The Simurgh, who the birds seek to meet

in Farid-ud-din Attar’s poem ‘MANTIQ – UT – TAYR’ (Conference of the Birds)

CA. 1590-1620 / Mughal painting attributed to Miskin – Britush Museum.

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The Pelican

The word pelican (πελεκάν) has the same etymology with the word axe (πέλεκυς). This is how, the axe is linked to the bird pelican.The pelican is the symbol of humility and the ability to work with others.

The symbolic is linked with the hermetic process where we start our journey ’inward’, guided by the letters V.I.T.R.I.O.L. It alludes to the action of ‘cleaving’ inside of all the layers of our false personalities and beliefs, so to allow the emerging of the inner and true self.

It is also representing the necessity of a permanent verticality by feeding the true self with all kinds of subtle foods and impressions. Without this consistent and regular cultivation, we would be blocked in the blind overwhelming of matter.

The axe fixed on the top of the keystone represents the standing ‘in between’, the ‘quintessence’, the fifth element that balances and regulates the four others with its ‘clarity’ and ‘sharpness’. The axe plays a protective role in this balancing act.

Finally, the Pelican symbolizes the ‘Ladder of Jacob’:The stage when after having understood our own fate and taking it in our own hands to make it our chosen destiny, we are now ‘in line’ with the Universe and its working laws that we call Providence.

The cubic stone represents the philosophical stone and its ‘multiplying’ virtue, based on its own resources. It invites us to work with others, so to multiply our perceptions in sharing with our communities what we have best. The Pelican is the symbol of our second ‘birth’ and prepare us to the mysteries of the Phoenix.

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The Crow

Contrary to the common opinion that regards crows as maleficent beings, bad omen and symbols of selfishness, bringer of plagues and devourers of cadavers, symbolizing failure in duties and procrastination, indiscretion and gossip, the hermetic tradition takes quite a different look at them that may be classified into three levels of interpretation:

In the alchemical process, the crow represent the first stage, ‘nigredo’, the black work of putrefaction. The blackness of this stage took the name of ‘Corvus’, Raven or Crow. ‘One must wash seven times the head of the crow’ (Mylius, Philosophia Reformata). In the engraving of the ninth key of Basile Valentin, you see the crow, followed by the eagle, the peacock and the swan, all symbols of the stages of the great art. In our studies, at the Scola Hermetica, as the shovel of the Fool arcana indicates, at the start of our journey of self-discovery, we start digging our earth, uncovering a whole inner world we mostly have no consciousness about. The crow represents the power that helps us go through this inner transformation.

In the cult of Mithra, the rites are a deep dream-like journey through seven levels, each revealing aspects and attributes of the seven planets. The priests of the start level are called: ‘Sacred Crows’ and present to the candidate a crown suspended to the tip of a dagger. The candidate has to refuse it, as shocked, and say: ‘Mihir (Mithra) is my crown!’. The journey went from level to level of perfection the planets represents, each in their own specifics, each gifting the candidates with their specific virtues. The diet was very strict and the training to prepare for such rites was very demanding and severe. Only a very few usually succeed, proving their worth in completing the whole process, and become, in turn, the guides and mentors of a new generation of candidates to initiate. So, the crow is associated with the idea of discrimination, being the door to the inner senses and especially, predilection that helps us map our journey from personal towards community development.

And finally, the Corvus constellation represents Apollo’s sacred bird in Greek mythology. The crow represents a part of the constellation of Hydra, together with the Cup. Both stand as smaller constellations within the greater region of the Hydra. Located on a surface spanning over 3 signs of the zodiac, Cancer, Lion and Virgo. The crow here is associated with the water element, the finding of water and especially rain. It is also associated to the planet Mars and Saturn.

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The Peacock

Juno, the life-force and fertile aspect of the air, is connected to water in its moistly and steamy nature: The Mercurial Waters. Juno’s watery aspect could be assimilated to our ‘inner vision’. Juno, as the Mercurial Waters, participates with Jupiter, the ‘Fiery Sulfur’ contained in pure air, and both labor in an INTENSE way to the dissolving of the ‘Primal Earth’ long prepared by the alchimist-philosopher.

The peacock is Juno’s totem. The eyes on its feathers are the symbol of absolute vision in all domains of life, hence Juno is ‘Inner Vision’ and Jupiter, the ‘Fiery Nature of the Mind’. Both are united into self-observation that focuses in dissolving the doubts of the philosopher. The appearances of the world could be misleading and self-observation helps to ‘filter the coarse from the finer’. This catharsis (purification) is at the heart of the philosophical labor where Truth is like a constant pole that constantly attracts focus and interest, maintaining, guiding the efforts of the alchimist-philosopher, blessing him with an always renewed attention. This may be compared with ‘multiple gleams of light’ appearing at this stage of the process. Also known as the ‘shining poly-chromy of the deep embrace’, symbolized by the peacock ‘s tail fully displayed… When this happens, it is a valid indication of one’s progress: A great omen !

‘I came from the holy water regenerated like a young plant that is growing new leaves; pure and ready to climb to the stars…’ Writes Dante, after having climbed the purgatory mountain.

More to be added

in time 🙂

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