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Hanuman, an image produced by the creative Indian religious intuition reminds us to become more conscious of the reality that we are ‘spiritualized’ (blue) animals (monkey); and thus, have to pay attention to the lower and the higher-the biological and spiritual – aspect of our nature. By ‘spiritual’ we mean the force behind the inborn drive to individuate, which origin is out of reach of human reason. It is fully unknown to us, but we can experience and know that we are subject to this creative will of this unknown force. To put it in a Zen line: ‘It is just so’.
The image also depicts Hanuman carrying in his chest the two creative spiritual principles in the form of Goddess Sita and God Rama. Individuation, mature perception of human nature and human life cannot be achieved without a good degree of mutual assimilation (inner union) of these two creative principles which also represent the Logos and Eros principle.
The mythological story of Hanuman we can find in the Ramayana.
Gods can be perceived as spirits-as unknown forces that influence our world, and are projected and depicted as personified spiritual forces and divine qualities as in Hinduism so clearly is the case.
We see here in this image- serving as a hybrid symbol, that Goddess Sita (Lakshmi)and God Rama (a form of Vishnu)– are carried by Hanuman (The God or Divine force of service and devotion) within his chest – the heart centre of love- and the image can be interpreted as the masculine and feminine principles that we need to bring together -unite- within ourselves (by truthfulness, love and courage- matters of the heart).
Inner Spirit creates and comes to manifest within us through the two sexual principles, therefore if we want to approach, know, experience and connect with the creative Spirit consciously than we will have to deal with these powerful conflicting principles (which are spiritual drives) that are opposite and complementary to each other at the same time and make effort to unite these under a new conscious light.
The Indian religious light-festival of Deepivali or Diwali celebrates the return of Rama and Sita to the Kingdom after the defeat of the force of darkness Ravana (unconsciousness).
In the human domain we find that a large part individuation and creating conscious light has to do with the bringing together of the masculine and feminine characteristics of the psyche within each sex. In Jungian psychology one has to gain first enough insight in one’s unconsciousness (shadow)-than via the experience of one’s animus or anima attaining insight in the nature of – and making a bridge to – the other sex (and by this the other sexual principle in one self) -before we can make good conscious relation to the Self….and attain Self-knowledge.
This image of Hanuman is flanked by two Hexagrams from the ancient I Ching.
Hexagram 11 ( Peace-fertility-heaven and earth unite) and Hexagram 12 ( Standstill-stagnation-destruction) . The first hexagram shows the masculine principle allowing the feminine principle to have her say as well, submit itself to it when necessary and all is good.
The second shows the situation when the masculine does not allow the feminine principle to be his equal creative partner and represses it. This is the situation today in the too much by the masculine dominated world, as well as in the soul ruled by the masculine in men and women . Resulting in repression and undervaluation of the female and destruction of mother nature-sacrificed to masculine power and greed, blinded drive where life is not seen anymore as it is, let alone lived as it should be.
An incorrect balance of Yin and Yang results in stagnation of psychological growth and expansion, an infertile situation.
The I Ching says : “Heaven and earth are opposites, but their actions are concerted. Man and woman stand in opposition, but they strive for union”. Psychological wholeness and psycho-spiritual renewal result from the union of these opposites under sufficient conscious light, resulting in a mature individual. This individual has experienced, developed him or herself by and knows the opposite sexual aspect of the creative Spirit within, and by that is able to keep the right balance-inner harmony of yin and yang in life.
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Grids of images + clarifying texts. Showing archetypal content (themes-imagery) reflected in religious mythology-images and symbols. Archetypes are nuclear instinctual forms that carry purpose and meaning in human expressions and psychic abilities and behaviors. They are the structures and forms behind our rites, creative intuitions and fantasy and are woven in the language of our dreams. We find their presence in the imagery provided by religious intuition over the ages.
Hinduism – Hindu Pantheon Gods and Goddesses-(spiritual qualities and
creative elements as projections/personifications )-Examples :
Krishna-as androgyne child-God; as the spirit of Love that brings divine Truth and insight. Bhagavad Gita: “Because you showed Love, I moksha you. Because I am Love”. Moksha reveals Truth and brings reality under conscious light. Love of God (higher qualities and values), the higher aspects of human nature, others and the opposite sex lead to Truth. In short love of nature and life.
In the symbol of the Divine Flute, the creating masculine (phallic) and the creative receptive (hollow) and creating feminine is brought in union by the breath of the divine Spirit and produces music/sound, expressing harmonious ordered energy of higher spiritually-based feeling-ability.
Vishvarupa – Vishnu as the Cosmic Man. A projection of God in which all other Gods (spiritual forces) are embodied. Similar to Isha (the Lord of the Gods). The Cosmic Man is an anthropomorphized depiction of God as One and manifold. Out of his body parts (Purusha has a similar manifestation), the parts of the world are created. Krishna is a God in itself and at the same time an avatar of Vishnu. Through Krishna Vishvarupa was revealed to his mother Yashoda as his inner reality. As One God who contains all Gods and Goddesses (masculine and feminine spiritual elements/archetypes).
An image of the Indian Goddess of wisdom Sarasvati–as the Spirit/Goddess wisdom she rules over Parvati (spiritual reality) and (the earthly) Lakshmi her partners with whom she forms the Tridevi, the counterpart of the masculine triad, the Trimurti. Making music must be understood as cultivated feeling-expression. A correct view on reality and human life cannot be established without having a cultivated differentiated feeling-life. Which makes sound feeling-valuation possible and add feeling-order to our rational reason and judgment. Only then one has the wisdom to make the best choices to man’s and humanities’ end.
Abrahamic religions – Judaism -Christianity- Islam
In this image of the crowning of Mary-by the renewed masculine principle through Christ, the earthly Feminine is connected with the heavenly Feminine.
The Holy Spirit is the (5) quint-essence that rules this dynamic spiritual process. The crown -corona- is a symbol of conscious light and wholeness.
Buddhism -Taoism
Greek – Roman – Egyptian mythology, pantheons and religious imagery
Miscellaneous– – Mythology – Folklore – Animism -(animal symbolism totems rites) //– Gods Goddesses ( Artemis of Ephesus – Lilith -Echnaton etc
Alchemy A symbol system that relates to a religious endeavour. The realization of spirit by freeing it from matter. In modern language, taking back the projections of the Unconscious (innate spirit) onto the world of matter
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