Pi as Framework for Mass Religion

This is a really amazing clip by Dennis Fetcho, showing how mass religions is embedded into Pi.

Such TRUTH. Enjoy! JYN

Dream, Love, Believe...

Drake (Headlines) on Saturday Night Live

 The above clip accompanies my post on owl symbolism here.

"Once Upon A Time" (ABC): A Look at the Symbols

Last Sunday ABC premiered the series “Once Upon A Time”.  I was struck by the shows symbolism; with symbols being ever present when you enter the world of fairy tales. The shows Protagonists are Snow White and Prince Charming. Their family is caught in a spell that has them, and other famous fairy tale characters trapped in the modern world. Since the symbols on the show were so striking, I have taken the time to decode what I saw in the post below. This post focuses on the fairy realm depicted in the show. The show takes place in both the fairy realm and the modern world.

Snow White in a Glass Coffin

The opening scene in this episode follows Prince Charming as he races through the woods reaching Snow White. Snow White who has been poisoned by the evil queen (her step mother) by the infamous poisonous apple.  According to an annotation on  SurLaLune’s fairytale website- a glass coffin is symbolic of a caterpillar in a chrysalis before its rebirth into a butterfly.  The glass coffin is also an allusion to reincarnation, because Snow White is brought back to life by a kiss from her prince and hence can be seen resting after her death, awaiting rebirth.  The fact that Snow White is laid to rest in a coffin of glass highlights that she is still an object of affection for the dwarfs and also the prince.

The Royal Wedding

After the prince revives Snow the plot follows the traditional fairy tale and the viewer is swept away to the wedding uniting Prince Charming and Snow White after she has been awakened by his kiss. In the traditional fairy tale the evil queen shows up to the wedding and is forced to dance to her death in red hot iron slippers.  However, in “Once Upon A Time” Snow's happy ending is stolen. The evil queen is able to place a curse on the couple and the kingdom.  This scene subconsciously conveys duality with the good folks in white and evil folks in black. The shows protagonists now have a limited time to come up with a plan of survival; before the curse hits the kingdom. Also, this scene reminded me of the traditional RWS tarot's four of wands, which can also sometimes mean a wedding, when it shows up in a reading.  Do you see the similarities as well? Check out an image of the four of wands below.  I also referenced the Hierophant #5 of the Major Arcana in this scene, given that the priest (marrying Snow and Prince Charming) is wearing a traditional papal outfit, as is the Hierophant is the RWS tarot deck (see previous blog post on the Tarot, if you would like more info on the inner workings of the Tarot deck).

4 of Wands in RWS Tarot

The show also makes a potent allusion to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.  In the episode a group of thirteen (including Prince Charming) are sitting around a round table brainstorming the best method to overcome the evil queen and the curse that she has sent out to destroy everyone. This is an allusion to classical myth structure and the solar hero. The twelve figures are representatives of the twelve signs in the zodiac and Prince Charming represents the solar hero who moves through the signs each year. 

The Round Table

At the end of the episode, Snow is now pregnant and worried about the future of her family. A good fairy enters her chamber with a sacred tree; which is a portal to the modern world. Sacred trees are a common theme in myth- referenced in Hindu, Norse, and Buddhist traditions (to name a few). The evil spell does over take the kingdom. However, Snow has now birthed a daughter (Emma) whom she sends through the tree portal. 

I enjoyed the show’s use of non-linear time as the episode flipped in and out of modern time and the fairy tale world using the past and future to tell a tale in the present.  For this post, I only highlighted symbols depicted within the fairy tale realm, however symbols were weaved throughout the modern portion of the show as well. What other symbols were you able to spot in the pilot of this very promising show?

| More

Lady Bugs

The first time that I was drawn to the Lady Bug was in Prague. My husband and I were in the city, I was in a gift shop. I saw a Lady Bug crystal figurine, was drawn to it and purchased. Since then, the Lady Bug has been a fixture on the sink in my house.

We recently moved. We settled into our new home a week before Christmas. Our first night with our new home, in the empty house, we noticed Lady Bugs on the windowsill in the living room. Since we moved in, Lady Bugs have been spotted by my husband and myself on a regular basis. So, I decided to look into the symbolism behind the insect that I have always been happy to see when it has popped into my life.

I found the following blurb on this fascinating insect:

The ladybug is a member of the beetle family. They are found in nearly all climates and latitudes. They are hemispheric in shape, have short legs and are usually bright colored with black, yellow or reddish markings. Most reproduce sexually and females lay eggs. Their life cycle requires about four weeks, so several generations are produced each summer. This ties the ladybug to the energies of renewal and regeneration. Those with this totem are usually family oriented with strong morals and social values.The name lady bug originated in the middle ages when this beetle was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and called the "beetle of our lady." This links the ladybug to spiritual idealism and religious devotion. Past lives associated with religion or the church are common for those with this medicine and some form of daily meditation or prayer are recommended.This tiny little beetle packs a powerful message. Because the life cycle of the adult ladybug is short it teaches us how to release our worry and enjoy our life to the fullest. When it appears in our life it is telling us to "let go and let God."An adult ladybug can consume several thousand aphids and other scale insects within a few months. Since these can be harmful to crop production farmers and growers have long considered the ladybug a good omen. Because of its diet the ladybug often has parasites and those with this medicine need to take care of their digestive system.The ladybug is one of the few beetles that are well liked by humans. Unlike other beetles, the ladybug stirs a feeling of joy within us. Its small size denotes a delicate and loving nature. It emanates the energy of harmlessness and can show us how to stop harming ourselves.The shell on its back serves to protect it from predators. Its wings fold against the body protecting its soft underside. Ladybugs have keen instincts and feel vibrations through their legs. This enables them to sense the energy of whatever they touch and is another form of protection. In spite of its size it appears to be fearless. A messenger of promise, the ladybug reconnects us with the joy of living. Fear does not live within joy. The need to release our fears and return to love is one of the messages it carries.  Ladybug teaches us how to restore our faith and trust in great spirit. It initiates change where it is needed the most. When ladybug appears it is asking us to get out of our own way and allow great spirit to enter.

Retrieved on January 17, 2010

From: http://www.sayahda.com/cyc.html