Down into Egypt. The Beginning and the End.

Hi. All. The symbolic meaning of Christmas is profound. If we pass over the religious implications and look at the symbolism we may be able to relate our suffering to this event in the religious calender. Let us start with the Three Wise Men. The number three has a significance in that is a 'complete' number. The beginning, middle and end. So 'symbolically' we are looking for completion; an ending. The Three Wise Men followed a star and brought 'three' gifts. They found something new; untouched by man; because that is what the virgin birth means, symbolically. Historically it is said that when king Herod found out about this birth he got angry and ordered the killing of children of a certain age. Herod represents all that is wrong in us; in our thinking. The anger; frustration; hate; fear, all the 'negative' emotions that have to be dealt with. The new family,in order to avoid Herod, had to go DOWN into Egypt. We have all been there and this is the place of fear, anxiety, dread and despair.

But they had to return and so they made their way back to Israel. The promised land. (Of hope, encouragement and the release from fear). Like the Prodigal Son they came back but the path back is not described in this parable. This is the path we all tread and it is a very difficult one. We come back to the 'three' requirements for this path. COURAGE, RESOLUTION and PERSEVERENCE. Courage we all have, although we may not feel it at the moment, but it is always there waiting. Resolution is what is required for the journey. The resolve not to be beaten by "IT". Perseverance involves patience, and this is probably the most difficult of all. The 'child' grew and became a symbol of HOPE for mankind. This symbolism is important because we can all GROW into something better. Not our 'old' selves, because that is the one that got us into trouble, but a new self; a better more understanding self. It's a bit early but may you all have a hopeful Christmas. Let Courage, Resolution and perseverance be your New Year resolutions. Bless you all. Love. jonathan.

[rouri]

very much enjoyed your blog

big hug

rouri xx

[stde]

A lttle heavy for people looking for help johnathan, we cannot use religion as a tool for everyone. This is only your belief not all share these views and as you say we are all sensitive peope so we have to be careful (me incl) on what we post. I know that when in the depths of anxiety if someone posted to eat an xxxx and hang upside down for an hour that i would have done it..ha ha...... I do hope we remain friends when i say that part of my return to health was to give up "magical thinking" (I also suffered from ocd) so to me number 3 is just that "a number".........I still very much enjoy your posts......god bless

[Hidden]

Hi. stde. Many thanks for your post. I take nothing to heart and you have not upset me one little bit. It is difficult sometimes to put things into words and very often one is misunderstood.

I do not believe in 'religion' as such but, as in every tale (even Hans Anderson's) there is a depth of meaning and if we take it literally we miss the point. There is this depth of in all happenings. (By the way, historically, there is no record of Herod killing children or even of Joseph and Mary going to Egypt). The imagination can be a powerful tool in this rotten illness as we all know, for good or ill. Everything I said was 'symbolic' and not meant literally. Just as the stories from any 'belief' are symbolic. I do not believe in 'magical' thinking either, but we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. The signpost pointing to a town is not the town, it is a 'symbol' of the town. Of course we remain friends and I value that very much. Thank you for your post. We can all learn from each other. Blessings and good wishes. jonathan.