In short, my chart for the days of the month and the planets illustrates the concept of time as developing like a human being. First a child (5), but before that a conception (4), and before that a mother:
When the child has been born, his mother (Moon) must take care of him. Then follows the unruly 'spring of youth' (7). What happens at 8 is the harnessing of his raw power. Sun becomes integrated by way of a ritual of initiation. He will die a fake death to make him realize he is a mortal. Further on, at the end, the old man must leave (9), make place for the next generation. The relay race must go on. From this simple beginning - which I imagine once could have been the universal picture among ancient peoples - numbers grew in different directions according to what was observed in the sky. Keeping it all in order must have been a major challenge. Both Venus and Moon were easily observed, and together they measured out time. Maybe Venus took care of the beginnings and Moon the ends. |