The Sumerians Numbered Their Gods:
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- Anu (Earth) – 1
- EA/Enki (Saturn) – 60
- Sin (Moon) – 30
- Enlil ( Jupiter) – 50
- Shamash (Sun) – 20
- Ishtar (Venus – 15 or 8
- Nabu (Mercury) – 40
- Nergal (Mars) – 14
Nergal or Mars was 14. If you read my post on the Math of Mars, you will know that Mars makes 14 conjunctions with the Sun in its 32-year cycle. Five of those are with Venus. So far, the Sumerian texts have no explanation for numbering Mars 14, but it seems likely that it has to do with this cycle.
The Sumerian/Babylonian system was based on a mathematical sextesimal 60-base system. It’s a system we still use today in angles, measurements, clocks, time, the circle, etc. While all the numbers of the other Gods can fit into that sextesimal system, Nergal does not – that is why they called him strange and a liar. However, if you read my last post on the Math, you will have discovered that Mars finds its way to making a pattern with Venus. It’s within that pattern that we find the sacred path for Mars into the Divine Masculine.
It is this pattern that we are now entering with Mars, Venus, and the Sun forming a stellium/conjunct this week in Capricorn. If you missed that post, here it is:
Binary Star AstrologyThe Mars Venus Sun Conjunction Cycle
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December 31, 2025
I said I would share the math, myth and magic of Mars. This post is about the math. There is a beauty in math. Math creates patterns, sacred geometries, harmonics, odd synchronicities and mysteries beyond our understanding. But when the math ain’t mathing, we lose all of it! We can’t find our way to the sacred and divine…
Having established that 14 is related to Mars, we can look at the myths across the world; the appearance of 14 tells us it’s a story about Mars. In what myths and beliefs does fourteen show up? I’ll cover three: Negral and Erishgagal, Isis and Osiris, and the 14 Stations of the Cross of Jesus.
Negral and Erishkigal
In the story of Nergal and Ereshkigal, recorded in the oldest Sumerian version of the myth recorded on the Tel Amarna tablet (Tel Amarna is in Egypt), Nergal is told he can take 7 and 7 observers with him on his journey to the underworld to see Ereshkigal. They are named, and they add up to 14.
“She will see m[e
45 she will not let me live.” “[You’?] should not have fealr”
46 I will give you 7 and 7 obsejrvers”
47 with you to go: [ON, ON, ON, Mutt abriqa,]
48 Sarrabda, [Rabisa, Tirid, Idiptu ,]
49 Ben[na, Sidana, Miqit , Bel’uri.]
50 Umma, [Liba
51 with you
We find in this myth the story of Mars’s conjunction with Venus and the Sun (behind the Sun is the underworld where planets are not seen). The first descent describes Mars’s conjunction with Venus at inferior conjunction when she is retrograde. The story goes like this. Mars is at a banquet. Ereshkigal, who lives in the underworld, is not allowed to come to the banquet, but she wants to. She sends her messenger to ask. The answer is no. While she is not allowed to attend the banquet, she is still respected, and when her messenger arrives, all of the gods stand out of respect. All except Nergal. Ereshkigal gets a report that he has been a bit of a dick, and she summons him to the underworld. Nergal thinks he can go down there unharmed. He is warned not to go, but if he does, he is warned not to do a number of things. They include not to sit, not to eat and not to lie (have sex with her). He goes down into the underworld, and he brings his 14 observers. As they reach each of the seven gates, he kicks them down. And when he reaches the underworld, he can resist sitting. He also resists the food, but he succumbs to her sexual power and has sex with her. They spend 6 days in bed, and on the last day, Ereshkigal wakes to find she has been ghosted! She is in tears and enraged, and she appeals to the gods. He has broken the law, and he must return. In the first descent, we see the arrogance and the hubris of Mars. The gods tell Nergal he must return. When he does, he, like Innana when she goes into the underworld, has to relinquish something at each gate. The second time he returns, he does just that. And when he arrives is still Mars-like. He still has his masculine edge, but she appeals to him, and he realizes that he wants to be with her1. Mars finds his lessons in love through his underworld experience of her. On the second descent, he is now with Venus at Superior Conjunction, who is in her power.
This is the Rose Cycle of Mars and Venus, and it depicts the growth of both Mars and Venus through their relationship in the underworld.
Isis and Osiris
In Egypt, the Myth of Isis and Osiris also contains the number 14. Osiris is cut into 14 pieces by his brother Set. Isis finds all of the pieces and puts him back together (re-membering him), and because she cannot find his penis, she fashions one for him using her magic. Long story short, not only is this penis used to birth Horus, but “led by his dick” (excuse my pun) becomes controlled by the magic and heart of Venus. In fact, Isis and Osiris become the archetypal power couple of Ancient Egypt. Their sacred marriage becomes one for others to imitate. Their story focuses on the Mars, Venus and Sun conjunctions that happen at Superior Conjunction, when Venus is Isis. Osiris also has an encounter with Venus Retrograde, which is the one with Nephthys, but that’s a story I won’t cover here.
And then there is Jesus…. Not considered a myth, but rather a belief, it still contains the number 14.
We are living through a rare cosmic configuration:
the Mars–Venus–Sun stellium in Capricorn, a convergence that only occurs about five times in 32 years.
This is an astrological signature of a sacred power couple emerging within — where authority aligns with devotion, and force is shaped by love.
The Mars Rose Initation
Sacred Marriage of Will & Heart
7pm CET │ 1pm EST │ 11am CDT │ 10am PDT
We have countless stories and myths that tell us about how the feminine initiates the masculine into heart-awakening.
- Ereshgigal initiates Nergal through erotic and devotional union into consciousness of his sacred responsibility
- Isis, with her unconditional love for Osiris, who set him back together again when he was fractured into 14 pieces.
- Nefertari, not only as queen, but initiated high priestess, who stood behind Ramses II and powered his heart, so he would rule with grace, responsibility and justice.
We all have this masculine and feminine within us; this masterclass is not necessarily about external relationships. It will help you to step into thier alignment using the current Capricorn energy:
- Confront the difference between impulse and responsibility by aligning Mars (drive), Venus (values), and the Sun (conscious clarity)
- Examine where control, avoidance, or attachment replace true choice guided by the heart — and learn how to meet those patterns without bypassing or domination
- Step into embodied authentic authority as a practice, not a performance: the capacity to hold pressure, make decisions, and remain accountable to yourself
- Enter energetic sovereignty — not as comfort or status, but as the willingness to carry responsibility and act with integrity when it would be easier not to.
* Booking is through the Soulwisdom.com website.
14 Stations of the Cross
Jesus is also associated with the number 14. Here, it has to be said that this is not biblical, but rather Catholic. In the Catholic Church, there are the 14 Stations of the Cross. We are given a hint that it is connected to the Mars and Venus story, because five of those 14 stations are with women. Veronica, Mary, his mother, Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, women and children all feature in those five stations. I can’t prove that this was the intention of the Catholic church, but to me, this is the story of the Mars/Venus/Sun conjunction hidden in plain sight! And for anyone interested in Esoteric Christianity, especially the version where Jesus is partnered with Mary Magdalene, this helps to solidify that view.
These myths are about Mars and Venus in the underworld (conjunct the Sun). This cycle helps us find a way of the will, through our heart, to our being. It’s one that only comes every 6.4 years. What we do at this time sets up this cycle for the next 6.4 years.
Next…. the Magic!
Astrology Shapes Your 2026 Travel Initiations
The Episode is now available on Gnostic TV
It should be noted that the oldest myths are kinder to women. The goddess is empowered, and even in her disempowered states (connected to Venus retrograde), she is respected. As we move forward in time, the stories of Mars and Venus, even in Babylonian times, degenerate and disempower the Venus goddess character with violence and rape; A sign of our descent into the dark age of time.