The Pleiades and Their Connection to Bees: Nature’s Symbols of Life and Cycles

As autumn settles in and the Pleiades—also known as the Seven Sisters—become more visible in the night sky, we’re reminded of their ancient significance. Beyond mythology, these stars share a fascinating connection to bees and the cycles of nature. In this post, we will explore how the Pleiades and bees both symbolise life’s rhythms and transitions, grounding us in the natural world around us.

Hello, I’m Titanilla, a holistic beekeeper, historian and death doula based in Scotland.

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As autumn deepens, the Pleiades—or the Seven Sisters—become more visible in the night sky. This star cluster, nestled within the constellation Taurus, has captivated human imagination for millennia. Beyond their celestial beauty, the Pleiades hold a deep connection to the bees. Are you ready to discover this connection? 

The Mythological Roots of the Pleiades

In ancient Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione, turned into stars to protect them from the hunter Orion. While this story is well known, the symbolism of the Pleiades transcends Greek mythology. Across many cultures, they represent protection, nurturing, and the eternal cycles of nature.
But there’s more to their story—something earthbound. The rising and setting of the Pleiades once marked key moments in agricultural calendars, especially for beekeepers. Ancient civilisations like the Minoans and Celts observed the Pleiades to know when to prepare for the seasonal changes that would affect their bees. The star cluster’s appearance signaled the shift from summer to winter—the time when bees, too, would retreat into their hives, mirroring the stillness of the cold months ahead.

The Bee Connection

Bees, like the Pleiades, are tied to the rhythms of life and death. During the warmer months, bees are busy pollinating and gathering honey, essential to the health of ecosystems. As the year wanes and the days shorten, they withdraw into the hive, entering a quiet phase that sustains them through winter. This mirrored dance of activity and stillness reflects the cycles of nature, not unlike the Pleiades’ journey across the night sky.

In ancient times, the rising and setting of the Pleiades helped beekeepers know when to harvest honey and prepare the hives for winter. Just as the Seven Sisters guided people to mark the seasons, bees follow their own instinctive timing, teaching us the wisdom of attuning to the earth’s cycles.

Spiritual Symbolism: Bees and the Stars

In esoteric traditions, the Pleiades are often seen as a gateway to higher knowledge, representing a bridge between the earthly and divine realms. Similarly, bees have long been revered as sacred messengers—creatures capable of guiding souls through the mysteries of life, death, and beyond.
In ancient myths, bees were seen as psychopomps, or guides for the soul’s passage. They’ve been closely tied to the mysteries of death and rebirth, much like the stars that humans have navigated by for centuries. The hum of the hive can even be likened to a cosmic vibration, reminding us of the greater web of life and death that we’re all a part of.

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Nature’s Guideposts: Earth and Sky in Harmony

Both bees and the Pleiades serve as guideposts, reminding us of the delicate balance between earth and sky. The connection between these two seemingly distant symbols speaks to the harmony found in nature's cycles, where everything—whether celestial or terrestrial—follows its own rhythm.

As the Pleiades rise in the autumn sky, we’re reminded of the bees retreating into their hives, signaling a time for reflection and inward focus. The bees teach us to trust these transitions, just as our ancestors trusted the stars to guide them through the changing seasons.
In the natural world, nothing is permanent—everything shifts, dies, and is reborn. As we look to the night sky and observe the bees' preparations, we’re invited to reflect on our own place in these cycles. 

How do we align ourselves with the rhythms of nature, honouring both the activity of life and the quiet of death?

As we contemplate the connection between the Pleiades and bees, we are reminded of the natural cycles of life, death, and rebirth that surround us. These reflections are particularly meaningful as we approach Samhain, a time when we can connect more deeply with the mysteries of existence.

If you're interested in exploring these themes further, we invite you to join us for our upcoming Samhain online retreat, "Honey of the Underworld." Over two days, we will create a supportive space to honour these cycles and learn from the wisdom of the bees. This retreat will be a great opportunity to connect with others and reflect on the themes of life and transformation. We hope you will join us!

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The dance of the Pleiades and the bees offers us a cosmic and earthly map to navigate these mysteries—gently reminding us that we, too, are part of the greater web of life.

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This blog was inspired by a recent Nasa post. Check it out here.