Neptune's Dolphins

In “Planetary Magick,” Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips describe the Magical Image of each of the seven classical planets (and luminaries) such as Luna is the “Lady of the Night.” These magical images can be found in books, movies and TV shows. A person can further their knowledge of the planets by studying various characters in popular culture.

 

SOL, THE SUN

Denning and Phillips describe Sol, the Sun as “Attuned to … spiritual illumination… Direction and distribution of energies and materials and the giving of wise counsel, even prophetically.” (Note 1.) In “Astrological Magic,” Benjamin Dykes and Jayne Gibson write for their “First Advancement: The Invocation of Sol,” “It’s through your power that the inner nature finds perfect equilibrium, true fulfillment, and magical selfhood.” (Note 2.)

 

For me, Obi-Wan Ben Kenobi of the original trilogy of the “Star Wars” movies (Note 3) is the Sun. He becomes a second father to Luke Skywalker, mentoring him in the ways of the Force. Later, Kenobi convinces Yoda that Luke is a worthy student. He guides Luke from being an immature farm boy to becoming a mature Jedi. Kenobi counsels him, “Remember Luke… The Force will be with you Always.” (Note 4.) While dueling with Darth Vader, Kenobi tells the Dark Lord of the Sith, “You can’t win, Darth. If you strike me down. I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” (Note 5.) These are the qualities of the Sun that I associate with Obi-Wan Ben Kenobi.

 

LUNA, THE MOON

Denning and Phillips describe Luna, the Moon, as “intense, passionate yet intrinsically cold, changeful … Further, the dreams of the Moon sphere are the potential realities of Earth.” (Note 6.) In their “First Advancement: The Invocation of Luna,” Dykes and Gibson writes, “It is you who brings all things to birth and growth and to their earthy fulfillment. Ruler of the Sacred Light, wherein all that is manifested is first perfected.” (Note 7.)

 

By bringing the New Republic into being, Princess Leia is Luna personified. (Note 8.) Passionate in her pursuit of deposing the Empire, Leia seems cold and removed to those who care for her. In “Star Wars,” she tells the assembled rebels, “We’ve no time for our sorrows, Commander. You must use the information in this R2 unit to help plan the attack. It’s our only hope.” This was after she had been tortured and witnessed her world being destroyed. Moreover, under Leia’s influence, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker become more than simply a smuggler and a farm boy respectively. Furthermore, she is the light that perfected the New Republic.

 

MERCURY

Denning and Phillips write that Mercury is “un-resting dual or even multiple in aspect but expressive of truth. The invisible and changeful force of the wind is an apt symbol.” (Note 9.) The authors state that one of the Magical Images of Mercury is the Divine Messenger. Meanwhile, Dykes and Gibson describe Mercury as the “Traveler between the Worlds.”

 

Luke Skywalker of the original trilogy of “Star Wars” (Note 10.) is the changeful force who disrupts things. First, he impulsively saves Princess Leia, and then he helps her to escape from the Death Star. Under Kenobi’s tutelage and Leia’s influence, Luke transforms from being an apolitical farm boy to being a committed Jedi Knight. As the Divine Messenger, Luke moves between the worlds of the Force and of ordinary life. In “The Return of the Jedi,” Luke saves his father Darth Vader, when he abruptly stops fighting him. Luke tells his dying father, “I’ll not leave you here. I’ve got to save you.” Vader replies, “You already have Luke…You were right about me.”

 

Works Cited:

Note 1. Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips, “Planetary Magick.” Page 55.

Note 2. Benjamin Dykes and Jayne Gibson, “Astrological Magic.” Page 132.

Note 3. “Star Wars (1977),” “The Empire Strikes Back (1980),” and “The Return of the Jedi (1983).” The original movies, not George Lucas’ director’s cuts.

Note 4. “Star Wars (1977),” original movie.

Note 5. Ibid.

Note 6: Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips, “Planetary Magick.” Page 91.

Note 7. Benjamin Dykes and Jayne Gibson, “Astrological Magic.” Pages 144-145.

Note 8. “Star Wars (1977),” “The Empire Strikes Back (1980),” and “The Return of the Jedi (1983).” The original movies, not George Lucas’ director’s cuts.

Note 9. Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips, “Planetary Magick.” Page 79.

Note 10. “Star Wars (1977),” “The Empire Strikes Back (1980),” and “The Return of the Jedi (1983).” The original movies, not George Lucas’ director’s cuts.

 

Works Used:

Denning, Melita and Osborne Phillips, “Planetary Magick.” Llewellyn: Woodbury (MN). 1989.

Dykes, Benjamin and Jayne Gibson, “Astrological Magic.” Cazimi Press: Minneapolis. 2012.

“The Empire Strikes Back,” Directed by Iven Kershiner, original version, 20th Century Fox, 1980

“The Return of the Jedi,” Directed by Richard Marguand, original version, 20th Century Fox, 1983.

“Star Wars”, Directed by George Lucas, original version, 20th Century Fox, 1977.

Star Wars: Data Bank, 2021, Web. https://www.starwars.com/databank.

WookiePedia: The Star Wars Wiki, 2021. Web. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Main_Page.