STAR-Struck...

My ‘love-affair’, with Orion, began in junior-high, when I was, first, introduced to the science of astronomy. I recall, sitting in the, artificial- darkness, lights off and shades drawn tight, in order to allow for us to view the constellations, spinning across the ceiling of my 6th grade classroom; Here comes Jupiter…there goes Mars. At the time, I couldn’t have explained to you the, immediate, attraction, between me and the ‘Ancient- Warrior;’ perhaps, it was something about that sword! But, from that, very, first, encounter…I was hooked. Since that day, oh, so, many, years ago, I look for him in the night sky, whenever the stars burn bright. Highly visible, to me, during the, Winter months, most, especially in January, at, approximately 9:00PM, when Orion’s Belt is, approximately, around the local meridian, I am drawn to him, evermore. Orion’s Belt or, The Belt of Orion, is an asterism, a pattern of stars, recognized in the night-sky, within the constellation, Orion. It consists of three, bright, stars: Zeta(Alnitak), Epsilon(Alnilam), and, Delta(Mintaka). When seeking the constellation, it is, easiest, spotted by looking for these, three, shining-stars. My curiosity, as to my affinity toward this grouping of stars, has increased, over the years; finally, enough that I did a bit of research, from a mythological-perspective. What I discovered was interesting, to say the least. I am a Scorpio, and, essentially, quite, true, to my natural-state. As such, I can ‘sting’ when am called upon to do so; yet, I try to refrain from such behavior, as much as possible. Although, the draw that I have felt, toward the Greek, ‘Hunter’, has never, felt, anything, close to confrontation, imagine my surprise to discover this: According to a myth, in Greek Mythology, Orion, once, boasted to goddess, Artemis and her mother, Leto, that he would kill every animal on the earth. Although, Artemis was known to be a hunter, herself, she offered protection to all creatures. Artemis and Leto sent a scorpion, to deal with Orion, and, they battled. Imagine my horror at discovering that the scorpion killed Orion, as there isn’t a ‘bone in my body’ capable of any, such, act. Well, things didn’t turn out so bad for Orion, after all, it seems; as, Zeus, entertained by the embroiled and lively, battle, between the Hunter and the predatory arthropod, later raised up the Warrior to the Heavens, as he had, earlier, the scorpion, at the request of Artemis. Now, they grace the night-sky, as a reminder for mortals to cease in their, excessive-pride. And, so, every, winter, Orion hunts in the sky, but, every summer, he flees, as the constellation, of the scorpion, Scorpius, comes around. There are any, number, of variations, to this, same, myth, with, each, ending similarly. It seems that, even, though, pitted against one another in battle, with the scorpion being the victor, in their great-fight, the final analysis has them on a level-playing ground…sorta. They, each, reside over their own fraction of the firmament, and, will, til day’s end; and, I imagine, each, sharing a ‘healthy-respect’ for the other. I must, admit that, upon reading these, myths, I was a, bit, disappointed, at first; for, I have, always, felt a positive draw to the constellation. To learn the ‘truth’, that Orion and I had been at odds, was a bit, alarming, to say the least. Then, the more I thought this over, the realization struck. He and I were no longer enemies…but, equals, hence, the ‘connection’; we are ‘kindred-spirits’, after all. Thus, the story ends well, and, my curiosity, with respect to this ‘attraction’, sated. Just Sayin'...