PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM

PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM 

Early mankind's first "Saviour" was the sun. This glowing orb in the sky above was clearly the "Giver of Life." As belief systems grew, mankind eventually established the early stages of what would later become Christianity, or teachings of the Krestiani. Among early Gnostic and Essene traditions, these teachings were originally about something much deeper than they are today ... something that lay beyond, and beneath the surface stories. By taking these stories as only literal, modern day Christianity has renamed, revised, and re-written these ancient symbols and metaphors to suit their an entirely different agenda. Stay with me. There is much to explain. 

In the outward and literal Biblical story, Jesus has taken the place of a sun god of old, and literally became the "Light of the World." Biblical references to light and darkness now make perfect sense, when we look within the layers for the deeper message. “Jesus walking on water,” for example, symbolizes when the sun light is reflecting off the surface of water. We are not dismissing the Jesus narrative, just looking deeper into the symbolism and the allegorical interpretations ... the place where much Truth and symbolism can be found. 

From an an ancient Astrotheology view, the literal/outward story of Jesus mimics the story of the sun’s travels across the sky and through the Zodiac. The twelve disciples represent the 12 signs of the zodiac, or 12 months of the year. His story is the story of this annual precessional. Jesus is the Sun (in the center of the Zodiac circle) and the 12 houses/signs/disciples accompany him everywhere he goes. 

The actual word “Jesus” comes from the Greek "Iēsous," the Ancient Greek form of the Hebrew and Aramaic name Yeshua or Y'shua (Hebrew: ישוע) (Joshua in English). “Iesous” is adapted from the name of the Greek goddess of recuperation from illness - healing. Iesos/Iaso, was the daughter of Apollo, the Sun-deity. It is important to note that the English letter "J" was not in use until after 1600CE. Before that, a "Y" and an "I" were used in its stead. The original King James Bible refers to Jesus as “Iesus” and his father as “Ioseph.” No letter "J" to be found until later re-prints. 

Moving on symbolically, "Sunday" was set aside in the Mithra (Roman) cult as its official day to worship its Sun-deity. Instead of Saturday (Saturn-day), the sabbath or day of rest ... Roman Emperor Constantine legislated Sun-day to now be the day of rest and dedicated it to the Greek and Roman Sun-god, Helios. Constantine worshipped Christos Helios as well as Mithra. ”Christos Helios" in the Greek (Χρήστος ήλιος) means “Christ-The-True-Sun.” Ultimately, the Roman Catholic Church (Holy Roman Universal Church) chose Sun-day as its sabbath, and Protestantism then adopted it. The Greek word for "Universal" is "katholikos." 

More symbolism can be found here: Obelisks, spires, steeples, and church towers; all come from the pagan worship practices of Babylon and Egypt called sun-pillars. An obelisk or sun-pillar still stands at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. These objects represent the masculine (Father/God) symbol penetrating the feminine (Mother/Goddess) to bring forth the child from the womb of the universe. So it is with the Egyptian Ankh (a cross symbol) ... representing the intersection of Spirit/Matter, and the masculine penetrating the female womb of the universe as a means of creation. Symbolism can be found everywhere in Vatican City, if you know where to look and how to identify it. 

The Winter Solstice (Christmas-time) is the actual "reason for the season." The solstice is a metaphor for the sun’s birth, death, and resurrection. The sun appears to die as it reaches its lowest point in the winter sky, remaining motionless for three days. The sun is then resurrected, or born again, as it begins to slowly rise. And then the annual cycle begins once again. Bringing renewal, and a soon to be life-giving harvest of food once again. 

Everything in modern day Christianity has it's roots in the Ancient Wisdom of the Pagan world. These beliefs were brought into the formation of Christianity in Rome in order to bring more of the pagan believers into Constantine's new universal religion of Rome, officially launched at the First Council of Nicea in 325CE. Further, many ancient religions had also a triune god. Solar triune gods represented the three stages of the Life of the Sun, and lunar triune goddesses represented the three phases or Life of the moon. The Sun is the masculine energy, the moon is the receptive feminine energy receiving her light from the sun.

The Christian Trinity is as a solar triune: one, the young son at sunrise (God the son); two, adult at noon (God the Father, the most high); and three, dying when the sun sets at day’s end (The Holy Ghost/Spirit). Three different aspects, but one god - the SUN. The reason that only four gospels were chosen in the official canon is because they represent the four seasons. Remember also, there are deep esoteric symbols to be found. The mythology goes far back in time. 

As another example of symbolism, and in the realm of the metaphysical, the Kingdom of God represents the right hemisphere of your brain. You can activate it by doing what Jesus said in John 21:6 by “casting your net to the right side”. Our right brain is where our limitless potentiality, creativity, and imagination are found. It is also EAST. The Sun of God rises in the east (East-er). Most churches and temples among the ancients faced east. When early Christians prayed, they prayed to the east. The sun “sets” in the west. It figuratively dies each nightfall. Among other ancient figures was “Set” the evil twin. Every night, he would kill the sun … hence SUNSET. Horus represented the sky during the daytime, while Set represented the night-time sky. Set was also the basis for the development of Satan later in Hebrew lore, and ultimately Christianity's Devil. 

When talking about myth, symbols, and ancient philosophy, there is always one question that people will always ask: Who designed the designer? Who created God? Since all gods and holy books are man-made, it is man who is this designer. God is Spirit, and writes no books here in a physical world of form. "Sun Worship" was more about an esoteric understanding that there was a higher power behind and beyond (meta) the sun and all it's glory and Life giving energy. Very early man believed that the night sky was a veil, and that the stars were piercings in the veil that let the light of God shine through even in the darkness. The unreachable God far beyond any manifestation here in this world. 

Today, there are billions of people who believe in Jesus as God, so the Christian populous says he must be God. However, belief doesn’t make something true. Many believed the earth was flat. It is clearly not. Modern science and reason have been able to explain what would have been unexplainable to primitive man. If you were able to travel back in time with a cigarette lighter, mankind would've made you a some type of god as well. There were nature gods, weather gods, gods for everything. Jesus represents something far more esoteric and symbolic. In many ways, HIStory, is also OURstory. But in a spiritual way.

There is plenty to be found in ancient scripture to confirm my words. When we take this collective document as merely literal and historical content, it holds much less value than it does when you read between the lines ... the stories beneath and beyond the ink and paper. Many of the events didn't happened in the way that we've been told. They are meant to be collective metaphors and allegories of a much more spiritual nature. These stories were never intended by their writers to be only taken literally. Symbolism was used to conceal the inner Truths contained within the stories. 

What about the Ten Commandments you say? I say which ones? The Protestant, Catholic or Hebrew? They'll all different. Check and you'll see this to be true. In fact, they were all extracted from King Hammurabi's Laws (the negative commandments) during the times that the Hebrews lived among Babylonian rule. There are also two different sets of commandments. The Roman Catholic Church deleted the second Commandment and changed God's Sabbath to Sunday, and then split the tenth Commandment into two to get back to Ten Commandments in total. 

The wandering in the desert for 40 years, the crossing of the Red (Reed) Sea, the floating Ark of Noah, the walking on water, stilling the seas, resurrecting from the dead, etc. These stories are all spiritual allegories explained using surface stories and parables to deliver a deeper message for those with eyes to see, and ears to hear. There were Outer Mysteries (assumed literal events) presented to the masses of followers, and there were Inner Mysteries (Truth behind the spiritual nature of the stories) revealed to those who were inspired to go deeper into the text. 

Only a few initiates were privy to the Inner Mysteries. Even still today, the Vatican holds many mysteries that the general public will never be told. Rather than releasing the Truth to the people and possibly recovering the ancient spiritual pre-Roman Christian/Krestian teachings to the people, and empowering them through the spiritual strength that they teach, they choose to hide the Inner Mysteries and continue the secrecy that has taken thousands of years to build. Reveal the Truth, and the world would be empowered immediately. Positive change would be the result, and mankind's Saviour, would be the Truth of who and what they really are. "You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free." 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

REAL STORY OF ESOTERIC CHRISTIANITY

REAL STORY OF ESOTERIC CHRISTIANITY

After the "death" of Jesus, there arose many different splinter groups that claimed to follow his teachings. There was the continuation of Gnosticism, the apocryphal verses, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Nag Hammadi Library, and many other groups and texts, all of which PREDATE the highly structured, organized, and dogmatic Church of today, and many of which are rooted in esoteric and hidden Inner Mystery teachings regarding Christianity.

Many of these early esoteric Christian groups would now be considered heretical. Keep in mind most were considered heretical even back then. They drew influence from non-Christian philosophies like Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, and other ancient schools of thought that had existed long before "Christianity" was created. In fact, the influence of these philosophies such as Neoplatonism on Christianity is undeniable. 

Much as Christianity would hate to admit it, the teachings of the man from Galilee were not specifically new; he simply taught old lessons in a revolutionary new way. Whereas the Wisdom of the ancients was usually reserved for a select and privileged few, this Jesus - taught anyone who would listen. Though there were indeed a select few who were taught the deeper meaning behind Jesus' parables, allegories, and teachings.

The biggest influence that Neoplatonism (Plato) and Hermeticism (named for Hermes) had on Christianity was the idea of spiritual rebirth into a higher consciousness. This is the central message of most "religions," but it is much easier said than done to actually raise oneself from the slumber of ignorance to the awakened state of knowing (Gnosis). This requires dedication, time, and patience, attributes that the masses as a whole do not possess. It is because of this reality that "religion" has replaced "spirituality." Spirituality can be said to be more of an esoteric, personal connection to the Creator/Source, whereas religion is an exoteric, watered-down, "one size fits all" exoteric version of a higher reality. Among the ancients, initiates took many years to learn the Inner Mysteries from the great Mystery Schools in those times.  

Jesus' teachings (not "Christianity") were simply part of an ancient system of knowledge and Wisdom. When we study the history of the Bible, and the history of the Church system, it becomes clear to us that the present version of Christianity is a Roman patristic corruption of what Jesus is credited with having taught. It is a disappointment to the legacy and depth of these great teachings. Modern "Christianity" is a revised and edited form of a great system of ancient knowledge and Wisdom.

Jesus did not claim to be the one and only son of God. It may appear that way superficially, due to the editing of the Bible after the death of Jesus and the influence of the first ecumenical Council at Nicaea, but when one examines the teachings more closely, it becomes evident that Jesus' main lesson was that we are ALL the children of God. Go to the original Greek and you will read "A son of God" ... not "THE son of God." We all have the potential to become Christlike. We all have the Divinity of the Creator within.

"Christ" was originally a title that comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning "anointed" or "anointed one." Later on it was used specifically in reference to Jesus of Nazareth ... which should have been Jesus the Nazarene since the Nozrim (Nazarenes) were a Jewish sect and the place called Nazareth hadn't existed yet. 

Jesus spoke in esoteric parables to try to get his followers to understand the higher Truths of Life, but unfortunately, most did not comprehend the deep insight and meaning of the many parables which Jesus spoke. These were allegories and metaphors with deeper Truths hidden beneath the surface story. The literal story itself many times was insignificant and was designed to reveal a much deeper message ... For “those who had eyes to see and ears to hear.”

There were, however, a few individuals who did indeed understand the "hidden" aspects of the teachings. The Gnostic groups were among those who DID understand. "Gnostic" comes from the Greek word "gnosis," which means knowledge. The various Gnostic groups looked beyond the teachings of Jesus to gain a more comprehensive view of the ancient school of knowledge to which Jesus' teachings belonged. They realized that Jesus was a great teacher out of the many who had appeared ... or perhaps an anthropomorphic representative of the school of ancient thought. 

Unfortunately, the Gnostic groups and other early Christians were persecuted and declared heretics after the first Council at at Emperor Constantine's Council of Nicaea. In 325 AD, due to disputes over what "Christianity" should be, a religious council was assembled in Nicaea (present day Turkey) to try to settle the disputes and establish an "official" version of Christianity. Overseeing this council was the Roman Emperor Constantine, who ultimately decided what exactly this new "Universal" ("Catholic" in Greek) Church would include. 

At Nicaea, it was established that a man named Jesus was "of the same substance" as God. It was declared that Jesus was the Divine "son" of God and that mankind could only be saved through him. It was established that salvation could only be reached through one's belief in the Crucifixion and Resurrection. In other words, it was made a dogmatic law that one could only be “saved” if one believed that Jesus died for the sins of mankind. This is a completely false rendering of the original teachings, which taught that humanity could only be “saved” (awakened from ignorance and doing the right things) by and through humanity itself. Furthermore, subsequent councils further established the many dogmatic laws still followed today by most Christians. The Bible has been changed countless times. The Oldest known Bible in existence is the Sinai Bible (in the British Museum) dated to the 1100's. 500 years later came the King James. There are over 18,000 discrepancies in the two versions. Hardly inerrant. 

During his rule, Constantine saw the power of an organized state religion. The Roman Empire at that time was full of "Pagans," and Constantine knew that it would be beneficial to his empire to squash all forms of "Paganism" and adopt the new form of Christianity established at Nicaea. In about 397 AD, the Bible was canonized and made "official" as well. Countless verses were changed to fit the needs of the new Christian Church. Countless books were left out, most notably those that portrayed Jesus in a more human light and those that spoke of the real path to salvation -- knowingness. These apocryphal texts are still used in some denominations of Christianity, especially the older ones like the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Egyptian Coptic Church. The ancient scrolls found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt and the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Palestine contain many apocryphal chapters not found in the Catholic or Protestant Bibles of today, and they reveal philosophies that, if made available to the masses of Christians, would almost completely negate and refute the accepted dogmas of modern Christianity.

Unfortunately, these apocryphal doctrines will probably never be made entirely public. Tthe Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hammadi scrolls are indeed available, but they are not accepted as relevant to Christianity today, and the Church has done a great job hiding these texts from most of their followers. When one reads these apocryphal scriptures, it is evident why the Church has worked so hard to hide, or at least to refute them. They are empowering writings that can radically change a person within, and without. 

When a person understands that knowledge is the key to salvation, it then becomes difficult to control that person. They become, as I said above, empowered. When a person believes that the key to salvation is the belief in the Son of God dying for the "sins" of humanity, it is far easier to control that person. Why? Because that person then believes that he or she is inherently evil and a sinner and in need of salvation from his or her "sins." That person then believes that in order to be "saved," he or she must follow the dogmas of Christianity. Unfortunately, these dogmas are not Jesus' laws. These dogmas are the creations of men whose only interest was/is in power and control. In reality, the only real sin is ignorance. And the “Truth ... will make you free.”

Read these verses from the Gospel of Thomas, one of the apocryphal texts left out of the Bible:

"When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."

“Jesus’ followers asked him, “When will the kingdom come?” He answered, “It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘Look, there it is.’ Rather, the father’s kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it.”

“The kingdom of Heaven is within you, and whosoever knoweth himself shall find it.”

Much has been hidden from us. The ancient Wisdom of previous civilizations freely shared in open forums. Only God/Source knows what will one day be discovered in the 66 miles of shelving underground in the Vatican Archives. 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7

Just a thought … 

Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

HEBREW CONNECTION TO SATAN

HEBREW CONNECTION TO SATAN

Among the ancient beliefs of Zoroastrianism, the Persian Magi (Astrologers and Zoroastrian Priests) turned some Hindu concepts around, and with them the Asuras were good, and the Devas bad. “Ahura Mazda,” the god was good, his counterpart “Ahriman” was bad … the “devil” of sorts. So there was now evil and good. Therefore, there was between the god and the devil the waging of a perpetual war. And why not? Man has always been at war with himself, so why not the Gods as well?

Author Gerald Messandé wrote: “The early framework of the three monotheisms [Judaism, Christianity, Islam] had been erected. The Devil’s birth certificate was filled out by an Iranian prophet (Zoroaster).” Although, this is really only partly true, his full birth certificate was filled out by those who had changed the religion to what many contemporary followers of that faith believe today. And also, mixed in a bit from here and there, from among ancient myths and legends - and many other religions and philosophical systems - to create a conglomerate.

Now we move forward to the Hebrew Connection to all of this good/evil, god/satan stuff. Many years after all the changes to Zoroastrianism were made by the Magi, the Hebrew people came into contact with Zoroastrianism during the Babylonian rule, from 597 to 538 BCE. This was now a period after they had been exposed to numerous other beliefs and doctrines from other civilizations while under earlier Assyrian rule. Remember also, that the ancient Hebrews, were not always monotheistic. In their earlier times, they were polytheistic as many others before them were as well. There were Sky Gods, Nature Gods, etc. 

It is from this Babylonian exposure to Zoroastrianism, that Judaism acquired the belief in a dualistic cosmos being torn between the forces of good and evil. It was here that Judaism acquired the concept of angels and, more specifically, their seven Archangels (the Seven Attributes of Ahura Mazda). It was here also, that the Hebrews were exposed to the idea of the evil entity Ahriman (Satan/ha-satan) working directly against God and a Saoshyant (Messiah) who would come at the end of time (Frasho-kereti) to assure and guarantee the restoration of Divine Law to the world.

It is worth noting that the Hebrew word for “angel” is malach, meaning “messenger.” Also note, the same is true for the English word Angel, derived from the Greek word “Angelos,” which also means “messenger.” Throughout Biblical scripture, an Angel, is a messenger of God/Source who carries out the Divine will of the Almighty. There is not one example in the Hebrew scriptures where any Angel, Satan included, “opposes” God’s will. “Satan (or ha-satan)” in Hebrew means “adversary.” (or opposer/accuser)

Now, shortly after Satan’s “birth,” the idea of Hell gained wide acceptance. Prior to this, the official doctrine was that all Hebrew people who died went to Sheol. Sheol was a place of shadows where the world still existed but remained forever out of your grasp. Everyone went to Sheol whether or not they were wicked or holy. Our modern idea of ghosts emerged from this belief. But, technically, it was ultimately “the grave.”

The Persians are also responsible for the doctrines of a “final battle,” a “final judgment,” and the “resurrection of the dead.” From them, the Hebrews developed a scheme of world history, new beliefs about the end of time, and a more extensive set of beliefs concerning Angels. Frankly, the Hebrews had few original ideas.

In fact, all of what you will find in Old Testament scripture (allegory and metaphor) was nothing new or original. It had all been said before, and long before the Hebrews came along. They merely customized earlier stories with their own symbolism, rituals, geography, and names. The same goes for the Roman New Testament as well.

So, returning to where we were ... “Satan” gained a established place in late Hebrew and early Roman Christian thought to explain the sinister reality of sin and suffering in a world whose faith, was believed to be under the wise and beneficent guidance of the Almighty God/Source. Biblically speaking, this concept of Satan, was one of being a Prosecuting Attorney, under employ of the Court of God.

The conception of “the evil one” in his dual aspect of being the enemy of God, enemy of man … even a “fallen Angel” can be traced way back to its origins in much earlier religions, and is based entirely upon mythology. Just remember, under all of the stories, fables, metaphors, allegories, parables, and myth … is hidden much deeper lessons for the spiritual advancement of man. This evil one, is none other than the human ego. The one who chooses to either be in alignment with the default of goodness, or stand in opposition to it. 

The ancient Greek root word “mythos” is not as we see the word “myth” today. Today, we see see and use the word “myth” and the meaning we have attached to it is that “it never happened,” or “it’s just a meaningless fable, or urban legend.” But that was not the original concept by the Greeks. There was always something hidden under the guise of a myth that was much more important than the story itself. I will wrap this up with one of my favourite quotes from Joseph Campbell:

“A myth is something that never was, yet always is.”

Research everything you’ve been taught. Question everything you believe, and why you believe it. There is always something more to the story than meets the eye ... and the word. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

ORIGINS OF THE CROSS

ORIGINS OF THE CROSS

In all the history of the world's Divine Saviours, they all share the esoteric meaning of the cross. They are all similar in that they represent the Creative Principle (Divine) crucified upon the cross of matter/form. The Inner Mysteries of Christianity, based on Jesus Christ, are no different. An important esoteric message lay within the surface story.

In reality, the cross is a pagan symbol that was adored in Egypt thousands of years before Jesus The Nazarene was born. The Roman Catholic Church later adopted the cross symbol at least 600 years AFTER the Biblical story of the Jesus crucifixion.

The cross however, was never exclusively Christian in it's origins. The cross is a universal symbol found throughout the ancient world upon their artifacts, temples, and tablets. In centuries BCE (BC), the actual City of Nicea was designed in the form of a cross. Centuries later, the Aztecs used the cross as their symbol. 

Historically, the pagan sign of the mystic “Tau” of the Chaldeans and the Egyptians, a cross, was a symbol of the Roman god Mithras and the Greek Attis, and their forerunner Tammuz, the Sumerian solar god, consort of the goddess Ishtar. Conveniently, the original form of the letter “T” was the initial letter of the god of Tammuz. During baptism ceremonies, this cross was marked on the foreheads by the pagan priest/hierophant.

The cross of Christ, as experts agree, was actually a bar placed across the top of an upright, so it was not a cross at all. It was a “Tee” (T), called “Taw” in Hebrew, and “Tau” in Greek. Also, the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol of life - the “Ankh,” was a tau cross surmounted by a loop and known as crux ansata - adopted and extensively used on Coptic Christian monuments. It’s design depicted the intersection of Spirit and matter, and the Divine Feminine “Womb of the Universe.”

If you look at man himself, standing straight up with arms outstretched, we can see a living symbol of the cross and it's mythical model. The mythical cross is cosmic in origin, not human. The esoteric and metaphysical significance of this cross is not because a man or Saviour was crucified upon it. In fact the myths of all Saviours say they were crucified upon a cross. There is other significance to this symbolism. And it is not just a literal historical wooden cross with nails. 

As we can see, the cross symbol of Christianity, is deeply rooted in ancient Pagan Mythology. In fact, Christianity did not choose the cross until more than 300 afters after the story of literal crucifixion as it's representative symbol. In fact, it had used the swastika, another ancient symbol for creative motion ... as did many other belief systems of old. The original word is Sanskrit and was suastika - meaning “good, being, well.” Later, a lamb was used as the symbol representing Aries. Ultimately, the “crucifix” (the man nailed to and hung upon a cross) replaced it all among the Roman Church as it does today. A symbol of suffering and death, rather than enlightenment and illumination. 

In ancient times, there were also planetary and zodiacal meanings. 12 Stations of the Zodiac, in Greece, there were “12 Labours of Hearacles,” and in Egypt “12 tortures.” The initiates into the Inner Mysteries of the hidden Wisdom had to suffer before they would be given the Sacred Tau, the cross of the hierophant (ancient priest). The number 12 was also highly symbolic. 

The seven major miracles are identical with the seven days of creation in the first book of the Bible - Genesis (meaning beginning or birth). This is Cosmology or Astrotheology ... heaven and God in the stars, skies, and planetary actions. As above, so below. As within, so without. As evolving, so involving. The story of creation was written in the stars long before Christianity by the Pagan Mystics. See the 12 Houses of the Zodiac (12 Apostles) surrounded by the Sun of God (Christ/Sun) and you will see much of where all the spiritual myths were derived. 

The cross, from the sky-view (heavens/Ouranos) ... the constellation Crux – otherwise called the Southern Cross – can be seen from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere and from tropical and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

There is much more than can be covered on this subject but far too much for one segment. We barely touched upon the Egyptian Ankh and it's metaphysical meanings and symbols. It is the Key of Life. We will go into more details in another writing. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF ROMAN AND ORTHODOX EASTER

ROMAN AND ORTHODOX EASTER

A Different View of The Celebration of Easter

I grew up Greek Orthodox, was an Altar Boy, President of our GOYA Youth Group, and a follower of the Christian belief system that I was born into and raised by. This weekend, the Orthodox Christians will celebrate the annual anniversary of a physical resurrection from the dead, by Jesus Christ.

This, is Orthodox Easter (and the Spring Equinox) ... according to the ancient Julian Calendar. The Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC (708 AUC), and was a reform of the Roman calendar. Ultimately the calendar was changed again. This time by St. Gregory and is called the Gregorian Calendar ... still followed today, but not by the Orthodox. This is why last Sunday was Easter Sunday for the rest of the non-Orthodox Christian Followers, and this Sunday is Easter Sunday for the Orthodox.

For me however, after many years of research and deep study, along with centered prayer, and meditation, I left behind the literal and historical teachings of todays Christianity, and have found solace in the ancient allegorical, esoteric, and metaphysical interpretations. I have acquired a library of study and research materials that include all world religions, philosophies, and metaphysics. I became a Seeker of Spiritual Truth ... And it's been an amazing journey of discovery. It obviously isn't the path that many have taken, but for me ... It's been enlightening to say the least.

I can tell you that I definitely made the rounds over the years. From Orthodox Christian, to non-denominational Bible Fellowship, to even all-out atheism. Then ... I kept going. I kept looking. I KNEW that voice inside me was the voice of Truth ... And there was a force that went beyond what has been presented as Literal, and Historical ... I knew there must be something more. Beyond the surface exoteric teachings. I was after the very foundation of ALL world religions and spiritual paths ... BEFORE man added his own personal label to it. The names, locations, and details have been altered, but like a bubble at the bottom of a pond ... The Truth rises to the surface eventually. 

I came to the same conclusion that Jesus had tried to explain, and that is that ... God - Source ... is the entirety of the universe, which is ONE universal living organism that we happen to call God - Source Energy. We are ALL part and parcel of this collective Source. And the Spirit and Spark of God - Source is within me ... just as Jesus had said before he was turned into another in a long history of Godmen ... This time by Rome, and ultimately worshipped as the entirety of God in the flesh - actually REPLACING God, with a man. The Truth is that all are equal, all are ONE RACE of humans joined together in consciousness and community here on Planet Earth. We breathe the same air, drink the same water, and stand upon the same terra firma. 

Once we awaken to this fact, we then become HUman. HU is the ancient Egyptian God who spoke the world into existence (The Word) ... And MAN is ancient Sanskrit (Manu) meaning MIND. Therefore, to be human, is to be the Mind of God. Universal Law states that God is Mind ... And that all of creation is mentalism. All is energy ... Even matter. This, cannot be disputed. Place a rock under a microscope and you will see living cells. The inanimate, is animate at a cellular level. 

My personal relationship with the Universe, or God, has never been greater than it is right now. The unifying and underlying consciousness of all things is connected thorough the Christ Consciousness. I had found the Truth, and it had made me free. Just as Jesus promised among the ancient scriptures of the Bible. Far too much to get into for one article, but I wanted to move on to the main point.

Astro-Theology And Celestial Origins

Astro-Theology, is pretty much a self-explanatory word. It is Theology that is based upon celestial knowledge. Astrotheology is the combination of two Greek words: Astro (from Greek, from astron - asteri where we get "star") and the Greek word Theo (Theos which means God - Source).

For example, translated CORRECTLY from the original Greek, the opening verse of the Book of John (1:1) Would read: 

"In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with Theos, and the Logos was Theos."

Rather than how it is translated today: 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

This LOGOS (or Word) ... was NOT Jesus, or a book called "the Word of God." Among ancient Greek Philosophy and Theology, this LOGOS/WORD meant "the Divine reason implicit in the cosmos, ordering it and giving it form and meaning." Essentially, the Mind, becoming manifest as matter. The WORD was the ARCHETYPE ... the template of all that is.

The concept of Astro-theology is vastly ancient, as ancient as mankind itself. Past civilizations had one religion. That religion was based on the understanding of the Astrological movements of our solar system and the connection and influences that each planet has on each other and beyond. After all, there were no movies, TV, or Internet back then to occupy their time. They obsessively watched the heavens and nature, and made note of all repeating patterns.

This celestial knowledge is the basis and origin for all of of our Myths, Legends, Fairy Tales, Nursery Rhymes and Folk Lore. It is also the Pure Science developed by the very enlightened, wise and ancient priesthood that left behind for us scrolls, tablets, hieroglyphs, symbols, and the Holy Books of all world religions. The language was heavily veiled in allegory and symbolism and much of it was deliberately done to keep the higher Truths from the masses. Such powerful knowledge in the wrong hands would be disastrous. Remember that "myth" was not as we see it today. Today we think of myth as a fable, or somewhat of a story. But the true meaning of the word MYTH (MYTHOS in Greek) means that there is a Truth behind what is being said. Joseph Campbell said it best, and I paraphrase here: "A myth is something that never was, yet always is."

Among Christianity, most of the Christians and believers in “the Christ” grew up from childhood being taught a “literal-historical” understanding of the “Jesus Story” which we find in the New Testament. They had, and have no concept or knowledge that archaeology has proven today that the earliest believers in “the Christ” never understood “Jesus Christ” as a just one human who walked the hills of the Galilee. They understood deeply the Divine Concept of “Jesus (the) Christ” not in a literal sense but in an “allegorical” manner ... for more than 10,000 years before the New Testament Roman concept of a physical and literal - historical Jesus. 

Jesus (Yeshua/Yehoshua in Hebrew) (Iesous in Greek) (Joshua in English) is based upon the Hebrew ineffable name of G-d ... "YHVH" (Yehova, Jehovah, Yahweh). The four letters (Tetragrammaton) are symbolic and literally mean GOD. Briefly, YHVH (Yod Hey Vav Hey) then had added to it, the Hebrew letter Shinn (S) (Meaning Saviour). This created the word-symbol "YHSVH" (Yod Hey Shin Vav Hey), or Yehoshua phonetically. This word has also been translated as Joshua, or in Greek ... Iesous, being translated as "Jesus" in English. Joshua and Jesus are the same word. The word literally means "God is Saviour." It was not so much a proper name, but a title and symbol. The same with the word CHRIST (Messiah, Krestus, Christos, Krishna, etc.). This was a title and meant "Anointed," among other symbols. It is THIS that St. Paul refers to when saying "I travail in Labour until the Christ be born in you." 

Most all churches and denominations today take only literal interpretation, in every sense of the word when first approaching the New Testament scriptures, but if we study hard, and gather needed knowledge about the times and the people who generated these Ancient Divine Concepts ... we will find that beneath what we have assumed was a “literal” and “Historical" Jesus Christ, there lies a treasure of allegories, figurations, and symbolisms of the Sun, Stars, Constellations, and their path in the Heavens. This was also WITHIN us. The microcosm / macrocosm. After all,  we ARE star stuff. 

The Bible was intended to be read as celestial (Stellar, Solar, Lunar and Planetary) allegories and parables based on archetypes ... universal symbols of deeper esoteric Truths that have been veiled. Then and only then can it be explained without the need for Interpretation. It is OUR-story, as much as it is HIS-story. The Bible is not a book written by God, but a book written by men about, and of their observance and concept of God ever present in the celestial heavens ... in annual recurring cycles. 

The Eternal universe, regenerating itself, from within itself. A constantly recycling infinite mass of energy of which all of us are within, and a part of. Not as individual members ... things ... but as ONE thing. Eternally bound by the consciousness that brings life to ALL things.

This has been a long article, but I must cover one more important thread so that we may understand the deeper meaning of the Resurrection of Christ without it having to be literal and historical. So now, we move on to a Gnostic view.

The Gnostic View of Christianity’s Resurrected Saviour

If you can bear with me for a few short paragraphs, I offer you a different view from what you have been raised to understand as New Testament Gospel. I’m sure you will find it to be very interesting, if not; enlightening.

For those of who are unfamiliar with the Gnostics, they were basically Christians who denied the bodily resurrection of Christ. Instead they believed Christ’s body was of a spiritual nature. In other words, the Gnostics argued that Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead in a literal physical body.

Mainstream Christianity considers this statement to be blasphemy. And here’s the scripture that they often use to put the final nail on the coffin of Gnosticism:

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7)

Based on this scripture, the typical argument states that John was aiming this scripture at the Gnostics themselves since they denied Jesus was resurrected in a physical body. It must be rock solid proof, right? Nope. And here’s why.

Most Gnostics did not view any of the scriptures literally. As such, John’s statement is in perfect agreement with what a Gnostic would have believed. To the Gnostics, the resurrection story of Christ wasn’t about the literal man; it was about the spiritual awakening of the divine nature that can happen within each individual. This awakening happens while still yet in the flesh … while still here and alive in matter. So John’s statement rings true. Christ does come in the flesh ... OURS.

But this coming of Christ (the anointing - the Christ-ening) is the gnosis (mystical insight - knowing) attained by the individual going through a profound experience in higher states of consciousness. This entire process happens while being in a physical body. It is the born again experience of the spiritual nature which rules over the physical nature. This spiritual nature is the Christ.

This entire concept was taught among the Egyptian Mystery Schools and throughout the ancient world of spiritual mythology. The Christ (crestus -krishna - chrestos) is the begotten Son of God … the divine spirit/life force within every person. The breath that is the giver of life. Based only on goodness and righteousness, not self-serving as the base human ego is.

Based on this view, the words credited to the Jesus of the New Testament ring true. “The Kingdom of Heaven/God lies within you … and is at hand”

The “tomb” is your body … where the Christ awaits resurrection and release (hence, the empty tomb). The ancient Greeks said “soma - sema” meaning “body - tomb”. The “Son of Man” means son of mind (mind is MANU in Sanskrit and the origin of the english word man). When the ego remains attached to the natural man, it cannot be purified and transmuted into the spiritual Ego  - higher Self. When it does, it once again becomes a “Son of God” as it was before the descent into a world of matter.

There are those who have said to me "you are bound for Eternal hell for your beliefs."  I say, as many of the ancients have also said ... I am already in hell. The Underworld ... The lower realm found beneath the heavens (higher realm of consciousness). This place where my Divine Self is trapped with the tomb of the body. When we entered this physical realm, our Soul was buried. "Theosis" is our goal while here in the body. To become AS God, FROM God. To resurrect from the dead! and ascend into Heaven (Spirit). To be alive in Spirit and sitting at the right hand of the Father (Source). This is what it means to "walk with God" ... The God WITHIN. This is what it means to "pray unceasingly." THIS, is what the message of Jesus THE Christ was all about. 

I will never tell you how or what to think … I only ask that you do.

Always remember …

Believe nothing.

No matter where you read it,

Or who has said it,

Even if I say it ...

Unless it agrees with your own reason,

And your own common sense.

~Buddha

Just a thought ...

Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.

STORY BEHIND ESOTERIC CHRISTIANITY

The Real Story Behind Esoteric Christianity

After the "death" of Jesus, there arose many different splinter groups that claimed to follow his teachings. There was the continuation of Gnosticism, the apocryphal verses, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and many other groups and texts, all of which PREDATE the highly structured, organized, and dogmatic Church of today, and many of which are rooted in esoteric and hidden Inner Mystery teachings regarding Christianity.

Many of these early esoteric Christian groups would now be considered heretical (keep in mind most were considered heretical even back then). They drew influence from non-Christian philosophies like Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, and other ancient schools of thought that had existed long before "Christianity" was created. In fact, the influence of philosophies like Neoplatonism on Christianity is undeniable. 

Much as Christianity would hate to admit it, the teachings of the man from Galilee were not anything new; he simply taught old lessons in a revolutionary new way. Whereas the Wisdom of the ancients was usually reserved for a select and privileged few, this Jesus - taught anyone who would listen (though there were indeed a select few who were taught the deeper meaning behind Jesus' parables, allegories, and teachings).

The biggest influence that Neoplatonism and Hermeticism (named for Hermes) had on Christianity was the idea of spiritual rebirth into a higher consciousness. This is the central message of most "religions," but it is much easier said than done to actually raise oneself from the slumber of ignorance to the awakened state of knowledge. This requires dedication, time, and patience, attributes that the masses as a whole do not possess. It is because of this reality that "religion" has replaced "spirituality." Spirituality can be said to be more of an esoteric, personal connection to the Creator/Source, whereas religion is an exoteric, watered-down, "one size fits all" version of a higher reality. Among the ancients, initiates took many years to learn the Inner Mysteries from the great Mystery Schools in those times.  

Jesus' teachings (not "Christianity") were simply part of an ancient system of knowledge. When we study the history of the Bible and the history of the Church it becomes clear to us that the present version of Christianity is a corruption of what Jesus is credited with having taught. It is an insult to the legacy of these great teachings. Modern "Christianity" is a corrupt and tainted form of a great system of ancient knowledge and Wisdom.

Jesus did not claim to be the one and only son of God. It may appear that way superficially, due to the editing of the Bible after the death of Jesus and the influence of the first ecumenical Council at Nicaea, but when one examines the teachings more closely, it becomes evident that Jesus' main lesson was that we are ALL the children of God. Go to the original Greek and you will read "A son of God" ... not "THE son of God." We all have the potential to become Christlike. 

"Christ" was originally a title that comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning "anointed" or "anointed one." Later on it was used specifically in reference to Jesus of Nazareth ... which should have been Jesus the Nazarene since the Nozrim (Nazarenes) were a Jewish sect and the place called Nazareth hadn't existed yet. 

Jesus spoke in esoteric parables to try to get his followers to understand the higher truths of life, but unfortunately, most did not comprehend the profundity and meaning of the many parables which Jesus spoke. These were allegories with deeper Truths hidden beneath the surface story. The story itself many times was insignificant and was designed to reveal a much deeper message ... For those who had eyes to see and ears to hear.

There were, however, a few individuals who did indeed understand the "hidden" aspects of the teachings. The Gnostic groups were among those who DID understand. "Gnostic" comes from the Greek word "gnosis," which means knowledge. The various Gnostic groups looked beyond the teachings of Jesus to gain a more comprehensive view of the ancient school of knowledge to which Jesus' teachings belonged. They realized that Jesus was only one great teacher out of many ... or perhaps an anthropomorphic representative of the school of ancient thought. 

Unfortunately, the Gnostic groups and other early Christians were persecuted and declared heretics after the first Council at at Emperor Constantine's Council of Nicaea. In 325 AD, due to disputes over what "Christianity" should be, a religious council was assembled in Nicaea (present day Turkey) to try to settle the disputes and establish an "official" version of Christianity. Overseeing this council was the Roman Emperor Constantine, who ultimately decided what exactly this new "Universal" ("Catholic" in Greek) Church would include. 

At Nicaea, it was established that a man named Jesus was "of the same substance" as God. It was declared that Jesus was the Divine "son" of God and that mankind could only be saved through him. It was established that salvation could only be reached through one's belief in the Crucifixion and Resurrection. In other words, it was made a dogmatic law that one could only be saved if one believed that Jesus died for the sins of mankind. This is a completely false rendering of the original teachings, which taught that humanity could only be saved (awakened from ignorance and doing the right things) by and through humanity itself. Furthermore, subsequent councils further established the many dogmatic laws still followed today by most Christians. The Bible has been changed countless times. The Oldest known Bible in existence is the Sinai Bible (in the British Museum) dated to the 1100's. 500 years later came the King James. There are over 18,000 discrepancies in the two versions. Hardly inerrant. 

During his rule, Constantine saw the power of an organized state religion. The Roman Empire at that time was full of "Pagans," and Constantine knew that it would be beneficial to his empire to squash all forms of "Paganism" and adopt the new form of Christianity established at Nicaea. In about 397 AD, the Bible was canonized and made "official" as well. Countless verses were changed to fit the needs of the new Christian Church. Countless books were left out, most notably those that portrayed Jesus in a more human light and those that spoke of the real path to salvation -- knowledge. These apocryphal texts are still used in some denominations of Christianity, especially the older ones like the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Egyptian Coptic Church. The ancient scrolls found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt and the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Palestine contain many apocryphal chapters not found in the Catholic or Protestant Bibles of today, and they reveal philosophies that, if made available to the masses of Christians, would almost completely negate and refute the accepted dogmas of modern Christianity.

Unfortunately, these apocryphal doctrines will probably never be made entirely public (the Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hammadi scrolls are indeed available, but they are not accepted as relevant to Christianity today, and the Church has done a great job hiding these texts from most believers). When one reads these apocryphal scriptures, it is evident why the Church has worked so hard to hide or at least refute them. 

When a person understands that knowledge is the key to salvation, it is difficult to control that person. They become empowered. When a person believes that the key to salvation is the belief in the Son of God dying for the "sins" of humanity, it is far easier to control that person. Why? Because that person then believes that he or she is inherently evil and a sinner and in need of salvation from his or her "sins." That person then believes that in order to be "saved," he or she must follow the dogmas of Christianity. Unfortunately, these dogmas are not Jesus' laws. These dogmas are the creations of men whose only interest was/is in power and control. In reality, the only real sin is ignorance. And the Truth ... will make you free.

Read this verse from the Gospel of Thomas, one of the apocryphal texts left out of the Bible:

"When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."

Much has been hidden from us. The ancient Wisdom of previous civilizations freely shared in open forums. Only God/Source knows what will one day be discovered in the 66 miles of shelving underground in the Vatican Archives.

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.