We've had great theories from u/katyaslonenko about the astrological significance of lions and the sign of Leo in existing and future Strike books. I just happened upon a mention in TB that makes me wonder if JKR plans to connect astrological references to Christian ones. I’m going to quote a couple lines before and after that mention to point out, in all fairness, that the context is an investigative blind alley that never comes up again and may not be a clue at all. It's quite possibly just a minor passage with irrelevant details that should have been cut from the overly-long book, or at least shortened. Here it is:
>Strike followed her through the open gates into a small garden of remembrance, open to the public and full (as Robin read off a small sign on the inner wall) of medicinal herbs, including many used in medieval times, in the Order of St. John’s hospitals. A white figure of Christ hung on the back wall, surrounded with the emblems of the four evangelists: the bull, the lion, the eagle and the angel. Fronds and leaves undulated gently beneath the rain. As Robin’s eyes swept the small, walled garden, Strike, who’d followed her, said,
>
>“I think we can agree that if somebody buried her in here, a cleric would have noticed disturbed earth.”
The emblems, each with its particular Christian meaning, correspond to St. Luke (the bull or ox), St. Mark (the lion), St. John (the eagle), and St. Matthew (the angel).
It turns out these Christian symbols “originate in the Babylonian symbols of the four fixed signs of the zodiac: the ox representing Taurus; the lion representing Leo; the eagle representing Scorpio; the man or angel representing Aquarius,” according to the internet.
The ox/bull, lion, eagle and angel are also associated with tarot cards, and Robin does a reading that includes the Prince of Cups riding an eagle.
I am tempted to dismiss this as JKR overwriting her fascination with these symbols and having editors too cowed to cut the extraneous bullshit. True, we have characters named for at least two of the evangelists: Lucy’s son Luke and Robin’s ex, Matthew, but a lot of people choose Biblical names for their children. Still, John could refer to Jonny Rokeby--though he’s already associated with Leo the lion, being born under that sign and having the middle name Leonard. However, if we meet a character named Mark, I may start to think JRK is up to something!
I admit I have little patience with the occult--but my similar lac
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When Jean Grey's about to confess her strong and deep, mutual romantic love to Cyclops, Mystique (who managed to escape from Area 51 and is out for revenge) abducts Cyclops and abandons him in the desert in Mexico without his ruby quartz glasses. Jean, who has vivid telepathic visions of him in peril, tracks him down, but Mystique is determined to kill them both.
