CHAPTER 2: SUN – KISSED SHADOWS
The Moon, still reeling from her emotional outburst and Mercury’s cunning mischief, sought solace in the warmth of her chambers where she found the Sun standing, his radiant presence suddenly making her sanctuary feel invaded.
Her surprise swiftly turned to irritation, and she unleashed a fiery rant.
“You show up whenever you please, but never when I need you!” she exclaimed. “You abandon me in my darkness, leaving me to face the whims of Uranus and the trickery of Mercury alone! You leave me vulnerable to their celestial machinations.”
“Is that so?” he responds with a hint of sarcasm. “You would know better if you were more attuned to the times that I would come around today. But your ignorance is understandable seeing you refuse to honor my father, Saturn, the keeper of the rhythms?”
The Moon’s anger flared, her surface crackling with energy.
“Saturn?” she spat. “Ha! You dare mention him to me? He who bound me to this eternal cycle, never allowing me to rest? He who dictates my every phase?”
The Sun gave a sardonic smile.
“You reject the very fabric of our celestial order,” he said. “It’s little wonder you’re lost in your own phases.”
The Moon’s defense was swift and sharp. “Is it my fault Father Saturn opposes me? He stays in Capricorn, knowing I’m a Cancerian. He refuses to understand me!”
“You must bend to Saturn’s ways, Moon,” the Sun said firmly. “We all must.”
The Moon’s laughter was mocking. “I’ll follow my mood, and mine only. And right now, it says I refuse to be dictated to.”
“Hope your mood allows us to make love tonight,” the Sun replied, “because it’s going to happen anyway.”
The Moon protests. “Why do you only visit me during my darkest phase? Why not when I’m ovulating and ready? So much for knowing the times, its a little wonder the skylings now bemoan your fall.”
Their lovemaking harmonized opposites like mythological tales of old. The Sun, the masculine principle, active and creative force. The Moon, the feminine, receptive and nurturing.
In this cosmic dance, the Sun’s rays illuminated the Moon’s darkness, while her beams softened his intense heat. His radiant fingers traced her luminous curves; her gentle beams soothed his fiery skin.
“What’s on your mind, my lunar love?” the Sun asked, the next morning. “Your thoughts are as vast as the ocean.”
The Moon replied, “I ponder the universe’s mysteries. Secrets hidden in cosmic shadows. The whispers of stars.”
The Sun wrapped his rays around her. “Tell me, Moon. What secrets do the stars whisper?”
“They speak of balance,” she whispered. “Harmony governing our celestial dance. Delicate balance between light and darkness.”
The Sun’s light pulsed. “And the shadows? What secrets do they hold?”
The Moon’s glow faltered. “Shadows hide fears, doubts, and unknowns. Do you ever worry our love will fade like the dawn, lost in the light of day behind the shadows?”
The Sun’s rays reassured. “Never, my love. Even in daylight, our love remains.”
The Moon’s frustration laced her voice. “Then you must do something about Uranus. He disrupts my harmony, undermines my authority. His antics make me feel like a fool.”
The Sun shared, “Give him a break. I hear he has woman troubles. His wife keeps straying.”
The Moon felt a pang, knowing Uranus’s wife, Earth Gaia is one of the Sun’s lovers. Torn between confronting the Sun and basking in their love, she whispered, “Let us not concern ourselves with Uranus’s troubles, my love.” But all day, the thoughts of the Earth, that terrestrial siren captivating the Sun’s heart caused jealousy and vulnerability to flutter within her.