The Story of Phaethon – The “Fatherless” Child

A sentence in Éric Berrut’s book, Uranus, particularly resonates with me when he speaks of Saturn (Cronos): “It is not Saturn who must be fought, but the predatory aspect of Cronos and his claim to rule the world.”

In his book, he explains that Jupiter, the son of Cronos (Saturn), frees his brothers and sisters with the help of Prometheus. Prometheus belongs to the same generation as Cronos and, in order to help Jupiter, he must “betray” his own kind.

In just a few words, he describes the particular situation we are experiencing today, with the questioning of authority that we can see in the chart of the solar eclipse of August 12, 2026, with an Ascendant in Capricorn in Paris.

We have Jupiter in Leo. This Jupiter amplifies the solar eclipse and the role that Helios – the Sun – Apollo assigns to himself. A Sun in Leo can manifest as generosity, but also as an excess of ego. Jupiter’s amplification therefore raises a question for us.

In mythology, Jupiter allies himself with Prometheus, the one who brings fire to humanity so that it may have freedom of choice, in order to free his brothers and sisters. Éric Berrut emphasizes that this is not a reversal of “the order,” but rather a reorganization of it, so that Oranos (Uranus), the celestial radiance, may bring divine inspiration.

Here we have several elements coming together:

• inheritance (very important for Leo);
• lineage;
• pride;
• fire;
• the established order.

In the current situation in which we find ourselves, the heavens remind us of this: with the solar eclipse in the same sign (Leo) as the South Node, everything is on fire and in flames, in France and elsewhere. A solar eclipse occurring in the same sign two years in a row, with the eclipse and the South Node each time in the same sign, refers to the myth of Phaethon, but also to the reign of Saturn and to the involvement of Jupiter and Prometheus in the questioning of authority.

It seems to be asking us not to set everything on fire.

Who is Phaethon?¹

Christopher Reinstrom and Wikipedia

Phaethon (also spelled Phaethon) is the son of the Oceanid Clymene and the Sun god, Helios (Apollo), in Greek mythology.

The story of Phaethon is interesting because it tells how the child is mistreated by his schoolmates, who do not believe that he is the son of the solar god. He then asks his mother to have his father allow him to prove his lineage.

Which his mother does. His father invites him to come and see him. He offers his son the opportunity to ask for whatever he wants, because he is aware of his absence from the household and of the difficulties this creates for the child’s legitimacy.

The fearless child asks his father to be allowed to perform his work for one day, that is, to drive his celestial chariot.

His father tries to dissuade him, because driving the chariot requires strength and dexterity, and will have an impact on both Earth and heaven.

The son replies: “But you promised to grant my request, and that is what I want.”

The son drives the chariot for one day. On that day, the Sun disappears, bringing a freezing cold, and then reappears, scorching the Earth.

The many fires that ravaged nature just before the eclipse – in France and around the world –, as well as the excessive heat, make me think of the fearless and proud journey of this young man.

Yet this also sheds light on the pain of exclusion felt by the child, this “fatherless” child, or rather, one with an absent father. And this leads us back to Chiron, who has just entered Taurus and is undergoing his own Chiron return, corresponding to its discovery date, October 18, 1977, at 3° Taurus.

Chiron is the traveler between Saturn and Uranus. His entry into Taurus, as well as his return to his natal position, reminds us that our orientation should be toward a Saturn that transforms itself and integrates Uranian radiance and inspiration, rather than rejecting them out of pride.

Phaethon, through his “irresponsible” and uncontrolled driving, brings all kinds of disturbances. Saturn, which refuses to include Uranian radiance – as it should do in Aquarius – scorches the Earth through its pride.

In this respect, his myth echoes the questioning of Saturn: “It is not Saturn who must be fought, but the predatory aspect of Cronos and his claim to rule the world.”

In a way, the two myths converge in their expression of pride and make us reflect on the year ahead.

The mood (the Moon), created by its resentments, creates discord and risks calling ALL authority into question, whereas discernment would be needed in order to challenge the predatory aspect.

It seems that, in Hellenistic astrology, an eclipse chart that returns the following year in the same sign, conjunct the nodes, refers to a year in which the Sun gives way to the Moon (especially at present, with the Sun in Leo).

A year in which emotion dominates, amplified by Jupiter, where reason can no longer drive the chariot…

At next year’s eclipse, the nodal axis will be at 11° Leo, and the eclipse at 9° Leo. In Paris, we would have a Libra Ascendant, with Mars and Neptune conjunct on the Descendant in Aries.

The Libra–Aries axis reminds us of Chiron’s discovery chart and its return next year. Its return to 3° Taurus takes place between June 2027 and April 2028.

Still within Hellenistic astrology: “The king is dead, long live the king” corresponds to this story of the eclipse in Leo. It calls authority into question, or should we say the abuse of authority, and the fall of certain “reference figures,” figures who once held authority but who are losing their halo?

Milja Willems
Professional Astrologer – Mediator in Social Conflicts – Life Coach

+33 6 83 81 94 27
milja@lavojodelakoro.net

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