ANTINOUS-ERA EGYPTIAN HANGOVER CURE WAS ALSO A FASHION STATEMENT

A crumbling papyrus found near Antinoopolis offers a sure-fire hangover cure ... and one that is also a fashion statement.

A leafy wreath of curative herbs was just the thing to clear your day-after head, according to a newly translated and published papyrus written in Greek with the prescription for "A DRUNKEN HEADACHE" cure. 

The alcohol victim would have strung together leaves from a shrub called Alexandrian chamaedaphne (Ruscus racemosus L.), possibly wearing the strand around the neck or forehead, not unlike this Classical youth wearing a victory wreath by John Singer Sargent.

The 1,900-year-old papyrus dating back to the time of Antinous containing the hangover treatment is one of over 500,000 such documents found in the ancient Egyptian town of Oxyrhynchus not far from Antinoopolis by researchers Bernard Grenfell and Arthur Hunt about a century ago.

But the study and publication of so many papyri is a long and slow task that has been going on for a century. 

Only recently, volume 80 was published, containing studies and decipherments of about 30 medical papyri found at Oxyrhynchus, including the papyrus with the hangover treatment.

This newly published volume represents "the largest single collection of medical papyri to be published," wrote Vivian Nutton, a professor at University College London, at the beginning of the volume. 

The collection includes medical treatises and treatments for a wide variety of ailments, including hemorrhoids, ulcers, tooth problems and even some fragments discussing eye surgery.

The writers of these ancient papyri relied heavily on Greek knowledge. The ancient residents of Oxyrhynchus strongly embraced Hellenistic (Greek-influenced) culture, something that spread throughout Egypt, and the wider Middle East, after the conquests of Alexander the Great, Nutton said.

2026 IS "THE YEAR OF MERCURY"

FROM an astrological viewpoint, the Year 2026 is ushering in an opportunity to enhance these areas of our lives: Mind. Communication. Intellect. Reason. Language. Intelligence.

According to a rather obscure astrological text called the "Galendarjum Oeconomicum Practicum Perpetuum," the Year 2026 is the "Year of Mercury."

The Year 2022 was the "Year of Jupiter" and 2023 it was Mars's turn to take over, then 2024 was the "Year of the Sun." That was followed by 2025 the "Year of Venus."

While political upheaval and emotional turmoil were the themes of 2024 and 2025, Mercury ushers in a year of verbal and mental gymnastics in 2026 ... remember that Mercury-Hermes is the Classical god of rogues, thieves and con-men ... as well as of commerce, communications and travel.

Of major importance during this Year of Mercury will be the three RETROGRADE MERCURY periods when Mercury appears to go "backwards" (as seen from the Earth) for about three weeks.

Here are the three Mercury Retrograde periods in 2026:

• February 26th to March 20th 2026
• June 29th to July 23rd 2026
• October 24th to November 13th 2026

Mercury is the planetary ruler of Gemini and Virgo, so if you were born under those signs, then 2026 is your year. But all of the signs benefit from Mercury's cunning and slyness during this year. Here are a few pointers:

ARIES: Be alert for new opportunities to fulfill your heart's desire. Your dreams won't wait. Mercury will help you make them a reality.

TAURUS: Get out of that comfortable rut you have been living in and wallowing in. Mercury is eager to put wings on your feet and help you to fly.

GEMINI: Mercury rules your birth sign and rules this year, so this is your year to shine. In business and in personal relationships you will make lots of new contacts.

CANCER: Look deep within your heart to see what is truly important to you to achieve this year. Mercury will give you the insight and perspective to see clearly.

LEO: It's time to devote yourself to your career, because nothing can hold you back. Mercury will shine the spotlight on you as you step onto the stage.

VIRGO: Stop fretting and be proud of your ability to bring order and discipline out of the chaos of life. Mercury will help you make sense of the chaos around you so you can focus on helping others.

LIBRA: Charm your way into the good graces of important people you can advance your projects. Mercury will giving you the articulate phraseology (lies if necessary) to sweet-talk others into doing what they should do anyway to start with.

SCORPIO: Those thorny problems which have been hampering you need to be eliminated. Mercury will give you the ingenuity to find a way around them ... or through them.

SAGITTARIUS: Go ahead and allow your imagination to be fired up by new impressions all around you. Mercury will give flight to your fantasies and turn them into realities.

CAPRICORN: How about further education? Or perhaps you want to learn another language? Mercury loves people who like to learn.

AQUARIUS: You hate sameness and you love change. Mercury is ready and eager to help you discover totally new avenues of communication and ways of thinking ... and will introduce you to lots of new people too.

PISCES: Your career has been in the doldrums too long. Starting in April you can expect a big boost. Mercury will gladly give you a boost ... but you can't be shy ... be bold!

ASTRO FORECAST: JANUARY 1st—11th, 2026

Antinous is a Moon God. He is, of course, many other things and he wears many hats. But one of the ways he was worshiped in Antiquity was as ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD.

His worshipers looked skyward and saw His beautiful face perpetually turned towards the Earth. The Man in the Moon was actually the Blessed Boy in the Moon for the ancient priests and worshipers of Antinous. Swiftest and most youthful of all the Zodiacal deities, Antinous speeds through an entire year's worth of Astrological signs in just 28 days.

ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD represents our deepest personal needs, our basic habits and reactions, and our unconscious gay selves. Where Hadrian the Sun acts, Antinous the Moon REACTS. How do we instinctively react or respond to problems? What do we feel we need for a sense of security? Look to ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD for answers.

ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD is both our inner boy child and our inner lover. His ever changing phases, as he sweeps past all the other Planets in all the Signs, make us at turns responsive, receptive, and reflective. Eternally youthful, ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD represents our childlike spontaneous and instinctual reactions.

ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD beams down on us to make us imaginative, creative, intuitive, sentimental, adaptable, introspective, and protective. On the negative side, and depending on where he is in the Zodiac, he can make us moody, restless, and irrational.

Antinous Astrology Forecast

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JANUARY 1st to 11th, 2026

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 1st, 2026

On New Year's Day, Mercury kickstarts the New Year 2026 by entering Capricorn, where it is focused on the future and eager to organize a grounded plan for success. Whatever your goals now ... a calm winter's holiday, a strong start to the New Year ... Capricorn Mercury can help you put a plan into place. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, planet of structure and focus. Mercury has a quicksilver, trickster nature. When in Saturn's sign, Mercury is urged to get organized, so a little effort goes a long way now. Consider the consequences of what you decide, and make sure the costs are truly worth it. A slow-and-steady approach will help you stay calm through the end of the year. Mercury in Capricorn embodies the idea that when you say "no" to one offer, you create space to say "yes" to another. As we move out of the holiday season and into the new year, remember to keep your eye on the prize!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2nd, 2026

The year 2026 begins on an optimistic note when CHIRON IN ARIES ends its four-month retrograde period and begins moving forward towards better health horizons. This is a good time for health checkups and medical treatment ... also, you can expect a positive and expansive outlook, which can benefit your well-being at this time. You may be more open-minded with regard to experiencing new things, which will allow healing of your mind, body, and spirit. For instance, you could seek higher understanding and meaning in your life through a guide, mentor, or spiritual person or increase your inner knowledge by means of educational processes, religion, or meditative practices during this period. An urge to travel to far-away places (real or imaginary) may also be experienced. You may discover new perspectives on your beliefs, faith, and sense of hope. Restoring peace and harmony in your personal life and relationships is possible now through your interest in healing your own wounds, as well as extending compassion and generosity to others.

SAT-SUNDAY, JANUARY 3rd-4th, 2026

On the first weekend of 2026, we come to the Cancer Full Moon. It is the lunar phase we call the LUNUS MOON in Antinous Moon Magic — the Moon of Moons! This is a Full Moon which brings out powerful emotions. Because this Full Moon always occurs during December/January, it is emotional farewell to the old year and heart-felt welcoming of the new year. You will shed sentimental tears for loved ones you have lost during the past year, not to mention a job or other things you may have lost.

MON-WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5th-7th, 2026

This first full week of 2026, the LGBTQIA spiritual revolution gets a big boost when the Sun aligns in conjunction with Venus and Mars and all three are aligned with the star of Antinous in the sign of Capricorn ... sending transformative healing energies that can radically alter gay spirituality for centuries to come. These strong masculine and feminine energies combine in earthy Capricorn to create a passionate, sexy and creative energy. On the personal level, Sun and Venus conjunction Mars will bring a very pleasant few days where you are likely to feel sheltered, practical and on a solid basis for a long-term relationship.

THURS-FRIDAY, JANUARY 8th-9th, 2026

This first full week of 2026, the Sun aligns with Venus and Mars in steadfast Capricorn and all three are in direct, 180-degree opposition to exuberantly moody Retrograde Cancer Jupiter, causing a sense of over-exuberance, over-exaggeration and over-exertion in all areas. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing ... but the coming weeks will show whether you bit off more than you can handle.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10th, 2026

This weekend, we come to the Libra Third Quarter Moon. This is the lunar phase we call the CROSSROADS MOON in Antinous Moon Magic ... It is symbolized by the "Herme", the ithyphallic stele of Mercury which guarded intersections of Roman roads ... Tonight is a propitious time for setting a new course, possibly changing course, setting out in a new direction. It is about making a decision. The key is not to worry about which choice to make. The key is to make a choice and go ahead with it.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11th, 2026

Do you have a broken heart? This weekend healing energies get a sudden and dramatic boost when Venus is in a 90-degree square aspect to CHIRON IN ARIES. Venus and Chiron will hepl you create a positive and expansive outlook, which can benefit your well-being at this time. You may be more open-minded with regard to experiencing new things, which will allow healing of your mind, body, and spirit. For instance, you could seek higher understanding and meaning in your life through a guide, mentor, or spiritual person or increase your inner knowledge by means of educational processes, religion, or meditative practices during this period. An urge to travel to far-away places (real or imaginary) may also be experienced. You may discover new perspectives on your beliefs, faith, and sense of hope. Restoring peace and harmony in your personal life and relationships is possible now through your interest in healing your own wounds, as well as extending compassion and generosity to others.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK:

Another exciting week lies ahead between January 12th and 18th, 2026, when we come to the Capricorn New Moon, which we call the LAMIA MOON of dark magic. Meditation and rituals conducted tonight are best suited for rooting out malaise and sickness and for diminishing evil sendings. Look for areas in your life where you may be detrimental to yourself, may be working against yourself or may be making yourself sick, perhaps literally so ... More details next time ....

ANTINOUS JANUS, OPENER OF THE WAYS

ON January 1 the Religion of Antinous marks the moment the Egyptians called SEP TEPY, the moment of endings and origins, the moment that is not a moment and is every moment, the place that is no place and is every place.

The God Janus, doubled-faced, observes the passage of the common year. Hadrian mourns the tragic death of his Beloved Antinous, who died in October of the year which has now passed.

The Prince of Flowers is dead, and the New God Antinous is rising, just as the STAR OF ANTINOUS will rise in the heavens during the year to come.

Hadrian's Beloved Antinous resides in SEP TEPY, the inner-most celestial sphere, where he is filled with the Semen of the First God which infuses him with godhood.

ANTINOUS THE GAY GOD emerges from that moment which is no/all moments and from that place which is no/all places, and he strides forth as one of the Imperishables of heaven.

The Religion of Antinous recognizes the common calendar and uses the date as a reckoning that pertains only to our place in time and a space within the earthly sphere.

We know that, though our bodies are of Earth, our spirit is of the Heavens, and through the conquest of Antinous over the 72 Archons our spirit is set free.

Father Janus opens the way for the passage of Antinous through the outer limit of the celestial sphere. Janus is the mouth of the serpent that bites its tail, and we observe that as the common year is born, so the liberation of Antinous from our cosmos nears completion, with only eleven heavenly spirits standing before him.

This is the Holy Day of The Gate, the tool of the priesthood of Religion of Antinous. We wash our sacred stones and seek new auguries for the year.