The Rainbow - As A Symbol

"Somewhere over the Rainbow,
way up high
There's a land that I heard of,
once in a lullaby.
...Birds fly over the Rainbow,
why then, oh why can't I?"
-lyrics: "Over the Rainbow", from "Wizard of Oz"

A Rainbow is one of the most beautiful artistic creations that
Nature herself can paint for us. When we are given the
opportunity to view a Rainbow we become mesmerized and
enchanted by the breathtaking Beauty which appears in the
untouchable distance; a Beauty which comes to us directly
from the paintbrush of Divinity.

All four of Nature's Elements participate in the creation of the
Rainbow: Fire, Earth, Air and Water.

The Rainbow is created by the first rays of the Sun (Fire)
piercing through the heavenly dew (Water) which is still
suspended in the sky above (Air) after a rainstorm. And the
Rainbow touches the ground below (Earth) at both ends of its
majestic arc.

The Symbolism of the Rainbow is both rich and ancient.

As a bridge:

First of all, the Rainbow looks just like a bridge which links two
parts of the earth. However, as the highest point of the Rainbow
touches the heavens, it also represents a link, or bridge, between
the Spiritual realm above with the realm of matter below.

In this respect the Rainbow, as a bridge, is a pathway, a Ladder,
or an intermediary by which Spirit can descend into matter and
matter can ascend back to Spirit. It also represents the link through
which the worlds of Spirit and matter can communicate with each
other.

And, as being a link between heaven and earth, or gods and mortals,
it therefore represents the colorful medium through which Divine
Speech, Word and Instruction is bestowed upon humanity.

As a journey's end:

The leprechaun's legendary and mystical "pot of Gold" is to be
found at the end of the Rainbow. The leprechaun wears a green
jacket and green is the color of the evergreen, or eternal. It is
also the color of fertility and abundance. Gold is a Symbol for
the untarnishable and the incorruptible. Therefore the leprechaun's
"pot of Gold" represents the pure and eternal replenishment of
abundance and fertility, the Cornucopia, which abounds throughout
Nature's realm.

Noah saw a Rainbow at the end of the great and turbulent Flood
which signified the end of his voyage and a return to calmness and
peace. In this respect the Rainbow is also a Symbol for cleansing.

As A Symbol for Cleansing:

As the Rainbow only appears after stormy skies, it is a Symbol
for the restoration of cosmic order.

As celestial rain is necessary for the skies to be cleansed and
the Earth to be nourished the Rainbow Symbolizes Divinity's
cleansing and fertilizing Cycle. This Cycle ushers in the next
period of Nature's growth and rebirth.

And, just as turbulent storms are necessary for Nature to
cleanse and feed the Earth, so too are emotional storms
necessary in our lives in order to cleanse away our burdens
and feed our souls.

In this respect the Rainbow also Symbolizes the peace and
calmness which comes to us at the end of unsettling periods of
our lives.

For, after our emotional tears are finally drained from us our Road
ahead becomes clear, our Rainbow is shining above it, and the
Path we must follow toward our objective, our "pot of Gold", now
Becomes clear to us.

Colors Of The Rainbow:

A seven-colored Rainbow is created when invisible light passes
through Water particles in the sky.

The seven colors of the Rainbow are also brought into view when
invisible light passes through a prism.

This passing of invisible light through either Water particles or a
prism Symbolizes the manifestation of Spirit into matter. It is the
manifested "appearance" of invisible Deity in the physical realm.

When we gaze upon a Rainbow we are granted a brief glance at
one of the beautiful physical aspects of the Divine Unknowable.

The seven colors of the Rainbow represent the seven spheres, or
seven Heavens, through which Spirit descends in order to become
physical matter.

The seven colors of the Rainbow are also the colors associated
with the seven Chakras. From base to crown, the seven colors of
the Chakras are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and
violet.

And just as these seven colors are the manifestation of invisible
Deity through either dewy skies or a prism, so too do these
seven colors of our Chakras represent the manifestation of
invisible Divinity within each one of us as our Atman, or God within.

Here is an interesting note: although we are taught that the Three
primary colors are red, yellow and blue, there is a fourth primary
color, indigo, which is the color associated with our "third eye"
Chakra.

Primary means something which is first or original; something
which cannot be created from something else; something
unique and therefore "god-like". And it is in this respect that the
color indigo represents the "god-like" power which exists within
the pineal gland of our "third-eye" Chakra.

The Second Inverted Rainbow:

From Wikipedia: Although most people will not notice it because
they are not actively looking for it, a dim secondary rainbow is
often present outside the primary bow. Secondary rainbows are
caused by a double reflection of sunlight inside the raindrops, and
appear at an angle of 50–53°. As a result of the second reflection,
the colours of a secondary rainbow are inverted compared to the
primary bow, with blue on the outside and red on the inside. The
secondary rainbow is fainter than the primary because more light
escapes from two reflections compared to one and because the
rainbow itself is spread over a greater area of the sky. The dark
area of unlit sky lying between the primary and secondary bows
is called Alexander's band, after Alexander of Aphrodisias who
first described it.

The 50-53 degree angle of the Rainbow is also similar to the
angle, or outer slope, of the Great Pyramid which is approximately
51.85 degrees. Therefore, much of the Symbolism associated
with the Great Pyramid also applies to the Rainbow.
(See: "Egyptian Pyramid, Part 1" and "Egyptian Pyramid, Part 2")

The second Rainbow is both nearly invisible and its colors are
inverted. Its near-invisibility offers us, and Symbolizes, a short-lived
glimpse of the manifestation of Divinity into the usually invisible
Spiritual realm.

Its inverted colors Symbolize both the Mirror and the process of
ascension and descension.

As all Mirrors are a reflection, in reverse, of that which is being
reflected, the visible Rainbow is a reflection and earthly
manifestation of the seldom visible Spiritual Rainbow. Just as
Spirit manifests into matter, so too does the Spiritual Rainbow
manifest itself into the visible physical Rainbow; but in a reverse
colored order.

As we experience ascension through the progression of our
Chakras from red to violet, Spirit experiences descension
(manifestation) into the physical realm by way of the seven colored
spheres, or Chakras, of violet to red.

Therefore, the colors of the seldom seen, and nearly invisible,
second Rainbow Symbolize the order of descent of Spirit into
matter. The colors of the visible Rainbow Symbolize the order
of ascent of matter back into Spirit.

Closing Thoughts and Observations:

The Rainbow is the result, or manifestation, of the union of
Sun-light (Superconscious illumination and enlightenment) with
Water (the Great Sub-Conscious and the Mysterious Unknown).

As the Rainbow only appears after turbulent storms it is a
Symbol of the cleansing process which heralds in new life, new
creation and new Times.

As the chameleon can change its body color into any of the
seven colors of the Rainbow, it is associated with the Rainbow.

Rainbow-colored ribbons are used by Shamans when they
"journey into the sky" by way of their trance-like astral voyages.
It is during these meditative journeys that the Shaman raises his,
or her, consciousness to a higher state of awareness in order
to transit into the higher Spiritual realms for divinitory purposes.

The seven Chakra colors of the Rainbow also represent the
ultimate state of transformation we can experience during
meditation whereby all of the visible colors of manifestation,
from densest to purest, are transformed back into invisible and
pre-manifested light; a process through which we can experience
a return to the Oneness of paradise.

And finally, from Dictionary of Symbolism by Hans Biedermann,
pages 277-8, we have the following:

In ancient Greece Iris was the virginal rainbow goddess, rushing
down from Mount Olympus to communicate to mortals the
commands of Zeus and Hera; Iris is portrayed with WINGS and
the CADUCEUS, clothed in the "iridescent" dew. (The similarly
iridescent pigmented membrane of the eye is thus called the "iris".)

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 2012

Virgin Birth(Symbolism, Mythology, and Mystery)

The doctrine of Virgin Birth is an extremely ancient and common
motif (theme) found in the numerous mythologies, legends, and
religions throughout our planet.

However, before we begin to explore the doctrine of Virgin Birth, it
is important that we understand the Alchemical, Hermetic, Gnostic,
and Esoteric meaning of the Word Virgin; a designation which
comes down to us from the earliest dawn of antiquity.

Virgin, or Virginity is the pure; the untainted; the unadulterated.
And the only True essence which fits this description of Virginity
is Spirit. Specifically, the Virgin is that Esoteric Spiritual essence
which is untainted or unadulterated by union with matter.

Therefore, Virgin Birth is Creation which occurs in the Spiritual
Realm. It is pre-manifested Thought of the highest degree.

One of  the oldest accounts of Virgin Birth comes to us by way of
the ancient Egyptian Mystery concerning Osiris and his wife-sister
Isis.

After Seth murdered Osiris, and cut his body into fourteen parts
which he scattered throughout creation, Isis scoured the entire
world collecting Osiris' parts in order to reconstruct the body of
her husband.  She was able to locate every part of Osiris' body
except one - his penis.

After she located all of Osiris' severed parts - save one - and
reconstructed his body, she then hovered over the reconstructed
body of her dead husband, became impregnated, and gave birth
to Horus.

This Ancient Egyptian Mystery illustrates to us that this was not
a physical birth. It was a Spiritual Birth; it was an Immaculate
Conception.

This Egyptian Mystery is the same Lesson which comes to us
by way of the Symbolic Trinity (Father, Son, and [Holy]Spirit).
It is also the same Lesson which comes to us by way of
The Three Gunas (Sattwa, Tamas, and Rajas). And, it is the
same Lesson which comes to us from Hermetic texts (Nous,
Chaos, and Logos).

In the Egyptian Mystery Osiris is the Father (the creator), Sattwa,
and Nous. Horus is the Son (the created), Tamas, and Chaos. Isis
is the Spirit (of creation), Rajas, and Logos.

A great deal of Symbolic Wisdom is contained within the Egyptian
Mystery of Isis and Osiris.

The slaying of Osiris is Symbolic of the end of one life, or Cycle,
so that another life, Cycle, or Incarnation can begin. As Osiris is
the Egyptian Neter who personifies re-Incarnation, He represents
the continuing Cycles of re-incarnation we must progress through
until all of our Inner Demons are slain and Spiritual perfection
is accomplished.

The number 14 represents the fourteen segments of the waning
moon, it is therefore Symbolic of the waning portion of a Cycle.

The fact that the penis of Osiris was never recovered by Isis
teaches us that the "birth" created between Isis and Osiris is
a spiritual and abstract creation which comes about by way of
Osiris "dying" in the physical and becoming transformed into a
higher essence so that His Seed can reproduce itself, with the
Spiritual assistance of Isis, on the next higher realm. This is
a continuing Cycle which forever repeats itself until Spiritual
completion is attained.

This continuing Cyclical principle of death, transformation, and
re-birth into a higher realm is the theme which is Remembered,
and honored, through the performance of Initiation Rituals and
Rites of Passage. It is this Spiritual and Esoteric process which
is represented by the Egyptian Symbol of the Ankh.

Isis, the Virgin, is the unseen creative essence which stimulates
creation, and re-creation, in the Spiritual, mental, and abstract
realms. Without the Spiritual stimulation of creative energy
which Isis provides, the ability to create could not exist between
the creator and the created. Therefore Isis Symbolizes the
Spiritual creative principle which is invoked in Initiation Rituals
and magical Ceremonies.

Horus Symbolizes the abstract, Esoteric, and Spiritual Creation
which is the result of Virgin Birth. And because Horus is the
highest essence which is created between Spirit (Isis) and the
higher and higher re-incarnations of Osiris, Horus is the Symbol
and essence of direct ascension. Horus Symbolizes the Path
which is available to, and can be Traveled by, the select few
who Choose to resolve all of their Incarnations in one lifetime.

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

Flying(Dreams, Mythology, and Symbolism)

"I fly because it releases my mind
from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"Angels can fly because they carry no burdens."
- Eileen Elias Freeman,
"The Angels' Little Instruction Book"

Most of us have had dreams of flying; of soaring to breathtaking
heights. In addition, the mythologies and legends of numerous
cultures throughout our world speak of winged-serpents, flying
horses, winged-angels, and flying carpets.

Flying is an inbred part of both our consciousness and our
Subconscious...our dreams. And because it is such a deeply
embedded part of our dreams, it means that flying is more than
just a mere curiosity. For, to be a part of our dreams, Flying must
also be an archetypal part of our DNA. This means that Flying
must be an original pattern, concept, myth, or Divine Principle
which has been a part of our collective unconscious since the
earliest ages of our most remote ancestry.

With these Thoughts in mind, let us look into the Symbolism and
mythology of Flying.

Symbolically, and in dreams, Flying represents: freedom, joy,
confidence, and independence.

Esoterically, it represents: the soaring mind, higher consciousness,
elevated perception, total Awareness, Spirituality, and the
All-Seeing Eye. Therefore Flying is a Spiritual reminder of the
Divine Essence, and unlimited potential, which exists within us
and forever accompanies us as our higher-self...our God Within...
our Atman.

As a Symbol for Ascension, Flying is similar to the Ladder.
However, where the Ladder represents indirect Ascension
achieved one-rung-at-a-time by way of many re-incarnations,
Flying represents the rapid, and direct,  Ascension which can
be achieved in one Incarnation.

Flying, as rapid and direct ascent, represents the freedom and
ability to soar at will above the mundane and superficial. It means
that all chains and obligations to the material realm have been
tossed away. All Lessons have been properly Learned and their
Wisdom thoroughly absorbed. We are now free to Fly-Away to
anywhere, and any-when, we Choose; for all bonds to the material
have been completely discarded.

As a note: further Symbolism for direct Ascension versus indirect
Ascension comes to us by way of two Neters from Ancient Egypt.
Osiris (the Ibis) represents the process of indirect Ascension
through many re-incarnations. Horus (the hawk) represents the
process of soaring to direct Ascension, which some are able to
achieve, in only one Incarnation.

An interesting quote regarding direct Ascension comes to us from
the Episode "Meridian" in the Stargate SG-1 series: "When the
mind is enlightened, the spirit is free and the body matters not."

The Winged Horse Symbolizes "the heightening power of natural
forces" ***.

The horse is an ancient Symbol for Travel and journeying. Adding
wings to the horse, therefore, enables it to not only Travel faster
but to also Travel into higher realms. The Winged Horse, therefore,
is a magical and mystical creature which has the spiritual ability
to carry a worthy and well-qualified Initiate away from the world
of gross matter and into the higher, more sublime, and rarefied
realms which are the domain of Spirit and Divinity.

The Winged Horse and the Unicorn are both mystical and
magical horse-like creatures that have the ability to Travel
between realms. But, unlike the Winged Horse, the Unicorn
does not carry anyone.

Winged Angels are Symbolic representations of enlightened
beings who have the ability to Travel between all realms and
act as Spiritual Guides, or Messengers

In addition, Angels are a much later representation of the
Egyptian Neter.

The Winged Serpent Symbolizes the Union of matter with
Spirit which is the inherent make-up of all persons, plants,
animals, and minerals which occupy the realm of duality and
matter. It is a Symbolic reminder that even the lowliest creature
contains the spark of Spirit within it.

The Flying Carpet: How many of us have been enchanted by
the "Tales of the Arabian Nights" wherein the hero, or heroine,
steps onto a Magic Carpet and is instantly transported anywhere
they desire?

Symbolically, a Carpet is a safe, restricted, special, and sacred
space which cushions us from, and separates us from, the earth
or floor beneath us; it also provides comfort and support.

Therefore the Flying Carpet is the Spiritual Support which
insulates us from the mundane and allows us to soar above
the troubles and obstacles which permeate the realm of matter.
In other Words, the Flying Carpet Symbolizes escape from the
mundane, gross, and superficial. It is the Symbolic vehicle that
can be used to Ascend to the higher and more sublime realms of
our most fascinating and spellbinding dreams. It carries us into
the realm of higher Awareness and allows us to perceive great
distances from a higher, and much purer, point-of-view.

In addition, because the Carpet is a flat surface, its Symbolism
is similar to the Truncated Pyramid.

*** From: "A Dictionary of Symbols" by J.E. Cirlot, page 251
in reference to Pegasus.

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 Pelican (As A Symbol)

There is an ancient legend regarding the Pelican that, in Times of
drastic need, it will pierce its breast to feed its young with its own
blood. Therefore, this ultimate "out-pouring" of the Pelican for its
loved ones makes it a Symbol for Self-Sacrifice and resurrection.
And because of this, the Pelican often appears in crucifixion
scenes.

The piercing of the breast is a common theme in mythology and
world religions.

Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus hanging on the
cross wherein someone in the crowd hurls their spear and pierces
Jesus' breast; whereby His blood feeds His faithful followers.

This theme also appears in the legend of Odin (Wodin / Wothan)
who cut open his breast while hanging suspended upon the
World Tree, Yggdrasil.

In Alchemy, the Pelican functions as a Symbol of the selfless
striving for purification.

But what is the meaning of the piercing of the breast? Where does
it come from?  And, why the Pelican?

The Pelican collects fish and stores these fish in its large bill. When
its bill is full, the Pelican returns home to feed its young with these
fish.

In order for the Pelican to empty its bill, it must press its bill
against its breast in order to force out the contents. This makes it
Appear as if the Pelican is stabbing itself in its breast.

And because the Pelican appears to be "stabbing itself in its breast "
when it empties its bill to feed its young it has become a Symbol
of Self-Sacrifice.

When it comes to the term "Sacrifice", it is important to keep in
mind that there are two very different and distinct definitions for
this term. There is common sacrifice, and there is Esoteric Sacrifice.

Common sacrifice is the corrupted and debased definition which is
is "fed" to us by the various factions of society whereby we are told
that we must give willingly, freely, and often to every person and
every organization which makes demands of us. This type of
guilt-ridden Sacrifice is covered in great detail in the article on:
"Guilt, Threats, and Obligations".

Esoteric Sacrifice, on the other hand, is a completely different
Lesson and Instruction. Esoteric Self-Sacrifice is the free and
willing giving of ourselves from within to those who are Truly worthy
and well-qualified. This is the Lesson alluded to in the Symbolism
of the Pelican. For the Pelican's Self-Sacrifice is the Sacrifice
which comes comes from within itself and is "poured out" to those
who have proven themselves to be worthy and well-qualified.

This mystical Truth regarding common sacrifice versus Esoteric
Sacrifice is made very clear to us in the Words of Jesus in His
sermon on the mount, when He said:

"Nor cast your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet,
and turn and tear you in pieces." (Matt. 7:6)

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

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

The Goat, The Goat's Horn, and The Bezoar (Symbolism and Mythology)

The Goat, along with the Goat's Horn, provides us with an
abundance of Symbolism and Mythology. The Goat is also a
Metaphor which expresses itself in our daily lives.

The Goat is a sure-footed animal that is as much at home on
mountain slopes and mountain tops as it is on flat ground. In this
aspect, the Goat is a Symbol of agility. And, in its ability to
scale a mountain, it is a Symbol of determination.

The male Goat, because of its reproductive prowess, is a Symbol
of virility, vitality, potency, and stamina.  It therefore represents
the energy of the creative and regenerative Seed: traits which are
expressed in the Mythology and Symbolism of the Greek Goat
God Pan. Pan is the forest Deity that is the creative and
regenerative spirit for all the plant and animal life which inhabit
His domain.

The famale Goat is a Symbol of nurturing and nourishment.

The she-Goat Amalthea is the nurturing Goddess who was the
wet-nurse, or nursemaid, of the Greek God Zeus. From the she-
Goat we also get the Word, Nanny: a term we use today for the
person we charge and entrust with caring for our infants and
young children in our absence.

The milk of the female Goat is a sustenance fed to infants. Its
high quality and nourishment is a Compatible substitute for
mother's milk and for formulas which may not be agreeable to
infants.

The Horn of the Goat, both male and female, is both Symbolic
and practical.

It is the Horn of the she-Goat Amalthea, the wet-nurse of Zeus,
which is the Symbolic Cornucopia: the Horn of Plenty, the Horn
of perpetual abundance.

The Horn was also used as a drinking vessel in antiquity and is a
dual Symbol in that it is both masculine and feminine.

When pointed upwards, the Horn is the masculine, penetrating,
and assertive, phallic Symbol. When pointed downwards, it is the
feminine, receptive cup or chalice (womb).

This dual Symbolism, therefore, is representative of the yin/yang
energy. And the the combination of both the upturned Horn along
with the downturned Horn carries the same sacred Symbolism
and Esoteric meaning as the six-pointed "Star of David".

Those of us who are Harry Potter fans are familiar with the Bezoar.
A Bezoar is a stone which grows in the stomach of animals.
Bezoars removed from a Goat were considered the most potent
and were ground up and used as elixirs and antidotes for poisoning.

Bezoars were sought because they were believed to have the
power of a universal antidote against any poison. It was believed
that a drinking glass which contained a Bezoar would neutralize
any poison poured into it. The word "bezoar" comes from the
Persian pâdzahr (پادزهر), which literally means "protection from
poison." (from: Wikipedia.com)
 
As we can see, the Goat is not only a Symbolic and Mythological
creature, it is also an animal which provides practical and nutritional
benefits to mankind. And it is easy to understand why this animal
was so honored and cherished by ancient cultures throughout the
world.

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

Bells and Chimes (As Symbols)

"Think when the bells do chime,
'T is angels' music."
-George Herbert

The Symbolism of Bells and Chimes is wide-ranging.

Bells and Chimes are used in Ceremonies, celebrations, and
announcements by numerous cultures throughout the world.

A Bell has a domed top, a flat and circular bottom, and, except
for its clapper, is hollow within. Its domed top and flat bottom
make it similar in Symbolism to the Tortoise. However, the Bell
Symbolizes much more.

The Bell's dome represents the vault of heaven above. Its flat,
circular bottom represents the flat, circular Horizon of the earth.
The clapper represents the Tongue, Word, and Voice of Divinity;
also known as the Hermetic Logos. The empty space within
represents all that is contained between heaven and earth.

When the clapper hits the inner side of the Bell, it Symbolizes
a message being resonated and created within the vault, or
dome, of heaven and delivered to the earth below.

Bells have a wide variety of Symbolic and practical uses.

Bells are used in our alarm clocks to waken us from rest and
urge us forth into our daily pursuits.

Bells are used in classrooms to announce the beginning and end
of classes. They are also used to notify us that the time-period
for a test, or exam, has expired.

Bells are used to announce the passage from one station to
another in religious rituals. They are also used in Rites of Passage
and Initiation Ceremonies to proclaim that a worthy and well-
qualified individual has passed from one station in their life to
a loftier one.

Ships and boats sound their Bells when sailing through thick Fog
in order to announce their presence and location to the other
vessels in their vicinity.

Bells have a wide range of pitches and tones. The pitch and tone
of a Bell set the mood, and Symbolism, which that particular Bell
is designed to represent.

The higher tones lift people's spirits, represent happiness, and
Symbolize a closeness to Spirit. the lower tones can dampen
people's spirits, instill an unhappy and somber mood, and are
Symbols of the gross and mundane.

Low-pitched Bells summon the masses to obligated meetings and
rituals. They are also used in clock towers to inform us of the hour
of the day in our material realm.

High-pitched Bells, along with Chimes, are used in religious
processions and Ceremonies to invoke Divinity and remind the
participants of the high-solemnity of the spiritual service.

High-pitched Bells announce holy days. They are also used to
celebrate and Remember joyous and festive Events.

And in their highest tone, and loudest volume, Bells are sounded
to proclaim the end of a war or conflict, and celebrate liberation
and freedom; such as the Bells we hear being joyously sounded
at the end of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture".

Chimes, on the other hand, are uncontained and free-moving
pieces of metal, glass, and wood which resonate against each
other by being either shaken by hand or blown by the wind.

Chimes resonate at a much higher, and gentler, pitch than do
Bells and therefore Symbolize higher spiritual essences.

Chimes, along with very high-pitched Bells, summon and
announce the presence of the higher Spirits; including Divinity
Itself.

Wind Chimes invoke happiness, high-spiritedness, peacefulness,
the good Spirits, and Divinity. They are also placed around
people's homes, and sacred places, to banish evil spirits and
negative energies.

The gentle, high-pitched, tinkling sound of Chimes also announces
the presence of the Unicorn.

Chimes are also used at festive wordly occasions. The tinkling
(Chiming) of glasses at a wedding celebration, by tapping a spoon
against a glass, calls everyone's attention to the fact that a toast
is about to be made in honor of the new bride and groom.

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 Drum (Symbol and Metaphor)

"Time is the great devourer.
Beyond time, there is nothing to devour."
- Joseph Panek

The Drumbeat marks Time in the realm of matter. Time cannot exist
without matter, for all matter has a limited Time-span. On the other
hand, matter cannot exist without Time; for without Time matter
cannot experience the Cycle of manifestation, expansion, and
decay.

In our physical realm we use the beat of the Drum to dictate the
tempo of music. It is also used to set the cadence for marching
bands, oarsmen, and armies. It also represents the beating of
the heart and pulse in all living creatures.

In its most sublime essence, the Drumbeat Symbolizes the
heartbeat of the universe. In its most gross essence it represents
war and doom in which it is the rhythmic reminder that "the Time
has come..."

The Drumbeat is of such a low frequency that it vibrates not only
the air but also the ground and can be felt by mankind and
animals alike. Even those who cannot hear can still feel the beat
of the drum and use it to communicate.

The beating of the Drum brings the primordial rhythm of life to a
Ceremony. The dances, chants, and rituals of all indigenous
cultures employ the beating of the Drum to mark the beginning,
rhythm, and end of their traditional rites. Shamans use the beat
of the Drum to induce a state of ecstasy and to invoke spirits.

The terms "march to the beat of a different drummer" and "march
to the beat of our own Drum" are metaphors for taking
responsibility for, and marching to the rhythm of, our own Destiny.
These metaphors are the slogans of the Sovereign individual, the
Lone Wolf, and the Non-Conformist.

Shiva, the Indian deity, holds the Drum in his extended right hand.
The right hand is the hand used to bestow (see: "Hand and Cloud").
This Symbolism reminds us that Creation (manifestation) begins
with the first beat of the Drum and ends with the last beat; and
that Creative Destruction is a natural, ongoing process of the
material realm.

The Esoteric and Sacred Lesson conferred upon us by Shiva's
Drum is thus: All material things march to the beat of Time; they
have a beginning, a finite Time-span, and an end. When we
concentrate on Time (duality and matter) we shut out eternity
(unity). However, when we focus our concentration on eternity,
Time and matter become insignificant.

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 Giant - As A Symbol (Mythology, Metaphor, and Archetype)

"If I have seen further than others,
it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants."
- Isaac Newton

As was mentioned in the article on Devolution, nearly all ancient
texts tell of a Time, in the distant long-ago, when Giants walked
upon the earth and lived among mankind.

The question these texts arouse in us is: Who were these Giants?

To answer this question, it is important for us to understand
what the term "Giant" means in Symbolism, Mythology, and
Metaphor.

Even today we have metaphors which refer to Giants, such as:
"He was a giant of a man", "He was a giant among men", and
"He is a giant in his field".

As we can see from these metaphors, the term Giant does not
refer to supernatural physical size, but to greater than normal
talents and abilities.  In other Words, the term Giant, when
used in these contexts, refers to an exceptional person.

Therefore, metaphorically speaking, a Giant is any man or woman
who possesses powers, talents, abilities, creativity, or insights
beyond that of the average and ordinary person.

And as we live in a realm of Duality, the term Giant can be applied
to any person possessing an above-normal trait or aspect which is
either positive or negative. This means that a Giant can be either
a gracious benefactor or an evil monster.

In its negative aspect, the Giant Symbolizes any person who is
feared and loathed by mankind.

In this category of Giants we find the bullies, thugs, hoodlums,
mass murderers and tyrants. We also find forcefully dominating
individuals and factions along with brutal parents who appear as
Giants to a small child.

And as evil will always make itself more visible than good, Giants
have been historically portrayed and associated with evil and
dominating brutes and ogres.

In this category, the Giant is depicted as the oppressive tyrant
who is eventually overthrown by the citizenry...the little folk.
It is also associated with the neighborhood, or schoolyard, bully
who finally meets his, or her, come-uppance by mis-judging the
strength and valor of their adversary.

Ancient texts give us a very graphic description of these kinds
of Giants in the tale of David versus Goliath whereby the brutal
barbarianism of Goliath is slain by the nimble Wisdom of David;
reminding us that humble Wisdom is the slayer of brutish
Ignorance.

Giants can also Symbolize the savage elements of nature which
areeventually conquered (albeit temporarily) by mankind, and
civilization, in the never ending battle of humanity (mortals) versus
the elements (immortals).

In its positive aspect, the Giant Symbolizes any person who is
revered and honored by mankind. Some examples are:

The enlightened minds and subtle Genius found in visionaries,
Trailblazers, and those who pursue new Horizons and unimagined
Dreams.  These individuals possess the reasoning, understanding,
fortitude, Awareness, and foresight not found in the average person.

These are the Einsteins, Newtons, Pythagorases, Platos, Socrates,
and Columbuses whose accomplishments are forever emblazoned
upon the eternal pages of history.

The great benefactors such as are Symbolized by the Giant stature
of Saint Christopher carrying the Christ child upon his shoulder.

The Heroes of mythology, legend, folklore, and history who perform
noble deeds, pursue untarnishable Quests, and almost single-
handedly slay the negative essences and evil forces which are
forever attempting to dominate freedom-loving peoples in all parts
of the world, and at all Times of history.

The advanced beings and superior races who occasionally present
themselves to worthy and well qualified individuals in order to nudge
these persons along in their Quest; which also allows society to move
forward. Into this class of enlightened beings fall extra-terrestrials,
Angels, Divine Messengers and Spiritual Guides.

Giants, both positive and negative, have always been, and will
always be, with us. For, as long as we have the schoolyard bullies,
neighborhood thugs, and societal tyrants, we will also have the
far-seeing, creative, imaginative, heroic, and beneficent Giants of
progress, evolution, heroism, and enlightenment to slay the Goliaths
which brutally, but temporarily, stand in the path of Truth, Wisdom,
and Enlightenment.

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 3 (His Legend)

(Note: In order to appreciate the conclusions drawn in this article,
please first read: "Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings" followed
by "Tom Bombadil - Part 1 (His Symbolism and Appearance)"
then "Tom Bombadil - Part 2 (His Powers)".)

Now that we have discussed the Symbolism, Appearance, and
Powers of Tom Bombadil, let us now examine his Legend.

The first legendary description we have of Tom Bombadil comes
from Goldberry, Tom's female companion, who tells the Hobbits
that she is the "Daughter of the River". This statement tells us
that she is also a Nature Spirit and, by her close association
with Tom, she is Tom's feminine counterpart.

When Frodo asks Goldberry "Who is Tom Bombadil?", she
simply answers, "He is". This tells us that Tom is an Eternal
Constant, an Eternal Truth. In other words, a Nature Spirit.

Goldberry then goes on to say, "He is the Master of wood, water,
and hill". Frodo then asks, "Then all this strange land belongs to
Him?"

To which Goldberry replies, "No Indeed! That would indeed be a
burden. The trees and the grasses and all things growing or living
in the land belong each to themselves. Tom Bombadil is the
Master".

This tells us that Tom Bombadil is the Creative Spirit, or essence,
which brought his ancient forest into existence. And as the
Creative Essence, he also designated the laws by which all of his
creations must abide; not only in relation to themselves, but also
in relation to all the other creations which occupy his forest
community.

He grants all things contained within his forest complete freedom,
and Sovereignty, to express themselves in any way they wish; so
long as it is within the bounds of their specific natures. He only
interferes with his creations when it is absolutely necessary;
as in the case of Old Man Willow. Tom's Mastery, therefore, is
similar, in many ways, to that of a good ruler or a good parent.

Later, Frodo again presses Tom with the question, "Who are you,
Master?" To which Tom replies, "Eldest, that's what I am. Mark
my words, my friends: Tom was here before the river and the trees;
Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn..."

This statement by Tom again informs us that he is an essence,
a Spirit, a Master, which is eternal.

Tom then goes on to express himself in the second person when
he tells Frodo, "He knew the dark under the stars when it was
fearless - before the Dark Lord came from the Outside."

"He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless" refers
to the realm of Unity, the Time before creation.

"Before the Dark Lord came from the Outside": Note the
capitalization of the word 'Outside'. The introduction of the 'Dark
Lord' from the 'Outside' tells us that another eternal essence
affected Tom's realm of Unity and thereby created Duality. This
creation of Duality is the moment of physical manifestation; the
moment of the Seed penetrating the Womb; the moment of
conception; the moment of material creation.

Later, at the Council of Elrond, Tom Bombadil is referred to as
"older than the old", "oldest and fatherless", and "Last as he was
First".

The term "fatherless" is referred to often in mythology, legend,
and ancient texts. "Fatherless" means an Eternal Spirit.

In the phrase "Last as he was First", we again have capitalization
of the words "Last" and "First". This means that these Words
are not simply used as a part of a sentence, but to express
an Divine Essence which is both powerful, timeless, ageless,
and unchangeable.

As we can see, all of the terms used to describe Tom Bombadil
at the Council of Elrond, by Goldberry, and by Tom himself, define
Tom to be something eternal, everlasting, and beyond the follies,
rules, and restrictions of the physical realm. In other words, they
define Tom Bombadil to be a Nature Spirit!

In Tom Bombadil - Nature Spirit - Part 4 we will conclude with
some final thoughts and perceptions about Tom Bombadil -
Nature Spirit.

(Tom Bombadil appears in J.R.R. Tolkien's "Fellowship of the Ring")

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

Rites Of Passage (Archetype Symbolism)

Although we may be unaware of it, most of us have experienced
a Rite of Passage at least once during our Current Incarnation.

In our mundane and everyday world voluntary Rites of Passage
occur in various different ways. Here are two examples of simple
Rites of Passage:

A "probation period" upon beginning a new job during which time
our employer can judge whether or not we are the appropriate hire
for his or her firm.

A "jostling period" in our interactions with other individuals in order
to determine whether or not they are compatible with us. Should
we find that we are compatible with each other, we are then able
to accept each other as either a new friend, partner, lover, or mate.

These types of Rites of Passage are experienced by probably
every one of us during some part of our life. And, although these
Rites of Passage are valuable and important to us at the time, they
are the simple Rites of Passage which we may not even be aware
of experiencing when they are presenting themselves to us.

However, a Rite of Passage also occurs in a very individual and
personal form. This Rite of Passage honors the Sacred meaning
behind the Rite of Passage Ceremonies which have been practiced
and revered within every world-wide culture since the very
beginning of Time.

These Rite of Passage Ceremonies acknowledge, celebrate, and
remind us that we are a part of a perpetual process. A process by
which we leave childhood and enter adulthood. It is the honored
moment when a boy enters manhood and a girl enters womanhood.

This Rite of Passage is an experience we are fully aware of and
actually look forward to with great excitement, pomp, and
anticipation.

But, what is the underlying Esoteric, or hidden, Lesson contained
within this involuntary Rite of Passage which which we all must
experience?

During the early years of our life we are unable to take care of
ourselves. Therefore, in order to simply survive, we need someone
to take care of us. This task falls upon our mother for she is the
one person whose sole responsibility is to nurture and protect us.

Our mother, therefore, becomes the living Symbol for the Mother
Archetype who is feminine, nurturing, and intuitive. Our Mother
Archetype caters to our early physical and emotional needs. Not
only is She nurturing, but her feminine intuition makes Her Aware
of our needs even though we cannot, or do not wish to, express
them. She is our protectress, guide, and nurturer during our
childhood years.

However, there comes a Time, generally about the age of puberty,
when we are now able to fend for ourselves. It as at this Time that
we enter adulthood and are now responsible for creating and
experiencing our personal Destiny.

This is the Time when our Mother Archetype unconditionally
releases us. She steps aside and graciously sends us off into
the domain of our Father Archetype.

Our Father Archetype is the masculine, assertive, and rational
aspect of adulthood. The Father Archetype teaches us how to
"hunt", interact, compete, and survive with our other fellow
adults. The realm of the Father Archetype is where we spend
the remainder of our Current Incarnation. It is the realm in which
we either enjoy the rewards, or suffer the Consequences, for all
of our Thoughts and Actions.

However, although we spend our entire adulthood in the realm
of the Father Archetype, it is very important that we remember
the early Lessons we learned while living in the realm of our
Mother Archetype.

For it is by Learning, and retaining, the Wisdom contained within
both the Mother and Father Archetypes that we are then able to
understand the importance of Blending of Differences, and the
Union of Duality, which our personal Rite of Passage endowed
upon us when we crossed the borders of Toyland and left the
realm of childhood.

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

Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings (Symbolism, Mythology and Folklore)

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious."
- Albert Einstein

Anyone who has read Fairy Tales, Folklore, or Mythology has
come across those magical and mystical creatures referred to
as Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings; two different terms which
represent the same concept and are therefore inter-changeable.

Elemental Beings are often referred to when characterizing the
Four Elements. They are: Gnomes (Earth), Sylphs (Air),
Undines (Water), and Salamanders (Fire).

Nature Spirits are expressed as fairies, elves, dwarfs, centaurs,
mermaids, minotaurs, nymphs, pixies, the Phoenix, the Unicorn,
and yes, even Santa Claus.

We even find a charming and jolly Nature Spirit appearing in
J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring" whose name is
Tom Bombadil.

But what are these Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings? And why
are they so important that we find them expressed in all forms of
mythology, folklore, legend, and Ceremonies in all periods of Time?

Nature Spirits, and Elemental Beings, are the basic essences
which underlie, support, and are responsible for manifesting and
governing, all of the many different aspects of creation; not only
here on earth, but throughout the universe as well. In other words,
Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings are the Divine Principles which
are at the root of all creation.

The Ancient Egyptians Symbolized, memorialized, and honored
these Divine Principles in their Statues, Images, and Idols. They
called these Elemental Essences the Neters; a term we have come
to refer to as gods and goddesses.

Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings are the Divine Laws and
Principles of Eternity which simply ARE. They govern (are the
Masters of) specific aspects of creation and are immune to the rules
and Consequences of both mankind and the physical world.

These Divine Essences existed before any beginning and will
continue to remain after any end. They Truly represent the concept
of "being in this world but not of it".

To get a better idea of what these Divine Essences are, and of how
they interact with the physical realm, let us create a metaphor.

An author writes a story. Within this story are characters, locales,
conditions, plots, etc.

The author existed before the story began to unfold and will
continue to exist well after the story comes to an end.

The author governs the following aspects of his, or her, story:

...who the characters will be in the story;
...the personalities of each character;
...the behavior of the characters;
...the specific locale where the story will take place;
...all of the other elements and conditions which take place within
the story.

In other words, the story is the author's domain. The author brings
the story to life, gives it a life of its own, and sets the rules by which
all of the characters and elements contained within the story must
abide. The author is the sole Master of the characters and
conditions of the story's realm.

Furthermore, the author can change or eliminate any portion of the
story he, or she, may wish. The author can also add new elements,
plots, and characters to the story. Whatever occurs in the story is
at the sole discretion of the author; for this is the author's domain.

But, and here is a most important point, the author can only
make changes which are consistent with the theme and
essence of the story.

However, although the author can completely affect the characters
and elements contained within the story, the story can in no way
have any affect upon the author. The author is immune to the plots,
characters, and conditions contained within the story; for, again, the
author is the complete Master of this particular domain. This is
another very important concept to keep in mind in when considering
this metaphor.

Therefore, in this metaphor, the author is the Nature Spirit, or
Elemental Being which existed prior to the beginning of the story
and will continue to exist long after the story comes to its end.

The author also has complete control of (is Master of) his, or her,
specific realm...the story.

However, the author has no control or power over anything which
does not exist within the realm of the story. Therefore, the author
has no control over how his realm will be experienced by anyone
who enters it and is not a part of the story...the readers!

(We can further elaborate on this metaphor to include the specific
realms of artists, composers, inventors, philosophers, etc. For
these individuals too are, metaphorically, the Nature Spirits and
Elemental Beings of their very specific realms; and of the creations,
elements, and conditions contained within their realms.)

And here is where we come to the most important, and subtle,
aspect of Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings. Nature Spirits and
Elemental Beings are very specific, powerful, and limited Principles
which have complete control of only that aspect of nature, or
creation, for which they have been created to govern. They are
also fully aware of all that occurs within their domain.

They have minimal, if any, power outside the boundry of their
specific realm; save for that personal power which they possess as
a Spirit.

Nor do they have any power over the behavior and Choices of
anyone who ventures into their realm.

Anyone who ventures into a specific realm of a Nature Spirit is
subject to the conditions which exist within that realm. And in
this instance the Nature Spirit becomes simply an Unattached
Observer to the Events, experiences, and inter-actions of any
Traveler who wanders into Its domain.

This is why there are so many Nature Spirits, Elemental Beings,
Divine Principles, and Neters. For each one has a specific
responsibility, role and power; but only within Its specifically
designated realm.

Does this mean that Nature Spirits and Elemental beings are
not held accountable to a higher power? No, it does not.
For each Nature Spirit, Elemental Being, Divine Principle, and
Neter is a specific aspect, mood, or representation of the
One Divinity which, although expressing itself in many different
ways, is the One Power which governs all.

One final note. Although a Nature Spirit may not be currently
expressing itself in the physical realm, this does not mean that
it does not exist. Nature Spirits, and Elemental Beings, are the
underlying essences of all that exists, and can exist, in the
physical realm. These Divine Essences only make their
appearances when the Time becomes appropriate for them to
manifest themselves in a physical form.

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