Symbols, Myth and Meaning by J.J Artemis - HTML preview

Introduction into Symbolism and Myth

We are shaped by both our natural endowments; our genome, and our environment; the epigenome.The

interaction of which produces a complex web of information that is presented to an individual, who makes

the decisions that seem to be the most good in the current circumstance. There are some who do evil in

spite of logical understandings to the implications of their actions, but most beings do what they understand

to be good.

People understand that there is a limit to their capacity of knowledge, and human beings naturally wanting

to maximize the knowledge that they consider to be relevant in optimal functioning , look to what is

considered important in society. Assuming a normal temperament, or natural endowment, one judges their

framework of understanding the universe in relation to what others in their circle of communication are aware

of.

In the golden age of scientific and technological revolution, we are born of a perception in relation to

existence that is learned, how we communicate with the world directs how we perceive it to be.

The cosmos exists as a whole, but language is used to create seperation of objects; such as a shoe, from a

cup. And distinctions of beings , such as Kloo from Desu. These distinctions are intertwined with hundreds

of other groupings of distinctions such as that of time; the past,present,future and of mental separations;

the mind, the subconscious, fear and hate.

Not all mental divisions are valid to the same extent, an example can be when one attempts to separate

themselves from a certain emotion, such as hate. People often attempt to project this feeling as a separate

entity which presents a host of problems: that of dealing with this illusion and of confronting the problem as

a whole. This is similar to the common perception of the subconscious as being separate from a conscious

being. The asserters often ignoring that the mental structure is but one total pattern, the 'unthinking' being

on the same coin as the 'conscious' thoughts which spontaneously emerge.

Similar to these assertions comes the rise of that intellectual class who proclaim humans are multiple

separate beings who occupy the same mind, ignoring that even though the conscious thought pattern can

change in a person, such as the separate leaves on a tree, they are still 'grown' from the same whole, not

separated or divided.

How do people become indoctrinated into misguided belief systems from which warped systems of thought

emerge?

Many persons are doctrinated into belief systems during a young age, and this being the only way of

perceiving the world that is known to them, develop a skill in this system with absolute submission. A

relinquishment of freedom and individuality , one which if a person has not participated in, cannot understand

the different world that these people live in, and if one does understand the effect of a cult on a child's mind , then they understand that they are equally susceptible to re-engage in such behaviour.

We only have limited ways of understanding the world, what we consider the world to be is gained from our

senses; touch,sight,sound,smell and taste, or a variation of these basic abilities for us to perceive reality. It should be considered then that everything may not be as limited as our human perceptions may show.

While we have the telescope to enhance our natural sight, there may be ways of perceiving reality that are

hidden to us, and as we grasp the world with our hands, we fail to notice the empty space , which shapes

the form of our fingers. It is easy to give into religion or science fully, to not see that perhaps the truest way for us to perceive reality may lie somewhere in between. As we will see there are many religions and faiths

that have amazing treasures to bestow upon humans, and should we be willing to listen and attempt to

comprehend the tremendous effort over thousands of years made to help us, we may come to a superior

framework of understanding the cosmos.

A blindness exists still in most of the world, that of the individual being placed in submission to the state or to religion, especially dangerous and vile are the circumstances in which an individual is submitted to both of

these structures. The core issue in a state which is the strict father of the obedient citizens is that it is

based on willful blindness of individuals, who whilst I refer to as wilfully blind, do not understand their

blindness, a human in a deindividuated society feels like he is connected and supported by all those that

support that state and that it is in his duty, rather it is his individual responsibility to protect the state as it is seen as a loving father doing its best, against monsters who seek destruction and are of the basest

characters. What then is the issue of such a human state? The issue is that it is unnatural, and such a

state can only be achieved in any circumstance if there are persons who knowingly and intelligently do acts

to enslave the population, as individual agents , done through the guise of being in a manner connected to

the subjected, via a imitation of one who is also participating in this cult like trance.

How can one escape the kraken like tendrils that grip any conscious inclination of the person? One cannot

do it willingly, you may present a person who belongs to a deindividuated state with evidence and clear

proofs that what is being presented to them as the reality of cosmos, and the proper way to conduct life, is

completely misguided. Even done in the most calculable of manners this will be outright rejected, one

cannot reason with a mind that has been overtaken by illusions of reality, for your reality is of no

consequence to them.

How do we then best combat the collective impulse?

The path to the emergence of the real individual is clear, it is done through one who does not copy

convention and uses spontaneous thought for distinctive actions. These individuals must die by the

thousands in a state which is subjected to the rule of tyranny, either by state or religion , but eventually

there comes a time when the natural human greed of the religion or state rises to such a deplorable

standard, that even those in the most transfixed of trances observe that what is being asked of them is

highly suspicious and in fact nonsensical, from this the individuals who are not so easily transfixed become

the superbeing , around which the society can rally and rise anew as a group who places the sovereignty of

the real individual at the pinnacle of society, along with the principle of; humanity over ideology, as a

bulwark to those vindictive persons who would harm the population to pay for their inability to bear human

suffering.

The person who would save their fellow citizens from the abuse of religion or the state would not be as is

conventionally thought “good.” In fact it is beneficial to understand that any human who considers himself to

be “good” is very likely to commit the most vile and despicable acts without any consideration whatsoever.

As a habit it is beneficial to observe those that truly believe they are pious or of good virtue, and to

understand that it is these persons who engage in mass murders, genocides and such acts. Why, should

you ask? Why would my kind, pious and god fearing father engage in a genocide against innocents? It is for

the very reason that these individuals deny that they have the ability, and capacity to commit such evils, that

when they are positioned to such actions they do them thoughtlessly and consider them “good”, as a “good”

person cannot be a devil at the same time.

I would argue that the superbeing, that is a real individual, is in fact good and evil, not two beings, but two sides of the same coin. The individual who recognizes the nature of evil, who develops and fosters

understanding of his most vile capacities and capabilities, whilst developing his knowledge of the equal good

and virtuous actions that can be simararily done, has the capacity for the greatest good. He who

recognizes that nobody can be good, and one who claims to be good, claims to be a god. We have seen

what action such a state can produce, from the raging priest hypnotizing individuals into collectivist hysteria, to millions murdered in state sanctioned cleansing, the state of mind is the same.

The philosophy of one who advocates for the supremacy of the individual and places humanity over ideology

must also incorporate the understanding that there are those beings who would engage, knowingly, or more

dangerously, unknowingly, in a state of war against the individual, as a natural push for what they consider

to be “good”, that is subjugation to the state or a god.

While the superbeing would regard these people as misguided in principle. Fanatical persons do not live in

the same reality that level headed persons do, some people cannot be reasoned with to understand that

whatever may be their ideological or philosophical views, one must always place humanity over ideology. It

is to these persons, the ones who unknowingly do evil and cannot be dissuaded, to whom the superbeing

must engage in a state of war.

Some people who perceive themselves to be virtuous would deny their human potential for evil, cast the

intentions and desires of a normal person onto a figure such as the devil or in other humans. This rejection

of your potential instigates fear as you attempt to escape yourself, and increases the danger that is posed

now to you by others, as when you are in this state you no longer can sit down with others as among

criminals, to talk with each other as complete beings who have nothing lurking outside in opposition or

hiding in the back of your mind in suspense, we are able to then speak as developing and learning beings

and come to an understanding that may push the scales over a bit for what is truly good.

How does one forge the path to come into an understanding of becoming a real individual, a superbeing?

One must cultivate the essential framework of myth and symbolism, to incorporate into their framework of

reality and understanding of the cosmos. From this begins the creation of the superbeing , an individual who

is neither good , nor bad, but possesses the traits of the good, and keeps in his arsonal the viciousness

from which to combat the ignorant and purposefully ignorant. This real individual understands that he does

not understand reality as a whole, but that what can be understood develops in a lifelong process. Ancient

knowledge is passed from other real individuals, such knowledge is hidden in sacred texts of major

religions and in tales of all sorts. Let us investigate what we can learn from symbolism and myth; the reality

to which this points, in the most practical and simple of terms.

To those who would take offense at one who refuses to subscribe blindly to any of the worldwide differences

in philosophy and methods for determining how one comes to a conclusion about how we know anything,

citing that I must be very afraid as I am unwilling to blindly glue myself to any ideology or worldview without

exception. I understand you position very well, and sympathize with your notions, I remember most of my

childhood as being a cry to subscribe to a fundamental religious and state collective ideology, and did for a

period of time believe this kind of God to be as true as I exist today, but due to my living in a modern 21st

century society where I was at the same time confronted with another extreme opposite, the view of the

fundamental atheists, I became disillusioned with the unapproachability and divided cold nature that was

presented, and from independent investigations came to other schools of thoughts, hundreds of different

thinkers with various unique views, and came to a recognition that perhaps the optimal way for now is one in

which we observe the thesis formation and information collection, the emergence and destruction of

thoughts. To perhaps collect what is valuable and have a more open view of the world, one in which can

emerge the optimal individual, the superbeing.

To have an open mind in analyzing one's perceptions it must be understood that one can only operate on

faith, as every belief that one holds is to some degree a faith, we have limited senses and methods of

comprehending the world, we were not created to muse and philosophize but for simple cause and effect

relationships which increased our chances of survival, and from this we must accept that we cannot really

know everything without the potential of doubt, for we could be completely wrong about what we consider to

be the most solid of facts.

This ties into the concept of those who do evil unknowingly and persons who do evil intentionally. In a

historic context what may have been considered absolutely barbaric, such as when regarding the gassing of

Jews at the Nazi Death camps, we should consider that some involved in these events thought what they

were doing was completely a correct and morally justified action. In this sense they are not as 'evil' as

those who engaged in these barbarisms with the ability to distinguish belief from faith. The latter who acted

with knowledge that perhaps the collective ideology that impressed these Jews were non-persons, was not

completely closed to alternative views, and that the faith that they acted on was not one even in the same

room as to the reality of what was occuring.

That distinction created is not to remove blame, but to impress that not everyone who commited a crime

historically did so with intention and malice, and as it was done before it will occur again. The reason being

that they are not as 'free' as we may imagine them to be with our distinct knowledge and separation from

events. Just as some of these historical evils were done without the intent to commit 'wrongdoing' , we may

consider the importance of extinguishing the sentiment of any belief to the rightness of an action, other than

one who operates on a belief in faith, knowing that all faith based beliefs are not of the same weight.

This gives an openness not backed by what is considered "right" imprinted on you as a child, but urges investigation with honesty and rational scientific rigour to the maximum extent possible, as to the truth on

matters, and understand still that our limited perceptions most likely are not tuned to understand the

entirety of what the "truth" or BEST way of life is, but we can slowly, become more ‘real’ people as we shed those things given to us by outside forces, operating as a real individual in pursuit of rational truth to the

logical extent one can self determine.

Let us now enter into the investigation of symbolic representations, attempt to decipher and extract what

insights are offered by stories and art. You may be a skeptic and posit that all we can know is evident, that

there is no meaning beyond what information provides and what is stated literally.

To this I would position that not all times are similar to the society we observe in the 21st century. Ancient

scholars were not able to simply convey information for the emergence of a real individual, such a stance

would have been practically suicidal in many societies, thus the hidden messages, and universal symbols

found intricately woven into art and mythology.

Additionally, some insights are universal. Their meaning which cannot be explained to a collective group,

can be understood if each of the individual investigates the symbolic representations and comes to an

independant conclusion to how the representations apply to their variable circumstance.

But why were symbolic representations chosen by wise men and artists for conveying traditional wisdom? I

believe it is because humans were not created for fantastic episodes of theorizing and musing on the reality

of the cosmos. We are inclined towards cause and effect, the relevant gift that we possess is one of

dreaming, something which is done by all of us, even if you do not dream during the night, you are only kept

in conscious attention insofar as the spontaneous thought that occurs; regarding what is occurring in the

present physical, is more engaging than the dreaming state that one slips in and out of. From this if one is

aware and present , comes an ability to decipher archaic images of serious importance to functioning.

The image of christ hanging on a cross, willfully suffering for the sins of man is an example of something

which has amazing symbolic complexity attached to it, regardless if it occurred or not. The symbolic

significance of Christ comes to light when one either deeply analyzes the christian myths and stories, to

come to some understanding of the practical significance of this specific symbol, or if one is in extreme

duress and under great pain. The results come one and the same, the massive complexities are opened to

those who are open to it, and to them is revealed a secret pattern of existence that is theirs to utilize in

assistance for their suffering.

It can be argued that symbolism and mythology is the only effective way to understand ourselves, as we

cannot purposefully investigate our own minds. We do not think to think the things that we do or what we

do, your mind is like the genetic replicator from which grows the plant; spontaneously bringing the lotus

flower into display from the whole, we see the flower but do not have the ability to see the spontaneous at

work. One cannot use a mirror to reflect itself or the eye to observe the eye, thus the modern convention “to

use the mind to observe the mind” is a paradox and an illusion. An example of one who understands this

can be those ancients who in times of war or duress turned to the great writers of their time, in an attempt to

help make sense of the human proclivity to war, emotional states and general questions of the cosmos.

Symbolic and Mythological Analysis

Note: All images have been obtained from Wikicommons, the free media repository, and are free to use for the

general public. Information regarding specific figures can be found directly below the image and the source can be located from end-book sources. A few images have been scanned from texts, attributions are provided directly

below the images.

The hero Myth regarding Jesus Christ

Christ Carrying the Cross (1560) - National Museum of the Prado (11)

To initiate our investigations into symbolic representations let us take a look into the figure of Jesus. Like

the figure of Jesus many religions and myths are shrouded in multiple layers of understanding, the reasoning

being that there are multiple layers of intelligence, and people of different education levels require different interpretations to the same occurrence for the event to be of universal significance.

(John 19:17) - "They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha."

The story of Jesus holds many principles of the hero myth. The hero myth is a symbolic structure. The

(above) mentioned reference to the New Testament which reflects on the image of Jesus bearing his cross is

a very relatable pattern; a cry for one to bear the suffering and struggles that life thrusts upon them, a

suffering which for Jesus was embodied in the Cross that he carried, knowing that he was going to be hung

on it. The light that is shone behind the head of the LORD signifies the unknown structure of reality that if

understood and applied will lead one to salvation.

Jesus bore the cross, suffering abuse from his fellow citizens, which can be understood twofold. One being

the natural way of the world, that is; existence is suffering, with or without humans, either nature will beat

and attempt to break you or you will engage with this nature of existence in the form of human nature,

perhaps in the collectivist nature: which allows the responsibility of being vile, immoral and resorting to a

state of nature in the basest sense, to be dispersed to someone somewhere in the crowd , just not you of

course.

"And some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him,

"Prophesy!" And the officers received Him with slaps in the face," (Mark 14:65).

There comes a time, as is shown in the exact (above) image when Jesus could no longer bear his burden.

Every human comes to a point where he can no longer endure the punishment. The human body can only

suffer so much, regardless of the mental fortitude, as was shown by the LORD, who understood the pattern

of being that all humans must pass through, that of suffering and abuse. A metaphoric and real descent into

hell which is marked by the mental anguish of being when experiencing this. The LORD did not place down

his cross, state that the struggle to bear his burden was simply too much and wait to die or attempt to flee.

What occured is that due to the severity of abuse he could no longer stand, and thus Simon of Cyrene was

recruited to help him carry the cross.

(Mark 15:20-21) - "And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His garments on Him. And they *led Him out to crucify Him. 21 And they pressed into service a passer-by coming from the

country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross."

The symbolic representation of Cyrene harkens back to the common saying of “ the LORD never gives one

more than he can bear.” This is true in the most literal sense, and the example provided of Jesus bearing

his cross personifies this, that one must even under the most dire of conditions, carry his burden. If one

cannot bear the burden, do not lose your virtues and relinquish your individuality, rather crawl and continue

with honour.

This image and Cyrene's assistance conveys the message that we should die a virtuous being, if suffering is