The Heavens Above

In the sky above, many fascinating sights can be seen. During the day, the Sun brings light and warmth to all. During the night, the Dark Sun brings darkness and coolness. The Sun and the Dark Sun represent Oohm and Arawn, respectively, two continuous inseparable parts of the all, surrounding us on all sides. Twilight is the harmonious embrace of the Sun and the Dark Sun, when Oohm and Arawn enfold each other. It is a special time.

The rising Sun provides a useful natural clock; we call the period from one sunrise to the next, a day. Careful observation will show, however, that a summer’s day is not the same length as a winter’s day. During winter, the Sun is low in the sky; it is at its lowest on June 15, which is known as the winter solstice. Similarly, in summer, the Sun is high in the sky; the highest point occurs on December 15, the summer solstice. Then there are two days when the length of the night is exactly the same as the length of the day: March 15 (which is in autumn) and September 15 (which is in spring). Astronomers have determined that the average day length can be divided exactly into 24 hours.

The Moon moves across the sky, sometimes visible at night, other times during the day, and sometimes during part of the day and then part of the evening. The Moon represents the Children of the Gods. Like children, they are sometimes close to their parents, while at other times they may seem rebellious, distant and stand-offish. Yet no matter where the child goes, or what the child does, the parents are a life constant.

The Moon’s shape varies from a thin sliver of light, to fully round, to a thin crescent again. One complete cycle of the Moon is always the same amount of time: 30 days. We call it a month, but the old Janee called it a moonth. And every twelve moonths, or 360 days, the whole cycle repeats again. This longer period we call a year.

The life course of an individual, the prospects of a nation, the fortunes of civilizations: these wax and wane, just like the Moon going through its phases.

The sky is also where one can see clouds, comets, lightning, beautiful red sunsets, and shooting stars. These are all optical effects, beautiful natural events that can be seen under certain conditions.

Living things that can be seen in the sky from time to time include birds, griffons, insects, and the mysterious sky giants.

On a clear night, one can also see the beautiful stars, some bright, some dim, some with striking colours, sometimes sparkling brilliantly. The stars are the frontier to the future and maps to the past.

The stars were carefully counted and named by the ancestral Janee, and the Kalderani sages of astronomy and astrology today benefit greatly from their ancient wisdom.

The Janee named the 108 brightest stars, and each star represents either a living thing (the King Star, the Mother, the Young Lion, the Deer, etc.) or an object (the House, the Bag, the Walking Stick, etc.). Depending on the date and time, and if the stars are rising, setting, or at the zenith, certain stars will appear to be in a line, in pairs or triplets. Each connection tells a specific story. For example, the King Star aligned to the Young Lion and the House, rising, predicts the birth of a new leader. The Walking Stick Star in alignment with the Mother and the Mountain, at the zenith, indicates a long and dangerous journey will return home safely.

Of these stars, 56 were given greater significance, and the position of the Moon, relative to these stars, has special significance. Today, only the 49 brightest stars are used for divination purposes, and their identification with living things or inanimate objects have been slightly improved. Deep knowledge of these 49 stars and their relationships enable astrologers to make reliable prognostications. Similarly, astronomers are able to determine position on Tem, as well as the exact date and time, by careful sightings of these stars with their instruments.

The stars are understood to be distant worlds; some mages think it is possible to travel there.

In addition to the stars, which rise, culminate, and set periodically, there are the five planets. These “wandering stars” move independently of the others, and are the avatars of the Gods, their embodied representatives in this realm. In order from quickest moving to slowest moving, these are Qidra, Salaah, Razim, D’Aad, and Sahir.

Salaah is the brightest planet. It is the first luminary visible long before the stars appear, and remains visible after the stars are bleached out of the sky. This enduring jewel of the heavens is a bright promise of the stability and harmony that ensues when peace reigns.

Second-brightest is D’Aad, a shining reminder that only through proper action can peace be maintained.

Next is brightness, and sometimes equal to D’Aad in brilliance, is Razim, famous for its red colour. It brightens and dims over time, and its hue reminds us of blood. Wars and martial conflict flare up and subside as this planet moves amongst the stars.

The fastest moving planet is Qidra, which very obviously changes its position in the sky from day to day, in an apparently unpredictable fashion. It is always seen in the vicinity of the Sun, sometimes just before sunrise, other times just after sunset.

Finally, the slowest moving planet, which sometimes seems to stand still, or is invisible for long times, is the mysterious planet Sahir.