STANDING ON SOLID GROUND
The word ‘Earth’ came from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘erda’ and it’s germanic equivalent ‘erde’ which means ground or soil. Meanings include: the substance of the land surface; soil, the substance of the human body, the surface of the world as distinct from the sky or the sea.
Earth is the only planet name in our solar system that does not come from Greco-Roman mythology. All of the other planets were named after Greek and Roman gods and goddesses.
An important fact is that in Hebrew, the noun “adam” is also the masculine form of the word “adamah” which means “ground” or “earth (red clay).” It is related to the words: adom (red), admoni (ruddy), and dam (blood).
Every civilization has had their way of describing where or what may have sparked all of creation. When we reference the creation account described allegorically in Genesis we find:
Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning God created heaven, and earth.”
This is best translated as spirit and matter … the unseen and the seen.
Now, look at “heaven” not just as an unseen state within, but as a celestial abode. Ancient cosmology played an important role in the cycles of life and the divine patterns and forms.
The first planet discovered that was not known in ancient times, named for the god of Heaven, husband of Gaia, the Earth, from Latin Uranus, from Greek Ouranos literally "heaven, the sky;" in Greek cosmology, the god who personifies the heavens, father of the titans.
The ancients believed that the Spirit beings or Gods and Angels lived in the unseen realms, the ancients usually called “heaven” and “hell,” which are more accurately described as being "in" or "out" of God's direct presence. Within, and without. Above, and below.
So, in closing; our physical bodies are our spiritual “ helpmate.” In Genesis 2:18 we read “It is not good for the man (mind/mankind) to be alone, I do make to him an helper … as his counterpart.”
We come from the Earth/matter (Mother Earth) and from Spirit/heaven (Father).
Our Spirit grows through our experiences here in Earth (matter/soil). This is Earth School, and we’re in class every moment of every day.
Just a thought …
Justin Taylor, ORDM.
