Ascending the Spiral: Embracing the Ouroboros Within
Ascending the Spiral
Embracing the Ouroboros Within
The Ancient Roots of the Ouroboros
The ouroboros, an enigmatic symbol representing a serpent or dragon consuming its own tail, has captivated human imagination for centuries. Its earliest known depiction can be traced back to ancient Egypt, specifically within the Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. This fascinating symbol, embodying the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, was intricately woven into the fabric of ancient Egyptian beliefs and practices.
In the Egyptian context, the ouroboros was more than a mere decorative motif. It symbolized the profound and mystical cycle of time and existence. The ouroboros depicted in Tutankhamun’s tomb, for instance, represented the unification of the sun god Ra with Osiris, the god of the underworld, encapsulating the notion of beginnings morphing into endings which in turn give way to new beginnings.
Furthermore, the ouroboros transcended Egyptian borders and entered the Greek magical tradition, where it assumed new interpretations and significance. The Greeks, who adopted the ouroboros into their own symbolic lexicon, emphasized its aspect as a creature consuming itself, a powerful metaphor for the eternal cyclic renewal. The word ‘ouroboros’ itself, deriving from the Greek for ‘tail-eating’, captures this essence of perpetual motion and self-sustenance.
This symbolism of cyclicality and renewal resonated deeply within the Greek philosophical and esoteric traditions. It echoed the eternal flux of the universe and the constant interplay of creation and destruction, a theme prevalent in many ancient Greek myths and philosophical discourses. In these contexts, the ouroboros was not just a symbol of physical renewal, as seen through the snake’s skin-sloughing, but also of spiritual and metaphysical cycles.
The ouroboros’ journey from Egyptian to Greek culture exemplifies the fluidity of symbols across time and geography. It reveals how a symbol can be adapted, reinterpreted, and integrated into different cultural and philosophical systems, each time enriching its meaning and expanding its significance. Thus, the ouroboros stands not only as a testament to ancient Egyptian and Greek wisdom but also as a symbol of the shared human quest to understand the mysteries of life, death, and the cosmos.
The Esoteric Dimensions of the Ouroboros
The ouroboros, a potent symbol rooted in ancient traditions, found profound resonance in the mystical realms of Gnosticism and Alchemy, where it acquired deeper esoteric meanings. In these traditions, the ouroboros was not merely a representation of life cycles or eternal return; it became a symbol encapsulating the very essence of the universe and the soul.
In the Gnostic worldview, the ouroboros took on a cosmological significance. It was seen as a representation of eternity and the soul of the world, a concept that aligns with the Gnostic pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the divine. The Gnostic text, “Pistis Sophia,” describes the ouroboros as a twelve-part dragon, encircling the world and binding it within the cycles of existence.
This imagery powerfully conveys the Gnostic belief in the interconnectedness of all things and the cyclic nature of the universe, where the end is always a prelude to a new beginning. The serpent biting its tail in Gnosticism symbolizes the unending quest for spiritual enlightenment and the eternal nature of the soul’s journey.
The ouroboros’ journey into the realm of alchemy further enriched its symbolism. To the alchemists, this ancient icon was not just a symbol; it was a profound metaphor for the alchemical process itself. The ouroboros in alchemy embodies the unity of opposites and the transmutation of base elements into higher forms.
The famous alchemical illustration from “The Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra” presents the ouroboros with the inscription “hen to pan” (“the all is one”), encapsulating the alchemical pursuit of the Philosopher’s Stone, the ultimate goal of turning base metals into gold, and more symbolically, achieving spiritual wholeness and enlightenment.
This symbolic representation of the ouroboros in alchemy resonates with the idea of self-sufficiency and the cyclical nature of the alchemical process, where the end stage leads back to the beginning, in a perpetual loop of creation and dissolution. The duality of the ouroboros, often depicted as half-light and half-dark, echoes the alchemical themes of duality and the reconciliation of opposites, a process central to achieving the Magnum Opus or the Great Work in alchemy.
In both Gnosticism and Alchemy, the ouroboros thus transcends its physical representation, becoming a profound symbol of spiritual journey, eternal truth, and the unity of all existence. Its circular form embodies the mystic’s path towards enlightenment, symbolizing the eternal cycle of death and rebirth, and the ultimate union of the material and spiritual worlds. The ouroboros, in these esoteric traditions, is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all things and the continuous cycle of renewal and transformation that is at the heart of the universe.
The Ouroboros in Modern Thought
The ouroboros, an ancient symbol steeped in mystical tradition, finds a fascinating place in modern thought, particularly in the realms of Jungian psychology. This section delves into how the ouroboros has been perceived and interpreted in contemporary contexts, transcending its historical and esoteric origins to symbolize complex psychological processes and universal human experiences.
Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, recognized the ouroboros as a powerful archetype in his analytical psychology. For Jung, the ouroboros was not just a historical or mythological symbol but a fundamental representation of the human psyche. He saw it as the basic mandala of alchemy, embodying the process of individuation—the psychological process of integrating the conscious with the unconscious mind.
Individuation, according to Jung, is the process by which an individual develops into his or her ‘true self’ by integrating different aspects of their personality. It involves becoming aware of, understanding, and reconciling aspects of the self that are conscious and unconscious, personal and collective. Individuation is not about achieving perfection but is rather about becoming whole by acknowledging and accepting all facets of oneself.
Jung’s interpretation of the ouroboros emphasized its significance as a symbol of the self-devouring nature of life, where creation and destruction are intrinsically linked, mirroring the inner processes of the human mind. This cyclical symbol reflects our continuous journey of learning and relearning, where each end is a new beginning in our understanding and personal growth.
It encapsulates the perpetual cycle of gaining knowledge, shedding old beliefs, and then embracing new insights, a process that is fundamental to our psychological and spiritual development. In this way, the ouroboros not only represents the eternal interplay of creation and destruction but also the ongoing evolution of our consciousness as we navigate through life’s myriad experiences.
In Jung’s view, the ouroboros represents the paradox of the human condition: the eternal struggle for self-realization and the integration of opposites within the individual. It symbolizes the idea of the self as both the creator and the destroyer, a concept that resonates deeply with the personal journey towards self-awareness and psychological wholeness. The image of the serpent eating its own tail encapsulates the concept of feedback or self-reflection, a crucial aspect of the individuation process, where one continually revisits and re-evaluates the self.
The ouroboros’ symbolism of continuity, infinity, and the cyclical nature of existence. They reflect humanity’s universal attempt to understand and articulate the mysteries of life, death, and the universe. Whether through the lens of Jungian psychology or the diverse stories of world mythology, the ouroboros continues to be a compelling symbol of the eternal and unending cycles of nature and human experience.
Ascension Through the Ouroboros
The ouroboros, a symbol of cycles and renewal, finds a profound connection with ancient Vedic and Yogic traditions, offering a pathway to spiritual ascension and the awakening of Kundalini. In the Aitareya Brahmana, a sacred Vedic text, the ritualistic practices of the Vedas are likened to a snake biting its own tail, symbolizing the cyclical and eternal nature of these rituals, much like the cosmic cycles of creation and dissolution.
Delving deeper into the realms of Yogic philosophy, the ouroboros finds a striking resemblance in the concept of Kundalini. Described in the medieval Yoga-kundalini Upanishad, Kundalini is envisioned as divine energy resting at the base of the spine, similar to a coiled serpent. This serpent holds its tail in its mouth, symbolizing the dormant potential energy within every individual. The awakening of Kundalini is akin to the uncoiling of this serpent, initiating a transformative spiritual journey towards enlightenment.
The process of Kundalini awakening is essentially breaking free from the cyclic mundane existence and ascending towards higher consciousness. It’s about transcending the repetitive cycles of ordinary life and embarking on a path of spiritual evolution. The rising of Kundalini through the chakras symbolizes the ascent from material consciousness to a state of divine union and enlightenment.
To facilitate this ascension and symbolize our journey of transcending repetitive cycles, we invoke a powerful mantra: “ASCENSUM OUROBOROS.” The term “ASCENSUM” is Latin for ‘ascent’ or ‘rising.’ When combined with “OUROBOROS,” the mantra translates to ‘The Ascent of the Ouroboros.’
This phrase encapsulates our endeavor to elevate ourselves above the limiting cycles that often confine us, resonating with the concept of Kundalini awakening. In essence, “ASCENSUM OUROBOROS” represents our spiritual journey of rising from the cyclic bounds of the physical and mundane, akin to the serpent of the ouroboros ascending into a higher state of being and consciousness.
We should repeat this mantra for 23 minutes or 23 times. The choice of repeating this mantra for 23 minutes or 23 times is deeply symbolic. The number 23, often associated with transformation and change, resonates with the idea of spiritual awakening and rebirth. It signifies the readiness to adapt to the profound changes that come with spiritual growth and the breaking of cyclic patterns that hold us back.
In mystical traditions, the number 23 is seen as a catalyst for transformation. It’s a number that echoes through various esoteric and religious texts, often linked with the concepts of death and rebirth, essential for any form of spiritual ascension. It suggests that to give birth to a new consciousness, the old self must undergo a metaphorical death.
Aleister Crowley, a figure renowned for his profound influence on modern occultism, described the number 23 as embodying a spectrum of meanings – from “parting, removal, separation” to “joy, a thread, and life.” This multifaceted interpretation of the number 23 is particularly pertinent as we embrace the “ASCENSUM OUROBOROS” mantra.
The act of chanting this mantra for 23 minutes becomes an act of liberation from the confines of religious dogma and rigid spiritual doctrines. It embodies Crowley’s vision of the number 23, facilitating a parting from old beliefs and the removal of spiritual boundaries that no longer serve us.
This separation is not just a detachment but a joyful liberation, a celebration of new beginnings, and an embrace of life in its purest form. It represents the thread that connects our material existence to the higher realms of consciousness, a lifeline to our true spiritual selves.
As we chant “ASCENSUM OUROBOROS” for 23 minutes or 23 times, we align ourselves with the powerful symbolism of the ouroboros and the transformative energy of the number 23. We embark on a journey of spiritual ascension, breaking free from the repetitive cycles of existence and rising towards a higher state of consciousness.
Let us now begin our journey towards spiritual ascension with the mantra “ASCENSUM OUROBOROS,” embracing the transformation and renewal it symbolizes.
