Snake - Revision history

Odyssee at 06:57, 26 September 2021

2021-09-26T06:57:51Z

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	== The serpent as a symbol for the adversary powers ==		== The serpent as a symbol for the adversary powers ==

	In occult contexts, the serpent often appears as an imaginative symbol for the lower, earth-bound but very powerful astral powers and is then often seen in connection with the ~~Luciferic~~, but also with the ~~Ahrimanic~~ adversaries. Thus, in the Old Testament creation story of the Bible, Lucifer in the form of the old serpent tempted Adam and Eve to taste the fruit from the tree of knowledge. In Persian mythology, especially in Zurvanism, Ahriman as the Great Serpent has dominion over the underworld for 9000 years.		In occult contexts, the serpent often appears as an imaginative symbol for the lower, earth-bound but very powerful astral powers and is then often seen in connection with the [[Lucifer]]ic, but also with the [[Ahriman]]ic [[adversaries]]. Thus, in the [[w:Old Testament\|Old Testament]] creation story of the [[w:Bible\|Bible]], Lucifer in the form of the old serpent tempted [[Adam]] and [[Eve]] to taste the fruit from the [[tree of knowledge]]. In [[w:Persian mythology\|Persian mythology]], especially in [[w:Zurvanism\|Zurvanism]], Ahriman as the [[Great Serpent]] has dominion over the [[underworld]] for 9000 years.

	Nevertheless, it would be wrong to see only negative symbolism in the serpent.		Nevertheless, it would be wrong to see only negative symbolism in the serpent.

Odyssee at 06:49, 26 September 2021

2021-09-26T06:49:39Z

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	For the occultist the serpent is the symbol of the earth as it developed from the Old Moon, and the fish is the symbol of the spiritual being of the Old Sun. Our earth with its solid substances has symbolised in the serpent its deepest being, the earth being. That which has separated itself as watery substance shows itself symbolised in the fish.\|101\|164f}}		For the occultist the serpent is the symbol of the earth as it developed from the Old Moon, and the fish is the symbol of the spiritual being of the Old Sun. Our earth with its solid substances has symbolised in the serpent its deepest being, the earth being. That which has separated itself as watery substance shows itself symbolised in the fish.\|101\|164f}}

			== The Kundalini Serpent ==
			{{Main\|Kundalini}}

			The [[Kundalini force]], also called the [[Kundalini serpent]], rests at the base of the spine, symbolised by the serpent coiled in three and a half coils, sleeping unconscious in the [[root chakra]], the four-petalled lotus flower, and is, according to Tantric teachings, the divine force in its individual incarnation in man. Once awakened, it can become the highest power of [[love]] or pure [[desire]] heightened to the highest degree. As [[Kundalini fire]], it is the bond that connects the [[physical body]] with the [[astral body]] throughout earthly life, the so-called [[silver cord]]. On the one hand, it is the force in the human being that is closest to the "mater", the [[matter]], and on the other hand, it forms the bridge between the physical and astral substance. At the same time it is the inwardly excited [[astral light]] which illuminates the outer [[soul world]] and makes it visible to the [[clairvoyant gaze]].

	== Literature ==		== Literature ==

Odyssee at 06:41, 26 September 2021

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	{{GZ\|Whoever looks deeper into existence will get rid of the judgement that something is good or evil under all circumstances. In Christianity the serpent is called the seductress of mankind and Lucifer is called with abhorrence. The view of the Luciferic principle, however, has changed [...] This is not a view of the original Christianity, but only came into Christianity later. Even among the Christian mystics of the first centuries, among the Gnostics, the serpent is not a symbol for evil, but even a symbol for the spiritual guidance of humanity. The wise man, the leader is called "the serpent". This was the name given to the one who leads humanity to knowledge. The serpent is the symbol of Lucifer.\|97\|157f}}		{{GZ\|Whoever looks deeper into existence will get rid of the judgement that something is good or evil under all circumstances. In Christianity the serpent is called the seductress of mankind and Lucifer is called with abhorrence. The view of the Luciferic principle, however, has changed [...] This is not a view of the original Christianity, but only came into Christianity later. Even among the Christian mystics of the first centuries, among the Gnostics, the serpent is not a symbol for evil, but even a symbol for the spiritual guidance of humanity. The wise man, the leader is called "the serpent". This was the name given to the one who leads humanity to knowledge. The serpent is the symbol of Lucifer.\|97\|157f}}

			== Serpent symbol and Old Moon ==

			The [[Old Moon]] was the previous embodiment of our [[Earth]]. At that time, this Old Moon temporarily separated from its Sun<ref>This Sun is neither identical with the so-called [[Old Sun]], i.e. that embodiment of our [[Earth]] which preceded the [[Old Moon\|old lunar period]], nor with our present [[Sun]].</ref> in order to create suitable conditions for its inhabitants to develop. The astral body was inserted into the human being at that time. At the end of the old lunar period, the Old Moon reunited with its Sun and thereby absorbed higher spiritual forces. If this had not happened, only serpent-like beings could have developed as a result of the old lunar development. The sun beings, on the other hand, would have been able to attain the form of the [[fish]] as the highest.

			{{GZ\|The high beings who lived on the separated sun had had to separate from the moon in order to be able to progress in their own development. Now, however, these beings who had remained on the moon, and who had continued to consolidate there, had to be saved; therefore the sun had to reunite with the moon. Let us now ask ourselves what would have happened if the sun and moon had not reunited, if they had developed separately. Then man could never have received his present form. If the Old Moon had gone its way alone, if it had not been able to draw new strength through its reunion with the sun, then the highest being it could ever have produced would have been something like the snakes of today. The sun beings, on the other hand, if they had remained alone, could have attained the highest form of the fish. The fish form is the outer expression for beings that are much higher than man. The fish group soul is indeed very high today; but the outer form is something quite different from the soul. Where, then, did those beings of the Old Moon get the power to rise above the serpent? This power came to them from the beings of the sun. And the purity of the solar state of those high beings expresses itself materially in the form of the fish, for that is the highest material form which can be attained by the beings of the Old Sun.

			Christ, the solar hero, who transplanted the whole power of the sun to earth, is symbolised by the sign of the fish. Now you will understand with what deep intuition esoteric Christianity has grasped the significance of the fish's form; it is for it the outer symbol of the sun's power, the power of the Christ. It is true that the fish is outwardly an imperfect being, but it has not descended so deeply into matter; little only is it permeated by egoism.

			For the occultist the serpent is the symbol of the earth as it developed from the Old Moon, and the fish is the symbol of the spiritual being of the Old Sun. Our earth with its solid substances has symbolised in the serpent its deepest being, the earth being. That which has separated itself as watery substance shows itself symbolised in the fish.\|101\|164f}}

	== Literature ==		== Literature ==

Odyssee: Created page with "[[w:King cobra|]] [[w:Rod of Asclepius|]] '''Snakes''' or '''serpe..."

2021-09-26T06:20:56Z

New page

[[File:12 - The Mystical King Cobra and Coffee Forests.jpg|thumb|[[w:King cobra|King cobra]]]]
[[File:Esclapius stick.svg|thumb|100px|[[w:Rod of Asclepius|Rod of Asclepius]]]]

'''Snakes''' or '''serpents''' ({{Greek|ὄφις}} ''Ophis''; {{Latin}}: ''Serpentes''; {{HeS|נָחָשׁ}} ''nachasch'') are a suborder of [[w:reptile|reptile]]s. They are descended from [[w:Lizard|lizard-like]] ancestors. Compared to these, the body is greatly elongated and the extremities have been almost completely deformed. Today, about 3000 species have been described. With the exception of the Arctic, Antarctic, permafrost regions and some islands, they can be found in all habitats worldwide.

== The serpent as a symbol for the adversary powers ==

In occult contexts, the serpent often appears as an imaginative symbol for the lower, earth-bound but very powerful astral powers and is then often seen in connection with the Luciferic, but also with the Ahrimanic adversaries. Thus, in the Old Testament creation story of the Bible, Lucifer in the form of the old serpent tempted Adam and Eve to taste the fruit from the tree of knowledge. In Persian mythology, especially in Zurvanism, Ahriman as the Great Serpent has dominion over the underworld for 9000 years.

Nevertheless, it would be wrong to see only negative symbolism in the serpent.

{{GZ|Whoever looks deeper into existence will get rid of the judgement that something is good or evil under all circumstances. In Christianity the serpent is called the seductress of mankind and Lucifer is called with abhorrence. The view of the Luciferic principle, however, has changed [...] This is not a view of the original Christianity, but only came into Christianity later. Even among the Christian mystics of the first centuries, among the Gnostics, the serpent is not a symbol for evil, but even a symbol for the spiritual guidance of humanity. The wise man, the leader is called "the serpent". This was the name given to the one who leads humanity to knowledge. The serpent is the symbol of Lucifer.|97|157f}}

== Literature ==
* [[Wikipedia:Hans Jonas|Hans Jonas]]: ''Gnosis uns spätantiker Geist I'', Vandenhoeck u. Ruprecht, Göttingen 1934, 1964, 1988 ISBN 978-3525531235
* [[Wikipedia:Hans Leisegang|Hans Leisegang]]: ''Die Gnosis''. A. Kröner, Leipzig 1924. 2. Auflage 1936. 5. Auflage, Kröner, Stuttgart 1985. ISBN 3-520-03205-8
* [[Wikipedia:Kurt Rudolph|Kurt Rudolph]]: ''Die Gnosis. Wesen und Geschichte einer spätantiken Religion'', Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2005 ISBN 3-525-52110-3
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Grundelemente der Esoterik'', [[GA 93a]] (1987), ISBN 3-7274-0935-5 {{Lectures|093a}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Das christliche Mysterium'', [[GA 97]] (1998), ISBN 3-7274-0970-3 {{Lectures|097}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Aus den Inhalten der esoterischen Stunden, Band I: 1904 – 1909'', [[GA 266a]] (1995), ISBN 3-7274-2661-6 {{Lectures|266}}

{{GA}}

[[Category:Animal]]
[[Category:Reptile]]
[[Category:Mythology]]
[[Category:Gnosis]]
[[Category:Symbol]]
[[Category:Adversaries]]
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