Friday, May 8, 2009

Symbolism in the new Star Trek movie

Well I had a day off work yesterday, so I went and caught the new Star Trek movie. It was certainly entertaining, a little violent at some points but otherwise enjoyable.

Watch out ~ spoiler alert!

I noticed some interesting symbolism right from the get-go. The movie takes place in a slightly altered timeline from the original series, due to the arrival of a huge spacecraft from the future. George Kirk, father of James T. Kirk, is forced to assume command of a starship. His pregnant wife is on board, and she goes into labour as George, alone on the ship with everyone else evacuated, attacks the enemy vessel. He dies heroically, and his wife escapes - giving birth to the future James T. in the escape pod.

This reminded me of the many Sun King legends from pagan and Egyptian traditions. George can be seen as Osiris - the father who dies, and is reborn again in his son Horus, who goes on to be the new King (James Kirk of course going on to become the legendary captain of the Enterprise). George's wife is like the Mother Goddess, or Isis, who gives birth to the new Sun God ~ just as in pagan tradition, the summer Sun dies in winter and is reborn again from the earth in spring.

As the movie went on I realised another connection to occult symbolism, one which I explored in my last full-length post: that of the number 7. Kirk and his core crew, the main cast of the original series, are seven in number: Kirk the Sun King, Spock, Uhura (Venus), McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, and Chekhov. Its amazing how often groups of 7 turn up - as above so below, I guess. Also, its said that soul groups travel in groups of 7 throughout various incarnations.

Til next time

6 comments:

  1. Cool post - sounds like a good film too :P

    Wonder how many are intentionaly put in with refrence to the esoteric - it's hard to tell whether stories borrow from other films which had esoteric beliefs and didn't notice the pattern, or whether there is an underlying tradition.

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  2. Hi, Anthony! Just to drop you a line to say I hope that you are keeping well!

    Best, Nick.

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  3. Thanks Nick, as its winter here I find I've got a touch of the sniffles! Haven't been posting much lately, as I've been puzzling over the many "synchromystic" blogs I follow...

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  4. Hope you're feeling better, Anthony!

    Interesting take on the underlying symbolism... saw the movie, thoroughly enjoyed it even tho I struggled with the whole alternate timeline thing. (I watched Star Trek (TOS) when it was a first run primetime tv show - so I guess it's hard for me to let go of the original timeline!)

    I think perhaps the whole "7" thing is perhaps just part of our subconscious affinity for the lower prime numbers. Regardless of the origins of the symbolism, these prime numbers are a very powerful thread in nature and life - the trinity, the number of senses, even the typical number of leaves on most flowers and plants. In artistry, the mind finds pleasure and peace in primes, which is why groupings of 3 or 5 or 7 create a sense of positive energy.

    Patterns do tend to permeate, whether on a conscious or subconscious level... and whatever "hold" they may exert over us is only as important as we give credence and power to! I think I will probably always have this in the back of my mind now tho - thanks for the food for thought!

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  5. Thanks MysticWind, yes feeling better thank goodness!

    As someone who studies astrology, I am very tuned in to symbolism, number and patterns. Maybe too much at times ;) Nonetheless it is amazing how often numbers like 7 and 12 turn up in significant ways.

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  6. Whoever wrote the new movie knew his stuff. Spock/Vulcan/Hephastus gets with Uhura (shown to be very beautiful in the movie) who represents Aphrodite - Vulcan's wife. Spock gives the Jewish sign of benediction. Vulcan (Spock) is called Tubal-Cane in Freemasonry, connecting him to Judaism. Capt. Kirk's name comes from the word which means Church. I'm sure there's more, but I haven't looked into it yet. Kirk being born in an escape-pod might mimic the basket of reeds, or coffin of Osiris perhaps?

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