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Home Preface 5 Planes of Existence Introduction Five Planes of Manifestation A to Z Contact Related Information BIBLE VERSES |
PHOENIX, THE BIRD OF ARABIAA symbol of the Higher Self in the cycle of Life, passing through processes of Involution and Evolution. “I am that Great Phoenix which is in Heliopolis. I am the Ordering of all that is and exists. What does that mean? It is the Phoenix Osiris which is in Heliopolis. It is the Ordering of what is and exists,—his body. Variant: Eternity and Unending Time. Eternity is the day, Unending Time is the night.” — A. Wiedemann, Religion of the Ancient Egyptians, p. 259. “This bird was represented as resembling an eagle, with feathers partly red and partly golden.” — Herodotus, II. 73. The eternal Spirit (eagle), which descends and ascends, has the aspect of Love (rose‑red) and Wisdom (gold). The various stories of the Phoenix symbolise:—First, that the Self comes forth from the higher planes (east, Arabia). Second, that it descends into matter, and having been perfected (nest of spices) dies. Third, the incipient lower self (worm) arises from the lower nature (decomposed body), and is developed through experience and the Divine life (heat of the sun). Fourth, the lower Self, in becoming fully evolved at the end of the cycle, is said to complete and purify the personality (father). This is indicated by the “egg of spice,” which is at first solid, then emptied, and finally filled with the personality as in embalmment. It is said that the weight now of the “egg” is the same as when solid at first, implying that original potential perfection has passed into actual perfection. The “egg,” or mummied personality, is then offered as a sacrifice to the Supreme (temple of the Sun), meaning that the purified personality is mortal but merges into the individuality, which alone survives. |
See Also
BENNU BIRD
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