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Death and RebirthFundamental to many ancient and modern religions, philosophical traditions, and new age thought, is the concept of Death and Rebirth. In Hindu India, for example, the goddess Kali is “uncompromisingly alone, the mother of death... she is the force of time leading ever onward to destruction. And then, when she has destroyed everything, Kali will be the timeless sleep from which new ages will awaken.” [1] Like the Kali Yuga -- which derives its name from the Goddess -- Kali is the ultimate personification of death and rebirth. In the world of Gods and Goddesses, Kali is often considered the most terrifying, “the goddess who perpetually transforms life into a fascinating dance of death.” Her bloody rites, however, over-shadow [pardon the pun] her spiritual significance. “As a symbol of the worst we can imagine, as the most extreme picture of our fears, she [Kali] offers us a chance to face down our own terror of annihilation.” In many respects, Kali “is a blissful goddess. Once faced and understood... Kali frees her worshipers of all fear and becomes the greatest of mothers, the most comforting of all goddesses.” [1] When the goddess Inanna made her Descent into Hades, she was forced to pass through seven gates, in which she lost her status, her possessions, basically everything she valued, and ultimately her life. But then she is resurrected or reborn and thereafter restored to a much better existence. Her trek, her Hero’s Journey, is the source of the Dance of the Seven Veils -- not the Salome version, but the relinquishment of all the baggage and stuff no longer needed -- the literal shedding of The Emperor’s New Clothes* -- and the return with the golden cornucopia of Hades. This more profound aspect of the Dance of the Seven Veils is in fact beautifully illustrated in Tom Robbin’s Book, Skinny Legs and All [2]. In the world of mere mortals, all of the same applies. Death is letting go of whatever is no longer needed, and thereby allowing for rebirth. From a relationship that is best described as pure Yuk!, to the concept that Money is the root of all happiness, it’s all about stuff and baggage that is no longer needed for our own Hero’s Journey -- or more inclusively, The Fool’s Journey. And inevitably, without fail, every time... the rebirth is into someone or something better -- or at the very least, something which allows for ever greater growth and evolvement for the individual. In many respects, life is an evolvement. In the process of Creating Reality, we find all manner of drama with which to entertain ourselves, and learn what not to do next time. If Reincarnation is but the same thing on a longer time scale, then the same philosophy that applies there, applies to the shorter term. The evolvement we unabashedly seek is learning the tools of Sacred Mathematics and Connective Physics, Astrology, Numerology, Tarot, Alchemy, Magic, and Wicca. Thereafter, we get to experience the Secrets and Conspiracies, the Chronicles of Earth, the fundamentals of Justice, Order, and Law (and especially the lack thereof due to Corporate Rule, etceteras), -- and thereafter find Laughter And remember: Life is Death and Rebirth. Daath Forward to: Reincarnation Reincarnation Is Making a Comeback Astrology
Footnotes: * The new movie, The Emperor’s New Clothes, is not only an outstanding movie, but one which beautifully illustrates -- perhaps fictional, perhaps not -- the point of the death and rebirth of an individual -- in this case, Napoleon Bonaparte. ______________________ References: [1] Patricia Monaghan, The Book of Goddesses & Heroines, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1990, page 188-189. [2] Tom Robbins, Skinny Legs and All, Bantam Press, New York, 1994. [3] Richard Bach, Illusions, the Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. |
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The Library of ialexandriah2003© Copyright Dan Sewell Ward, All Rights Reserved
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