Serpent and the Butterfly

A few reflections on this day, considering the expression that there is 'no such thing as coincidences' (but synchronistic events...)

I stopped by a church so as to read and meditate in the quiet, away from distractions. I've always been appreciative of the architecture and atmosphere of churches and that I can differentiate between the building and the oppression that surrounds it. The artificial lighting overhead was switched off, suitably, and I chose to sit in the aisle which had a nice golden glow about it.

I was finishing Kundalini Tales and reflecting on what I'd read after each short chapter, enjoying the calm and the space. The book, by the way, is about the 'serpent energy' or serpent-like energy that we supposedly have in our possession - an aspect of the divine within our souls. I've had many unusual and often captivating experiences since my mid-teens, although I'd never associated them with the kundalini as it's not something I'd heard of until recently; I'm still not sure that my experiences are related to it - there are definite similarities, also inconsistencies - but it is possible.

Several times I looked up at the stained-glass window beside me without realising which biblical passage the image stood for. Then I noticed the serpent on the staff behind the man and realised it was Moses and... ah yeah.

'Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up...' (John 3:14)

One of the passages I mentioned in Afterglow and how it could be an allusion to the kundalini. A couple more snakes entangled there, almost appearing as two-headed, a dualistic quality. Unknowingly I'd taken a seat next to the window that depicts the lifting of the serpent in the wilderness, which is compared to the later story of the Son of Man being lifted up, to read from my serpent-related book. A neat coincidence, I thought.

Then I heard some fluttering sounds across the other side of the church. A butterfly had got inside through a tiny window and couldn't get back out. I watched for a moment, thinking on how its life was short and precious and that if it couldn't get out it wouldn't get to enjoy its final phase of magnificence; how people, too, are trapped by the church and religion. Prisons of the cross. The butterfly is of great importance to me, its symbolism, I'll write more on this soon; the next phase in my spiritual development is the last and I believe it to be near. As a result, inner tension and conflict is at a peak, I'll either crash and burn - or - take flight, shine on, transcend.

So, I saw this butterfly as a symbol of my current situation - trapped, unable to get out or break habitual behaviours, stagnation... As far as I'm aware the butterfly found its way out within a couple of minutes - the fluttering stopped - I hope so. If I could have gotten a photo of it against the old lattice window and azure sky, that would have been rad. Alas...

I finished reading, three chapters to go, and decided to blast out some Japanese Voyeurs and Marilyn Manson's Mechanical Animals on the church speakers. Then vicar came along and I made a dash to turn the music down and off, fumbling with the controls, obviously he heard. Seemed a friendly guy, so I asked him a question about the stained-glass window, how he would interpret the line: 'That rock was Christ'. It took him a while to answer, he had to recall what he'd been taught - fair enough, there's a lot of passages to remember - and his interpretation was textbook, recital, of course; to do with Moses and Jesus in their respective times providing water to the needy people. He didn't go into detail about what water is representative of from a spiritual perspective, but that's what I was thinking of - the living water, the Holy Spirit, Mary, Star of the Sea...

Anyway, best thing he said was, "Yes, they seemed to be obsessed with serpents back then."

Yes, yes they did. Why oh why, vicar?

I told him I'm not religious but in the middle, taking from different sources, and that's my way. I assume he took this to mean that I'm lost, as he invited me to a free autumn course for 'those who think there is more to life'. I'm considering going along in October - me, the pilgrim - just to observe the indoctrination.

Now to tie up loose ends, get this poor show over with. The magic número trois. I was tired, had to decide on the short or long route home, happened to choose the long route, and so I walked right by a dead snake. I took this as similar symbolism to the trapped butterfly - stagnation, wasted and unmet potential, shadow side; imbalance; destruction...
I hadn't seen a snake in over a decade until now. I've seen a couple of slow-worms, heh. This was a grass snake, coiled, certainly dormant, quite flattened by the wheel of a car and quite dead. I should have taken a picture for archive sake, not at all morbid. Alas, t'was not meant to be.

No such thing as coincidences, but synchronistic events. Serpent and the Butterfly. Both are symbolic of renewal or rebirth. The serpent sheds its skin and the butterfly goes through its metamorphosis to reach that glorious stage. I see these examples as like living sticky notes, reminders. They're there, on the periphery, something is definitely in motion, definitely occurring. I think they're a reminder of how fragile life is, especially in my current state of health, and that I can either embrace these days or they'll slip away. I know which I'd rather.

Saturn's Influence - Them Crafty Rugrats

And so begins the acknowledgement of Saturn imagery and symbolism in pop culture and the world around us. I first became aware of this phenomenon a few months ago and have since noted how pervasive it is. Yesterday it crossed my mind that in the 90's children's programme Rugrats, the character Chuckie wore a t-shirt with the planet Saturn on it - cool, right. When I did a quick search to clarify, I found an image of Chuckie and the others in their playpen. The association was instantaneous; the shape of the playpen in the shot resembles the Sigil of Saturn (or Seal of Saturn). I don't consider that I'm reading into it overly so, as I'm not very familiar with the symbolism yet, but it's the first thing that struck me. I had to compare both the pattern of the playpen and the Occult symbol, that's how unfamiliar I am with it currently, but it does bear a resemblance.

Chuckie, Saturn t-shirt, framed by... the Seal of Saturn?

Seal of Saturn.

It's quite a horribly complex symbol from this angle, but when you tilt your head to the right slightly, viewed as a diamond with an arrow pointing inwards from either side, that's exactly how it looks in the Rugrats screencap. The only thing that is missing is the line that runs through the centre, and maybe it would be pushing it a bit to suggest that his arms are supposed to indicate that connection, especially as they don't extend beyond the diamond. It's the Saturn t-shirt that gets me, that combined with the pattern that looks not too dissimilar to the Seal - coincidence?

This is merely one example I'm presenting of the phenomenon - 'Saturn worship'. Really it's just an observation and I want to keep observing and I will better understand the meaning at the appropriate time. But here has been the first example for you, as it was the most recent brought to my attention.

A wider view of the playpen, as it was intended.

Some interesting patterns on the show, I guess they are rather appealing. Notice, too, the cube/hexagon (which ties in with Saturn's hexagon and 'black cube worship') and the ball with a pentagram on it. Just an observation; indeed, these are also common shapes to children.

The rugrats, the checkered floor, the mother's weird hairdo...

Some of the parents, the checkered trousers, and the Venus symbol on Betty's sweater.

I think the designer had a thing for specific patterns - it's good, they're good, kudos! Children also respond well to certain imagery, which can encourage - or, god forbid, inhibit - their development.

Angelica casually wearing a 'Hail Satan' t-shirt and flashing the sign of the horns.

Angelica casually wearing a 'Hail Satan' t-shirt though, that's a little more concerning. What kind of an angel is this little brat? I was thinking it might have been from the series that followed Rugrats, which was known as All Grown Up! (or Barely Legal...), but no, it seems to be from Rugrats. Not that it makes much difference; it's a children's show. You follow it as a kid, you might follow it into early teenhood, that's the purpose of a spin-off. You follow. Sort of like Disney presenting sweet, innocent Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana before taking her through to adolescence and destroying the image, not a moment to spare. Sort of. But this is something else, another spectacle entirely, slightly less warped...

 

Anyway, that's enough for today's post. I'm in the mood to listen to some No Doubt. Hm, which album? Ah yes, Return of Saturn.

 

Click on the image to see how the album cover is alive with symbolism.