Astrology and Mythology

Men and the god archetypes

There is so much focus in the world today on the physical and material aspects of life, particularly for men. It has therefore become difficult for most of those in masculine gender to remember who they truly are, because there has been such a disconnection from the Mystical Journey.

Every one of us is influenced by the planets, asteroids, fixed stars, nebulas, galaxies and archetypal patterns. Our birth Mandala shows us our path on this life’s journey and which energies are our guides. In this article I will link each astrological Sun sign to an ancient god or hero that is an archetype for that sign. We will also highlight health concerns as this article first appeared in a 2007 issue of Human Spirit Magazine (unfortunately no longer in circulation) which focused on Men’s Health and Wellness.

The following descriptions are for the 12 Sun Signs. The Sun, in general, has rulership over the heart, upper back, spleen, circulatory system and general vitality, but it is only one of the influences in our circle of life.

Aries- Archetypal Wound- Abandonment

The Greek hero Jason was given the task of retrieving the Golden Fleece that was being held in the land of Colchis. He gathered together a group of men and they built a ship called the Argo and experienced many dangerous adventures as they sailed to rescue the fleece. Once in the land of Colchis the task could only be accomplished with the help of Medea, daughter of the King. Jason married her and triumphantly sailed home with prize in hand. Once home, he became tired of the routine life and abandoned his wife in quest of new adventures including a new wife. Aries must always remember in abandoning others they are actually doing the same to the deeper self.

The Aries man is a purposeful individual, explorer, leader and independent spirit. He is always looking for inspiration and new beginnings. The shadow side of Aries is self indulgence, aggressiveness and insensitivity. His wound is always fear of abandonment.

Health issues: the head, fevers, inflammation, headaches, muscular system, bladder, adrenal glands, wounds, cuts and accidents.

Taurus- Archetypal Wound- Self Worth

Hephaestus, known as the blacksmith god, was born lame. His mother Hera, who had a fixation on beauty, rejected him and cast him out of heaven. He fell into the sea but was rescued by two sea goddesses who then cared for him and encouraged his artistic ability. He made beautiful jewellery set in silver and gold. His mother Hera discovered this and brought him back to Mt. Olympus so he could design pieces for her. Hephaestus was not able to forgive Hera and he chained her to a golden throne. He only released her when Zeus (Hera’s husband) promised him the beautiful Aphrodite to marry. But the pattern was repeated as the goddess was also repelled by him and left him. Finally the lame god, in his pain and anguish fashioned Pandora’s box. When it was opened all the demons escaped out into the world, but the lid was closed before Hope fled. Taurus must always remember that it is his own demons that create hopelessness and fear.

The Taurus man is a stable, loyal and supportive partner. He is patient, artistic and responsible. The shadow side of Taurus is stubbornness, possessiveness, materialism, and depression. His wound is always self worth.

Health issues: the throat, neck, tonsils, vocal chords, thyroid, veins and the kidneys

Gemini- Archetypal Wound- Duality, the light and the dark

The Roman god Mercury was a messenger. He was a symbol for reason, logic, intellect, ideas and communication. He wore a helmet with wings and had wings on his feet indicating the ability to take flight at any moment. His Greek counterpart was Hermes, the holder of hidden knowledge. This god was an expression of the duality of the mind. He was the only god who was free to travel between the worlds, upper, middle and lower.

He was a symbol for intuition, sensation, thinking and feeling. These are the four elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water. In our yearly cycle our own planet Mercury becomes Hermes whenever he is on one of his retrograde journeys (three times a year) giving all of us, but especially Gemini, the chance to experience balance between the logical and intuitive mind. That is the lesson for this astrological sign.

The Gemini man is clever, logical, inventive and expressive. He has an ability to communicate effectively. The shadow side of Gemini is superficiality, restlessness, scatterdness and unreliability. His wound is always duality, the light and the dark.

Health issues: brain, collar bone, arms, hands, lungs, nervous system, hormones

Cancer- Archetypal Wound- Self Rejection

Poseidon was the Greek god of the sea. He was unpredictable. Calm and serene one moment, turbulent and stormy the next. He was also called the Earth- Shaker. He is a symbol for gentle flow, instinct and emotion as an oracle deity, but could also change at any moment, create upheaval and express uncontrolled emotions when he became over reactive. When Poseidon did not get what he wanted or felt rejected he became revengeful. When he was allowed to rule the middle world of land and sea without interference he was calm and peaceful. He was happiest retreating to his cave at the bottom of the ocean. Cancer’s wound is emotional rejection and it is most often linked to the feminine, as its ruling planet is the Moon. It is really a rejection of the inner self.

The Cancer man is sensitive, intuitive, and sympathetic. He is very attached to home and needs his partner to be affectionate. He is also very psychic and empathetic. The shadow side of Cancer is broodiness, pessimism, anger and emotional outbursts.

Heath issues: breast, stomach, digestion, upper lobes of liver, bodily fluids.

Leo- Archetypal Wound- Self Esteem

Hercules was a demigod. His mother was mortal and his father was Zeus, king of the gods. Zeus actually intended that this son become a special protector for humankind. Hercules had a very strong ego and often did not care who he hurt. To prove his worth, as a hero, he was given 12 tasks or labours to complete. With bravery and determination he attacked each situation and accomplished success. Along the way Hercules lost any sense of fair play and became ruthless in order to win at any cost. Finally his fate was to die a fiery death in order to learn the lesson of self control. When that happened, death of the ego, he was made immortal and became the magical protector that he was destined for. Leo’s wound is self esteem and the ego need to always be in control.

The Leo man is idealistic, ambitious, creative, and outgoing. He is also generous and optimistic. The shadow side of Leo is vain, egotistical, status conscious and controlling.

Health issues: the upper back and the heart.

Virgo- Archetypal Wound- Self Critical

Chiron the Centaur is the new symbol for the sign of Virgo, the old one being Mercury, the planet of logic and analysis. In Greek legend Chiron was the wounded healer who recognized what needed to be fixed, if it could be fixed, and how to fix it. That was his gift of perception and the ability to evaluate the methodology that would be of the greatest benefit. Chiron worked with alternative healing like homeopathic and naturopathic medicine. The word Chiropractor is derived from Chiron, which means healing hands. So the sign of Virgo started to transform from the analytical perfectionist to the gifted healer when Chiron was sighted in our Universe in 1977. Virgo is often called the Rainbow Bridge to higher awareness and Chiron is there as our guide if we are brave enough to step onto the path. Virgo’s wound is self criticism and self doubt.

The Virgo man is methodical, organized, exacting, practical and a problem solver. If he is self aware he is also perceptive, sensitive and a healer. The shadow side of Virgo is melancholy, skeptical, critical and perfectionist.

Health issues: intestines, pancreas, gall bladder, upper bowel.

Libra- Archetypal Wound- Indecision and Co-dependence

King Arthur of Camelot rules a land divided into warring parties. He attempts to bring peace through diplomacy. His knights were expected to behave in a gentle and noble way as they fought for justice and honour. Arthur always gave his enemies a fair chance. He was motivated by an ideal, a quest for beauty and harmony, but Arthur had difficulty making choices. He was caught between the old mystical pagan beliefs and the new spreading Christian religion. That he could not choose one or the other was his eventual downfall. Libra’s wound is indecision and co-dependency.

The Libra man is diplomatic, charming, co-operative and a mediator. He is also social and persuasive. The shadow side of Libra is being easily swayed, indecisive, apathetic and passive aggressive.

Heath issues: kidneys lower back, adrenal glands

Scorpio- Archetypal Wound- Manipulation and Fear

In Greek myth Zeus ruled the upper world, Poseidon the land and sea, and Hades the underworld. His name in Greek means “unseen”. His Roman name Pluto means “wealthy”. Hades was the ruler of Darkness or the Kingdom of Death. He was greatly feared as being terrifying and merciless. The god Pluto on the other hand, still ruler of the underworld, was seen as generous and bountiful, although today Scorpio’s ruling planet Pluto has a definite Hades signature. Both gods were a symbol for transmutation. In the myth of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, we find the young maiden ready to move to her next growth phase, that of woman. There are different versions of the story, but she finds herself in Hades underworld and becomes his Queen. She is transformed but so is Hades as he now knows and feels love and compassion. He becomes the god of transformation rather than death. Scorpio’s wound is fear of being manipulated and loss.

The Scorpio man is intense, motivated and penetrating. He is also passionate, resourceful and psychic. The shadow side of Scorpio is jealous, possessive, secretive and vengeful.

Heath issues: reproductive organs, prostrate and bladder

Sagittarius- Archetypal Wound- Judgment and Restriction

Jupiter was the Roman god who came after the Greek Zeus. Both were Sky gods who had authority over all. If they were displeased with what was going on in their domains they were known to throw thunderbolts to make mortals pay attention and follow the rules. Although Jupiter was more benevolent than Zeus, he could still be tyrannical as the ultimate authority a sort of judge and jury mentality. These gods have become symbols for the patriarchal system. Both were officially married, Jupiter to Juno and Zeus to Hera. Both gods had numerous affairs expressing the more indulgent, exaggerated and extreme nature that our planet Jupiter in our own Zodiac can activate in our lives. The Sagittarius wound is connected to loss of freedom and being judged.

The Sagittarius man is philosophical, broadminded and just. He is also enthusiastic and athletic. His shadow is argumentative, dogmatic and self indulgent.

Heath issues: Hips, thighs, liver

Capricorn- Archetypal Wound- Loss of Power and Control

The Titan sky god Cronus was father to Zeus. It had been prophesized one of the children born to him and his wife Rhea would dethrone Cronus as he did his own father Ouranos. When each child was born Cronus swallowed them whole to prevent this event. When Zeus, the final child, was born Rhea tricked her husband by wrapping a stone in a blanket. Thinking this was his new born child Cronus swallowed it. Zeus was whisked away to safety and when he was fully grown he slayed his father and freed his brothers and sisters to rule the land with him as The Olympians. Capricorn’s wound is always connected to the need to be in control.

The Capricorn man is ambitious, practical and serious. He is traditional and responsible. His shadow side is status seeking, egotistical, controlling and fatalistic.

Health issues: knees, lower leg, skeletal system.

Aquarius- Archetypal Wound- Conditional Love and Detachment

The sun god Apollo, son of Zeus, was a most important deity in Greek mythology. He was responsible for the arts, particularly music, prophecy, archery and was patron of medicine and astronomy. He guided the nine muses who inspired people to express the arts. He also was considered the guide for the transition from youth to manhood. Although very talented and grand, his one great fault was emotional distance. He preferred thinking to feeling, mental objectivity over subjective intuition, and distance over closeness. He was a logical thinker and was happy with the surface of things rather than exploring the deepness within. The Aquarius wound is being loved conditionally and detachment.

The Aquarius man is inventive, independent, scientific and rational. He can also be very psychic and humanitarian. The shadow side is radical, unpredictable, and impersonal.

Health issues: ankles, body electricity.

Pisces- Archetypal Wound- Separation from the Source

It has been difficult to find one god to assign to Pisces as it is the mutable water energy. Here are three that can be explored to gain a deeper understanding of this mystical sign.

Dionysus, god of wine and ecstasy, was a mystic, lover, wanderer and Wild Man. Adonis, fertility god of love was fought over by Persephone and Venus and eventually killed by a wild boar as a result. His fate was to spend half the year in the underworld and half in the world of Earth. Dumuzi, herder and wanderer, was the Sumerian consort of Inanna. He is sacrificed and carried off to the Land of the Dead. His twin sister makes a bargain with Ereshkical, Queen of the underworld, and Dumuzi is allowed to spend six months in the upper world of Earth and six in the underworld. He is the first “dying and rising” god to be historically recorded by name. All these stories are a symbol for the Piscean wound of finding the balance between the ordinary world and the mystical.

The Pisces man is artistic, emotional, compassionate and empathetic. He is also introspective, intuitive and wise. The shadow side of Pisces is escapism and addictions.

Health issues: the feet, immune system, spinal column.

An excellent book to further explore some of these Archetypes is “Gods in Everyman” by Jean Shinoda Bolen. I hope the information I have presented is insightful.

Blessings Dale

Dale Osadchuk is an Artist, Astrologer and Spiritual Counsellor. She is available for consultations and can be reached at 905-883-3192 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. To receive her brochure of Astrological Sessions, New Moon Meditation and Workshops schedule, or to be added to her free New Moon e-mail list contact her at

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