tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82944702423040109262024-03-18T14:56:50.889-04:00thesymbologist.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294470242304010926.post-53517171948057102152022-12-26T09:00:00.001-05:002022-12-26T09:00:00.160-05:00Sirius Rising<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_9212_Pcc_9Slg35uqeMZVKc0DuqAOIRHX9zoPm7VdNKEeQ1FqTb0Z4z8PzbHiy71TPa04mTHchORFqgSQw3M2JYES0x_EGbwkIb6REdkTcVnxB0M2LrfO9kaD9v69q5E51sEYKE-Gu08_hKPfzMTkbUrdSIBJ6RtKZIaNeK8_2X5KhPpKb928LRhw/s515/sirius.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="515" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_9212_Pcc_9Slg35uqeMZVKc0DuqAOIRHX9zoPm7VdNKEeQ1FqTb0Z4z8PzbHiy71TPa04mTHchORFqgSQw3M2JYES0x_EGbwkIb6REdkTcVnxB0M2LrfO9kaD9v69q5E51sEYKE-Gu08_hKPfzMTkbUrdSIBJ6RtKZIaNeK8_2X5KhPpKb928LRhw/w551-h355/sirius.gif" width="551" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A new year! We have orbited the
sun again, and now it is time to change the numbers; 2022 becomes 2023.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perhaps you have always enjoyed
this tradition, or perhaps you are new to New Year celebrations at midnight on January
1<sup>st</sup>. In some cultures like Egypt, the new year starts at harvest
time. Why does our year change when it does? It all has to do with Sirius, a
very bright star that has guided navigators for millennia; in fact, it is the
brightest star in the sky. It is actually a binary (double) star that has been
observed since antiquity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ptolemy of Alexandria used Sirius
as the location for the globe’s central meridian when he mapped the stars. Sirius
is called the Dog Star, due to its position in the Canis Major (Greater Dog)
constellation; many cultures associate this star with dogs. Sirius marked the
coming of winter for the Polynesians, for the Egyptians it foretold flooding of
the Nile, in Greece, it accompanied the hot, “dog days” of summer. Its name
means <i>sparkling</i>, or <i>scorching</i>. In the children’s rhyme, <i>Hey Diddle Diddle,</i> Sirius makes an
appearance: The little laughing dog is
Sirius in Canis Major, marking the growing season which “laughs” bountiful; the
dish and spoon are so full - it is more than we can eat. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In ancient times Sirius was
called the "Star of the Sea,<!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-begin'></span> XE "Star of the Sea" <![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]-->" and was depicted as an
inverted pentagram. Some early American flags connected with the Navy displayed
inverted stars, like the one flown by Commodore Perry<!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span> XE "Commodore Perry" <![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--> in 1854. A rare contemporary usage of the
inverted pentagram symbolizing Sirius is
the American Congressional Medal of Honor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eight thousand years ago the
Vanir astronomers worked out the geometry and trigonometry necessary to
accurately measure the distance and movement of the stars and planets. They
devised the calendar, named the days of the week, and discovered the accuracy
of the Venus clock – with which we set the world’s clocks until the 1970s.
They also observed the cycle of Sirius and began the year with its pinnacle.
The symbol for the Venus clock, the pentagram, is sometimes used for Sirius. Knowing the time is one thing, knowing when to
start over is another. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once a year, when Sirius is
opposite the sun, it rises when the sun sets. This marks a new beginning: A new
year rings in at midnight, the moment it reaches its highest point in the sky on
the celestial meridian. To us, it is the New Year Star, a blazing reminder that
our orbit starts again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 17.55pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At this new
beginning, humans like to make a new start. New Year’s resolutions abound, good
intentions are had by all. We promise ourselves we will avoid the seven deadly
sins, be nice to our in-laws, go to the gym three times a week, and give up
that one sweet treat we always regret eating. Sometimes we keep our promises,
sometimes not; but each year Sirius gives us another chance. Another new
beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 17.55pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As long as we
live the Earth will turn, the sun will rise, and Sirius will start a new year.
This year, promise to do something that will last, something that will create
precious memories, new traditions, or a family legacy. That way, when we are
gone and the sun still rises, something of ourselves will continue; an
immortality of sorts. And have a Happy New Year. </span><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294470242304010926.post-72634136716204894152022-12-18T09:00:00.001-05:002022-12-18T09:00:00.173-05:00Tis The Season<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEbZh_t7CJ3p2ruSkKJnyx48G9jT_cIAMJCqK5VKRnWXHIg7lJ-5E5QjWLTrm-Lu5EjPHtvZPT3wsmNq0ctMjkCnqIsZ0klXGzQ8KiDp4OP5Ind4EtBKSJxxmq6PjK_gYFQBv6yqgMs-HUaRk4F74eISCFv_2JUGwdbwqVfs-pDVbklgE28w_n64oyA/s3300/cardcolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEbZh_t7CJ3p2ruSkKJnyx48G9jT_cIAMJCqK5VKRnWXHIg7lJ-5E5QjWLTrm-Lu5EjPHtvZPT3wsmNq0ctMjkCnqIsZ0klXGzQ8KiDp4OP5Ind4EtBKSJxxmq6PjK_gYFQBv6yqgMs-HUaRk4F74eISCFv_2JUGwdbwqVfs-pDVbklgE28w_n64oyA/w408-h529/cardcolor.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">Many traditions and mythologies
tell of the birth of a special divine child. Christmas celebrates the birth of
Jesus Christ as told of in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The
birth of the sun-god is an ancient event; male gods such as Shamash, Ra, Horus,
</span><span style="background: white; font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">Tonatiuh</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">, </span><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">Taiyang Shen,</span><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">Mithras, Krishna, Surya, and Abraxas
all tell the story of the mighty sun that gives us life. In prehistory until
about 3000 BC, the sun was represented by a beautiful female named Helen. Like
the sun, females bring forth life. The Magdalenian culture of 12,500 BC
symbolized the sun with their precious blonde daughters. As millennia passed
she grew to become a maiden, a queen, then a goddess.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UzJgBIFwNva3QnlTorITeMnQrTYSIjcPy1IrEJE-ykPizkJfJzvMSWI4XBB1XfhHtZMRvrxZ6BhV3iOG9hfy1jHyaHpg6rRrpQmh9QUre9myAOsjiosHJb9SjA93cW2KIXAdLiHCTVhZMzRob49jGUn_BFsGG6noCF2HHgZw_kVrMzkslAgtj82ADw/s152/repro%20calend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="122" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UzJgBIFwNva3QnlTorITeMnQrTYSIjcPy1IrEJE-ykPizkJfJzvMSWI4XBB1XfhHtZMRvrxZ6BhV3iOG9hfy1jHyaHpg6rRrpQmh9QUre9myAOsjiosHJb9SjA93cW2KIXAdLiHCTVhZMzRob49jGUn_BFsGG6noCF2HHgZw_kVrMzkslAgtj82ADw/w253-h315/repro%20calend.jpg" width="253" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a Paleolithic calendric for human
reproduction from c. 12,500 BC. This calendric record instructs that babies be
conceived in spring, to be born around winter solstice. Winter babies had the
best chance of survival: Families stayed inside, and newborns got a maximum of
attention. Babies who were born in spring were exposed to pollen in the air and
in mother’s milk, producing more people with allergies. Summer produced a high
percentage of colic babies who had to compete for parental care with hunting
and building activities; the preparations for the approaching glacial weather
were paramount. Fall babies risked animal worms, viruses, and bacteria, which
in winter would be uncommon. For them, winter solstice was a time to celebrate
the birth of babies – all babies, not just one. The birth of the babies became
associated with the return of the sun, the light of life.</div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh921YXF1lnhqeI6Y0Hm5sNrwzC5pVe0m3TF79BPOsDWBL75D2nzpR9s-TSLo11pFSHiyF0PWY6savmejkgBuq0GojAVzAXEql8cDlWZOSvRuSAQneFDf8pW9nJW2y8vXz2tvFMKDrgBhq3IbszZjGNesX8IgufRy-oPVmsF22U3h8SPyh24brlsPSPaQ/s5588/Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5588" data-original-width="3633" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh921YXF1lnhqeI6Y0Hm5sNrwzC5pVe0m3TF79BPOsDWBL75D2nzpR9s-TSLo11pFSHiyF0PWY6savmejkgBuq0GojAVzAXEql8cDlWZOSvRuSAQneFDf8pW9nJW2y8vXz2tvFMKDrgBhq3IbszZjGNesX8IgufRy-oPVmsF22U3h8SPyh24brlsPSPaQ/s320/Cross.jpg" width="208" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Festivals
celebrating the return of the light have been traditional for millennia. Even thousands of years ago our ancestors knew what
we know today: that on December 21st the sun reaches its lowest point on the
horizon at the Tropic of Capricorn. The golden ball of light lingers at the
bottom of the analemma for three days, then rises again toward the Tropic of
Cancer. Many symbols have grown from this event. One is the Celtic cross; a
symbol for winter solstice. Its predecessor, the equal-armed (<b>+</b>) cross, appeared tens of thousands of
years ago as a symbol for direction: north, south, east, and west. Over time
one arm of the cross was lengthened to designate which arms were which; the
extended arm of the cross denoting south. The circle of the Celtic Cross (more
accurately an ellipse) where it intersects the southern arm
symbolizes the position of the sun at the winter solstice. This beautiful image is a
popular decoration in homes during the Festival of Lights which is celebrated around the world. Hindu Diwali,
Buddhist Tazaungdaing, Jewish Hanukkah, and Christian Christmas are all holy
days associated with this time of year; some according to the lunar calendar.
Sacred candles and lights on trees, bushes, houses, and in windows reflect the
anticipation of the return of the sunlight. </div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another tradition of Christmas
time is Santa Claus. Most commonly associated with Saint Nicholas, an historic
fourth-century saint. Many miracles were attributed to his intercession, and
because of that he became known as “Nikolaos the Wonderworker.” He also had a
reputation for secret gift-giving, which many conclude made him the model for
Santa Claus. (Shown: St. Nicholas icon)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Further back in history, as far
back as 45,000 years, we find another root for Santa Claus: a Paleolithic
Siberian reindeer herder. Duncan-Enzmann tells of this character in Ice Age
Language. The reindeer herder traded in reindeer hides, which are both warm and
waterproof. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3s7JIxMOlQ3OLB0QAorQOiqbDIltHkoxp21ePWrh5PpSCq0kJKqJkTnKUz7e2sLK8cW3LxDIMb4t3OUj8m5suAdOyZZA2YexaeUUO4Bf7_qeMtyfvw6U0W5ey9exS2rsHKOOM7j85ayLnfEhS9I-zucsITLAxBAC4C6dvltcpUymg-OVNA5ZHR57_w/s1424/santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="1424" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3s7JIxMOlQ3OLB0QAorQOiqbDIltHkoxp21ePWrh5PpSCq0kJKqJkTnKUz7e2sLK8cW3LxDIMb4t3OUj8m5suAdOyZZA2YexaeUUO4Bf7_qeMtyfvw6U0W5ey9exS2rsHKOOM7j85ayLnfEhS9I-zucsITLAxBAC4C6dvltcpUymg-OVNA5ZHR57_w/w601-h113/santa.jpg" width="601" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whatever your tradition is this
season, remember that a smile, a kind word, and a warm hug are gifts that money
cannot buy. Whether you are young or old, warm or cold, winter solstice is the
longest night of the year. It signals longer days, more light, and warmer
weather, all encouraging new life. That is a reason to celebrate. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294470242304010926.post-79151345896429969872022-12-12T09:00:00.001-05:002022-12-12T09:00:00.159-05:00Revelation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpR7AKSsY7vELygaie_5vOGZinqkMMke6YwWapL7evA0DaJnmFhFwaadZcxlNQfTKAeZXOjHKuaD-ZqKarVDI20Fv0pzCt3_BBJYzRZE9EyUiLvdLRk73esNANiq1s6IQEk6yqHZbmjxQQhVem9DeLf_qJ6gvdrjo7tzya5p1DqftWYULpF92PLDiZxg/s610/1.%20Nebra%20Sky%20disk(1600BC).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="610" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpR7AKSsY7vELygaie_5vOGZinqkMMke6YwWapL7evA0DaJnmFhFwaadZcxlNQfTKAeZXOjHKuaD-ZqKarVDI20Fv0pzCt3_BBJYzRZE9EyUiLvdLRk73esNANiq1s6IQEk6yqHZbmjxQQhVem9DeLf_qJ6gvdrjo7tzya5p1DqftWYULpF92PLDiZxg/w341-h336/1.%20Nebra%20Sky%20disk(1600BC).jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For decades I have followed the trail left by symbol-makers who practiced their craft in what we call prehistory. Here it is that a language of pictures was used to record the lives and knowledge of a civilization long since obscured by those that followed. As I first began to discover the origin of these images I experienced a sense of wonder and excitement as a revelation of our ancient world emerged. The story told by this symbol language is that of an intelligent and extraordinarily resourceful culture, one that studied the stars, built observatories, survived ice ages, and voyaged on the oceans.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Symbology is the study of images and symbols in context and the decoding of their origin and meaning. Context is all about geography,
history, climate, and timeline. Context helps us determine whether an
interpretation is likely to be correct or not. Take cavemen for example. First
of all, during the Ice Age, there were few caves. But that is the smallest
problem. It is tens of degrees below zero, and lighting a fire in a cave would
not be smart. You would not generate enough heat to warm the cave with the
opening, and if you blocked off the opening you would die of carbon monoxide
poisoning. So I asked myself - how did they survive? That they did is obvious,
I am here.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The realization that there were no such things as “cavemen”
began to create doubt as to other things I had been taught. I experienced a
paradigm shift, and began to ask questions: who, what, when, where, why, and
how? These questions plagued my mind, and I had to find the answers the only
way I knew how – by researching and comparing the origin of more symbols, in
context, to find their meaning. Knowledge comes in stages. I discovered that my
geography was sadly lacking. Is it too much to ask that we at least know where
things are on this rock called Earth? After all, we live here.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I consulted regularly with Dr. Duncan-Enzmann, who has
translated inscriptions from the Paleolithic Ice Age. Among the translations is
one for how to build a house. A triple-walled house, with a fireplace - vented
under the house to circulate outside air into the pit to be warmed and mixed with
the air in the house. But that would not be enough to keep a family warm in
fifty-below-zero weather. They also had heating stones, like the bed warmers of
the pioneer days. Still not enough. Dr. Duncan-Enzmann shared with me
inscriptions showing records of weaving, of looms, of collecting eider duck
down, and of quilting clothing. I see why they survived.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next question now is: why isn’t this known? Does it
matter, you might ask? I believe it does. Our perception of who we are today is
affected greatly by what we believe history to have been. Be cautious – winners
write history. So how do we know what is true? Look for yourself at what is
there. Pictures tell us a great deal. Why bother, you might be thinking; I am
concerned about my future, and the future of my family. But it is important.
Our knowledge of the past is the foundation of the present. And our vision for
the future depends upon our understanding of today. Learn about the past, and
build a better future. If you are a conspiracy theorist, you know that changing
what the past “was” changes what the future will be.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have spent decades researching and writing the story
these ancient pictures are telling. This knowledge is powerful for many more
reasons: Knowledge is a catalyst for personal growth, and knowledge shields us
against lies and deceit. There is something uplifting about knowing that our
ancestors were intelligent and industrious. Were they? They named the days of
the week eight thousand years ago, and we still use the names. What has been
forgotten is why <u>those</u> names, and why in that order? There were good
reasons. “Why” is a good question to ask. Why is Venus female? Why is there a
Gorgon in the center of the Aztec calendar? Why did we teach generations of
people that the Earth was flat when its circumference had been measured before
6000 BC? Why don’t our latest generation of college students know about the
Hudson Bay Slush Out (6000 BC) and its effect on European waters like
the Black and Caspian Seas? They were once connected, and that affected where
humans could have been and how they got there, not to mention subsequent
history. In order to ask why, we have to look at things. Really look.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perhaps you, like me, are also intrigued by the megalithic
structures that mysteriously dot our landscape, or by civilizations that just
disappeared without any record of why, or by stories and legends of places that
might have been. Symbols are the door to this information. Decoding symbols is
the key to opening the door. Symbols are records left by the people who built
Gobekli Tepi and then buried it. This civilization was thousands of years old,
and we can piece together its history by decoding the images it made. A
good start is to know what the world was like geographically and geologically,
and what the climate was. It all begins by asking: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Context is crucial for the accurate translation of any language, including
images, symbols, and pictographs. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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</span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294470242304010926.post-67806859045065222522022-12-05T09:00:00.004-05:002022-12-06T18:17:22.005-05:00The Firebirds<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YJ3cBCRqjK1Ksg1Tg0ulv_0fR60jROodil-zV1v7h_ogq45WTuX51oW3fwh3GJReEN9MlNqqfdFnFRFMdePOQ1xu1XgbL45F6uFwhDQe89FStI1jldP47q1Gb2aT4b0jGZLgWCQXhkzdR0PHznrjkXsL_h4tEzVoVeUP1DgtwKPtRt2VgCQceCuPLw/s985/fe_xi_fe_xiv_wl-hr_mitchell_achf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="985" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YJ3cBCRqjK1Ksg1Tg0ulv_0fR60jROodil-zV1v7h_ogq45WTuX51oW3fwh3GJReEN9MlNqqfdFnFRFMdePOQ1xu1XgbL45F6uFwhDQe89FStI1jldP47q1Gb2aT4b0jGZLgWCQXhkzdR0PHznrjkXsL_h4tEzVoVeUP1DgtwKPtRt2VgCQceCuPLw/w479-h368/fe_xi_fe_xiv_wl-hr_mitchell_achf.png" width="479" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The legend of the Russian Firebird is the ancestor of the
Phoenix. The Firebird is a large bird with majestic plumage that glows with
red, orange, and yellow light. The feathers do not cease glowing if removed;
one feather can light a large room. In later iconography, the Firebird takes
the form of a peacock, with a crest on its head and tail feathers with glowing
"eyes.” In Faerie tales, the Firebird is typically the object of a
difficult quest, usually initiated by the finding of a lost feather. The hero
sets out to find and capture the live bird. At first, the hero is charmed by the
wonder of such a creature, but eventually, the hero blames the bird for his
troubles. According to Russian folklore, the Firebird, owned by Tsar Vyslav
Andronovitch, was used to steal golden apples from a nearby tsar’s garden.
Another Russian tale states that a feather from the tail of the Firebird was
presented to the Tsar by a knight-errant. The Tsar greatly desired the whole
bird and sent the reluctant knight after it; in this tradition, the Firebird
was huge and aggressive. In contemporary literature - the Harry Potter series,
written by Cynthia Rowling - the Firebird’s descendant, the Phoenix, assists
the hero in overcoming the Basilisk.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Phoenix is a fabulous bird known for extreme longevity;
likened to the stork, eagle, heron, falcon, and peacock the bird is capable of
auto-combustion and can self-regenerate from its own ashes. In the accounts of
Herodotus and Plutarch, the Phoenix originated in Ethiopia as a mythical bird
of matchless splendor and extraordinary longevity. Having been cremated upon
the funeral pyre, the bird was reborn from its own ashes. This peculiar bird is
part of mythologies all over the world. The Turks call the Phoenix kerkés,
Simurgh is the name in Persia, and the Taoists know it as the cinnabar bird. In
Egypt, it is called bennu and is sacred to Ra. The heron and Phoenix are both
ancient symbols of the primeval flood and the inundation of the Nile. The
Imperial Romans used the Phoenix as an emblem of the undying Empire. C.
d’Alviella said it well:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Amongst the Egyptians, the
Phoenix rising from its ashes represented the sun resuscitating every morning in the glow of dawn. Depicted on a pyre, and encircled by a halo
of glory, this solar Bird became, amongst the Romans, the emblem of the
imperial apotheoses, and then passed to the sarcophagi of the Christians, as a
symbol of the Resurrection.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Phoenix is related to the Roc and the Garuda of Hindu
mythology. The fabulous creature was a friend to Quetzalcoatl, bringing blessings
and happiness to the Aztecs, Toltecs, and Mayas. In Chinese lore, the Phoenix is
called Feng Hwang, one of the four sacred creatures of the directions,
representing the solar Yang and lunar Yin powers. Japan calls it the Ho-O, a
bird representing the sun, which comes to earth in successive ages to herald a
new era. In Arabia, the Phoenix is associated with the sun; in their legends, the bird sits in a nest that is ignited by solar rays. The Greek name for the palm tree is Phoenix; in some folklore, the Phoenix nest is on top of a palm
tree. The branches of the palm tree have long been associated with the sun. In
Christian iconography, the three-day rebirth of the Phoenix is considered a perfect
figure to represent the resurrection of Christ on the third day, and it was
the only creature in the Garden of Eden to resist the temptation of Eve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like many ancient symbols and myths, the Phoenix has its
roots in astronomical observations and ancient cultures that recorded them.
The myth of the Phoenix grew from the spectacular disappearance and
reappearance of the sun during a total eclipse. Venerated as the manifestation
of the sun god of Heliopolis, the Phoenix appears only once every thousand or
so years. Legends claim there is never more than one Phoenix at a time in the
world; total solar eclipses are rare events. Although they occur somewhere on
earth every eighteen months, they have been estimated to recur at any given
place only once every few centuries. As the eclipse progresses, the corona and
sun flares become visible to the eye; they could be described as a great bird
that catches fire, dies, and then is reborn. Our ancestors observed and
recorded the phenomenon, and legends of the Firebird and Phoenix were born.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294470242304010926.post-46234671105299862422022-11-27T09:00:00.000-05:002022-11-27T09:00:00.161-05:00Celtic Knots<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHs4wKFv7fL4D9j_R2hicZgg7sToVztT9xOK00J0auhpQ3eLYPmRtyJnofw7mc7Y2CZfO4VojFCY0agg6b35j9tEfs3nDB3MgJE4SKXQ5Fw9msMe3cBiV5ErzmgkJx7EYUJkdAPuXAC5HWVHJmGl1gbXfv4beOIAt28af7JVKlzW6WdbOeYDdgmb06tA/s1065/book%20of%20kells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1065" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHs4wKFv7fL4D9j_R2hicZgg7sToVztT9xOK00J0auhpQ3eLYPmRtyJnofw7mc7Y2CZfO4VojFCY0agg6b35j9tEfs3nDB3MgJE4SKXQ5Fw9msMe3cBiV5ErzmgkJx7EYUJkdAPuXAC5HWVHJmGl1gbXfv4beOIAt28af7JVKlzW6WdbOeYDdgmb06tA/w483-h279/book%20of%20kells.jpg" width="483" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">The origin of the intricate
Celtic knot begins thousands of years ago when our ancestors watched the skies,
measured the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, and recorded their findings
with dots and lines. Around 8000 BC they saw and named seven planets (then
including the sun and moon), and named the days of the weeks after them. They
ordered the names of the days by calculating the speed of the planets through
their orbits. Megaliths were built to increase the accuracy of their
observations. The tools they used to lay out these great stone observatories
were strings and rods.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Women were spinning and using
thread tens of thousands of years ago. Cords and threads were made by hand, and
had many uses other than making their clothing. Cords were used for measuring and
were divided into specific lengths by knots (Dunan-Enzmann). The sections of
strings were used to calculate how to divide a circle, to measure time from the
passing of stars, and thus to predict the seasons. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since then
knots have acquired many symbolic meanings, and are also used as an information
system. For centuries knots have symbolized engagement because knots, like
engagements, are binding. In the Celtic, Hindu, and Chinese cultures, knots are
designed into wedding garments, representing continuity, longevity, and
eternity. Sending messages through love knots is popular in many cultures. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt;">Knots
are used in heraldic design, the most famous of which is the Bowen knot – or
more accurately an “unknot,” a symbol of the family name. Weaving the string
over and under creates intricate patterns, which are used to represent the
genealogy of monarchies and nobles. The actual design of the knot is likely
inherited from generations of families who were involved in navigation,
textiles, or stone masonry.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another similar function of string, cords,
and ribbons is the Maypole. You must have three or more to braid. Maypoles have
three, four, five, six, and more ribbons that are woven in and out, over and
under by the dancing children. The songs that accompany the dances in ancient
times were meant to help children remember how to read the stars, remember the
four directions, the eight winds, and to measure time. When the weaving is
finished the ribbon is removed from the pole and flattened, and the knot that
remains is a physical representation of a mathematical equation necessary to
know how to divide a 360 degree circle into single degrees, necessary to find
longitude. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Celtic knots are a graphic form of
mathematical processes which derive mostly from calendrics. There are countless
beautiful decorative letters in the illuminated manuscripts, all designed to
preserve the knowledge of how to divide a circle, use the Venus clock, and find
longitude. It is easy to see how the woven line which makes these intricate, beautiful
patterns could be done with strings, especially if you have ever played cat’s
cradle.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294470242304010926.post-58133045575072610082022-11-21T09:00:00.001-05:002022-11-21T09:00:00.176-05:00Give Thanks<p> <span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaYT4YLflb1VcLBeYOIr244e_BU56mZEWGOucq5tBZKrlCZU2PoNfaubpIyKj5KElVCS60RWmBDfne-g9x4oXhsqpSzcSndzC_ytncKDs4j-Z9WV6rWCOADcT1wyMyCOHEvwM6w-UlJzbAefkd3PpxPULpejk3ConoE58IxkNXxtiIZqFdwL7U6SiDw/s1280/cornucopia-g39f4a2c4b_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaYT4YLflb1VcLBeYOIr244e_BU56mZEWGOucq5tBZKrlCZU2PoNfaubpIyKj5KElVCS60RWmBDfne-g9x4oXhsqpSzcSndzC_ytncKDs4j-Z9WV6rWCOADcT1wyMyCOHEvwM6w-UlJzbAefkd3PpxPULpejk3ConoE58IxkNXxtiIZqFdwL7U6SiDw/w549-h365/cornucopia-g39f4a2c4b_1280.jpg" width="549" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Cornucopia is a common
decoration at Thanksgiving time. In our house, we celebrate the abundance of the
universe and give thanks for all we have – before the trees go up and the
lights go on them. One of our traditional decorations is a cornucopia. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The history of the cornucopia is found
in mythological stories about Zeus. As a baby, Zeus was cared for by a goat who
nursed him. He accidentally broke off one of her horns. This horn had the
divine power to provide unending nourishment. The goat was recovered by Zeus
and placed in the sky as Capricorn. In another myth, Heracles wrestled with the
river god Achelous and ripped off one of his horns. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This ever-giving horn is often
called the Horn of Plenty. In some cultures, the Cornucopia represents
salvation. In ancient Greece, it is a symbol of spiritual abundance and is often
an attribute of Greek gods and goddesses. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Horn-shaped baskets are used in some
farming cultures, slung over the back to free hands for harvesting. These
beautiful baskets decorate Thanksgiving tables in many countries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why is it important to have a
special day to give thanks? Giving thanks is good for the spirit. It reminds us
of our blessings. It puts good energy into the world. Being thankful is an important
attitude to have. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanksgiving Day, celebrated in the
United States and Canada, gives thanks for the harvest and other blessings of
the year. In America, the general belief is that this holiday is modeled after a
1621 feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today we need to remember to be
thankful in this abundant world. May you have a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving
celebration with friends and family!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8294470242304010926.post-10556385954450499172022-11-14T16:50:00.004-05:002022-11-14T16:50:25.564-05:00Godesses and the Feminine Divine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfCPNScde4SP_CYQH8xds3xmMq2HeocvxHfu0rsnAQqPNsCADiT7ikM0qLT8LrP7widACiFFIfMCT5POspuE4vgYjbqkm7ce1zdiQUlqX0RR9LtuI_ZQhaoHRwD_mwqrBdOYiRDvevNJQo65HHqeXaPyVgQ3VKBLBmQjl8OZjOQIJ5go85oEYNWqbpA/s3028/cybele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1827" data-original-width="3028" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfCPNScde4SP_CYQH8xds3xmMq2HeocvxHfu0rsnAQqPNsCADiT7ikM0qLT8LrP7widACiFFIfMCT5POspuE4vgYjbqkm7ce1zdiQUlqX0RR9LtuI_ZQhaoHRwD_mwqrBdOYiRDvevNJQo65HHqeXaPyVgQ3VKBLBmQjl8OZjOQIJ5go85oEYNWqbpA/w495-h298/cybele.jpg" width="495" /></a></div><div align="center"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cybele and Argus </span></i></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div><br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Symbolic imagery for the
feminine is as ancient as prehistory. Magdalenian (12,500 BCE)
inscriptions show symbols translated by Duncan-Enzmann as shelter, food, and
childcare, all feminine concepts. The triad goddess begins there:
grandmothers teaching mothers teaching daughters how to spin, dye, weave, and
tailor garments during the bitter cold Ice Age. The Vanir culture, ca.
5000 BCE, used blonde, life-bringing females to symbolize the life-giving sun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Throughout the world
there is a vast pantheon of goddesses; all cultures and most religions have one
or more feminine deities. Familiar ones include Venus, the goddess of
love and beauty; Athena, the goddess of wisdom, philosophy, and war; and Hera,
the wife of Zeus and queen of the gods. Pandora, a creation of all the
gods, although not actually a goddess, has taken her place among the feminine
immortals of mythology. Goddesses less known include Hestia, protector of
marriage and eldest daughter of Chronos and Rhea.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The relationships
between gods and goddesses have been mythologized in every culture. Kings
and queens began as earthly manifestations of deities. Like the pharaohs of
Egypt, kings and queens were considered to be gods, symbolizing by their lives
the essence of the deities they worshiped. In Eastern religious
iconography, Shiva and his wife Shakti are sculpted, painted, and illustrated
in prominent places, depicted in sacred embrace. Emperor and empress are
their earthly counterparts.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The circle and the
chalice, grail, or V are among the oldest symbols for the sacred feminine.
Water, the great womb and grave of life, symbolizes the divine feminine,
the unconscious, and the emotions. Earth's biggest nighttime light, the
moon, is associated with the natural cycles of the female. Vessels,
vases, cauldrons, boats, and urns---containers---are also feminine symbols,
representing the womb. In antiquity, serpents and snakes were feminine
icons representing wisdom, birth, life, and death. The ankh, a symbol of
life and eternity in Egypt, is similar to our contemporary icon for female.
The symbol for the planet and the goddess Venus is the pentagram, the
logo used by "America's Team," the Dallas Cowboys, and by the U.S.
Army and the U.S. Pentagon. Fifty pentagrams adorn the flag of the U.S.A.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perhaps not commonly
recognized is that the United States utilizes many feminine symbols, one of
which is the eagle-headed goddess Freedom, whose statue adorns our nation's
capitol dome. The statue of the goddess Liberty, our most famous and
visible symbol, has the same attributes as the Greek goddess Athena; she offers
religious and political liberty, as well as freedom from want and fear.
Thomas Crawford's 1855 statue of the goddess America wears the same cloak
of stars and liberty cap as Mithras did. This nation's capital, the
District of Columbia, was named after a goddess. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Could the founding
fathers and their immediate successors have had a deeper vision than is yet
commonly realized? Why did they express their vision with these
beautiful, ancient images of the feminine? The evidence exists in such
symbols on our nation's emblems, buildings, and documents. The passion of
these founders for a new kind of governance established our nation. Perhaps
careful study of their chosen symbols could bring us closer to understanding
the freedom that was their dream and their amazing achievement.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0