Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

BEES

A symbol of the higher emotions, or of the spiritual egos.

"The Ancients, moreover, used to call the priestesses of Mother Earth (Dēmōter) Bees, in that they were initiates of the Terrene Goddess, and the Maid (Kore) herself Bee-like. They also called the Moon the Bee, as Lady of Generation; and especially because [with the Magians] the Moon in exaltation is the Bull, and Bees are Ox-born—that is, souls coming into birth are Ox-born—and the 'God who steals the Bull' [Mithra] occultly signifies generation" (Porphyry). - G. R. S. MEAD, Mysteries of Mithra, p. 63.

“Bees appear to have been considered by the Greeks as emblems of purity, and as the symbols of nymphs, who are sometimes called Mellissæ, as were also priestesses in general." - ISAAC MYER, Qabbalah, p. 229.

"The gods Indra, Krishna, and Vishnu, on account of their name Madhavas (that is, born of Madhus, belonging to or in connection with it) were compared in India to bees; the bee as making and carrying honey (madukaras) is especially the moon; as sucking it, it is especially the sun." - GUBERNATIS, Zool. Mythology, Vol. II. p. 216.

The “priestesses of Demeter" signify the emotions of buddhi, that is, the higher emotions of the soul. The moon in its higher (exaltation) aspect is a symbol of buddhi which is allied with the Self (the Bull). The higher emotions (bees) are from buddhi (ox-born), as also are the spiritual egos (atma-buddhi) descending into incarnation. The Self “steals” the Archetypal Man (Bull-Mithra) when he becomes the myriad selves of humanity. The Higher Self in his active aspects (Indra, etc.) is comparable to the higher emotions (bees) which produce wisdom and love (honey) as food for the soul. The higher emotion nature (bee) producing the soul's nourishment is of buddhi (moon), while the soul's assimilation of wisdom and love raises the lower Self to the Higher Self (sun).

See Also

ARCHETYPAL MAN
BULL
CANDLES
DEMETER
HONEY
INDRA
Krishna
MITHRA
MOON
OX-BORN
SUN
VISHNU