Saltmarsh watersnake in a mangrove swamp. Not pictured are the mosquitos in their dark-clouded legions. Saltmarsh watersnake in a mangrove swamp Iโve seen a lot of ibises, though too small to take on serpents of this size. Iโm open to being surprised. โโโโโโโโโ Serpents have rich symbolism, both benefic and malefic like any other. When … Continue reading The Closed Circle
Symbolism
Three Temptations
In 1938 the Catholic esotericist Valentin Tomberg gave a series of seven lectures on inner development, his fifth lecture being on Christโs temptations in the wilderness. The devilโs three temptations in reverse order of Matthewโs Gospel account are as follows:1. The world and its glories, if he worships him2. Testing God by jumping from the … Continue reading Three Temptations
What to Make of the Flowers
โWhen the world seems to tremble on its foundations, a glance cast upon a flower can restore order.โ~ Ernst Jรผnger, Journal 1945โ1948โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ. Aristotle, and some 1,500 years later Aquinas, would call the vegetative soul the most basic aspect of the living hierarchy, with Plato too before them attributing the โappetitiveโ aspect of the tripartite soul … Continue reading What to Make of the Flowers
Epiphany of Being
Correspondence "Becoming is not a contradiction of being but the epiphany of being" ~ Ananda Coomaraswamy. Traditional teachings say that our empirical, material world is a reflection of the spiritual from which it receives all of its reality; or in other words the metaphysical manifests itself in the world. Everything in existence expresses this in … Continue reading Epiphany of Being
Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a โwarrior/kinglyโ class saga, complete with the solar motif of Gilgamesh the king living under the divine protection of the sun god Shamash (Sumerian โUtuโ). Far from being the ideal ruler however, he abuses his station, is prone to overindulging in sentimentalism, and overturns the right order of things. Later … Continue reading Gilgamesh
Breath, Word, Language
"The mouth is the beginning of all speech,a support to wisdom and a comfort to the wise,and a prosperity and trust to every earl."~ Old English Rune Poem. แจ In many cultures it is a shared perspective that all is symbol, an expression and reflection of principles which exist above it in a Law of … Continue reading Breath, Word, Language
Hercules in Hell
After his murderous insanity induced by the goddess Hera, Hercules travelled to Delphi to atone and pray to Apollo for guidance, who directed him to serve Eurystheus as penance, leading to Herculesโ famous 12 Labours. The pattern of 12 appears often, as in the number of the Olympian gods, as well as the 12 signs … Continue reading Hercules in Hell
The Old Man and his Horse
There once was an old man and his son who made a living raising horses, their home lay on the border of barbarian territory. One day, one of their horses escaped and ran off into the foreign land. All the community felt sorry for them; "You must be so upset!", they said.The old man replied, "We'll … Continue reading The Old Man and his Horse
Why Orpheus Failed
When Orpheus' wife Eurydice died, the grief-stricken Orpheus descended into the Underworld in order to retrieve her back again. He is allowed this on one condition: he cannot look back at her as they reascend to the world of the living. Thinking this would be easy, he agrees, and yet as the two travelled he … Continue reading Why Orpheus Failed
Yin and Yang – ้ฐ้ฝ
The concept of Yin and Yang is most often illustrated within a symbol called a "Taijitu", which represents Taiji, "great pole", in both its monist (Wuji) and its dualist (Yin and Yang) aspects. And so represented is the ultimate, supreme Principle that is unmanifest, Wuji, and from this comes the creator which indicates it is … Continue reading Yin and Yang – ้ฐ้ฝ
Sum Ergo Oro 