I once again came upon the strange image of Abraxas. Such an odd figure that I just had to go and read more about Abraxas. It is a picture of a humanoid figure with the crowned head of a chicken, the body of a muscular male and the feet that looks like snakes. In his left hand he has a shield and in the right hand a whip. Apparantly “Abraxas” is formulated by the first letter of each of the seven visible celestial bodies, the Sun, Moon, Mercuries, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn according to the Greek alphabet. If you put the corresponding number to each of the Greek letters then it adds up to 365, which is the number of days in a year. Just this makes up a fascinating combination that shows the unity between the celestial and earthly domains.

Apparently, that is also the meaning of the chicken head…or bird head, which shows that man is aware of the celestial domain but the feet like snakes, is the connection with the earthly domain. Thus in man is the duality unified. The whip and shield respectively seems to present power and wisdom. Abraxas however is more than just a representation of man…it is also used as a representation of a notion that is beyond God where all opposites are united or where they seemed to beyond their own distinctiveness.

Jung wrote about Abraxas in his “seven sermons to the dead” which is also a fascinating piece of writing. I read it today and I think of translating the document for my own purpose into Afrikaans, my native tongue. I think it might be a piece that I will add to my “must read” list as from my own spiritual journey’s perspective. The writing will sit right next to the Most Holy Trinosophia and the Emerald tablet…both of which I have translated into Afrikaans.

Looking at this odd character with so much serious deliberation and content attach to it tells us something about humanity and the ability of humanity to use symbols and images. There is a striking resemblance between the symbol of Abraxes and Baphomet. I know that the latter was linked with the Knights Templar but apparently they were acquainted with Abraxes as well. I am tempted to wonder if there are similar symbolic concepts behind these two characters. The horns going up and the hooves below seems very similar than the bird head and serpent legs of Abraxas. Often the Baphomet character is shows a male and female bound together…e.g. the unifying of opposites. What is unique to Abraxes is the use of the whip and the shield. These two symbols is an opposition or complementary opposites from which function flows.

I always had a keen interest in symbols and mystery. Abraxas definitely falls into that category that it has qualities that makes the mind ponder and the stretches beyond intellect and logic. Irrespective of how we view Abraxas it is a phenomenal symbol that calls us to become contemplative. Maybe now that my interest is tickled, I too will one day find a deeper insight that goes beyond the realm of the known and bring me into the realm of mystery. The veil might still be there now but I hope that one day it will be lifted.