The Eight and the Twelve

The whole emphasis in the astrology of the Voynich manuscript is on the fixed stars and the Sun and Moon as chronometers. It is strongly calendrical. I discussed this in a previous post here. By simple observation of the diagrams and illustrations presented in the work we can say some a few things about this...

First, it is apparent that, in this system, the Moon is masculine and the Sun is feminine. This is not typical in mainstream Western cosmologies but is typical of older systems and certain mythological environments. There is much to be said about this, but I will leave it for another post. It is remarkable and revealing, though.

Second, there are many instances of an eightfold division of the year. This is very conspicuous and characteristic of the work. We find cosmological circles divided into eight sections. Clearly, the Voynich contains a calendar in which the year is divided into eight. This again is not typical of mainstream Western systems but is typical of some older orders (and notably those that also have a female Sun and a male Moon.) I have previously touched upon the eightfold year in the Voynich here.

There are, however, other systems besides the eightfold divisions, including, most obviously, the division of the circle into twelve - the zodiac. There is an entire section devoted to the zodiac. There we find the maths: 12 x 30 = 360. This is the maths that concerns the fixed stars:

The twelvefold division of the year and the eightfold division do not correspond exactly, however. The eightfold divisions are of 45 deg. and so four zodiac signs are bisected if we try to reconcile the twelve with the eight. This seems to be a central problem addressed in these diagrams. The soli-lunar nature of the work seems directed to this problem. The twelvefold series is masculine/lunar and the eightfold series is feminine/solar. 

Of particular interest in this regard is the diagram depicted on page f67r2. The page stands out as being the only page with script and illustrations in red ink. Here we find a series of twelve moons, but in the centre is an eightpointed star. This diagram seems to be especially concerned with reconciling the eight with the twelve.

This, I think, is the crux of the calendrical aspects of the work. There are complexities and mysteries, but the basic cosmological structures of the work are clear and concern the eight and the twelve - and the numbers and divisions that follow from them.

R. B.