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

Memories And Remembrances

"Antiquity is full of eulogies of another more remote antiquity."
- Voltaire

The Realm of Remembrance And Memory is that hypnotic, wispy
and ever-beckoning domain in which the memories of our youth,
childhood and mystical past reside.

Within each one of us is contained two different types of Memory:
remembrances of our personal Past and remembrances of our
primeval Past.

Our personal past contains all of the remembrances and
memories of our Current Incarnation. These consist of the fond
reminiscences which we allow ourselves to indulge in and savor;
they are our irretrievable experiences and friendships of a bygone
time .

And why is it that our most distant memories and remembrances are
the ones we seem to cherish the most?

Why is it that our oldest memories and friendships, those of our
youth and childhood, are the ones that are most vivid and dear to
us? Why are we able to recall events and friendships of our earliest
youth with greater clarity, emotion and melancholy than we can of
things which we have experienced only yesterday?

What is it that is so important to us about the place where we were
born? Furthermore, why were we born where we were born?

The place of our birth has a definite impact on every one of us: we
relate to it; we boast of it; we cherish it. And regardless of where
we may travel to, or where we may eventually "settle down", the
emotional pull of our birthplace is always tugging at our emotions
and our heart.

And it is not only we humans who feel the magnetic lure of our place
of birth for we see this same attraction in the animal kingdom.

Salmon battle every element and fight every obstacle, to even
exhaustion and death, in the attempt to return to the exact place of
their birth in order to spawn and re-create.

Butterflies will travel hundreds of miles to not only return to the
same tree where they were born but to the same branch for the
very same reason.

Again, the question remains, what is so powerful about the place
where we were born that a lifelong longing makes us "want to go
home"?

Now what about old friendships? How many of us would drop what
we are doing if we got an unexpected phone call from a high school
friend who we haven't talked to in years? How about a grade school
friend? How about a very dear childhood friend from the
neighborhood in which we grew up? What is it that is so important
to us about these very distant and initial friendships?

Perhaps the answer to all of these questions is that these are the
earliest threads which were used to weave the tapestry of who we
are today. These are also the earliest, purest and most naive
ingredients sprinkled into our youth which have had the most time
to marinate within us; a youth which we have abandoned for the
maturity and sophistication of adulthood; that magical and mystical
realm of innocent childhood that "once you pass its borders you can
never return again". ***

Just as we have a personal past, we also have a primeval past.

Our primeval past is the Subconscious and intuitive bond we
share with our most distant ancestors who lived in the most Veiled
and remote Mists of antiquity.

Our primeval past consists of our inherent and inbred traits which
originated, and were passed down to us, from our most ancient
elders who lived in the Time which the ancient Egyptians refer to as
Zep Tepi. Translated, ZepTepi means "The First Time". It is the
time when gods walked upon the earth and lived among mankind.

Our remote, primeval bonds are contained within our physical,
mental and spiritual fabric; our DNA. They are the ancient building
blocks from which we have all been constructed. These ancient
bonds, these remote links, form the foundation of who we, as both
individuals and a specie, are today.

And from our most distant links it is but one small step which takes
us into the Great Beyond; the mysterious and mystical domain of
Divine Consciousness from which all life originates and to which all
life must ultimately return.

When we attempt to ponder our most remote past, the past which
links us to the virtual beginnings of infinity, our minds become filled
with awe and wonder. This incomprehensible beginning-of-all-
beginnings is also a part of our physical, mental and spiritual fabric.
It is the original Seed which, long ago, sent us out on our personal
Journey of discovery so that we may someday return with our
treasure chest filled with all of the jewels and Wisdom which our
timeless voyage to many distant Horizons has bestowed upon us.

*** "Toyland" lyrics

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 Footprint - As A Symbol

The Footprint is a very Ancient and Sacred Symbol. Symbolically,
The Footprint represents the Memory, and the Teachings, of the
Master Teacher.

The Master Teacher has been called by many names throughout
the Ages: Christ, Buddha, Confucius, Hermes and Thoth to name
a few. Each one of these Master Teachers were a "channel" through
whom Divine Wisdom was imparted to humanity. They were a
direct contact between the earthly realm and Divinity.

The Footprint reminds us that these Master Teachers once resided
in our earthly domain and shared Divine Wisdom with us. And
although these Master Teachers are gone their Teachings, Their
Footprint, remains with us.

Each one of us has had a bitter-sweet experience of holding an object
given to us by someone we hold dear and who is no longer with us.
While holding this object we experience a brief feeling that that
person is still in our presence guiding us, teaching us and comforting
us. Although the feeling of this experience may finally pass, the
Memory of it does not. That person's object which we hold, and
cherish, is the essence of what that person means to us, it is that
person's "Footprint".

Here's another example...We have just had a stimulating encounter
with someone who has since moved on. We look down and see
that person's footprint still embedded in the sand. For a brief and
enchanting moment we actually "feel" as if that person's presence is
still with us as we stare down at their footprint. This is the Power,
the Spiritual Essence, that is Symbolized by the Footprint.

And just as those who are dear to us have left a mental "Footprint"
for us to remember them by, so have the Master Teachers of
Antiquity left their Spiritual Footprint for us to remember them
and their Work.

The Footprints of the Master Teachers are all around us. They are
the Spiritual Wisdoms found in the Ancient Teachings in every part
of the world. And although these Teachings may be called by many
different names, the essence of these teachings is the same
everywhere.

These Teachings, These Footprints, are available to
each and every one of us. No one group, organization or church owns
any of these Teachings. These Teachings are the Divine, Universal
Wisdom handed down to each and every one of us, freely, by the
Ancient Masters for us to study, absorb and use in a way that is
most compatible with our very own Divine Nature.

The Wisdom and Instruction is already there for us to use. All we
have to do is follow the Masters' Footprints that have already
preceded us down our Spiritual Path.

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