have dropped, each photon being redshifted by the cosmological expansion to longer wavelength, as the American physicist Richard C. Tolman had already shown in 1934. By the present epoch the radiation temperature would have dropped to very low values, about 5 kelvins above absolute zero (0 kelvin [K], or −273 °C [−460 °F]) according to the estimates of Alpher and Herman.

In Greek mythology, the mighty Zeus, the ruler of the gods, created a breathtaking cloud nymph named Nephele. She was given in marriage to Athamas, the king of Boeotia, and together they bore two children, Phrixus and Helle. However, Nephele’s sudden and enigmatic disappearance left Athamas to marry Ino. Unfortunately, Ino harboured ill feelings towards her stepchildren and sought to remove them from her life. Her chance came when a severe famine ravaged the land, causing the yearly crops to wither. To end the famine, Athamas sent his messengers to Delphi to seek counsel from the oracle. Ino seized this opportunity to eliminate her stepchildren and intercepted the messengers without Athamas’s knowledge. She forced the messenger to declare that the only way to end the famine was for Athamas to sacrifice his son, Phrixus.

The Rape of Oreithyia Print Giovanni Battista Cipriani

The Rescue

Upon receiving the unsettling news from the oracles that his son Phrixus held the key to ending the famine, Athamas was consumed by deep distress. Relentless pressure from the people of Boeotia to sacrifice Phrixus only added to his turmoil. When Athamas revealed Phrixus’ foretold fate, the young prince selflessly offered himself for sacrifice to alleviate the suffering of his people. Athamas, unprepared for such a response, tearfully gave the order to send Phrixus to his death.

As Phrixus approached the altar, a sudden and unexpected appearance halted the sacrifice. Nephele, the cloud nymph, materialised out of thin air with a majestic Golden-Fleece Ram. She swiftly rescued Phrixus and his sister, Helle, by placing them on the Ram’s back and flying them to safety. Athamas, bewildered and frustrated, was later informed of the miraculous turn of events. Nephele then vanished as mysteriously as she had appeared.

Ino, Athamas’ wife and Phrixus’ stepmother, retreated to her chambers in disappointment after the failed sacrifice. However, her involvement did not go unnoticed by Hera, the queen of the gods, who was infuriated by Ino’s part in the plot to sacrifice Phrixus. Hera’s anger towards Ino would later lead to tragic consequences, as she unleashed her wrath upon her.

Grief & Loss

As Phrixus and Helle clung to the Golden Ram’s fleece, they soared high above the endless expanse of the deep blue skies, amazed by the breathtaking sights unfolding before them as they made their way towards the land of Colchis. However, as they traversed the narrow strait that separated the continents of Europe and Asia, Helle’s grasp faltered, and she tragically plummeted into the azure depths below. Despite the Ram’s valiant attempts to rescue her, his efforts were futile, leaving Phrixus to grieve the loss of his beloved sister. This heart-wrenching event, the sorrowful loss of Helle, marked a pivotal moment in Phrixus and Ram’s journey, casting a shadow of profound grief and mourning over their journey.

Pressing on with Phrixus, the Ram revealed to him the solemn task of sacrificing the Ram and presenting the golden fleece to the King of Colchis. Upon their arrival in Colchis, Phrixus dutifully carried out the instructions with a heavy heart and offered the sacred gift to the King of Colchis. King Aeetes of Colchis then had the Golden Fleece affixed to an ancient Oak Tree in a blessed grove dedicated to Ares.

The Golden Fleece stood as a prized and fiercely protected treasure, guarded by a vigilant serpent that never slept, ensuring the safety of this revered artifact. Its presence in Colchis became a source of immense pride for the kingdom and a symbol of its opulence, drawing visitors from far and wide who sought to behold its splendor and honor its significance.

Even amidst the tragedy, Helle’s legacy endured through the Hellespontos, a tribute to her life resonating through the annals of time. Meanwhile, Phrixus pressed forward on his journey, finding comfort in the belief that his sister’s spirit lived on, even as he embarked on a new chapter of his life in Colchis.

Ascension

The ancient legend tells of Nephele, the gracious cloud nymph, bestowing a magnificent honor upon the Ram. In a display of profound gratitude for its selfless service to humanity, Nephele elevated the Ram to a constellation in the celestial realm. This celestial accolade granted the Ram a prestigious place among the stars and served as a vital seasonal marker for farmers across diverse cultures. The Aries constellation, with its distinct shape and position in the sky, heralds the arrival of spring, a crucial time for agricultural societies as it signals the end of the winter and the beginning of the growing season, prompting farmers to sow their grains and diligently prepare for the forthcoming growing season. Consequently, the Aries constellation has forever intertwined with the themes of rejuvenation and the bountiful promise of nature, forging a profound connection with farmers and agricultural communities.

Postulated wealth elucidates actual poverty, while performed destitution disguises abundant treasure. The Lord indoctrinates the importance of guarding my ways at all costs; so, this translates to resolute behavior modification. If the fear is of robbery, doing anything to furnish that reality would be foolish. Instead, through the awareness that evil is motivated by desire, I safeguard that which I hold dear, enticing evil to attack a postulated barrier. The Lord needs only say it once: It is paramount that my choice environment promotes personal growth and adherence to God’s word. Abandoning wisdom only heightens one’s vulnerability and susceptibility to catching calamity.

Contentment leads to happiness. To enjoy things as they are, only contributes to the anonymity of future favor. Knowing exactly what is to come is bleak and leads to ruin. Trusting acquired knowledge elucidates the wonderful nature of what is to come. Concealing my knowledge in the face of evil, through postulation, only confuses the enemy, and encourages it to find another host to invade. The life of the temple’s watchman is preserved through the omniscient protection of my psyche. Those who utter deceit, only deceive themselves through the discovery of ruin. Discretion is the cloak of protection and understanding acts as the guard of the temple. It is paramount that I walk in the way of righteousness. Wisdom- the fear of the Lord- kills sin and prepares me for the enjoyment of my glory. The Lord loves me and wants me to understand that advice is His way of telling you who He is. The elder in the second chapter of Proverbs offers that the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it. With reverence to my word, I understand that nothing matters because all was created for me to enjoy and understand that it is all for me because I am the product my creation.

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Exodus 19: 3-6

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