Post by david on Oct 4, 2020 16:15:00 GMT
Dear friends,
Archery is a good means of introducing the concept of contemplative action because its basis is the annihilation of space which is the principle condition of material existence. In perfect existence all things are in perfect harmony beyond time and space and your true self is in perfect harmony with the true nature of all things. However, our present consciousness is in material existence and separate from all other things. This creates the condition of limitation which is the inability of the soul to accomplish her will.
The target is the bull's eye. The bull is an earth animal but the eye is the means by which the bull receives the solar spirit. We have to distinguish the outer appearances from the
inner by penetrating through the outer to destroy its illusory nature.
We stand on the World Pillar which is the descent of the Spirit into the world. The arrow is held horizontally in front of our eyes so as to form the level of material activity transfixed by the vertical ray of the Spirit and onto which archetypal action unfolds. The bow is the psychic crescent. A crescent is a section of a circle and a circle is the radiance of a point. This is why the solar symbol has a dot at the centre. The trouble with being radiant is that we tend to lose contact with the centre which is why Leo is the sign of pride.
The psyche is the intersection of the Spirit and matter and is the principle which governs the manifestation of the Spirit into the material world. It is the means by which we become conscious of spiritual influences. Double curved bows reflect the duality of this principle, the lower curve being the reflection of the higher into matter. The bow pulls upwards and downwards simultaneously. We are caught between the opposing pull of the Spirit and matter and horizontal activity is the result. It is by contemplation that the horizontal activity reflects the archetypal activity of the Spirit.
The essential part of the arrow is the point. The symbolism has something in common with needlework. From a contemplative point of view activities which are very different in outward appearance can be similar symbolically. This is why we should not make glib categorizations about masculine and feminine activity. Symbolically speaking the penetration of fabric by a needle is the same as the penetration of a road surface by a pick. You cannot compromise spiritual teachings to pander to prejudice. They say strength is a male quality but contemplative principles do not take account of quantity. To lift a feather means that the inertia of matter must be overcome by the fire of change and transformation. Iron is consolidated fire and steel is iron refined by fire. The needle point reflects the unmanifest point of Creation. It is not so silly to talk about a million angels dancing on a pin. To realize the principle requires one-pointedness of concentration which is a manifestation of that principle and the eye of the needle (which all the camels in Eternity can pass through if they know how) which sees only the Spirit enables us to do it. By this means the needle is released from inertia and can cross the gap. The rent is healed by the thread of the Spirit which is the spiritual influence running through all things.
The thread brings us back to archery. We can tie a thread to an arrow in order to link us to the target. The aiming can only be done by concentration. The central letter of the word hit is i which is a line descending from a point. It is preceded by the breathing letter and followed by the Tau cross. The word is related to hint by which we understand the subtle. By this means we find the thread of the Spirit which is also reflected onto every road and path. The Greek word for sin, amartia, is derived from the verb amartein meaning to miss. Martial symbolism is related to moral symbolism. Every possible decision is based on the principle that there is a correct and an incorrect action. The correct action comes from reflecting archetypal states which leads to the best possible result - at least from a spiritual point of view. It is the nature of manifestation that it includes the false and the false can only be overcome by the true. Morality is based on the principle that it is possible to do good or harm to people which is due to an inter-relationship between selves. On the archetypal level this inter-relationship is always perfect. Imperfect action and relationships are caused by being both an imperfect reflection of our true nature and having an imperfect discernment of other true natures. As we discern the true nature in others we come closer to our own perfect nature.
Courtesy is based on the principle that there are correct forms of behaviour including the forms of approach. Violence is a deliberately incorrect approach which has to be corrected. When things have a tendency to conflict this is due to the degeneration of a natural relationship. The number of squares on the chess board is equal to the number of hexagrams in the I Ching and it is by moving over these squares that the conflict is resolved. The object is not annihilation but equilibrium which is similar to the wrestling pin except that in wrestling the equilibrium returns to the unformed potential of the earth. Wrestling movements are based on the perfect movements of the dance of Creation. The false is destroyed by the thunderbolt bringing the light of the Divine into the world which can be reflected into a punch. When punching upwards the formless potential conforms to the thunderbolt. The movement has always to be governed by the pure knowing of perfect existence. Blocking movements are curved movements to reflect the lunar purity of the psychic crescent. The thunderbolt is bright because it is concentrated in time to reflect the Eternal Moment that contains every possible action.
To see this principle as a phallic symbol is to see one symbol in terms of another. One can see the sun as an eye symbol but this is not a final explanation. They are both manifestations of an archetypal state which contains them both as possibilities. When a point moves it becomes a line and a rod is a depiction of a line in physical form. The purpose of an arrow is that it moves in order to convey the point of the arrow head. The broadening of the head from the point represents the unfolding of the Divine centre into manifestation similar to the double blades of the labrys. The feathers make the arrow one with the airy element. Air is the medium of light and flows into fire. Beyond the bull's eye is the heart which is the centre of the Divine fire within all things.
The loosing of the string represents a much misunderstood idea. A lot of people have discovered the energy that comes from releasing tension and have concluded that lack of effort is the highest level of creativity. Inspirations do come from a suspension of the will but only when tired after great effort.
The wood of the shaft is the substance that contains fire as a potential and this enables it to overcome inertia and carry the head. It is the latent fire that enables substance to receive the archetypal energy and conform to the archetypal states. Fire rises through the airy element raising all things to the Divine centre. The arrow is the vehicle of the will of the archer and her aspiration to the Spirit makes it one with the descending thunderbolt. In so doing her will becomes one with the Divine Light so destroying her false self as she destroys the illusion of manifestation.
May She be with you,
David.