Transformation of Greed: The Eye of Horus
The desire for possession, a natural consequence of the primary sense of separateness, is aptly expressed by the image of the Mother of Evil for nothing, since it is one of the chief causes of the loss of power and degradation of manifestations of consciousness.
As discussed earlier, this supreme destroyer distorts the sense of unity and replaces the desire for togetherness with a drive to consume.
Schools and Lines have long developed strategies for the development and cleansing of mind, elaborating two principal approaches to confronting greed.
The first approach consists in returning the striving for union to its “original” nature, in changing the “face” of the maternal principle of consciousness from absorbing to generative. This method, which consists in controlling and redirecting the currents, demands considerable effort but yields outstanding results in purification and de-demonization of consciousness, reducing its “predatory” tendencies. The cults of the White Goddess and the mysteries of the Light often pursued precisely this goal. Yet the chief drawback of this approach is the exclusion, or at least the significant weakening, of the centripetal movement — the integrating activity of the mind — which leads to a breach of its integrity and a loss of balance. In practice, such Schools and Lines often degenerated into their opposite — ascetic or emasculated movements.
The second approach, known since the times of the ancient Egyptian initiatory traditions, does not remove the absorbing principle, does not exclude one of the faces of the Goddess, but rather balances it with a “paternal,” differentiating force.
This approach found expression in the image of the triumphant king — Horus (ancient Egyptian – “high,” in the sense of “heavenly”), who united Lower Egypt (the kingdom of Osiris) with Upper (the kingdom of Set).
For our present discussion it is not the entire layer of the mythology of the Heavenly Falcon that matters, but one of its aspects — the notion of the All-Seeing Eye (Ujat). The “outer” level of this myth is simple: to find the body of his slain father — Osiris (Usir) — Horus plucks out his eye and sends it on its way. But the malicious Set, to thwart the search, destroys the eye (there are various versions of how exactly he destroys it), and the Great Goddess Hathor restores the Eye, which thereby becomes the first thing to be resurrected in the world, gaining the power to restore life. It is precisely this resurrecting power of the Eye that is used to restore Osiris’ wholeness: his sister and wife, Isis (Iset), gathered almost all the parts of the god’s cut-up body, but it was the Eye of Horus that actually restored their former form and life, and thus resurrected the Dismembered God.
Three aspects of this Myth call for attention:
first, the Son (the secondary masculinity) wishes to resurrect the Father (his own masculine, expansive nature), but a destructive figure — the destroyer seeks to prevent him;
second, the initial “resurrection” of the Eye is performed by the Goddess — wholeness still issues from the maternal face;
third, having overcome fragmentation (in one version of the Myth, Set crushes the Eye of Horus, again shattering it), the secondary masculinity acquires a new, integrative potency.
In general, this Myth gives a fairly clear idea of the method of transformation used by the Memphis priests.
The desire for possession is first subjected to differentiation, to analysis — mind must distinguish as finely as possible the details of the world’s multiplicity, its endless variety arising from the indivisible Unity. This “all-distinguishing” ability of the Ujat leads the mind to understand that all diversity is already contained within its own unity, clinging to any one thing means ignoring another, and the all-distinguishing activity allows nothing to be ignored. Thus infinite diversity flows into absolute unity, and absolute analysis turns into perfect synthesis.
It follows that greed is transformed not by changing its own nature but by balancing it. To possess everything is to possess nothing, since nothing can be singled out as “more desirable”: everything has its value and each element is absolutely necessary for the world’s fullness and perfection.
This vision leads to the “union” of both Egypts — the dismembered Osiris (the spirit knowing itself in the infinity of its differential aspects) and the dismembering Set (the force of destruction, repulsion, necessary for manifestation). And the further struggle of Horus with Apop means maintaining mind in this distinct, non-fused state.
The triumphant mind — Horus — stands equally “high” above both division and divisiveness, integrating multiplicity into the great perfection of the actual pleroma.
Here’s the translation:
“How much there is in your backpack: both Langoliers and pagans, Kabbalah, Christianity, and the eyes of Horus.
Maybe it’s all simpler. Just take an ordinary dung beetle. It’s probably hard for him to roll up a dung ball, especially uphill, but the beetle is stubborn and patient. He puffs and rolls. And this is his total Unfreedom… he dies right next to his dung ball, leaving what he possessed unutilized….
The essence is not in owning nothing; the essence is in nothing owning you.”
“The essence is not in owning nothing, but in nothing owning you.” This is well said in this context, but the reality of today’s existence and its laws, by their very nature, make us slaves to the things we need and the things that surround us. This is where the complexity lies. The meaning is deeper and is encapsulated in the phrase “Wow…”
>> The essence is not in owning nothing; the essence is that nothing owns you.
Unfortunately, from birth, everything tied to the material nature of our body possesses us. Your statement certainly highlights the moment of parting with this valley of tears. However, is it a potentially attainable goal while we are here? Or can it confidently be attributed to Captain Obvious, in the category of “it’s better to be healthy and wealthy than poor and sick”?
You oppose the body to the mind. I do not. Mind and body are one. Whoever has power over the mind also has power over the body. And here is the question: Are you a victim of circumstances or demons or evil people or an evil god who has placed you in the “vale of tears?”
It indeed is and it’s even known how to do this.
The primary (internal, related to the microcosm of the Eye of Horus) differentiating activity of the Ujat (according to some versions – Wadjet, Atset), which allows distinguishing all details and aspects of the external world, and the primary integrating ability of the Ujat, which allows seeing the world as a whole, comes into conflict with the secondary (external, in relation to the Ujat, relating to the macrocosm, for the Eye of Horus) differentiating activity of Set and the secondary integrating activity of Hathor (according to other versions, Thoth), who restored the eye with the milk of gazelles.
The very emergence of the Ujat beyond the body of Horus constitutes a differentiating activity of Horus (it is Horus who initiates the fight with Set through his actions), in relation to the Ujat and himself – the separation of a part (the eye) from the whole (the body), while maintaining unity in multiplicity. The preservation of Horus’s unity with the Ujat in multiplicity (physical separation) simultaneously creates an integrating activity of Horus in relation to the new system.
The combination of six factors – the potentials for differentiation and integration in the microcosm of the Ujat, external influences for the differentiation and integration of the Ujat from Set and Hathor, and the differentiating and integrating activity of Horus – which led to the separation of the Ujat from the whole body and the preservation of unity with it, formed a cumulative vector for the emergence of new properties in the Ujat – integration into the macrocosm of the body of Osiris (restoration of integrity) and differentiation of the body of Osiris from inanimate matter (endowing with life, resurrection). It is these six preceding factors that form the seventh and eighth rays of the Shimmering Morning Star, symbolizing the Resurrection of Horus and unity in multiplicity.
The very emergence beyond the integrity of the VISION, while maintaining the unity of VISION, creates a spiral toward an increase in the Power of Awareness. Only the renunciation of one’s own (the one you possess) picture of the world allows seeing the world through the eyes of a raven, grasses, dust particles, and Stars. The return to integrity occurs at a new spiral, as the parts you have SEEN are already woven into your VISION, having renounced ‘ownership’ (previous integrity and the previous picture of the world). New details at this new stage become distinguishable, and the new picture is integrated into a new whole.
The picture of the world of the raven, which is united with you in the new integrity, is not property; you do not possess it; it is simply a part of you. Just as your picture of the world, perceived by the raven at the level of its POWER of awareness, is not its property, but only a part of the raven. Thus, it is not “yours,” but to some degree belongs to the whole world and to no one separately. This confirms that separateness is illusory; we are one with the world.
Possession is an even greater illusion, for from the perspective of the microorganisms in the human intestine, they “possess” a convenient and tasty Human, while from the perspective of the Human, he “possesses” at least everything that is within himself (including the normal intestinal microflora) 🙂
It is important to note – Set destroyed, and Hathor restored specifically the left eye of Horus, which corresponds to the element of feelings – the Symbol of the Moon and the reflection of the Light of the Macrocosm in the Microcosm.
In the pleroma or in any effective union, it is precisely the incomplete possession by another participant that becomes the guarantee of the existence of the union or pleroma.
Possessing another participant is burdensome, as it implies the absorption and joining of the other to oneself, while partial possession is even more burdensome – a certain “part” of the other participant is being dragged along, while another “part” resists and opposes.
Will I, Tavita, perceive your answer as contradictory when I inevitably continue to encounter the fragmentation you describe on my path?
..One can talk about consciousness and its endless flexibility.. one can speak of countless unspoken agreements.. one can mention temporal branching and looping..
..One can simply state the fact..: our existence here is not suited to the needs of our spirit..
..therefore, magicians choose the path of solitude..
“You oppose the body to the consciousness. I do not. Consciousness-body is one. He who possesses consciousness also possesses the body. And here the question arises: Are you a victim of circumstances or demons or evil people or an evil god who placed you in ‘a vale of tears?” – Consciousness and body are one, but there is also the soul, contained in the body, controlled by consciousness. It is like a prison with a guard, protecting the immortal prisoner from escape. What the soul, often mistaken for the subconscious, tries to reach you is understood by few, attributing it to ‘it seemed,’ ‘it was imagined’…. ‘A vale of tears’ – for many it is indeed their share of tears, especially in times of change and ‘crises.’ Mages who choose solitude go against the purpose of their lives – to help the ‘vales of tears’ around them walk their path with a minimum of suffering. Thus, they die hard, until they pass on the gift, as their mission is unfulfilled.
In my understanding: the Soul as a carrier of personality, as the depth and intensity of awareness, as a result of the mutual penetration of being and consciousness is a component of the whole and indivisible organism called Human.
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“Help surrounding” – and on what basis do you think you can help someone? On what basis do you think your help is needed by someone? – I believe that when we direct our Attention to others from a standpoint of our superiority, we only aggravate the situation because it turns out that you are the great helper, while the opponent is a pitiful needy person.
“Pitiful needy” will not learn to solve their problems independently, while we will not be able to realize that trying to “help others” – we are running away from our own unresolved problems.
“You are the great helper, while the opponent is the pitiful needy.” – if you put the question of help in this way, then maybe you are right, but I meant help unconditionally and upon request or a subtle expression of opinion. We are all sometimes ‘led’ to other people who need ‘hints’ in phrases pronounced in passing. Many people are used as transmitters for correcting or warning more ‘hard of hearing’ shells…
I only express an opinion. I write here because I cannot help but write. When I can stop writing – I will not)………………Any opinion is imperfect, just like all words, but sometimes we find something for ourselves in someone else’s words, opinions. Suddenly… among the variously sized pieces, puzzles… accidentally… the one that fits perfectly into our Picture of the World is found. It is found provided that we ourselves take it of our own will, not when someone ‘wise’ tries to ‘help’ and ‘Unobtrusively’ Give.
There is no Unconditional help. The condition is the Energy of Gratitude. A person desires to receive the Energy of Gratitude in exchange for help. Otherwise, how will they understand that their help has been received?….. Adequately accepted.
From experience, I can say that altruistic actions are not so easy to perform) Some comrades, upon receiving free help, demand More. More. MORE…….. invent ways and methods to influence you so that you give and give only to them. Until you exhaust yourself and become empty. Then they will go in search of new selflessly giving ones.
Others – cannot accept ‘help.’ They reject, push away, and reject you together with all your ‘help.’
But when a Miracle happens, and a person Accepts with Gratitude what they truly need (what they need according to their own opinion, not yours) – you receive your payment – the Energy of Gratitude………………….. and then you get trapped – you go online or somewhere else in search of new ‘needy’ ones to once again experience the thrill of Accepted with Gratitude help 🙂
“And then you get trapped – you go online or somewhere else in search of new ‘needy’ ones to once again experience the thrill of Accepted with Gratitude help” – everything is different with me. If I do provide help, it’s never expecting gratitude, as you never know how things will end for the one you helped. Sometimes it’s not so much help, as a hint- a message through you as a transmitter for those who are nearby or will soon get closer to you along the trajectory.
No gratitude – no help. You could also cause harm. “Good intentions” pave the way in a well-known direction…
Tavita Shauta miracles are the best help. He who performs miracles does so without expecting gratitude from the ‘wretched’. Therefore, he who performs miracles is the Great One. And he who performs miracles merely hopes that the miracle he made for the ‘wretched’ will someday give him hope for help.