From the thread, A Question for Iacchus ...

This is what's called correspondences and it's based upon the inherent values which different cultures associate with different things, so in that respect it will likely vary. It all depends on what that culture holds in the highest esteem. And yet we shouldn't discount these things entirely, because each has certain universal characteristics to them, which might explain why they tend to cross cultural lines. And indeed, these are the very things which myths and dreams are made of and, in fact becomes the key, to understanding different mythologies and religions. So basically what we're speaking of here is the language of symbolism which, is what is meant by something having a spiritual significance.

As for the bear signifying ignorance, this is borrowed from Revelation 13:2, regarding the Beast out of the Sea (which has its own corresondence) with the feet of a bear which, Swedenborg says signifies ignorance (i.e., derived from doctrine). While there's one other reference to bears in the Bible that I'm aware of, where the young children mocked the prophet Elisha, and the two she bears came out of the woods and rent 42 of them. ~ 2 Kings 2:23-24 ... Now there's an interesting number, as it's also the number of months the Beast out of the Sea opens its mouth in blasphemy against God. Can you see the correlation between blashphemy and ignorance?

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

From the thread, Evolution is a process for suitability !!!! ...

Apollyon! You know, in reference to the White Anglo Saxon Protestants?

Excerpt from The Advent of Dionysus, chapter 6 ...

Also, another reference to The Reformation can be found in the thread, The Name Jesus = 666?

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

I bet you also think those nice girls on the radio are singing just to you...Must be nice to be so special that the universe provides you (you!!) with these special correspondences, and the rest of us schmucks only get coincidences.

From the thread, Evolution is a process for suitability !!!! ...

Well, here's another correspondence regarding bees and wasps. Perhaps you can even draw the correlation yourself?

From the thread, Inquiry about Roy Masters ...

Do you mean the part about the White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestants and its reference to Revelation 9? Or, the part where I burned the six or seven books I had of Roy Masters and poured the ashes out in back of the house where a yellow jackets nest popped up? Yes, that actually happened.

You also need to understand that a wasp isn't altogether different from a honey bee, and in that sense the honey bee would represent The Church, in the truest sense, and the wasp that which is false and hence maligned.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

No, I don't believe in coincidences, matter-of-fact this whole material/temporal world has already been predetermined ... due to the nature of cause-and-effect of course.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

WANTED: Schmucks

Please submit resume and letter of interest to:

Advent of Dionysus Online Book
Attn: Iacchus
Oregon, USA

Schmucks? ... No, we're not looking for schmucks! There are way too many schmucks already out there as there is.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

You don't believe that things can happen at the same time for no reason? Given that much of the purpose of the experiment in science is to tease apart things which we think are connected from things which actually are, this belief of yours explains volumes about your lack of understanding of science. So...if you see two things happen at the same time, that is good enough for you? Wow...no wonder you don't like science. Virtually everything science finds would be contrary to what you experience!

You would do well to read up on "social cognition". It would (if you read it, that is) tell you all about some of the biases inherent in our perception of these things you find so meaningful.

Birds of a feather flock together. So do the congregation of living cells within the human body. This is all that the study of correspondences entails by the way, the study of similarities and what they relate to. And, to the degree that you understand the nature of correspondences, you begin to understand the nature of synchronicity.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

Some do, some don't. Such is the danger of using clichés to describe reality.Some do, some don't. Are you really sure you want to lecture us on biology.
Funny, I got all the way through my biology degree in college without ever coming across the "study of correspondences". It is a pity that my education is so sorely lacking. Perhaps you could give me a course outline in what the "study of correspondences" would cover. Is it homologous and analagous structures? Would it fall under anatomy and physiology, or perhaps comparative zoology?
Synchronicity! What a cool word! Please demonstrate that you know what it means and how it relates to correspondances. I'd hate to think that you were just throwing out spiffy-sounding buzzwords out there, hoping that you will sound like you know what you are talking about.

I would love to hear about synchronicity from a biological standpoint. The only familiarity I have with the word is from Jung's wholly discredited psychoanalytic theory. (Well, I should not say "wholly"--Jung is still a favorite among newage thinkers, just as creation science is a favorite among flat-earthers)

Generally speaking though, things which are not of the body (or, at least detrimental) are generally discarded.

It's like any other form of language, the symbols are derived from something and, if properly understood, can be used as an effective means to communicate. Consider the Egyptian hieroglyphs for an example.

Condescension will get you no further than it already has. Nowhere.

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

What, a third try? Birds? nope. Cells? nope. But rather than admit a lack of support...try, try again. Perhaps we should list these...in an appendix.Hieroglyphs are an alphabet, and as such are intended to correspond to things. That is the purpose of words, after all! This does not support correspondences of things in nature.

Oddly enough, the job of science is to see which things do correspond and which things do not, even though they may seem to. By testing, we can discard the things that do not go together. Could you tell me, Iacchus...how would you scientifically test the notion that a bear corresponds to ignorance?You must be more sensitive than I am; I did not think she was being condescending. I know I was (when I brought up Jung), but I was willing to give a lady the benefit of the doubt.

Some things can be used by the body. Some can't. This is not particularly earth-shattering information. Neither does it explain what the "study of correspondances" is about.

Don't tell me to read Roy Masters. I want to hear your explanation.

It has been said that unless you can explain a thing to a six-year old, then you don't really understand it yourself. So go ahead and be as condescending as you like. I don't mind.
The symbols might have originally meant something, but the meanings are not obvious. If they were, then we could all read hieroglyphics. So trying to attach a special significance to one symbol or the other will usually lead you into confusion and contradictions. Symbols can have many meanings. Did you know that in India, the swastika is a sign of peace?
If I appear condecending, I apologize. But you must realize that it was in response to your brazenly erroneous statements which made it appear that you are uneducated in basic biology. So I figured that I would have to explain it like I would to a six-year-old. If it gets me far enough that you can actually understand what I have said, then that isn't "nowhere".

There's actually a copy of Swedenborg's Heaven and Hell online (just found it today), and chapters 12 and 13 deal specifically with spiritual correspondences if you'd like to read about it. One can write an entire book about what all this entails, but rather than even attempt to try, it would be so much easier to refer to the original source. Sorry, am not in much of an explaining mode today.

12. There is a Correspondence of All Things of Heaven With All Things of Man

13. There is a Correspondence of Heaven With All Things of the Earth

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

From your link:Now I know why he is no longer cited in any scientific literature. "It has been shown" by whom? Does not say. Angelic societies? Who saw them?

So...from this link, I gather that "correspondences" pretty much means "making stuff up".
On the plus side, reading this gives me greater appreciation for your own writing, Iacchus.

There's nothing about it which sounds contrived to me. In fact I couldn't have expressed it any better myself, albeit it does come across as a bit dated perhaps ...

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So when the body dies, and consciousness departs, where do "we" go? ... Off to define another "reality" perhaps?

I am used to reading old writing. That's not the problem. Although I do wonder if he'd have written anything like this if he had had the benefit of the scientific discoveries of this past century. I would hope not, but then he was definitely less scientist that mystic.