[Pharmaciest2007]

The contrast between essence and existence; the enduring and the ephemeral. Unity in diversity. Ready?

This contrast is the core and key to symbolism. Symbols are basically all of the same nature: they are symbols of union. And once the whole pattern of life has been glimpsed as a unit, then all the parts are inevitably related. There is an inherent cohesion, especially pronounced because of the underlying relationship between opposites, which are mutually dependent on each other.

Just as light and dark throw each other into relief - light would lose much of its splendour without its opposite - so the many is inconceivable without the nature of the one, on which to build. But if there was only one, it would not be the same sort of one, it would lose part of its essential character, as one in contrast with many.

This contrast between the one and the many is the key to the broad pattern of number symbolism - which is a complete system of symbols by itself, encompassing the Cosmos, the Elements, Time, etc. It sums up, in a highly compressed form, the contrast between Cosmic Man and Men, CENTER and circumference; the difference between life and lives, between sound and words, or, for example, between one indivisible truth and many theories. The one reality, which corresponds to Plato's realm of Ideas, in contrast with many objects.

The ONE/Many symbol, more than any, illustrates the way symbolism is a process of simplification, unification, discerning cohesion and order in the relationship between man and the Cosmos.

When it comes to Life, we each are one Spirit with many incarnations. While we are manifest on Earth, we each have 4 bodies: The ever-lasting Spirit within, the soul (or Astral body) which we are granted at birth, the Æthyrical body (which keeps the Spirit and soul in cohesion while both are within the last body), the physical body. With each incarnation we are given a new soul. By the time we face physical death, the soul has undergone a learning process. The soul is our True Self while we are incarnate. At death, the soul and Spirit make a transition into the Spirit Realm, with the soul becoming a new layer of life within the existence of our Spirit. Thus our Spirit has learned life lessons while incarnate. It is the Spirit within that can recall the experiences of past incarnations. The ability for a person to do this is within the subconscious mind.

Everything (the Many) is related to Life (the One) of which, as Carl Jung pointed out, the individual is the sole carrier. The physical image of this is the way one couple could repopulate the whole Earth - as perhaps one couple originally populated it. Although we as individuals are born whole and well integrated with the Cosmos, in our early years and even till much later we are quite unconscious of it; and what we do not know is of little value to us. The inner symbolic work (during individuation) consists of realizing this unity, becoming conscious of it, and so making it real. If in this process we find the way to connect with our Inner Spirit consciously (although through our subconscious) we can recall who we have been before in past incarnations. It is not impossible and is most easily done through meditation.

On the personal level it is the contrast between the conscious Ego, which experiences everything in diversity, that is, in bits, and the unconscious, for which there are no distinctions, no differences, for all is merged. This merging is experienced most often in sleep. But it is the aim of most mystical disciplines to experience it when awake; and from then on to know the interplay between conscious and unconscious which is reality itself. Whereas sleep is a regressive fusion of the two - and not very interesting - the waking experience is integration of the unconscious unity, with the living diversity. Hence, each of our incarnations is mutually dependent upon the others as the Spirit (the One) has learned them all (the Many.)

We are the living proof that reincarnation is real. Death is a return to the source. When we die we undergo a transition back into the Spirit realm. Listening to the source is hard incarnate because we do not want to think of death. When the time comes all men must listen to the source. Life is a free ride for the Spirit. Life is not the flesh; life is beyond with the source. Our gods determine how much life we are fed in the flesh. When a man is incarnate, he can see, feel and hear. Too much interference can block a man from the source. Where would we be without our senses? We would just be a Spirit within. Intensity felt within can reach the source past the senses. Our dream can be a collective one. Or our destiny can be found from above. Where are the souls of the men who have lived before? They are taken to the source and transformed into Spirit. While incarnate the Spirit is driven to achieve. From an inner point of view we deal with life differently. You have the choice incarnate to discover your Spirit or not. Where the Spirit takes you at death is beyond belief. The Spirit realm itself cannot be comprehended by the human mind. Does this mean your soul can't feel it? No. It means your soul is here to learn bonding with the Spirit. Through the transition at death, your soul learns all of life. All that was done incarnate becomes unclouded. Fear of death can cause a block to the source for that fear tells the mind to rely on the senses. No one knows when death may take them. We come back time and again to teach another soul to look past death. When the time is right, you will know. For there are many souls leading their Journeys who look forward to death. Life is a precious gift from the Divine. We have a chance incarnate to experience release. Look to the Self within for the answer why.

This essay is personal opinion of MINX. I welcome all comments.

[bWn4h8QD]

Minx, this is really informative and interesting. I am reserving my opinion at the moment, there is a lot to digest. Where did you find the information for this essay? I noticed you mentioned Jung, but anyone else? I seem to remember reading something similar dealing with the Golden Dawn Tradition, but it is not in the same sense that you are dealing with. And then, are you also speaking about the Universal Unconsious?

[Antelpebabe]

Where did you find the information for this essay? And then, are you also speaking about the Universal Unconsious?

I used the Dictionary of Symbols for much of the info.

The Universal unconscious is basically the same as the individual unconscious. It's a conglomerate of ideas based on the fact that it all melds well but is an ever changing facet. As I wrote, the unconscious, for which there are no distinctions, no differences, for all is merged shows that all unconscious thought is melded and has no need for individual identity. Subconcious thought is thought form to the greatest degree and has a solemnity and a soleness of purpose but can't be distinguished consciously without great effort for it is a mixture of a thought process rather than individuated decision making.

[Borzopayn]

~ Interesting essay. I agree with quite a lot of it.
But... {Ya knew it was coming, huh?}
I sleep-walk, & I'd venture to guess that's my subconscious,
& yet I often get lost in the closet.
I understand why I woke in the kitchen while making french toast,
I was worried about our son in prison & it's his favorite food,
but I don't see how that's a deep spiritual connectivity with a universally melded unconscious spiritual totality.

I do believe in reincarnation,
I have vivid memories that are devoid of emotional content, tho' they should have some considering their context.
They seem removed, like a movie, but extreme in the physically sensual aspect.

I remember that the process of dying is unpleasant.
Your body hurts & your mind gets unravelled.
It's not nice. But it happens. No other option.
Having your personality that you've worked to create for how-ever-many years un-done, it's disruptive to say the least. But it happens. Every time.
The You you are in this life is simply as you said, a learning opportunity for the All.

[veizKinquiz]

The founder of Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner described the seven parts of the human and how each coincides with each other. First, there is the physical body of the human, which is the oldest part since it was the first to evolve. This physical body is of the mineral world, which makes up its composition. Penetrating the physical body is the ether, or etheric body, the second part of the human. The physical body of the human shares its etheric body in common with the plant and mineral kingdoms. In essence everything possesses an etheric body, which holds things together by giving them their shapes and forms. The etheric body is also called the life-body since during life it prevents the destruction of the body of a living thing, which results in death.
The etheric body penetrates the entire living thing, it is united and not compose of separate parts as is the human body, and it maintains life. However, just as the etheric body gives life to the physical body, the astral body, the third part of the human, gives life to the etheric body. It is the astral body that gives life to the etheric body that makes us able to possess motion. Without this astral body the etheric body would be in a state of continual unconsciousness or sleep.
The fourth part or component of the human, which is the ego, furnishes life to the astral body. The ego is the seat of consciousness within us. It differentiates us from our fellow creatures in the animal kingdom. Without the ego, we would possess no permanency. Therefore, we would act upon a thing only once, and there would be no repetition of the action. Each time we met the same situation we would need to learn how to react to it again. With the ego, there comes a degree of permanency (for this Steiner uses the phrase "something permanent") or "ego feelings". Without the ego there would be no memory of hunger, thirst, or other things.
Memory develops at various stages and is identified by other terms. Memory is first called an astral body when the mental image is just visualized. For example, when a person sees a pencil, then quickly turns away and retains the pencil's image. The mental image becomes knowledge when it is retained. An example of this is when the image can be brought back into memory without the pencil actually being perceived. What gives this knowledge or memory permanency can be designated as soul. To be more exact, the human astral body may be called the soul body, or the sentient soul when united with outer physical-sensory organs.
According to Steiner, the sentient soul is the first stage of the ego; the second stage is the intellectual or mind soul' The content of both the sentient and intellectual soul consist of information that has come from the physical-sensory organs. Thus far, the memory produced consists of knowledge originating from external sources.
Steiner contends that the ego has the capability to rise above the sentient and intellectual souls when it becomes aware of itself. When the ego becomes aware of itself, is becomes aware that something else is present beside the images that it perceives from sense perception. The awareness of the inner activity of the ego is a sign of supersensible perception on the part of the person who designate the recognition of such activity by using the word "I." By its very nature the word "I" cannot be used to refer to anything external, or outside of the person using the term. When the word "I" is employed, it means the ego or self-consciousness is evident, which also can and does mean the consciousness of the soul.
When the ego becomes aware of the soul, consciousness of the soul begins. At this point the ego or I simply cannot surrender to itself as it observes itself, but must lift itself out of its own depths in order to observe itself; such activity is achieved through self-contemplation. Through self-contemplation the ego views itself. Within the ego's vision are not just the images perceived from sense perceptions, but something else, the images that the ego manufactures itself, or the personal thoughts of the soul.

To Steiner, this is the unveiling or entering the hidden temple of the soul. The consciousness is united with the spirit, which forms the spirituality of the soul. The person now must take hold of this spirituality. When the person fulfills this function, the manifestations of this spirituality will be recognized also.
Just as the person had to direct the activity of the ego to view itself, through self-contemplation, so also she must direct the spirituality of the soul. The consciousness of the soul is united with the spirit. When doing this, the higher stages of the human being are developed. The person who achieves this has ennobled or spiritualized the soul out of his ego. The ego is now master of the soul-life, which can be continued so far that no desire or enjoyment can gain entrance into the soul without the ego or I possessing the power to grant the entrance.
With further endeavour, this power can be extended to the astral body. The ego takes possession of the astral body by uniting itself to the latter's hidden nature. When the astral body is overcome and transformed by the ego it becomes the spirit-self. The "spirit-self" begins only as a germ but increasingly develops as it actively works upon itself.
Just as the ego conquers the astral body by penetrating its hidden forces, so, too, in like manner, the identical process can occur in the etheric body. The work of the ego upon the etheric must be more intense than on the astral body because more factors are involved and the results are manifested more slowly. As Steiner suggests certain human soul qualities develop and changes through the passage of time as the ego works on them. One example of this is a hot-tempered child who turns into an even-tempered man even though he retains characteristics of his hot temper. Also, besides the working of the ego, what this person learns and experiences can bring about the change within him. There are multiple factors that produce gradual change in a person such as education, religion, art, literature and imitation. One of the best means by which change is produced is through repetitive repetition of an act or experiencing a feeling; and, according to Steiner, the religious creed or experience, whatever it may be, has a far-reaching effect on the soul-life. Some effects are so gradual they are hardly noticeable. Whether the individual recognizes it or not, under ordinary conditions, such changes are constantly occurring within his personality. When these changes result within the etheric body the human being has acquired a second spiritual member, which may be called the life-spirit. This term "life-spirit" is appropriate because they are the same forces within the etheric body that were called the "life-body" before the ego worked on them.
After working on the astral and etheric bodies the work of the ego or I is not finished, according to Steiner, it is extended into the physical body. The work is continued as the ego unites with the hidden forces in the physical body. Steiner explains that what appears, as the gross matter of the physical body is just the manifested part of it. Behind this manifested part lie the hidden forces of its being, and these forces are of a spiritual nature. These are the invisible forces that bring the physical body into existence and allow it to decay. It is upon these invisible forces that the ego works, and in ordinary life this work is done instinctively. Consequently a complete clarity of consciousness arises when man, under the influence of supersensible knowledge, takes an active control of this inner working of the ego. When this occurs a third spiritual member of man emerges, which may be called the spirit man that is in contrast to physical man.
In summary, according to Steiner, in occult science man is viewed as being composed of various members. Those of a corporal nature are the physical body, etheric body, and astral body. Those belonging to the soul are the sentient soul, intellectual soul, and consciousness soul. The I, the ego, spreads out its light in the soul. The members possessing a spiritual nature are the spirit self, spirit life, and spirit (hu)man. The sentient soul and the astral body are closely united and in a certain respect form a whole. In like manner, consciousness soul and spirit self form a whole and shine their rays through other members of human nature. Now the astral body and sentient soul may be combined into a single member, likewise the consciousness soul and spirit self, and intellectual soul are grouped so to be called the I, since it partakes of the I nature and, in a certain respect, is already the I that has not yet became conscious of its spiritual nature. Considering all of this there are seven members of man: 1. physical body, 2. ether or life body, 3. astral body, 4. I, 5. spirit self, 6. spirit life, and 7. spirit (hu)man.

The previous description of the members of the human being is important because it briefly illustrates the teachings of Anthroposophy. Steiner based these teachings on the principle concept of the evolution of the human being and his world through the process on innumerable reincarnations (see next post). In his An Outline of Occult Science (1972) Steiner claims the world and humankind has undergone four major evolution stages, and within each of these stages there occur many evolutionary and reincarnation changes. The names of the major evolution stages are: Saturn, Sun, Moon, and Earth. To Steiner, there was just one purpose for these innumerable changes, which was the perfection of humanity. This also is a major premise of Anthroposophy.
I know this is rather a lot to take in - but I hope it is helpful.
Blessed be!
Naked Rev

[Sawyer]

It is known that the Egyptians believed in reincarnation or the transmigration of the soul. They thought the soul transmigrated from body to body and this was a reason why they embalmed the body in order to preserve it so that it could journey along with ka, an animating force that was believed to be counterpart of the body, which would accompany it in the next world or life. Ka might be considered equivalent to the term of soul. This establishes the dating of the concept of reincarnation back to the ancient Egyptian religion but many think it dates beyond antiquity.

The belief is thought to have been an necessity among primitive peoples. Certainly long before ancient Egypt peoples believed in transmigration of the soul. If they were not sophisticated enough to understand the concept of a soul, then they may have simply called it life. An individual or object which moved had life, and the one which did not, did not have life. This is analogous to the belief of animism.
Gradually the concept of a soul developed with a further realization that the soul departed the body at death and entered the body at birth. Soon it was thought the soul leaving a dead body would seek another body to enter, or enter an animal of a lower life form. It was also thought the soul left the body during sleep. This soul was pictured as vapors that entered and left through the nostrils and mouth.
Later grew the notion the soul transmigrated to an infant of one of dead person's kin. This helped to explain family resemblances.
The terms reincarnation and transformation of the soul, especially when applied to humans, are about synonymous. However reincarnation is not accurately synonymous with either metamorphosis or resurrection. Metamorphosis is roughly the changing of one life form into another life form. Resurrection, in the Christian sense, means the rising again of the body after death.
About the first definition of soul transmigration came from Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher and mathematician, who taught that the soul was immortal and merely resides in the body; therefore, it survived bodily death. His further teachings held the soul goes through a series of rebirths. Between death and rebirth the soul rests and is purified in the Underworld. After the soul has completed this series of rebirths is becomes so purified that it can leave the transmigration or reincarnation cycle.
Plato, another Greek philosopher, shared similar views as Pythagoras in that the soul of man was eternal, pre-existence, and wholly spiritual. In Plato's view of the transmigration of the soul from body to body, however, there is a difference. Plato claimed the soul tends to become impure during these bodily inhabitations although a minimal former life knowledge remains. However, if through its transmigrations the soul continues doing good and eliminates the bodily impurities it will eventually return to its pre-existence state. But, if the soul continually deteriorates through its bodily inhabitations it will end up in Tartarus, a place of eternal damnation. This appears to be an origination of both the concept of karma and the Christian concept of hell.
It was around the first century AD that both the Greek and Roman writers were surprised by the fact that the Druids, a priestly caste of the Celts (see Druidism), believed in reincarnation. The Greek writer Diordus Siculus (c. 60 BC - 30 AD) noted that the Druids believed "the souls of men are immortal, and that after a definite number of years they live a second life when the soul passes to another body." The Greek philosopher Strabo (c. 63 BC - 21 AD) observed the Druids believed that "men's souls and the universe are indestructible, although at times fire and water may prevail."
Even Julius Caesar wrote of the Celts "They wish to inculcate this as one of their leading tenets, that souls do not become extinct, but pass after death from one body to another, and they think that men by this tenet are in a great degree stimulated to valor, the fear of death being disregarded." Elsewhere Caesar complained the Druids were a troublesome people. They were difficult to destroy.
There is little evidence of reincarnation among the early Hebrew people but it later became a part of the Kabbalistic teaching. The teaching occurred among the early Christians, especially the Gnostics, Manichaeans, and the Carthari, but was later repudiated by orthodox Christian theologians. When asked by college students why Christianity does not teach reincarnation Patricia Crowther, a witch, answered, "...The early Christians taught it (reincarnation), and this can be proved by the words of Saint Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa: 'It is absolutely necessary that the soul shall be healed and purified, and if it doesn't take place in one life on earth, it must be accomplished in future earthly lives.'"
Later, in AD 533, reincarnation was declared a heresy by the Council of Constantinople.
The reason reincarnation was repudiated was because of the eschatological teachings of death and judgment which were established as orthodox Christian doctrine. In simplicity this doctrine states man has just one life in which to merit his eternal reward or damnation. Such a doctrine also strengthened the Church. However, many Christians still believe in reincarnation because they think it was taught by Christ.
In an interview the author Jess Stern asked a lady who had previously seen the late American mystic Edgar Cayce "Why do you now find it so important to believe in reincarnation -- wouldn't just being a good Christian, believing in the message of God through Christ be sufficient to get you into Heaven?"
She answered plainly, "Don't you know that Christianity embraced reincarnation for three hundred years, until the Roman influence expunged it after the Enmperor Constantine recognized the Church? What do you think the early Christians were thinking when they asked Christ whether he was Elijah, who had come before? They were thinking reincarnation, that's what."
She continued, "If you thought of reincarnation as rebirth, I think you could understand it better. Just as the earth has a constant rebirth, so does the spirit. Don't you remember Christ saying, 'Unless man is reborn, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven?'"
Stern told her he thought the was a reference to baptism. She replied, "Christ was not interested in show, but substance, that was at the heart of everything he said or did."
Most occultists and witches would certainly agree with their Christian friend. Reincarnation is rebirth. Just as the earth is renewed so is the spirit or soul which knows no death. To many reincarnation is taught by nature herself. Some would say by the Mother Goddess. In the spring the trees give birth to new leaves, flowers bloom, new foliage springs up. In summer and fall the crops are harvested. In winter the earth rests, everything is dormant. This is the earth's life-cycle which many believe symbolizes the spirit's.
The Christian lady speaking with Stern referred to reincarnation as a learning experience. Each reincarnation not only purifies the soul more, but this purification comes through opportunities to learn more in life if the soul is willing. Here is a division of thought concerning reincarnation. Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism teach each reincarnation may be different, that is, man may return as a lower life form such as a plant, tree, or animal.
Certain sects of Gnosticism held this belief too. The rationale of such a belief is that the soul has to experience all aspects of life. Western thought of reincarnation is that man just reincarnates to higher spiritual levels of life, but never returns as a lower life form. In Western philosophy it is also held if man does not reach a higher spiritual level he must repeat the cycle until he does.
Most occultists and witches believe reincarnation is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. As to the exact cyclical process there are divergent views. Some hold a view similar to the Buddhists the individual personality disintegrates at death with its characteristics forming in a pool with other traits which come together in new reincarnations. Others believe reincarnations only occur within a tribe, race, or family. This is Odinism. Another view is that there is a resting period between reincarnations, where the soul rests in a state of bliss in the astral plane called Summerland before it passes into the next reincarnation.
Many occultists have attempted to retrace their past lives or reincarnations by dream analysis, meditation, or occasionally hypnotic regression. The witch Sybil Leek thought she had been Madame Helena P. Blavatsky, the co-founder of the Theosophical Society. Aleister Crowley believed he traced his reincarnations from Pope Alexander VI, renowned for his love of physical pleasures; to Edward Kelly, the assistant of the Elizabethan occultist and magician John Dee; to Cagliostro; to Eliphas Levi who died on the same day as Crowley was born. Continuing back further Crowley believed he had been Ankh-fn-Khonsu, an Egyptian priest of the XXVIth dynasty.
Blessed be!
Naked Rev

[tq4F7YKs]

Lord Krishna (God) speaks to Arjuna (Man):

"You and I have passed through many births, Arjuna. You have forgotten, but I remember them all" (Srimad Bhagavad Gita 4:5).

Hermano Luis
Moriviví Hermitage

[feqlmwtuqx]

Naked Rev,

That's a lot of useful information. Thanx for sharing.

[TyncTyncSah]

Yes, Lord Krishna is the Supreme Knower. We are only aware of ourselves and this is lost when we leave these temporary dresses of the soul we call our bodies.

[turbutbamethyg]

first,not all buddhists or hindus believe in reincarnation.and not all of them believe were are reincarnated as lower life forms(for lack of a better way to put it),but have already experienced this form and learned all that was needed to progress.this is not just a"western view".

second,the words soul,spirit, or universal conscious are used interchangably,wether correctly or not.words are just symbols to define an idea.

correct me if i'm wrong,but the summiran slaves believed in the concept,along with their pantheon of dietys.

while all the posters have provided very good information,they also appear to be saying the same thing,just more complex than the others.

my understanding of reincarnation and rebirth are that niether is the same.to be reincarnated is to return in a different form.to be reborn is to return as a human,with the knowledge of your past life(however vauge that may be)to relive and learn from your mistakes(which people believe about reincarnation).while i do believe in reincarnation,and the need to learn what is needed to progress,i also believe in rebirth.great,i just confused myself.ok,i don't believe i'll be reincarnated as a worm or something,but in some form of a human.

[violetgorman]

transmigration of the soul is a better term than reincarnation.

[teergoBissono]

agreed.

[dubballey]

A few years ago I started using the word 'transmutation' for this process. I don't recal where I picked up the word. As far as I know it is not Taoist.

Peace & Love!