Mars
image credit:
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Plate 14 starts with an image of Mars in a chariot. The wheels of the chariot have the symbols of Aries and Scorpio, both signs of Mars and both traveling in the same direction (so the Centers and the Vortices for Mars are brought into alignment). The sign of Scorpio is partially hidden behind clouds (clouds being Water transformed to Air).
The text describes the Plate:
Thirdly: The Heat causes earthly things to be penetrated by Spiritual Force.
In other words, the fixed is becoming volatile.
The birds in the flask have been transformed, united into one (though each head faces a different direction, indicating disharmony and internal conflict). The rest of the plate also displays conflict: hunting, warring, pillaging. Transformation is a battle, and alchemy is the arms of the art.
Psyche’s third task was to collect fleece from the Golden Sheep. The Golden Sheep were vicious and venomous. Again Psyche despaired and again Psyche received assistance. A river sprite advised Psyche to wait until the sheep were resting and she could gather fleece that had gathered on nearby brambles. Psyche was successful, not because someone else (the ants or the eagle) did the task for her, but because she perceived the advice that was provided. Psyche is developing her intuition.
The ancient Greek word melos means both apple and sheep, so meloi khryseoi can be translated as either “Golden Apples” (of the Hesperides) or “Golden Sheep”. The Golden Apple represented Herakles’ initiation; the Golden Sheep represents Psyche’s initiation.