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Mythological Representations of the Cosmos

3 Comments | August 10, 2007 at 7:54 pm by mahud
Filed under Sprituality

Religious symbols are different from signs inasmuch as symbols participate in the reality to which they point, he (Tillich) argued. Symbols and signs both point beyond themselves to something else, but symbols participate in the meaning and power of the reality for which they stand. They open up the deepest dimension of the human soul and reality, which is the ultimate power of being, and radiate the power of being and meaning of that for which they stand.
Dorrien, Gary J, 2003, ‘The Making of American Liberal Theology’, p.503 (Westminster John Knox Press)

The Shamanic Universe

According to Exploring Shamanism, the Shamanic cosmos consists of three layers:

The Lower World (the realm of death and rebirth)
Here, the Shaman, in the quest for spiritual knowledge (Shaman possibly means ‘to know’), is aided by Power animals.
The Upper World (The realm of transcendence)
Here, the shaman gains access to unlimited knowledge, and meets with ancestor spirits, gods, or supreme being (spirit teachers).
The Middle World (The physical realm)
It is here, that the shaman can experience waking reality beyond the limitations of the five senses.

This three layered universe is split into four directions and held together at the centre by an axis mundi, commonly in the form of a tree.

Archaic Cosmic Symbolism

Recently, I had become quite critical of this kind of archaic cosmic symbolism, questioning its value in the light of modern scientific understanding. We know that the universe is not constructed of three layers, divided into four directions, with a giant tree in the centre of everything. I was thinking about the need for a new mythology. A new set of symbols that represent the universe in modern terms.

And yet mythologies are not really about creating a photographic representation of reality. Mythologies work because they are limited representations of the limitless. Symbolic avatars that descend to our individual levels of understanding, so that we might ascend. Viewing the cosmos in mythical (and limited) terms is the first step towards greater (and expanding) awareness of the ‘hidden’ world around us, and within us.

“Viewing the cosmos in mythical (and limited) terms is the first step towards greater (and expanding) awareness of the ‘hidden’ world around us, and within us.”

The Shamanic cosmos makes more sense when we internalize it, placing our own microcosmic existence at the centre of the cosmos. The Lower, Upper and Middle realms, correspond the with sub, waking, and higher states of consciousness. Neither are these states of consciousness stacked on top of one another, but the symbolic arrangement of ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ and ‘middle,’ enables us to grasp the realities which they represent without mind bending difficulty.

I’m again appreciating the need for ‘out-dated’ symbols for our ‘up-to-date’ universe.

Comparative Cosmic Symbolism

The Upper and Lower realms can also be symbolized by Darkness and Light, Underworld and Sky, and Sun and (esp’ in its dark phase) the Moon. The Moon-underworld is closely connected with the visible-imminent waking world (the earth and cosmos), while the sun-sky is more elusive, representing the hidden-transcendent Upper cosmic realms, yet is also connected to the Middle realm of the universe. This is also understood in masculine and feminine terms; the visible lunar-earth reality as Goddess or Mother, and the invisible solar-sky reality as God or Father.

While the cosmos can be mythically represented by the sun and moon (The sun and moon tree is a common axis mundi), the Goddess-moon alone is a perfect mythic symbol of cosmic reality, representing both principles of darkness and light.

Erasing the Boundaries

In truth, however, these “parts” are no more separate from one another than threads in an ornate tapestry. At some point in the spiritual process, one must cease to think of such things in linear terms. The logical mind must let go of these delineations and erase the boundaries of separation.
Webb, Hillary s, 2003, ‘Exploring Shamanism’, p.38 (New Page Books)

In Exploring Shamanism, the author also presents another mythological representation of the universe as a “cosmic Stew.”

…one may think of the universe as a kind of vibrational stew. In a bowl of stew, the carrots take on the flavor of the meat, the meat, the meat is marinated by the broth, and the broth contains the essence of all the various flavors and spices added to it. In much the same way, these various levels of vibration flow through and around each other to make up the whole.
Webb, Hillary s, 2003, ‘Exploring Shamanism’, p.39 (New Page Books)

At first, it may be difficult to work with an image of an interconnected cosmos, without distinct boundaries, lacking edge or centre, that can be entered and exited at any point in space and time. “The centre of the universe is everywhere and its circumference is nowhere.” The Shaman does not need to climb the axis mundi to reach the upper realms or disappear down a hole to the underworld. The centre of all things is everywhere and within.

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3 Comments (Have your say)

  1. Aquila ka Hecate

    Comment on August 11, 2007 at 2:06 am

    I might point out that the maxim the centre is everywhere and its circumference nowhere is true also of our modern understanding of the universe.

    In terms of the observer, anywhere she is , is considered the centre, and can be proved to be so by measuring the vectors of receding matter surrounding her. Likewise, there is no edge or boundary- hinting perhaps at more than 3 spatial dimensions.

    I, too, came from a scientific understanding to an appreciation of older models. They work, when all is said and done.

    Love,
    Terri in Joburg

  2. kay

    Comment on August 11, 2007 at 12:57 pm

    The Shaman does not need to climb the axis mundi to reach the upper realms or disappear down a hole to the underworld. The centre of all things is everywhere and within.

    I never really gave any thought to the symbolism of the axis mundi. I mean, I thought it was pretty cool, how the idea popped up time and again in different cultures. But I never really thought about the limits that such a symbol puts on the understanding to our relationship with the cosmos and Goddess.

    If, however, like you said, the “axis mundi” is viewed as being within us, it opens up a whole new level of understanding and interpretation. The way to God is within, so to speak.

    Great post!

    PS - I finally started answering the pagan inquisition questions over at Chaos. :)

  3. mahud

    Comment on August 13, 2007 at 9:05 am

    Some more science stuff, regarding the centre of the universe being everywhere :)

    Looking out into space is equivalent to looking back in time. In order to ’see’ the Big Bang event I must look as far out in space, or as far back in time, as possible. The observable limit of our Universe is a distance at which the velocity of recession equals the speed of light. That observational limit exists in all directions. It is, in effect, a spherical surface centred on us. In a sense, then, the ‘centre’ of the Universe coincides with its ‘edge’. But all locations are equivalent. An hypothetical observer located at our observable limit would detect us at her observable limit. But her observable limit — the edge of her observable Universe — would be equated to the ‘centre’. Hence, every location in space — including our location — is at the edge/centre/observable limit of other observers. Therefore, the centre of the Universe is everywhere.
    science.ca

    I’m reminded of a Navajo healing ritual that involved the sick person sitting in the centre of a sand painting that was a representation of creation. The painting would be applied to the body of the sick person (I guess becoming one with creation), and songs proclaiming the perfection of creation (transferring the perfection of creation up the sick person). The sick person would also go into a trance and ride upon a rainbow to the four sacred mountains.

    It’s been a while since I read the description of the ritual, so I might not be totally accurate, but I totally recommend the The Indian’s Book By Natalie Curtis from which the ceremony was taken.

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