I've always been interested in media and the messages being used to manipulate and control, how they work, etc.
For the most part, I can do so dispassionately, but there are a couple of slowly gasping sacred cows which have been struggling over the past years. "Star Wars" was a big one; as a kid it played a big part in shaping my self-awareness. It's part of popular mythology; humans work well with stories. Heck, we use the 'Jedi' concept in this forum. It's just for fun, I realize of course, but it's also a quick way to reference common understandings. It's language. So when I see negative influences polluting today's myths, it bugs me.
"Doctor Who", (made in England), was another I grew up with. It presented another modern mythology which I found useful and encouraging. And lately it has seemed under attack. The writing staff recently invited Niel Gaiman aboard to pen an episode. My heart choked. There's something terribly off with that man. And worse, he's a very skilled scribe and spell-binder; people love him. I thought, "No! He's one of those nasty popular kids. He's not allowed to ruin something special like this! What were they thinking letting that rat in the house?" And sure enough, he just pulled off an episode which is quickly becoming a fan favorite. And yes, it's filled with strangeness and sickness.
First off. . ,
It contained numerous instances of the famous Ouroborus symbol. The snake eating its own tail. Tattooed on the arm of a "Great Light Worker"; a symbol which he had carried with him through many lives.
Okay. No biggie. It's just a picture and means only what people ascribe to it. But nonetheless, I was curious as to what the intent was behind it. What is the symbol all about? I don't actually know much about it.
So I did a search through the forum and didn't find much, and what I did find were passing references from people who already seemed to know about it. Perhaps it was mentioned in one of the many books written by Laura and others, but I can't recall seeing it discussed.
One forum member did comment in 2007, quoting Carl Jung http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=6250.msg43012#msg43012
I see our world is constantly eating itself; our bodies die, feed other life, and that energy is traded around endlessly so that consciousness has a place to exist and learn. In this manner, the Snake eating its own Tail symbol could be taken to represent the world we live in; Densities 1 through 3. A statement of being, as it were, neither positive nor negative.
But then I can also see it as an occult symbol of great negativity; a nihilist's celebration of the Black Hole, the psychopathic personality unaware that it is part of a greater whole, ruthlessly eating the world it is a part of without realizing that this will result in its own destruction.
So. . , what gives?
Does it mean both things? Is it something else?
What was the original intent behind the creation of this symbol?
Anyway, back to "Doctor Who". The Doctor explained that with great enthusiasm that the wearer of this Snake symbol was a great man of goodness and light, giving a powerful personal endorsement. That's something to be wary of in terms of media manipulation. It's not unlike like getting Santa Claus, Superman or Jesus to endorse Nike, Coca Cola or the Pope. This really put my warning flags up. The Doctor was essentially endorsing the concept of the Snake eating its own Tail which is why I want to know exactly what was intended by this symbol.
But worse, (and very likely connected) at the end of the episode, the Doctor actually commanded the death of another being. This was done without a fuss and it was not focused on as anything untoward or special; just the logical conclusion to that story, to be expected. But this was no small matter, as it ran absolutely counter to everything the Doctor has ever stood for. He's never deliberately killed before. Viewers were manipulated all through the episode to fear and despise this Enemy which had hurt and tormented the characters. But even the long-time nemesis, "The Master", even the hateful Daleks, the Doctor always managed to choose a path away from murdering or killing. But this time, he had no problem at all killing when any number of other solutions might have presented themselves. It was freaky. It was wrong.
And worse. . , it wasn't the killing of a body with a consciousness inside it. No, no, no. It was made very clear in the episode that it was the consciousness itself which was being destroyed. Forever.
Frankly, upon review, the whole story looked like a black trick to ensnare lots and lots of people in a giant soul-smashing maneuver.
Stories are powerful.
For the most part, I can do so dispassionately, but there are a couple of slowly gasping sacred cows which have been struggling over the past years. "Star Wars" was a big one; as a kid it played a big part in shaping my self-awareness. It's part of popular mythology; humans work well with stories. Heck, we use the 'Jedi' concept in this forum. It's just for fun, I realize of course, but it's also a quick way to reference common understandings. It's language. So when I see negative influences polluting today's myths, it bugs me.
"Doctor Who", (made in England), was another I grew up with. It presented another modern mythology which I found useful and encouraging. And lately it has seemed under attack. The writing staff recently invited Niel Gaiman aboard to pen an episode. My heart choked. There's something terribly off with that man. And worse, he's a very skilled scribe and spell-binder; people love him. I thought, "No! He's one of those nasty popular kids. He's not allowed to ruin something special like this! What were they thinking letting that rat in the house?" And sure enough, he just pulled off an episode which is quickly becoming a fan favorite. And yes, it's filled with strangeness and sickness.
First off. . ,
It contained numerous instances of the famous Ouroborus symbol. The snake eating its own tail. Tattooed on the arm of a "Great Light Worker"; a symbol which he had carried with him through many lives.
Okay. No biggie. It's just a picture and means only what people ascribe to it. But nonetheless, I was curious as to what the intent was behind it. What is the symbol all about? I don't actually know much about it.
So I did a search through the forum and didn't find much, and what I did find were passing references from people who already seemed to know about it. Perhaps it was mentioned in one of the many books written by Laura and others, but I can't recall seeing it discussed.
One forum member did comment in 2007, quoting Carl Jung http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=6250.msg43012#msg43012
I see our world is constantly eating itself; our bodies die, feed other life, and that energy is traded around endlessly so that consciousness has a place to exist and learn. In this manner, the Snake eating its own Tail symbol could be taken to represent the world we live in; Densities 1 through 3. A statement of being, as it were, neither positive nor negative.
But then I can also see it as an occult symbol of great negativity; a nihilist's celebration of the Black Hole, the psychopathic personality unaware that it is part of a greater whole, ruthlessly eating the world it is a part of without realizing that this will result in its own destruction.
So. . , what gives?
Does it mean both things? Is it something else?
What was the original intent behind the creation of this symbol?
Anyway, back to "Doctor Who". The Doctor explained that with great enthusiasm that the wearer of this Snake symbol was a great man of goodness and light, giving a powerful personal endorsement. That's something to be wary of in terms of media manipulation. It's not unlike like getting Santa Claus, Superman or Jesus to endorse Nike, Coca Cola or the Pope. This really put my warning flags up. The Doctor was essentially endorsing the concept of the Snake eating its own Tail which is why I want to know exactly what was intended by this symbol.
But worse, (and very likely connected) at the end of the episode, the Doctor actually commanded the death of another being. This was done without a fuss and it was not focused on as anything untoward or special; just the logical conclusion to that story, to be expected. But this was no small matter, as it ran absolutely counter to everything the Doctor has ever stood for. He's never deliberately killed before. Viewers were manipulated all through the episode to fear and despise this Enemy which had hurt and tormented the characters. But even the long-time nemesis, "The Master", even the hateful Daleks, the Doctor always managed to choose a path away from murdering or killing. But this time, he had no problem at all killing when any number of other solutions might have presented themselves. It was freaky. It was wrong.
And worse. . , it wasn't the killing of a body with a consciousness inside it. No, no, no. It was made very clear in the episode that it was the consciousness itself which was being destroyed. Forever.
Frankly, upon review, the whole story looked like a black trick to ensnare lots and lots of people in a giant soul-smashing maneuver.
Stories are powerful.
