Priapus and Black Moon Lilith
In opposition to the demanding, sharp and chiselling energy of Black Moon Lilith, Priapus unleashes the energies of nature in their raw state.
Astronomically, Priapus is the lunar perigee. Priapus is where the Moon is closest to earth, and moving at the highest speed.
Mythologically, Priapus was a minor deity with a huge penis in a state of constant erection. Priapism is the name of the corresponding medical condition.
Son of Dionysus and Aphrodite (according to some versions) he was a God of Fertility, livestock and gardens. He was close to Pan and the satyrs.
Black Moon Lilith is rebellious feminine energy. Her motto could be:
‘Not like that!’
Priapus was cursed by Hera. In spite of his constant erection, when the time was right to make something out of it, he was impotent. I associate this particular aspect of Priapus myth to the opposition of Black Moon Lilith.
Black Moon Lilith is said to be ambiguous or paradoxical.
‘Not like that!’ means both yes and no at the same time. When it’s only an energy, and not understood, it feels like a double bind.
Thinking of how a rustic creature like Priapus may behave, wanting to bridle the energy is quite understandable.
Black Moon Lilith is sometimes said to be ‘castrating’. Astronomically, she is the void, the direction the Moon moves away.
Symbolically, these two opposite extremes apply to all the energies they may touch.
Literal sexuality is only the ground level of interpretation.
When Saturn is conjunct with Priapus for instance, we can imagine Saturn doing Saturn like crazy. The outcome is a control freak or a compulsive builder of structures.
Like the nodes, Priapus and Black Moon Lilith are an axis.
Black Moon Lilith in opposition will bombard Saturn with ‘Not like that’ injunctions.
This may manifest as blame and shame, rejection and challenge. As an inner voice, or as a partner taking on the role, Black Moon Lilith will insist on Saturn’s lack of flexibility and possibly block it altogether.
As human beings, our challenge is to understand what’s going on and find balance.
We usually don’t forget that the nodes are an axis, and interpret the journey from the South Node towards the North Node as the path of evolution.
We should also remember that Black Moon Lilith and Priapus are also an axis of great importance in evolutionary astrology.
(if you haven’t read it before: Black Moon Lilith and Sexuality