Tag Archives: Christianity

Notre-Dame de Paris

Posted on May 12, 2019 by Symbol Reader

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUrULTifMPc In “Civilization,” a classic TV series of 1969, standing in front of Notre-Dame, Kenneth Clark asked: “What is civilization? I don’t know. I can’t define it in abstract terms — yet. But I think I can recognize it when … Continue reading →

Posted in Notre-Dame, Uncategorized | Tagged alchemy, archetypes, architecture, C.G. Jung, cathedrals, chimeras, Christianity, civilization, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, fire, Fulcanelli, gargoyles, goddess, Gothic, isis, light, Mary, masons, Notre-Dame, Our Lady, Ouspensky, Paris, spirituality, stained glass, Stryge, symbolism, symbols, the Middle Ages, Vasari, Virgin | 27 Comments

Symbolism of the River

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Symbol Reader

“I do not know much about gods, but I think that the river is a strong brown god,” so begins the third of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets. The divinity of rivers has been recognized by all mythologies since the beginning … Continue reading →

Posted in The River | Tagged ancient Egypt, archetypes, banks, Buddhism, C.G. Jung, Christianity, death, Four Rivers of Paradise, Ganga, Hapi, Hinduism, Kumbh Mela, life, myth, mythology, Nile, nirvana, paradise, rebirth, religion, Rene Guenon, river, Shiva, Source, symbolism, symbols, Upanishads, World Axis | 13 Comments

Some Thoughts on Culture

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Symbol Reader

The term “culture” comes from the Roman orator Cicero, who wrote about cultura animi – cultivation of the soul. The soul, like a rose, needs rich, nourishing soil, a loving care and time to bloom. In a very interesting article … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged Christianity, Christopher Columbus, civilization, culture, East, Islam, Krishnamurti, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Renaissance, Soul, values, West, Western culture | 19 Comments

Mary Magdalene: the Treasure in the Heart

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Symbol Reader

I.“There is something special about their relationship, something not simply reducible to teacher and devotee, and all attempts to hedge and prevaricate about its nature merely render its energy more palpable. The unspoken bond between them reverberates through even the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mary Magdalene | Tagged celibacy, Christianity, Eve, Gnostic gospels, Gnosticism, goddess, gospels, Jesus, Jesus's wife, Lilith, Mary Magdalene, Nag Hammadi, patriarchy, sacred feminine, Sophia, symbolism, symbols | 10 Comments

On Genius (3): Angels, Demons and Cult of Relics

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Symbol Reader

As much as early Christians wanted to break ties with antiquity, aiming at redefining the concept of divine possession, their cult of angels and saints bore a striking resemblance to the worship of gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and … Continue reading →

Posted in Genius | Tagged angel, Anubis, body, brain, Christianity, daimon, demon, Einstein, Genius, heirlooms, matter, memorabilia, memory, Middle Ages, mummification, odor of sanctity, relics, spirit, symbolism, symbols | 15 Comments

Symbolism of the Dove

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Symbol Reader

A. Andrew Gonzalez, “Unio Mystica” 1. “In the myths of Babylonia and Judaism, a dive circles the subsiding waters of the primal flood and returns with the olive branch, sign of renewal after inundation.” “The Book of Symbols” 2.“Be ye … Continue reading →

Posted in The Dove | Tagged Animal Speak, Aphrodite, archetypes, Christianity, Dodona, Dodona oracle, Dove, goddess, Hera, Holy Spirit, Juno, oracle, paganism, Pentecost, prophecy, Sophia, Soul, symbolism, symbols, Ted Andrews, Venus, yoni, Zeus | 30 Comments

The Art of Resurrection

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Symbol Reader

Today my thoughts were directed to the phenomenon of Greek “abaton”: “Also called a mundus or earth-womb, the abaton was a real pit, standard equipment in a pagan temple. Those who entered it to ‘incubate,’ or to sleep overnight in … Continue reading →

Posted in Painting | Tagged abaton, art, Blake, Bruegel, Christ, Christianity, Ciry, Easter, Gay, incubation, painting, rebirth, Rembrandt, resurrection, rising from the dead, Rubens | 15 Comments

Thinking of Ishtar

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Symbol Reader

the magnificent Ishtar gate Ishtar gate lion A shop assistant in my local grocery store wished me “Schöne Ostertage” (happy Easter days) but what I heard was the name of the goddess Astarte, which is a counterpart of the Babylonian … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Astarte, Christianity, Easter, Ishtar, myth, mythology, religion | 8 Comments

Musings on the Symbol of the Cross

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Symbol Reader

Salvador Dali, Christ of Saint John of the Cross The symbol of the cross has held a fascination with me for a very long time now. I don’t wear a lot of jewellery but the Celtic cross is something I … Continue reading →