Breaking Andromeda's Chain
The Alternative Story of Anadoremeda
Andromeda Galaxy
Aboard the Celestia, our trusted spacecraft, we embark on a magnificent journey through the cosmos. With a gentle hum, the walls of our vessel shift to transparency, revealing a breathtaking window to the universe. Through it, we gaze upon the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), the closest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way and the brightest galaxy visible to the naked eye. As we glide through the vast expanse, we approach the Andromeda Constellation, a dazzling sight in the northern sky. Named after the mythological princess, daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, Andromeda's tale unfolds before us. Chained to a rock as a sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus, her story lingers in the stars around her. As we continue, we pass neighboring constellations—Perseus, whose heroism saved Andromeda, and Pegasus, Triangulum, and Aries, each contributing to the cosmic narrative. This journey is not merely a visual delight but a connection between ancient myths and the scientific marvels that expand our understanding of the universe.
Jaffa
Our ship, Celestia, hurtles through the cosmic expanse, the hum of its engines reverberating beneath us as we race back toward Earth, passing stars, nebulae, and galaxies in the blink of an eye. Then, like a jewel against the backdrop of space, we see it: Jaffa—the ancient city of myth, now part of modern-day Tel Aviv. Bathed in the soft glow of Earth’s atmosphere, Jaffa carries profound connections to Andromeda's tale. Ancient accounts claim the rock where Andromeda was bound lies off the coast of this city—where the sea meets the land, bringing the myth to life in a very tangible way. The deep blue sea, ruled by Cetus, the sea monster, reflects the vastness and mystery Andromeda faced in the stars.
Jaffa was once a thriving maritime hub, a city of passage between cultures. Its historical significance goes beyond trade, touching on the divine and the mythical. After the flood, Noah is said to have settled here, marking it as a liminal space between survival and destruction. Some versions of the story claim that Noah and his family disembarked from the ark nearby ancient Jaffa, or Joppa as it was once known, suggesting that this city witnessed humanity’s rebirth, much like the cosmic cycle of death and transformation.
The Divine Intersection
As we approach Jaffa, it becomes clear that this city represents more than a point in space and time; it is a place where the divine and human realms intersect. Below, we witness the devastation of nearby Gaza, a stark reminder of the ever-present struggle between destruction and creation. Andromeda's story is not merely one of captivity, but a journey through the metaphysical realms—a threshold between fate and salvation. The city itself stands as a living embodiment of transformation, mirroring Andromeda’s own crossing from victimhood to agency.
Breaking the Chains
The myth of Andromeda is one of a "damsel in distress," bound by chains symbolizing captivity. "Andromeda" (Ἀνδρομέδα) is typically broken down into "aner" (ἀνήρ), meaning "man," and "medomai" (μέδομαι), which can be interpreted as "to think" or "to plan"
As we witness mankind’s destructive mindset, we are left to ponder: what drives madness and insanity in the thoughts and plans of man?
The serpent in her myth, traditionally seen as a destructive force, threatens to fulfil what seems a fate outside of her control. But what if humans could see that the will of the divine is not sacrifice or destruction?
In ancient teachings, the concept of a “chain of being” represents the connection between the divine and material world, with each link signifying a step in spiritual purification. Perhaps breaking Andromeda’s chains could be a part of a larger spiritual ascent—a process leading her to empowerment rather than subjugation. Could this myth which has perpetuated the female-victim / male-rescuer trope be re-magined? Could breaking the chains symbolize renewal, wisdom, and transformation, guiding her toward self-realization?
A Debate on Divine Intervention
We aboard the Celestia are left to wonder: should we allow the natural course of events to unfold, as fate itself continues to shape the destinies of those caught in the chaos?
Aboard our spaceship Celestia, we observe the tragedy unfolding below. Our Prime Directive, which prohibits interference with natural civilizations, binds us. Yet, the devastation below raises a question: should we break the Directive to prevent catastrophe, or allow fate to unfold?
While we hover above, we assess the situation, the crew asks if they may intervene, challenging the core of our mission. In our debate, we turn to our ships logs and the ancient human myths to try to understand the mindset of humanity.
Many myths and fairytales follow the trope of a female victim rescued by a male hero. In European folklore, Rapunzel is locked in a tower until a prince finds her, while Sleeping Beauty remains cursed in an enchanted sleep until awakened by a prince’s kiss. Snow White is similarly revived after being poisoned by an evil queen. Cinderella is rescued from a life of servitude when a prince recognizes her true identity, and in Little Red Riding Hood, a huntsman saves the girl from the wolf. Some variations of Melusine also involve a mortal man 'rescuing' or attempting to control the fate of the fairy-like woman.
Greek and Roman mythology offer numerous examples, Orpheus attempts to rescue Eurydice from the Underworld, while Ariadne aids Theseus in escaping the Minotaur’s labyrinth, only to be abandoned by him. The story of Psyche and Eros follows Psyche undergoing trials before Eros ultimately rescues her.
The stories of Iphigenia and Adromeda center on sacrifice. Andromeda's ordeal stems from vanity and desperation, while her rescue by Perseus reinforces the classic male-hero myth, perpetuated through countless retellings of the female victim scenario.
Similarly, Iphigenia's sacrifice is prompted by Agamemnon's belief in divine wrath, this belief also stems from a misinterpretation of Artemis' will. Agamemnon, thinking that the goddess requires a sacrifice to end the storm and allow him to reach Troy, misunderstands her intentions. Artemis would never desire such sacrifice or destruction. Instead, her intervention reveals the true nature of divine favor—one that does not require sacrifice, but offers mercy and restraint. Artemis rescues Iphigenia, replacing her with a deer, and takes her to the temple, where she is destined to serve, illustrating that wisdom is the true path to divine favor.
The Greater Battle Between Chaos and Order
We are also reminded of the great celestial battle between the Archangel Michael and the dragon—an even greater cosmic struggle mirrored in the myth of Perseus and Andromeda. In the heavenly battle, Michael confronts the forces of chaos, restoring balance to the cosmos. The dragon, a symbol of chaos and destruction, is defeated, reaffirming Michael’s role as protector of order.
We also face a cosmic question: can we confront the chaos below through wisdom and divine intervention, or must we allow the natural course of events to unfold? The key to victory, whether in the stars or on Earth, may lie not in force, but in understanding, restraint, and the courage to challenge chaos with divine intervention.
Perelandra
Our debate among the fleet’s counsel continued on. The captain of the Celestia once again combed through our ship’s logs, seeking other human stories to understand what else lies deeply imbeded in human consciousness. Then we find an alternative narrative, C.S. Lewis’s Perelandra. This story shares thematic parallels, a woman in peril, the role of a savior, and a transformation through divine or cosmic forces. This story that can be seen as echoing the Andromeda myth, offering a more introspective perspective. It challenges traditional notions of heroism and redefines the act of 'saving' in an entirely new light.
This story reimagines the Eden story on a new, unfallen world where the first woman, the Queen, is tested by a tempter much like Eve in Genesis. Unlike Eve, however, she resists deception and chooses self-restraint, preventing a second Fall.
This retelling offers an alternative to myths where women are passive victims. Instead, In Perelandra, the Queen faces danger not from a physical monster but from a corrupting ideology, and her salvation comes not from an external hero but from her own discernment. The protagonist, Ransom, does play a protective role—but rather than imposing his will through force, he supports the Queen’s ability to recognize truth for herself. This shift reflects a deeper theme: divine will is about understanding and wisdom.
C.S. Lewis’s Perelandra offers a fascinating reimagining of myth, shifting the focus from a passive damsel-in-distress to a woman engaged in a profound existential trial. The Green Lady of Venus faces a test imposed upon her by external forces—in this case, a deceptive and insidious tempter. Her world is one of harmony and divine guidance, yet she is confronted with the same fundamental question that underlies many sacrificial myths: does obedience to divine will mean surrendering to suffering, or does true understanding lie in resisting the false narratives imposed by others? Perelandra suggests that the Green Lady’s trial is not about submission to suffering but about discerning the truth behind the test itself.
Unlike Perseus, who slays the monster and claims Andromeda, Perelandra’s protagonist, Ransom, is no triumphant warrior but a reluctant savior who grapples with doubt and exhaustion. His struggle against the possessed Weston mirrors Perseus’s battle, but the real fight is not just physical—it is a war of ideas, a challenge to the assumption that destruction or violence is the only path to resolution. In both stories, the question of sacrifice looms large: does the divine demand suffering, or do mortals impose their own flawed understanding onto the will of the gods?
Decision of Celeste Crew to Guide the Sovereign Queen
Earth’s rescue is not just an external event—it is part of her own spiritual ascent. Our role, then, is not to ‘save’, but to act as a catalyst for her final emergence as a queen—one who has undergone the trials and emerges with a new sense of power and purpose. The destructive force of the sea monster, is the final obstacle she must overcome to reach her true potential.
Thus, Earth’s story, becomes a story not of passive victimhood, but of spiritual empowerment, growth, and the eventual realization of her own divine power. In the end, Earth is not just to be rescued but transformed.
The decision among the ship’s fleet counsel has been made, we will only intervene to assist in spiritual growth and empowerment. As we review Earth’s records, we discover that the true nature of the story has been distorted. The name "Andromeda" is derived from an ancient interpretation, but her true name from Linear B was the script used by the Mycenaean civilization (around 1450–1200 BCE) and was primarily used for writing an early form of Greek. The transliteration is —Ana do-ro-me-da. This sheds a different light.
Ana might represent a prefix signifying something like "again" or "renewal," or it could be linked to the concept of "grace" in some interpretations.
Do-ro could connect to the idea of giving or bestowing, derived from the Greek word dorea (δώρημα), meaning "gift."
Me-da might still draw from the root medea or medea, interpreted as "ruler," “counsel,” "mind," or even "measure."
Now we have revealed the true sea monster— the false imposed narrative which has caused this distorted mindset and limited thinking resulting in so much suffering. Who can say how many other ancient human mythologies have also been distorted?
Metaphysical Chains
The captain of Celestia turns to his crew and proclaims: “It is programming that makes them feel ‘less than,’ once they realize and accept that, the battle with chaos is over.”
Anadoromeda's chains, are a metaphysical binding, representing the challenges and limitations that all must face on their path to enlightenment. The gift and grace of a measured mind can be found in breaking through the limited mindset of the past and breaking through the programming. The idea of spiritual ascent involves breaking through various levels or layers of existence. Anadoromeda's chains could symbolize the veils of ignorance or the constraints of material reality that bind her to the earth, preventing her from realizing her full divine potential.
The myth of Anadoromeda, when viewed through the lens of the vast cosmos, invites us to consider not only our personal journey but also the broader, cosmic design in which we each play a part. A name shared with a galaxy, a vast, spiraling system of stars and worlds. Her chains, in this context, are not just her own—they are the chains of interconnectedness of all beings. And yet, her re-imagined story also offers the hope that the chains of limiting beliefs can be broken, that through struggle, wisdom, and grace, one can transcend the limitations of the material world and ascend to a higher state of being.
Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis, Project Gutenberg
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