Depending on what system of reckoning is used, Saturday is the sixth or seventh day of the week. The day is named after the god Saturn. Although Saturn came to be identified with the Greek god Cronus, he has certain qualities of his own that do not fit the story of the Greek god of time who devoured his children. Originally Saturn was an agricultural god who ruled over the sowing of seeds. He ruled the earth in the distant past, and his reign was regarded as a golden age of prosperity. To relive that time of joy, the Romans would celebrate the Saturnalia, a seven-day festival in honor of Saturn that began on December 17. During this holiday, the social order was inverted. Slaves were allowed to talk back to their masters, everyone wore casual clothing instead of togas, and time was spent in feasting and drinking instead of working. In a way, ironically enough, modern Americans celebrate a weekly mini-Saturnalia each weekend. In general, Saturn teaches us the importance of breaking routines. Magical power is unleashed when we break patterns and do things in an opposite way from our normal life. Spend this, and part of every weekend, doing things that you normally would never think to do. |
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