Decisions

There are two types of Decisions: Impulsive and Deliberate. An
Impulsive Decision is ruled by Passion while a Deliberate Decision
is governed by Reason.

An Impulsive Decision is a rash, blind, spur-of-the-moment
Choice we make when we allow the emotions of fear, guilt, or greed
to take control of our mind and our Actions. Impulsive Decisions
also occur when we relinquish our personal Sovereignty to external
pressures created by people or Events.

We justify our Impulsive Decisions with statements such as, "I just
had to do something!", or "I don't know what I was thinking at the
time". Impulsive Decisions, because they are quick and emotional,
are almost always followed by tragedy or regret.

A Deliberate Decision, on the other hand, is a long-developing
process in which we grapple with many different options, feelings
and Demons before coming to a final conclusion.

Examples of long-developing Deliberate Decisions are: changing
jobs, changing careers, discontinuing a Relationship, choosing a
college, moving to a new city...or country.

A long-developing Decision, just like a long-developing Event, has
many intricate ingredients Woven into it. All these ingredients
require Time to simmer, to Marinate, before a final conclusion can
be reached.

When we find ourselves confronted with a long-developing Decision
we are actually entering a period of Change in our lives. We are
confronting the Sphinx and its Riddle. We are entering a period of
Traveling, stagnation, and suspension, in which only Time and
patience can see us through.

Deliberate Decisions are represented Symbolically, by the card of
"The Hanged Man" in the Tarot deck. Metaphorically, it represents
a person in a state of suspension or stagnation who is viewing their
situation from different perspectives in order to Seek a proper
solution to their current dilemma.

Just like The Hanged Man, we too are in an uncomfortable state of
suspension, viewing our situation from different perspectives, when
we are in the midst of a Deliberate Decision. Once we have obtained
all the information and Insight required to solve our current dilemma
our state of suspension will come to an end and we can then proceed
down the next Path of our Current Incarnation.

Unlike the Impulsive Decision, a Deliberate Decision cannot be
explained by way of a simple statement or cliche. A Deliberate
Decision is far too detailed and intricate. Many options, feelings,
and insights, were explored. Many Demons were grappled with.
A great amount of Time, patience, and emotion, was expended in
getting us to our final conclusion.

This is why we find it so difficult when we try to "quickly" explain
our Deliberate Decisions to another person. Metaphorically, we find
ourselves trying to explain a gourmet recipe to someone as if it
came from a ready-made packet.

Deliberate Decisions can be difficult and painful. However, these
are the decisions, and Choices, which enable us to grow. They allow
us to travel new Paths. They enable us to experience new Horizons
that are just beyond our eyesight. They are an integral part of our
Current Incarnation.

See also: "Emotional Decisions"

(Image via Wikipedia)

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

Holy Of Holies - Sanctum Sanctorum (As A Symbol)

Just prior to reaching the main entrance of an ancient Temple a
visitor would would pass between two pillars situated on either
side of the walkway leading to the Temple entrance. One of the
pillars was a Symbolic representation of the realm of matter, and
the other pillar was a Symbolic representation of the realm of Spirit.
These two pillars were placed on either side of the walkway of the
Temple to remind the visitor of his, or her, dual nature which
consists of both matter and Spirit.

The pathway passing between the two pillars represented the
Transcending of Duality. Therefore, a person visiting the Temple
was made aware that by passing between the two pillars and
entering the Temple they had Symbolically left the realm of
duality behind them.

This journey into the Temple also reminded the visitor that the
true purpose of their Current Incarnation was to concentrate their
time and energies on the Spiritual matters which would enable
them to Transcend the dual nature of the world of matter in order
to enter into the Spiritual Realm of Unity.

These pillars through which the visitor passed would sometimes
take the shape of two obelisks and sometimes the shape of two
Sphinx: the Sphinx being the Spiritual Guardian of Entrances.

But regardless of whether the visitor passed between two pillars,
two obelisks, or two Sphinx, passing between these two Symbols
represented the Transcendence of Duality.

Upon entering the Temple, the visitor would then find themselves
within the main chamber of the Temple. It was in this main chamber
that the visitor would pay his, or her, respect to Divinity and also
contemplate and meditate upon spiritual matters.

However, within the most Secret, Sacred, and innermost part of the
ancient Temple was a very private area to which only the highest
of the High Priests were allowed access. This highly restricted area
was the Heart and Soul of the Temple and was referred to as the
Holy Of Holies; the Sanctum Sanctorum.

The Holy Of Holies was that Honored place within the Temple
where all of the most Sacred writings, relics, artifacts, and Lessons
of their Faith, which had been passed down through Time, were
now preserved and kept.

The design and Symbolism of the ancient Temple is a Symbolic
reminder that each one of us is a Temple. Ancient Teachings
remind us that "our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit".
When we consider that Spirit, by its very nature, is Holy this
phrase then translates into the statement, "our body is the
Temple of Spirit".

And as with the ancient Temple, our personal Temple also has within
it our very own Sacred, Secret, and Innermost Area: our very own
Holy Of Holies, our very own Sanctum Sanctorum.

It is within our personal Holy of Holies that our Spirit, our Atman,
our God Within, our Spiritual Life Force, our most Sacred Essence,
resides. And as the highest High Priest of our personal Temple we
have access to our Holy Of Holies any time we Choose. It is that
Sacred Place within us that we retreat to whenever we desire to
communicate with, and experience, the Divinity that resides within
each and every one of us.

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

Mist - As A Symbol

Symbolically: Mist is similar to the Veil. However, where the
Veil is a solid fabric that hides and protects what is behind it, Mist
is a slow drizzle that blurs, and distorts, our vision and Perception;
it prevents us from "seeing" clearly. Mist is that discomforting
confusion that we must wade through just prior to experiencing
Clarity. It is the feeling that what we are looking for is not yet
ready for us to understand.

Mist also Symbolizes a state of transition just prior to "seeing things
clearly" and resolving our current dilemma. It is like the Sphinx
that blocks the Path of our Journey until we can solve its one final
riddle.

Metaphorically: Mist creates a blurred vision of something
real and True that is not meant to be completely understood by
our rational mind; or, at least not meant to be understood by us
at that moment.

However: Mist is also a Gift from the Spiritual Realm. Mist is the
Gentle Rain of Fertility: the Sacred Substance that impregnates our
mind and spirit, enabling our Thoughts and insights to grow and
blossom. It is the warm, enveloping caress of Divinity letting us
know that what we are looking for is almost within our sight. It is
the feeling that soon we will be leaving the Valley of Mist behind us
and ascending to the higher ground of Sunlight and Clarity.

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 2008

The Egyptian Sphinx (Symbol, Myth, Mystery and Riddle)

Symbolically, The Sphinx is the "Spiritual Guardian of Entrances
and Thresholds".

Legends state that when someone came upon a Sphinx that person
would be asked to answer a Riddle. If the person solved the Riddle
they were allowed to pass. If they could not solve the Riddle they
would be devoured by the Sphinx.

In Symbolism, when attempting to understand a Symbol we must
take into consideration all the possible meanings, and concepts, that
the Symbol represents.

Entrances exist in all realms and dimensions. Here are some
examples of Entrances: material (doorways); mental (new ideas);
spiritual (higher planes of Wisdom); esoteric (Obscure Wisdom).

Entrances also exist at the beginnings of new Cycles, ages, and eras.
We are currently standing at the Entrance of the Age of Aquarius.
We are leaving the Age of Pisces. What Riddle is the Age of
Aquarius about to present to each one of us?

Whenever we begin to develop an new idea, open a new book,
acquire a new skill, attend a new school, move to a new city, or
Learn a new language, we are Symbolically standing in front of the
Sphinx who is guarding the Entrance to the knowledge we Seek and
the Adventure we are about to experience. An uneasy sense of
anticipation usually possesses us at these times. The knowledge
we Seek, and the Adventure we are about to pursue, is new and
foreign to us; it is a Riddle! Upon mastering our new skill (Riddle)
we are then allowed Entrance into the new knowledge, the new life,
and the new Adventure which we have been pursuing.

In taking this Symbolism a step further, the Sphinx is also the
"Spiritual Guardian of the Mysteries of Nature". Once we solve a
mystery it is no longer a mystery. It then becomes new knowledge;
new Wisdom. Whenever we solve a mystery (Riddle) we conquer
and tame the Sphinx. This is when a new realm, a new dimension,
a new Adventure opens itself up to us.

In the Tarot deck the Sphinx sits on top of the Wheel of Fortune,
which represents the Cycles of Eternity, and guards the Entrance
of a new Cycle. This card is also the 10th card of the Major Arcana.
The number 10 represents completion . As one Cycle ends a new
Cycle, of a higher degree, begins. The Sphinx, with its Riddle sits at
the Entrance of this new Cycle. These Cycles, and the Riddles that
accompany them, are eternal.

Here is another concept regarding the Sphinx. Ancient historians
state that the Egyptian Sphinx originally had the head and face of
a woman and that some unknown pharaoh had the original woman's
face modified to represent his own likeness. There is enough
evidence to make this a very convincing argument.

If this is True, then the Egyptian Sphinx could represent the cusp
(Entrance) of the Age of Leo. The Age of Leo is Entered after the Age
of Virgo is complete. The woman's face would, therefore, represent
the Age of Virgo, the Virgin, while the lions body would represent
the Age of Leo, the Lion. This would make the Sphinx incredibly,
incredibly Ancient!

The most recent Age of Leo began approximately 11,000 B.C. Prior
to that, the Age of Leo began approximately 37,000 B.C. Prior to
that, 63,000 B.C., etc....Just keep adding 26,000 years (the
approximate Time it takes to complete the Great Year) to the last
figure to continue the sequence.

We do not know exactly which Age of Leo the Sphinx could be
representing. The Sphinx can be breathtakingly ancient.

What was it that some long-forgotten culture was documenting
when they chiseled the Egyptian Sphinx out of bedrock in the very
distant Past on the cusp of an Age of Virgo and an Age of Leo?

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 2008