In this blog section we will delve into the relationship between presence and enlightenment. Krishnamurti and his teachings will be central to the discussion, however a range of topics will be covered here. Mainly because the way the website is presently built, this page represents the best place for general blog content.
Jiddu Krishnamurti's Philosophy
Krishnamurti rarely spoke of the terms enlightenment and mindfulness. Rather he used the terms freedom and liberation. There is just freedom. There is no freedom from anything. Occasionally he described this state of spiritual freedom as blissful consciousness beyond mere happiness.This blissful state of consciousness can be none other than enlightenment. So we will use the term enlightenment because it is the word generally used today to refer to that blissful state of consciousness beyond mind.
According to Krishnamurti, there is no path to enlightenment.Rather it is approached indirectly. It is invited and discovered through inquiry and investigation. When we are efforting to move toward enlightenment, we are in fact, moving away from it. Any time we are pursuing a desired result, we are not present. There is no way to reach enlightenment through a path or technique which involves effort and the desire to achieve a result. Rather the only way of discovering it is to remain present and attend to what is happening in the moment.
The only necessary intent is 1)To pay attention to what is happening right now and 2)To discover what is false. Enlightenment is only to be discovered in the present moment. Which means to keep our attention on what is actually happening now - our thoughts, feelings, actions, the real circumstances which presently are requiring our response. No thinking of the future. No efforting to facilitate a future result. No efforting to attain a preconceived idea of what enlightenment is.
Enlightenment is our true state. The state which is prior to social conditioning, proper behavior and obedience to tradition. So it is this conditioning which needs to be seen as masking and obscuring our true state. In order to return to our true state, we learn to recognize the false and thus it can be eliminated when we intend to do so.
Of course we have to be reasonable. There are times when we will want to conform, or at least go through the motions of conforming while we are, in fact, operating from a broader perspective. When functioning from an expanded perspective, we realize what conditioning is doing to us, how it is taking us away from being present, controlling us from the past.
There are many opportunities to rest in spiritual freedom and be at peace with ourselves. In order to experience this peace more frequently, we learn to attend to the moment and whatever is arising in the present moment. And we also stop fragmenting our awareness through allowing the past and the future to dominate our consciousness.
Enlightenment is that which we already are. The mind is incapable of imagining it, even though we believe we can. We can't attain, or try to be, or try to reach, or try to get to what we already are. We can't meditate our way there either - through some routine maintained by self discipline. If such routines are designed to facilitate enlightenment, they are counterproductive.
We mistakenly assume that we can know well enough what we want and what enlightenment is. Thus we believe with all our hearts that we can work our way to that imaginary state. Which is impossible. Enlightenment can never be a concept, an idea, or a future destination which we approach through some technique. There is no path to enlightenment. Enlightenment is a pathless land.
We must disabuse ourselves of the notion that enlightenment can be held or contained in the mind. This is because enlightenment cannot be turned into a describable phenomenon. Although most everyone does it anyway. However we can sort of point the way by knowing what it isn't, by discovering through investigation what is false.
In that way, by avoiding, by observing what is false and removing our attention from the false, we invite the true into our awareness. We begin to cultivate passive awareness of the true. We open ourselves to the real.
When everything false is eliminated, what remains is the real.
We make ourselves available to the real by removing our attention from the false. By recognizing the false as illusory. We recognize the false and stay away from it. The illusory loses its grip on us, once it is clearly seen to be false.
Gradually, or all at once, the false loses its hold on us and we are no longer limited by it. The hypnotic fascination with the false, the illusory, is completely broken. The false no longer dominates our attention. In fact, if we are fortunate, the real takes over our awareness and there is no room for the false any more. Attending to each moment as it arises, once we develop the capacity to do it, leaves no room for the false
This is all much easier than it sounds. The paradox is that it is also much harder because no amount of efforting or cultivating a meditation routine will take us to enlightenment. Meditation routines may be very useful for facilitating relaxation and lowering blood pressure. However in order to invite the real, we need to give up the quest for a desired result which we hope to achieve at a point in the future.
When we allow ourselves to remain present in the moment, when our only intention is to be present and pay attention to what is arising in the moment, there is no way the false can dominate our consciousness. As we focus on giving attention to what is actually happening, we are attending to the real, not the fake.
As we learn to pay attention to what is happening in the moment, the mind is short circuited from dwelling in the past or future. Each moment passes very quickly. Attending to the present becomes a more or less passive act of allowing each moment to pull us along for the ride. All we intend to do is stay with it, remain alert to what is going on, stay riding the wave.
Buddhists and Taoists call this Mindfulness. However the term mindfulness does not mean full of mind. It means instead, staying attuned to the present moment which is essentially beyond mind.
So mindfulness means empty of mind and full of wisdom. Mindfulness is resting in an alert state, not efforting to get or achieve anything. Mindfulness is remaining in the moment. And remaining in the moment can be done any time, anywhere, and with any physical movement or lack of movement, any posture. It isn't necessary to cultivate a routine which is engaged for an hour or two a day. We don't need to wait for the time when we are present. We can be present all the time 24-7-365.
To recap, enlightenment is available only in the present moment by paying attention to what is arising in the moment. It cannot be accessed through the mind or any technique no matter how inspired that technique may appear. And no particular posture is required for attending to the moment. We can attend to the moment while doing a job, while cleaning our home, while laying down, while swimming, while safely jumping from a plane. In other words, any moment we choose to remain present is where enlightenment is found.
Mind is incapable of keeping up with the attention moment by moment. Each moment passes too quickly for the mind to engage, to analyze, to figure everything out, and draw conclusions.
Meditation seems appealing because we think cultivating quiet mind will attract enlightenment to our consciousness like a magnet. The problem with this is our motivation, our reason for engaging the routine. If we are meditating to relax, that is great and it is effective. But if we are meditating to become enlightened through our disciplined routine, it will not work.
When our attention is fixated on procuring a future state of consciousness, which we are definitely working toward through effort and discipline, we are actually blocking the ability to remain present. We are actually only pretending to be present. We are committed to a future without suffering, or what we think is a state of consciousness without suffering. Which we hope to attain sometime in the future as a result of all our effort to get to that imaginary state.
Enlightenment cannot be forced through an act of the will. No matter how much we may desire it and work to achieve it and discipline ourselves through some technique, system or routine. Buddhists have shown us that desire itself is counterproductive to enlightenment. Any kind of ambition is a product of desire. Yet these same Buddhists cultivate and encourage sitting meditation as a requirement for achieving enlightenment . . . which cannot be "achieved" at all.
There is nothing to achieve. We simply must recognize the false, stop allowing it to limit and control our experience. Attachment and aversion are indications of fascination with the false.
Clinging to pleasure and running away from pain are the qualities of illusion. In reality there is no difference between pleasure and pain. They are both distractions from the real. They are both indications of obsession with the false. When our attention is focused in the present moment, flowing from moment to moment, there is no room for the false. It takes a very flexible, very quick mind to flow from moment to moment. The normal mind obsessed with its past conditioning, is incapable of that kind of perceptual dexterity.
Being able to remain present - is cultivating perceptual clarity. Krishnamurti calls this direct perception. According to Krishnamurti, direct perception cuts through all our conditioning and fascination with the false. As the false is revealed to us through inquiry and investigation, it falls away. We no longer intend to let it occupy our attention.
When we are able to remain with and keep our attention with the present moment, we are liberated from obsession with the false. There is no room for imaginations regarding the past and future. There is no trying to reach an imaginary future state. There is only paying attention to what is arising moment by moment.
This type of attention is the revelation of our true state, which is enlightenment.
Krishnamurti emphasizes consciousness of the whole as opposed to consciousness of the part. When we learn to open ourselves to the whole, to the complete unlimited reality, we orient ourselves there. We orient ourselves from the perspective of the entirety of reality.
The whole includes all of its parts and more. But putting together all the parts does not equal the whole. As we engage with the whole, all the parts become fathomable. Focusing on the parts will never result in the whole. So our perspective requires radical adjustment from the part to the whole. In order to do that, we must understand and go beyond our conditioning.
Sages past and contemporary have called this radical adjustment - Expanding our consciousness. Krishnamurti refers to it as Insight. Insight into the totality of our awareness. And shifting our awareness to function from there, from the totality. As opposed to functioning from the part and perceiving from the part.
When functioning from the whole, all the parts can be accessed. When functioning from the part, it isn't possible to access the whole. Enlightenment is accessing, perceiving and functioning from the entirety.
Ramana Maharshi
Ramana's view on self realization or enlightenment is more or less aligned with that of Krishnamurti, because Ramana similarly emphasized the passive approach of inquiry and self discovery. As opposed to spiritual practices aimed at pursuing an imaginary goal conceived by the mind. His teaching is comprised of a very simple question that we are advised to keep asking ourselves until we arrive at a satisfactory resolution. Additionally he is a little more tolerant of different spiritual paths, including meditation routines.
Ramana is known for his teaching of Self Inquiry. He maintained that the fastest approach to enlightenment, the most efficient way to go beyond normal human suffering, is through investigation and discovery of the true self. "Who am I?" is the question which must ultimately be resolved. Ramana frequently said that not everyone who pursues a spiritual path is ready or ripe for Self Inquiry.
When asked about other means of self realization or paths to spiritual freedom, Ramana responded that any spiritual practice is potentially useful due to the ripening process because not everyone is able to benefit from Self Inquiry. Not everyone is ripe for the most potent and expedient approach to relief from suffering. Nevertheless Ramana emphasized that inquiry, investigation, and discovery is the path every spiritual aspirant will ultimately take when they have exhausted lesser systems and techniques.
Even though Ramana consented to affirm most spiritual paths and routines, he generally maintained and repeatedly advised - that the best and most efficient path to enlightenment is Self Inquiry. He implied that only those who had given up on self realization through other spiritual routines were capable of successfully pursuing Self Inquiry. Systems other than Self Inquiry tend to reinforce the separate self, which is ultimately counterproductive.
Still, spiritual aspirants will follow their own paths and most are simply not ready for Self Inquiry. So Ramana chose to encourage almost everyone who came to him in following their heart's desire as to which spiritual path is best for them.
While it isn't clear that Ramana instructed his disciples to remain present, Self Inquiry effectively puts a stop to the normal mind chatter in which most of us continually engage. By stopping the normal pattern of thinking with Self Inquiry, the attention is automatically drawn away from interest in the past and future. The mind and consciousness eventually cease reinvesting in the notion of a separate self. The attention is driven ever more deeply into understanding our true identity, which is in no way limited to the mental conception of a separate self.
As mentioned previously, our real state (of consciousness) is enlightenment. Who or what we are has, in reality, no limitation whatsoever. But we must discover that in our own way, on our own terms, and when we are ready to embrace the truth. Practices are (ultimately) useless primarily because they almost always serve to reinforce the separate self. Nevertheless people need to do whatever they feel compelled to do in order to further their spiritual evolution.
Emphatically striving and disciplining oneself to achieve the mind's concept of enlightenment is actually a very limited approach. However, we often grow through our mistakes and those mistakes may be necessary. Even if those mistakes prolong suffering, they may be required for us.
In truth, the mind cannot know what enlightenment is, and cannot direct us to it. The mind can only speculate. And that speculation won't be effective in the relief of suffering. All the sages of antiquity tell us that enlightenment is beyond mental conception. According to Ramana, it is only through inquiry that consciousness is expanded to embrace the reality of our true identity.
Ramana has suggested that we take advantage of sattvic moods and sattvic temperament in order to make the most progress, no matter what spiritual path we are pursuing. Sattvic states of consciousness are closer to self realization than rajasic or tamasic periods. When we are near, the leap to enlightenment is significantly facilitated. Sattvic periods are when our thinking and emotions tend to be clear, loving, pragmatic and wise.
The next section is on natural healing . . .
Ayurveda and Natural Healing
I have been a student of Ayurveda for about 30 years now and believe it to be a very good system of traditional natural healing from India. However Ayurveda seems to take a long time to learn. I think that is because there is a lot of unfamiliar information and terminology to sort through. In my opinion, the main concepts need to be prioritized and thoroughly understood, preferably memorized, before going on to the supporting information. Some of the main features of Ayurveda will be discussed in this section.
Ayurveda has definitely helped me in my quest for self healing. However I would be lost without homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies, especially the cell salts, have been near miraculous in my experience. I believe homeopathy is the healing modality which was widely used in America before modern medicine came into existence. It is gentle and more suited to very sensitive individuals than the typical therapeutics and strong drugs of modern medicine. Homeopathic remedies have no side effects other than the discomfort associated with detox. When our bodies are chock full of poison, that poison needs to be eliminated. Eliminating poison is sometimes difficult even for an otherwise young and/or healthy body. I believe homeopathic remedies are some of the most gentle and effective methods of detoxing.
Arguably many of us are poisoned with heavy metals. Cilantro is excellent for pulling out heavy metals and I highly recommend it. From my research, it appears that nanoparticles are presently ubiquitous in our environment. Nanoparticles usually feature self assembling metallic components, if I understand correctly. These nanoparticles can and do cause problems in the human body and in my opinion, they are usually causing more harm than good. Although there may be circumstances where they are medically necessary, I think most of us are better off without them.
AYURVEDA
This textbook on Ayurveda is recommended:
Robert Svoboda, Prakriti Your Ayurvedic Constitution
Ayurveda is an ancient healing system built around the principle of the Doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Most people have no idea what doshas are. Ayurveda is based on the premise that there are basically three types of people. Each type has its own set of characteristics and requires its own sub-healing system. Vata people are usually skinny, underweight and ultra active. Kapha people are usually heavy or big boned and tend to be underactive. Pitta people are middle of the road on most everything and they tend to be more intense than the other two types.
Pittas carry a lot of heat in their bodies. They are usually more sensitive to hot rather than cold weather. The other two doshas tend to be more sensitive to cold weather. Thus Pitta is a hot dosha, while Vata and Kapha are cold doshas.
Our five senses are the means by which we perceive the environment around us. The organs of perception involve hearing, seeing, smelling, touching and tasting. Ayurveda is mainly concerned with the sense of taste. Foods have different qualities and tastes which contribute to balancing or imbalancing the doshas. Ayurveda emphasizes and reemphasizes repeatedly that the doshas must be kept in balance if we are to maintain or regain health for our bodies, minds and emotions.
According to Ayurveda, the kind of food we choose to eat hugely influences our capacity to be healthy. If we eat food that imbalances our primary dosha, it will make us sick, either immediately or over time. So Ayurveda explains to us what foods are appropriate for our primary dosha and why we need to be eating mostly those foods.
It is important to at least approximate the doshic proportions comprising one's constitution. There are many different doshic questionnaires with the objective of approximating the doshic proportions of the questioner's constitution. A lot of these assessments are very poor and it is near impossible for the novice just beginning the study of Ayurveda to discern which of the assessments are best. Robert Svoboda's constitutional assessment in the book Prakriti Your Ayurvedic Constitution is one of the best and most accurate assessments in my opinion.
What about taste? What are the 5 tastes and why are they important? Learning why the tastes are important takes some time of familiarizing oneself with the basic essentials of Ayurveda. First determine what your primary dosha is through a good assessment. Then learn the foods that help to keep that dosha balanced.
Let's first consider Vata dosha. The tastes which balance Vata are salty, sour and sweet. Salty is the most potent balancer of Vata because it helps the underweight Vata to retain water. Vatas tend to be very dry. Water retention is necessary for keeping and not losing weight. Vatas have trouble avoiding weight loss so they need to eat salty foods and, if possible, spend more time resting, relaxing, sleeping and staying warm. Vatas need to slow way down, to a complete stop if necessary.
Pittas often are already too hot, so unless it's very cold like the middle of winter, Pittas want to stay cool. The cool tastes are bitter, sweet and astringent. These are the tastes which balance Pitta dosha, bitter being the most potent as it is very cold. Pittas generally have no trouble maintaining an ideal weight. If they get too skinny or too fat, it is usually easy for them to eat more or diet to lose a few pounds. Pittas are known to be excellent energy managers and rarely have weight issues as the other two doshas tend to have.
Kaphas have a constitutional problem with lethargy. They often hate exercise of any kind and love to sit or lay down by a body of water and enjoy relaxing. Their tendency is to be underactive and to easily accumulate excess poundage. Losing weight can be challenging. The tastes which help them to stay in shape are pungent, astringent and (a little) bitter. Pungent is the most potent balancer of Kapha because it adds needed heat and energy to the Kapha constitution. They need to eat a lot of pungent like chili peppers and garlic. Kaphas should try to stay warm because they are sensitive to cold weather.
Warm and Cool Tastes
Warm
pungent (hot), salty, sour
Cool
bitter (cold), astringent, sweet
One generally needs to study Ayurveda for a few years before even a cursory understanding is obtained. There are many important fine points to comprehend.
For example, Pittas can eat all the bitter they want. Kaphas should probably avoid strong bitters and not eat too much bitter unless they take care to balance it with pungent, which they can eat as much as they like. Salty which is great for Vata, isn't really good for Pitta and Kapha except in rather tiny quantities. Vatas can eat as much salty as they like. Pittas need to mostly refrain from the warm tastes and spicy food, which is challenging for them, unless they happen to like bland food.
If Kaphas want to lose weight, most of them will have to spend more time exercising, even if they don't particularly enjoy it. Pittas have to guard against out of control anger and impatience. Alcohol consumption is worse for Pittas than Vatas and Kaphas. Vatas have to learn to go slower, eat more, sleep more if they want to relax and/or gain weight. And all these points are fairly obvious with due consideration. There are many levels of understanding which one gradually learns in the study of Ayurveda and implementation of its principles in one's daily life.
The next section is on dimensions and nonlinear reality . . .
Dimensions
What are dimensions?
We normally live in a 3D world. Length, width and depth constitute the 3 dimensions of our (supposedly fixed) reality. These 3 dimensions are generally believed to comprise the totality of our existence, in other words the limit of everything we perceive and are capable of perceiving. Likewise our consciousness has been formerly conceived as absolutely limited by this 3D perceptual awareness.
This is no longer the case. Humanity has imagined a broader conceptual awareness. With the advent of quantum mechanics followed by string theory, several dimensions beyond the normal 3 are postulated. Undoubtedly many conventional physicists still disagree with the notion of extra dimensions, but it is certainly possible, and string theorists have devised mathematical formulae to prove the theoretical possibility of additional dimensions beyond the normal 3 of length, width and depth.
Nonlinear Reality
In order to understand dimensions above and beyond the normal 3 that everyone acknowledges, we may need to consider linear versus nonlinear reality. Time and space are conjectured to change relative to higher dimensional frequencies. As we imagine moving beyond 3D, into 4D and 5D, spacetime seems to be significantly altered. Spacetime may become more fluid, less substantial, and not limited in the same way 3D spacetime is limited.
When time is radically altered, it no longer flows in a straight line, in a linear fashion. Time beyond 3D has unusual properties, properties that are more fluid and therefore less fixed than 3D. Because it no longer flows in a straight line, or no longer flows in any particular (spacial) direction, time may be deduced to not flow at all. Time may, in fact, be something that humans invented to make life more regulated, compartmentalized and organized. So we may not actually know what time is or how it functions beyond the 3D level.
So let's define linear thinking and the flow of linear events. Linear thinking and linear events flow from point A to point B in a more or less straight line, in other words time is directional with regard to space. Point B is a consequence or result of a sequence of events (or thoughts) that began with Point A. Nearly all conventional scientific thinking is linear, in that certain events have certain consequences. Science involves detailed investigation into the predictable results of certain phenomena. And therefore given a certain set of circumstances, science can (often) predict and precisely calculate the result. Experimental studies can be duplicated, which proves that the results are always the same when the initial circumstances are controlled in the exact same way.
Linear thinking is sequential thinking. We assume that when a result can be predicted and even calculated, that it proceeded from a controlled beginning. That is, point B is a natural result of point A. B comes after A, and never before A.
Higher Dimensions
This appears to not always be the case in terms of higher dimensional frequencies. Thoughts and events do not proceed in a straight line, or in a sequential order. And a result can precede the event that supposedly generated it. In other words, it is as likely for a future event to initiate or cause a past event as it is to be the other way around. The past doesn't cause the future any more than the future causes the past. Past and future are related in a way that allows them to be interactive and mutually influencing.
Causation is apparently associated with linearity and at higher dimensions, causation and linearity don't apply. Or they don't apply in the same way. There is a correlation rather than a causation between past and future which connects them in a nonsequential manner. In fact, if time really does exist, it certainly doesn't exist the way we have always presumed it does. When we are no longer limited by linear assumptions of reality, the entire universe is radically altered. Our 3D notions of physics go out the window. Or they could if we are able to broaden our awareness and embrace the possibility of higher dimensional energy fields existing within a less stable version of spacetime.
We Are Multidimensional Beings
I choose to believe we are multidimensional beings. In fact we are unlimited multidimensional beings. When we think, act and perceive in a nonlinear manner, we break free of the artificial constraints of 3D reality, sometimes referred to as "The Matrix". And the more familiar we become with multidimensional consciousness, which is nonlinear consciousness, the more we are able to accomplish what was previously inconceivable. What was previously impossible due to false limitations that we believed were imposed upon us. As we become accustomed to the fluidity of spacetime, we find ourselves in new dimensions of awareness, creativity and possibility. We can learn to flow with the spacetime adjustments of various dimensional frequencies. We can learn to project our consciousness into the past or future. We can not only remember and revisit past lifetimes but remember and revisit future lifetimes as well. These things sound impossible but they are not. All they require is a more expanded view of reality and a nonlinear perspective.
Vesica Pisces
Where did the Vesica Pisces come from?
What is it?
The Vesica Pisces (or Vesica Piscis) is one of the oldest symbols in sacred geometry. It is a simple image formed by the intersection of two identical circles so that the circumference of each intersects the center of the other. The resulting shape fromed by this overlap is a roughly almond shaped oval pointed at both ends.
As the Vesica Pisces symbol is very ancient, it has undergone various meanings over time. One of the most recent meanings is that of the divine feminine. Following the advent of Christianity, this central pointed oval portion has been interpreted as representing the sacred womb of Mary mother of Jesus. And Jesus is sometimes pictured inside this shape in various works of art over the last 2000 years.
My understanding of the VP is that it came into existence for humanity close to the beginning of our history on Earth. It may even precede our existence on Earth, being the remnant of previous intelligent lifeforms which inhabited or visited our planet in the past. I believe it is a symbolic key which can be used to unlock unconscious memories recorded in our DNA. I also believe that over time the meaning of the VP has changed, and through accessing these changes of interpretation, clues as to the authentic history of humanity may be enabled. It is also possible that humanity came from the stars and brought the Vesica Pisces symbol with them to Earth.
At any rate, we may logically inquire - where did the VP symbol come from? Being motivated to uncover the beginnings and authentic trajectory of human history, I have endeavored to trace our history through various differences in how the VP has been interpreted through time. Very little is known about the content of these interpretations and how they progressed. This discussion will be primarily based on my subjective impressions received through meditating on the symbol and what I think it has probably meant to humanity over the ages.
This information comes to me in a nonlinear intuitive manner and so putting it into linear historical perspective may be an impossible task. Therefore I can't be sure about the sequential order of predominant meanings, or even if prior humans ascribed the same meaning to the VP that I am finding.
The Vesica Pisces symbol may have been left on Earth hundreds of thousands of years ago by ET who visited our planet or lived here around the time that humans began our history on Earth. The VP is arguably the most sacred symbol known to our world. While it is exquisitely simple, it is also profound and powerful. It seems to carry an important message regarding the purpose and divinity of human beings on Earth. It is possible that humanity's ancestors left this symbol for us and their reasons for doing so can only be conjectured through the various meanings ascribed to the symbol over time.
Drawing the Vesica Pisces
To accurately draw the Vesica Pisces without a tool like a compass as an aid, you can use any round flat object like a quarter. Trace around the quarter to draw the first circle and place a dot in the center of that circle, as accurately as you can. Then move the quarter directly to the right so that its edge is on the center point you placed in the first circle. Trace around the quarter to draw the second circle. By joining the two circles in this way, an oval pointed at both ends is created between the two circles where they overlap. Technically this pointed oval is the VP. However the VP is generally represented in its entirety by the two circles which frame it and whose overlapping relationship creates the VP.
Intuitively a circle represents many things which seem to reveal themselves from the simple shape itself. The circle is a shape which has no angles and no beginning or end. It is therefore representative of infinity. It also represents both perfection and god. In astrology the Sun, which is the astronomical center of our universe, and therefore of our existence, is symbolized by a circle with a dot in its center. The Sun therefore represents Creator and creative force.
In drawing the VP, we begin with one circle and establish its center. In this way we have duplicated the exact replica of the Sun in astrology. Our Sun is a star around which all the planets orbit in our Solar System. If we transfer the astrological meaning of the Sun symbol to the Vesica Pisces, as we are drawing it, we may say that this original circle represents the divine masculine. In actuality, it is the divine masculine without his mate. The second circle is Creator's mate.
What is the meaning of the Vesica Pisces?
I believe the English word which comes closest to the essential meaning of the Vesica Pisces is PASSION. Not any ordinary passion, but the sacred passion which is shared between God and His mate. It is also the sacred passion of humanity because as shown in the symbol, humanity's passion is the same as God's passion i.e., they are identical.
What exactly does it mean that God's passion is identical to a human being's passion? It means everything in fact. It means that our human passion is sacred, is perfectly in alignment and identical to the Creator's passion, and that - in terms of passion - there is in actuality very little difference between the Creator and the Created as it exists in human form.
If taken seriously, this is a very revolutionary idea. And it is the most fundamental meaning of the Vesica Pisces.
Therefore it may be concluded that human passion is sacred. How many humans on Earth today regard their passion as sacred? I would say perhaps 5% of humans alive today perceive their passion as sacred. It could be as much as 10% but probably no more than that. Which, if my assessment is more or less correct, the vast majority of humanity do not rightfully understand the divinity at the core of their lives. It is my opinion that any thorough analysis of the Vesica Pisces must commence from a proper understanding of passion and its importance to humanity.
So what constitutes passion in a human being? Isn't it what we get excited about? Isn't it what we love? Isn't it what makes us happy? And how would our lives be changed if we regard our very human passion as somehow divine? I think we owe it to ourselves to ask the question: Could our passion be a product of divinity? In other words, is our passion divinely inspired and therefore sacred?
I believe this is exactly what the Vesica Pisces is telling us. It is the central and most important message coded into the symbol. Nevertheless we may want to try to explain what happens when human passion becomes misguided, misdirected, selfish, cruel or foolish. It would seem that human passion is not always divine or divinely inspired.
Historical significance of the Vesica Pisces
Human society developed, in part, as a response to depravity and behavior that is definitely not divinely inspired. As humans began living together in communities, they found it necessary to isolate, confine, and otherwise punish selfish and predatory humans to separate them from the rest of the community. These humans are ones felt to be harmful or dangerous to the harmonious functioning of the society. And therefore it was felt by the majority of the community that these individuals should be kept away from the rest of them so that innocent and vulnerable people would have their lives safeguarded from violation.
We therefore must conclude that human passion is certainly not always righteous or sacred. Obviously there are times when it is selfish, ruthless, brutal and foolish. Nevertheless the core of human passion, as shown in the Vesica Pisces is divine. So we may ask the question - How did human passion become fragmented, distorted and misaligned? There may be a multitude of possible answers to that question. The significant feature of which is to note that in the beginning - human passion is sacred as it coincides with the passion of the Creator. One may conjecture that the most sacred purpose of every human life is to bring their soul's passion back into alignment with Divine passion.
It has been discovered that during its long history of utilization, the VP has functioned as both a fertility talisman and in agriculture to promote a thriving harvest. Theoretically these uses suggest petitioning the universe for Creator's blessing to ensure that which is desired - success in conceiving children as well as plentiful and healthy harvest of crops.
Any creative enterprise, whether it is conceiving offspring and promoting agricultural endeavors . . . or more artistic pursuits such as composing music, producing a painting or designing a bridge . . . these are all impulses that theoretically arise from the Vesica Pisces.
Perhaps we may suggest that all passion is rooted in creativity, and that such creativity is at least originally divine. We may also suggest that when we get imbalanced or misaligned in our passion, it is because we have forgotten this essential connection. When our desires are no longer in tune with our soul's longing to create something meaningful in our lives . . . we have lost our connection with God. Perhaps our souls' longing has been manipulated and replaced with something much less worthy of our divine aspirations as human beings.
It would seem that one of the original meanings of the Vesica Pisces is humanity's connection to nature. Thus its appropriate use as protection for a good harvest. Its use as a fertility symbol is perhaps obvious, however it depends on interpreting the VP as a protection for, and facilitator of, viable conception. This would presumably have included livestock and animal reproduction as well as human fertility.
From its use to facilitate conception and ensure productive harvests, the VP grew over time to protect healthy growth and development of anything. It could be the growth and development of living beings and food crops, as well as productive and successful business enterprise. Or the righteous and inspired creation of social order or governments or really anything. The Vesica Pisces became a general promoter of anything conceived by the human mind. Because originally it was arguably believed that humans were the instruments of God and their endeavors had to be, at least originally, inspired by God.