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FROM
DUALITY TO THE ANDROGYNOUS STATE
The androgynous state of being can only be
explained in the abstract, which is why we approach this subject on a
mystical and esoteric plane and let intuition guide us through the
subtle meaning behind these lines. The previous chapter portrayed
Janus with an invisible face, engulfing the ever-changing presence of
the moment. We also suggested that the invisible face of Janus stood
on an axial pole, fixed in the eternal present that simultaneously
connects and separates the past and the future, the two visible faces
and the invisible.
The description of the invisible face that
emerges from the ever-changing ephemeral moment suggests that this
ethereal presence is, in itself, a permanent element within
consciousness, since the presence represents the ever-changing
awareness of the moment. Consciousness, then, is the invisible
presence of an immutable axial center within all human beings, fixed,
neutral, and unchanged and untouched by time or space. Why is this?
Because the axial pole does not belong to the world of duality, of
matter and manifestation. Therefore, within its own pole, it remains
neutral and never manifests, for to manifest, consciousness would need
to come out of its neutral center into the world of duality, of
contrasts and opposites, where it would manifest in different shapes
and sizes in the world. In other words, when consciousness expands
itself out of its axial position, it "comes out" and
permeates the realm of duality. By projecting itself out of its axial
point, consciousness intersects with time and space, with past and
future through the left and right faces of Janus. But by expanding our
consciousness, we are given the opportunity of becoming aware of
creation and of using our mind, intellect, emotions and feelings to
express consciousness.
The three aspects of Janus are indivisible,
since the axial center of being is the pivotal Center of Pure Being.
Accordingly, whenever "being" becomes conscious of
something, this means that it has focused its attention either
outwardly or inwardly towards a chosen objective. It is as if, from
its fixed and unchangeable position, consciousness willingly radiates
its light to "enlighten" the past and future.
So, the androgynous invisible face of Janus
represents the one who is fully awake but hidden from physical view,
holding in his awareness of the present moment, his
"inheritance" or the karmic enfoldment of his past and his
future. This is because, paradoxically, the invisible face of Janus is
the only one that faces the eternally transforming present moment, so
we know that it is awake. In other words, consciousness can
only function from its axial position and as such, it is the divider
and synthesizer of past and future events in our life. Furthermore,
the invisible face of Janus remains imperceptible because it is a
spiritual face, a perfect archetype, the unmanifested side of a human
being, in which the androgynous state represents the perfect balanced
center within our psyche.
Another way of looking at the androgynous
state reveals that whenever we involve ourselves in an act of
creation, or focus totally on creating something, we are using our
higher intelligence and intuition. And in these moments of intense
creativity, we as creators stand on the axial pole of consciousness,
in the neutral zone, living in the present moment. In such states of
awareness, we cannot reflect on the past or project our thoughts into
the future. The creative act itself is intuitive, linking our ego with
our psyche, and it often does that unconsciously. Furthermore, the act
of creating remains a mystery since it is a direct projection of
consciousness in a world of duality. Once the conscious action is
projected out of its neutral central pole, it emerges into a world of
duality, where things past and future are reflected, analyzed and
rationalized by our overeager ego.
We should look at consciousness as a bridge
mirroring the qualities of the soul and the characteristics of the
ego. Our own interpretation of the content of our consciousness
colors, interprets and rationalizes everything coming under the laws
of manifestation and duality. We should also add, that whenever we
think or reflect on something, ask ourselves questions, feel, sense
and ponder on life in general, asking questions about who we are, what
we are doing, then, our creativity comes to a sudden spontaneous end
and we find ourselves "outside" of the neutral focal center.
This happens even with momentary distractions, because we have
inadvertently projected our attention to one or both of the visible
faces of Janus, to one or other pole, and have left the vertical axis
of our being in the present moment.
Now, in the act of creating, which part of us
creates? From where do the impulses, the energies of the act of
creation, come? The psyche transmits them through the medium of our
consciousness. Since consciousness operates only in the present
moment, then the psyche is at the receiving end of the axial
pole. The Center of Pure Being, the source of its root, always remains
invisible, everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
The answer then, albeit abstract, is that
when consciousness is awakened, it illuminates the present moment and
is in touch with the universal soul. What happens when we think of a
past event, or project our consciousness into the future? The axial
pole of consciousness within our being simply brings everything
towards its own center, into the present moment, and transforms the
past or future event into an eternally changing aspect of the present
moment.
.
Hermes/Mercury and
the Mystery of the Androgynous
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