Mysticism involves becoming aware of the presence of the divine. I believe that one can learn to see the divine appear in everyday life, in the material, mental, and spiritual planes.
Today as I was driving home from work I was stopped at a red light. As I sat there I happened to look up into the sky and saw two birds flying upward, side by side. A black pigeon on the left, and a white dove on the right. This happened to occur while I was facing towards the East.
In terms of mystical symbolism, I see many significant things that were communicated in this extremely brief moment.
The placement and color of these birds resemble depictions of the left and right pillars of the Tree of Life, Geburah (Severity) and Chesed (Mercy); these pillars also correspond to the pillars of Solomon’s Temple, which were called Boaz (Strength) and Jachin (Beauty) (In this Temple, worship was directed towards the East, which is the direction I was facing. This worship direction is still used during the Mass, prayer, and certain rituals like the LBRP). The Black pillar is said to correspond to the Feminine energy, while the White pillar is said to correspond to the Masculine energy. The Black pillar is also said to be negatively charged, while the White pillar is positively charged.
To me, this represents an “entrance” towards a spiritual undertaking, and possibly the beginning of a new chapter in life. The appearance of these two pillars may also serve as a reminder to keep awareness of these energies and to make sure that they are in proper, healthy balance.
The type of birds present is also significant. Doves and Pigeons are generally the same species, with people calling those with white feathers “doves” and those with dark feathers “Pigeons”. The Holy Spirit was said to have descended upon Jesus at his Baptism in the form of a dove, and because of this, The Holy Spirit is mainly depicted as a dove in icons and other depictions.
To me, this represents a Divine significance to this message. Not only do these birds resemble the pillars of the Temple, but they also resemble The Holy Spirit, who is completely God. Jesus left us in this world with The Holy Spirit to protect, guide, and empower us. Some mystics consider The Holy Spirit to be the energy by which God the Father works. As Holy Order of The Phoenix is a Sacramental and Apostolic Order, it is also important to note that Jesus empowered his Apostles with The Holy Spirit by laying his hands on them (who then did the same to Bishops, who have continued to pass down this spiritual transmission to the present).
There is also a significance to the fact that there are two of these doves, related to ancient Jewish custom and the account of Jesus’ birth in The Gospel of Luke. After Jesus was born, Mary, after she had gone through the customary ritual purification period after birth, took him to be presented at the Temple and offer the required sacrifice. The prescribed sacrifice was to be either a lamb, or two pigeons/turtledoves. The Gospel tells us that Mary offered two pigeons, which suggests Jesus came from a working class background, as according to Leviticus 12, this was the choice of offering when one could not afford a lamb. The two doves served different purposes, with one being sacrificed as a burnt offering, while the other was sacrificed as a sin offering. The Mass that we celebrate today is itself a fulfillment of these sacrificial purposes, as it invokes the bloody sacrifice made by Christ to fulfill The Father’s will to save his creation from death and sin, fulfilling a valid sacrifice without the need for animal offerings. Prayers are lifted up to the heavens “like incense”, along with actual burnt offerings of incense.
To me, this represents the importance of maintaining a sacrificial priesthood, as the Eucharist is the center of sacramental life. It is the means by which we participate in the sacrificial act, and are brought face to face with the divine in both a material and spiritual way. It is the opportunity to receive the supreme divine presence into one’s being, which is the most potent supernatural force in existence, and the means by which we achieve eternal life.
With many clear references to Temples, Sacrifice, and The Holy Spirit, it seems that I should look to dedicate more time and energy towards bringing the sacramental and ritual aspects of spirituality to more people. It is through this work that we can regain awareness of our connection and relationship with the divine, allowing each and everyone to directly experience the divine for themselves.