Interconnectedness - The Karmic Web(Symbolism and Metaphor)

"Always in motion is the future."
-Yoda, Jedi Master, "Star Wars"

Ancient texts from India tell us of Indra's Web. It is a string of
Interconnected Pearls which vibrates at all points when it is
touched at any point.

From Mythologies and tales from other parts of the world we
encounter the Spider's Web which, like Indra's Web, vibrates
at all points when someone, or something, touches it.

What these Symbols are teaching us is this: Our Actions vibrate,
and continue to reverberate, throughout all of creation the moment
we commit an Act.  This reminds us that we must be very careful
of the Actions we put into motion; for they can bring Consequences
that not only affect our future, but also the future of others who may
be in the vibrational path of our Actions.

In addition, just as our Actions can have Unexpected Consequences
on others, the Actions of others can have Unexpected Consequences
upon us. Everything is Interconnected; everything is inter-twined;
every Action has its vibratory, and Karmic, Consequence.

A good way to picture the vibrations, and Interconnectedness, of
Actions is by way of the "Pebble Cast Into The Pond".

Imagine tossing a Pebble into a pond. The Pebble is basically
motionless from where it is tossed into the pond. It simply sinks
to the bottom and comes to a rest. However, the Pebble,
although appearing to be relatively insignificant, can have far-
reaching Consequences. In this seemingly insignificant way, the
Symbolism of the Pebble is similar to the Symbolism of the
Feather.

The ripples, the Consequences, caused by this seemingly
insignificant Pebble continue outward to form an expanding
Circle that ultimately affects the farther reaches of the pond.

Now, imagine this: At the same Time that we are casting our
Pebble into the pond, another person casts another Pebble into
the pond in the vicinity of where we cast ours. Now the expanding,
Circles created by the two Pebbles are going to create an
unexpected effect upon each other. Plus they will now both have
expanding Consequences upon the pond. This represents the
independent, and most likely innocent, Actions of only two
Pebbles.

Now, consider multiple people casting multiple Pebbles into the
same pond. These multiple Pebbles create multiple vibratory and
expanding Circles which have multiple and incalculable
Consequences upon each other. The pond never stops rippling.

And just as the pond never stops rippling from the many pebbles
(disturbances) cast into it, neither does either the Spider's Web, or
Indra's Web, stop vibrating from all of the Actions and disturbances
tossed upon them by the multitude of humanity. A humanity that is
vibrating these Webs every moment of every day.

And to carry this Symbolism and metaphor even one step further,
today's Consequences are not only affected by the Actions of
others, but also by the Actions of those who lived in the Past.

And consequently, the Actions (vibrations) created by people
today can very likely create Unexpected Consequences upon
those who live in the future.

Indra's Web, the Spider's Web, and the Pebble In The Pond,
Symbolize the Web of Life.

Every one of our Actions has a vibration, a ripple effect, that not
only affects today, but eternity as well. The moment we perform
an Action it is recorded in the Akashic Hall of Records with our
name next to it. And as our Actions affect not only today, but
vibrate well into the future, they can have a profound affect on
Times and Events not yet manifested.

With so many individuals currently vibrating so many parts of
the Web of Life, along with such a vast amount of unresolved
vibrations from the Past, it is easy to understand why we are
engulfed and overwhelmed with Consequences both expected
and unexpected.

With these Thoughts in mind, it is vitally important that we weigh
the potential Consequences of our Actions before we "toss our
Pebble into the Pond".

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

Tom Bombadil - Nature Spirit - Part 1 (His Symbolism and Appearance)

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Note: This is the first of four articles on Tom Bombadil)

Tom Bombadil is an enchanting, jolly, powerful, and highly
Symbolic character who is introduced to us in J.R.R. Tolkien's
"The Fellowship of the Ring".

Several very interesting and detailed essays have been written
about this "enigmatic" character in an attempt to un-Veil who
Tom Bombadil is, and what he represents.

This article defines Tom Bombadil to be a Nature Spirit.

However, before simply stating that Tom Bombadil is a Nature
Spirit, we must first have a fair definition of this term. The article,
"Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings", provides a specific and
detailed definition of the term "Nature Spirit".

Based upon that definition, let us now take a look at some of the
Symbolism, and Mystery contained within this wonderfully
mysterious character called Tom Bombadil.

When Tom first appears, he is described as: wearing an old
battered hat with a long blue feather, great yellow boots, a blue
coat, and having a long brown beard. Later, Tom is described as
having thick brown hair.

Furthermore, "his face was red as a ripe apple but creased into a
hundred wrinkles of laughter".

As can be seen, we are presented with an abundance of color
Symbolism in Tom's attire and Appearance. Let us now carefully
analyze this Symbolism:

Old battered hat:

It is important to keep in mind that Tolkien possessed a very deep
understanding of Mythology. This would also encompass the
understanding of Symbolism, of which Color Symbolism plays an
integral part.

Therefore, it is interesting to note that while Tolkien is very specific
in describing the colors, and in many cases even the size, of Tom's
other clothing, along with his physical features, he does not
mention the color of Tom's hat. He simply describes it as "an old
battered hat with a tall crown".

As meticulous as Tolkien is in his descriptions of nearly everything
else in his writings, this makes the color of Tom Bombadil's hat
an intriguing curiosity!

But, back to the "old battered hat".

Anything "old" Symbolizes timelessness, antiquity, and Wisdom.
"Battered" Symbolizes a time-worn, and time-tested, familiarity.

Long blue feather:

A Feather comes from the wing of a bird. Wings and birds are
Symbols for Spirit. The fact that the Feather is long tells us that it
belongs to a very large bird; a Great Spirit.

Blue is the color of Truth. It Symbolizes "that which IS".

Long brown beard and thick brown hair:

Brown is the color of the earth; of soil. This tells us that Tom is
associated with the earth and is therefore an Earth Entity; an
Earth Spirit.

The fact that Tom's hair is long and thick suggests virility, potency,
plentifulness, and generative powers.

Blue coat:

Again, blue is the color of Truth. Therefore Tom "wears" the Truth;
he is "that which IS".

Great yellow boots:

Yellow is the color which is associated with, represents, and is
interchangeable with Gold. Gold Symbolizes the incorruptible, the
untarnishable, the unchangeable, the unalterable, the everlasting.

In mentioning that his boots were "great", we are again presented
with the Principle of Greatness or Largeness, just as in the length
of his Feather mentioned above.

The boots are what Tom walks in and is supported by. They are
also responsible for leaving his Footprint.

Therefore the great yellow boots are Symbolic that Tom walks in,
and is supported by, the untarnishable, the incorruptible, and the
everlasting. Furthermore, the Footprint Tom leaves, by way of his
"great boots", is a reminder to others that he is a representative,
and Bringer, of these Divine Qualities wherever he Travels.

His face was red as a ripe apple but creased into a hundred
wrinkles of laughter.

Here, in Tom's face, we encounter a striking familiarity to St.
Nicholas (Santa Claus), whose "cheeks were like roses, his
nose like a cherry!" ***

Red is a masculine essence which Symbolizes vitality, activity,
power, energy, and life-blood. In other words, Tom's Red face
Symbolizes an active masculine life-force.

The "wrinkles" in Tom's face again Symbolize age, Time, and the
Wisdom contained within the wrinkles of Time. More specifically,
Tom's wrinkles represent Aged (and Ageless) Wisdom.

Based upon the Symbolism contained within Tom's clothing and
features alone, we have enough details to classify him as a Nature
Spirit. However, this only describe Tom's outward appearance.

We will now turn to Tom's behavior and powers in order to further
determine why Tom Bombadil is a Nature Spirit.

An analysis of Tom's behavior and powers appears in
"Tom Bombadil - Nature Spirit - Part 2".

*** "Twas The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore

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

Maat - Egyptian Goddess (Symbol And Myth)

The Egyptian goddess Maat is one of the earliest Neters (Divine
Principles) to be recognized, depicted, and worshipped in Ancient
Egypt. Maat is also the original primal essence upon which nearly
all of the other Neters (gods and goddesses) relied upon for their
stability and sustenance.

Maat is a feminine Neter portrayed wearing an ostrich Feather atop
her head. As a feminine Neter, Maat depicts a feminine aspect of
Divinity.

Maat is the Symbolic representation of Stability, Balance, Justice,
Order and Truth upon which the cosmos, and everything contained
within the cosmos, including the material realm, relies.

Maat, therefore, Symbolizes cosmic, universal, and celestial
Harmony. She is the True, Stable essence of Creation which governs
the Rules of Eternity.

As Maat is the one Stable essence of all cosmic order, She was also
referred to as the "bread" of the gods. A concept later referred to in
Christianity as the "bread of the angels".

Although Maat is depicted as wearing an ostrich Feather atop her
head, this was not always the Symbolism used to portray Maat.
A very ancient Symbol for Maat was a short, wide Pedestal upon
which the other Neters would stand when exercising their Duty.

The straight, flat surface of a Pedestal is Symbolic of two Divine
Principles: Straightness and Elevation.

Elevation Symbolizes authority and superiority. Straightness, or
flatness, Symbolizes unwavering and constant.

When a Neter stood upon the Pedestal of Maat this not only elevated
that particular Neter to a position of authority and superiority, it also
provided the straightness and flatness that was necessary to insure
that this particular Neter would not wobble, waver, or risk being
unsteady when performing their Divine Duty.

When Maat is depicted wearing an ostrich Feather atop Her head,
She represents a different, and more visual way, to view Her
feminine Divine Nature.

The Feather is a Symbol for the lightest, most minuscule, Weight.
However, the Feather is also a part of a wing, and a wing is part
of a bird. Both birds and wings were ancient Egyptian Symbols
for Spirit. Therefore, in addition to Symbolizing a minuscule Weight
in the physical realm, the Feather also Symbolizes a Spiritual
Weight and essence in the higher, Unseen Realms.

The fact that the Feather of Maat comes from an ostrich is
perhaps based upon the even length, and symmetry, of the ostrich
Feather. This would be an allusion to Order and Constancy.

In addition, it is also perhaps based upon the fact that the ostrich
appears to bury its head in the sand. This could be another
allusion that the ostrich does not concern itself with the illusion
of what it appears to "see" with its physical eyes, but to what it
intuitively "sees" and understands with its spiritual Inner-Eye.
For Truth, Balance, and Harmony cannot be seen, they must
be intuitively understood; they simply are.

The Feather of Maat also played an important role in the ancient
Egyptian Ceremony called the Weighing Of The Heart. A
Ceremony in which the Heart of the Pharaoh, who is Symbolic
of all of us, is placed upon the Scales of Justice and Weighed
against the Feather of Maat. The Pharaoh's heart represented the
earthly deeds performed by the Pharaoh during his, or her, recently
completed Incarnation.

When the ancient Egyptians indicated that someone had Maat,
they meant that that person was in Balance with, and perfectly
attuned to, cosmic Harmony.

This cosmic Harmony has always been, and will always be,
available to each one of us. However, we must first make the
effort to understand cosmic Harmony. Once we are able to
intuitively understand this Divine Principle, we too will find
ourselves standing upon the stable platform of Maat and our
unwavering, and un-wobbling, Thoughts and Actions will
insure that when our Heart is finally placed upon the Scales
of Justice, at the end of our earthly Voyage, it will Weigh less
than the Feather of Maat.

 See also:
"The Feather As A Symbol"
"Egyptian Weighing of the Heart"
"Justice - And Its 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 2010

The Thread And The Tapestry

"Our Thoughts, Words, and Actions are the
Threads that Weave the Tapestry of our Lives."
- Joseph Panek

Isn't it amazing how one small, and seemingly insignificant, Event
can be the catalyst which creates significant and dramatic Change?
From the unraveling of well-Woven friendships to the fraying of
tightly knit groups, nations, and worlds, these small and seemingly
insignificant Events serve as the Feather which disrupts the fragile
Balance of equilibrium.

For example, a group of employees have been working together
in Harmony for a number of years. Then, one day, one of these
employees decides that it is time to quit the firm they are working
for and move on. This employee does not leave because of job
dissatisfaction. Perhaps this person wanted to move closer to
family, or to move to a more desirable climate, or because their
spouse received a job transfer. No malice is involved with this
initial employee leaving their job and co-workers.

However, the seemingly innocent action of this employee often
serves as a catalyst and, soon afterwards, a number of other
employees also decide to leave for similar innocent reasons and
things are no longer "the way they were" within the organization.

It almost seems as if this group of employees could have gone
on working together forever, but once that first employee moved
on, that person became the loose thread that unraveled the fabric,
the Harmony, of the group of employees.

A similar situation occurs when one member of a close-knit group
of friends moves to a different city. This friend's move is often the
catalyst, the Thread, which ultimately causes the group to slowly,
but eventually fray and break apart.

Examples of "The Thread That Unravels The Tapestry" occur not
only on the social plane, but on the personal, mental and spiritual
planes as well:

We find a flaw in something we have believed to be true for our
entire lives. This flaw becomes the Thread which unravels the
Tapestry of this Belief, and possibly of our Faith.

One unkind Word spoken, or one unjust Action taken, by someone
dear to us can often be the Thread which ultimately unravels the
Tapestry of a lifelong friendship.

One lie made by us, or told to us, will often be the Thread which
unravels the Tapestry of a years-long bond of trust.

Two lessons can be learned from these examples:

Lesson Number One: We, just like everyone else, are responsible
for our Words and Actions. With this in mind, we must "Weigh" our
Thoughts, Words, and Actions very carefully before we release them
upon others. Doing so insures that we will not expose any loose
Threads which may serve as a catalyst to unravel the Tapestry of
our character.

Lesson Number Two: Change is Eternal. And the longer Balance
is maintained, the less it takes to disrupt that Balance. During any
period of equilibrium, Time is patiently waiting for the proper
moment to drop the Feather which ends the balance that has been
in place for such a long time. At the appropriate moment, Time
drops the inevitable Feather which enables Change to once more
take control of matters and ensure that expansion and evolution
can resume their Eternal trek.

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

Blessings

"The proud man counts his newspaper clippings,
the humble man his blessings."
-Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

"When I started counting my blessings,
my whole life turned around."
-Willie Nelson

Blessing are the simple little gifts of Divinity which are bestowed
upon us nearly every day. They come to us in invisible little gift
boxes which contain no colorful gift wrapping, fancy bow or cute
little card to announce their arrival. Blessings are delivered to us
quietly and unannounced. It is up to us Seekers to recognize these
invisible little gifts when they come our way and be thankful and
appreciative for receiving them.

But what are these Blessings that we are supposed to recognize,
appreciate and be thankful for receiving?

To begin with, every morning most of us wake up with the Blessings
of our health, basic comforts, peace of mind and a good night's
sleep. These Blessings alone are a pretty good way to begin our
day. However, this is just the beginning of our day and our gift bag
will be full of numerous other blessings before our day is finished.

With these Thoughts in mind, let us take a look at some of the many
other Blessings which go into our gift bags every day.

Blessings as Common Courtesies: These are the kindnesses
and favors which are bestowed upon us by others. Some examples
of these kinds of Blessings are: the person who holds a door open
for us; a courteous driver who lets us enter a long line of traffic; a
child who smiles us and waves "hello"; a bank teller who opens a
new window to help us conduct our business more quickly; a
college professor who meets with us on his, or her, day off to offer
us guidance, and; coupons (or sales) which appear for us on items
we are suddenly in need of purchasing.

Common Courtesy Blessings come to us every day in many different
forms. They are the Feather, the "little things", that bring joy into
our lives.

Blessings as Divine Intercession: Symbolically, these types
of Blessings are represented by The Hand In The Cloud. These
Blessings take the form of answers and Insights that come to us
in our dreams, during meditations, "out of the blue", and during
conversations with friends and strangers.

Divine Intercession Blessings also occur in the form of unexpected
opportunities; a rare winter snowstorm in the desert; and,
butterflies, lightening bugs and the whisper of the breeze through
the trees.

While Blessings are being bestowed upon us every day, often we
are too immersed with our own "problems" and "misfortunes" to
recognize them. So, they pass us by.

However, recognizing and being thankful for our small blessings
prepares us to be able to recognize and be thankful for the greater
Blessings and opportunities which Divinity has prepared for us:
Blessings and opportunities which also come to us "Free Of 
Charge!"

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