Post a Comment On: Inner Pearls

I would like to explore some more the symbolism of the cross, the twin pillars, polarity and transcendence. Sharing a similarity to the white horse of Plato’s allegory of the charioteer, in hermeticism and esoteric wisdom, the pillar of fire that is Jachin could be viewed as an embodiment of the solar, active/forceful and coherent/focused aspect of the human will. Its nature would be aspiring towards structure, power, greatness and glory made manifest.

Just as with the dark horse of Plato’s allegory, the pillar of cloud that is Boaz could be viewed as an embodiment of the unconscious, receptive and passionate/diffused aspect of the human will. Its nature would be drawn towards that which has already been made manifest and of its inter-relationship.

Of course, there are other examples of pillars to be found that are symbolic in meaning with regards to the human will and travail of the spiritual journey. Visual inspiration can be drawn from ancient Egypt, with the twin obelisks that Hatshepsut had erected at the entrance to the precinct of Mut, which is part of the Karnak Temple complex. Additionally, there are the three vertical pillars and the sephirot of the Kabbalah Tree of Life that invite contemplation and reflection of purpose of life and meaning.

Twin pillars in themselves can be seen as being representative of a concept of duality, of an ‘either this or that’ way of thinking. Let us use an example of a primal desire or commitment of will, to erect a temple of God or a deepening sense of righteousness, both within the body-mind and the world. In such an instance, a group elder or servant of the divine, aspiring towards excellence and filled with enthusiasm and fervour of will, might proclaim that whilst some materials and expressions of life are desirable, others are not.

It is a rejection of those qualities and essence of humanity that are deemed as unworthy, that is responsible for creating a shadow or splitting of the psyche. It is an effect of this push-pull or divisive mode of perception, one that is venerating of some human attributes, whilst denigrating of others, that has brought about confusion and a concept of shame. In this last century, the role of psychoanalysis as well as the science of mind has done much to illuminate the unconscious and to bring awareness with regards to an integration of the human psyche. There is also the triad of thesis, antithesis and synthesis attributed to the philosophy of Hegel.

What many of the ancient allegories and other symbolic representations are pointing towards, with the potential to awaken, is a concept and practice of ‘gateway’ – the transmutation of crossing the threshold of one state of being or awareness of reality for another. Through the pillars of Jachin and Boaz for instance, an eye is invited towards the horizon of a third or a transcendent point of awareness, one that is depicting of illumination and radiance. With Plato’s allegory, the charioteer is striving to bring the two horses into synch, not to deny the black horse and to champion the white.

An underlying message is that there is more to experiencing a transcendent or sense of a third way, than of striving to adjust or to balance the relationship of the active and passive principles of life. It could be said that all that exists, exists in absolute harmony as it is, in relationship with its perceiver. The esoteric message of the twin pillars is that in truth there is no division between subject and object because of the presence of relationship. This insight is arrived at through gnosis, which is an experiential knowledge of reality.

Rudolf Steiner, in his lecture XIV in the series of Theosophy and Rosicrucianism, mentioned an initiation known as ‘The Preparation of the Stone and the Wise’. He spoke of how it gives meaning to that through time and experience, a human being is able to experience heightened perception and to know their immortal part. It is an interesting lecture and I would recommend for anyone to read it in full several times and to comprehend its message.

Through the example he gave in the lecture relating to the respiratory system and the passage of blood, Steiner was able to transmit an understanding of how information between a sense of self and other (or indeed, between a human being and Nature) is exchanged, knowledge is gained and consequently how this cycle of movement allows for progression into what he referred to as higher realms of being.

In addition to Steiner providing a scientific observation with regards to the physiology of the body, he moved into a world of myth and legend and of how imagery serves to both embed and to awaken understanding of esoteric truths and wisdom. This is his communication of such a legend:

“When Seth, the son whom God gave Adam and Eve in place of the murdered Abel, once entered Paradise, he found the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life inter-grown; their branches intertwined. From this tree Seth took three seeds, following the command of the Angel who guided him. He kept the three seeds and when Adam died, he placed them into Adam's mouth. And a tree grew out of Adam's grave; to those who knew how to look upon it in the right way, this tree revealed a writing in flaming letters — the words: “Ejeh Asher Ejeh. I am He that was. He that is, He that shall be.” Now Seth took some wood from this tree and many things were made out of it: among them the rod which became the magic rod of Moses. And this tree multiplied; from its wood the portal of Solomon's temple was made, and later on, when it had passed through many other destinies, it became the Cross upon which the Savior hung.

The legend thus connects the wood of the Cross of Golgotha with the tree which grew out of Adam' s grave from the seeds of the Tree of Paradise.”

Steiner was using this imagery to convey an understanding that as he put it “in primeval ages”, a state of being existed whereby the human being had not been enamoured with seeking purpose and a sense of fulfilment through its relationship with a sense of other. He went on to say that a human being now has within it a red tree of blood (Tree of Life) and a blue tree of blood (Tree of Knowledge). That without the presence of these two trees and of what they allow through experience in the earthly realm, a human would not have had an opportunity to become a cognitive being.