The Sunday Mail
Shingai Rukwata Ndoro Chiseling the Debris
DURING old times in rabbinical studies, the full meaning of the first three chapters of Genesis was given only to a person of a good character, who was married and aged a minimum of 40 years. These Genesis first chapters are about symbolism for the life and psychological condition of humanity embodying two polarities. These two polarities are given as the allegory of Adam and Eve. These two or anyone associated with them are not historical persons. They never existed! They are a personification or humanisation of the psychological, biological and sexual energies related to the positive and negative polarities in all forms of life.
Within the human body is found “trees,” particularly that of life (central nervous system) and of knowledge of good and evil (sense of discernment, which is the capacity to distinguish, comprehend and be judicious).
The Garden of Eden is not a geographic location but a metaphor and figurative for the human body, itself a pleasurable or delightful physicality. Our purpose of life is happiness, pleasure or delight by dressing and keeping it well (Genesis 2:15). The same human physical body has basic functions who figuratively are the four “rivers” which are as follows: the mouth and blood (Pishon), the digestive system (Gihon), the urinary system (Tigris/Hiddekel), and the reproductive system (Euphrates).
The anatomy has body parts that have functions through the “rivers”! “By these four rivers the whole (body) is watered and fed or nourished and supported, drained of refuse matter, and its fruit produced.”
The serpent
In Hebrew, the serpent is called ‘nachash’ (Strong’s Hebrew Concordance #5175) spelt as “Nun-Chet-Shin.” It is mentioned in Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle) than any of the wild animals (the Divine) had made.”
In ancient Egypt, which had older traditions than that of Hebrews, an uplifted serpent or pillar (obelisk) was symbol of life, health and the masculine principle. Thus, it had special reference to the life of humanity or generative power and strength.
It was typified by solidity and firmness. It propagates existence into life by the intertwined biological process of stimulus and response or the principle of action and reaction. It even formed part of the hairstyle of Auset (Isis) of ancient Egypt.
“The Egyptian word Naja, which means serpent, is used at least once in the Hebrew (Scriptures) in the 58th Psalm. In ancient Egypt, the Pharaohs were Kings…, and they therefore wore a…crown with a Uraeus or serpent head so placed that when wearing this crown the Uraeus seemed to protrude from the Emperor’s forehead between the eyebrows. The serpentine Uraeus was therefore an apt symbol of the wisdom of the wearer” — ‘The Path of Initiation’ by Max Heindel.
“Contrary to modern belief, the serpent was not a symbol of evil. For our distant ancestors, it symbolised the beneficent life-force or source-centre of the universe. It also embodied the spiritual rebirth and enlightenment… The serpent’s physical counterpart the snake was greatly valued by the ancients for its venom and its ability to both kill and cure.
“Through neutralising the natural poison in the venom by mixing it with blood, they developed an elixir the Elixir of Life that not only healed disease, it also boosted the immune system and extended human life by many years. This elixir and its healing properties fell into disrepute in the nineteenth century thanks to the snake oil peddled by charlatans. In our own time, however, modern medical science is once again discovering the beneficial properties of snake venom and other derivatives from the snake in the successful treatment of human disease.” (Review of “The Serpent Grail” by Philip Gardiner and Gary Osborn).
Uraeus is a Greek word that may have its origins in ancient Egyptian, meaning “she who rears up.” In ancient Egypt, kings and queens wore a crown from which a serpent seem to protrude from his forehead between the eyebrows. The serpentine was considered a symbol of wisdom.
The ancient Egyptian serpent symbolizes sexual desire and inner energy of wisdom while in Hinduism, it represents many things, i.e. mainly desire (kama) and sexual energy (kundalini), destructive energy and poisonous/venomous speech. Why is it called a “serpentine energy”? “It is because it resides coiled up at the base of the spine and perineum area, resembling a serpent or snake. When it is activated, it “rises up” the spine to the top of the head bringing physical (Body), mental (Mind) and spiritual (Heart) transformation.
To be continued…
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