Birthed from ancient trauma as a defense mechanism of the human mind to distance one from the harsh reality of nature.
Metaphor is a function which tries to configure/re-configure the real. “The real” being synonymous with man’s experience with nature, the body, and the life and death cycle. It serves a very important function in the human mind as a means of mapping the environment while protecting the mind from the numerous phobias and fears the human mind experiences. Think of the formation of language, then poetry, the composition of music, scripture, ritual, prayer, chanting etc. Ancient man noticed the beauty and mystery of nature and also the raw power, violence, chaos, unpredictability and the seemingly unsympathetic side of it. “The gods must be appeased by worship and sacrifice.”
The meticulous study and measurement of natural objects eventually led ancient man to map out the stars and planets and to ascribe identifiable characteristics to them. Metaphor was applied in order to bring heaven to earth and help create a sense of meaning and comfort.
Pre-Vedic religion was all originally based in nature worship. This type of religion was very pragmatic to ancient man. In order to survive the elements we had to observe nature and its laws and it was in the process of observing nature that man noticed the mystery. It is this mystery of “how is nature plugged in? What makes it all work? What is the source of it all, of me?” which helps to explain not only all of the countless religions and cults from ancient times to present, but WHY we humans created them in the first place. Perhaps we don’t really like mystery due to a fear of it, and we instead prefer to explain away the mystery by creating a myriad of comforting certainties.
It is from this intense fascination and observation of nature that humanity’s character was born. We now think mostly in metaphor and rarely if ever speak in real terms. This is why actual truth is such a rarity, and comforting fantasies all the rage. It is also why religion and cults are so consistently popular during times of great distress and turmoil and less popular when times are good.
What’s interesting to me is that despite this tendency towards evasion and masking of reality, we still possess the capacity to overcome our fears and phobias and to see and know the truth. The process and value of metaphor can be understood and its veil can be lifted. When courage is absent, truth is considered an enemy. When courage is present, it is the anchoring force that grants you your freedom.
Stay curious.
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1 hr and 9 mins