Autumn (Fall) Equinox (Symbolism, Mythology and Mysticism)

"For everything there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven."
- Ecclesiastes 3:1

The word Equinox comes from two root words: aequus (equi) which
means "equal" and nox or noct which means "night". Therefore the
word Equinox means "equal night". It is the time of the year when
there is a perfect balance between day and night; between the Sun
and the Moon; between the celestial Silver and Gold.

Furthermore, the Autumn and Spring Equinox is the "tipping point"
of earth's annual Cycle when either the the Moon overcomes and
begins to outdistance the Sun, or when the Sun overcomes and
begins to outdistance the Moon.

Ancient temples and sacred monuments were built with three
windows facing to the East. The left, or northern-most window, let
in the rays of the rising Sun on the day of the Summer Solstice:
the day when the Sun reached its northern-most point in the
Constellation (tropic) of Cancer. The middle window let in the rays
of the rising Sun on the day of the Spring and Autumn Equinox.
The right, or southern-most window, let in the rays of the rising
Sun on the day of the Winter Solstice: the day when the Sun
reached its southern-most point in the Constellation (tropic) of
Capricorn.

In the northern hemisphere, the Autumn Equinox is that moment
of the year when the Moon, which has been pursuing the Sun for
the six months since the Spring or Vernal Equinox, has finally
caught up to the Sun and will now begin to out-distance the Sun
and rule the heavens for the next half year until the Sun once
again catches up to, and begins to outdistance, the Moon at the
Spring Equinox.

Mythologically, this is the celestial dance, the annual heavenly
pursuit, which takes place between the Sun and the Moon;
between darkness and light; between the feminine and the
masculine; between the Silver and Gold.

From the Autumn Equinox forward the Sun's Seeds (its solar rays)
begin to lose their power as the darkness of the lunar-ruled sky
cools the surface of the earth. It is the time when leaves change
color, fall from the trees, and blanket the earth. It is the time when
Mother Earth begins Her annual slumber...Her "long winter's nap".

Mythologically, the Autumn Equinox is the time when Persephone
bids adieu to her mother Demeter on earth, takes her Pomegranate
(which contains all of earth's fertile seasonal Seeds) below ground,
and spends the next six months with her husband in Hades.

The Autumn Equinox is the Time of the year when many plants
and animals begin taking shelter below the surface of the earth
while they await the warming of Spring in the womb of Mother
Earth.

This is also the time of year when the animal life which depends
on nature's nutrients either go into hibernation or seek out warmer
climates.

One of the Hermetic truisms is " As above so below, as below so
above". Therefore, metaphorically, this seasonal dance between the
Sun and the Moon reminds us that there is a time for activity and a
time for rest; a time for concentration and a time for meditation; a
time to pursue and a time to relax. For whether or not we are
aware of it, or want to accept it, we are all children of the universe
and part of the Great Cosmic Dance.

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 Four Elements (Alchemy, Astrology, Symbolism)

Esoterically, metaphysically, and astrologically we are Instructed
that the realm of matter consists of The Four Elements: Fire, Earth,
Air, and Water. Each one of these Elements is an integral part of the
physical universe. Therefore, creation is manifested by way of these
Four Elements.

Human beings are physical creations. Human beings exist in the
material realm. Thereby, human beings consist of, and are governed
by, the Divine Essences contained within, and expressed by, The
Four Elements.

The Four Elements are divided into two classes: one class consists
of the two seen, or visible, Elements and the other class consists of
the two the unseen, or invisible, Elements. The two visible Elements
are Fire and Earth, and the two unseen Elements are Air and Water.
With this in mind, let us take a look at each one of these Four
Elements so that we can better understand how we have been
designed by Deity to function within the realm of matter.

The Two Visible Elements (Man and Woman):

Fire: Fire is the masculine principle which radiates: it is assertive
and bestowing. Fire is the masculine Seed which impregnates the
feminine Womb. In the physical realm Fire is the Man; it is also
the Sun.

Earth: Earth is the feminine principle which receives: it is passive
and receptive. Earth is the feminine Womb which accepts the
masculine Seed. In the physical realm Earth is the Woman; it is
also Mother Earth.

The Two Invisible Elements (Thoughts and Feelings):

Air: Air is the masculine, mental principle: it is the conscious,
rational mind where Thoughts and ideas are created. The mind is
also the Gateway to Imagination. In the physical realm, Air is the
atmosphere and heavens above us into which we gaze for inspiration
and guidance.

Water: Water is the feminine, spiritual principle: it is the intuitive
Subconscious; it is the realm of feelings. It is also the deep Spiritual
Ocean, the primeval Chaos, where everything already exists and
awaits manifestation. In the physical realm, the Element of Water
represents our deep oceans which conceal and Veil, the numerous
Mysteries which lie below their surfaces.

A unique combination of The Four Elements exists in each one of
us and their unique combination determines who we are; they
determine our Divine Nature. For although we may be born a man
or a woman, a portion of the opposite gender is incorporated into
each and every one of us. This Divine Truth is expressed by way of
the yin-yang Symbol.

However, although all Four Elements exist within every one of us,
they are merely the "building blocks" necessary for creation. They
are not creation in and of themselves. For creation to occur, life
must be "breathed" into them by the Breath of Divinity which is
spoken of in all ancient texts. This "Breath of Divinity" is the
Mysterious and quintessential Fifth Element called Aether.

See also:
"The Apple - 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 2010

Rivers - As A Symbol (Part 1)

"You can never step into the same river;
for new waters are always flowing on to you."
-Heraclitus of Ephesus

"Follow the river and you will find the sea."
-French Proverb

Symbolically, a River represents the flow of Time. It Symbolizes
the natural flow of Nature along with all of Her Cycles, transitions,
transformations and passageways.

When we stand in the middle of a bridge above a River, and look
down, we experience a powerful, awe-inspiring, hypnotic sensation
as we watch the River flow beneath our feet. Although it is the same
River, it is the continual flow of new Water within that River which
mesmerizes and enchants us. The metaphor, "A lot of water under
the bridge" paints a mental picture of the hypnotic effect of the
passage of Time.

To get an even deeper "feel" for this passage of Time, let us first
consider the birth, journey and final transformation of a River.

A River begins as a spring of Water high up in the mountains.
Mountains Symbolize the higher realms of consciousness. They are
the home of gods and Wise Men and represent the Border between
the realms of Heaven and Earth. (See: The Fool and The Hermit).

This high mountain spring of Water is Water which has been filtered
and cleansed by way of a multi-year (and perhaps, multi-century)
journey through the womb of Mother Earth. When this water finally
emerges from Mother Earth it is Sacred, Pure and Life-Giving.

After leaving its mountain spring, these Waters join with other
Waters from other mountain springs to eventually form a River.
A River does not flow in a straight line, it has many twists and turns.
These twists and turns are Nature's way of keeping Her life-giving
Waters healthy: they create the eddys that aerate the Water which
is so vital to the nourishment and preservation of all the people,
animals and vegetation which rely on the River for sustenance.

Once the River has completed all of the twists and turns of its long
journey it finally empties into the sea. The point at which the River
enters the sea is called It's Delta. The Delta is a triangular area
which forms at the mouth of the River. The word Delta is derived
from a Greek symbol, also in the shape of a triangle, which means
"Change". Upon passing through Its Delta the River "Changes". Its
individuality comes to an end as It merges with all of the other
Rivers, which have also ended their long Journeys, to become part
of the One Great Sea.

Now that we have briefly explored the life-journey of a River, let us
move on to the Symbolism, mythology, metaphor and Lessons
contained within the River and its Waters.

First of all, although a River is composed of Water, it is important
to understand that the River and Its Water are two separate and
distinct essences; they are two separate and distinct Principles.
Water is the Feminine Essence which gives birth and nourishes.
The River, on the other hand, is the Masculine Principle which
Impregnates the soil of Mother Earth with Its Water.

Life on this planet cannot exist without the life-giving nourishment
of Water, and it is the River that provides that Water. Perhaps the
most familiar understanding we have of this Principle is the annual
return of the Nile River in Egypt. Each year the Nile River swells
along its river bed and impregnates the soil along Its banks with the
nourishing and life-giving supply of Water necessary to regenerate
the crop supply. Without the River there would be no Water.
Without the Water there would be no crops. Without the crops there
would be no life.

Creation myths from numerous cultures speak of a great mountain
from which four Rivers flowed in four different directions. These
Rivers provided the life-giving nourishment for the four cardinal
areas of creation (North, South, East and West). These Rivers
impregnated the lands which then gave birth to the exotic gardens
of myth and legend.

Symbolically, a Garden represents fertility and Abundance. For
there to be a Garden (fertility), Water (birth and nourishment) must
be very close at hand. And this Water can only be delivered by either
a River, Spring or Stream.

It is important to also note that a Well, which is also a Water supply,
is simply a man-made effort which taps into an underground River
or Stream.

The twists and turns which are a part of a River's long journey
symbolize the twists and turns which we encounter during our
earthly journey; our Incarnation. As with the River, our earthly
journey is not direct. Just as a River must take Time to turn, pause
and aerate Itself, we too must take Time to pause, alter course a
little, and refresh ourselves.

And just like the River, once our pause and refreshment is over we
are then ready to resume the next clear Path of our journey. The
River also reminds us that we can only go forward in our life's
Journey. It is when we attempt to go back (live in the Past) that we
find ourselves "swimming upstream" in a futile attempt to defy the
natural flow of Nature.

The River, in its long Journey, is Symbolic of life in general; and of
our lives in particular. There are periods when the River experiences
turbulent, chaotic and disturbing Times (rapids); there are periods
when It experiences twists, turns and pauses; and then there are
periods when the River flows peacefully, smoothly and calmly.

And finally, just as with each and every one of us, the Time comes
for the River to end its long Journey. This is the moment when the
River passes through its Delta (Change) to be transformed into, and
become part of, the Great Sea. This moment of transition for the
River symbolizes our moment of transformation which occurs when
our long earthly Journey comes to its end. This is the time when we
also Change in order to return to, and re-Become part of, that Great
Consciousness which we call Divinity. The River, what a great
metaphor for this complex Journey we call life!
Next: Rivers, 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 2009

Mother Earth - As A Symbol

Mother Earth: The Great Material Womb

She is called "Mother Earth" for a reason. She is Abundance.
She is Fertility. She is Alive.

Mother Earth is the Bringer, the Nourisher, and the Protectoress
of life. She contains, and provides, all the minerals and nutrients
that are necessary for human, animal, and plant life to begin,
grow, and mature.

It is through the intense heat which exists within the deepest depths
of Her Womb that precious metals and gemstones are created. Then,
just like a woman giving birth, She gently nudges these precious
metals and gemstones out of Her Womb and onto the surface of the
earth in order for mankind to use these precious gifts of Hers to
satisfy its material requirements.

Mother Earth is the Womb, and Home, for all plant life. She
accepts all Seeds deposited into Her soil, nourishes these Seeds,
and brings them to fruition. And, even after these Seeds are
manifested into plants and trees, She continues to nourish them
through Her many umbilical cords which we refer to as roots.

Mother Earth is the Womb, and Home, for all subterranean life.
She nourishes and protects the worms, insects, and other
underground life which live, and thrive, in Her soil.

Mother Earth also provides shelter for above-ground animal
(and human) life through Her many burrows and caves.
Indigenous Cultures and Sacred Societies have always associated
Her caves with Her Great Womb.

This is the reason why these Cultures and Societies have used, and
still use, Her caves for Initiation Ceremonies and Rites-of-Passage.
These Ceremonies have been performed in Her caves since the
earliest beginnings of Time.

Through a rite-of-passage Ceremony a youngster enters Her cave
as a youth and emerges, is re-born, as an adult. Through an
Initiation Ceremony a well-qualified individual enters Her cave
as an Initiate, receives higher degrees of Wisdom, Instruction, and
Knowledge, and then emerges from Her cave re-born as an
Illumined Master.

Mother Earth also purifies the Water that mankind contaminates
by re-cycling these Waters through her underground soils.
In the same manner which blood flows through our veins and is
purified, so too are Mother Earth's Waters re-cycled through the
enormous network of Her subterranean Rivers.

She cleanses, and re-mineralizes, these Waters by passing them
through Her many different types of underground soils. When Her
purification process is complete these purified and re-mineralized
Waters re-emerge upon Her surface by way of Her many springs.

And, in our final experience with Mother Earth, She is also the
Great Keeper. When our earthly journey finally comes to an end,
She graciously accepts our material remains back into Her soil;
Her Maternal Womb; Her Great Vault.

We speak of "destroying" Mother Earth. This kind of thinking is
the folly of Ignorance. All we mere mortals can do is simply make a
mess of Her Surface. She is indestructible to the surface misuses
of mankind. At the appropriate Time She will simply re-cycle the
messes that mankind has created on Her surface through some
cataclysmic Event and then repeat Her earthly Cycle anew. One
can only wonder how many times She has "cleaned up" mankind's
messes throughout the eons of Eternity.

In the meantime, we all should appreciate and respect Mother
Earth for what She truly is: a Living and Breathing Entity which
provides us with all the nourishments, protections, and materials
we require to make the most of our Current Incarnation.

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 2009