Post a Comment On: Inner Pearls

So I am exploring how the masculine and feminine principles of creation fit into a pursuit and actualisation of mastery of life. I am not referring to masculine and feminine principles in terms of a human being's sex or gender, but more along esoteric lines of what would be described as being active or passive in nature.

A vast amount of knowledge has been passed through the centuries referencing a tripartite nature of the human being, to which many people recognise as referring to the presence of spirit, soul and body and also of a bipartite nature giving reference only to the body and soul. Incorporated into these components are the qualities and characteristics of what it is to be human. One contribution that has had significant influence towards providing an understanding of the human psyche is Freud's ego/id/superego model. 

There is also Plato's 'chariot allegory', which in a nutshell, speaks of the soul being portrayed as a charioteer (reason) of two winged horses - one white (spirit(edness), thumos) and one black (body, appetite/desire). The charioteer's goal is to reach the heights of the ridge of heaven to behold the forms and essence of all things. The white horse is the charioteer's ally in this respect, as it strives for excellence, glory and recognition, whilst the black horse pulls in an opposing way and is drawn towards the gratifications of the earth. The charioteer should endeavor to pull these horses into synch and get them to work together, to harness and make use of their essence throughout life.

Another contribution is the hermetical philosophy of well-being and medicine put forward by Paracelsus, which draws from medieval alchemy and incorporates the elements of sulphur (fire, combustable; the soul, emotions & desires), mercury (fluid, changeable; the spirit, aspirations & moral judgment) and salt (solid, permanent; the body). Paracelsus spoke of harmony and of all things being inter-related, wherein there is a similarity of pattern, nature and structure between a human being and the universe i.e. a model of microcosm and the macrocosm. 

What I am interested in as I consider any religious practice, spirituality or model of the psyche is the tone of its message as it refers to the constituents or essence of what it is to be human. Also, of whether it speaks of a potential for a person to experience a sense of participation in their evolving and spiritual journey of moving into peace, well-being and active service.

Many spiritual, hermetical and occult practices promote transcendence, transformation and rebirth through following a 'path of the initiate'. There is the mindfulness of the middle way, the symbolism of the vesica piscis and the journey through twin pillars e.g. Boaz and Jachin, similar to the classical Greek myths relating to Atlantis and the Pillars of Hercules. I notice that these practices work with the tension of the active, solar/light (masculine) and passive, moon/shadow (feminine) principles of creation.

I would like to explore these ventures some more, particularly as it seems that so many of the ancient traditions point towards the female goddess of the earth (body) as being a womb, a portal or gateway (birthing canal) into alternative dimensions and new worlds.

I will begin with disclosing that I was given a message some 10 years or so ago, informing me that "I must strengthen my spiritual backbone". I have pondered a great deal on the meaning of this message. I can also see how my musings gave form to what I was to explore within my own being, with regards to the nature of the human will, passion, quest for meaning and wisdom. Much of what follows from this point on will be derived from intuition as well as whatever clarity I have gained through observation of experience.

I am drawn to Plato's allegory of the charioteer. I sense that the white horse to which it refers, the spiritedness, relates closely to what is meant by the spiritual backbone and it has a masculine essence. It could equally be seen as the vertical axis of the axis mundi, the staff of Hermes and the will to reach beyond the mundane to experience unity with the divine - an ascent to the apex of what Maslow portrayed as a 'hierarchy of needs'. It adores structure, knowledge of form and is a lover of esoteric meaning.

It has a propelling and forceful essence and embodies a glory of striving and of excellence, hubris, education and an insatiable pursuit of knowledge. Yes, it is the hierophant and if indulged to excess, will gift one with dizzying heights of all that is, but with the loneliness of an ivory tower. It is equally well suited to a spiritual recluse, a student of hermetic symbolism or to a learned academic. It carries a call of transcendence of the world and of all earthly attachment.

The dark horse in Plato's allegory is unstructured, unpredictable and it pulls one towards the earth, to the horizontal axis of the axis mundi. It is the feminine principle which draws one in to the experience of the body and to relationship with one another. It unconsciously embodies an impression of unworthiness to be a vessel of the divine, for it has taken a collective beating and become a scapegoat for humanity's ills and excess.

It will be interesting to look at this concept of twin horses some more and to explore some of the ways in which a charioteer is called to work with their respective nature.