Self-knowledge and Self-mastery are central to my path. To actually know ones Self at a deeper level than just the surface ego/personality is not always easy. Painful and repressed memories and fears come to the surface, repressed urges, etc. Its making the unconscious conscious, in the Jungian sense . Keeping a dream journal help with this. Self-mastery involves doing the things we dont feel like doing, and refraining from things that we may crave or desire. This is very similar to the Buddhist goal of liberation from craving and aversion. One quickly realizes that it is as if there are two selves struggling with one another. In esoteric symbolism, this is the virgin struggling against the lion (the Strength Card [by the way, this is an alchemical symbol of mercury/virgo and sulfur/leo]); by Jacob wrestling with the Angel all night and being renamed Israel (renaming being always a sign of transformation and initiation); this is the virgin bruising the head of the serpent; this is death of the bestial nature and resurrection of the higher self, which is also turning base metals into gold. The image of Baphomet shows the Flame of Illumination rising between the two horns. This flame is the Son of Striving. First.. I try to master myself physically.. With gym, etc.. Then into the lunar realm of emotions and unconscious. This is the Heros journey.. Shown in the labors of Hercules or the Odyssey shows this process of Initiation. Its the path of the Sun through 12 signs, descending through the Underworld, only to rise triumphantly with Dawn.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:02:19 +0000
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