Amnion, Amniotic Fluid, and Amnesia(Past Life Recall)

"Through memory we travel against time,
through forgetfulness we follow its course."
- Joseph Joubert

The amnion is the membrane which surrounds and protects the
unborn fetus while in the womb.

Amniotic fluid is the fluid which protects and nurtures the fetus,
and allows it movement, while it is within the amnion.

Amnesia is a loss of recall whereby a person is unable to
remember a part of, or the entirety of, their life.

Now what do the words amnion, amniotic fluid and amnesia
have in common with each other?

To start with, each of these words have the same root beginning:
amn.

Prior to entering our Current Incarnation our Spirit resided in the
realm of Unity; an Unknowable and sublime realm of Beauty and
oneness within The All.

Ancient teachings speak of the process of Incarnation and
re-Incarnation which our Spirits participate in, and experience.

Furthermore, these teachings also inform us that our Incarnations
contain past lives, future lives and our current life. Also, we are
Instructed that we may be experiencing many simultaneous
Current Incarnations in various different realms and parallel
universes.

And, because Time has an entirely different nature in the Spiritual
realm, it is also possible that all of our Incarnations ( past, present
and future ) may be all happening at the same Time.

And, if all of this is not mind-boggling enough, ancient teachings
further inform us that we may have Chosen the specific aspects of
the Incarnation we are currently experiencing.

This means that, prior to descent into matter, our Spirit actually
Chose the physical Time, the planetary location, the historical
Events, and even the parents we Decided to be born to in this
Current Incarnation of ours.

Ancient teachings further inform us that, except for Avatars,
Incarnations and re-Incarnations are participated in by Spirits not
only for the purpose of experiencing the physical world of duality
but also for working off, and Learning to rid ourselves of, all of the
accumulated Karma from our Past, and even possibly future,
Incarnations.

Once our physical experiences are ended and all Karma has been
worked away our Spirit is no longer subject to re-Incarnations in
this realm. At that point we either come to dwell in a much higher
realm or we ascend to the ultimate realm of The All.

Matter cannot exist without Spirit (See: "Spirit and Matter"). At the
moment of conception Spirit and sperm Become one in the egg of
the womb. The sperm grows into the fetus which lives within the
amniotic fluid, which is within the amnion, which is within the womb
of the mother.

The fetus spends approximately nine-months within the amnion.
After this Time the fetus breaks free of the amnion, leaves the
womb, and enters the world of duality as a newborn child.

But, what is happening to the fetus while it is dwelling within the
amniotic fluid, which is within the amnion, which is within the womb?
This is a very interesting question, and mystery, to ponder!

Let us explore a theory...a scenario.

Let us suppose that we have Chosen the Time, location, historical
period and parents of our Current Incarnation; all of which are
designed  to work off past Karma, refine our spirit, and rid ourselves
of Sin.

Then, as with any other journey we venture into, this would mean
that we have come into our Current Incarnation with all the
necessary tools and skills required to experience this Incarnation
and work out all of our past Karma and Sin. These tools and skills
would be already contained within the Divine Nature of our unique
personality; our Ba; our Atman.

Therefore, taking this one step further, if we come into our Current
Incarnation with all the skills and tools that we need this also
means that the experiences of our past Incarnations are already
a part of the Spiritual DNA which accompanies us into our
Current Incarnation.

This Spiritual DNA, which contains the building blocks and
substance of our personality, can be further referred to as the
attitude and Destiny (our objective, or "to-do" list if you will) which
accompanies us into our Current Incarnation.

Now we come to a big question:

If we come into our Current Incarnation with all the tools and skills
we require, what is the purpose of the Amnesia which erases from
our consciousness not only the Memory of the sublime realm of
Spirit, but also the Memory of all of our past lives?

And the answer is that Amnesia, the loss of recall of both the
Spirit realm and past lives, is necessary if we are to fulfill the
mission and Destiny of our Current Incarnation.

In regards to Memory of the Spirit realm:

Amnesia protects us from remembering the sublime Beauty of the
Spiritual Paradise which our Spirit has temporarily left in order to
enter into and experience our Current Incarnation.

For, if we were to Remember the sublime Beauty of the Spiritual
realm while in our Current Incarnation, we may be severely tempted
to end our Current Incarnation before the mission and purpose of
our Incarnation is complete.

We hear of many individuals, especially children, who want to
commit suicide after having a near death experience whereby the
Veil between their physical and Spiritual realms has been lifted
and they once again see the Beautiful realm they left when they
entered their current physical existence.

Amnesia, in this instance, is necessary if we are to complete the
task for which we entered this Current Incarnation of ours.

In regards to Memory of past lives:

Think of how cluttered up our minds would be if we could recall
every mistake, every foolish act, and every painful Memory we
both performed and experienced in all of our past lives.

These remembrances would be more of a hindrance than an
asset to us in our current journey. We would be so overwhelmed,
haunted, confused, obsessed and tormented by these past-life
Memories that we would never be able to accomplish the
objectives we set forth for ourselves when we Chose to enter
our Current Incarnation.

Therefore, is it possible that the Amniotic Fluid we exist in while
in the womb is not only a fluid that protects and nurtures us but
is also a fluid of un-remembrance; a fluid that gives us Amnesia
from remembering not only our past lives but the Beauty and
magnificence of the Spirit Realm as well?

With all these Thoughts taken into consideration, the final
questions are these:

Considering the Divine Process of Amnesia which our fetus
experiences while in the Amnion, is it in our best interest to
attempt Past Life Recalls where all of our questions lie?

Or, is it much healthier, grander and beneficial for us to Learn
how to tap into and access the Great Subconscious (something
also referred to as the Akashic Records) where all the answers
of Eternity lie?

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

The Known, The Unknown and The Unknowable(Mysticism, Spirituality and Symbolism)

"You control the barrier between your consciousness
and what you seek. You merely need to open your mind.
The truth is, all knowledge, everything that is and was
and will be, is everywhere --- out there, and in all of us."
- Oma Desala (to Daniel Jackson)
Stargate SG1, "Reckoning, Part 1"

In our journey through our Current Incarnation in the material realm
we use our rational and logical mind to make judgments, come to
Decisions, evaluate options, and Learn new skills.

Our rational and logical mind is a powerful tool which helps us to
examine and assess the conditions, Choices and potential dangers
which confront us during our physical lifetimes.

Our rational and logical mind has complete access to all that is
Known and all that is Unknown. However, as powerful as our
rational and logical mind may be, it does not have access to,
and therefore cannot comprehend and explain, the Unknowable.

With these Thoughts in mind, let us now take a close look at the
Known, the Unknown and the Unknowable.

The Known consists of all of the things we have already Learned
and know to be True and factual.

Some examples of what we Know are: simple addition and
subtraction, the sun rises in the east, the law of gravity (if we
drop something it wall fall to the ground), how to walk and run,
how to read and write, plus all of the other things we have
already Learned which competently serve us in our daily lives.

However, it is important to understand that the Known does not
consist of Beliefs, Opinions, Hopes, or blind Faith which either we,
or someone else has planted into our consciousness.

The Unknown consists of all the experiences, knowledge and
skills that are available to us in this physical realm which we
have not yet come to Learn, understand and utilize.

For example:

We may not know how to speak Portuguese. However we can
Learn how to speak this, or any other language, by simply
taking a course in that particular subject.

Similarly, we may not Know how to sing, paint, draw, drive a car,
perform magic tricks, speak in public, throw a baseball, play a
musical instrument, perform calculus or understand the movement
of the stars and planets.

However, although these things may be currently Unknown to us,
they are definitely Knowable. The obtaining of any Unknown
knowledge simply requires that we take the Time, and make the
effort, to Learn these new skills, concepts and attributes.

The Unknowable:

"Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind."
 - Donovan, singer and songwriter

The Unknowable consists of all of the cosmic concepts and Divine
Truths which can never be understood and explained by the rational
and logical mind.

These are the concepts which tease, baffle and mesmerize us.
The more we try to rationalize The Unknowable the dizzier and
more awe-struck we become.

Within The Unknowable we find all of the metaphysical (beyond
the physical) Truths and doctrines which can never be grasped by
us through any of our Thought processes; no matter how hard we
may try.

Ancient texts tell us of Deities which existed before the beginning
and which will remain long after the end. How can this concept be
explained rationally and logically by the use of clumsy and
limiting Words?

It cannot. For infinite Truths cannot be grasped and explained by
the finite mind.

Ancient texts also tell us of Deities which are self-created,
self-begotten, and only-begotten. Again, how can this infinite and
Divine Truth be understood and explained by a rational and logical
mind which is restricted and limited in the way it can process only
finite information?

How many of us have tried to grasp the concept of eternity?

We imagine that we are proceeding to the most outer limits of
all that is. We finally arrive at what we think is the boundary of
eternity, but what happens then? If this is the end then it cannot
be eternal. And if this is the boundary of eternity, that alone tells
us that there is something beyond this boundary; something on
the other side. Therefore, eternity never ends; no matter how we
may try to imagine and rationalize that it does.

Furthermore, not only does eternity have no end; it also has
no beginning! How mind-boggling is this concept to the rational
and logical mind? We know that eternity is a Divine Truth.
Yet, on the other hand, we know that eternity can never be
rationally and logically understood and explained.

That is why the ancients Chose the Circle to Symbolize the
eternal, the everlasting and The All.

The only way the area and the circumference of a Circle can
be measured is by the use of a formula which contains the
mathematical function called pi. Pi is an irrational number.
Regardless of how many decimal points we use to calculate
pi, we never come to an ending digit. Pi represents the concept
of eternity in that although we can come closer and closer to
understanding pi we can never fully resolve this mathematical
formula.

Pi is the perfect concept of the Circle; of the eternal; and of
Divinity itself. For, no matter how much we learn about the eternal
and Divine, we can never fully grasp, understand and explain
what it is with our finite and limiting minds.

This is what the Tao Teh Ching is referring to when it states that
"one who knows the Tao cannot tell (explain) it".

The realm of The Unknowable is the realm of insight and intuition;
Gnosis and epiphanies; inner knowing and Divine revelation.

Although The Unknowable can be accepted to be real and True, it
can never be verbally explained. The Unknowable is the Veil of Isis
which no mortal may pierce.

We acknowledge, and pay homage to, the The Unknowable each
time we conclude our Prayers with the word "Amen".

Amen is a variation of the Words Amon, Omon and Amun which
appear in ancient texts, legends, and metaphysical teachings.

These terms all mean "hidden" and "Unknowable" and refer to that
one power, that one essence and that one Unknowable beginner
and end of all creation which we refer to as Divinity.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

The Anchor - As A Symbol

"One who has control over the mind
is tranquil in heat and cold,
in pleasure and pain,
and in honor and dishonor."
- Bhagavad Gita

The Anchor is a Symbol of both Hope and steadfastness.

When we look at an Anchor we see that it is a cross resting upon,
and securely balanced within, a crescent moon or bowl.

The cross has four points, and the number four represents matter.
Furthermore, the crossed lines of the cross represent spirit (the
vertical line) united with matter (the horizontal line). Hence, the
cross represents an individuals personal Incarnation. The cross
is a masculine Symbol which includes a person's Thoughts,
Actions, and consciousness.

The crescent moon, or bowl, is a feminine Symbol which
represents the womb. The feminine also includes intuition,
Emotions, and the Subconscious.

Therefore the Anchor is a Symbol for an individuals personal
Incarnation which is supported by, and rests within, their emotions,
intuition, and Subconscious.

With these Thoughts in mind, let us now explore the meaning of
the Anchor as a Symbol of Hope and steadfastness.

As a Symbol of Hope:

The rising Anchor is a Symbol for Hope. This is alluded to,
metaphorically, whenever we say that "our hopes are rising".

When a ship weighs, or raises, its Anchor it tells everyone that
it is leaving its current port-of-call and is on its way to a new
voyage, a new Adventure.

This is a metaphor for how each one of us feel when we finally
Decide to leave a stagnant portion of our life behind us in order
to begin a new journey, voyage, or Adventure.

We raise our Anchor and venture forth into a new era of our life.
We feel eager and alive and we are laden with Hope, excitement,
dreams, expectations, imaginings and aspirations. Our Spirit feels
light and free as we face the cleansing breezes which take us
to our next port-of-call.

The Hope we carry with us on our new voyage encourages us to
follow the course we have plotted out and carry out the plans
we have made. We are steadfast in our vision of the pursuit of
our new Dream.

Our new Hope prevents us from drifting in confusion as our
Thought processes are now focused on new Dreams, creations
and ideas.

Our new Hope keeps us focused on our vision, the Horizon,
where our new life, and new Adventure, awaits us. The Time of
planning is over and the Time of Action, and new experiences,
is now upon us.

As a Symbol for steadfastness:

The moment we drop our mental Anchor is the moment when we
Become steadfast in a Decision-making process. It is the moment
when we finally say to ourselves "here is where I stand" and "these
are the rules I will govern myself by".

This is expressed, metaphorically, when a ship drops its Anchor.
At that moment the ship becomes moored to a particular location
from which it will not move until the Time once again arrives for it
to sail at a moment of its own Choosing.

When a ship drops Anchor it grounds itself, and secures itself, to
a certain spot from which it will not move. It stabilizes itself from
the waves, tides, currents and various other movements which the
sea may throw at it.

Just as a ship that is not firmly Anchored is at the mercy of all
of the elements of the sea, so too is a person who is not firmly
Anchored at the mercy of all of the elements of chaos, hysteria
and uncertainty which surround him, or her.

Nearly every one of us has had at least one moment in our life
when we were absolutely, positively sure of a Decision we had
to make even though everyone around us doubted us and
screamed at us that we were wrong.

In this moment our certainty proved to be correct even though
we may not have been able to put our certainty into Words.

These kinds of Decisions can only be made by a person who
is firmly Anchored.

When we are properly Anchored we are able to trust confidently
in the skills and knowledge which lie latently concealed deep
within us. Skills and knowledge which lie in the subconscious
realm of our inner-self; our God-within; our Atman.

This confidence, self-assuredness, and trust in oneself is the result
of solid, secure and verifiable conclusions, clarity of Awareness,
and Lessons learned from Past experiences.

When we act with such steadfastness we are not being simply
stubborn; we are securely Anchored and are acting with positive
Arrogance and true knowing.

When we are properly Anchored we are able to remain steadfast,
sure and steady; we are able to "hold fast" during emotional,
unstable and confusing Times; we are able to steady ourselves
during our weakest moments and most trying experiences; we
are able to confidently maintain stability, firmness and tranquility
within and amidst all of the chaotic emotions which are tossing
themselves all around us.

On the other hand, when we are not sure of ourselves, or when
we are in a situation which is foreign and strange to us, we find
ourselves adrift and at the mercy of the tides and currents which
toss us to and fro and we say to ourselves "let's try this" or "let's
try that", unsure of what will work and what will not work;
simply relying on guesses and empty Prayers and not on
steadfast facts, skills, knowledge and experience.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

Sin and Judgment Day(Symbolism, Mythology and Mysticism)

"The success or failure of your deeds
does not add up to the sum of your life.
Your spirit cannot be weighed.
Judge yourself by the intentions of your actions,
and by the strength with which you faced
the challenges that have stood in your way.
The universe is vast and we are so small.
There is really only one thing we can ever
truly control...whether we are good or evil."
- Oma Desala, Stargate SG-1, Episode, "Meridian"

What is Sin?

We come into our Current Incarnation Spiritually pure. At the
moment of our birth, it is just us and our Atman (Our God Within).

However, as we progress through our Incarnation we start
accumulating habits, thoughts and beliefs which are inconsistent
with our spiritual essence; Our Divine Nature.These dis-Harmonious
habits, thoughts, and beliefs are what is Esoterically referred to as
Sin.

A great many of us have been Indoctrinated into believing that
Sin is "an act against God". Furthermore, we have also been
trained to Believe that this God is an all-powerful and judgemental
force which exists apart from us for the sole purpose of measuring
each one of our deeds.

We are further told that should this God solely determine that
our life on earth was an honorable existence, then this God will
grant us eternal happiness (Heaven). On the other hand, should
this God solely determine that our life on earth was unrighteous,
then this God will condemn us to eternal misery (Hell).

Of course this God also has a whole set of policies and procedures,
just like any other bureaucratic organization, to deal with those
individuals who fall somewhere in-between.

This is a whole lot of Guilt to lay upon someone who, according
to this set of teachings, has only one life to spend here on earth!

However, when we realize that God exists within each and every
one of us as our Atman (our God-Within), we are able to look at
our Current Incarnation, and Sin, in an entirely different light.

For, if God exists within us, and we perform an "act against God"
(a Sin), then the only entity we are truly offending and punishing is
ourselves!

With these thoughts in mind, we begin to have an entirely different
view of not only what Sin is, but who our Sins are against. So,
with this new viewpoint before us, let us again address the question
of "What is Sin?".

Sin is a Thought, Belief, Action, or Event which we either create,
indulge ourselves in, or submit ourselves to, either voluntarily or
involuntarily, which is in violation of Divine Law.

Sin is any activity we involve ourselves in which creates a dis-
Harmony, imbalance, confusion or Karmic Debt which negatively
affects our Spiritual growth and mental expansion.

An act of Sin can simply be some minor mis-deed which confuses
and unbalances us (venial sin) or it can be an extreme action which
actually destroys our Current Incarnation (mortal sin).

However, whether a violation is major or minor, a Sin is any Action
on our part which causes a disturbance in our Spiritual tranquility.

As very few of us engage in extreme and obvious mortal Sin, let us
concentrate on the minor, or venial, Sins which are so much a part
of our Current Incarnation.

When we begin to analyze Sin we can pretty much put it into one
of two categories:

1. Sin is any misguided or erroneous thought process or impression
which has become ingrained within us by way of Indoctrination and
training which disrupts the tranquility of our Incarnation;

2. Sin is any tendency, belief, or thought process built up over Time
which is detrimental to our Current Incarnation in that these things
are dis-Harmonious with Divine Law, limit our Spiritual and mental
expansion, and distract us from the noble Quest which we originally
came into our Current Incarnation to pursue.

Minor, simple, or venial Sins are thought processes and impressions
such as: "I'm too young", "I'm too old", "My parents would not
approve", "My church will not permit it", "People will talk", "That's
not the way I learned things in school",  "I don't want to be ridiculed
or gossiped about", "I have been trained not to think that way", etc,
etc, etc.

These impressions, which initially appear to be nothing more than
minor beliefs or Guilt Trips, are in fact the mental traps and
Self-Imposed Limitations (Sins) which destroy our individual
Sovereignty and throw us from the Path of our own personal Destiny.

Judgment Day:

Nearly all religions speak of a Judgment Day for the recently
deceased. The ancient Egyptians commemorated this Event by
way of a Ceremony which they called The Weighing of the Heart.

Judgment Day is the evaluation of a persons Incarnation. It is
the "day" when either Deity or a specific god or goddess determines
whether or not we have learned to sidestep and shed ourselves of
Sin. For those who have learned to rid themselves of Sin their
re-Incarnation into this plane of existence is over. These Spirits
then either re-Incarnate into a higher spiritual plane or have
completed their Cycle of Incarnations.

For those who have not learned to sidestep and shed themselves
of Sin, their re-Incarnations into this realm will continue until this
vital Lesson has been learned. Astrologically, these souls are
still subject to the to the disciplinary actions of Saturn in his role
of "Teacher of Hard Lessons".

Conclusion:

Sin is the negative Karma, negative energy and negative
Consequences which we bring into our lives. Sin is the fears,
impurities, Inner Demons, Guilts, Self-Imposed Limitations,
false Beliefs and unbalanced energies which we allow to taint
the purity of our Spirit.

Therefore Sin is the weights which hold us down and hold us
back; weights which must be released in order for us to Become
pure and impeccable; weights which must be released so that
we can increase our Awareness, ascend, and experience
higher planes of existence and mingle with the higher and purer
Spirits, Beings, and Divine Essences which occupy these
sublime realms.

When we "sin" we do not Sin against an external Deity, we Sin
against ourselves.

When we "sin" we engage in Thoughts, Words and Deeds which
are in dis-Harmony with the Divine Laws of the Universe and we
create spiritual imbalances within ourselves.

When we "sin" we create negative Consequences which establish
Karmic Debts; Debts which must be paid for, and answered to, by
us either in this Incarnation or in following Incarnations.

The greater the Sin, the Greater the Karmic Burden. The lesser the
Sin, the lesser the Karmic Burden. However any Sin against
ourselves, whether large or small, carries a Karmic Burden and its
own set of Consequences.

This is the Lesson, nature and purpose of re-Incarnation: to rid
ourselves of Sin; to release our Spiritual Souls from all of the
confines, bondages and destructive Pacts of the material realm.

For the heaven or hell we, in fact, create for ourselves depends
entirely upon our desire and ability to rid ourselves of the debts,
burdens and Consequences which even the most minuscule act of
Sin inflicts upon us.

See also: "Egyptian Weighing of the Heart"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

Dust(Mythology, Mysticism and Symbolism)

"From dust we come, to dust we return."
- Biblical Verse

When we hear "From dust we come, to dust we must return"
recited at a religious Ceremony we probably think of the dirt
of Mother Earth; for this is where our physical body is finally
interred once our Spirit has left it.

However, since our bodies did not originate from the earth below
us, the Dust which is mentioned in this Biblical Verse cannot be
referring to the earth into which our material remains are placed
for final safe keeping. This "Dust" must be referring to something
else.

When we think about earth and Dust in this manner, we can
only come to the conclusion that the Dust mentioned in this
Biblical Verse must be referring to, and reminding us of, a Dust
of a completely different substance which exists in an entirely
different realm or plane.

As the Word "dust" does appear in numerous ancient texts, we
are left to wonder what exactly do these texts and verses mean
when they tell us "from dust we come, to dust we return".

Dust is not the Symbolic dirt into which a person's material
remains are placed when their Spirit has left. Nor is Dust the
ashes which remain after a funeral pyre or a cremation
Ceremony. For both dirt and ashes are nothing more than gross,
mundane and solid forms of matter which were themselves
originally created from a more subtle form of matter...Dust!

So then, what is Dust?

Ancient texts inform us that as Spirit descends into its
Current Incarnation in the world of matter it passes through
seven spheres of creation prior to assuming its full physical form;
with each of the seven spheres applying a heavier and denser
form of matter to the descending Spirit.

Therefore our physical beings contain all forms of matter which
exist in the universe; from the most subtle to the most dense.

All of the matter that exists in our physical being is an equally
proportioned, scaled-down, representation of all the matter which
exists in the universe (including the rare elements and minerals
found throughout the universe) along with the Spirit which brings
all these forms of matter into physical manifestation.

Therefore this Dust, which is referred to in ancient and religious
texts, is the most subtle, pure, mystical and magical "Dust"
which exists in the highest and most pure realm of matter; that
mystical and spiritual dimension that Borders the realm between
Spirit and matter. (See: "Borders Between Realms")

This Dust is the "first matter" or prima materia which is referred
to in Hermetic and Alchemical lore; it is the initial "building block"
from which all matter in formed.

Dust is the first and most subtle form of matter our Spirit clothes
itself with when entering the material realm and the last form of
matter our Spirit divests itself of when leaving material realm.

This Dust is the final physical Border which our Spirit must cross
in its re-ascent into the Spiritual dimension. Once our Spirit
crosses this borderland of Dust it enters the realm of Spirit where
it once again becomes Spiritually Free!

(See also: "Spirit and Matter" and "Smoke - As A Symbol")

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

Smoke - As A Symbol(Mythology and Mysticism)

"When the mind is enlightened,
the spirit is free
and the body matters not."
- Oma Desala, Stargate SG-1, Episode, "Meridian"

We gaze into a fire and watch the wood as it burns. We then
notice that from the burning wood Smoke is created. We watch
this Smoke as it leaves the fire and ascends toward the sky
above. As we watch, we notice that the Smoke begins to
dissipate as it ascends until it is finally becomes invisible; as
if swallowed up by the heavens above.

This is the essence of Smoke. It begins as a thick mass which
dissipates as it ascends until it finally becomes undetectable
somewhere above us. From this characteristic is where we obtain
the Symbolism, along with the Rituals, which is associated with
Smoke.

Smoke symbolizes the transition of matter into spirit. Therefore,
Smoke represents the ascension of the immortal soul as it leaves
the mortal body.

Smoke represents the release of the soul, or spirit, from its visible
and physical form and its sublime ascent back into the invisible
and spiritual realm from whence it originally came: the realm in
which it existed prior to its imprisonment in matter.

This metaphor is a Lesson which reminds us that Spirit, in its
natural state, is free. It also reminds us that Spirit can exist
without matter, but matter cannot exist without Spirit.

Smoke is also used as a method of communication.

In addition to sending secret and sacred messages between other
persons, tribes or communities here on earth by way of smoke
signals, the sacred fires of indigenous cultures use Smoke to
communicate their Prayers and requests to the Deities and the
Spirits of their ancestors who reside in the heavens above.

As a Symbol of ascension and communication, Smoke is also
used in sacred religious Ceremonies in conjunction with Prayers
and Blessings. It is also used in Rituals that both invoke and
honor Divinity and acknowledge the Spirit which resides within
each one of us.

The Smoke rising from funeral pyres symbolizes the final release
and ascent of Spirit from the material remains of the deceased.

The Smoke rising from the peace pipe Symbolizes the Prayers
and Promises of the participants as it Travels upward, in a united
vision and bond of friendship, toward the spiritual realm of the
gods and forefathers of those participating in the Ceremony.
In this manner Smoke carries the vows, oaths, and Promises of
the participants of the Ceremony into the Spiritual Realm where
they are recognized, accepted, recorded and Blessed.

Incense, resins and herbs are placed within Censers and burned
in order to create the scented and aromatic Smoke used in
religious Ceremonies which is pleasing and Harmonious to both
people and Spirits.

The Censer is then swung in the direction of the participants
in order to Bless them, cleanse them, and unite in Prayer.

The pleasant aromas from the Censer help set the mood for the
Ceremony and make the participants Aware that Divinity is
among them and is also participating in the Ceremony along
with them.

See also: "Spirit and Matter" and
"Dust (Mythology, Mysticism and Symbolism)"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

In Pursuit of Wizards, Guides and Mentors

"Small is the number of people
who see with their own eyes;
think with their own minds;
and feel with their own hearts."
- Albert Einstein

"All cosmic secrets must be pursued and earned."
- Joseph Panek

Wouldn't it be wonderful if each one of us could have our very own
Merlin, Gandalf or Dumbledore to guide, instruct and protect us?
A Wizard who would reveal to us all of the magic and secrets of
the universe?

How many of us have fantasized over the possibility of being
granted timeless secrets, hidden Wisdom, and ancient magical
powers? And, wouldn't it be grand to have all of these things
bestowed upon us without having to pay a price?

But, alas, we realize that this cannot be so. For in order for us to
obtain Wisdom and Magic of this magnitude a price must be paid.
The greater the prize, the greater the price!

In our Quest for Truth and Wisdom we find ourselves Traveling
down many different Paths in the Hope of finding someone who
will enlighten us, and Instruct us, in the Divine Principles of the
universe.

But, after fantasizing and wishing, perhaps for many years, for
such a personal mentor to enter our lives we ultimately realize
that there is no such one person available to us at this particular
Time in the current evolution of our planet.

So, in the end, those of us who Choose to steadfastly pursue
ancient and Esoteric Wisdom eventually accept the fact that the
age of Master Teachers and Mystery Schools is a thing of the
Past.

It is at this point that the True Seeker understands that although
there no longer are any Master Teachers available to us today,
the works and Lessons of the Master Teachers of the Past still
remain. And it is through the Lessons of the Master Teachers
of the Past that the current Seeker sets out upon the Path of
Self-Initiation.

For the True Seeker of today realizes that when we rely solely
upon external mentors to do for us the tasks for which we have
been placed into Our Current Incarnation to experience for
ourselves we invite many obstacles in our Paths. These obstacles
occur for a variety of reasons. For example:

1. The world is full of charlatans who claim to have the secrets of
the universe and are willing to make these secrets available "for a
price". These are the snake-oil salesmen who make a living by
preying upon the lazy and the gullible.
2. We may find a mentor who is very knowledgeable, but not in
the specific area in which we have a special interest.
3. We may find a mentor who presents us with knowledge which
we are not yet ready to receive. In other words, we may not have
reached the proper moment of unfoldment that enables us to
appreciate and understand the principles being presented to us.
4. There may be time constraints placed upon either us or our
mentor which prevent us from properly receiving the knowledge
which our mentor has the ability to impart upon us.
5. Our mentor may leave us prior to fulfilling the task we had
expected of them.
6. As no person can teach beyond the limit of their knowledge,
our education is limited to only what our mentor currently knows.

No one person has all of the answers. However, many other
Seekers, both past and present, have partial answers. It is up
to us, as True Seekers, to piece together these partial answers
in the same way that we piece together a jigsaw puzzle until the
final piece is in place and the puzzle is complete.

The Merlins, Dumbledores, Gandalfs, and other great Wizards
of the past are extremely rare. However their Wisdom and
knowledge still lives on and is available to all of us.

Their Wisdom and knowledge comes to us in bits and pieces
from a variety of ancient sources. These bits and pieces must be
pursued, interpreted, understood and earned by all modern Seekers.

And remember, all Merlins, Gandalfs and Dumbledores willingly
paid extremely high prices for their Wisdom. They also spent
many long and arduous years accumulating the secrets which
enabled them to learn and perfect their craft.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh and The Three Wise Men, or Magi (Symbolism)

Then, opening their treasure chests,
they offered him gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.
- Matthew 2:1-12

Three is the number which Symbolizes creation, the creative
principles, and the creative process (See: "The Three Gunas").
Here we find the number Three represented by the Three Wise
Men, or Magi, along with their Three Gifts of Gold, Frankincense,
and Myrrh.

But, who were these Wise Men, or Magi? And why did they
specifically offer the gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh?

In order to un-Veil the answers these questions we must first
examine the mysticism and and Esoteric meanings hidden
within these ancient and mysterious Wise Men and their Gifts.

The Three Magi (Wise Men): Magi is the plural of Magician;
a word which has become corrupted, abused, and discredited
by modern society.

However, in ancient times, a Magician was someone who
understood herbs, potions, elixirs, healing, divination, the
Cycles of Eternity, and the movement of the heavens. They were
the Initiates who received secret and sacred Instruction regarding
the divine spiritual essences, or "magic", which lies behind all
cosmic and worldly things and Events.

Therefore, in ancient times a magician, and its plural magi, was
a term used to describe Wise Men, Holy Men, Shamans and
Masters.

Gold: The characteristics and Symbolism of Gold have been
discussed in detail in a previous article titled: Gold - As A Symbol.
Gold is Symbolic of the uncorruptible, the untarnishable, and the
eternal. Therefore Gold is the color used to represent the "Son",
or Atman; the divine spiritual essence which burns within each
one of us.

Frankincense is an aromatic resin which is obtained from an
extremely hardy tree called Bosaellia Sacra which has the ability
to grow in the most hostile, rugged and unforgiving environments.
It has the ability to grow where there is no soil; it can even grow
out of solid rock. Therefore this tree is a Symbol for resilience,
strength, endurance and Sovereignty.

Frankincense is obtained by cutting or slashing the tree so that
its sap can bleed out. The sap bleeds out in the form of "tears";
and this may be the same "tears" referred to in religious lore as
the "tears of the Madonna".

Its pleasant aroma, which was associated with the masculine
energy of the heavens and of life, was mixed with other oils to
anoint newborn babies. Frankincense was also used during
Initiation Ceremonies to anoint worthy Initiates who were entering
into the newer, higher, and more sublime phases of their spiritual
life. Frankincense may have been the same fragrance, mixed with
oils, which was used to anoint the feet of The Christ.

Myrrh is a resin obtained from a thorny tree which grows in dry
and arid desert regions. When the bark of this tree is cut open,
its resin seeps out as a gum.

Myrrh was valued for its medicinal values and was used to disinfect
and cleanse wounds. It also has the ability to mask odors and was
therefore used in embalming Rituals.

Myrrh Symbolizes a feminine and nurturing essence, or energy,
which is linked with the earth.

Conclusion: In ancient times, Frankincense and Myrrh were often
considered to be more valuable than Gold; with Myrrh being the
most valuable of the three.

As Gold represents the untarnishable, the uncorruptible, and the
eternal, it Symbolizes the eternal Source, the eternal Unity, from
which everything in the material realm originates.

As Frankincense Symbolizes the masculine essence and Myrrh
the feminine essence, these two fragrant essences represent the
duality, and extremes of duality, which permeate the created, or
physical, realm.

Frankincense is the fragrance used in the Symbolic anointing oil
which was used to welcome the newborn Christ, and thereby all
newborn infants, into the physical world.

The thorns of the Myrrh tree represent the "Crown of Thorns"
placed upon the head of Jesus at the end of his life. Furthermore,
because Myrrh was used in embalming Rituals, and is linked
to the Earth, it Symbolizes the end of our physical life; the time
when our spiritually vacated bodies are Ceremoniously prepared
for entrance into their final resting place within the nurturing Womb
of Mother Earth. This is the time when our physical bodies are no
longer required as our spirit has already left it to return back to
the Golden Unity from which it originally came.

Therefore, as Gold Symbolizes the One eternal Source of all
creation, Frankincense and Myrrh, on the other hand, represent
the dual result of all creation: life and death; beginning and end.
They are Symbolic the two extremes of duality in the Life-Death
Cycle of the created, or manifested, realm.

And finally, the Three Wise Men (The Three Magi, or Magicians)
represent The Three Gunas. They are Symbolic of the creative
processes, and energies, which permeate all realms of creation.

See also: "The Winter Solstice"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

Winter Solstice

"Life, death and rebirth are inevitable."
- Rig Veda

We learn from mythology, legend, and ancient texts that there
are four days of the year which are spiritually and religiously
sacred to all ancient peoples and indigenous cultures. These
four days are the spring and autumn equinoxes and the
summer and winter solstices.

The ancients aligned the windows of their temples, and key
stones of their sacred monuments, so that the rising sun
would shine through these windows or upon the points of
these key stones on these four sacred days. For each one of
these days signified a celebratory moment, and commemorative
Change, in the birth-death Cycle of the Sun during its annual
journey through the sky.

The Winter Solstice, occurring on about December 21st, has
come to be known today simply as the "shortest day of the year".
It is also the time of the year when the festival of Christmas, which
commemorates the Virgin Birth of "The Son", is celebrated
throughout the Christian and Catholic world.

However, to the ancient societies who celebrated and worshiped
the Winter Solstice for its Esoteric significance, the rising sun of
this special day represented much more than simply "the shortest
day of the year" and the birth of "the son"; it heralded in the birth
of "The Sun".

A familiar Christmas Carole reminds us of the significance of this
special and glorious day with the words: "Hark! The herald angels
sing: Glory to the newborn king". For in mythology and Symbolism
king, Gold, and Sun all refer to the same sublime entity and essence.

But what is so important that makes this one moment of the year
so spiritually and sacredly significant? Why do people throughout
the world, at this one specific moment of the entire year, stop all
that they are doing and honor this Son, this Sun, this King, this
Gold-Bearer?

Simply put, this is the exact moment of "birth", or "re-birth". It is
the defining moment when The Sun is "re-born" and begins its
semi-annual conquest of coldness and darkness. For it is at this
special moment that the coldness, darkness, and barrenness of
winter finally exhausts its power and is replaced by its victorious
and eternally opposing force: the warmth, brightness, fertility and
abundance of the emerging spring and summer months.

Religious texts speak of a moment when "the sun stood still in
the heavens". This moment occurs twice during every annual
solar Cycle: the summer and winter solstices. For nothing can
reverse its course unless it first comes to a complete standstill.

When the Sun "stands still" in the heavens at the winter solstice
this is the moment when it prepares to reverse its course and
begin its return journey to the lands of the north. A journey which
will eventually "stop" and end at the summer solstice.

The word "solstice" has its root in the Latin words sol which means
"sun", and sistere which means "to come to a stop; to stand still".
Therefore solstice means "the point, or time, at which the sun seems
to stand still".

This annual solar Cycle is also referred to in mythology and legend
as the sun-god Apollo's annual journey through the heavens.

In addition, we read in myths and legends of how the sun is
restricted by means of a rope, fence, or wall: a boundary which it
is forbidden to pass beyond. This mythological rope, fence, or
wall is the Tropic of Capricorn, which is its southernmost boundary
at the winter solstice and the Tropic of Cancer, which is its
northernmost boundary at the summer solstice.

Therefore, when we celebrate Christmas, along with all of the
"gifts" which we are presented with at this festive Time, let us keep
in mind that the True gifts we are receiving are the warmth,
brightness, fertility, and abundance of the upcoming spring and
summer months which are the result of the "rebirth" of The Sun at
the Winter Solstice.

See also: "Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh and the Three Wise Men"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

Hyperborea: Beyond the Northern Winds(Mysticism and Mythology)

Now, their mother had told them,
"It's dangerous around here, boys,
and you can go to the east,
to the south, to the west,
but don't go north."
So they go north.
"Transformations of Myth Through Time",
page 37, by Joseph Campbell

The earliest myths tell of a legendary place, and race, which
ushered in the age of mankind on this planet. This legendary
place is called Hyperborea, and its dwellers the Hyperboreans.

The Hyperboreans were the gods and goddesses of myth and
legend who brought the Wisdom and secrets of the universe to the
earliest inhabitants of this planet. They were responsible for the
Golden Age of mankind referred to in ancient texts. A Golden Age
which has since Devolved from sublime spirituality to gross
materialism.

But who were the Hyperboreans, and where is this Hyperborea
which is spoken of in the most ancient of legends?

Before we can understand what and where Hyperborea is, we
must first study the etymology, or root meaning, of this Word.

Hyper means above, beyond, or over. Boreas means "the north"
or "the north winds". Therefore Hyperborea translates as a
place that is "above and beyond the Northern winds". It is the
polar origin, or polar center, which connects the realm of matter
below with the domain of spirit above.

And as this northern polar center is also called the arctic, let
us now look into the etymology of the word "arctic". Arctic comes
from the Greek arktos meaning "bear; Ursa Major; the region of
the north", the Bear being a northerly constellation (from: Online
Etymology Dictionary).

Therefore "arctic" refers to the Arctic Bear or Polar Bear  which,
along with all the other stars in the heavens, rotates around
the cosmic or heavenly center as viewed from our planet. This
cosmic center is currently occupied by the north star we call
Polaris.

It is the rotation of the stars around this cosmic center which
creates the "branches" of the World (or Cosmic) Tree. And, it is
this fixed cosmic center, which is invisibly attached to the
northern-most point of our planet, that creates the axis, or "trunk",
of the World (Cosmic) Tree.

This northern celestial mid-point around which the heavens appear
to rotate is that sacred center which is also represented,
Symbolically, by the Dot Within The Circle.

The far northern lands of our planet are barren and inhospitable
to humans. And because of this these far northern lands, along
with high mountain peaks, have always been considered to be
the domains of gods, spirits, and the Wise Holy Men who occupy
the Borders Between Realms.

Even in the folklore of today we commemorate these far
northern and inhospitable lands every December as we await the
arrival of Santa Claus, and his gift-bearing sled, in his annual
journey from his home in the North Pole.

And how many children relish the gift of a stuffed polar bear under
their Christmas tree?

Yet, as mystical, magical, and intriguing as the legends, myths,
and folklore of these far-northern lands are to us, Hyperborea
refers to a spiritual and metaphysical (beyond the physical) realm
which exists well above and beyond these cold and frigid northern
realms of our planet. For Hyperborea is "above and beyond the
Northern winds".

However, for the Hyperboreans to have contact with us, there
must be a point of entry for them in our realm. This entry point is
the northern pole of our planet. This northern pole, or northern axis
point of our planet, is where the base, or "trunk", of the World
(Cosmic) Tree attaches itself to our world and takes "root".

This northern-most focal point of our planet is where the spiritual
realm of the heavens meets, and interacts with, the physical realm
of earth.

As this northern-most point is where the four major compass
points meet, these four compass points Symbolize the four
rivers which feed the four major roots of the World Tree.

This northern-most point is also the focal point where all of the
lines of longitude merge together and are united as one. Therefore
it is also the point from which all of the sub-roots of the World Tree
begin their branching-out.

And because all of the longitudinal lines and compass points
meet at this one focal point this is also the Omphalos, or navel,
of our planet. In other words, it is the central point where the
umbilical cord of our planet is connected to the heavens,
metaphorically, by way of the "trunk" of the Cosmic (World)
Tree.

It is by way of this umbilical cord, or "trunk" of the World Tree
which connects heaven and earth, that the heavenly spirits
(Hyperboreans) are able to descend upon humanity and bestow
their blessed gifts upon us.

It is also by way of this umbilical cord, or "trunk", that those of us
who have achieved enlightenment are able to ascend back to that
heavenly realm from whence we departed a long, long time ago
and become as one again with our spiritual brothers and sisters in
that mystical land of Hyperborea which exists "above and beyond
the northern winds".

See also: "The World Tree" and "Egyptian Pyramid: Part 2"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011