The Lighthouse - As A Symbol

The Lighthouse is a tall circular stone structure erected upon the
highest point of land that is closest to the sea and its potential
dangers. It notifies sailors that land is near and warns them that
they are approaching rocks, reefs and shallow waters which must
be navigated with caution. The Lighthouse is also a comforting
sign that the calm waters of a welcoming harbor are close at hand.

The Lighthouse stands alone and tall in both light and darkness
and it, along with its beacon, is a focal point which Symbolizes
strength, guidance and safe harbor; it is a Spiritual "Welcome Mat"
for all those who are traveling by sea.

Symbolically The Lighthouse is similar to the Star, and to the
Hermit of the Tarot Deck. However, as the Star serves as guidance
for all those who look to the heavens, or higher consciousness, and
the Hermit serves as a guide to all who wish to ascend the
mountaintop, or highest level of spiritual attainment here on earth,
the Lighthouse serves as a guide and beacon to all who are either
voyaging or adrift on Water.

Metaphorically, as the element of Water represents the emotions,
the Lighthouse is a Symbol for the Spiritual Strength and Emotional
Guidance which is available to us during the times we feel we are
being helplessly tossed around in a sea of inner turmoil.

With these thoughts in mind, let us now explore the metaphors
which are related to, and associated with, the Symbol of the
Lighthouse.

Storms consist of both wind (air) and rain (water). And as air is
the element representing the mind, and water is the element
representing the emotions, storms symbolize agitated thoughts
and emotions. Metaphorically, storms are our Inner Demons which
torment both our mind and our Subconscious.

The rocks, reefs and shallow waters symbolize the final
dangers and miseries which seem to accompany the end of any
turbulent voyage. Just as the saying, "its always darkest before the
dawn", things always seem the most dangerous and hopeless as we
reach the end of an emotional turmoil. This is the point when we
feel like tossing up our hands and giving up. However, it is just
after this point that our problems become solved, our crises wane
and we attain that new clarity and understanding which we have
been so desperately Seeking.

The Strength of the Lighthouse is Symbolized by its location.
It is erected at the highest point of land which is closest to the
sea and its dangers. Its circular construction makes it
impervious to the most bitter gales which time and nature can
hurl at it. As the Circle is a Symbol of Divinity, the circular
structure of the Lighthouse Symbolizes stable and reliable Spiritual
Guidance during our mental and emotional storms.

The Beacon is the Guiding Light, the Illuminated Eye, which shines
in all directions and enables all who are adrift at sea to use it as a
focal point in order to steer to the calm waters of the safe harbor
which the Lighthouse oversees.

Therefore the Symbol of the Lighthouse reminds us that, regardless
of how turbulent our emotional seas may become, we need only
focus on the Guiding Light of the Spiritual Lighthouse within us.
Our Inner Lighthouse is our inner strength; it is our God-within; it
is our Atman.

Our inner Lighthouse is also our spiritual guide which safely directs
us to that peaceful port-of-call which resides within each and every
one of us; a port-of-call that provides us with calm waters, safe
harbor and emotional tranquility from the turbulent seas which are
currently surrounding us.

Once we are safe within our Harbor of Tranquility we are better
able to evaluate the emotional tides and currents which are
temporarily disturbing our voyage. Then, once our emotional storm
finally passes, we can once again set out to sea and enjoy clear skies,
calm seas and prosperous Waters as we cheerfully sail toward new
Horizons and new Adventures.

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 Tarot Hermit - Symbol of Wisdom

"Bear in mind that those who are finer and nobler are
always alone-and necessarily so-and that because of
this they can enjoy the purity of their own atmosphere."
-Albert Einstein

                                                  (Image via Wikipedia)

The tarot card of "The Hermit" presents us with the overpowering
sensation of Wisdom and aloneness. The Hermit stands atop a lone
mountain peak clad in his long gray robes. He holds his Wizard's
Staff in his left hand while in his right hand he holds a lighted
lantern. He is looking downward.

In contrast to the tarot card of "The Fool", in which The Fool still
has higher mountains to climb and higher realms of consciousness
to achieve, The Hermit stands alone atop the highest mountain peak.

Mountains Symbolize higher realms of consciousness. The higher
the mountain, the higher the realm of consciousness. Having
reached the highest peak, The Hermit has attained the highest
level of consciousness.

The Hermit is also standing upon a blanket of white snow. The
color White symbolizes Purity and Enlightenment. Therefore, The
Hermit, in addition to achieving the highest level of consciousness,
has also attained Enlightenment.

The Hermit is heavily cloaked in long gray robes. Symbolically,
when something is cloaked, or Veiled, this informs us that either
an Eternal Truth or Divine Principle is being concealed from
anyone who is not Initiated or well-qualified. Therefore, we can
only imagine, and wonder, what Ancient Wisdom and Hidden
Secrets reside within this Lone Wanderer.

The color gray is the combination of the colors white and black.
When held in contrast to one another, white and black represent
Duality: white represents the masculine consciousness and black
represents the feminine subconscious. When Blended together,
white and black create the gray color of The Hermit's robes. This
signifies that The Hermit has mastered, and fully understands,
both the masculine and feminine Principles of Duality.

(For further insights on mastering Duality, please refer to:
Union of Duality and Transcending Duality.)

Next, we come to the Symbolism of the Wizard's Staff and the
lighted lantern:

Symbolically, the left hand represents the act of accepting or
receiving. Therefore, it is in his left hand that The Hermit holds
The Wizard's Staff. The Wizard's Staff represents the contents
of Sacred Books and Lessons which The Hermit leans on in order
to receive Divine Guidance throughout his many Journeys.

Symbolically, the right hand represents the act of bestowing or
offering. Therefore, it is in his right hand that The Hermit holds
a lighted lantern, which contains a Shining Golden Star, which he
offers as an "Untarnishable Guiding Light" to other Seekers.

And finally, The Hermit is looking downward from his lofty
mountain peak. He is looking down from whence he came while
at the same Time standing as a Beacon for any who may Choose
to follow. In effect, he is saying to those below: "Here I am. So,
too, you can be".

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

The Star - Symbol And Metaphor

"When you wish upon a Star,
Makes no difference who you are..."
-Jiminy Cricket, Walt Disney's "Pinocchio"

The Star presents us with one of the most beautiful and enchanting
of all Symbols. The Star Symbolizes: Aspiration, Inspiration,
Imagination, Wonder, Dreams, Pursuits, Magic (the Magical),
Creative Brilliance, and Divine Guidance.

To fully appreciate the Symbolism attached to The Star we must
first try to think back, and try to Imagine, what the night sky
looked like to Ancient Cultures.

Any of us who have driven through, or camped out in, remote
areas away from city lights have experienced an entirely different
night sky than the one we experience when we are within, or near,
a city. The number of Stars that can be seen in a remote area at
night seems Infinite. We experience an awe-inspiring and breath-
taking view of the real night sky that is always above us.

This is the same immense and awe-inspiring night sky that Ancient
Cultures experienced, and lived under, for millennia. It is the
Majestic "Canopy of the Heavens" referred to in Ancient Texts and
Symbols.

This Canopy consisted of not only an Infinite number of fixed-Stars,
but also Shooting-Stars, comets, meteors, and the Seven
"Wanderers". The Seven Wanderers are the five visible planets
plus the sun and the moon. This infinite night sky provided the
inspiration for their legends and mythologies.

The meteors ("Shooting-Stars") which fell to earth provided these
Ancient Cultures with Iron that they used to forge their many
different implements. They considered Iron to be a "Gift from the
Gods".

The Ancient Egyptians aligned their temples, monuments, and
buildings so as to be in Harmony with certain Stars. An
Alignment Ceremony called the "Stretching of the Cord" was
performed prior to the construction of their buildings. This
Ceremony aligned, and Harmonized, the placement of that
particular building with a specific Star. The Egyptian Neter Seshat,
who is recognized by the seven-pointed Star appearing above her
head, was invoked and honored during this Ceremony. Among Her
many attributes, Seshat Symbolizes Harmony and Equilibrium.

Our greatest Star, the Sun, not only radiates the energy that is
necessary for life on our planet but also determines which "Age"
our planet is currently experiencing based upon which
constellation of the Ecliptic (Zodiac) it is rising in on the Spring
Equinox. We are currently ending the Age of Pisces and preparing
to enter the Age of Aquarius.

And, in another interesting and charming piece of Symbolism,
Mythology, and Legend, many Ancient and modern Cultures
consider the Stars to be the Campfires of their Ancestors.
Ancestors who look down upon, and guide them; and to whom
they can look up to for Spiritual Guidance.

These are some of the Wondrous and Enchanting backgrounds from
which many of our current expressions about Stars find their origin.

"When you wish upon a Star", "Reach for the Stars" and
"Follow your Star" are metaphors for the Aspirations, Inspirations,
Dreams, and Creative Pursuits that live within each one of us.

"The Guiding Light" is a metaphor for Divine Guidance we rely upon
as we pursue our Dreams, Ambitions, and Adventures.

"Give me a tall ship and a Star to steer by": Mariners, both
Ancient and modern, use the fixed-Stars of the night sky to guide
them safely to their intended destinations. That fixed-Star by
which they steer their ship is also their "Guiding Light".

And, finally, to "Touch a Star" is a metaphor which means that we
have realized our Dream, Achieved our ambition, and safely and
successfully arrived at the end of our latest Adventure.

The Symbolism of The Star is a reminder to us that we can
embrace all the Wonder, Beauty, and Enchantment which The Star
represents. We merely have to "reach out" for our special Star and
allow It to "steer" us to our Dreams. Always keeping in mind the
immortal words of Jiminy Cricket, "When you wish upon a
Star, makes no difference who you are..."

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