♈︎ The root of the root

The Hero's Journey

The call to action is the beginning of the the Hero's Journey - where something is experienced that calls for change or causes a realization. This is the moment that we, the hero, encounter a challenge and a decision is to be made.

There is a moment in all of our lives when a grand change happens: through work, the end of a relationship, or even deep questions about our purpose. These experiences can awaken us to what is really important just as a near death experience can change our life completely.

This call to action pushes us to confront our fears, step outside comfort zones, and engage in important experiences and focused work. The Hero's Journey is the symbolic quest undertaken (mythically through 12 steps) that tests the hero on their journey of redemption, enlightenment and ascension toward divinity. Like a Shepherd becoming King, we all embody the Hero when we meet life's challenges with courage and enthusiasm; developing ourselves through the process.

Through this Series we outline the key lessons found in the Hero's Journey through the 12 Signs of the Zodiac, the original 12 steps towards self mastery, beginning with ♈︎ Aries.

♈︎ Aries: Everything first begins as a thought

1 | The First Sign of the Zodiac.

Aries (the constellation) marks the vernal equinox; Spring. The beginning of the year and the renewal of nature in the northern hemisphere.

Aries the Ram and its neighboring fixed stars were present to ancient peoples every night. The sky and the constellations told a story: In Spring The Ram rises alongside the Pleiades and Taurus, the goat-herd or shepherd (Auriga), the hero (Perseus), and negative forces (Cetus). The root of the Zodiac can be traced to Babylonian Star-Lore: The Old Man drives the negative forces of winter away, the shepherd (the charioteer) leads the way for the animals: The sacred Bull and Ram symbolizing divine nature and the journey towards becoming "King".

When spring equinox arrives we know light has triumphed over darkness as the days are growing longer than the nights; the old year and season are cast away. The people who relied on the fields would honor the new life as animals bared their young. There was a new harvest to be cultivated: The Earth was thought to ‘open up’ ready to yield her crop, to Babylonians though this time was accompanied by a host of dangers, like the potential for demons (Lulal & Latarak) to need to be pushed back to the underworld - symbolizing failure and challenge. Overcoming these influences lead to purification and blessing, as the new year began anew. The new moon closest to the spring equinox marked the start of the calendrical New Year. This sacred juncture was also associated with the King being blessed to rule for another term.

The stars of Aries are referred to as the Hired Man, symbolized by the ram or lamb of Aries. The lamb reflects the birth of young livestock in spring, while the name refers to laborers bringing in the barley harvest. The Babylonian wordplay between “man” and “sheep” (both pronounced “lu”) reinforces this duality—symbolizing both the harvester and the firstborn lamb, a reflection of the sun emerging from winter’s cosmic waters.

In ancient Egyptian astronomy, Aries was linked to the god Amun-Ra, depicted as a man with a ram’s head, symbolizing fertility and creativity. As the site of the vernal equinox, it was known as the "Indicator of the Reborn Sun." In Egypt, Aries was also called the "Lord of the Head," highlighting its symbolic and mythological significance.

The Ancient Greeks (c. 800 BCE) continued the lamb symbol through the story of the golden ram that rescued Phrixus and Helle, ultimately leading to the fable of the Golden Fleece: symbolizing kingship & heroism. The Greeks also had a god of war named Ares.

The Lamb as a Symbol of Sacrifice and Divine Power

In many ancient traditions, the lamb (or ram) was seen as a sacrificial animal, representing purity, renewal, and divine will.

The Divine Lamb worshiped throughout pagandom and slain for the sins of the world was a personification of previous myths. In Christianity, Jesus is called the “Lamb of God”, symbolizing sacrifice for the salvation of humanity. The Divine Lamb symbolizes The Sun and light overcoming darkness.

The Romans (c. 300 BCE - 400 CE) named the planet for their God of war Aries who is often represented by a sword and shield, resulting in its known symbol ♂. In the 1700's the ♂ symbol began to be used in scientific classification to denote the male sex. This contributed to the modern association of the symbol with masculinity.

The Archetypes of Aries

The study of the archetypes is the study of the ruling planets. The constellations are interconnected to the Planets of our Solar System. Aries is ruled by the Planet Mars.

What can we learn from this Sign of Aries? What can we learn from the archetypes of Mars?

The Planet Mars

The red planet was long observed by ancient peoples as a sign of war and judgement.

The Number 1

The Number 1 is connected to individual purpose, spiritual oneness, and of beginnings.

The Ram

The ram represents the attitude and faith we need to confront challenges properly.

Cardinal Fire

Fire is symbolized by transformation of energy and represents purification.

Tarot: The Emperor

Aries and The Emperor share the essence of leadership, initiative, and the power to build and protect. The tarot teaches that the king derives authority through courage, decisiveness, and a deep sense of responsibility—reminding us to lead with both judgement and wisdom.

The Hero: Ancient Wisdom, Astrology, and Human Connection

Throughout history, civilizations have intertwined astronomy and spirituality, seeing celestial patterns as reflections of human experience. Ancient peoples created myth and meaning from the constellations. The moving stars captivated humans since the beginning of recorded history and The Sun being central to life has been personified in myths worldwide. Theological symbolism depicts the hero as the personification of the Sun. The Solar deity seen as the sun god always passes through the mysteries of birth, growth, maturity, and decline or death, mirroring the cycle of the seasons and of the human lifespan.

The son God is forever resurrected from the dead bringing with them the promise of eternal life. The sun personified is depicted as the hero in myths like Samson performing his tasks or Hercules performing the 12 labors. The Zodiac being depicted often as 12 Lessons, the 12 disciples, the 12 patriarchs, and so on...

Numbers like 12 and 7 hold cosmic significance— 7 planets and 7 spiritual principles. The Emerald Tablet, attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, declared, "As above, so below," shaping esoteric thought for centuries. This idea suggests that human existence reflects the cosmos, a belief echoed in ancient astrology. Mystics described the human being as a microcosm of the universe, with energy fields corresponding to planetary influences. The body, mind, and spirit align with celestial forces, influencing personality—not by direct planetary control, but through resonance with cosmic patterns. Planets don’t dictate personal events; they create conditions to which individuals respond based on their own inner makeup. Ancient wisdom, as explored by thinkers like Paracelsus, suggests a deep, unseen connection between celestial rhythms and human consciousness—one that modern science is only beginning to rediscover.

The Fire of Creation

A single year contains all the opportunities needed for self development. Through this New Year we begin our 9 month Gestation toward ♐︎Sagittarius where we become the master of our thoughts. First is getting at the the root of the root: The why behind our thoughts and actions.

What do I value?

What is my vision?  Who do I wish to become?

What do I wish to cultivate from my moments on Earth? Changing our thought patterns begins with facing our negative aspects. To be the hero is to face the monster (lower thought patterns) and overcome them. Through writing we can begin to rewire our brains and the way that we think. Writing also allows us to to craft our own life story and express ourselves from the heart.

Journaling is our tool for Self-Mastery

Writing allows us to better control our own thought patterns, getting at the root of our own behavior, and realizing when something needs to be changed or transformed. Through the framework of ÓS we are naturally working with the cycles and patterns to better organize our own creative energy - using the symbols for inspiration.

This practice helps us integrate the symbology and the lessons represented in the cycles and patterns of nature.

This period is about overcoming our negative impulses, following what excites us for the right reason, and focusing on what is challenging us and helping us to grow.

We act on the urge to begin and the urge to create; our path toward spiritual liberation.

This is the beginning of our journey anew.

What pattern do I wish to change? 

What is my intention for the year?

What lights my heart on fire? ❤️‍🔥

ÓS Guidebook

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Learn more about the days of the week and the planet Mars through our ÓS Guidebook