Gaia: Modern Mythology

Re: The Rabbit on the Moon

http://raziel.gaia.com — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 10:33:26 GMT

the story of sacrificing one's life as the ultimate gift is apparent through much of the eastern world, it would seem, though the concept is truly universal. if one views life in truly the highest regard, then the giving of one's life is indeed the highest honor a person can bestow, for a man can really own nothing apart from his own flesh and blood, which according to some cultures is only really on a rent-to-own plan, anyway. but if a person can be said to truly be in control of their own actions, then the willing act of giving up one's life for another is about the most sacred thing a person can do.

the first story of the rabbit in the moon reminds me of one of the stories about Prince Siddhartha, who became the Buddha. in his many reincarnations, the Buddha became many animals, and in one tale he is said to have incarnated as an elephant, who came across two starving travelers in the wilderness.

seeing that the men were starving to death, the elephant told them, "Go down to the bottom of the cliff you will come to in a short time, and there you will find the body of a recently deceased elephant, the meat of which will be as yet unspoiled, and you will have plenty of meat to eat." of course, the elephant Buddha then rushed in secret to the very cliff he'd just mentioned and threw himself from its height, to die below for strangers he'd only just met.

there are many stories like this, which are of course told to show the compassion and mercy of the Buddha, the Enlightened One.

self-sacrifice comes in many forms, not just in the forfeiting of one's life. we sacrifice our time, efforts, honors, thoughts, and many other things for others. when given truly out of compassion, these sacrifices transform us by aiding to obliterate the negative aspects of ego and making room in the heart for more and deeper love (not just of people, but all things). sacrifice must truly come out of love for it to mean anything; elsewise it seems hollow and based in fear of what may happen otherwise, breeding guilt, resentment, and self-loathing.

amazing what comes to mind when studying myths!

w00t,
-Raziel

The Rabbit on the Moon

http://aeonea.gaia.com — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 07:46:51 GMT

This myth has taken on several different versions. You can find it in India, China and Japan among others.

In Indian and Asian cultures, instead of a man on the moon, it is a rabbit. There is also an Aztec Myth about a Rabbit on the Moon.

What follows is one of the Indian versions...

    In the beginning of the kalpas (the ages) there were, in this forest, a fox, a hare and a monkey, who, although of different species, were united by a close friendship. At that time, Chi (S‘kara), the master of the gods, wished to make proof of those who were leading the life of a Bodhisattwa. He descended upon the earth… assuming the appearance of an old man…“Having learned,“ [said] the old man, “that you were bound in a close friendship, forgetting the burden of age, I have come from a great distance expressedly to find you out. To-day I am oppressed with hunger. What will you give me to eat? “

    “Be so good, “said they, “as to remain here a little, while we run and make search. “… The fox, having skirted a river, brought between his teeth a fresh carp; the monkey gathered fruits and flowers, of great rarity, from the depth of the forest… But the hare returned empty handed, and began to gambol from right to left.

    “From what I see, “remarked the old man to him “you have not shared in the sentiments of the monkey and the fox. Each of them has given me proof of his devotion; but the hare has returned empty, and he alone has not given me food…“

    The hare, on hearing these severe reproaches, spoke thus to the fox and the monkey: “Gather together a quantity of wood and grass; and I will then do something. “

    At these words, the fox and monkey ran, emulously, and brought grass and branches. When they had made a high heap of them, and a strong fire was about to be kindled, the hare said: “O man, full of humanity, I am small and feeble; and as I was unable to find what I sought after, I venture to offer my humble body to furnish a repast for you.“

    Scarcely had he ceased speaking, when he cast himself into the fire, and there died immediately.

    At that instant, the old man resumed his form of king of the gods (S‘akra), collected the bones of the hare, and having for a long time heaved sorrowful sighs, said to the fox and the monkey: “How is it that he was the only one able to make such a sacrifice? I am powerfully affected by his devotion; and, not to let the memory of it perish, I will place him in the disk of the moon, so that his name may go down to posterity.”

    Hence all the natives of India say that it is since this event occurred that a hare has been seen in the moon.

A story about sacrifice when the only thing left to give is your life. A powerful gesture and gift. Perhaps one of the most powerful of gifts if it is done to save the life of another. I like to think of the broader terms of the sacrificing rabbit and equate it to "diving on the grenade" to save your friends.

If any of you are fans of Anime and are familiar with Sailor Moon you will see the main character Tsukino Usagi (which translates to ' Rabbit of the Moon') sacrifice herself over and over again for her friends.

On the subject of Sailor Moon, if you are able to watch the original Japanese episodes (all
200 of them), it is deeply layered with many recognizable mythological themes and even some that are more subtly rooted so you'll have to go digging for them.

The Aztec version takes place while the gods are still creating the world and have not gotten around to creating the sun and moon yet.

The earth was still dark and now the people really needed a sun. The gods gathered to build fires and to decide on the next sun. A proud god, Tecuciztecatl, offered himself, but the other gods preferred Nanahuatzin, who was humble and diseased. Preparations were made for the two to fast, pray and make them selves ready.

The gifts of Tecuciztecatl were rich and precious, while the offerings of Nanahuatzin were poor and humble like himself. The spirits built a huge fire for the one who would be chosen. The gods called on the proud Tecuciztecatl to leap into the flames, but he grew afraid and could not. Then they turned to Nanahuatzin and he immediately jumped into the fire. Seeing that, Tecuciztecatl was ashamed and leaped into the fire followed by the eagle and the jaguar. Because of their bravery, the eagle with the tips of his wings scorched black and the jaguar with his smudged coat became the great military orders of Aztec warriors. The gods watched to see who would arise as the sun but saw two suns rising in the east. They were afraid the world would be too bright, so they threw a rabbit in the face of Tecuciztecatl putting out his fire, and the face became the moon.

A different story but the main theme still exists, sacrifice by fire from a humble being.

What do you guys think?

Re: Salutations and my Mission Statement!

http://aeonea.gaia.com — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 19:57:31 GMT

Wow! That book does look really really interesting...I'm going to have to see if our B&N has it! Thanks for sharring and keep posting!

Re: Perspective

http://raziel.gaia.com — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 07:50:50 GMT

I'd love to elaborate! You've presented one of my favorite myths here, one that now has incredible new meaning for me. i read it ages ago, but reading it anew here once more has brought new thoughts to my mind.

i myself claim the point of view that touching the sun is worth the crash and burn. you know something? i'm beginning to understand that i may be an anguisette after all, Aeonea...

*dark smile*

touching the sun, reaching the highest peak of one's potential, risking all to experience the true bliss of pure existence, pure Mind, pure god, whatever you want to call it... is worth the destruction. i personally believe that nothing that is really true about ourselves can be destroyed, and all the pain and suffering that comes from "touching the sun" are the false ego-constructs of ourselves that we've grown awfully attached to over time; like emotional smack addicts, we go through painful withdrawls when these things are burned away.

the Sun in many myths is symbolic of God, that eternal perfection, that absolute truth that mankind can never approach.

you have to wonder... what would Icarus have achieved if his wings had not been made of wax...

but of shimmering adamantine, hammered into thin feathers and blessed with an antigravity spell?

w00t,
-Raziel

Re: Salutations and my Mission Statement!

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:06:43 GMT

Greetings and salutations! Thank you for starting this pod and I wish you / us the best in nurturing it. I'm interested in tools with which to use myths to further explore my own life and one such tool is the book Mythic Imagination by Stephen Larson. It's very much an extension of Campbell / Jungian ideas in working with our own mythic stuff ... our own shadow stuff. It includes a section of exercises at the end which would fit well into an ILP.

Perspective

http://aeonea.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 09:00:40 GMT

One of the most interesting things about mythology is how you can draw different meanings from the same tale.

Here I give you a familiar story translated by Rhoda A Hendricks from the Latin verse by Ovid.

Daedalus, meanwhile, hating Crete and his long exile, and influenced by a longing for his native land, sought escape but was hemmed in by the sea.
“Though King Minos may block me off by land and sea,” he said, “at least the sky indeed lies open. We shall go that way. He may control all else, but Minos is not master of the air.”
When he had spoken, Daedalus turned his mind toward unknown skills and changed nature, for he placed feathers in a row, beginning with the smallest, with a shoter one just below each longer one, so that you could almost believe the feathers had grown on such a slope.
Then he fastened the feathers at the middle with thread and at the end with wax. When they had been arranged thus, he bent them in a slight curve to imitate real birds’ wings.
The boy Icarus was standing close by, and, with smiling face-not knowing he was handling things that would be dangerous for him-he now caught at the feathers that a random breeze had moved, now softened the golden wax with this thumb. So, by his play, he hindered the wonderful work of his father.
After the finishing touch had been placed on the undertaking, the craftsman himself balanced his own body on twin wings and hung in the moving air. Also, he instructed his son and said, “I warn you to go by a middle course lest, if you go too low, the water might weigh down the feathers or, if you fly too high, the heat of the sun might scorch them. Fly between the two. With me as your leader, take your course.”
At the same time he gave the instructions for flying and adjusted the unfamiliar wings to his shoulders. Between the work and the warnings, the aged cheeks grew moist and the hands of the father trembled. To his son he gave kisses that were destined never again to be repeated. Then, lifted up by the feathers, he flew ahead and feared for his companion, like a bird that leads forth its tender offspring into the air from the high nest. And he urged him to follow and taught him the fateful art, as he himself moved his own wings and looked back at his son.
Some fisherman catching fish with trembling rod, or some shepherd leaning on his staff, or a plowman resting upon his plow handle saw them and was astonished; and, because they could make their way through the air, he thought they were gods.
Sooon the island of Samos, sacred to Juno, was on their left, both Delos and Paros had been left behind, Lebinthos was on their right, and Calymne, rich in honey, had been passed, when suddenly the boy began to rejoice in the bold flight. He deserted his leader and, carried away by the eagerness for the sky, set his course higher.
The nearness of the destructive sun softened the fragrant wax-the fastening of the feather-and the wax melted. He shook his bare arms and, because he lacked wings, could not make use of the air. And his lips, crying out his father’s name, were swallowed up in the dark blue water that gets its name, Icarian sear, from him.
But the unfortunate father, although no longer a father, called “Icarus, Icarus, where are you? In what region shall I seek you?” As he kept calling, “Icarus,” he caught sight of the feathers in the waves, and he cursed his craftsmanship. He buried the boy in a tomb, and the land of his burial was called Icaria, from his name.

The most common conclusion on the theme is that we should listen to our parents and the bearers of wisdom or foolish youth will bring a quick end to us.

The thing I love most about this story is its simple presentation but yet many layered interpretations.

In some stories, Icarus actually gets to touch the sun and in the comic book Aria, published by Avalon Studios the main character narrates her thoughts on the story.

“Maybe that’s what we all should have done. Dance out our lives in one golden hour, rather lingering at the party long after the champagne has gone flat. Like the wise man once said; “Better to burn out than fade away.”
And I think of poor, doomed Icarus… The brash youth who flew too close to the sun and paid for that hubris with his life.
His story is always told as a cautionary tale. “Don’t play with fire or you’ll get burned.”
But sometimes I think maybe everyone has missed the point. Maybe the whole point of the story is that Icarus gets to touch the sun.
And maybe that’s worth crashing into the rocky coast of the Aegean.”

To quite literally reach the zenith of one’s potential, to behold and touch that which no mortal has ever laid a hand on… What would you give up for that chance?

Some times, despite other’s warnings, we must strike out on our own. Though they may be consequences to our decisions, they are our decisions to make.

I also like to look at this story from a Daedalus perspective. He knew his son, he knew that a warning was necessary. He tried to prevent a potential situation he saw coming a mile away. But sometimes people will not listen. You can give them all the sound advice in the world but they go right out and do the very thing you told them not to. We can’t save everyone.

Anyone care to elaborate?

Mistress Aeonea

Salutations and my Mission Statement!

http://aeonea.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 08:23:15 GMT

Greetings and thank you for joining!

I suppose I’ll just post a quick little blurp about what I hope to accomplish by starting this little pod.

No matter where you are from or what culture you were raised in, you have grown up with some type of mythology. Though each culture is truly unique in it’s presentation and characters, common themes can be seen in many of the great stories handed down from generations past. Themes which we can see expressed in the current mediums of movies, music, books, television, ext.

I wish to create an open discussion about these myths and more specifically how they can relate to us today.

I also want to encourage people to draw out the myths in our pop culture and compare them to the myths of old, most of the time you will see that we are not so different then our ancestors.

Got a favorite story? A hero? A T.V. show? Then start posting!!

Mistress Aeonea