Post by robincragin on Nov 5, 2015 11:13:15 GMT -5
During the Winter Solstice, the “birth” of the sun from the darkness of the longest night holds deep archetypal symbolism that can instruct us on the way to live our lives. The solar solstice activity symbolizes the interplay between the polar opposites of life and death, as well as the issues of mortality and immortality. In symbolic terms, the darkness of winter’s longest night can represent our human, mortal state. Just like our human body, the dark tide of midwinter eventually passes. What is born at the moment of winter’s passing? Daylight. The sun is reborn. The light of day and, specifically, the sun, are symbols that cross-culturally represent the immortal dimension. This is because the sun is a constant source of light in the heavens, which means that, symbolically, it is an immortal light.
The popular European myth of the Holly and Oak King battle also represents this interplay between mortal and immortal. As we learned earlier, the Holly King represents the dark half of the year and the cycles of death and return, while the Oak King represents the seasons of light and life. In their mythic battle, the Holly king relinquishes power to the Oak King at the time of the Winter Solstice. In essence, the symbols reaffirms to us that darkness gives way to light at Yule. The mortal yields to the immortal.
Interestingly enough, it is only within the Western mythologies that we can find the two primal forces of life and death, mortal and immortal in a state of conflict. This may well be the result of ancient Greek philosophies that portrayed spirit and matter as discrete, separate, and conflicting forms. In contrast, Eastern myths and symbols express an understanding of the natural interplay between the forces of life and death, mortal and immortal, spirit and matter. Life and death, spirit and matter form a single continuum in Taoist philosophy, for example. The familiar yin-yang symbol from Asia also illustrates the two aspects of mortal and immortal in natural union and harmony, with light and dark energies wrapped around, embracing one another. In essence, this symbol portrays polar opposites as being both “two” (that is to say, distinct) and “one” (meaning that they are also indistinct). In the realm of spirit there is no differentiation, all opposites collide and unify. On the everyday, mundane level, differentiation is clear and distinct.
In the spiritual realm, there is neither mortal nor immortal. There is only this constant, unnamable, unforced energy that is always ready to assume a new form. It may become a human being, a plant, an animal, a rock or anything else that is ready to come into existence. In the ordinary physical realm, you come to know the undifferentiated life energy through its many distinct forms.
In today’s magical working, you will experience the dual forces of light and dark, mortal and immortal residing with you.
What You’ll Need:
* Two 4x4 inch squares of paper
* A red ink pen
* Dried holly (or pine or other evergreen herb)
* Dried powdered oak (or a perennial herb such as lavender)
* Twine or some sort of string
* A small burning vessel such as an iron pot or cauldron
To begin, close your eyes and take several deep breaths. Relax your body completely. Imagine that you stand before two wooden boxes. One box is made of light-colored wood and the other is made of dark wood. Open the dark-wood box and you will find a single word that represents your mortal nature. This word represents the part of you the will pass with time. Remember the word. Now open the light-colored box. Inside you will find a single word that represents your immortal nature. Remember the word.
When you have seen both words, open your eyes. Use your pen to write the words, one on each 4x4 inch square of paper. Take a pinch of the powdered oak (or perennial herb) and place it at the center of the paper with your immortal word written upon it. Now fold the paper into a tight bundle. Take a pinch of the evergreen herb and place it at the center of the paper with your mortal word written on it. Fold this paper into a tight bundle. Use a length of string to tie the two bundles together. Light a match and set the two tied bundles on fire, allowing them to burn in the iron pot.
Watch as the two aspects of mortal and immortal become one ash. Once they have burned out and the ash is left and has cooled off, keep this magical ash in a small container (or even plastic baggie, if that is easier) for a future ritual working.
The popular European myth of the Holly and Oak King battle also represents this interplay between mortal and immortal. As we learned earlier, the Holly King represents the dark half of the year and the cycles of death and return, while the Oak King represents the seasons of light and life. In their mythic battle, the Holly king relinquishes power to the Oak King at the time of the Winter Solstice. In essence, the symbols reaffirms to us that darkness gives way to light at Yule. The mortal yields to the immortal.
Interestingly enough, it is only within the Western mythologies that we can find the two primal forces of life and death, mortal and immortal in a state of conflict. This may well be the result of ancient Greek philosophies that portrayed spirit and matter as discrete, separate, and conflicting forms. In contrast, Eastern myths and symbols express an understanding of the natural interplay between the forces of life and death, mortal and immortal, spirit and matter. Life and death, spirit and matter form a single continuum in Taoist philosophy, for example. The familiar yin-yang symbol from Asia also illustrates the two aspects of mortal and immortal in natural union and harmony, with light and dark energies wrapped around, embracing one another. In essence, this symbol portrays polar opposites as being both “two” (that is to say, distinct) and “one” (meaning that they are also indistinct). In the realm of spirit there is no differentiation, all opposites collide and unify. On the everyday, mundane level, differentiation is clear and distinct.
In the spiritual realm, there is neither mortal nor immortal. There is only this constant, unnamable, unforced energy that is always ready to assume a new form. It may become a human being, a plant, an animal, a rock or anything else that is ready to come into existence. In the ordinary physical realm, you come to know the undifferentiated life energy through its many distinct forms.
In today’s magical working, you will experience the dual forces of light and dark, mortal and immortal residing with you.
What You’ll Need:
* Two 4x4 inch squares of paper
* A red ink pen
* Dried holly (or pine or other evergreen herb)
* Dried powdered oak (or a perennial herb such as lavender)
* Twine or some sort of string
* A small burning vessel such as an iron pot or cauldron
To begin, close your eyes and take several deep breaths. Relax your body completely. Imagine that you stand before two wooden boxes. One box is made of light-colored wood and the other is made of dark wood. Open the dark-wood box and you will find a single word that represents your mortal nature. This word represents the part of you the will pass with time. Remember the word. Now open the light-colored box. Inside you will find a single word that represents your immortal nature. Remember the word.
When you have seen both words, open your eyes. Use your pen to write the words, one on each 4x4 inch square of paper. Take a pinch of the powdered oak (or perennial herb) and place it at the center of the paper with your immortal word written upon it. Now fold the paper into a tight bundle. Take a pinch of the evergreen herb and place it at the center of the paper with your mortal word written on it. Fold this paper into a tight bundle. Use a length of string to tie the two bundles together. Light a match and set the two tied bundles on fire, allowing them to burn in the iron pot.
Watch as the two aspects of mortal and immortal become one ash. Once they have burned out and the ash is left and has cooled off, keep this magical ash in a small container (or even plastic baggie, if that is easier) for a future ritual working.