by Humans have found reasons for centuries to look to the sky for direction and answers to life. The harsh reality of winter survival during primitive times would make ancient man search the natural surroundings for comfort in answers to the unexplained… and many looked up into the sky for the answers. At this time of the year, the star cluster called The Pleiades would have been looked upon regularly to give a basis in comfort myths. The Pleiades cluster has been celebrated, worshiped and used as a cosmological calendar pin drop for hundreds of thousands of years to give direction and creation to allegorical life lessons.
Around the world for hundreds of thousands of years humans have tracked the movement of the sun, the cycles of the moon and the rotation of calendar-like star constellations like The Pleiades; and astonishingly inspiring similar stories despite spanning millennia, continents and vast cultural differences.
There are archeological sites that have been proven to mirror The Pleiades star cluster and supported evidence to these cultural myths and oral traditions, stretching across the globe and before any sort of common written word. The cluster has been depicted on the ancient disk of Nebra, the oldest written representation of the night sky that has come down to us, dating back at least to 1600 BC, highlighting the importance of the seven Pleiades to cultures once writing did become a common form of historical documentation.
- Formoso, Brazil: is a 5000+ yr old ancient stilt village with a unique layout and pottery suggesting it served as a ritual center for astronomical knowledge, possibly mirroring the Pleiades. This would have been a dry time of the year in the southern hemisphere , and historians believe a time to repair the village and come together as a community. It was also the time of year they would hold rites of passage ceremonies. Many possibly traveling great distances to this site for business or to visit loved ones. The star cluster showing it’s self prominently in the sky calendar was thought to be interpreted as a beehive, a honeycomb, a valuable trade good, and even a bundle of fire sticks for clearing the fields. (image: science direct .com)
- Hill of Tara & Dowth, Ireland: A 3000+ yr old ancient site of great cosmological significance that shows celestial alignments with the Pleiades (but strongly linked to Bealtaine time, spring of year and the myth of the seven cows) (image: K51 at Dowth. Also known as the Stone of the Seven Suns Clare T)
- Stone Circles across Uk (especially Arbor Low, UK):Many Neolithic stone circles across Europe, like Arbor Low, were built to be cosmologically aligned to the sky and to solstices and equinoxes, often correlating with the rising or setting of key stars or constellations, including the Pleiades. (image: stone-circles. org .uk)
- Ancient Greek & Roman Sites: many sites across these two ancient empires show connections to celestial events, with specific locations like the Hayling Island Roman site having calendrical significance to The Pleiades, as well as some historians proving the seven hills of Rome reflect the seven Pleiades in the sky. (image: Felice Vinci)
Most commonly the tradition of star gazing at the The Seven Sisters aka The Pleiades star cluster took place at the time of the “new year”, during winter. Looking for the seven sisters/stars escaping Orion (the constellation with the “belt”) The stories/myths retold was to signify the start of escaping winter and marking the turn in the seasons when humans could begin again to think of the bountiful seasons ahead and new hope of abundance (both in the field with crops and with one another for future additions to the clan)
HOW TO FIND THE PLEIADES ON NEW YEARS NIGHT:
The Pleiades , are known a 7-star cluster but often we can barely spot 6 of them (and actually it’s a cluster 410 million light years away made up of 1000s of stars) For our earthbound eyes they can be seen within the constellation of Taurus, which are most prominent in the night sky at this time of year, near the moon. And on bright moon nights like this year you will need to block the moon light with your hand.
You can find The Pleiades by identifying the constellation of Orion the Hunter with its distinct ‘belt’ of three stars. Follow the line formed by the belt upwards until you come across a bright reddish star called Aldebaran. Aldebaran is the eye of the bull in Taurus, and its name comes from the Arabic word for ‘follower’ – as this star typically follows the Pleiades across the sky. From Aldebaran, continue in the same direction until you see a compact group of blue stars, and you’ve found the Pleiades cluster.
In ancient times on a cold clear night, the sky would serve as a calendar to mark moments , predict future work schedules , all while inspiring stories and providing comfort to the natural worlds unexplainable.
And remarkably over tens of thousands of years somehow man saw these stars and created similar myths across the globe.
These seven stars have been called The Seven Sisters in many cultures, though most often only 6 are visible leading to myth stories of The lost sister of Pleiades. According to Astronomical math , 100,000 years ago the cluster would have been more spread apart and possibly closer to earth with all seven stars very easily seen in the night sky
Stories about them are found in ancient European, African, Asian, Indonesian, Native American and Aboriginal Australian cultures. Many cultures regard the cluster as having seven stars, but acknowledge only six are normally visible, and then have a story to explain why the seventh is invisible.
Greek myth:
In Greek myth the Pleiades were said to be daughters of the titan Atlas and the sea nymph Pleione. Each of the seven prominent stars has its own name: Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, and Taygete. Two further bright stars in the cluster are named after Atlas and Pleione. The myth says that after Atlas was cursed by Zeus to hold up the heavens forever, the sisters began to be pursued by Orion the Hunter. In order to protect them from Orion, Zeus turned them into doves, and then stars.
North America:
The Cherokee culture of North America believe their souls originate from this cluster and that their spiritual essence returns there after death. Also in many versions of the Cherokee creation stories, seven boys danced so fervently that they ascended into the sky, becoming the Pleiades
Australia:
In many Australian Aboriginal cultures, the Pleiades are a group of young girls, often associated with sacred women’s ceremonies and stories. The Pleiades are also important as an element of Aboriginal calendars and astronomy and for several groups their first rising at dawn marks the start of winter.
Africa:
Africa may be the origin of this ancient myth going back possibly 1000s of years even before the Greeks and Bronze Age. In African, the Pleiades (called Isilimela in Xhosa, “digging stars,” or Tagemmunt by Berbers, “the group”) aren’t just representing sisters, but were a celestial calendar marker for a crucial season of agricultural work and cultural rites of passage in Xhosa tradition. Signaling planting time, new life, and also manhood initiation & fertility opportunities. The seven stars were often seen as celestial girls being chased by a hunter (the Orion constellation) The Khoikhoi tribe called them “rain stars,” while the Tswana people saw them as dogs chasing pigs, reflecting their practical use in farming and timekeeping across diverse cultures.
Japan:
The Pleiades are called Subaru in Japan, translating “to unite” or “gather together.” Subaru and the sign of the stars in the sky during this time of year gave a focus of harmony, mutual support, and resilience throughout the communities. With a base belief that because of unity and family, individual lights shine brightest when connected to others. A community synergy of support and a shared path, each individual but connected to better light the way through.
In new age spiritualism:
A Pleiadian Starseed is a concept in New Age spirituality describing a soul believed to originate from the Pleiades star system (the “Seven Sisters”) who incarnates on Earth with a mission to help humanity spiritually evolve, often feeling a deep longing for home and possessing heightened empathy, intuition, and a desire to heal and uplift others, bringing love and wisdom from their advanced, multidimensional civilization… often feeling like they are not of earth
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So tonight, on the first night of the New Year, go look for The Pleiades – The Seven Sisters of the ancient sky calendar and reflect on all those who looked at the same inspiring wonderful sky over thousands of years and look for your own direction for the new year ahead.
