The Apple - As A Symbol:(The Secret Vessel of the Five-Pointed Star and the Seeded Vulva)

The Apple:

What is it about the Apple? What caused this fruit to become
such a sacred, magical and enchanting Symbol in the
mythologies and folklores of the world?

We have Johnny Appleseed planting Apples everywhere.

An Apple fell upon the head of Isaac Newton as he was sitting
in the shade of an Apple tree (we should be thankful that
Sir Isaac did not choose to sit under a coconut tree!).

One of the twelve labors of Hercules required that he obtain
an Apple from the nymphs who guarded the Garden of the
Hesperides; thereby gaining him immortality.

King Arthur and Merlin are said to have sailed off to the
blessed Isle of Avalon where they enjoy eternal life.
Avalon is derived from the Welsh word for apple, afal.

And in Christian mythology Eve offers Adam an Apple,
a Forbidden Fruit which grew upon the Tree of Knowledge
of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. And though Eve
originally offered Adam "a fruit", this fruit later evolved
into an Apple.

In Greek mythology the Apple is associated with Aphrodite,
the goddess of Love. Also in Greek mythology, the root of the
word apple is associated with the sun god Apollo.

In Chinese mythology the Apple is the Symbol for peace and
the Apple blossom is a Symbol of feminine Beauty.

In mystic literature the Apple tree is Symbolic of the "Tree of
Life" or "Tree of Unity", the other tree which grew in the
Garden of Eden, or Paradise...the "Tree of Immortality" from
which Adam and Eve were permitted to eat.

The Apple tree is often also Symbolic of "The World Tree".

The Apple is a circular fruit. The Circle is a Symbol for "The All",
"The Eternal" and "The Complete". However, many other fruits
are circular: such as the orange, peach, nectarine, grapefruit
and even the grape. So why was the Apple chosen, above all
the other circular fruits, to represent "The All" along with
everything which is contained within "The All"?

The Apple was chosen because within the Apple there is
contained the Five-Pointed Star and the Seeded Vulva which
Symbolize the two aspects which are required for creation in
the material realm.

The Five-Pointed Star:

When we slice an Apple horizontally (width-wise), the Seed
structure at the center of the Apple forms a perfectly
symmetrical Five-Pointed Star.

Five is the number which represents the spiritual and unseen
aspect of life and creation. Within the number Five is
contained the Four Elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water
along with the quintessential Fifth Element which is referred
to by the Alchemists as Aether, the Chinese as ki or chi, the
Indian mystics as prana, and the ancient Egyptians as ka.

When Five is viewed in this Numerological manner it consists
of the numbers 4 + 1; the Four Elements plus Aether.

The number Five is represented in Symbolism by the Five-
Pointed Star of the ancient Egyptians; a Symbol which
abounds in their artwork.

We also find the Five-Pointed Star represented by the Chinese
character "da" which esoterically Symbolizes "the superior
[illuminated] person" and in Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian man:
the naked man with arms, legs and head outstretched in the
shape of a Five-Pointed Star...all contained within a Circle.

The Five-Pointed Star was also the secret Symbol of Pythagoras
and his followers.

The Seeded Vulva:

When we slice an Apple vertically (length-wise) the core
portion has the shape of the Vulva in which the Seeds are
contained.

Symbolically, the feminine Vulva-shape which contains the
masculine Seeds represents the act of creation in the physical
realm. For, in the physical realm, when the masculine Seed
enters the feminine Vulva, creation and life are the result.

The Seeded Vulva Symbolizes the complimentary aspects
of duality which, when joined together, in a Union of Duality,
create life not only in the physical but also the mental realm;
the two realms we experience during our Current Incarnation.

Conclusion:

Within the Circular confines of the Apple, "The All", is
contained the Symbolism of the two aspects necessary for
creation in the realm of matter: The Five-Pointed Star
(the spiritual, invisible essence) and the Seeded Vulva (the
material, visible essence).

When these two aspects are joined together, creation (human
life) occurs. This is the mystery which is further Symbolized by
the act of Weaving which is depicted for us by way of the
spinning wheel or loom. The spinning wheel or loom of
mythology and folklore takes two Threads, one Thread
representing the spiritual and the other Thread representing
the material,  and unites these two Threads into one in the
magical and mysterious act which creates a fully functioning
human being.

This is why the Apple, which contains within it the Symbolism
of the spiritual and material aspects of creation, is the
representative fruit of the creative process which we call life.
In the Apple we find, Symbolically, the spiritual (Five-Pointed
Star) and the material (Seeded Vulva) encircled by "The All".

In the material realm we can liken the Union of the Seed and
the Vulva to sexual awakening and physical creation. In the
mental realm, which is a complimentary aspect associated
with a person's physical realm, we can liken the aspects of
the Seed and the Vulva to the conception and fruition of ideas:
ideas (Seeds) which when planted and left to harvest within
the fertile Subconscious (Vulva) create for us new comforts,
achievements, and benefits. And all of this creation, both
physical and mental, contained within the Seeded Vulva is
powered by the mysterious energies Symbolized by the
Five-Pointed Star.

And finally, although the Apple has been associated with
temptation, the Word temptation can also be interpreted
to mean "test". And as a test, the Apple is a test-ament to
who and what we truly are: The power of the spiritual and
the physical aspects of creation all combined into One!

See also:
"The Four Elements";
"Aether";
"Draco the Dragon and the Garden of Eden";
"Vesica Piscis"

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 2013

Spirit And Matter

"Where the telescope ends the microscope begins,
and who can say which has the wider vision."
-Victor Hugo

For the purpose of this article, the terms Spirit and Energy are
interchangeable.

What is Spirit?

Ancient texts refer to Spirit by various different names and terms.
Some of the names used to refer to Spirit are: prana, chi, and
Aether. Some of the terms used to describe Spirit are: The Divine
Breath, The Word of God, the Hermetic Logos and the Guna Rajas.
The Pythagoreans referred to Spirit as the sacred quintessential
Fifth Element and used the Symbol of the Pentagram, or five-
pointed star, to represent this Divine Essence.

But regardless of whatever Word or term is used to represent or
describe Spirit, Spirit is Energy! It is the sublime and eternal Divine
Energy which permeates all manifested realms, space, and Time.

In its purest state, Spirit (Energy) is free and unbounded. The
metaphor "free spirit" is an excellent description of this eternal
Truth.

Science tells us that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it
can only change form. Energy can manifest itself into matter, or
it can remain in its free form. After its manifestation into matter
has completed its Cycle, energy returns to its free form...its
Free Spirit!

Spirit (energy) can, and does, exist without matter. However,
matter cannot exist without Spirit. Furthermore, Spirit (energy)
is contained within all matter.

What is matter?

Nearly all sacred texts allude to the mysterious process by
which Spirit manifests itself into matter. These sacred texts tell
of how Spirit leaves the realm of the sublime (the realm of Unity)
and descends through the spheres accumulating more and more
density until it ultimately appears in the physical realm (the realm
of duality) in the form of matter.

This process of manifestation is what is alluded to by the terms:
"The Fall", "Original Sin", and the "banishment from paradise".

Furthermore, the terms "adulterate" and "adultery" are also used
to refer to this process of material manifestation.

Adulterate means: to corrupt; to taint; to combine a higher and
faster vibratory energy (Spirit) with a lower or slower vibratory
manifestation (matter). In other words, it is the tainting of pure
Spirit with gross matter; it is the imprisoning of Spirit within
matter for a specific period of manifestation or Incarnation.

When science analyzes matter, it finds that at the heart of all
matter is atoms. These atoms combine to form molecules.
These molecules ultimately form the building blocks which
eventually manifest themselves as some form of matter: a tree,
a rock, a cathedral, a person, etc. But, again, at the heart of all
matter is the atom; an infinite and uncountable number of atoms.

At the center of every atom is an energy field around which an
electron, or a number of electrons, orbit themselves; similar to
the way the planets in our solar system orbit our sun. This energy
source at the center of every atom is the Spirit, the Aether, the
Divine Breath, and the Word of God referred to in religious texts.

Without this Divine energy source there would be no atom...
there would be no molecules...there would be no building blocks...
there would be no matter. Therefore the ultimate makeup of all
matter is energy, or Spirit.

Matter cannot be formed until Divine Consciousness combines
the appropriate energies which ultimately become the "spark"
which manifests matter from "nothingness". This nothingness
is the Great Abyss and the Gnostic and Hermetic Chaos which
is referred to in ancient and spiritual texts.

Manifestation is that specific moment when the Free Spirit of energy
becomes "entrapped" within matter for a specific amount of Time.
This is the process of creation.

Once Spirit tires of, or no longer has a use for, the matter in which
it is entrapped or adulterated with, it vacates matter and once again
becomes Free Spirit. This ultimate vacating of Spirit from matter is
what is referred to as "death" in the material realm and the freedom
of "release", or "re-birth", back into the Spiritual Realm from
whence it originally came.

See also: "Smoke - As A Symbol" 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 2011

The Egyptian Pyramid - Part 2(Symbolism and Metaphor)

"Where the telescope ends the microscope begins,
and who can say which has the wider vision."
-Victor Hugo

In "The Egyptian Pyramid - Part 1" we examined the Symbolism
and metaphor associated with the Triangular-shape of the Pyramid.
In this article, we will explore additional Esoteric aspects of that
wondrous and mystical structure we call the Pyramid.

In this article we will examine the following:
1. The numerology of the Pyramid;
2. The unfinished (truncated) top;
3. The invisible capstone;
4. The "All-Seeing Eye" (which appears on the U.S. Dollar bill);
5. The invisible descending Pyramid.

Numerology:

The structure of the Pyramid contains the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The number 1 is represented by the top, or peak, of the Pyramid.
1 is the number of Unity, the Source, and Genesis; it is the
number of the unmanifested aspects of Divinity.

The number 2 is represented by the two points of the axis that
exist at the peak of the Pyramid and its base. In addition to
representing duality the number 2, in this instance, represents
the World Axis, or World Tree. It is by way of this axis, or Tree,
that energy is exchanged between the Spiritual Realm above and
the world of matter below .

The number 3, represented by the Triangular shape of the Pyramid,
is the number of Creation which is explained in Vedic texts by way
of The Three Gunas.

The number 4, which is represented by the four sides of the
Pyramid, is the number which represents both matter and the
The Four Elements of matter: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.

The number 5, which by looking downward at the Pyramid from
above and seeing the four sides and the mid-point of its peak,
represents the quintessential (fifth-essential) Fifth Element.
When viewed in this manner, the Symbol of the Dot-Within-The-
Square is similar to that of The Dot Within The Circle.

Additionally, the number 5, which was the sacred number of
Pythagoras and his followers, and was Symbolized by them by
way of the pentagram, represents the Fifth Element referred to
as ki, qi, chi, prana, Aether, akasha, the Hebrew yod, and the
akh of Ancient Egypt.

This Fifth Element is the unmanifested and ever-flowing energy of
Divinity which rains down upon, and provides all aspects of Divine
Energy to, all things which exist in the seen, and unseen, realms
of the cosmos.

The Unfinished Top:

The top of the Great Pyramid is flat, unfinished, truncated. We
see this Symbolism represented of the back of the U.S. one-dollar
bill. This unfinished top represents unfinished work.

This Symbolism is a Lesson that teaches us that our inner-work,
while we still occupy the realm of matter and duality, is never
complete until we reach the state of being which enables us to
ascend to the sublime realms of the eternal heavens above.

The Invisible Capstone:

Pyramids are used as Capstones. Capstones represent a finished
work of great importance. We find Capstones mounted at the top
of obelisks. An obelisk is a vertical rectangular structure with a
Pyramid at its top.

Obelisks are erected at the geographical center, mid-point, or heart
of a city, nation, or civilization. The place where an obelisk is
located is the most important and central point, or heart, of a
culture; a central point which must must be defended at all costs.
The Washington Monument is the obelisk which represents the
heart of the United States.

Obelisks contain the numbers 3 and 4. The number 4 being the
four sides of the rectangle forming the obelisk (numerologically,
the square and rectangle are similar) while the number 3 being
the Triangle of the Capstone (Pyramid) at its top.

The obelisk bonds together the spiritual number 3 with the number
4 of matter; forming a union of our spiritual and material selfs both
as individuals and as a civilization.

The Invisible Capstone appears above the unfinished Great Pyramid
on the back of the U.S. one-dollar bill. In this depiction, the
Invisible Capstone Symbolizes the highest point of ascension and
Awareness we can achieve while still occupying the realm of duality
and matter. The next higher point above this invisible Capstone is the
realm of Ascension where re-incarnation is no longer required of our
spiritual self.

The All-Seeing Eye:

The All-Seeing Eye, also called the "Eye of Horus", represents the
Path of Direct Ascension (whereas Osiris represents the Path of
ultimate Ascension through numerous re-Incarnations).

The All-Seeing Eye appears on the back of the U.S. one-dollar bill.
It is located within a Triangle atop of, but not touching, the
unfinished Pyramid.

As the All-Seeing-Eye appears in a Triangle, or Pyramid, this tells
us that it is a Spiritual essence. Also, because the Pyramid which
houses it is above, and not touching, the unfinished Pyramid below,
it reminds us that the All-Seeing Eye, while still being associated
with the world of duality and matter, is no longer a part of that realm.

This location of the All-Seeing-Eye represents the point where the
world of matter comes into contact with the realm of the abstract
and unknown.

The All-Seeing Eye, being atop the highest point of the Pyramid,
Symbolizes the Vision which "sees" clearly in not only all directions
but below and above as well.

However, "seeing" does not merely mean "looking at". This kind of
seeing means total and full Awareness: the ability to both observe
and understand what is occurring in all directions, on all levels, and
in all realms.

At this point, the mortal intellect Becomes prepared to ascend into
the realm of Spiritual Awareness...alone! The mind and Spirit
transcend. Knowledge gives way to Wisdom. Seeing Becomes
total Spiritual Awareness.

At this level we are no longer entrapped within the physical realm
and are about to ascend into the upper, inverted, and invisible
Triangle above, which is the domain of Divinity and higher spiritual
beings.

The Invisible Descending Pyramid:

Picture this: an hour-glass with its bottom-half visible and its top-
half invisible. The middle of the hour-glass, where its two points
meet, is where all the action takes place. This mid-point where the
sand from the invisible upper realm descends into the visible lower
realm; this Symbolizes the point of manifestation, Incarnation, and
re-Incarnation.

When all of the sand finally flows into the lower realm, and the job
of the hour-glass (Time) is complete, we then turn the hour-glass
over and return the sand back into the invisible realm from whence
it originally came; this Symbolizes Ascension and Transcendence.

This is the Symbolism associated with the invisible and descending
upper Pyramid mounted atop the visible and ascending lower
Pyramid.

Creation occurs in two directions: downward and upward. The top,
invisible, and downward pointing Triangle (Pyramid) represents the
realm of Divinity and Unity as It creates, and manifests, downward
into the realm of matter. The bottom, visible, and upward pointing
Triangle (Pyramid)  represents the realm of matter where we work
on freeing ourselves of our material and physical burdens and
perform the inner-work necessary to Ascend ourselves back into
the Spiritual Realm from whence we originally came.

These two Pyramids also represent the visible World Tree and its
invisible, Spiritual counterpart. The invisible Spiritual Tree has its
roots in the heavens and its branches in the realm of matter.
The visible World Tree has its roots in the realm of matter and
its branches in the heavens above. This Symbolizes the ability
of all energies, essences, and beings to both ascend into the
upper realms and descend into the lower realms in a continuous
on-going process of creation and Ascension.

One final note: if we take the upper Triangle and superimpose it
within the lower Triangle we have the Symbol for the "Star of David"
which represents the bonding of spirit within matter, the masculine
with the feminine, the yin and yang, and the Union of Duality.

(See Also: "The Egyptian Pyramid - Part 1")

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

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

Aether - The Fifth Element (Alchemy, Astrology, Symbolism)

"You must feel the force around you;
here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere."
-Yoda, "Star Wars"

The Force...Prana...Aether...they all refer to the same thing: The
Vital Energy, The Vital Life Force, the Divine Essence which holds
everything together and provides the Spiritual Energy, which we
call Life, to all things in all realms and dimensions.

Prana is the Ancient Sanskrit term used to refer to this Vital
Spiritual Energy. In ancient Egypt it was called ka. The Chinese
call this energy ki or chi.Later on, Prana, ka and chi became
known as Aether by the Alchemists, Metaphysicians and
Astrologers. Aether is the term that is normally used to describe
this Vital Life Force today. The Jedi Masters of the Star Wars
episodes provided a much Simpler term to this Vital Spiritual
Energy: they Simply referred to it as The Force.

Whether we call this Vital Spiritual Energy Prana, The Force, or
Aether, these names all refer to the same thing. Aether is the
Essential Spiritual Energy which enables life, in all of its forms, to
exist, function and interact in Harmony within all realms and
dimensions. Aether is the "Spiritual Breath" of Divinity. Aether is
the Divine Life Force that exists within the Air that we breathe.
Aether is the Divine Life Force that holds the heavens together and
allows the stars, planets, solar systems, galaxies, and universes, to
co-exist and interact in Harmony with each other.

Aether is the Sacred and Secret Fifth-Element that was held in such
high-esteem by Pythagoras and his students. The Pythagoreans
understood that Aether was the invisible Life Force that enabled the
Four Elements of Creation (Fire, Earth, Air and Water) to function,
interact and create. The Pythagoreans honored Aether by embracing
the Five-Pointed-Star as their most sacred Symbol. The five points
of the Five-Pointed-Star represented Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and
Aether. The Fifth Point of the Star, along with the number Five,
represented the Spiritual Breath of Divinity: Aether.

On our planet, oxygen is necessary for human and animal life to
survive. Each time we inhale we ingest the element of oxygen into
ourselves. But, how often do we consider the Universal Life Force,
the Spiritual Essence, which is contained within the element of
oxygen that we are inhaling?

Oxygen is simply an earthly element. However, within this earthly
element of oxygen is contained the Vital Spiritual Life Force of
Aether. And it is this Spiritual Essence of Aether, contained within
the physical element of oxygen, which gives us life and enables us
to function and interact here in the material realm. With each
breath we take, we are inhaling both oxygen and Aether.

And as Aether is the Universal Spiritual Life Force that connects
and flows through all things, it is through Aether that we, too, are
part of, and are able to interact with, all things in all realms and
dimensions...including Divinity!

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 2009