Sunday, September 26, 2010

Baal - Myth And Symbol


"The beginning of wisdom is to
call things by their right names."
- Chinese proverb

It has been a common practice, throughout the history of mankind,
that when one civilization conquers another, the structures of the
vanquished are replaced, renamed and discredited by the victors.
This holds true for not only political and social structures but for
religious structures as well.

This process of replacing, renaming and discrediting has caused us
to lose the true meaning of many ancient words along with the true
meaning, and understanding, of the names of numerous ancient
deities which we now call gods and goddesses.

One prime example of this process of renaming and discrediting
comes to us in the name of the Ancient Deity, Baal.

Baal today is considered to be, and is presented to us as being,
the name of an evil entity we now call the devil. However, upon
taking a closer look at the name of Baal we get an entirely different
meaning; we see that it represents a very ancient Divine Principle.

The name Baal consists of two ancient words: Ba and Al.

Ba is the Spark of Divinity which enters into, and resides within,
matter. Therefore, Ba is incarnated spirit (See: Ba and Ka).
Spirit, in its unencumbered state, is eternal, infinite and free.
This is metaphorically expressed by us when we refer to someone
as being a "free spirit". Once spirit enters matter, it becomes
imprisoned within the object it occupies for some period of time.
During this period of time, spirit longs to once again be free.

Al (also pronounced and written as El) is the ancient name of
Divinity, or God. Al, or El, refers to The One...The Eternal Unity...
The Eternal Constant...The Source.

When Al, or El, is combined with another word it represents
aspects, or manifestations, of Divinity. We see this in the word
Elohim which means "council of angels" or "council of Gods and
Goddesses". The Elohim are the many different manifestations
of Divinity; they are the Egyptian Neters and the Sumerian
Annunaki.

When Al, or El, is meant to refer to a specific aspect of Divinity
it appears in the name of a specific spiritual entity. For example,
El appears in the names of many of the angels such as Michael,
Gabriel, Nathaniel, and Raphael . Angels, just like Neters, are
Divine Principles and represent a specific aspect, or manifestation,
of Divinity.

Once we have an understanding of these two words, We now see
that the name Baal is no longer is the evil spirit, or the "devil", we
have been led to believe it is. Baal is a Divine Principle, a Neter,
which represents, and Symbolizes, the descent of Spirit into
matter...the binding of Spirit with matter...physical creation...birth!

This descent of Spirit into matter is what is referred to in some
religious texts as "the fall" and "original sin".

However, "the fall", or "original sin" is not the self-imposed guilt
that many of us have been erroneously led to believe we must incur.
It is the moment when Spirit creates matter out of a Divine Thought,
so that each one of us may be born into this material realm and
experience a physical existence in union with the Spiritual Essence,
the Spark of Divinity, the Atman, which resides within all of us.

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 2010
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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Corners


"Be careful not to paint yourself into a corner."
-Familiar Expression

The universe is an enormous and unlimited Source of creative
energy. It contains all of the ideas, concepts, and Truths which are
both imaginable and, in our present state of evolution, unimaginable.
It provides each one of us with more doorways, opportunities, and
experiences than we can possibly sample and savor in one single
Incarnation.

And although we cannot savor everything that the universe has to
offer us in one finite lifetime, we nonetheless have the opportunity
of plucking and tasting as many of its fruits as we are able to grab
from the branches of its ever abundant Tree, and its overflowing
Cornucopia.

Yet, with all of this abundance literally lying all around us, we are
"taught", at a very early age, that we must "select" a career, a
religion, and numerous other mindsets, and that we must limit our
concentration and energy to only these choices for the remainder
of our life. Keep in mind these initial Choices which we are
"required" to make are imposed upon us while we are still a child!

Then, after we have made our initial Decisions, we are further
required to "refine" and "specialize" our skills, careers, beliefs,
and social groups.

Slowly and methodically, at a very early age, the abundance of
the universe is taken away from us, piece by piece, and replaced
with everyday monotony. Childlike excitements, enthusiasms,
and dreams are replaced with the best conformity, sophistication
and maturity that society has to offer. Without even being aware
of what is happening to us we are, again at a very early age,
being painted into a corner.

Once we are placed into our Corner, something else happens to
us. We start to actually Believe that our way of thinking, our point
of view, and our way of doing things, is the only "right way" and
we begin to discredit any idea or Opinion that is contrary to the
structured dogmas that have been ingrained into us. Our Corner
is now getting narrower and narrower.

And finally, once we have comfortably "settled" into our very own
personal little Corner, our Ego commits all of our time and energy
into defending this minuscule Corner of ours to the point that we
slowly become Ignorant of all of the other opportunities, Choices,
ideas, and experiences that abound all around us. We place too
much egotistical emphasis on our minute, personal corner and
very little, if any, emphasis on our material, mental and spiritual
boundlessness.

Then, one day, something happens. We may go on a camping
trip or rent a cabin in the woods. We feel refreshed, renewed and
exhilarated to be free from our Corner and part of the wide open
freedom of Nature. The longer we remain in this setting the less
important our little Corner seems to us. We begin to long for the
boundless Freedom that is Truly available for us to experience.

However, our Ego will not allow us to think in these terms. It
reminds us that although our little "vacation" is refreshing and
rewarding, it is not "real". Our Ego tells us that we must hurry
back and defend our little Corner.

However, contrary to anything our Ego may try to convince us of,
this experience we have just enjoyed with Nature and its boundless
Freedom is as real as it gets!

This Real Freedom, along with the Peace and Contentment it
provides, is actually far more Real than the "real" imprisonment
we have created for ourselves in some unfulfilling Corner which
we call job, duty, responsibility, security, and society.

The more we paint ourselves into a Corner, the more we pinpoint
ourselves to, and place ourselves at the mercy of, the factions,
activities and events which occur in the locality where our Corner
is located.

We occupy a remote location, in a remote country, on a remote
planet, in a remote solar system, in an Unlimited Universe. Out
in the universe all is open, unrestricted, and Free. There are no
Corners out there in the universe. We are the only ones who
can create and bind ourselves to the localities, restrictions, and
Corners which ultimately restrict and torment us.

The farther we can remove ourselves from any one locality, Corner,
or way of thinking, the more we become unlimited, and Free, to
embrace and enjoy not only all of the various ideas, enjoyments and
experiences which are available to us here on earth, but also all of
the boundless and unlimited Blessings that the universe, Itself, is so
ready and anxious to bestow upon each one of us.

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 2010
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Sunday, September 12, 2010

Huginn And Munnin - As A Symbol


In one of the portrayals of the Norse god Odin, he appears with
two Ravens; one perched on either of his shoulders. Their names
are Huginn and Munnin and they are the Symbols for Thought and
Memory.

Huginn, which represents Thought, is perched upon Odin's right
shoulder and Munnin, which represents Memory, is perched upon
Odin's left shoulder. Each morning these two Ravens leave Odin's
shoulders and circle the world, reporting back to Odin that evening
all that has transpired throughout his domain on that particular day.

It is very common in Mythology to encounter two deities, entities,
or concepts which have nearly identical, rhythmic names yet
represent two different aspects, or polarities, of a Divine Principle.
One of these aspects represents the masculine Principle and the
other aspect represents the feminine Principle.

In this portrayal, Huginn, which represents Thought, is the
masculine Principle, and Munnin, which represents Memory, is the
feminine Principle. Odin, who sits between them, and Symbolizes
the Transcendence of Duality, is the One Unifying Divine Principle.

When we see a Symbolic depiction such as Huginn, Munnin and
Odin we immediately ask ourselves: What does all of this elaborate
Symbolism mean? What are the ancient ones attempting to tell us
in Symbols rather than in Words?

Upon taking a closer look at the Symbols we begin to get a much
better understanding, and feeling, for what this cryptic Symbolism
is relaying to us.

Huginn: Symbolically, Thought is similar to ideas. Nothing can be
created without first being a Thought. Thought is the "spark" of
Divine Energy; it is the unspoken and Spiritual Word of God; it is
the Hermetic Logos; it is the Seed of creation. And, as Thought is a
masculine Principle, Huginn is perched upon Odin's right shoulder;
as the right side of our body is the masculine side of our human
form.

Munnin: Memory is the feminine receptacle, or Womb, into which
Thoughts and ideas are deposited, protected, and nurtured so that
they can Marinate, grow, and eventually manifest themselves.
When looked at in this way, Munnin is a Symbol for the birth
process which occurs in the non-physical realm which mythology
refers to as the Virgin Birth.

Munnin (Memory) is also a Symbol of, and a metaphor for, the
Akashic records. And, as Memory is a feminine Principle, Munnin
is perched upon Odin's left shoulder; as the lift side of our body is
the feminine side of our human form.

Furthermore, what good purpose can a Thought or idea serve us
if there is no safe place for us to deposit it, store it, and protect it?
Without the Womb of Memory to deposit our Thoughts and ideas
into, they would all be lost in the wind.

On the other hand, what good purpose can a Memory serve us if we
have no creative Thoughts or ideas to deposit into it? Without the
Seed of Thought, Memory would simply be an empty Womb from
which creation could never manifest itself.

Masculine and feminine principles rely upon each other, in all
realms of existence, so that creation, in all of its infinite forms,
can manifest. Hence the concept, and Symbolism, of Huginn and
Munnin.

But what of Odin? What does this Divinity represent in our
Symbolic portrayal?

Odin: Odin is the Unifying Principle. Odin is the Spiritual Energy
which reunites all aspects of Duality back into Unity. In this way,
Odin represents the Spiritual Purpose of our Current Incarnation.

The highest purpose of our personal journey is to become the one
unifying principle which understands, and transcends, all of the
dualistic mundane issues of our Current Incarnation. Once we can
look upon our current journey as an Unattached Observer of Events
it becomes easy for us to Blend both aspects of Duality back into
one common issue. Once we are able to do this, we become able to
abandon the petty bickering of the common horde, which torments
so many of us, and Ascend the Ladder, step by step, into the higher
Spiritual Realms. For when we enable ourselves to know all (Huginn)
and to remember all (Munnin) we then build within ourselves the
cornerstone of Truth, Wisdom and Unity (Odin).

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 2010
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Sunday, September 5, 2010

Lightening - As A Symbol


The zigzag drawing, or carving, of the Lightening Bolt is a very
ancient Symbol which is found in all cultures.

Symbolically, Lightening, or Fire from the Heavens, is that Spiritual
Flash which appears to come out of nowhere in order to instantly
awaken new Thoughts and ideas within us. Therefore the Symbol
of Lightening represents that Flash from Above which suddenly
sheds Light upon those new vistas of Awareness, Illumination,
Insight and Enlightenment which had been previously concealed
from us.

Lightening often precedes rain, therefore it is also associated with
Water. When viewed in this manner, Lightening is the supernatural
force from above which destroys, cleans out, and purges whatever is
old so that the Creative Water contained within the rain can
impregnate that which has been cleansed in order for new life,
and new growth, to begin. In this way, Lightening Symbolizes the
Divine Principle of Creative Destruction.

As a "bolt out of the blue" Lightening appears suddenly and without
warning. It is an awesome statement from above. And, against the
dark night sky, it is a giant and emphatic spark of Illumination which
seems to come from an unseen Source.

Mythologically, and Symbolically, Lightening is a weapon, or
instrument, of the gods. For example, Zeus is portrayed as holding
a handful of Lightening bolts which he is prepared to hurl toward
whatever person, place or thing that requires the attention-getting
Spark of Illumination from the unseeable, yet ever-present, Divinity.

With these thoughts in mind, it becomes easy for us to recognize
and understand the Spiritual and Esoteric concepts Symbolized by
the bolt of Lightening.

As an instantaneous and forceful instrument of Divinity, Lightening
represents a powerful and unforgettable statement from a higher
source; the blinding light of mental and spiritual Illumination from
above; and a flash of inspiration or enlightenment which seems to
come to us from heaven itself.

It is the heavenly fire of instant inspiration, enlightenment and
revelation. in other words, Lightening is the Symbol of an Epiphany.
It Symbolizes the Spiritual Moment when Divinity connects, and
shares Enlightenment, with a worthy and well-qualified Seeker or
Initiate which thereby elevates the mind, Spirit and Wisdom of this
special individual to a higher Eternal and Spiritual plane.

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 2010
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